I paced the floor of Twilight’s library. My nerves were shot. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so nervous.

Starlight and her band of heroes were being honored for saving Equestria. Twilight had arranged for me to meet Thorax after the ceremony.

So here I was waiting in the library.

“What’s taking so long?”

The door opened and I spun around. Twilight stepped in.

“Sorry. I was having a small crisis. But it’s all better now!”

She stepped in all the way and opened the door.

“Shade, I’d like to introduce you to Thorax, the King of the changelings.”

Thorax stepped forward and I took him in. He was tall, green, and very...buggish.

“I don’t know if I’m really a King Twilight...”

His eyes found me and he fell silent for a few seconds. When he found his voice, it wavered a little.

“Oh...wow...”

He stepped towards me.

“You’re...I mean...”

I nodded.

“My name is Shade. It’s nice to meet you Thorax.”

I held out a hoof and he took it with enthusiasm.

“I can’t believe you’re still alive! Not that we wanted you dead of course. Well...Chrysalis did. Especially after everything.”

I kept nodding.

“I’m sure she did. I’m glad to know she’s gone now.”

“Yes! We’re all really happy! I bet there’s a lot of the hive that would want to see you again!”

That made me pause.

“Well..I..I mean...”

His ears dropped.

“Sorry. I’m overwhelming you.”

I regained my composure.

“You just surprised me is all.”

“What have you been up to since Canterlot?”

“Hmm...where to begin? Lost in a forest for a year, nearly killed by timberwolves, saved by ponies, learned the magic of friendship, and now I work for Celestia.”

His eyes grew huge.

“Woah. That’s...a lot.”

I chuckled.

“You don’t know the half of it.”

I began pacing around him.

“Starlight said you guys went through a transformation. I didn’t expect it to be so drastic though.”

Thorax looked embarrassed.

“Yeah. We were all pretty surprised. But this is what it looks like when our kind give love instead of taking it.”

As I came to a stop in front of him, he began looking me over.

“You look like you’ve made some changes yourself. You look like a mix between the two species.”

“I was leaning more towards a pony look when I made the adjustments.”

He looked surprised.

“Adjustments? You used permanent form magic?”

I nodded.

“I was afraid my magic would get me in trouble. So I altered my body instead.”

“Wow. That takes a lot of skill. But I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised with you.”

Twilight interrupted.

“Sorry, but the way you two are talking makes it sound like you know each other. Or at least that you know Shade, Thorax.”

Thorax nodded.

“Everyone knows him. He’s one of the most skilled changelings Chrysalis ever had. His knowledge was her greatest strength.”

I chuckled.

“Is it any wonder that her latest plan fell apart like it did.”

Twilight stared at me.

“I didn’t know you were such an integral part of the hive!”

“I couldn’t have been that important. I was left to die after all.”

Thorax cleared his throat.

“If I might?”

We both looked at the changeling.

“Chrysalis was irate over the Invasion. At first she blamed all of us for not doing enough, but soon she shifted to blaming you.”

I shrugged.

“No surprise.”

“And she wanted you to suffer for your...mistake.”

He glanced at Twilight and back to me. I nodded.

“She knows about my part in it Thorax.”

“Oh! Ok. Well once she knew where you were she was more than happy to let you starve and die. And then-“

I held up a hoof.

“Wait...you said Chrysalis knew I was in Everfree?”

“Yeah. She knows where all of us are. Or at least she did. That power might be gone Since we destroyed her throne.”

I sat down and thought over that cursed year.

“When did she know?”

“Um....about a week after Canterlot?”

I felt my eye twitch. Twilight sat next to me and put a hoof on my shoulder.

“It’s okay Shade.”

“She knew...”

Thorax stepped forward.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

I looked up at him.

“It’s not...your fault. I...should have guessed. Of course she knew!”

Twilight stood up and walked to the door.

“I’ll be right back.”

She left the room and I felt my legs tremble. My gaze hardened into a glare. Thorax took a step backward.

“I’m...I’m sorry. I can’t even begin to imagine what you’re feeling.”

“Just answer one question for me.”

He nodded. I felt tears building up.

“Why didn’t you kill her?”

Thorax’s eyes grew to the size of saucers.

“I...we...how could we?”

“I could think of several dozen ways. There’s hundreds of you and one of her.”

“It wasn’t going to happen!”

That made me pause.

“You...you considered it?”

Thorax frowned.

“You think you’re the only one who’s been affected by her cruelty? Every one of us has suffered at her hoof!”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. But...you see where I’m coming from don’t you?”

It was Thorax’s turn to sigh.

“Of course I do. But you realize what you’d have been asking the changelings to do? I don’t know if any of us could ever go as far as to kill her. Even if Chrysalis is a cruel monster...she’s still our mother.”

I heard a quiet gasp from behind Thorax. We both turned to discover Twilight and Rarity standing in the doorway.

The gasp had come from Twilight. She was visibly shocked at the revelation. I glanced at Rarity. She had tears in her eyes. I couldn’t meet her gaze.

They slowly stepped into the room. Thorax stepped back.

“Maybe I should go.”

I shook my head.

“No. You don’t have to. I’m sorry for putting you on the spot like that. That was unfair of me to do.”

He looked at me and sighed again.

“No. In all honesty, you had every right. You’re the oldest.”

Twilight couldn’t help herself.

“What do you mean the oldest?”

Thorax glanced between me and her. I slowly nodded. I looked at Rarity. She was still holding back her tears.

Thorax turned to Twilight.

“Shade is the firstborn of Chrysalis. He’s the oldest changeling born under her reign. And that also means he’s my older brother. Well...half-brother.”

Twilight slowly turned her gaze to me.

“Does that make you...a prince?”

I shook my head quickly.

“No. I was never that. Thorax has far more claim then I ever did.”

Thorax shook his head in return.

“I don’t think so. I think everyone would gladly follow you if you were back at the hive.”

I looked at the changeling in shock.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am. Even if Chrysalis treated you like a common grunt, we all knew you were a lot stronger than the rest of us. You’ve always had the respect of every changeling.”

I stared at him for several seconds, trying to take in this new information. In the interlude, Rarity approached me.

“Shade, maybe you should take a step back. Let’s not discuss this right now.”

I shook my head.

“No. I won’t leave something like this for later. Thorax...I know you think I’d be a good leader, but trust me when I say this.”

I took a deep breath.

“On the surface I may seem strong, but deep down... I’m not the same creature you think you knew. Too much has happened since those days. But you? You’ve got a kind heart. You led the changelings to freedom. No changeling deserves the title of King more then you.”

Rarity smiled at me. Twilight still seemed to be processing eveything she’d learned.

Thorax began to smile.

“That’s really nice of you. I don’t know if you’re right, but if that’s how you really feel... I’ll do my best to take care of the hive.”

I began to smile too.

“I’m sure you will.”

Thorax rushed me and pulled me into a hug.

“I’m so glad I got to see you...big brother.”

I returned the hug.

“It was good meeting you too Thorax.”

We pulled apart and I stepped back next to Rarity. She was beaming. She leaned over and whispered.

“I’m so proud of you.”

Twilight seemed to finally be up to speed and stepped forward.

“I’m glad you two were able to meet. I didn’t expect...all of that, but I’m glad.”

Thorax nodded.

“I’m going to head back out to the gathering.”

He looked at me.

“Will I see you out there?”

I nodded.

“In a minute. I think I need to talk to Twilight first.”

Thorax nodded again and left the room. I turned to Twilight.

“Any questions?”

She burst.

“Where do I even begin?! You’re a child of Chrysalis? All of the changelings are?! You’re basically royalty? How could you not have told us?!”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yes, most of them, not really, and it’s not something I was very comfortable sharing. Well...except with Rarity.”

Twilight looked at Rarity.

“You knew?!”

Rarity smiled.

“Of course I knew dear. You tend to learn a few things about each other in a relationship.”

Twilight looked back at me.

“Does Celestia know?”

I shook my head.

“No. But now that the changelings are becoming allies, the truth won’t remain silent for long. I’ll tell her and Luna the next time I’m in Canterlot.”

“Not even Celestia knew?! Rarity knew before Celestia?!”

I rolled my eyes.

“Well I’m not sleeping with Celestia.”

That made both Twilight and Rarity turn crimson.

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