"So, tell me if I misheard you," Celestia sighed. "You, a lone stallion, and a dragon hatchling with a broken arm are going to just go up to the hive and take Twilight back?"

Big Mac looked down at Spike who merely nodded.

"Eeyup."

"Yeah, that's the plan."

She sighed shaking her head.

"And there is no way to persuade you from not going?" She asked.

"Eenope." Big mac said stomping a hoof. "When they took her, they took a part of ma'h heart too. This is personal."

"Since I cannot persuade you from taking any guards, I'll let Shining Armor go with you." She said smiling. "I'm sure his sister being ponynapped would also make him think of it as a personal matter. Guards! Go and tell Shining Armor his sister has been ponynapped and that he is being summoned to the court room immediately."

The guards scrambled for the door, as it opened they stopped and gave a quick salute. They stepped aside letting Shining Armor in, he had a small toothy grin as he entered.

"Hey! I didn't expect to see you back here so early." He said patting Big Macintosh on the back. "Why is there a dead and a live changeling?" He asked glaring at the living one as it rested on a pillar.

"Your sister, sir Macintosh's marefriend, has been ponynapped recently." Celestia said.

"Ponynapped! By who!?" He asked frantically. "Is she alright? Is there a ransom?"

"No Shining Armor, but we do know who took her." Celestia said calmly. "Thanks to our guest resting on the pillar, he told us that Chrysalis had her taken."

"Why that... I cant say it. Not in front of my ruler." He said taking deep breathes.

"Bloody leech?" The drone said yawning. "That would be a good description of old queen. Of bad queen." He said jumping down.

"Yes. Something like that." Shining Armor said. "So, do we know why she was taken?"

"She was taken to train," the drone said. "To prepare for the fight for the hives control. It is an ancient practice among hive queen's."

"So, she wants to fight Twilight, to see if she could win, and in turn, if she wins, Twilight gets the hive?" Spike asked. "Is that right?"

"Yes. If mare wins, hive is free from old queen. But, if mare loses..." He shook his head, clearing the thought's away. "Not good for any of us."

"Do we atleast have a plan to get her back?" Shining asked. "Spys? Guards? What about you and Princess Luna going in, your majesty?"

"I'm afraid not, it seems these two are determined to go in alone." Celestia said motioning a gold clad hoof towards the farmer and dragon. "I was sending the guards to tell you, that you will also be going with them."

"Just us three?" He asked incredulously. "Just two stallions and a dragon with a broken arm? That's madness!"

"Those are my exact-"

"And it's the best even I could think of. I'm going with you two," Shining said nodding towards Big Mac and Spike. "I can't have my only sister be a prisoner to one of Equestria's most hated enemies. And the thing that almost kissed me..."

"Shining Armor," Celestia said calmly but with a hint of anxiety breaking through. "Are you certain that is the best course of action?"

"No. But has anypony else come up with anything?"

"No. Nopony has not." She sighed. "How is it you three can agree to such a ridiculous plan?"

"It's a guy thing, you wouldn't understand." Spike said. "That's why we get marefriends to make sure we don't come up with stupid ideas."

The rooms occupants merely stared at him. He shrunk back a bit casting glances back at all the sets of eyes.

The living changeling was the one who broke the silence when he tackled Celestia to the side.

As Shining and Big Mac, plus the guards as they pulled out their spears, were about to attack the changeling and defend their ruler, a band echoed across the room stopping them all. Seconds passed before another was heard, louder and fiercer. With a third, the window nearest to Celestia exploded out in a shower of glass shards.

"Bonzai!" Camo yelled as he kicked the window in. "Here's Camo!" He yelled galloping as he landed. "Who missed me? Come on, you can tell me." He grinned trotting up to Celestia. "What up, sun butt?"

Celestia merely stared at the camo colored stallion as he stood with a limp, practically beaming down at her as he offered her a hoof.

She pushed the changeling off and got up herself, glaring down at the stallion even as her sister flew in.

"Camo, you are either crazy, stupid, or just brave to come in here. Through the window no less!" Celestia said angrily.

"Aye!" Luna said. "Thou hast stones if thee hast returned!"

"Aw, don't be like that." He pouted. "I came to help with the Twilight problem."

"How did ya know bout' that?" Big Mac asked.

"Some pink mare was apparently spying on you while you were talking. She remembered her friend telling her about me, so... She jumped out of my oven and quickly explained what happened. So, now I'm here. After a brisk trot and an insane experience where she shot me out of a canon..."

"After thee was in our chambers." Luna said stiffly conserving energy to vaporize the stallion. "With... Something." She said letting a present drop from between her shoulders.

"It was a necklace!" He groaned flinging his head back dramatically. "I made it myself from silver I collected in an abandoned silver mine. But instead of being nice, you tried to blow me up! Do you know how much rope I had to swing here? Much less the cost?"

"We do not care of thy bits." She said. "Thou hast invaded our chambers, we reacted just as our sister would."

"You instantly recognized me, and then chased me. I don't think she'd do that." He said rolling his eyes. "You two still aren't upset about that artifact, are you?"

They both narrowed their eyes, nodding once.

"Oh give me a break!" He groaned again. "Now that's just stupid and childish; seriously, its just nonsense keeping a grudge over an accident." He snorted crossing his fore-legs. "Even foals have had more sense than that."

"Now hold up, ya can't talk to the princesses like that!" Big Mac said narrowing his eyes.

"Oh settle down you red gorilla, I'm just teasing." He said dismissively. "I'm more of an acquaintance to them. I wish I could atleast be a friend to one of them."

"After what that thing did to the both of us, your actions say more than what you say you desire." Celestia said.

"It was an accident!" He whined. "It was just a heat cycle! All you had to do was cast a spell or throw the stupid thing away! I even sent a note two days after explaining that if it's gotten rid of before five days, the effects will stop."

"We never got a note of any kind." Celestia said. "Did you... Sister?" Her furious expression turned to confusion as she saw her sister looking meekly away. "You received the note, didn't you?"

"Aye... We did not read the message, as we were still angered."

"See! See! It wasn't really my fault!" He said triumphantly. "Oh, and by the way, if either of you got a tea kettle from me, don't open it. I got it mixed up with my other one. The one I sent had a cloud of crystal spores in it. They'll turn anything they touch into crystal."

"It doesn't matter know." Celestia said ending his rant and stopping Luna's from beginning. "Twilight has been poynapped and were standing here bickering like a group of old mares!"

"You and Luna are old mares." Camo pointed out. "Your like what? A few thousand years old?"

"He's got a point," Spike said to both of the alicorn's shock. "You were practically here when Equestria was made. That is pretty old."

Luna and Celestia, glaring at the stallion socked him across each cheek.

"Ok, I deserved that. Ow...!" He hissed rubbing both cheeks. "For two old mares, you pack a punch."

And that's when Shining Armor sent him flying ass-over-tea-kettle across the floor.

"I think that's enough insults about both of my rulers fairly large ages."

"Fairly large?" They both said. "Were not that old."

"Eeyup. By normal pony standards, but yall have eternity. That kind'a makes yall a bit older in the long gallop." Big Mac said.

"Hey... Weren't we like, planning something?" Spike interjected before Shining could utter a word. "Like... I don't know, something about changelings? And rescuing Twilight!"

"We were discussing how Big Macintosh, you, and Shining Armor are-"

"And me! Don't forget about me!" Camo yelled pumping a hoof into the air from on his back. "But for now, now I'm just going to lay here a little... What is with all these prissy mares hitting me?"

"Yes, I suppose there is a fairly good chance you will be caught. Camo Travels will also be going, for the sake of bait." Celestia said smiling. "I think that is fair punishment for the artifact incident."

"Aye, a most generous decree." Luna said.

"And if I return?" He said rising from the floor. "Oh my neck..."

"What about if you get back?" Celestia said hotly. "Do you expect some medal? An award perhaps? Or being turned into an alicorn? What could you possibly want?"

"Well," he cracked his neck. "I think finding a way to get me a new leg is in order. And me, you, and your sister can start anew. Have a clean slate and see how it turns out. Is that fair?"

Celestia looked over at her sister, Luna was still glaring but nodded slightly.

"We have a deal. Now, you all will leave in the morning. For now, you are all, except Camo, to explore the castle. With guards of course."

"Yes your highness-es." They all bowed.

As they all turned to leave, and Luna repairing the window, Celestia sighed. As the doors closed Luna let out a sigh, audible enough for Celestia to hear.

"Do you really think it's that bad?" Celestia asked. "They seem fairly good working together."

"Tis not that, sister." Luna said. "We art worried that Camo will return."

"Oh, I'm sure he'll be captured or killed swiftly. Whichever comes first."

As the two sisters stood in silence, they both sighed.

"He still is one of our little ponies, and we must protect him."

"Even if the stallion is nothing but a jester." Luna said looking downtrodden.

"Yes Luna, even then." Celestia said. "You know, he was only trying to be nice. And he doesn't act like any other pony except Twilight around us... Maybe we have been a bit harsh on him."

"Aye... Our actions were uncalled for and brutish at best."

"Let's make sure he's not killed."

"Immediately?" Luna asked looking up.

"He is a grown stallion, and he has run over a fire cockatrice. Let's just nudge them in the right direction and leave them be afterwards."

"That is, if Shining Armor does not throttle him first."

"Yes Luna, if he does not throttle him first." Celestia smiled gently. "But one can only hope." She said pulling her sister into a hug.

"May drone accompany them also?"

Both of them glanced back at the changeling as it stared at them.

"Yes, now go away, were trying to have a moment here." Celestia said frowning. "And do not think I forgot what you did to my student, you will be punished after this is over."

"After?" He said. "What of drone's Nurser and hatchling? Will they be charged as well?"

"No, unless they had a part in this. Did they?" She asked flatly.

"No, but neither did drone. Not willfully atleast... Drone was controlled. Mentally, physically, emotional controlled by old queen. If drone could go back, drone would give life to make sure mare's is not ruined. But dro-" he paused, letting his eyes become distant before a slight growling like noise came out of his throat. "Before... I!" He coughed out. "Before I did what was done... Now... I!" He grit his teeth at the letter. "Shall do what is best; to do what I... Can do to help."

With those final words he left, saying the one letter until his jaw relaxed. As the door slammed shut, Luna turned to her sister, a curious expression on her muzzle.

"Sister, what dost thou think of when he spoke of being controlled? Dost thou think it true?"

Celestia remained silent, her features unreadable. Blinking slightly her eyes danced to the sides for a second before resting on her sister.

"We shall see when they return. If, they return that is."

Author's Notes:

Yep. I brought him back. But just this once.