As Vincent approached us with a bloody, tattered feature, limping about at start while using his large sword as support before slowly beginning to regain his composure, his body enveloped with a weird black hue, seeping into his opened wounds as it pulled the severed flesh together gradually. Such an absurd sight to behold, seeing my friend approaching us with this malicious vibe, with eyes focused behind me, directed towards Star. I stood as an obstacle in front of my friend, hoping to talk some sense into him before this whole thing escalates even further then what it already has.

“Vincent stop, no more fighting. We don't need to keep up with this violence, it's only going to make things harder and worse on both sides.” He stopped, staring down at me with his dark, hazel eyes and a stern gaze that pierced into my very being, as if he was stripping me bare naked with his gaze to reveal a sense of inferiority before him.

I know I couldn't take him head on, that much was certain. His strength, his power, it would be too much and overwhelming. Even standing before him I could see this...dark power just resonating around him, like staring into a blazing fire, I dared not approach. But I won't throw Star into those violent dark flames. I loved her more then anything, and so, with conviction, I will keep him at bay however way possible.

“It's not going to get better, can't you see that?” He spoke in a cool, low tone, devoid of emotions or compassion, only replaced by adamant certainty. My mind taking his words into thought as my gaze falters before I shook my head, dismissing it with revived confidence.

“You're wrong Vincent.” I opposed, his expression never changing as he only stared back at me, not with challenge, but...with an unnerved serious expression.

“Look around you Swift. We're prisoners in a Changeling's Hive. You yourself was taken in, lied to, deceived by the girl you “loved” and captured by her and her army, and yet you decide to stand between us to protect her?” Vincent struck with a cold tone, emphasizing his point as the blood from his body was seeping back up to the wounds they came from, draining into his open flesh.

As the wounds slowly began to close up, the black aura became more visible as it grew more ferocious, whipping the air around him violently. Though as frightening as it seemed, I did not back down from where I stood. Maintaining my ground between Star and Vincent, I was still shaking from how intimidating Vincent appeared as his power was apparent even to the naked, untrained eye.

“Because...I believe in her. She may have lied about who she was and her intentions, but she had her reasons to hold on to secrecy and I do not blame her for that.” I stated, seeing an annoyed expression from Vincent. I had to admit though, it did seem a bit cliche, but the truth was there and I couldn't deny the fact that despite what happened, I trusted her.

“This place, the Changelings who reside here are important to her, and she pushed the strong believe of trusting no ponies aside when she gave herself to me. In fact, she never meant for me to be captured, I was the fool who let it happen. But instead of disregarding me and casting me aside, she took me in as her own personal aid to keep me safe. I bet if other ponies showed the same kind of care and respect for the changeling's like I have for Star, then there wouldn't be much room for fighting.” I continued, observing Vincent's reaction as I hoped for a change, for him to relax or come to realize that all of this fighting can be avoided. But he only spat off to the side, keeping a strong, narrowed gaze my way before he spoke.

“It doesn't matter what they think of us or how we treat them. Because what they are looking out for is for themselves. So even if we were to change how we approached them, they would use that as weakness to overrun everyone. How else do you think they got to you so easily? You said you allowed them to take you, but you did it because they took advantage of your kindness.”

“NOW HOLD ON A SECOND!” A voice boomed from behind me, as I turned around only to be moved aside by small gray-colored hands, my eyes following the arms up to see Star approaching Vincent before she stood up, inches from Vincent's face.

“Um Star...” I reached out to take her by the shoulders before she brushed my hand off and exclaimed.

“No! This bastard here thinks he's all 'High and Mighty', saying that he isn't one to prejudge when he is doing that right NOW!” She pushed her forehead against his as her finger jabs into Vincent's chest while spouting.

“You think you got EVERYTHING figured out here, don't you? Well news BUCKING flash, YOU DON'T! We only look out for ourselves because these ponies made it this way. They cast us aside, seeing us as nothing more then monsters and thought it better to leave us to starve to death, as if that would make everything better.” She then pushed him back as he staggered, and surprisingly, doesn't raise his sword to attack or anything. I was worried for Star that he would have felt instigated to harm her, but he only stood there as Star was looking heated, breathing in with a flare in her nostrils.

“I'm sick and tired...of everypony JUDGING US! ...Like we did something wrong, as if we took something precious from you. But we have done no wrong, we never hurt anypony, we only wished to survive for another day, AND YOU ALL NEVER UNDERSTOOD OUR STRUGGLES!” Star screamed out with a burning rage, as tears began to spill in a gentle stream from her eyes.

I watched, feeling a heavy weight in my chest, not thinking of the Elements, the guards, the Queen, not even Vincent at this point. My focus was entirely on Star and I only had one thing in mind as I approached her, turning her around and taking her in my arms. She tried to keep it in as much as she could, her body shudder every now and then as I felt her face bury into my shoulder. My hand reached up, threading into her short golden mane as I knead into her scalp gently, earning a stronger grip from her embrace as she had a mixed smell of musk, copper, and lavender. I looked up at Vincent, as I noticed his body losing it's tension, witnessing the pain of a Changeling's daily struggle before him.

“Even though she is a Changeling, it does not change who she is on the inside, and that's the pony that I've come to know...and love. Star pushed her belief's aside and gave me a chance after I offered her what others have not. So...why can't any of the other ponies show the same kind of gesture?” After having my say, I stood there holding onto Star, comforting her and hoping for an answer, or anything, that may help resolve this. Then I heard the sound of a mare speaking from above us on the second level.

“May I say something darling?” Rarity being the source from above as I looked up at her hopefully and nodded.

“The Changeling's may have their struggles, and the thought to settle difference may have came to mind. But yet, that doesn't excuse what took place back at Canterlot. If you truly meant well, then surely there was another means of approach to where we don't label you as a threat to us. If you came with a more passive approach, then surely we would have been more reasonable instead of fighting one another.” As Rarity opinionated, Star glared up at Rarity before pointing an objective finger up towards her and spouted.

“Don't speak such hypocrisy to me. You and your friends contributed in the fight, even going so far... to DESTROYING MY WINGS!” I looked at Star in horror before returning my gaze up to Rarity and her rainbow maned friend as they looked side to side in what looked like guilt. “So...what she said is true? They went so far as dismembering her wings?!” I couldn't help but feel ashamed, knowing that the Elements themselves who were considered to be understanding and not so brash, resorting to doing something so....gruesome.

“We apologize darling, honestly we never intended such an accident to take place.” Rarity started in her apology, enraging Star as she roared.

“AN ACCIDENT?! WHAT YOU ALL DID WAS NO 'ACCIDENT'! YOU WERE AIMING TO KILL MY MOTHER!!!”

As the battle waged on between Changelings and Pony, we had the outskirts of Canterlot under our control. The guards tried resiliently to fend us off, but what they have in strength and armory, we outmatched in numbers and cunning. With me posted at the front line, I led our troops onward, clearing a path for the Queen to make entry into Canterlot once more. As both sides were clashing, ponies dropping by numbers, our Queen, adorned in a black fitted armor, took flight along with elite subjects. I chose to take front line to ensure a safe path for her highness.

At that time, when guards tempt to strike me down, I was like death sent from the heavens, my wings unfurled as they cast shadow upon all my enemies before I struck them down. With my Khopesh in hand, my foes fall one by one, unable to match my speed and strength. Even as the unicorn guards tried to protect themselves, my sword would break their shields, their projectiles were too slow, and their magical aptitude was poorly frail compared to mine. Their armor shattering and piling before them on the dirt, some severed apart by my own blade, others were lucky to only be gravely wounded.

But as the Queen was nearing to the entrance, six figures appeared before the entrance, blocking our path with five of them wearing golden necklaces, each with different colored gems and different shapes, as for the purple figure of the six, she had a crown instead.

The Changeling guards formed a wall in front of their Queen, protecting her from the new female arrivals as the six mare's took a stance, their jewelries glowing an varied colors before shooting out and striking down each of the guards with ease. The Queen stood in discontent as her subjects fall to the ground before shooting a venomous gaze towards the six colorful ponies who stood defiantly before Queen Chrysalis.

“My, my, my. Six brave little ponies, daring to step into the battle ground and confront a powerful being. You are either very brave...or very foolish. Though I commend your efforts, I'm afraid that you shall find no mercy from the Queen of Changeling's.” She spoke with an assertive poise, her posture defined and her gaze hardened, determined and confident as she glared down upon them.

But yet, despite the Queens intimidation, the six stood their grounds, perhaps in question or doubt, but the thought had fled as soon as it came. From a short distance away, I witness this all taking place, her source of protection have fallen as the only dependence that she had was her own self. A roar cried out from behind me as a stallion raised his arm, nearing to strike me down from a moments distraction, but a moment did not serve nearly enough as an advantage for said stallion, for he was cut into as my arms swung upwards with a smooth and graceful motion, raising him off of his hooves as he bled through his golden armor and crashed into the ground. Then...a light sparked from behind me.

The moment I gave this guard my attention was the moment that the battle between the six mares and the Queen commenced. As a light ignites, illuminating with a rainbow radiance, casting it's colorful shadows to sweep out and beyond myself, pushing out across the battlefield. I turned out of alarm, baring witness to the ponies items glowing once more along with the Queen readying a counter spell. But unlike before, the lights merged into a single unit, meeting at the front of the purple unicorn's crown as it take the form of a ball of colorful light, only growing in size the more it's energy was sustained. Without thinking or giving a moment of hesitation, my body acted on its own. It's purpose to protect what was dear and important, without knowing the reason why, somehow... I knew I had to protect my Queen...my Mother.

Queen Chrysalis roars out, bellowing as intense as the magic that she projected from her horn as a smoldering green beam shot down, growing in size as it draws near to the six mares. But the mares countered with their newly formed magic, projecting out of the crown's jewel with a rainbow hue and colliding with the opposing green magic.

The purple mare grits her teeth, grunting out as their magic pushes forth, drawing closer to the Queen as her Majesty's eyes widened with realization of the growing power that she is competing with. With struggling effort, the Queen uses as much of her magic as she could possibly muster, but only realizing the imminent futility of her struggles as it only delayed the inevitable.

With the Queen steeling herself from the rainbow magic's destructive impact, embracing death's grasp as she breathed in her final breath, I spread my wings and took flight, pushing her Majesty from harms way as my action broke the connection of the two colliding magical powers. With the Queen's magic broken, the rainbow ball of energy was no longer restrained as it came full speed and struck me on the back with a burning singed mixed with ice cold daggers stabbing into me as well.

The pain was almost unbearable as it struck against my back, the light scraping along and tearing through whatever blocks it's path as it soars to the sky. I was screaming in agony when my body dropped to the ground, raising a pillow of dust from the impact of my descent. I was heaving on the floor from the experience, my body trembling with blood spurting out from my back, feeling the warmth as it soaked against my armor and leaking down my body and to the ground.

I laid there on the cool dirt, nearly hyperventilating as the air itself touched my open wound, sending a sickening chill running up my spine and making me shiver more. Slowly, my blood coated my body like a blanket as I laid on a bed of dirt when a pair of hands examined my body, stopping short when coming towards my back as I heard a gasp as my Mother nearly choked upon the sight before her.

“Oh my precious Star, why...you're beautiful wings, they...” I heard the pain in her voice as she choked out her words, delicately yet hesitantly touching near my wound as tears dropped beside me to the ground. I looked up at her, feeling weak as I strained to even move to such degree as I can see her eyes, staring down upon me in sadness as I could see myself reflected from her tear-coated eyes. Such beautiful eyes I've grown to find comfort in them, and yet it hurt me even more then the wound to see her in such a way, let alone...rare.

My Mother turned her head to face the Six ponies who have done this to me, my attention slowly following to meet her focus upon them, blinking to adjust my eyes as I seemed to slowly lose consciousness. The Six ponies looked to be conversing to one another, a mixture of expressions and body language before coming to prepare for another attack as they ready themselves. My eyes growing heavy, I was soon brought to see only darkness, no sound reaching my ears or knowledge of what is taking place around me. All that I remember is my mother's voice, echoing in my mind speaking some incoherent word that I could not come to understand. When later I awoke, I had hoped that all went well with our plans to set things right for the Changeling race. But I couldn't have been more wrong.

As my eyes have come to focus, I noticed the familiarity of the room that I was in, looking at everything around me, I realized that I have returned to my own chamber back at the Hive. 'Did one of the scouts or recruits carry me back home? Did the Queen find me unfit to pursue combat? Was our mission a success?” Many questions stormed through my mind as I was feeling lightheaded from the bombardment of wondering as I looked to my side, finding a glass of water and a Lovulite next to the glass, along with a note. I reached out and took the note in my hand, opening the slip of paper as I began to read it in my Mother's handwriting.

“My dear Star, I'm sure you must be confused and have many questions you wish to have answered. But as your Mother, I wish for you to rest and recuperate. You've fought long and hard for your Changeling kin and have taken significant damage. Also, I am sorry...you have sacrificed something precious to you for my sake. Your loyalty and love is unwavered and because of what happened, I cannot help but feel guilty for what has happened, whether you realize what I mean or not. Please take the time you need to recover and...Thank you my beloved daughter, for saving me, and I am truly sorry for the cost you had to pay for my sake. I may not be able to give what was lost, but we will do what we can to make things right, I give you my word.”

~With Love, Your Mother-Chrysalis~

I closed the note and placed it back on the stand as I took the Lovulite, wrapping my lips around it's smooth surface and sucked the contents from within, feeling the cool liquid touch my tongue as it dispersed into a vapor, swirling around my maw as I inhaled it down my throat, sucking in the pheromone-like substance. Feeling satisfied from my meal, I lifted the glass of water, consuming it in a mere gulp as I sat it down, turning my body with agitation on my back. My eyes clenched from the stinging sensation before my hoof's touched the stone floor and I stood up, making my way towards the mirror to see what my condition was. I thought I was prepared for whatever I was about to witness, but nothing could have prepared me for this.

Looking at myself from the front, I had a bandage wrapped around my chest, squeezing my breasts against my gray body in discomfort. I wasn't new to this kind of thing to be honest, I've always been used to some rough treatment while training. Some cuts and bruises here and there, but it's nothing that I couldn't handle. But when I turned around, I noticed a pair of red stains on my back, turning even more to get a good full view of my back as I grimaced from the sight. With shaking hands, I reached over my shoulder and down to the base, inching closer as I barely touched the wound and bit my lip closed, suppressing myself from the pain as I quickly pulled my hand away.

After coming out of the tension from the pain, I looked back as I realized something was off, being it the first that I've got a good view of my back, I found it incredibly strange that I could see so much of my backside like this. But then, as my mind began to wonder about what I had to do to have such a view did I realize that I, not once, have made a notion to part my wings apart, and that's when it hit me.

My eyes shot wide open, staring as my wings were no longer there. The once beautiful crystallize and feathered wing was GONE. My hands frantically pat my back, anywhere around my wound as I was now breathing heavily from my panic.

“Oh no. No no no NO NO NO NOOOOO!!! MY WINGS!!! WHERE ARE THEY?! WHAT HAPPENED TO MY WINGS?!?!?!” I cried out in horror as tears began to shed from my eyes, slowly pulling my hands back as I was beginning to feel sick. Swaying about as my body fell forward, catching myself on the frame of the bed as I was hyperventilating, struggling to catch my breath.

I clench my eyes as the tears welled down before I screamed, hearing the fizzing sound bouncing from the walls followed by the rattling of my armor from it's stand. The door opened as someone called out, only to hear a pained grunt from the voice before a heavy thud hit the wall out in the hallway.

It was moments later after my fit that I felt a gentle hand on the back of my head, comforting me as the gentle slender fingers dug gently into my scalp, easing me as I open my eyes, turning my head to see my Mother comforting me as she kneels down, bring my into her arms as I cried on her shoulders.

“I'm sorry my dear princess. I wish this did not happen to you, but do not fret. We will do everything we can to fix this. Our race will flourish once more and we will be here to support you in your time of healing.” She cooed into my ear, comforting me as her words were like a lullaby that set my anger and sadness to slumber. Ever since that time, after losing my precious wings, dealing with the hardship to bringing the Changeling race to surface from our struggles, I held no trust for the pony race, held contempt towards the Equestrian rulers, and DESPISED those six ponies who did this to me and attempted to kill my mother.