1 hour later.

As Shade went on his way towards the Hall of the Elders to meet up with Chrysalis, he still couldn't make his mind up on what to think about this. He tried to shake off those thoughts but they just kept coming.

"Calm down Shade, you did the right thing." He thought to himself. "There was no other option, you did the right thing. Thunder will thank you when he gets the chance to, you did the right thing."

As he was lost in thought the time seemed to pass three times quicker than normal and he arrived at the Hall of the Elders in no time.

The Hall of the Elders was a holy, ancient place for the Changelings. Inside, locked behind thick wooden doors that had ancient changeling symbols painted on them, were relics of long gone times and reigns. There were statues of previous rulers of the changeling empire, telling the story of what basically was Queen Chrysalis' family and ancestors. But there was more to this place than just some stupid statues. The room itself was filled with what seemed to be the combined mind of all the deceased leaders, which the changelings simply called "Elders". Everytime a changeling leader died, he would be taken to this room to let his mind merge with that of the others. Most would probably say it is some kind of witchcraft but the changelings worship it as a symbol that their empire will never be destroyed or forgotten, as their minds will live on.

As Shade approached the huge wooden doors, he looked at the paintings on them. They were black and green and showed the image of a Huge figure, presumably a Queen, standing ontop of black changelings who themselves stood upon green changelings. When Shade first saw these images he didn't understand the meaning of this painting. Later on though, he started to understand the message behind it.

Shade's horn lighted up and he opened the doors infront of him. As the doors opened, he could already see Queen Chrysalis inside who turned to face him as she noticed he had arrived.

"Glad you could make it in time."

Shade closed the doors behind him and walked towards Chrysalis.

"I wouldn't let you wait, my Queen."

Chrysalis smirked.

"Of course you wouldn't. Anyways, let's focus on the task at hand, I have prepared everything for the ceremony."

Shade bowed before her when he noticed someone missing.

"Um...my Queen...where is..."

"Your friend?" Chrysalis interrupted him. "Don't worry, he's right here."

Chrysalis' horn lighted up and suddenly a tied up Thunder appeared in front of her. Followed by the teleportation was a loud "Ouch!".

"Oh...I see."

That was all Shade could say when he looked at Thunder who laid on the floor from the imminent fall from the teleport. Shade felt quilty once again, knowing what was about to happen to him. He snapped out of it after a few seconds when Chrysalis started talking to him again.

"Now, let us get started. The Elders surely won't wait forever."

Shade nodded. Chrysalis lifted Thunder up with her magic, making him struggle around in mid-air. She moved him around with her as she walked to the middle of the room where some kind of plattform was. Shade made a worried face as he looked at Thunder who still struggled and moved around while within her magical grasp but then followed her. She lowered him down on it, keeping her magic active to prevent him from moving.

"Hear me, my ancestors!"

Chrysalis said as the eyes of the statues in the room started glowing. Shade knew how this ceremony went down but he would still get goosebumps every single time.

"I have come to you today to ask for your help and magic."

Shade looked down at Thunder who tried moving away but was nowhere near successful in doing so.

"Let me go you monsters!"

He yelled. Chrysalis' eyes narrowed at his loud protesting. Her head lowered down and she quickly bit his neck with her fangs making Thunder groan in pain. He became weaker and sleepier with every second, it was the same venom shade had used on him before.

"No...I...I will..."

Then he fell into a deep sleep and Chrysalis continued with the ceremony.

"I have come to bring you this creature. I have been told by my children that this creature is said to be friendly and I trust my children as much as any of you do, so my request is to have this creature receive the gift of the Elders. Not many receive it, but if my child says he is indeed worth it, then I shall trust him."

Chrysalis looked towards Shade in expectation of him answering. Shade thought again for a second and then looked at her.

"Yes my Queen, I do think he is worth it. And I hope that the Elders do too."

Chrysalis looked at Thunder whose body was completely still, only his slow, quiet breaths could be heard that made it clear he was still alive.

"You've heard my child, Elders. I ask for you to judge upon this creature to receive your gift."

The entire room suddenly went quiet. For a few seconds nothing happened it seemed but then the several statues of the deceased leaders began sending out a green beam towards Chrysalis's horn, making her eyes glow green from the energy.

"I am more than grateful and honored of your decision, Elders. I promise you, your decision will not be a mistake."

Chrysalis then sent out a beam of energy, which glowed in the same green as the statue's beams, towards Thunder's forehead. Thunder tried moving his head away from the beam but he couldn't due to Chrysalis restraining him on the table with her magic.

"I will now deliver the gift of my numerous ancestors to this creature that was brought to me by my children."

Suddenly the beams of the statues disappeared and Thunder's eyes too began glowing in the same green as Chrysalis' eyes. The Pain became more and more intense every second and soon it became clear as to why it did. The changes were quick but painful. First it was his tail and mane that changed. The tail turned into a stiff, black and holey tail and his mane disappeared except for some black mane on the back of his head. Next up were his wings. They slowly morphed into thin, holey membrane, his old pegasus wings nowhere to be seen. After his wings were done, the next changes were made to his hooves as holes formed on them. Then his skin slowly turned into black, hard, cold chitin. As it crept up his head it changed his face with it. As it reached his mouth two fangs grew in his mouth. Next a Horn began forming on Thunder's forehead. Meanwhile his ears changed form and transformed into rather lenghty changeling ears. Then Thunder's and Chrysalis' eyes stopped glowing, revealing Thunder's new purely blue eyes.

"It is done." Chrysalis said as Thunder came back to his senses. "Welcome to the Hive, my son. May the Elders bless you"

Author's Notes:

Edited on 4th September 2016