The entire ordeal was leaving me on edge. I wanted nothing more than to scream at the top of my lungs.

But then something happened...

Love. A surge of love like I hadn’t felt since the first Invasion. But it was from a great distance.

All the other changelings felt it too. They began flooding the throne room.

I sat on Celestia’s throne, doing my best to keep calm.

One of the changelings stepped forward.

“What do we do? Where is all of that love coming from?”

I thought for a moment. It became obvious where the source was, but I had to spin it properly.

“It must be...the hive! The Queen must have gathered a great amount of love! We should return at once!”

Several of them gave me odd looks.

“Leave? But we’ve taken the castle. Shouldn’t we hold it?”

I looked down on the miniature horde.

“Chrysalis has succeeded with her plan. And now a source of love has emanated from the hive. That can only be her call for us to return! Do you all really want to miss out on the greatest feast we’ve ever seen?”

They all began to nod and mutter their agreement.

I stood tall and motioned towards the South.

“Let’s go!”

They all cheered and took to the air. I walked down the steps and watched as they all flew out through the doors. Soon there wasn’t a single changeling left in the castle.

I sighed in relief.

“I can’t believe that worked.”

I hurried down to the old dungeons under the castle. Sure enough I found the entire staff and guard locked up.

As soon as the first pony saw me they began crying.

“Celestia..”

Dozens of eyes found me and cheers started echoing through the old halls.

I opened the cell door and everypony came streaming out. They all crowded me, all thanking me at once. I smiled and nodded.

“You’re all so welcome. But we need to make sure the castle is secure.”

I looked at the guards.

“Go floor to floor. Search every room and make sure we’re safe.”

They all saluted and raced off down the corridor. I looked at the remaining staff.

“We need to make sure the rest of the city is okay. I need a coordinated effort to insure public safety.”

They nodded and dispersed. All that left was two ponies. Luckily I knew both of them.

“Rain Cloud, Gold Feather. I’ll need you’re help more than anypony.”

Rain Cloud smiled.

“Anything Celestia.”

I looked up and down the corridor to make sure we were alone.

“I believe the changelings have been defeated. That means everypony should be returning soon. Including Celestia and Luna.”

They looked at me for a second before they began to understand. Gold Feather stepped in front of Rain Cloud.

“Who are you?”

I smiled and sighed. A halo of green surrounded my body and I returned to normal.

“Sorry about all of that.”

Rain Cloud smiled.

“Shade!”

She ran around Gold Feather and hugged me.

“How did you get here? I thought you were out of town.”

I pulled away.

“I got back yesterday. A few bits of luck and I was posing as the leader of the invasion squad.”

Gold Feather looked wary.

“That was...changeling magic.”

I looked at him, realizing he didn’t know my secret.

“It’s okay Gold Feather. It’s just a facade. I’m still me.”

I turned to leave.

“Now as far as everypony knows, Celestia and Luna are fine now. I believe they are too, but we’ll want to make sure this place is put back together and running like they’re here.”

Rain Cloud nodded.

“Then when they return it will be seamless. Most ponies might not even notice they’re not here yet.”

I nodded.

“Exactly. We make sure things are back to normal. No need for there to be a panic.”

Gold Feather finally returned to the moment.

“So make sure that everything and everypony is back to their normal duties and act for Celestia in her stead until she’s back?”

“Exactly”

They looked at each other and nodded. Without another word they ran ahead.

I joined them on the main floor and the three of us began delegating. Once ponies started seeing me, the Right Hoof, they didn’t question anything else. To them that meant everything must be okay.

We worked tirelessly for an hour. Reports came back that most of Canterlot had been unaware of anything. The terror had been confined to the castle.

The guards returned with a changeling. I recognized him immediately. The one I had tied up. He didn’t struggle as the guards brought him forward.

“Where are the others? What have you done with them?”

I nodded to the guards and they stepped back. I looked back at the changeling.

“They’ve all retreated. Did you feel that surge earlier?”

“Yes.”

“That was the call to return to your hive. Count yourself lucky we aren’t a vengeful race. Go home before I change my mind.”

I shot a bolt from my horn and the bonds dissolved. The changeling stretched his legs and snarled.

“Fool! We’ll be back.”

He flew off at top speed. The guards began to pursue. I called them back.

“Stop. He’s not worth it.”

The guards came to a halt and went back to their search.

The moment it was just the three of us again, the main doors opened.

Celestia and Luna entered the castle.

I couldn’t help myself. I raced forward and jumped on them. They pulled me into a group hug and I started to cry.

“I thought I’d never see you two again.”

Celestia squeezed me tight.

“I thought Chrysalis had gotten you. I was so worried.”

Luna chimed in.

“I wasn’t. I knew you’d be okay.”

I lightly punched her shoulder and laughed.

“How about you two don’t go getting captured again anytime soon?”

They began laughing.

————————

The white light died down and I found myself back at the Ponyville train station. I shook my head to clear it.

“Can’t make that a regular thing.”

I ran towards Twilight’s castle. I don’t know what drew me there first, but I just knew they’d all be there first.

I burst through the front door without a thought. I heard voices coming from the map room. I raced in and found all the girls and Spike brushing themselves off.

As soon as Rarity saw me she stopped fixing her mane. She raced to me without a word. I grabbed her as tight as I could and didn’t let go.

We both started sobbing as soon as we locked together. I couldn’t tak above a whisper.

“I thought I lost you.”

“Never.”

I felt more bodies gather as the girls came in for a group hug. I let the warmth wash over me as we continued our reunion.

———————

I sat with the others as Starlight described her story to us. I couldn’t believe my ears.

Chrysalis was gone!

Driven from her kingdom. A new leader. And...

I sat forward.

“What do you mean they changed?”

Starlight looked at me.

“Well...just that. They changed. When the changelings started giving their love they transformed. They look really different now.”

I sat back.

Giving love transforms? That didn’t make any sense. I’d been giving love for a while now, hadn’t I? Especially since I started seeing...

I glanced at Rarity. She was still listening to Starlight. I thought back over our relationship. When we’d started to see each other I’d been having my buildup problems. Could that have stunted the flow of magic to such an extreme?

I played back the days in my head. Could I really have inhibited myself? Transformation, even natural, wasn’t an easy magic. It took an enormous amount of energy. That would have more than likely taken care of any buildup I had had. And that much magic would have been noticeable...

My mind stopped. There it was...

It was the night Rarity and I had first been together. It was late and we were sleeping under the gazebo.

I had felt a headache more intense than anything previously. My skin had felt like it was boiling. And it was because I’d been thinking about how much love I had for Rarity...

A bolt of magic fired into the sky like a firework...

As my mind drifted back to the present i began to hear voices.

“Shade?”

“Are you okay?”

“Darling what’s wrong?”

I lifted a hoof to my face. Tears were rolling down my cheeks. How long had I been crying?

I wiped the tears and took a deep breath.

“Sorry. It’s just...incredible that she’s gone.”

Rarity pulled me close and brushed my mane.

“It’s okay. She won’t hurt anypony again.”

I felt my body start to shiver.

Luckily Starlight had finished her story by then. The girls began to part ways, leaving me, Rarity, and Twilight in the map room.

Twilight leaned over and put her hoof on mine.

“What’s wrong?”

I took a deep breath.

“My magic...it tried to change me. But I was still so messed up after everything...”

The tears started again. Rarity wrapped her hooves around me.

Twilight looked thoughtful, her eyes lighting up after a few moments.

“Maybe you could have been a fully-realized changeling, but you’ve become something even more amazing Shade.”

I looked at the lavender alicorn.

“And what’s that?”

“You’ve been put in the unique position of being a part of both worlds. You’ve gained knowledge and skills that have given you advantages as both a pony and a changeling. And it’s because of what you’ve been through. You might think it’s somehow a flaw not to be like the rest of the changelings, but I promise you it’s your greatest strength.”

A small smile crept onto my face.

“Thanks Twilight.”

She smiled and stood up.

“I’m sure you’ll need some time to recuperate. But maybe you can come help me out in a couple days?”

I nodded as Rarity and I stood up to leave.

“You can count on me.”

She smiled and left the room. I turned to Rarity and smiled.

“I don’t know about you, but I definitely could use a few days of sleep.”

Rarity smiled.

“Let’s go home.”

We walked side-by-side out of the castle and made our way to the boutique.

Twilight was right. If I had changed then, I doubt I’d be where I am now. And that gave me more satisfaction than knowing Chrysalis had been dethroned.

I could feel my heart pounding still. I felt a lot of hurt over the past few days. But I had to believe that there were better days ahead. In fact, I knew there were. Because they’d be days with my friends. Days with my new family. And days with the mare I loved more than anything in this world.

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