Cadance sat quietly at a small table with a content little smile on her lips, a tray holding a pot of coffee as well as cream, sugar and two cups resting just in front of her. Sitting just off to the left of that was another, smaller tray filled with muffins, cinnamon rolls and cookies, which were made fresh that morning. She held the local Canterlot newspaper in her hooves, part of it resting on the table in front of her, her eyes filled with a hint of mirth as she skimmed across one article in particular. In it, the writer described just how wonderful the Gala was the night before. They wrote about how the elite ponies wore the most amazing fashions and danced to wonderful music however, that was not what drew the most attention that night.

Placed just above the article was a small black and white picture of Princess Luna dancing with Grevin, both dressed in their Gala attire looks of contentment on their faces. It seems that the writer was absolutely thrilled to see the Lunar Princess out and in public however, they were even more enamored by her date, “The Hero of Canterlot”. Were they an official couple? Was it a simple date? Was Princess Luna trying to seduce him in order to use him to usurp the throne from her sister? Cadance rolled her eyes at that last one. Some of these writers need to get out more.

Her attention was pulled away from the newspaper when she heard the soft creak of the door opening across the room. She allowed a small smirk to come over her lips as she watched Grevin slowly step inside the room, his head down with his hair ruffled far worse than any case of bedhead. To say his wrinkled clothing was disheveled was an understatement, his shirt partially tucked into his slacks, his jacket draped over his arm. She said nothing as he slowly turned and closed the door behind him, clearly unaware of her presence in the room, waiting for him to turn back around and face her before speaking.

The door softly clicked shut and Grevin slowly turned around, his mind still in a tired haze after the night he had, and he rested back against the door letting his head rest back until it softly thunked against the door. It was then he heard a soft giggle from across the room causing him to focus his gaze on Princess Cadance who was smirking at him from the table she sat at. “…Princess…”

She smiled and used her magic to raise a cup of coffee up and took a sip before turning to face him directly. “Sir Hades…”

He frowned slightly and straightened himself up to his full height, popping his neck slightly as he did so. “So…I have to ask…is it you and your aunt or do all Alicorns just ignore protocol and enter a person’s room whenever they feel like it?”

Cadance used her magic to slide out the chair next to her while simply smiling at him. “It depends on how much interest we have in the individual. Come sit with me and have some food…you look like you could use it.”

He pursed his lips together for a moment before letting out a small sigh and moving across the room. He draped his jacket across the back of the chair and silently sat down in front of her, reaching out to take a muffin from the tray and taking a large bite pausing for a moment as the rich flavor washed over his taste buds. “Alright…so…”

Cadance smiled as she tilted her head to the side taking a long slow breath from her nose. She closed her eyes as a content sigh escaped her, her cheeks taking on a slightly rose color hue. “So…How was your night? Did you enjoy some vigorous activity with Aunt Luna?”

He didn’t blink as he took another bite of his muffin and then poured himself a cup of coffee taking a small sip of it before answering her. “And what makes you think I was doing something with Luna?”

She leaned forward slightly letting her tongue dart out over her lips. “Easy, you reek of sweat and sex… her scent is all over you. Even if that wasn’t the case It was easy enough to put two and two together when you two left last night…not to mention it was clear to Aunt Celestia and I how she felt about you. So…?”

He frowned a bit and sat back in his seat crossing his arms. “So…what?”

She rolled her eyes and ruffled her wings slightly. “Will you stop being so secretive. I know Luna bedded you…She’s been wanting to do that for a while now. When you two left the Gala it was easy to see that what she had in mind.”

“So if you know all that then why are you asking me questions?”

She tilted her head to the side allowing her multicolored mane to brush over her cheeks. “Because I want to know if she finally opened up to you…I want to know if she told you how she truly feels.”

“Oh…”

She smirked wistfully at him then. “Not to mention I want to get a preview of what I’ll hear later when I sit down and talk with her.”

He frowned and shook his head. “Whatever happened between Luna and I is simply that, between Luna and I. “

Cadance smirked. “Oh Grevin…you’re so naïve. Haven’t you heard of girl talk before? I intend to find out every juicy little detail.”

“You know Princess, for a mare that is married you sure seem to be spending a lot of time peeking into my sex life.”

She stuck her tongue out and shook her head. “Love life Grevin, your love life. I want to make certain you find happiness here in Equestria and so far the herd you’ve been forming seems to be doing a wonderful job of helping you to emotionally heal…you needed them.”

Her eyes softened as she looked down at her hooves a moment. “…and Aunt Luna needs you. As much as she tries to hide it, she spent a long time alone…she had no companionship during her exile and she was feared quite a bit when she returned…you were the first one to catch her eye in a long, long time.”

Grevin sighed and took another small sip of his coffee, his own gaze lowering. “I can only imagine that kind of loneliness. I’ll…I’ll do my best to keep her happy Cadance. She deserves at least that.”

Cadance smiled softly and nodded. “She isn’t the only one but thank you Grevin.”

He blinked a moment before quirking an eyebrow. “Wait…what?”

She shook her head quickly sending a bright smile his way. “Oh, nothing. So when do you have to return to Ponyville?”

*Elsewhere*

Celestia stood at the edge of her balcony, her eyes closed enjoying the soft, warm breeze that washed over her and across her wings. From where she stood, the only sound was the soft chirping of some birds flying by on their way to another part of Canterlot. Otherwise it was completely silent, peaceful…calm enough to let the Solar Princess gather her thoughts. Here she didn’t have to worry about the petty squabbles of the Canterlot nobles nor the true concerns of the ponies that looked up to her as almost god-like. Here she could let her guard down if even for a few moments to let her mind wander to items of a more personal nature.

Slowly she allowed her wings to spread open, the breeze catching them just enough to make them lift slightly causing her to shift on her hooves. She suddenly surged forward, throwing herself over the edge of the balcony allowing herself to fall into a graceful dive. She felt her pulse quicken slightly as the wind whistled past her ears for a few seconds before snapping her eyes open and spreading her wings wide making her pull up into a simple glide. She flapped her wings for a moment raising her altitude and giving her time to circle the castle once before seeing her landing site come into view. She slowed her speed and within moments she found herself on the balcony of her sisters room.

Using her magic she quietly unlocked the large ornate double doors to Luna’s room and opened them just enough to let herself in, closing them behind her with a soft click. Taking a moment to let her eyes adjust to the darkness of the room, Celestia slowly let her gaze move around the room noting the various changes in the room from the previous day. The most prominent of which was the scent that permeated the air. She was old enough to know the scent of her sister but she was surprised to just how much of Grevin’s scent filled the air as well. She shook her head clearing her thoughts as she began to move into the room. “Oh Lu-Lu….where are you?”

There was a small grunt from the bed where, if one looked close enough, a lump in the sheets shifted slightly as if it were trying to snuggle into the bed further than it already was. Celestia smirked and trotted over and once she was a couple of feet away from the edge she launched herself onto the bed easily bouncing the concealed Luna out of her covers with a shriek of surprise. “Good morning dear sister. Have a late night?”

Luna glared at her sister as she sat herself up and settled down into a comfortable position with her covers wrapping around her prone form. She then shook her head in an attempt to remove her mane from her a small yawn escaping her lips. “Well…yes Tia, it was a long, hard night…but it was quite rewarding.”

Celestia smiled and lowered her head while taking a small sniff from the bed sheets. “From the way your scents are mingled I’m willing to bet you both found it quite rewarding.”

Luna broke into a smile and giggled as she flopped onto her side her legs splayed in such a way that Celestia could see a small trickle of white running down her sister's back thighs. “Oh Celestia, it was wonderful! I haven’t felt this good since before…well…Nightmare…”

Celestia leaned down slightly, “…Luna…I’m happy for you. He is a good soul. I think he’ll help bring out even more of your best.” She lightly nuzzled her sister on the cheek only to quickly pull back when she felt a slight sticky patch against her fur. “I-i-is that…what I fear it is?”

Her cheeks quickly began to redden while Luna lightly licked her lips and giggled once more. “I’m sorry about that Tia…I don’t think I cleaned up quite as much as I should have before falling asleep.”

Celestia continued to blush as she turned her head to the side avoiding her sister's gaze. “Just…how long did you have him going Luna? Surely you would have found some time to clean up before bed.”

Luna paused as she watched her sister, her head tilting ever so slightly as she did so. Something was different with her…it was subtle though. Celestia had always been good at hiding her emotions, and the past thousand years allowed her to find even more time to perfect her craft but her siblings intuition told her something was wrong. She leaned moved onto her stomach and pushed herself closer to the Solar Princess, allowing her hooves to slide over her back gently, pulling the older mare into a soft hug. “It wasn’t I who had him going sister…once he started he continued and didn’t stop until satisfied. Sure we both played the role of being the dominate one but he never once complained when I wanted to take him again and again…nor I when he wanted me…”

Celestia frowned and cleared her throat as she brushed her hoof over her cheek in an attempt at wiping off whatever had become caught in her fur. “Well, I’m not sure if I needed to hear that but…I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. So…what do you intend to do now?”

Luna frowned and lightly rubbed her hoof over Celestia's back. “Sister…it wasn’t a fling…you know this. I have feelings for him, strong ones.” She looked at Celestia's face giving a brief moment of pause as a realization came to her causing her eyes to widen and a small frown to come over her lips. “…But I’m not the only one…am I Tia…?”

Celestia said nothing as she closed her eyes letting the question hang there while her sister watched her with a hardened gaze. After a few seconds Celestia slowly shook her head and turned to face Luna wrapping her wings around her in a firm hug. “Sister…I am not the impulsive mare I once was. I know how you and the others care for him and I can assure you that I don’t. I have a high respect for him, nothing more. You have nothing to worry about from me.”

Luna leaned into the embrace returning it gently though her face clearly showed that she didn’t believe a word of what Celestia said. She knew Celestia held Grevin in higher regard than just a friend, she had seen it the day he spoke to firmly with her when Canterlot was under attack. Nopony had ever spoken to Celestia that way…and Luna could tell that it stirred something deep inside her. “…Alright…if you say so…”

“I do. So…care to share any details?”

“Details? What do you mean?”

Celestia smirked and tilted her head, a look of mischief in her eyes “Honestly Luna, how long has it been since you’ve gossiped with me? I want to talk like we did when we were fillies…how big is he, is he a savage in the sheets…How does he taste?”

Luna’s cheeks were a dark red at this point. “Tia! I thought you only saw him as a friend!”

Celestia ducked as Luna flung a pillow at her, a laugh escaping her. “I may be a friend to him but I am still your sister and a mare. I can’t help but want to gossip. After all his story is quite romantic…a mysterious, emotionally wounded yet good soul finds himself in a mysterious land somehow not only finds a place for himself but also finds love.”

Luna rolled her eyes and nodded. “You’re as bad as Cadance. I don’t know if I feel right sharing such details quite yet…but I will say that he cares for his partners pleasure more than his own. Now will you allow me to clean up so I can join you and our niece for breakfast?”

Celestia nodded as she rose from the bed. “Very well sister. I’ll see you there.”

Making her way towards the door, Celestia sent her sister a warm smile before stepping through into the hallway pausing once the large silver doors closed behind her. She took a moment to look from side to side, her gaze lingering on Grevin’s quarters for a few seconds before a small hint of red came to her cheeks.

*Ponyville*

Tabitha was pacing back and forth in the barn loft, the early morning light filtering in from outside casting everything in a gentle glow. It felt wrong…very wrong. Something had happened with Grevin, she just knew it! He had only been gone a few days but she could feel it in her gut. To make matters worse, her attempts at breaking the shy Pegasus Fluttershy failed miserably thanks to that Emerald green pony and once those two spoke to Twilight and Applejack all the ponies who had once given her a chance were now beginning to look at her with great suspicion.

Sure they hid it well but she could see the way they would watch her as she worked through her chores on the farm. Applejack would seem friendly but those green eyes were always watching her from a distance. In her opinion though, they had good reason to be worried about her. After all she was going to take back her love and make them pay for twisting his thoughts. Once he saw how she loved him he wouldn’t look at those ponies ever again and perhaps, together they could find a way to take control of the feeble fools that rule this world.

However, first she needed to find a way to get Grevin alone, away from the prying eyes of his captors. One there he would be free to truly express himself and tell her that he had been trying to maintain an act, that those…those ponies had him in some form of duress. They had too…he needed her help to be free and then they could be together.

A sick little giggle escaped her as she lightly cupped her cheeks with her hands, her eyes wide with madness, as she thought about how he would embrace her, tell her he was sorry for everything he said and thank her for helping him escape his captors. “Oh…Grevin…I know you’re just hiding your true feelings.”

But those ponies wouldn’t give him up without a fight…no they made that quite clear already. She would need to do something to ensure their happiness…something drastic.

Turning to the small pile of her armor she suddenly wished she had her weapons with her…she would be able to do so much with them in her hands but for now…she needed to wait, she needed to plan. She needed to make sure everything was perfect. Going on an attack wouldn’t do a thing to further her cause…no, she needed him to see her in a different light…perhaps something more sympathetic.

She turned and took a moment to look out at the orchard, and more specifically the Edge of the Everfree Forest. It was there that she saw something that truly drew her attention. Far in the distance she could see a faint but ominous red glow pulsing in the dark depths of the forest. “Well, well well…what could this be?” Perhaps she had found something that could aid her in her…quest.

*Canterlot, Grevin’s Quarters*

Grevin quietly ground his teeth together as he moved around him room, doing his best to clean himself up and prepare for the day despite the Pink Alicorn that continued to distract him while sitting comfortably in a nearby chair, her eyes watching him constantly. He had indulged her a bit but after some time he had tried to make it clear that she needed to leave so he could shower and change but either she didn’t understand his meaning or she had something else in mind.

“Cadance…Princess…Are you certain you have nothing else to do right now? Surely there are more important things for you to do besides watch me get cleaned up.”

Cadance smirked as she rose from her chair hopping down only to, much to his dislike, trot over to his bed where, with a single flap of her wings, she jumped up onto the soft comforter and turned to face him as she laid down on her stomach and crossed her forelegs so they hung slightly over the edge of the bed. “No, my schedule is unusually clear today…now that the Gala is finished we all get a little bit of free time until next week.”

Grevin slid his jacket carefully onto its hanger making certain to keep it from wrinkling further than it already has. “Why? What’s next week?”

She tilted her head the side letting her mane shift lightly across her cheek as her eyes slowly moved over his form as if she were inspecting him like a piece of meat, a small smile coming to her lips as her eyes finally locked onto his once more causing a nervous sensation to form in the pit of his stomach for a split second. “Well in Ponyville it’s the running of the leaves but in the rest of Equestria will be preparing for Winter and Hearths Warming Eve.”

He blinked a moment as he let raised his fingers up to begin to unbutton his shirt but paused when he saw the pink Alicorn watching him with what he could only describe as an unsettling gaze. “I vaguely remember talking about some of these holidays your culture celebrates but what is that one about? Is there anything I should do to prepare for it?”

Cadance leaned forward slightly, her eyes darting to his fingers then back to his face before nodding. “Well, yes. Hearth's Warming Eve is a holiday in which all of Equestria celebrates the founding of our country and how our friendship and love banished evil Wendigos from freezing us all to death. It is customary for ponies to give their special sompony a gift from the heart thus making it unique and special.”

Grevin let his hands slide back to his side noting the small frown on the Princess's lips as he did so. “Well…that may prove difficult. I don’t have any bits so I’ll have to get creative.”

This only caused the pink Alicorn to smirk and tilt her head to the side as she looked at him from the bed. “Well that could go very well for your, or very poorly. What do you think you would do for all your mares?”

He shrugged his shoulders slightly as he crossed his arms and allowed himself to rest back against a wall, his head tilted downward somewhat. “I..I don’t know. This isn’t something I’m exactly good at…after all, the whole having a special someone, let alone several, is new to me. The more I think about it the more nervous I begin to feel. With as much kindness that I’ve been given by the girls…I have to make sure to give them something quite special.”

Cadance nodded in understanding, closing her eyes for a moment in thought. “I can understand your position but you shouldn’t make the mistake that many stallions do by over thinking things.”

“What do you mean?”

She opened her eyes to look at him directly a soft smile on her lips. “Many times a stallion will try to purchase a highly expensive gift with the hope that money will translate to love. However, more often than not, they miss the mark and end up making their mares feel as though they aren’t special thus placing tension on the relationship.”

He pursed his lips slightly as a small sigh escaped him. “I see…well in Bastion you would always hear stories about these lords who would purchase these beautiful gems for their wives and mistresses….”

“…And what happened after they were presented with those gifts…”

His paused for a moment before looking up so his gaze locked onto hers, a small hint of a nervous tone coming to his voice. “Well…I know there were many assassinations, coups, murders…orchestrated by wives and mistresses….oh….I see…”

Cadance nodded with a small laugh. “Yes I imagine you do. Love isn’t something that can always be summed up with a single object. It’s more than that. Don’t worry though, nothing like what you’ve heard will happen to you. Don’t forget that Equestria is nothing like Bastion.”

He pushed himself off the wall and began to move toward the bathroom, taking a towel from a nearby linen rack as he moved past it. “I find that I am more and more thankful for that with each passing day.” He looked over his shoulder at the pink mare who continued to watch him with a soft gaze. “I’ll take what you said into account…but if you’ll excuse me I really need to get cleaned up.”

Cadance smiled warmly as she moved from her position on the bed to her hooves. “Very well, I’ll leave you too it. I’ll see you a bit later today Grevin.” With that she gave a small nod and turned trotting away with a small spring in her step.

Grevin simply sighed and shook his head as he made his way to the shower. If what he suspected was true, then she was now off to gossip with her aunt about the night previous. Hopefully Luna wouldn’t give her too many details.

-Canterlot Castle: Midmorning, Royal Dining Chamber-

Cadance trotted into the royal dining room with a small spring in her step and a smile on her lips. She looked over at the table to see both Celestia and Luna sitting at the large table both quietly eating plates filled with the finest looking pastries and fruit. “Good morning everypony.”

Luna smiled warmly at her niece as she popped a strawberry in her mouth. “Good morning niece, please gather a plate for yourself and join us…we have much to discuss.”

Cadance made her way across the room to the lush buffet, levitating a small plate over from the far side and loaded it up with several berries and a small salad before turning to return to the table and take her seat near her aunts. “Very well, what do we need to speak of?”

Celestia sighed slightly as she gently pushed her now empty plate away and levitated her cup of tea up from the table. “There have been rumblings of trouble in the badlands region. We don’t know exactly what is going on there but what we can gather from the information we have, something big is going on.”

Cadance frowned as she slowly inhaled a calming breath. “Changelings…”

Celestia nodded. “It appears so…but like all things, there may be more going on than what we know…There is something else that concerns us all here…”

Luna turned her head to look at Cadance a sad look in her eyes. “Aye…My sister speaks the truth. There have been a few reports that came to us a few days ago. They stated that Discord was seen heading that way…with a man…”

Cadance blinked a moment before quickly shaking her head , her eyes going wide. “No…no surely not…”

Luna smiled softly and nodded. “No dear niece, it wasn’t Grevin. He was in Ponyville at the time of the sighting…not to mention he wouldn’t be near Discord without a weapon drawn…however this does still cause us concern.”

Cadance nodded as she let her gaze fall to the plate before her. “If it wasn’t Grevin…could it be the one named Davick…the one Grevin considers his nemesis?”

Celestia nodded once more. “Yes, we suspect that Discord has taken that…man…under his wing so to speak and joined forces with him.” She leveled her gaze at Cadance and then Luna, “You can imagine the concern regarding this.”

Luna turned her head and looked at Cadance. “Cadance…If Discord and that man join forces with Chrysalis…All of Equestria could be at risk.”

For a few moments Cadance said nothing, allowing herself time to digest the possible implications that such an alliance could have. Closing her eyes she held her hoof to her chest and took a slow breath, letting it out just as slowly, allowing it to calm her nerves before opening her eyes once again to look at her aunt's. “I understand. Not only could an alliance of those three be dangerous, but if Canterlot were to be attacked and you two…captured…I would need to take command of the kingdom.”

Cadance frowned and looked at her two aunts with a concerned gaze. “Why are we discussing that though? We have faced challenges before and come out on top. After all we have the Elements of Harmony, and on top of that, a Spectral Knight. Grevin has experience facing that man and I have no doubt that he will be of great aid against any threat against the kingdom.”

Luna smiled softly, a knowing look in her eyes. “Yes…and while it is excellent to have such things in our favor we still want to make certain that we have plans ready in case anything were to happen.”

“I understand…while it isn’t something I like to discuss it is good to know Equestria will continue to thrive in case anything happens. I promise I’ll do my best to keep Equestria prosperous and peaceful.”

Celestia nodded in agreement as a small smile came to her lips. “Well, now that we have discussed that matter, I have another item I’d like to talk about.” She sat back in her chair, a small frown on her lips. “With the possible threat from the Changeling nation, the need for information is more pressing than ever. We need to know what they are up too. If they are amassing an army we need to ready our defenses however, I don’t think sending a recon team would be advisable in this situation.”

Cadance nodded in agreement. “That does make sense. Even if we were to send in the fastest fliers we had, we would run the risk of them being caught, taken hostage and replaced by changelings.”

Luna rested her left hoof on the table, her face stoic and unchanging. “That cannot be allowed. Our options regarding this are limited. We haven’t see any signs of troop movement at the borders however, I still would be far more at ease knowing what they were up too.”

Celestia said nothing for a moment, allowing herself to look at the two princesses in the eyes before she lowered her head slightly, eyes downcast. “…We do have a strong option…but I don’t know if we should employ it or not.”

Luna allowed her eyes to dart downward and to the side for a moment before once again looking over at her sister. “You mean Grevin. We could have him infiltrate the border and take a look around before reporting back to us.”

Cadance let her gaze snap over to the Lunar Princess and then back to Celestia. “Well…it would be the most practical tactic. The typical changeling couldn’t easily copy him…not to mention he is strong, fast, and fairly stealthy when he needs to be. If he did get into trouble he could fight his way out.”

Luna shook her head, her wings ruffling slightly in agitation though her face showed no change. “Perhaps but do not forget, he is susceptible to magic. The most basic unicorn could do great harm to him if he were to get careless for a moment…now imagine what would happen if it were a changeling, or an army of them. He would need help.”

Celestia shook her head slowly. “No…I don’t think that would be wise. Grevin is used to operating by himself. If he were forced to work with another then he would have to not only focus on his safety but theirs as well. I believe he has the skill needed to take on this task alone.”

Luna narrowed her eyes at Celestia while rising to her hooves leaning forward against the table. “…And what happens if he doesn’t return from his task sister?

Celestia closed her eyes and looked down at her hooves, a sad look on her face. “…I do not know…”

Cadance cleared her throat causing both sisters to snap their attention towards her as she rose to her hooves. “Well…it seems to me that there is a simple solution to this conundrum. First and foremost, we need to approach Grevin and see if he would want to take on this mission and then secondly, if he accepts the mission, will he want to work alone or would he be willing to take a pony with him? If so…then who?”

Celestia looked at Luna for a moment noting the small frown on her lips before turning back to face Cadance. “Very well…let’s finish our breakfast and send for Grevin to meet us in the throne room in an hour and a half.”

The other two Alicorns nodded quietly returning to their respective plates leaving the room in tense silence until Celestia rose up and cleared her throat once more, “I want you both to know that if I had a choice, I wouldn’t take any action involving sending ponies or people away from their loved ones…but we all have to worry about more than just our personal wants…the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few…no matter how difficult.”

With that the Solar Princess slowly stepped away from the table and exited the room all while keeping her head low and eyes averted from her sister. Cadance said nothing as she watched Celestia leave then turned her gaze to Luna who sat in silence, a single tear running down her cheek as she took a shaky breath. “Aunt Luna? Are you alright?”

Luna blinked and quickly turned her head to face her niece before nodding once. “Yes, I am alright. I was just thinking about what Celestia said…and she is right. As much as I don’t like it she is right.”

-Early Evening, Canterlot Train Yard-

Grevin stepped into the private car and tossed his pack onto an empty seat before roughly sitting down near a window, his form slumping as he rested his head against the cool glass a soft sigh escaping his lips as he reached up and lightly pinched the bridge of his nose.

He pursed his lips together as he opened his eyes once more to gaze out at the city of Canterlot once more, the setting sun casting a beautiful glow over the gem of Equestria bringing him a small moment of peace before his mind wandered back to the meeting he had just a few hours before.

-2 Hours Previous-

Grevin stood silently at attention in the center of the royal throne room, his arms behind his back, back straight and eyes forward. In front of him on their respective thrones sat Princess Celestia and Princess Luna while Cadance stood just off to their left sides. The looks on their faces already told him that this meeting was not one of a friendly nature. They had a job for him.

He said nothing, respectfully waiting for one of them to speak his eyes slowly moving back and forth from one princess to the next. After a few moments Luna lightly cleared her throat and lowered her gaze to Grevin, her eyes seeming to pierce right through him. “Sir Hades…do you know why we have requested your presence?”

While his face betrayed nothing, Grevin did feel a small twinge of surprise at the way Luna addressed him but he quickly pushed that thought away. She was a Princess of Equestria before she was a love interest, it would do him well to keep that in mind. Refocusing himself he gently shook his head. “No Princess, I don’t know however, I imagine that something has happened that requires my particular…skill set.”

Luna nodded as he eyes took on a saddened look before turning to her head to look at Celestia who still maintained her soft, motherly smile. “Yes Grevin, we do have need of your services as a Spectral Knight.”

“Very well, I am at Equestria’s service…what will you have me do?”

Celestia lightly cleared her throat before speaking once more, her eyes narrowing as her face became far more serious. “As I’m sure you remember Discord brought a man into Equestria named Davick. Recently we have heard reports of Discord and a man being seen making their way through the Changeling Badlands. These reports are fairly recent and as I’m sure you can imagine, it has us a bit concerned.”

Grevin clenched his jaw for a few moments as he took a slow deep breath in an attempt to calm himself before answering, a small growl escaping his throat as he did. “Davick…I see. If he and Discord join forces with the Changeling armies…it could be catastrophic.”

Cadance nodded as she rose to her hooves and stepped forward. “Yes, the Changelings have been difficult to predict and deal with ever since we defeated Chrysalis at Shining and my wedding. Their armies are far more aggressive than before and as a result our best scouts can’t get a close enough look as to what Davick and Discord are doing there.”

Grevin tilted his head to the side popping his neck with a loud crack causing the pink Alicorn to flinch slightly. “I understand. I will gather my equipment from Ponyville and make my way into the Badlands. Once there I will track down both Davick and Discord. Once I find them I’ll kill Davick and try to take out Discord…I’ll also make certain to take out as many members of the Changeling army as possible.”

Celestia’s eyes widened and she quickly shook her head, a frightened look washing over her features. “What? No! No…that is not your mission.”

Grevin frowned but didn’t move as he turned his gaze back to the Solar Princess. “Not to be rude but may I ask why? It would be best to eliminate the threat of Davick as quickly as possible…and I can only assume you feel the same way about Discord.”

Luna quickly rose to her hooves and stepped forward in front of her sister. “Sir Hades, while we are concerned about both of them, it would be foolish to send you out to assassinate them at this time. We don’t know the Changeling numbers, we don’t know why they are there…to all out attack without doing any reconnaissance would be suicide. Your mission isn’t to attack, it is to gather information.”

Grevin gripped his hands behind his back more firmly, a scowl washing over his face. “You want me to scout it out? You’re kidding right?”

Cadance frowned and stepped forward as well. “Grevin, if you try to take on the entire Changeling force as well as those two you’d end up dead. “

He frowned as he averted his gaze, “…Perhaps…but if I can put a stop to those two monsters…”

“It would do nothing but cause great grief in Equestria.”

Grevin, Luna and Cadance all turned their heads to Celestia who had now risen to her hooves, a frown on her lips, her eyes narrowed. “If you were to sacrifice yourself in this manner, not only would you fail to stop Discord, you would also bring great grief and pain to those who have grown close to you. What good you be doing them if you were to go off and get yourself killed?”

Grevin said nothing for a moment while he glanced over at Luna whose ears had folded back, a sad look forming in her eyes causing him to feel a strong wave to guilt to wash over him. He took a slow breath and shifted slightly on his feet before addressing Celestia once more. “….You’re right. I need to remember I’m not on Bastion anymore. I have something…some ponies to live for now. Very well, I’ll return to Ponyville and gather my equipment. I’ll make my way out to the Bad Lands within the week.”

"That isn’t the only thing though Grevin...there is one more item to discuss about this mission."

-Present Time-

Grevin felt himself fall back against his seat as the Train began to pull away from the train station. Glancing out the window he noticed that the sun has now set and the moon had begun its rise into the night sky. He couldn’t help but find a small smile forming on his lips as he thought about the Lunar Princess and the care she put into her night sky. “…It seems especially beautiful tonight…”

A soft brush of warm air washed over the back of his neck as he heard a warm voice softly whisper in his ear. “Hmmm…I’m glad you think so…” He knew that voice.

Quickly turning, Grevin found that sitting beside him, rather closely at that, was Princess Luna. She wore her traditional garb, but her eyes lacked their normal seriousness. Instead he could see gentleness in them that fit perfectly with the small smile gracing her lips. “L-Luna?”

She smirked and leaned forward pressing herself against him, nuzzling her muzzle into the crook of his neck, her forelegs sliding around his middle pulling herself into a tight embrace. “Hello Grevin.”

He returned the embrace allowing his arms to slide around her soft body enjoying the nuzzle she gave him before pulling back a bit to look her in the eyes. “May I ask why you’ve graced me with your presence?

She pulled back slightly giving him a sad smile before leaning her head down against his chest. “I didn’t want you to think I wanted to send you out on this mission…I didn’t’ wish you to think I would…just use you and throw you away.”

Grevin blinked a moment before smiling softly, closing his eyes as he pulled the mare closer, his fingers sliding gently across her back. “Luna…I know you would never use me in such a manner. You made that quite clear. I also know that I have a responsibility to help Equestria.”

She nods and looks up at him, her lips brushing over his neck in an affectionate nuzzle. “Indeed…we both do. I do pray you will be careful…if anything were to happen to you, Twilight, Applejack, and the rest of us would be hurt deeply.”

He leaned his head down, giving her a kiss on her forehead minding her horn. “I know, don’t worry. I know how to move silently and stay out of trouble.”

She smiled as she pulled back, sitting down on her haunches a foot or so before him now her eyes watching him with a hint of mirth now. “I’m glad to hear that…now as to the other reason why I wished to visit you here.”

He blinked as he shifted in his seat watching her carefully. “Um…well, I was wondering why wanted to visit me here of all places?”

For a moment Luna said nothing and instead allowed her eyes to become half lidded while her horn lit up and then walls of the room began to glow a soft blue hue only to fade to normal moment later. She then darted her tongue across her lips staring at him intently. “Did you know that when a Royal Knight is sent on an assignment it is the duty of the Princesses to ensure they leave with an emboldened spirit?”

He felt his cheeks redden as he shifted himself back a bit further in his seat, the way Luna was staring at him making him nervous. “So…basically rallying them…perhaps help them remember what they are fighting for?”

She nodded as she slowly rose back onto her hooves while her horn began to glow once again. Grevin suddenly felt her magical aura wrap around his wrists and ankles forcing him into a laid back position. “That’s correct…It’s an old tradition but one I’m most interested in keeping.”

She then slowly moved up over him, her muzzle tracing across his thigh, stomach, chest and neck until she was hovering over him, her eyes staring into his, her soft lips brushing against his. “And I intend to do more than just raise your spirits and even give you more of a reason to return quickly from your task.” She leaned her head down and pressed her lips to his in a passionate kiss pressing her tongue into his mouth with a soft moan only to pull back after a few seconds and stare at him once more. “Tell me Sir Hades, how would you like your Princess to begin?”

-The Next Morning-

Grevin slowly woke to find himself swaying slowly from side to side following the motion on the train as it sped along it’s path. He didn’t move as he let his eyes open, enjoying the comfort of the bed, not even blinking as he felt a pair of legs wrap around his chest and pull him back against a soft furry coat. He reached a hand up and slowly stroked the hoof which held him tightly a small smile coming to his lips. “Hmm...good morning…”

He felt a pair of soft lips press against his neck before nuzzling him lightly, a soft sigh sounding in his ear. “Hmm...good morning Grevin...I take it you slept well?”

Grevin smirked as he pulled away and turned over to face Luna more directly, his hands wrapping around her barrel pulling her against him causing her to giggle softly. “I did..it’s almost like I was exhausted and needed to sleep.”

Luna smiled warmly and let her forehead press against his, making certain not to hit him with her horn as she stared into his eyes. “Well...I wouldn’t know why...did somepony keep you awake?”

He leaned forward and captured her lips with his earning a light moan from the Lunar Princess as she began to lean further against him. She slowly slid her hoof down his side only stopping when his hand reached down and gently grasped it causing her to pull back and look at him with a small pout.

Grevin pulled his head back and gently shook his head. “We shouldn’t...If I’m right, we aren’t that far from Ponyville. We need to get cleaned up. otherwise it’s going to be hard to explain why I came walking off the train smelling like pure sex.”

Luna winked as she licked her lips. “I didn’t hear you complaining last night though...and they would know why if I walked out to the station with you...or would you be embarrassed to be seen with me?” She stuck out her bottom lip and looked at him with the saddest eyes she could muster.

Grevin rolled his eyes and softly pressed his lips to hers causing her to let out a content sigh before he pulled back. “You know I would never be embarrassed to be seen with you...honestly how are you not embarrassed by me...after all I’m basically an alien in your culture...won’t ponies talk?”

Luna let him go and began to move to get on her hooves a small snort escaping her. “Nobles and those with too much time always talk...tis the nature of gossip. I say let them talk. I am their princess and I can do as I please…” She looked at him from over her shoulder as she flicked her tail against his chest before using her magic to begin putting her chest piece and shoes back in place, “and it pleases me to have you as my stallion.”

Grevin felt his cheeks light up at the inflection of her voice but did nothing to argue with her as he too began to gather his belongings and dress. “So...will you be joining me in Ponyville before I leave?”

Luna sighed and gently shook her head, her eyes going soft. “No, sadly I must return to the castle...I just wished to see you off in my own unique way. I imagine that the rest of your herd will want to do the same since they will be seeing you off so soon after returning home."

Grevin nodded as he began to dress himself only taking a small moment to look over Luna's form once more before pulling his shirt on. "Yes I imagine so...I don't know how I'm going to keep up with them all."

Luna smirked as she licked her lips "That my dear stallion is easy. You simply have them join in with you that way everypony has fun at the same time."

Grevin said nothing as he continued to blush while pulling on the rest of his clothes only to have Luna turn towards him once more and as his head popped through the top of his shirt she pushed her lips against his in a final, deep kiss.

He quickly returned the kiss only to be pushed back gently by Luna's soft hoof. She smiled warmly at him as she took a small step back. "You should consider what I suggested Grevin...it could be quite fun for you. As for now however, I must go, take care of yourself my knight...I expect you to return from your quest quite soon."

Grevin felt a small smile come to his lips as he took in Luna's beauty one more time. "If my princess expects it, then who am I to deny her."

Luna said nothing as she closed her eyes, a small smirk on her lips, her horn flaring with a bright aura just before she herself disappeared in a bright flash of teleportation magic leaving Grevin alone once more.

Grevin felt a small pang of emptiness when she left but quickly shook his head in attempt to pull himself together only to pause for a moment as a simple realization washed over him. When he first came to Equestria he had no issue keeping to himself, he even prefered it...but now...now things were quite different. Somehow, without him realizing it, these wonderful, multicolored ponies had managed to not only break down every isolating barrier he had created, but also managed to fill a void in him that he didn't know he had.

That however, was nothing compared to the realization that his past mentality of trying to isolate himself was, in fact, a mistake. Twilight and her friends, Luna, Emerald...all of them had changed him for the better, shown him that he didn't need to isolate himself.

He strapped on the last bits of his gear and took a seat on a bench seat looking out the window at the passing landscape. He knew now that this place, this land of Equestria was truly something special, and it was here and now he decided fully in his heart that he would do anything within his power to keep this wonderful place, and those he cared for, safe. No matter what.

-Ponyville Train station, mid morning-

Chrysalis shifted nervously in her hooves as she stood at the train station receiving platform with Twilight and her friends minus Rainbow Dash, who apparently needed to finish up some work with the weather team.

Honestly she didn't feel like she should be here but at the same time, she did promise Grevin that she would keep an eye on things when he left. She glanced over at Fluttershy who seemed quite enthralled by a nearby birds nest and frowned. Tabitha had managed to get under that kind pony's coat and upset her greatly...and even though Fluttershy didn't want to cause a scene, Chrysalis knew she had to inform Grevin.

She couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head as she looked down at her hooves. Here she was, a former queen, reduced to nothing at the hooves of these ponies and yet she found that she couldn't hate them. She had never experienced a ground like this in the Badlands. The swirling emotions of trust, pride, joy, and even love radiating off those six ponies was amazing. It was no longer a surprise to her that she had lost before.

Granted it was Shining Armor and Princess Cadance who gave her the proverbial boot out of Canterlot, but these six clearly would have won against her if they could have reached the Elements of Harmony during the siege.

She was quickly pulled out of her thoughts by the loud whistle of the train approaching the station. She felt a pair of hooves wrap around her neck in a warm hug while the smell of cotton candy wafted to her nose...Pinkie Pie.

"Oh boy Emerald, I just can't wait to see Grevin again. I know it's only been a few days but it feels like it's been months! I can't wait to tell him about everything he missed while he was gone! Oh, oh! I'll have to throw him a welcome back party!"

Chrysalis couldn't help but grin at the energetic mare and even returned the hug with one of her own, a sense of happiness washing through her for a moment. "I suppose you're right Pinkie, a party would be quite fun."

The party pony nodded in agreement before putting her hoof under her chin in thought. "But what kind of games and food should I plan on...Oh looks, there's the train!" She pointed down the tracks where a familiar puff of smoke was growing steadily closer as it approached from the horizon. Within minutes the little train was pulling into the station, it’s wheels squealing as they scraped against the rails while skidding to a final halt a puff of steam shooting out from the engine confirming that it had indeed come to a final rest.

The group of excited mares all quickly made their way over to where the passengers were off loading from the train cars, their eyes scanning for the familiar height of their friend when finally Rarity gasped and raised herself up onto her rear hooves pointing with an excited voice. “Oh look girls, there he is-Wah-Ha-Ha!”

The alabaster mare found herself spinning in place when Applejack, Twilight and Fluttershy all shot past her each one calling out their herd mate. Thankfully Pinkie Pie and Emerald were able to catch the poor mare before she had too many hairs in her mane out of place.

Pinkie giggled as she helped her friend regain her footing. “Wow Rarity, I didn’t know you could spin like that, that was awesome!”

Rarity rolled her eyes before letting them rest on Fluttershy causing a small smile to grace her lips. “No, I suppose I didn’t either, oh well let's go say hello. I want to know just how smashing Grevin looked in the ensemble I gave him.”

Grevin for his part barely had time to step away from the train before he was all but tackled to the platform by his herd-mates. Applejack had barreled into his chest while Twilight his legs and Fluttershy his neck, each of them nuzzling him and asking all manners of questions hardly giving him any time to answer. He quickly dropped his luggage and wrapped his arms around the three holding them close as he dropped to one knee, a content smile gracing his face. He was home.

“It’s good to be back girls! I missed all of you. How is everypony?”

Twilight took a small step back in order to look him in the eyes, her lavender orbs flashing with mischief. “Well we’re all doing quite well but I want to talk with you about your time in Canterlot...how about tonight in the library?”

Applejack shook her head, her blonde mane shifting to frame around her face like a fluffy blonde halo. “Nooope, he’s needed out at the farm Twi...you’re welcome to come by though if you like.”

Grevin could only blink as he sensed a small amount of tension forming within the group. Did they really miss him that much? He had only been gone a couple of days. “Girls, girls, let's settle down. I want to spend time with everypony but first how about we get some breakfast or an early lunch, I’m getting hungry.”

The group seemed to agree with that and within moments they were making their way through Ponyville towards the local cafe. Grevin took a moment to look around the small village, a pleasant feeling washing through him as he took in the sight of the simple yet elegant homes as well as the multi-colored ponies who occupied them. He was home...and it felt good to admit that to himself.

For the next two hours, the group enjoyed a satisfying meal with equally satisfying conversation. Rarity managed to catapult herself into the front of the conversation by asking about the various forms of fashion at the Gala as well as how well the suit she designed for Grevin went over.

That quickly allowed Twilight to ask about how Celestia was doing as well as Cadance and even Luna.

"I have to know Grevin, was Princess Celestia stuck welcoming guests all evening again? What about Cadance and Luna?"

Grevin took another bite of his salad before answering the enthusiastic mare noticing that the entire party seemed to be listening in now. "Well Twilight, Celestia and Cadance both stood at the stairs welcoming guests but Luna and I were able to go out into the crowds and mingle a bit. I even met a representative from the Griffon Empire, it was quite interesting really...for a time..."

Applejack quirked her head to the side, a confused look on her face. "What do you mean Sugar Cube? Did they do something that didn't sit well with you?"

He quickly shook his head "No, not really. It just turns out that I've drawn more on attention than I initially realized. I guess the incident in Canterlot had them worried about me at first, but thankfully they learned enough to know that I pose them no threat...I didn't get to ask much more though before Luna pulled me away to dance."

Pinkie grinned and rose up placing her hooves on the table, leaning forward staring him in the eyes. "Oooooh, you got to dance with Princess Luna? Was it the Pony Pokey, the Chicken Dance, oh-oh-oh was it a sloooow dance?" She wiggled her eyebrows with a sly smirk.

Grevin rolled his eyes and shook his head as he took another bite of his food. "No Pinkie, it was just a typical waltz style. They only did a few slow dances towards the end of the evening."

She grinned and leaned in further. "So you did get to slow dance with her..."

He frowned a bit as he quickly looked around at Twilight and the others noting their unusually calm faces. Perhaps it was true that Luna did receive their blessing. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath preparing to chance fate. "...Well...yes, yes I did."

For a few moments there was silence followed by a few soft giggles causing him to peek open one eye allowing him to see that instead of angry faces, he saw nothing but warm smiles.

Fluttershy moved in close and placed a soft hoof on his thigh drawing his attention to her, her beautiful cyan eyes staring up into his. "Don't worry Grevin, Luna spoke to us before the Gala. We gave her our blessing to..." She paused and averted her gaze, ducking her head under her mane, her cheeks beginning to burn a soft red hue.

Applejack cleared her throat drawing the groups gaze away from the timid Pegasus and gave a small chuckle as she nodded her head. "Yep, we knew she wanted to 'dance' with you and just how much it meant to her...and well, after talking with her we couldn't say no."

Twilight nodded as she took a long sip of her drink. "That's right, so don't worry about us being upset."

Grevin slowly blinked and proceeded to swallow the lump in his throat, before giving a small nod. "W-well...alright. I'm glad. I was a bit concerned about it."

The mares all smiled and said nothing for a few moments before Fluttershy cleared her throat drawing all their attention to her. "Actually Grevin, I was wondering if you..." She paused and made eye contact with both Twilight and Applejack," All three of you would come by my cottage for dinner tonight? I think it would just be wonderful for all three of us to get together again."

Applejack grinned as did Twilight who gave a simple nod. " Sugarcube, that sounds like a great idea. I'll even show up a bit early to help you get ready."

"Oh, thank you, that would be perfect...Twilight, could you come early as well?"

"Of course."

Grevin blinked and quietly raised his hand a bit. "Um...would you like me to come early too?"

Fluttershy quickly shook her head, "Oh no no no. Absolutely not...um...I mean there would be too many hooves in the kitchen then....so you can come by at eight tonight."

Pinkie Pie grinned, woo-hoo, a party at Fluttershy's house!"

Rarity cleared her throat "Pinkie...darling, I think this is a more personal party...a date for their herd."

Pinkie blinked a moment before grinning even wider. "Oooooh, I see."

Grevin set his drink down before lightly pinching the bridge of his nose. After a few moments he sat back from the table, his face serious now. "Well...while I have you all here, I wanted to let you know that I have to head out on a mission for the princesses in a few days."

The whole group frowned and began to groan with frustration.

"But you just got home,"

"I have all kinds of new designs to try for you."

"We haven't had much time with you for a while."

He raised his hands in an attempt to calm the group, a soft sigh escaping him. "Girls, girls, I understand...and while I don't like it I am a knight in service and I have a duty to uphold. Trust me I intend to make the most of my few days here....but that isn't everything."

"Well, what else is there sugarcube?"

He paused a moment, taking a second to build his courage and swallow the bile in his throat. "I am taking Tabitha with me."

"WHAT!!"

The entire restaurant went dead silence as the group of mares all rose to their hooves and screamed at him in unison.

"Hold on, hold on, let me explain" he exclaimed as he raised his hands in front of his face.

Slowly the group retook their seats and the restaurant resumed its business. He quickly cleared his throat doing his best to ignore the glares now aimed right at him from all directions. "Alright...so they want me to go to the badlands...they think Discord may have gone through there so I need to try and locate him..."

Applejack placed a hoof on his leg drawing his attention to her. "Grevin, we understand that, but why her...why not any of us?"

He took her hoof in his hand and get it a small squeeze. "Well...first off, the elements need to stay close to home. If anything happens, you six can handle things. Secondly the badlands are filled with changelings...they could easily copy any of you and possibly trick me into not realizing it until it is too late, I doubt they could copy Tabitha or I due to our unique body structure. Lastly while it did come as an order from above, I do agree with it. I don’t trust her...and I don’t want her to be left here unattended for a long period of time. It was bad enough for me while I was in Canterlot."

Twilight frowned while Rarity stepped forward slightly, a look of dread in her eyes. “Darling what if something happens. I know I’m not part of your little group but I know that if anything were to happen to you my friends would be devastated.”

He smiled warmly and lightly scratched twilight behind the ear. “Don’t worry, I’m trained for this kind of thing. I have no intention of staying away long."

Applejack frowned as she tilted her head slightly, popping her neck. "Well, even though she hasn't given me any reason to not like her...if she makes a move on you while you are out there I'll buck her into next harvest."

Grevin smirked at that thought while Fluttershy ruffled her feathers slightly. "I'll make sure to help you with that Applejack."

Within seconds it was if someone had ripped a needle off of a record, all eyes turning to face the normally timid mare only to see her shift uncomfortably as a small blush came across her face. "Umm...you know...um...if she needs help that is."

*A Half Hour Later*

The group had finally eaten its fill and was beginning to disperse with Twilight, Applejack and Fluttershy all sending Grevin looks that clearly showed their intentions for their evening while Rarity and Pinkie Pie both left for their respective places of work. Finally Emerald was left alone with the tired warrior,

Chrysalis mentally sighed as she glanced up at Grevin while he finished off a few bites of his food. It wasn't going to be easy to come clean to him. Sure she could easily lure him to her home, tell him about Tabitha but what came after that...well that would be difficult. She was going to reveal her true self to him.

Grevin noticed something was off with the small unicorn and he had come to see as a friend and quietly turned to her a look of concern on his face. “Emerald, is something wrong?”

She glanced away with her ears lowering slightly before taking a deep, calming breath. “Well...no...yes...maybe...um..” She seemed to shift on her hooves slightly. “Would...would you be able to talk to me privately...at my home?”

Grevin blinked a second before quirking an eyebrow a small chuckle escaping him. “Of course...as long as you’re not going to try and trap me there.”

Chrysalis’s eyes went wide as she quickly waved a hoof in front of her while shaking her head. “Oh, no-no-no, of course not!”

He reached out and lightly patted her head, ruffling her mane a bit before beginning to step forward. “I didn’t mean to upset you Emerald. Come on, if it is bothering you I want to do what I can to help you.”

Chrysalis averted her gaze as she moved to walk beside him. ‘You may change your mind about that soon.’ She thought.

*Ponyville, the home of Emerald, Late Afternoon.*

Chrysalis silently opened the door to her home leading Grevin into what most would consider to be a posh and quite comfortable looking living room. There was a large soft looking couch against the far wall, a beautiful fur rug set out in front of it a fireplace to the left of them, a soft fire crackling and popping filling the room with warmth as well a soft orange glow.

Grevin stepped inside, closing the door behind him as he followed Emerald into her living room. “Wow...this is nice.”

Chrysalis smiled softly and motioned to the couch as she moved into the room. “Please make yourself comfortable. Would you like anything to drink?”

He shook his head as he moved further into the room taking a seat on the center cushion of the couch. “No, thank you. So...what did you need to talk to me about?”

Chrysalis sighed and closed her eyes before moving to the center of the room sitting on her rump just in front of him. She could sense a small hint of anxiety coming from him, most likely from concern for her. She slowly opened her eyes and gave him a soft smile brushing a bit of her mane away from her face. “Well, do you remember our talk about second chances?”

He tilted his head slightly but nodded. “Well, yes..why?”

She averted her eyes from his as she lightly circled her hoof around on the floor. “Well...Do you still believe what you said?”

“Uh...do you mean getting a second chance? If they tried a direct dialogue?”

She nodded quietly saying nothing for a moment, her nervousness growing. “Yes….do you still believe it?”

He quirked an eyebrow a small frown coming to his face “That depends.”

Her eyes widened slightly as a sense of anger seemed to pulse off from him for a moment before quickly being reigned in. She looked over at him a small shiver coming into her voice. “Depends...on what?”

Things were tense now, and she knew that she was taking her life in her hooves. If he responded negatively to her revealing herself to him she could very well end up being run out of Ponyville, attacked, hunted by the Element Bearers...or outright killed by Grevin himself.

He slowly crossed his arms and shifted slightly in his seat his own gaze darting away from her focusing instead on something across the room. “Are we talking about Tabitha or Changelings?”

Chrysalis snapped her head up to look at him with wide eyes and a nearly dropped jaw. “T-Tabitha? No, I meant the Changelings.”

She could sense a strong sense of relief wash over him as a small smile came back to his lips, the mood of the room calming significantly. “I was afraid you were going to try and convince me to give Tabitha another chance. Many have tried and I couldn’t help but worry that you had fallen on that bandwagon.”

Chrysalis blinked a few times before nervously laughing and shaking her head. “N-n-no...nothing like that.”

He nodded letting his arms once again fall to his sides. “Alright...so why bring up the Changelings and second chances?”

She froze. Her eyes were locked with his now, her nerves growing worse by the second. This was is...she had to tell him the truth...needed to...not just for herself but for her hive...or what was left of it. She swallowed the lump that seemed to appear in her throat before taking a slow breath and closing her eyes. “Well….I...I am one…”

She kept her eyes shut, her hooves almost shaking where she sat. She tried to tell if he was going to boil over with shock or anger but her senses remained blank. There was nothing...no anger, no surprise....nothing. Slowly she began to open her eyes, half expecting to see him standing there with a blade pointed at her face but instead she saw that he hadn’t moved.

She carefully opened bother her eyes now to look at him noting that he held a blank look on his face, his hands at his sides, his eyes watching her carefully. “Um...d...did you hear me?”

He nodded quietly. “That you’re a changeling...aye, I heard you.”

She nodded looking down at her front hooves. “And...you’re not going to….” She looked up at him curiously.

Grevin slowly placed his hands on his knees and rose up to stand before her his face unchanging. “To...to what? To become enraged? To attack? To yell and berate you?”

She quickly stood up and took a small step back into a more defensive stance, her eyes never leaving his. “Perhaps...so...why haven’t you?”

“How do I know you’re telling the truth about such a thing? I need some sort of proof.”

Chrysalis frowned. Of all the things...he wanted proof? “You want proof? Fine…” She closed her eyes as her horn ignited with a bright green flame. The flame suddenly shifted and moved around her replacing her soft exterior with a larger, more chitinase form. She began to grow in height as well soon matching the height of Cadance and within mere seconds she had gone from being a simple unicorn pony to her true carapaced, holed, insect like form. She snapped open her green eyes and glared at him a moment as she bared her fangs. “How is this?” Silence met her once again. She could barely stand it...where was his surprise, sense of betrayal...WHERE WAS HIS ANGER!

She glared up at him now. “Why are you not reacting!”

She was suddenly thrown back against the wall, only to be caught by Grevin’s hand around her throat pushing her back and holding her there a few inches off the ground, a dagger pointed at her eye being held in his free hand. Well...there’s the anger. “Hows this for a reaction? Why are you here?! What is it you want?!”

She gasped and placed her hooves on his hand her eyes darting from the blade to his face and back. “I mean no harm, I swear it…” His face...so calm, he was holding himself in check even though she could sense his confusion, his worry and his anger.

He tightened his hold on her leaning in slowly until his eyes were a few inches away from hers. “Convince me.”

She nervously nodded while her hooves still flailed slightly in the air. “A-alright, alright. Listen to me. I’ve been here for a long time...and...I’ll admit at first I was here for a specific purpose.”

Grevin narrowed his eyes slightly “And what was that purpose?”

She sighed and closed her eyes a moment before opening them once again to look at him calmly. “To help my hive survive.”

“A noble cause...explain…”

She nodded once more. “Alright. After my humiliating defeat at the hands of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance I had returned to the badlands with my remaining soldiers to our hive only to discover a usurper. Normally such a thing would be easily dealt with but the news of my defeat had reached the hive and on top of that I was still weakened.”

Grevin Slowly let his grip relax allowing her to slide back to the floor and stand on her own hooves but kept the blade aimed for her throat. “Easy enough to figure out what happened there...someone wanted to prove they could do a better job than you, I’ve seen this happen in Bastion...hell I’ve helped it happen…”

She frowned as she brought a hoof up to rub her sore neck. “A lovely thought….but yes you’re correct. Her name was Razor Wing. She managed to turn most of the hive against me and if not for a few brave soldiers I wouldn’t have escaped. Those who stayed loyal and I travelled from place to place for a time until we heard about something that was truly amazing. A warrior who fought monsters to a standstill in Canterlot. Someone who could help me get my home back.”

Grevin sighed and closed his eyes a moment before letting his arm fall to his side while taking a step back. “I should have known…”

Chrysalis quickly stepped forward and placed a hoof on his shoulder, “Let me continue to ex-ah!”

She flinched as Grevin had quickly grabbed her hoof in an extremely strong grip pushing it off of him with enough force to cause her some pain. “Don’t...just keep talking…”

She frowned as she held her hoof up off the ground, the pain from his hold turning into a dull throb. “Fine. I received confirmation from several spies I had managed to send back into Canterlot during our travels and that's when I learned about you.”

She slowly set her hoof back down onto the ground and took a small step forward moving around him while making no aggressive movements. “It seemed too good to be true. You were a warrior who could do amazing feats...you had power that I could tap into...I had to try....and so I did.”

Grevin slowly sheathed his blade and crossed his arms as he turned to follow Chrysalis while she walked in a slow circle around him. “So that’s what led to the night you were “saved” by me. I’m guessing those drones I killed were yours too?”

She sighed and nodded as she closed her eyes. “Yes...at the time I didn’t care about what I had to do...I just wanted healthy drones….so I sacrificed two of my weaker ones. I do regret that now…”

He scoffed “I should hope so...but that doesn’t explain what you’re intentions are now.”

“You’re right. If I were still here for you I wouldn’t be telling you all of this right now. I wouldn’t have even revealed myself. No...things have changed.”

He quirked an eyebrow at this. From what he had heard from so many is that changelings were evil as can be with no regard for anyone...so why this change? “What kind of things?”

She smiled softly and turned to face him giving the most honest look she could. “I met you.” Her voice became softer and she looked to the side bashfully while shifting on her hooves a bit. “When we spoke about your home...and second chances something inside me clicked. I realized that I didn’t want to take your traits forcefully. I didn’t want to take them at all...I couldn’t. No, I needed to be better than that...I needed to be a true leader for my people.”

“So...you decided to approach me about it?”

She nodded. “Yes. I figured that if anyone should know about this, it’s you.”

“So...you’re not going to try and take my abilities?”

She smiled warmly, which surprisingly suited her. “While the thought of having drones with your strength and abilities does sound appealing, I don’t want to take that magic from you by force. If you perhaps someday allow me to then yes but no other way.”

Grevin stood there a moment before shaking his head slightly earning a nervous frown from the changeling queen. “W-what?”

“I just don’t quite understand why you felt I was the best one to open up to. Don’t you think that it would have been better to meet with Celestia or maybe even Twilight....perhaps Fluttershy?”

Chrysalis rolled her eyes before setting on a soft smile, her gaze at him becoming warm. “Grevin...I trust you because I have gotten to know you. I have learned that you of all the creatures here will be the most fair to me. Yes those others would be good to speak with but we all have history together. I would be put in chains before I would even be allowed to speak.”

She took a step closer and sat down in front of him. “You have shown that you’re different…” Her voice became softer. “I feel as though you are a kindred spirit of sorts and as such…well I…” She mentally frowned at her own hesitation. Why were these words so difficult to speak.

She wasn’t given much time to think however before Grevin quickly took a step back and began to gently wave his arms in front of himself while shaking his head. “No. No-no-no-no-no.”

She blinked a few times before tilting her head to the side, a small portion of her green mane falling in front of her eyes. “What?”

He steadied himself as he watched her carefully, his hands held at his sides. “You’re not about to go and make a confession of love or something like that are you?”

She blinked once more in surprise. “W-what??”

He reached up and lightly scratched the back of his head with his left hand. “It’s just that for some reason I suddenly have been gaining the attention of several mares and I am beginning to worry about it.”

Chrysalis couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing yet her senses were confirming what he had said. He indeed felt nervous. She slowly began to smile before a soft laugh began to escape her and before long she was laying on her stomach while laughing to the point her eyes began to water.

“Hey, It’s not a joke.”

Chrysalis slowly calmed herself wiping her eyes with a hoof before looking up at him. “You’re still not used to pony culture are you? If you’re worried about Princess Luna and the three element holders....well, let's just say you’re just getting the tip of the iceberg. But to answer your question….no...no I am not going to confess feelings for you.”

She quickly got back onto her hooves “Not that it didn’t cross my mind…” She glanced to the side noting that she had better not tell him about what she did to him in the hospital either.

Grevin let out a small breath before nodding, his relief quite visible. “Oh, good.”

She smirked. “Though, it could be pretty fun if you were to want a roll in the sheets with me. I could promise all sorts of variety for you.”

He frowned once more and took a step back from her, his hand warily going for his blade again. “No, thank you.”

Chrysalis smiled and shook her head. “No Grevin, I want to be your friend. I want to work with you, learn from you and take that experience, that opportunity to become a better leader for my people...and when it is time I will approach Celestia and Luna...hopefully with your help.”

Grevin raised a hand to his chin taking in the seriousness of her voice and after a few moments he spoke. “So...no evil scheme?”

“None.”

“No attempts to steal my abilities.”

“Nope.”

“No attempts to take over Ponyville from within?”

“None that I know of, and none that will under my watch.”

“And you’re essentially telling me you want to change your ways and lead a good life?”

“Yes.”

“Well...I think that’s fair then….so my question is….what happens now?”

Chrysalis smiled broadly and reached out with an arm. “Hug?”

“....Okay.”

Slowly he moved in and she reared up so both her forelegs could wrap around his shoulders and for a few calm moment the two held one another in a warm, calm hug.

Chrysalis hummed softly enjoying the warmth he gave off seeming to fill her with a kind of peace....and mischief. She smirked and lightly blew a warm stream of air against his ear before tightening her hold on him ever so slightly.

She felt him tense at her actions and barely managed to hold in her laugh before tilting her head and whispering into his ear so her warm breath would wash over his skin. “So...if you want we can take this hug further….the bed in the back room is quite soft.”

Within a second Grevin had pulled away from her and was across the room while she barely managed to fall back onto her hooves, a loud laugh escaping her as he glared at her from where he stood.

A red faced Grevin took a few steadying breaths before narrowing his eyes at the laughing changeling. “That’s not funny.”

She nodded vigorously. “Oh it is...but don’t worry. I know my place and I won’t approach you for things like that…”

“Thank you.”

“However if you ever wish to approach me about it, all you have to do is ask.”

“Buh-wha?”

She chuckled a bit giving her best evil smirk. “I may be your friend but I am also a mare and I know a good deal when I see one. I won’t bring it up but I won’t turn it down either. Now then…”

She pulled back and settled back on her hooves looking up at him with grateful eyes. “Actually I don’t intend to do anything else for a while. I won’t reveal myself for a time, at least not until the time is right. I don’t want to risk my remaining hive until I know for certain they won’t be attacked.”

Grevin nodded quietly in agreement until the sound of a clock chiming in the next room made him turn and frown shaking his head. “Damn...it’s already that late?”

Chrysalis smiles softly but nods as she changes back into her Emerald form and begins to make her way to the door. “I’m afraid it is but don’t worry, I’ll behave myself here. Go have fun on your date night. You don’t want to keep those mares waiting.”

He felt his cheeks begin to turn red as he made his way towards the door gathering his things making certain he has everything. He could already imagine just what might be in store for him once he arrived at the cottage. “That is true…” He quickly turns to face her before opening the door. “I want to be clear on something Chrysalis. I understand your position on things and I’ll keep your secret for now but understand that if you step out of line...if you act suspicious in anyway, I won’t hesitate...I can’t hesitate.”

She nods solemnly before giving him a small smile. “I understand Grevin, thank you for keeping my secret...I won’t disappoint you.”

With that Grevin stepped out of the house watching Chrysalis give a small wave as she closed it behind him. He returned the small wave before turning and making his way through Ponyville’s outer edge making his way to Fluttershy’s cottage.

With every step he took he couldn’t help but let his mind wander to his current situation. Not only was he going to have to deal with Tabitha for several days while tracking down his nemesis, but now he had to make certain that the Queen of the Changelings wasn’t going to destroy Equestria either.

However, she did seem genuine...perhaps she does want to turn over a new leaf...stranger things have happened. It’s not as though a strange man from another world was pulled into a world of technicolor ponies and was in a relationship with some of them...that would just be nuts.

He sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair and down his neck while crossing over the bridge to the cottage, the sun setting in the distance. As he began to move up the steps to the cottage, Grevin pushed the thoughts from his mind and did his best to relax and focus on the nice evening ahead.

Taking one more steadying breath he moved in front of the door, raised his hand and gave three light knocks.

Author's Notes:

I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAACK

...Okay, in all seriousness I know I've been gone for far, far too long. I could give long winded excuses but basically, life has been kicking me and the family in the head for a while now but things have settled a bit and I felt refreshed enough to get this chapter out and finished.

I have an endgame in mind for the story but I want you to know that the very end of the story may require some reader input. I'll mention more on that later but for now know that I'm back, Inner Chaos is back and will be updating again. Thanks for not giving up on me guys. I appreciate it.

Brony on,

-Grev /)*(\