I watched as the black and red Changeling Queen slowly floated down from the air as she greeted us when we entered the large throne room. Though she was far from us, maybe a short run to her, I could easily see her scar on which I attacked her. This baffled me, I would’ve thought it would’ve been hard to see, seeing how she was all black, save for the mane and eyes and such. But still, the thin long line of which my blade slashed her; was green. The slash was not clean ether; I followed the cut as it would wave slightly, like a small foal, learning how to paint in the lines for the first time. Her blood red eyes snapped to my eyes, my left now red from the scar I had gotten from her. Her smile from looking to my father, turned to a frown of anger as she turned to me; causing me to smile. She reeled back, I knew why she disliked me so, it was not because I was a hybrid of a pony and a Changeling, no, it was because every time she looked to me; the remainder of my father loving another that was not her, would slap her in the face. “So,” she spoke softly, the same hollow like voice from Saki’s mothers’ voice rang through the air. It was so silenced; I bet we could even hear her whisper. “You did not come alone then Shade.”
“You know I wouldn’t,” he answered her question. “Why would I come alone, when we hold a greater chance together?”
“So true,” she answered turning to her side and pacing…no, slacking in a way as she watched us. “But you forget my dear Shade,” she then looked up as we followed, I grunted slightly as Saki moved closer to my side, as red eyes, hundred of them, bore down at us. Her Changelings watching us from the pillars above. “We vastly outnumber you, ten to one!” I moved my right hoof to the hilt of my blade, but my father’s own hoof touched mine, I looked to him as he shook his head once. I frowned but nodded, moving my hoof back to the ground. “So, how you come to your senses at last Shade?” Cocoon slowly moved closer to us, my teeth clenched as she moved closer, my right hoof once more twitching for the hilt. “Have you come to join the side that will win this puny little war?”
“You already know my answer,” he sated simply with a blank face as Cocoon made a small sound, a sigh maybe?

She turned to walk away, before she then stopped and then turned to look at me. “Lighting Knight, your name, isn’t it?” I blinked as she spoke to me now. “Did your father tell you how he and his mother met?” I turned to father, he looked to me, but…he seemed…worried?
“Yes,” I answered looking back. “He turned into a unicorn and took that form until he at last showed her his true form, and she didn’t care.”
“Oh…is that what he told you?”
“Don’t even Cocoon!” my father roared as I looked to him. Why was he getting upset…did he leave something out.
“Oh, so you didn’t tell him the truth…you didn’t tell him the real reason why you wanted a foal?” she howled with laughter as my father glared before I asked.
“What is she talking about?” I asked as Cocoon made a small laugh like noise.
“Shall I tell him, or shall you tell him?” my father said nothing before she spoke. “Very well,” she then turned to me as I watched my father more, as I heard her speak.

“After I killed the former Queen, to gain control, before that, I also killed his Changeling mate, for she was in my way.” She gave a small shrug. “I don’t understand why he was so upset; power is what we are known for, so he should’ve come to me. But, it seems he was so enrage, and now I know.” She chuckled as I looked back, not before I saw my father glare with anger at him. “His mate was carrying his young. Now that I think of it, I guess I would’ve been as some would say…’pissed’ at the one who not only killed my lover, but my unborn child. Anyway, before he left the Hive, he made a promise to me, that he would kill me no matter what, no matter the cost. He would become stronger and use the power he gained to kill me…and how do you think Changelings get stronger dear Lighting?” I flinched; love…love is what makes them stronger, so then… “You father choose your mother for one reason only; to use her to kill me!”
“Y…your lying!” I screamed out shaking my head. “Father, tell me she’s lying!” I turned to look at him, but…he didn’t look at me, just stared at Cocoon with death in his eyes. “F…Father?”
“You see young one,” she spoke as I turned to look at her. “But…he did grow feelings for her, but he didn’t want to let the magic go, he didn’t want to lose someone that he cared for! So he did something, made her have his foal, so that love could blossom even more!”
“N…no,” I breathed as my father closed his eyes and looked to me, his eyes softened with sadness.
“Son…I…”
“He was only using that unicorn as all Changelings use them for!” she screamed out at us. “Love, she was nothing more then food to him!”

“Father…” I spoke softly. “Is…is that true? You…you never released my mother from the spell, you always had her under your control?!” he went to reach for me, but I backed away. Saki was beside me, as well as Doctor Love, I nearly forgot about them. When he didn’t answer, I felt my anger grow and grow, he could’ve easily said she was lying, but he didn’t, so then why…was this all true?! “ASNWER ME!”
“Y…yes,” he confessed looking down. “What she is saying…is true…”

My world shattered after that, I backed away even more from him as I heard something, I then yelled as I was pushed to the ground, many Changelings on top of me as I struggled slightly, screaming in both rage of them and my father! I almost had some of them off, before I was hit hard in the neck, my eyes fluttering, before I was knocked out.

I had awoken some time later, my head hurting. I was in a cell and of course, Doc was with me. He was chewing on the bars, making some weird ‘nom nom’ noise as he did. I felt drained; I couldn’t or didn’t want to move at all. He soon found me awake, and said something that I didn’t really hear or want to hear. After a while, I decided to try and help him break us out, but our magic was unaffected, bars were magic proof.
“Hey…hey Bright Star?” Doctor Love spoke poking me in the side with his hoof.
“What?” I asked with glaring eyes looking at nothing at all.
“We’re in prison Star,” he answered as I rolled my eyes.
“Yes I can see that…” I answered back as he went on.
“Hey…” he whispered as I glared.
“What?”
“Don’t drop the soap,”
“I swear to whatever gods there are, I’ll shoot you in the face with my magic I shit you not!” I screamed at him walking away. “I’m not in the mood!” I sat on the floor, looking at the wall before me as I bowed my head, fuming in rage. “He…he used her Doc…used my mother…” I heard him let out a soft sigh as he came up to me, petting me on the shoulder.
“Lighting listen to me,” he spoke as I turned to look at him. For some reason, he didn’t look the same as he always did. Like he had MPD or something and was a whole new pony. “I…I won’t go and say I understand what’s your thinking, cause I don’t. I lost my family when I was young; I was a street colt before this rebel was formed. I didn’t know what love truly was…and well, that’s when I started…you know, selling my body so I could get food and such. Hey maybe that’s why I’m so loco in the coco?” he made a small laugh as I couldn’t help but smile. “But listen…none of our past is clean; you know this as well as anypony does. Sure, he may have used your mother as you said…but, he still loves you colt. He is your father.”
“But…I can never forgive him for that!” I yelled out as he shook his head.
“You don’t, you shouldn’t forget, forgive may come later, but never forget.” He patted me once more on the back. “But! None of that will really matter if we don’t get out of here!” he was right…how the hells are we going to get out of here anyway? “Yo Brighty Lighty!” he then asked as I looked to him. “Can’t you go, like, I don’t know, change? Go small and go through the bars and then unlock it?”
“I can’t change!” I answered him. “At least…don’t know if I can…”
“Hrm…” he hummed for a second then stepped back, pointing his horn to the bars as it glowed.
“Doc…what are you…?” before I could say what I was going to say, he shot a magic ball, it bounced from the bars all around the small cell as I yelped, we both jumped and dodged the magic before it then just stopped and disappeared. “What in the name of Luna’s moon were you doing?!”
“I was testing something!” he explained as he gave me a large smile, poking his horn out from the spaces of the bars and got ready once more to shoot another beam of magic. I watched, slightly confused on what he was doing and why he needed to test it…but I soon got my answer.

He released the same magic ball he just used from inside the cell, only this time, it went from one cell wall, which was also charmed, and bounced back to ours. Over and over the ball bounced back and forth, before I heard the sound of metal being bent. The groaning of iron being forced inward more and more, Doctor Love’s face clutched in a frown as I watched him make the ball stronger, and stronger until…CRACK! The bars snapped in three placed where the ball of magic was hitting it. Now I see what he did, he pushed the charm on the bars until it could no longer stand to stay still! Pretty smart for a sex crazed pony. “Ta dah!” he announced as he turned to face me. Sure, we would have to squeeze through, but we could make it through easily now. He went out first, I followed soon after him.

The halls down here were empty, you would think that if there were some ponies locked up down here, like Doc and myself, as well as Saki and my…father; Cocoon would’ve at least put up some guards of her own to watch us. Guess she thought we wouldn’t escape then I guess. But, even though we did not see anypony as we made our way down the hallways of empty cells…we were careful to watch out. We were without weapons and such. Going to the last turn to the right, Doc stopped me, I looked to him as he pointed, four Changelings, and they had our weapons! Two of them were messing around with the Hoof-blades, flicking them in and out as they chucked and made jokes. The other had my weapon as well, swinging it around like that of a toy; at the table by the doorway that led out, held the armor that Doc and my father bore, as well as their other weapons. “You better let us out!” I heard a voice, Saki? “Or…”
“Or what?” one of the Changelings asked pointing my sword at the cell. “You gonna do something, these bars are charmed! An’t nopony gonna break through these!”
“Pst, Bright?” I looked to Doc, now that I think of it; he kept calling me by both my names. “Think we can take them?”
“I can disarm ponies if that what you mean?” I answered looking at the one with my sword. “How many can you take?”
“Even share?” he asked in a whisper as I nodded.
“Even share.” I agreed with a nod. Looking back at the four, I looked to Doc, nodding once we ran out as quickly as we could.

The clopping of our hooves alerted them, the closet once, the one who had my sword turned and was ready to attack, I turned and kicked him hard with my hind legs, pushing him back a few feet as the cluttering of my sword hitting the ground was heard. I heard a hiss and turned to see the one with the Hoof-Blade run toward me, but Doc tackled him to the ground. Using my magic, I called my sword to my hoof, spinning and stabbing one that came from behind, through the chest. His eyes wide as blood trickled out of his mouth before I unsheathed the blade from his body; he fell on the ground, dead. The one I kicked got up, seems he also had ether mine or Saki’s Hoof-Blade. He ran, shooting magic at me. I deflected with a shield of magic; he came close then, slashing at my face. I duck, and with my unused hoof, upper cut his chin. The attack left him daze as he staggered backwards, before I slashed at his expose throat. A gargling sound was heard as blood spilled from his wound; he was dead before he hit the ground. I stood back as his blood covered the floor; some covered my face and chest, but not too much. Looking back, I noticed Doc was done with his two as well; he was sitting on the bodies, filing his hoof. “Oh, you’re done at last?” he asked with a coy smile as I only rolled my eyes.
“Lighting!” I looked over and made my way over, seeing Saki through the bars, I was glad she was alright. Father was behind her, beside…somepony, couldn’t make them out in the dark. He stared at me for a moment, and then away. “How…did you two get out?”
“Doc?” I asked as he nodded. “You three might want to get back,” Saki nodded and did just that, though, the unknown pony didn’t move at all, dead? Ether way, Doc started up the magic ball and shot it off, this time keeping it in one spot. After a while, the bars bent and snapped, giving enough room for them all to leave. Saki came over and nuzzled my chest as I smiled, hugging her softly with my eyes closed. “You alright?”
“Yeah,” she answered as she looked back. “But you’ll never guess who we found in here.”
“Who?”
“The King,”

My eyes slightly widened as I looked over, Doctor Love went in and used his horn as a light scorch, and sure enough…there he was. The King. His body was that of navy blue, his hair as white as snow, it did not flow like that of Celestia nor Luna, maybe only they could do it? I don’t know, getting off track. Ether way, his hair was a mess, his Cutie mark; well it was hidden, covered in what left of his clothing he wore. I remembered seeing the King when I was very young; when he would come out at times, don’t know why when he was always afraid of ponies plotting to kill him. Mother told me that he was never always like this. He was a great leader, took time to listen and was fair; he only changed a year after he met his wife. Which now that I think of it, must have been Cocoon? Thinking of this, did Chrysalis get that idea from Cocoon, I mean, maybe she caught wind of this and thought to use this plan as her own; if it could work with one, why not another? Ether way, this King was not looking good, he showed all sighs of being under the control of a Changeling, eyes wide, and blank as if he was blind, but where I heard Shining Armor eyes were a ghostly green, his was a fury red. His body was small, you could see that he was not eating as much, and his mane and tail, let’s just say he’ll need a few dozens baths. Doc went up and waved a hoof before him. “Is he…okay?” he asked as my father nodded.
“He is fine, for the most part,” he answered as he went over. “Cocoon has had him under her control for many, many years; truthfully…im surprised he is even still able to stay awake when she’s not around!”
“Shade,” Saki said looking at my father as he looked to her. “I know it may take a while, but I believe you and I can break the hold we have oh him.”
“Countering her love spells with our own, then release him?” he asked as I went back out of the cell to get my sword sheath and hidden blade.
“Yes, I’m sure we can…Light?” I turned back, after I placed my sword in the sheath. “Where are you going?”
“Where do you think?” I asked as I went to the door.
“Son, wait!” I stopped with my hoof on the door as I just stared at it. “You can not go alone, Cocoon is too powerful!”
“I’ll hold her off then until you can break the spell on him,” I answered at last turning back to face him. “I can at least do that,”
“Son…” he spoke softly as I turned to leave again.
“Doc, you mind staying with them and cover them in case any other ponies come?”
“No worries,” I heard him answer as I nodded. I felt a touch on my shoulder as I looked back, seeing my father looking at me.

“I know you hate me for what you heard,” he spoke as I just stared at him. “But…when this is all over, please…allow me to explain fully, no more lies, all truth.” I didn’t answer him as I turned away at first; my head bowed as I then spoke.
“Fine,” I pushed opened the door, before letting it close on its own behind me.

The halls echoed with the clopping of my hooves, a window stood to my right as I looked out, the fight still went on, Black Light were being pushed back, but they were strong, I knew they could hold out more. “I see you’ve escaped,” I jerked and drew my blade, Cocoon at the other end of the hallway. She just stared at me, her eyes, for the first I saw her, seemed bored in a sort. “Lower your weapon, I wish not to fight you, not now.”
“Funny, seeing how you fought me back at my home!”
“You were naïve,” she answered. “Yes, you did give me this scar,” she pointed to the slash at her chest. “But, well…an ‘eye’ for an eye, shall we say?” I frowned softly as she only shook her head. “Come, follow me, I wish to at least tell you something, and then, only then; if you still wish to, we shall fight.”
“How do I know this is not an ambush?”
“I may be a heartless bitch who will kill all in my way when I feel like It.” she pointed out turning. “But…in a sense, you are still a Changeling, a half-breed yes, but a Changeling still. And when I say something along like this, I mean it.” She turned and walked off back toward the throne room, I felt unease with this, but still; I wanted to know what she was thinking of.

The large metal plated doors closed with a boom, I looked behind and above, around, me, nothing, we were truly alone. She walked over to the throne, and took a sit; I slowly walked over to a talking distance, just staring at her. “What do you want to talk about then?” I asked, while my free hoof, on my sword hilt for quick use.
“Answer me this Lighting Knight,” she spoke leaning her head slightly closer. “Why do you think I did all this? Why do you think I killed my former queen, took the king as mine to gain his love; why?”
“For power,” I answered as she only shook her head.
“So naïve,” she said again as I glared. “No, not for power, sure, power is good, feels good. She chuckled before shaking her head. “No…because we were starving!” I didn’t say anything as she went on. “You know what Changelings eat, love, sure we can love each other as Shade did with his first mate, but that is tricky. We are giving the other we love in the hive, love that we need to live as well! So in order for the couple such as that to live, they need all the love we can get.” She shook her head slightly as she went on. “The former Queen did what we’ve always done; get that love by changing forms, taking little by little, day by day. But it wasn’t enough, more and more of our hive was dying, and yet; she did nothing!” she clutched her jaws as she then muttered. “I watched my older sister die before me, because she couldn’t get enough love, and I couldn’t save her without myself dying!”
“And yet you killed my mother, knowing the pain of losing a love one!”
“That was before I found out that you three were, blood related.” She answered looking at me. “I thought they just adopted, so that Shade could just use your love as well as your mother’s love to become stronger to stand before me, if I had known…” she shrugged. “Eh, might still have killed her ether way.”
“Bitch…” I muttered as she smiled.
“Say what you want, I did what I thought was right.”

“So, with my rage building, I gather others to join with the fight to topple the Queen, they gave me all the love they could without killing themselves that they collected, and I changed into the glory you see before you!” she closed her eyes as I just watched her for a moment. “I’ll admit, it is a tragic of Shade’s first mate to die, that was not part of my plan, we were friends once, and I wished to spare her to allow her to join me.”
“Why are you telling me all this hrm?” I asked as she looked at me. “To make me think off this is just? That all of this is right because YOU say it is?”
“You are not seeing the big picture; seeing how I didn’t tell you my master plan!” she then brought her arms out wide. “Think of this, a place in this world, where your darling little lover didn’t have to hide her true form. She could be free, free to roam around without the need to being scared that guards would capture and imprison her!” she then smile at me. “Oh, but there is something in it for you as well Lighting, you truly think you are the first?” I blinked in confusion. “No, in old texts, I have found that there were others like you, Halflings they were called. You think all you have is the skill to not be able to be effected by us, for you are part Changeling; how wrong you are.” She stepped from her throne and walked ever so slowly, my hoof went from my sword to the ground as I looked down…I was, really thinking about this too! “I can show you where, show you these texts, study from them so you too can change into what you truly are!” she was closer, her voice louder now as she edged closer and closer. “Never will you have to feel weak; the love of your father and your mate shall help you live. Sure, we will have to have many ponies under our control yes; but they too will love it, they will want it!” she was before me now; I looked up as she looked down. “All I ask is that you lower your sword, join me. I can show you and allow you to change, that way, you shall change into a pony that looks like the King I have taken, we will make everypony think you are our son; crush Black Light, and bring a new age to this land!”

I looked back down, my eyes closed. I…am not the first half Changeling half pony, there…were more? A place where Saki, and maybe even my father could never hide their true selves… I took a long breath and exhaled before speaking. “You know Cocoon…” I spoke softly looking at up her. “I think I may have been wrong about you,” her eyes blinked, and then a wide grin came over her face. “This plan of yours…this vision…yes, I can see it, I can see what you are now!”
“You see!” she answered with a loud laugh as she knelt down before me, her face beaming with a smile. “Yes, why fight what you are? Ponies, they are nothing but food to us yes? That is why you have taking a Changeling, as yours!” she brought her hoof out to me as I looked up, and placed my own hoof on it as she smiled. I smiled back.
“Yes…I was wrong about you; you see…I thought of you as only a heartless bitch,”
“Well, I am sort of one aren’t I?” she laughed as I laughed too as if we were friends.
“Yes…I was wrong…you’re not a heartless bitch…no…” my horn started to glow as I closed my eyes, and reopened them as a narrow of anger. “You’re bat shit crazy!”
“What?!” I then released my magic with so much force she was sent flying back to the throne of which she claimed as her own, smashed through it as I went and drew my blade.

“You think I would turn my back of ponies that wish to be free from the things you have done?! You killed my mother, you allowed so many others to die when they fought for their homes, their love ones!” my horn glowed even more as I used my rage to fill the magic even more. “How am I to believe what you say about me is true? And if it is, so what! I’ll find a way myself!” I took a step forward, dragging the tip of my sword on the ground as sparks came behind me as I watched Cocoon pull herself up, huffing and hissing loudly as her face was full of cuts from my blast. “No Cocoon, this right here, this ends now! I will use every last bit of my skills, my power, to kill you! I will cut open your chest, rip out that heart of yours, and crush it before your very eyes!” I then shot a blast of magic, she flew out of the way, and making my magic hit the wall behind her, leaving a huge gaping hole. “This is your end!” I screamed and started to run toward her at high speed.

Author's Notes:

Well it's been how long now? a month maybe more since i updated this story? well, here it is, hope you all like!