We made a circle formation, back to back. This wasn’t good. Taking all the changelings on was definitely going to tire us out. But I have to do something. I have to free my friends and save Comp! I looked over to the throne and grit my teeth. Chryxal was smirking down at us while Comp had closed his eyes, gritting his own teeth and looking away.

'Come one, Comp! I’m your friend! We can help you!' My train of thought was broken when a changeling landed in front of me and hissed. Without missing a beat, I aimed Sinful and exploded the head of the changeling. I gapped when the head quickly reformed. It seemed to rasp a chuckle. More changelings began to descend and circle us. The others were open firing to those that got close.

“We are going to run out of ammo at this rate!” Hansel said over the defining buzzing of the changelings. I had to do something. I blinked and found myself facing Din. She sighed.

You really are hopeless, you know? She dismissed me with a hoof wiggle. I blinked again and put on my game face. The changelings got close. I conjured at least six copies (much to the surprise of everyone else) and they each took positions beside them. In unison, we reared back, flipping our heads and taking aim. Beams of fire shot out and we circled slowly around the group. The changelings hissed and backed away while some were disintegrated. I conjured one more before looking up at the cocoons.

Time to even the odds. I asked Din to take me up to my trapped companions. She sighed again and I took off into the air, Compassion unsheathed. I landed in front of Iris’s cocoon. Taking Compassion, I stabbed slightly inside, and brought the sword down. The cocoon splattered open. Ignoring the rancid smell, I grabbed hold of Iris and pulled her out. We landed and she coughed and gasped before looking around.

She blinked when she noticed me.

“Courier?” she asked. I smiled and rubbed the back of my hooded head.

“Yes… ummm but I can explain the look later. I need your help getting the others out. I have a plan.” I said. Iris groggily stood up and nodded. I then passed Compassion to her and she blinked. “Cut them loose. Then, I want you to give me covering fire. Comp and the others are doing their best, but we can’t last long.” Iris smiled.

“I knew you wouldn’t let the kid down.” She said. She kissed my leathery hide head and smiled before taking the ceiling. I turned and watched as my copies kept the changelings at bay while Comp and his companions fired off at some that got close.

“Courier, whatever it is you are doing, you better hurry up!!” Comp said over the buzzing. I gapped when he was suddenly tackled by a changeling. They wrestled, Comp struggling to keep the biting changeling away. To my relief, it was Gretel that bolted over and pistol whipped the changeling. Comp smiled, making Gretel blush a little before helping him up. I smiled and looked around. The eggs that were lying about me were slowly pulsating. I grit my teeth. I stood up and took aim with my horn, feeling the warmth flow through me.

That was when the flashbacks started happening. I winced and shaking away the image that was me and Comp sparring.

What’s the matter, vessel? Are you feeling a little hesitant? Allow me to help you. Without so much as a thought I shouted and aimed my head away from the eggs. The beam shot up and at the ceiling. It seemed to hit the side of the throne and leaving a hole in the ceiling as well. Din cackled. Afriad to kill the infants? Why are you worrying about bugs anyway? You never seem to hesitate to kill. Or are you hesitating because Comp was born from these eggs?

I winced. She hit the nail on the head. As much as the changelings had killed ponies, tortured us and trapped us to be used for food, I couldn’t bring myself to burn these eggs. Another image of the zebra camp as they were burned away. I shook my head. 'Dammit! What is wrong with me!? Why can’t I do it!? Why can’t I destroy these eggs!?' But I knew exactly why.

Comp. Not the real Comp. But the changeling Comp. The mysterious colt I was tasked to deliver to uncharted territory. I could imagine him being born of these eggs. How he managed to crawl out and I guess be lost to the Wasteland. Until he met the real Comp and took on his form. I grit my teeth. What if those changelings thought my Comp was their Comp. That it was all some sort of big mix up. I had to find out. I looked up and took off up to the throne.

I landed on the massive rock cliff that was supposed to be an arm rest. In front of me stood Comp and Chryxal. Chryxal once again giving me that fangy grin while Comp just adverted his eyes.

“Why…” Comp asked. I snorted.

“You know why.” I told him. Chyrxal held up a hoof to stop Comp from saying anything else. Comp shrunk back and stepped aside. Chyrxal smirked.

“You really believe that my brother saw you as a friend?” he asked. I gave him my blank look.

“I do.” I said. Chryxal titled his head a little.

“You really believe he can be accepted as one of your own?” he asked.

“I do.” I replied without skipping a beat.

“And do you think you can convince us… an entire colony… to give him over?” again I didn’t skip a beat.

“I do.” Chryxal then smiled and his horn glowed. I heard something singing and he flicked a long black looking rapier.

“Then by all means… try.” He bowed. I readied myself. That was when I saw in the corner of my eyes something silver. I turned and gapped seeing Iris.

“Courier!! We can try to stall them, but you have to hurry up with whatever you are doing!!” she frowned over to Chryxal. She then flicked her snaky metallic tail and Compassion flew through the air. I caught it in my magic and twirled the blade around me before coming to a rest at my side. She looked at me and then nodded before taking back off to aid the others. Chyrxal arched a brow. We then circled.

'Comp… we’ve been through so much together… and I let you down by letting a bad pony lead you astray… But I won’t let that ever happen again. I will make sure you are going to come home.' I blinked once and suddenly Chryxal was in my face. I quickly brought up Compassion and our blades collided. I grit my teeth, trying to push back the changeling prince. He grinned wickedly at me before pushing aside our blade lock.

I stumbled a bit but quickly recovered by bringing Compassion around. Chryxal’s rapier sparked against mine. I swung this time and he skillfully side stepped, batting the blade away.

“You don’t even know how to use a blade, do you?” he mocked as he planted a good hoof across my cheek. I went tumbling a bit, but used Compassion’s block to bound away from him. “How foalish. To think that you can try to best me?” he galloped, taking it in big strides. I swung Compassion and he brought up his rapier. On and on our blades sung and collided, bouncing off one another. I was struggling. I couldn’t land anything on Chryxal while he managed to cut away a bit of my barding and punting my face a couple of times with his hoof.

I went in for a thrust and he easily side stepped, smacking me on the rump with the flat of his blade when I went by. I grit my teeth as I stood up and turned. I have to do something. Everything I was throwing was being dodged or pushed aside. Chryxal chuckled.

“Just a poor blinded fool who is clouded by her own fame. The ponies of Equestria seem to praise you as one of the goddesses themselves, yet here you are, failing your friends once again.” He said. I dismissed his comment with a wave of my leg across me.

“Whatever you claim me to be, I can tell you one thing. I’m just a pony.” I said. Chryxal arched a brow. I even seemed to catch a questioning look from Comp. “Sure… I may be praised as a messiah to some and probably scum of the earth to others. But I know for sure that I am not perfect. The lives that I have saved were probably in mass. But that doesn’t mean each and every pony I free is neither good nor bad.” I gave a reassuring smile towards Comp who seemed surprised by this. “We all make mistakes… Hell, I’ve made plenty. I probably shouldn’t be alive at the amount of mistakes I’ve made. I should have probably been better off alone or just a sad pony who could only think of herself.”

Chryxal smirked.

“And you think you can honestly correct those mistakes by making every pony in Equestria look up to you?” he asked. I shook my head.

“I never wanted any pony to look up to me. I’m a terrible influence.” I chuckled slightly. “I drink whenever I finish up a job. I practically kill anything that opposes me. And I just go on my merry way, not giving two shits about pony’s problems and what not.” I tapped my head. “Hell, I could be the baddest of any pony by letting a Star Maiden let loose and create her very own image of Equestria.” I heard Din hum pleasantly. I ignored her and continued. “But you know why I keep going? It’s because I have friends.” I looked at Comp who bit his lip and brushed his foreleg.

“Friends that I know who could always watch my back. Who would always prepare us for the worst. To even be there during our darkest times. And it’s because of them that I can talk to them about my mistakes. And together we can accept it and move on with our lives. Because we have already walked that road. The road I used to walk on was nothing but dark, disturbing and downright evil. But that was before I met Brick. Before I met Goldenlee.” Chryxal hissed and rushed me. I brought up Compassion in time to blade lock us.
was making him hungry.

“You speak of friendship as if you love them!!” he hissed. “Give me your love to me!!” I furrowed my brows and kept us in a lock. I pushed and continued.

“Before I met Star.” I said. It was Chryxal’s turn to grit his teeth and struggle to push back. Whatever I was doing to make him go mad like this was working. He was losing his grip on the sword. “Before I met Iris.” I pushed again. “Before I met Rex.” Again. “Before I met Sunny Springs.” And again. “Before I met Popper. Before I met Guillotine. Before I met Xanthos.” I pushed more, seeing him slid across the ground. “Dogger. Cream. Bubble Pop.”

“Fool!!” He hissed and smiled evilly. I felt a little light headed. He was sucking the love I had for them out of me. But I wanted him too. It was a part of the plan.

“The Omaretas. Bucky. Al Capony. Stiletto. Mother Dandy. King Pin. Nurse Valentine.” I winced more as my head began to pound. But it was enough. With a heave, I disarmed his rapier and held Compassion’s tip at his neck, forcing the changeling to fall onto his back and growl at me.

“Chester. My siblings. Post Box.” To seal the deal, I finally finished the list. “Mom and Dad.” Chryxal hissed but I kept him pinned with the blade. I smirked, ignoring the pounding headache I was getting.

“Such… love…” he licked his muzzle with a snaky tongue. He then blinked and looked over to his rapier. His horned glowed but I beat him to it. My magic gripped his sword and I held it at his neck as well.

“Feeling full?” I asked with a tired smirk. He was about to speak when there was a rumble. I blinked and looked around. Even Chyrxal seemed surprised by this. But he had a look of understanding about him. Before I could react, I was blasted back in the chest and I went sailing across to the edge. I planted Compassion down in the ground to stop my rolling and growled at the changeling prince. But he seemed to be ignoring me. In fact, he was looking over to the giant pod like thing in the middle of the throne.

Comp backed away slowly. Chryxal reared back and held out his hooves into the air. I noticed that the changelings that had surrounded my companions were retreating back into the caves. I saw them look around confusedly before looking up to where we were. I looked back and stood up, wielding the swords at my side. The rumbling grew more. Chryxal laughed manically.

“Yes! Yes!!! Awaken, mother!! Awaken to your new found kingdom!! The land is ripe for the taking!! Claim it to be yours!! Feed all you must!! Show them the might changelings!!” He put one hoof to his chest while keeping the other held out. “Render onto your new Queen of Equestria!!!” I gapped seeing the pod crack. I noticed something in green goop bulging out of it. It was big. And I mean colossal big. The front of the goop seemed to pop and I could make out pincer like fangs. That’s when I noticed the many legs that were poking out of the goop.

“Awaken!!! And feast on the love this land holds!! Come back to us, mother!! Our Queen Chrysalis!!!” I had to cover my ears when a deaf defying screech rang throughout the castle. What crawled out of the massive pod was a colossal arachnid looking creature. The many holes on its’ hide made me feel uneasy. When it moved out more, I could see that something long, big and pulsating behind it. I may not know much about spider anatomy, but I don’t think they are meant to have that many abdomens, let alone eggs pulsating on its’ body.

It was horrifying to look at. It screeched again, making the castle shake. Chyrxal laughed more. That’s when I noticed the rocks falling down around us. I guess 200 years of hibernation has gotten this place to go frail. I looked over to Comp who was tugging at Chryxal’s tail.

“Brother, come on!! We have to get out of here!!” he said. Chryxal’s eyes flashed and he swiped a hoof across his cheek.

“Begone with you!!” he barked. The smack sent Comp sailing down at my hooves. I felt my eye twitch. Comp shook away the daze and looked back at him.

“B-but, Chryxal!! You’ll die!” Comp shouted. I furrowed my brows and looked over to the manically laughing changeling prince. Chryxal hissed.

“Fool! I have been waiting 200 years for this moment!!” He grinned and looked back to the giant arachnid that was Queen Chrysalis. “But what would you know? You were just a mistake!! You never could work with the colony!! You always coward away when even we give you a chance of being one of us!! And what do I find you doing after? Chatting it up with a pony!!” He turned to face us again, his eyes flaring with anger. Comp shrunk back, hugging my hooves a little.

“You left the kingdom!! You became curious with this ridiculous notion of communicating with the outside!! I send two troops to find you and what do I hear in return?!” he said. Comp was about to speak when Chryxal hissed at him again. “To find you being friendly with a courier!! A courier!!! In your desperate haste to get away you managed to take his form and elude my guards!!” he bowed his head and brushed his stringy mane back.

“But!!... that is all in the past.” His anger seemed to subside slightly. “I’m willing to forgive my naïve infant brother and will humbly welcome you back with arms wide open.” He held out a hoof to him. “Now come with me, my dear brother. Let us show mother that we changelings are a force to be reckoned with.” Comp hesitated. I then put a hoof on his shoulder and he stiffened in surprise before looking at me. I gave him a reassuring smile.

“You don’t have to go with him, Comp. You are your own pony. We’ve all made mistakes.” I gave him a slight boop on the nose. “But know that even though the choices you make may affect the lives of others and it ends up making you go off that road you walk, know that we will guide you back on if you get lost. Because a true friend helps a friend in need to see the light of what a true friend can be.” Comp bowed his head, lost in thought. Chryxal’s anger seemed to flood back to him.

“What are you waiting for!? Do you dare defy mother’s rule? Defy the kingdom? Your own home? All for the sake of ponies that will just die and wither in the end. You said so yourself. You cannot live out there. There is no love where you were. You’ve experienced first hoof. You will be weak. You will be helpless. And you will lose yourself and die of starvation. Here, you have a chance to live. To live longer than any before you!” I furrowed my brows and looked at the thought struggling colt.

“Comp.” I said. He said nothing in return. I sighed and looked at Chryxal. “You may be right about one thing.” I said. Chryxal arched a brow and I noticed Comp perk slightly. “He may not survive out there with no love. But he doesn’t have to survive on the love of others.” I smiled and held out a hoof to Chyrxal, which made the prince balk a little. “You are creatures that are neither pony nor insect. You survive by feeding off the love of others. But… what if you don’t have to survive with the love of others. Maybe…” I looked at Comp who was looking up at me now with awe.

“Maybe you can just love yourselves. Be better ponies. We all make mistakes. But with the help of friends, we can learn from them. Because we know that if it comes back to bite us again, we have something to fall back on.” Chryxal hesitated now.

“Are you… offering friendship… to me?” he asked. I know it was a farfetched idea. But you know what? After all the shit I’ve been through, maybe I was looking at this from a different angle. Sure, the Wastelands can be a cruel, cruel mistress. But we are getting better. With the help of LittlePip and her friends. The aid of Security and hers. And many others out there. All fighting the good fight. Because in some ways or another, they too have made mistakes. But that is what makes them… well them. Ponies. No… People.

War never changes. People do. And its’ with people that we can rebuild this poisoned land. Together not as races. But as people. A land we can truly call equal. I smiled at the thought and Chryxal seemed to back away a little.

“W-what are you doing? This… what is this feeling?” he rasped as he clutched his chest. I must have projected my thoughts out loud. Comp was giving me a speechless look. He then put on a determined look and faced his brother.

“I… I’m sorry Chrxsal… but I’m not going with you or mother.” He said. He stood up now, puffing his chest out proudly. “Courier is right. I… I’m not proud of doing that to him. But… I know now, that who I should have turned to was my real friend.” He looked at me and gave me a smile. “Somepony I know who would go to hell and back despite me being what I am.” I returned his smile and nodded. “And even though I may be a changeling. And I may not be accepted by most about it. But I’ve seen what Courier can do. And I know that together, we can make this world right again.” I suddenly felt a little… weird. Almost as if something was itching at me. Comp blinked and arched a brow. Then, it turned to shock. Even Chryxal was surprised by this. I blinked and looked down at me.

I gapped when I noticed that my changeling hide was peeling off of me. Each speck of skin disintegrating off of my body. The holes seemed to reform back and I felt my fangs and wings vanish along with my skin. I closed my eyes and opened them again. I then looked down and noticed my familiar charcoal hide. I looked over my shoulder and saw that I no longer had bug wings. I moved my tongue and I felt my teeth being my normal teeth. I smiled and looked at the shocked changelings. Chryxal looked at Comp now.

“Is… this what they call… friendship?” he asked. I nodded and stood next to the colt.

“You don’t have to walk down that road, Chryxal.” I said. I held out my hoof again to him and gave a reassuring smile. “I’m sure I can get my friends to realize that you aren’t really a bad pony. In fact, you never were one were you? You were just obsessed with having Queen Chrysalis notice you as her son. You didn’t want the affection of others. You wanted hers. You wanted her to love you. But with 200 years of being asleep. Of being alone. Of losing your brother and what was left of tending to your mother’s hibernation pod, you were alone. I know what it is like to be alone. To be that certain pony.” I felt Comp lock a hoof around my other foreleg.

“But you can change, Chrxsal. You can lead the changelings not as spiteful creatures. But as people. People we can call equal to our own. War never changes. But people do.” Chryxal bit his lip. He looked back at his screeching colossal mother and then back at us. He slowly held out his own hoof. I reached for it.

I know people can change. I can be the better pony. Be the Savior of not just killing everything. But the Savior of a species. The Savior of wills that were closed to them. I have the courage to face these people and show them the will to carry on. Our hooves almost touched when suddenly, Chryxal growled and batted my hoof away. I blinked in confusion.

“Bah! Who needs your friendship?” he said. I balked a little along with Comp.

“But brother… why won’t you just come with us? We can be better than this. I know we can! And Courier will be glad to help.” He turned to me. “Right?” I gave the worried colt a nod and looked at Chrxsal. The rumbling happened again. I held out my hoof again.

“Chryxal, it’s not safe here. We have to leave, now!” I said. Chryxal backed away and turned to his screeching mother. He suddenly fell to his knees.

“Mother… I’m sorry… I don’t know what came over me. I won’t be blinded by their talk of friendship. I remain loyal to you! You have my heart and soul, mother! Let me show you what I can be! Just give me a chance.” He said as he held up his forelegs to her.

“Chryxal!” I barked as I marched over to him. Queen Chrysalis screeched again, forcing me to stop in my tracks and cover my ears. I then backed away when I saw a giant leg rise above us.

“Mother?” Chryxal whimpered with a confused blink. As if on cue, the giant arachnid brought down the leg, crushing the changeling prince and the cliff he was on. I almost had slipped off if Comp hadn’t pulled me back up. I was baffled. Comp shook me out of my stupor.

“Courier, we have to go!!” he said. I nodded and picked him up over my back as I galloped and took to the sky. I noticed my companions looking desperately up at the throne. I landed next to them and the older Comp grit his teeth up at the throne where the colossal arachnid rested.

“Just what in the hell is that?!” he asked. I put a hoof on his shoulder and looked at the rest.

“No time. We have to get out here! This place is going to collapse!” I said. My companions and Comp’s companions nodded in agreement. Then, there eyes fell onto the changeling Comp (who was still in the form of the younger Comp). Older Comp blinked quickly in confusion before shaking his head and turning around.

“Let’s move!” he said. We did. We galloped over to a spiral stairway leading up and down. We were about to book it down the stairs when a stalagmite crashed in front of us, destroying the stairs in the process.

“Go up!” Iris called over the rumbling as she flew up. We didn’t hesitate. As we climbed the stairs, we dodged falling rocks. We picked up our speed. Rex suddenly bounded beside us and without so much of a blink, he bit our barding and tossed us one by one onto his back. I hopped on, taking hold of the handles, but leaving Rex to be able to move. When I noticed him not realizing a falling rock was coming down on us, I swiftly gained control and avoided it. When we did, I let Rex back in control. Iris flew next to us, zipping and flying around the falling debris. I looked up, only piloting Rex whenever he was about to go over the edge or he hadn’t noticed a rock.

I heard a deafening screech and looked down. I gapped seeing Queen Chrysalis crawling her way up towards us. Iris unholstered her energy pistol and fired down as she flew up. Queen Chrysalis screeched more as Iris kept pelting the arachnid. I was surprised at how fast she was gaining on us. We were about to get crushed by a leg when Brick saved us by launching a grenade that exploded on contact with the leg, causing the arachnid to screech louder and loose its’ footing. I furrowed my brows as she regained her footing and kept crawling towards us.

“Damn thing just doesn’t quit!” I heard Gorge shout over the screeching.

“Hit it with everything you got!” Goldenlee shouted as she took aim onto the arachnid. The rifle bullet piercing the thick leathery hide causing the arachnid to wince a little. While my companions fired down at the creature, I remained focused on correcting Rex and getting us out of here alive. I noticed a light at the top of the stairs.

“Courier!” I heard the younger Comp shout. I looked back and he pointed up. “We are heading to the castle’s roof balcony! The only way we can live through this at the top is jump!” I looked up just in time to see a rock come falling down on us. Fortunately, Iris had zipped over and punched the rock, shattering it.

“Then what are we waiting for!?” Iris said with a cool smirk at us. I returned her smirk and nodded as I patted Rex once and he gained speed. Brick let off one more good grenade before we broke through to the top. The balcony was massive. But we didn’t waste time to ogle the sites. Iris and Rex reached the edge and without so much as skipping a beat, we jumped. Iris flying down next to us while Rex positioned himself to slid against the slippery slope wall of the castle. I looked back in time to see that we had made in time, as the balcony was soon destroyed by a screeching Queen Chrysalis.

I then noticed something spout from her pincers. Something green and gooey heading our way. I quickly took control of Rex and made him adjust his body to the right. We avoided the hissing and rancid smelling goo.

“Is it spitting acid at us!?” I heard Star say. I moved Rex again as we avoided two more that had landed where we once were. I had to give it to the creature. It knew how to aim. I saw Iris fly over to us and nodded to Brick. He nodded back and tossed his launcher up, letting Iris’s tail catch it and she took off toward the arachnid. I felt my heart skip a beat. I was worried about her going off to buy us time. Then, two little ponies kicked my head, telling me that she will be fine. She is my pretty cool mare after all.

I looked back, then my eyes narrowed. I couldn’t help but notice something else catching my attention. It was a dot in the sky. I couldn’t make it out. But it was there. And it seemed to be looking right at us. I blinked back to focus on the matter at hoof as we slid down the slippery slope wall. I grit my teeth as I found ourselves nearly coming close to getting hit by it. I blinked again and found myself in pitch blackness.

“Din, please help us!” I asked desperately. Din arched a brow as she flapped her wings.

Hmm… it is a rather interesting predicament. And I would like to not go back to the stars. She looked at me with those fiery slit eyes. Vessel… I have a proposition for you. I bit my lip. I was running out of time. If this took any longer, we might all die! The evil fiery alicorn grinned. It’s a simple yes and no. So, then. My proposition to you. She flapped her wings again as she hummed.

The place where it all began. I sense something… stirring there. Almost as if it is calling to me. I want to find out who is trying to contact us. If you can take me there, without the aid of your companions, then I will give you access to a small fraction of my power. I arched a brow in confusion. Was Din… curious about an outside force contacting us? And she is willing to give me a fraction of her power in return that I take her there without the aid of my companions? She smirked.

Somepony long ago told us: A courier walks a road in their time that none can follow. For they must walk it themselves. It is the path all couriers will follow one day. But for now, it shall be set for a certain pony. I was baffled. Those words… they had a small hint of familiarity to them. But I couldn’t quite make it out. I shook my head away any doubts and nodded to Din.

“Alright… I’ll take you there.” I said. Din leaned her head back and her horn glowed. I blinked back into reality as we kept sliding down the long slippery wall. I felt… warm. Almost as if my energy was slowly being… manifested. I looked over my shoulder and noticed my companions looking at me funny. That’s when I noticed the wings. The astral fiery wings. And what was more, I felt good. Really good! I smiled and looked at colt Comp.

“Think you can take over for a bit?” I asked him. Comp furrowed his brows in concern. I ruffled his mane with a reassuring smile. “I’m not going to do anything rash. I can’t die here. My dad conditioned me not to die by anything no matter how bad it gets.”

“But what about you, dear?” Goldenlee asked. I winked at her and felt myself floating slightly, the wings flapping.

“You know me. I’m a courier. I have friends and family to take care of and ends to meet.” I said. Colt Comp hugged me and I hugged him back.

“We are going to hold your word on that.” He said. I saw tears flying away at his eyes. I smiled and with that, I took off into the sky.

Queen Chrysalis screeched loudly as I managed to hover in front of her quite a bit away but enough that I was in view. I noticed Iris zipping around her, quickly avoiding the thrashing legs. She then flew up and did a flip in the air before taking aim below her and lobbed a grenade from the launcher. It struck true as the grenade exploded into the arachnid’s many eyes. It thrashed wildly in pain. Iris noticed me and flew over to me. She smiled.

“So… fun time?” she asked. I smiled and pecked her mouth.

“The others are waiting down at the slope.” I said. Iris furrowed her brows in worry now.

“Are you going to be okay?” she asked. I know why she was worried. She was worried I was going to unleash Din again. I shook my head and gave her a reassuring smile.

“I’ll be fine. I’m ending this one way or another.” I said. She hugged me and said in my ear.

“Good, I want to see you in our bed tonight.” She said. I hugged her back and said into hers.

“Once we get through this then yeah.” I said. Iris looked back at the arachnid and frowned before looking back at me with a smile. She then flew down to aid Comp and the others while I gave the arachnid my blank familiar look. “Chrysalis.” I said, projecting my voice a little.

The arachnid screeched and spat acid at me. But I didn’t move. I willed the power of Din to form a bubble of fire around me. The acid splashed harmlessly off of me. I then unsheathed Compassion and drew out my arsenal. They hovered around me, moving in a clock wise motion.

It was strange. I could almost hear a voice. I arched a brow at the arachnid as it seemed to study me with its glazed bug like eyes. It’s pincers moving in a strange clicking sound. But I understood exactly. Din took the liberty of translating it in my mind.

Pathetic, worthless waste of food! How dare you intrude upon my domain and do as you please!! Din said, her voice not quite her own. I looked at the fiery alicorn. Her eyes were glowing green and her mouth moved as she spoke. And my good for nothing children can’t do a proper welcome for their own mother!! I slumber for 200 years!! Using the love that was used to banish us from Canterlot! It was supposed to be mine! I shook my head.

“You deserved to be banished, Chrysalis. But don’t think you can put it on your children. It’s your duty as a queen to lead your children. And here you are criticizing them for following your own orders.” The arachnid spat more acid, but the fire bubble kept them from harming me.

How dare you speak to me like that!? I am your Queen! This land is my domain! Equestria is mine! I smirked.

“Well, you are 200 years late. A big war happened and caused everything to hit the fan.” I said as I motioned in no particular direction, but making it obvious I was talking about the Wasteland. “While you slept, your own children have taken it upon themselves to try to awaken you.” I felt my blood boil a bit. “And Chryxal… he didn’t deserve what had happened to him. Yet you killed him.”

That good for nothing son of mine had it coming! And Chi’xa betrayed the kingdom by leaving it to rot while he wandered my land in an attempt to reason with the enemy!

I tilted my head slightly. Chi’xa? She must be referring to changeling Comp. I narrowed my eyes.

“So, you think your sons were to blame by destroying your kingdom.” I stated. “And yet, you refuse to accept your own fault in this matter.” The arachnid screamed and I balked a little. That was a big green goo she spat out. I let my shield take it, only to realize that it was a mistake. I felt myself suddenly flipping backwards in the air as I heard a shatter. My shield was gone. I quickly flapped the wings and moved to the side.

My sons left me to rot in that pod!! Instead of supporting me with food, they decided to take the matter into their own hooves and try to win me over! Queen Chrysalis spat again, but this time I was ready. I moved to the side and with a nod of my head, I saw my weapons seemed to shoot off astral projectiles. They homed in on the queen and exploded on contact. The arachnid screeched in pain. I then went all out, pelting her with astral projectiles. One after another, the arachnid was soon being bombarded.

“Left you to rot!?” I shouted. “One went out of his way to gain your love for him! He wanted you to notice that he would do anything for you!” I said. I flipped around, feeling myself gain speed as I did as I avoided the acid and returned fire. “And then you killed him because you thought he deserved it!? What did he actually do to deserve death from his own mother!!?” I almost came close to being hit by an acid blob, but I had dipped down in time and flew right back up at eye level with the queen. Queen Chrysalis clicked her pincers.

Stop acting like you knew him! As if a pony can truly understand what our might is!? I furrowed my brows.

“You’re right… I only know Chyrxal as the prince who tried to sabotage a wedding. And I tried to offer him my hoof in friendship in return. But he rejected it because he believed you to really love him. I don’t know him as a pony… no… as a person. But I knew the same look he had when I faced him.” I dodged another spat of acid and returned fire. “I had that same look! For 200 years he spent alone while trying to care for you while you slept! He did his best to maintain the kingdom you so worked hard for! In fact… he was no different from me in that regard.” I shook my head.

“My whole life has been utter shit. I was traumatized as a filly and it caused me to push away others, only keeping my family close. But even then, we weren’t the same family I knew back then. We had our own agendas. Our own upkeeps. And even when we did get together, it was short lived. Hell, we practically had to care for our own mom when she went under suicide watch. We were doing all that while delivering packages! I put my whole life into dedicating myself to my job and family. I threw myself into danger because I had to keep the money coming when we couldn’t afford even to move mom to a decent living house.”

Bah! You speak nonsense! What common thing do we even share!? Nothing! Chrysalis screeched again. You are just a pony. Food for me and my kind! We have nothing to share with you! You ruined me! Ruined my kingdom! And it didn’t help my children ruined it even more by being disobedient to my cause! I dodged more acid. You act like you can understand us! As if you can call equal grounds with me!? My children should have killed you and the rest! Only then will I find my love and affection worthy to them! But they have done the opposite! You don’t know us!! I grit my teeth.

'She’s just as stubborn as I am!' Now I felt sympathy for my companions. But that was beside the point. I kicked off in the air and flew straight towards the arachnid. I conjured up four copies. They were spectral however. But they smiled at me nonetheless and flew towards the arachnid. They zipped and zagged through the acid blobs before planting themselves on the legs of the queen. She tried to move, but my copies held them in place. It was my turn to follow up.

If she won’t listen with her mind, then how about her heart? I couldn’t help but wonder why I thought that this was a good idea? But accessing Din’s powers, I couldn’t help but notice that the arachnid was nothing but an illusion. Using Din’s eyes, I noticed that there was a faint red pulse inside the abdomen. I had noticed my companions giving off the same red hue. It didn’t take long to realize that it meant they were living and breathing. But I wasn’t sensing anything from the arachnid. So, I put my hoof down on the poker table and cast the die.

I zipped up, hitting the queen on the mouth, causing her to jerk upward. I then quickly spun around and kicked her down before firing down on her with the barrage of my astral projectiles. It seemed to have worked as the arachnid limped, but was still twitching. I then leaned my head back, feeling the warmth go to my horn and took aim, unleashing the fire beam that had devastated the prison carrier. The queen let out a screech before rearing back. It suddenly began twitching before it limped again. And this time, it didn’t twitch. It brought its legs into itself. But I wasn’t done. If I was going to end this, hen I wanted to make sure I made it clear.

I kicked off from the air again and dove straight into the abdomen. Thankfully, the fire bubble that shielded me kept me safe from the goopy acid that I had to burn through before landing on a squishy but slightly hard surface. I looked up and laid my arsenal back onto my barding before trotting forward. My eyes gazed at a bound morphed figure of a pony. Her long mane covered her face as she was slumped forward. Her lower body had morphed into the ground. As I got closer, I noticed her moving slightly. She was breathing.

The changeling looked up now. Slowly, but met her eyes on mine. The pale green staring back at me.

“You… worthless…” she rasped. I furrowed my brows. She was in a poor state. Almost sickly.

“It’s over, Chrysalis. Stand down.” I said. Chrysalis slumped again before speaking.

“It’s… never over…” she rasped. “It has… only just… begun…” that was when I marched forward and gave a good Ms. Cheerilee bop on her head. The changeling queen looked at me tiredly, but I could see she was surprised by this.

“Enough of this. Don’t you realize what you are doing? You are only killing yourself. I may be good at illusion spells, but I know my limits. You were just too stubborn to see it.” I then unsheathed Compassion and pointed it at her. It took a moment for the queen to react to me, but I had gotten what I wanted. “I’ve been holding you at sword point for a good two minutes.” I then resheathed the sword and sighed. “You may be a queen. But even you can’t sustain your magic without the aid of love. But I know one thing that you can try to be.”

The queen rasped a chuckle.

“To be a better pony?” she rasped. She slumped again. “Funny… I remember… that annoying pest saying… the exact samething.” I shook my head.

“No, not just a pony. A person. Look at Comp… err I mean Chi’xa.” I said. “He wandered the Wasteland, searching for some pony he can talk too. He then met a friend of mine and I guess the two hit it off pretty well. And after the whole ordeal of running from your retrieval group, he had found his way to me.” I bowed my head now. “He was… quiet at first. I wasn’t sure if it was because he was scared or just trying to think about what had happened that led him to me. Despite him being disguised as somepony I knew long ago, I’ve began to notice something about him.” I smiled up at the queen. She waited for me to speak.

“He is resilient. He has always supported. He had always prepared us. I couldn’t count the many times he had saved my ass. And that little thing I pulled with my sword? He did the exact same thing to me when I was at my darkest. And despite that, he went out of his way to make sure that I would fall back onto him. And not just to him but our friends as well. The friends he made.” I remember seeing Comp snoozing with Goldenlee. Always sleeping on either Rex’s or Brick’s back. Then, I remember how he worked with me to save my home from raiders. How he got almost a thousand people to help get me to sleep because I was too paranoid about Sombra.

Queen Chrysalis looked in tired awe at me. Again, I must have projected my thoughts out loud.

“Why… would he do something… like that?” she asked. I smiled again.

“Because he is a friend. One I’m willing to go through hell and back just to save.” I rubbed the back of my head now. “Chrysalis… I may not know your entire history on why you are how you are. But that doesn’t mean you can’t change. If Comp… err…. Chi’xa, could change. Then you can too. You don’t have to live this life of solitude. This life of spite. I know that feeling all too well.” To her utter shock and surprise, I hugged her. “War never changes. But people can.”

The queen was at a loss for words. I kept hugging her. And it was the honest truth. In fact… me and her aren’t so different. Hell, there are probably a ton of people out there that have those problems now. Some may not be so lucky. But if they are willing to have that courage to face those problems, then they have the will to keep living on. Because everyone has a road to walk. Everyone has a chance at redemption. I pulled away and gave a reassuring smile to the queen.

She suddenly slumped and for a good few minutes she was quiet. I gave her that moment to process this before she finally spoke.

“Savior….” She rasped. I nodded. “I don’t… have much time to… sustain myself…” I tilted my head a little in confusion. “I’ve practically… used all the love I was given for 200 years. I used it to feed myself. To create… the magic you defeated. I… got careless. And I….” I noticed something streaking down her cheeks. “I’ve turned my back… on my own children… my own kingdom…” she lifted her head a little. “A queen… should never do… such a thing. If we are to rule… then we must treat them… with our care…” she then chuckled weakly. “I guess… that goody two shoes of a princess and her pet… were right about it…” I bowed my head.

To think of the suffering she had when she was defeated by Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. How she was bested by Twilight and her friends. And while her cause was that of harm, it doesn’t mean that she was a bad pony before. Forget that part where they were born of corrupt magic. If one of them could see the way of good intentions and go out of their way to befriend them, then they could have as well. Maybe… the Queen Chrysalis wouldn’t be as spiteful. As lonely as she has been. Maybe Chryxal wouldn’t have attacked Las Pegasus. And maybe Comp… err… Chi’xa would probably lead a better life then having to suffer from traumatic amnesia. The queen suddenly began to fizzle a bit. I furrowed my brows as I noticed dark wisps rising from her body.

“My time is up. Savior… I have… one request… if you are willing to hear me out…” she said. I gave her a serious look and nodded. “My son… Chi’xa… maybe the only one left to live through this… the others don’t know how to live outside the kingdom… So I ask… that you please… always keep him close to you… Never lose him to evils this land spawns. I don’t ask as a queen… but… as a friend… maybe?” I smiled and put a hoof to my chest. The same little salute me and my sibling gave to Post Box before we left on deliveries after debriefings.

“You have my word… as a friend.” I said. That was when I noticed a smile. And then I watched. Watched as the queen was slowly fading from existence. The magic that had born her fading into the air. Bit by bit, her being was being ripped apart. But she was smiling.

“Good… I’ll be holding your word on that.” She then slumped again and let out a sigh. Her face was peaceful. I watched as the changeling queen faded. And before I knew it… she was gone. I blinked and noticed Din standing next to me.

Hmph. You still believe ponies to look past their ways and find redemption. I smirked at her.

“Well, if I could be offered redemption from my friends, then maybe I can offer others redemption at a chance to be the person they wanted to be.” I said. Din turned and began walking. She spoke before vanishing in a blink of an eye.

Redemption. I am curious as to how this will play out.

I sighed and stood up, feeling the warmth come back to me. I then imagined a door. A door with an insignia on it. When I blinked again, it appeared in front of me. I reached out a hoof and opened the door, stepping through to find myself standing in front of the base of the jagged castle. I looked up to see the corpse of the arachnid.

Redemption. Maybe it wasn’t so bad as I had made it out to be. Despite all the negative things, I can look past it and head for the positive. I smiled as I trotted over, seeing the backs of my friends. They were waiting quietly before Goldenlee spoke.

“She’s been in there for a while.” She said worriedly. The older Comp shouldered his rifle and began to flap his wings before Gretel stopped him.

“Where are you going?” she asked. Comp turned.

“To get a friend back.” He said. I nickered a little. Probably a bit too loudly. They turned and balked when they saw me leaning against a tree. I smiled and waved at them.

“Courier? How did you…” Comp began. But he didn’t get a chance to finish. Rex bolted past him, wagging his tail and licking my cheek. I laughed and patted the timberwolf on his head. Then, I was pulled into a hug by Iris. Next, she was followed by Star, by Goldenlee, by Brick. And then, Comp. Our Comp. I did my best to hug my friends.

I had told them what had happened. I didn’t leave out any detail. They listened with awe and surprise. Once I was finished, my friends took a moment to exchange glances before older Comp spoke.

“A damn stubborn mare if I ever met one.” He said with a smirk. That’s when he faced the changeling. Comp seemed to have dropped the disguise. He shrunk back a little. But older Comp smiled. “You don’t need to be worried about that anymore. I told you it would work out in the end. I knew it was a right call to take my form.” Chi’xa bowed his head before looking up at him with a serious look.

“Don’t ever do that again…” he said. Comp rubbed the back of his head.

“Well… you seemed like a pretty cool dude to run with. I’d hate to see you being caught like that.” I smiled. As the two were apologizing to each other, I felt a somepony giving me a look behind me. I turned and saw Gretel sitting next to Hansel. I then trotted over to her and Gretel blinked in surprise, realizing what she was doing. She shrunk a little. I smiled at her.

“So… you have a thing for Comp?” I immediately said. She balked and flushed, waving her hooves in front of her.

“W-what!? No I-I… well… no… I just…” I shook my head, chuckling. I then looked over to Iris.

“Hey, Iris?” she looked at me with a bit of confusion. My pretty cool mare trotted over to me.

“What’s up?” she asked. I then put a hoof under her muzzle and brought her in for a long wet kiss. Her wings pomfed in surprise, but she returned it none the less. When we finished, I pulled away and smirked at the surprised twins. Iris rubbed the back of her head, flushing a little.

“Gretel. You really have nothing to worry about. Comp is a friend. My heart only belongs to this pretty cool mare here.” I then furrowed my brows after seeing her surprised but relieved look. I heard the horned pony chuckle mischievously. “However, I do remember him being pretty popular with the fillies in our class.”

She flushed again, her heart must have skipped a beat. Iris nudged me and smirked.

“Don’t be mean to the poor mare.” She said. I giggled and winked at her. Gretel seemed at a loss for words. It was Hansel who spoke.

“I guess what my sister is trying to say is thank you for clearing up any misconceptions.” He said as he arched a cool brow at his sister. Gretel blinked and bowed her head. Poor mare. I then heard the winged pony giggle a little. Okay, teasing aside, I felt kinda bad now. I put a hoof to her shoulder and she stiffened a little.

“Have you actually tried talking with him?” I asked. Gretel once again flushed more and waved her hooves in front of her.

“O-of course I have! B-but I mean, well we were so busy trying to gather research and then you came along a-and then we were caught up in trying to save your friends and I…I…” she faltered when I gave her a stern look. She sighed. “I… haven’t really talked with him. I mean… I have talked to him. But… it was always business.” Hansel nodded.

“Like I said. When Comp joined us, he was a complete mystery. Always straight to the point and willing to take a bullet for anyone of us in the process.” He said.

“And that cool mane… and pretty eyes… and that bad boy attitude.” I smirked when Gretel swooned at this. She then blinked and flushed more. “Err… what I mean to say is that he’s a good friend that I’m willing to take a bullet for too!” she corrected. I shook my head.

“Okay, if I have been called a lost cause of a mare because I can’t make any dresses I wear look good on me, then you are lost cause for trying to express yourself to him.” I smiled when she bowed her head. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t try. Comp doesn’t mind the company. I know he didn’t when we were cadets in combat training.” I looked over to him. He was answering the questions of my companions. I then looked at Iris, who winked at me.

“B-but… when you came around… he seemed more… happier than usual. Almost… relaxed.” Gretel said. “And then you started showing all these little tricks that seemed to even impress him more. I… I don’t think I could ever win his favor after that…” I rolled my eyes with a smile.

“Comp was always making me look bad when we were cadets. So I figured I get back at him somehow.” I said. Gretel sighed.

“You just… seemed like the kind of mare he always had interests in.” she said. I tilted my head at this and it was Hansel that cleared it up.

“Gorge and Killer once asked Comp about his type of mare and without skipping a beat he said ‘One who can kick ass and has an attitude to boot’.” He said. I then laughed, much to the twin’s confusion. I looked over to Comp. I guess I must have laughed a little too loudly as my friends and his companions were looking our way.

“You are still telling ponies about the bad girl interests again?” I asked. Comp blinked before smirking.

“Whatever do you mean? If a mare can kick ass then that’s fine by me.” He said with a shrug. I sighed and shook my head.

“If I’m a lost cause for a mare, then you must be a lost cause of a stallion.” I said. He playfully winced and planted a hoof to his chest.

“Ohh, right in the soft spot.” He said before chuckling.

“So, Comp. I’ve been wondering what it’s like to travel the eastern coast of the Wasteland?” Star asked. Comp turned to talk to him and I focused my attention back to the twins. Gretel seemed a little confused, but I could see the relief in her.

“You just have to try. Comp may act the bad boy but deep down, he’s just a pretty cool stallion to run with.” I said. Gretel darted her eyes in thought. Then she stood up and nodded.

“Y-you’re right!” she said. “I-If I’m to get anywhere with him, I have to actually try.” She then trotted over to the group and caught their attention. I felt a hoof pat on my shoulder.

“Oh boy. I think you gave her too much of an edge.” He said with a smile. He then trotted over to them. I felt a wing being draped around me and I was pulled in for a kiss. I returned it to my pretty cool mare before looking into her beautiful silver eyes. I then felt my happy expression falter a bit. I remembered what Din told me. Iris arched a brow at me.

“Everything okay, babe?” she asked. I bit my lip. 'Should I tell her?' You should. You told yourself you would never lie to your friends. I agreed with the winged pony. But that doesn’t mean you actually have lied to your friends. The horned pony was right. But what if… I dance around the truth? I tell her exactly but wing it a bit. I then smiled at her.

“Yeah. Hey Iris, when we get back to our home, do you think maybe we can just have a moment between us?” I asked. Iris gave me a suggestive smile, which made me tingle a little. I then looked over to our chatting companions. I looked at my PipBuck and scrolled through the map. I was surprised to see that Pleasant Town was about twenty miles west. I frowned. I didn’t like the idea of us traveling through the woods. But what if… I stood up and walked over in between Iris and my friends. I heard the area go quiet. I then felt the warmth rise in me.

I blinked once and the familiar door appeared.

“A door? How long has that been there?” I heard Gorge ask. I smiled and turned to them.

“I err… brought it into reality?” I said. I looked back at the door. “This door should take us back home. If Lyon can travel through runes. Then maybe we can have our own means of fast travel.” Chi’xa trotted over and stood next to me. He then nodded before looking at me. I opened the door with my magic and they were surprised when they saw the familiar town being over looked by a hill. Comp balked.

“Is that…” he asked. I nodded. Comp looked at me and furrowed his brows. “I… do you think everyone will be okay about me returning to them?” he asked. I shrugged.

“Dunno. That’s for you to find out.” I said with a cool smirk. Comp rubbed the back of his head before shaking away whatever thought he had and nodding.

“Alright… I’m ready…” he said. I turned to my companions. They nodded to me. Comp’s companions stood next to Comp.

“It’s been one hell of a ride.” Killer rasped. “But I’m dying to get back out there and explore what I missed.” Gorge whole heartedly agreed. Gretel however spoke up.

“I-I’m fine with wherever Comp plans to go!” she said. Hansel smiled and shook his head at his sister.

“Well, we siblings have to stick together.” He said. Comp smiled at them before turning to me and nodding. With a deep breath and bracing ourselves. We stepped through the door. When we did, we were standing on the hill overlooking my home. Our home. I heard the door close and with a blink it was gone. I smiled. I felt good. Really good! I took a hoof step forward and my friends followed.

'These were ponies I can fall back on.' I looked at Chi’xa. 'Who he can fall back on. Because we are people. People who have a chance at redemption. The courage to face it.'

And it all starts here.

Footnote: Max Level reached!

Quest Perk Added: Illusionary Fast Travel: Your mind has expanded on the possibilities of travel. You can now think of any place you have been too and go there by only stepping through a door.

Author's Notes:

We are nearing the end of this story. I apologize for the long waits. But this is a story that I had deemed long ago to be an ultimatum. Of course, with the three year long writers block, I eventually stated to myself that perhaps I should just look upon it and get better at future stories.

And I am grateful for you, the reader, to have stuck with this for so long and tolerated my poor judgement of names and cheesy development of characters. You guys are the best.