Chapter 5: Enemies, Discord and Friends

Part 3: Friends

Daring Do was currently flying over the ‘Badlands’ searching for the changelings or what remained of them, it had passed a long time, almost nine months since their attack on Canterlot, three weeks since Spike’s coronation actually, Daring had loved every single minute she had spent with her sister and niece but her heart belonged to adventure and her husband. Bored out of her mind Celestia’s newest mission came to her as a blessing, there was no trace of the changelings and the two changelings who had being caught in the last three months didn’t know anything, simply because those changelings acted on their own and didn’t even know about the queen or her plans, they didn’t even know each other or another member of their race.

So it was up to her to solve the mystery and find the changelings that formed the domain of queen Chrysalis, a hard task indeed all she had found so far were scattered remains of dead changelings and dry dead land, she didn’t leaved her sister again only to her luck this time though.

‘Yeah, after beating the crap out of that bastard editor, robbing my sister’s bits like that, no wonder she had to work as a mail mare.’ Daring thought

The day was almost ending and soon night would come to claim the land, deciding it was a right time to end her search for the day she started to land on a mountain peak, flat and a good spot for camping, Daring dropped her things on the ground and began to form up her camp and unpacking the dry wood she had picked days earlier just for these occasions.

Daring was about to start up the fire when a weak spark of green light caught her attention from the left, curious she approached to see what is was, another weak spark of the same green light made her look down once she reached the border, what she found made her gasp and without bothering to return for her things she took flight and flew as fast as she could to the Crystal Empire, the time had come.

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*Crystal Empire*

The Crystal Empire shinned proud and beautiful, their citizens still adapting to a thousand years leap on history, they were taking things slow and steady, the progress was acceptable but that did not matter, what did matter was that they were adapting to the new world happily, their empire was growing splendidly, pulling away each day a little more of the frozen lands of the north returning them to their former beautiful and prosperous glory.

The crystal ponies were also very thankful that their evil tyrant, King Sombra, was indeed dead this time, replaced by their rightful ruler and beloved Crystal Princess, alongside with her husband one of the most powerful unicorns alive, ex-captain of the Equestria royal guard now prince of the Crystal Empire and proud brother of the element of magic Princess Twilight Sparkle, it was thanks to him that the Empire had now a dutiful and capable guard, no more than one hundred but it was something to be proud of since they were almost as strong and capable as the Equestria royal guards.

But above all else they were thankful to a certain new prince of Equestria, for without his help they would still be under the domain of Sombra, and they showed their thankfulness the best way they could, pictures of him on windows or jars could be seen almost in every home, posters with his image adorned some shops and there was even a crystal statue in the main plaza right behind where the Crystal Heart was, showing both their appreciation and the connection they shared, commonly though he wasn’t known as Spike between the inhabitants of the Empire, no, he was known as ‘The Crystal Savior’.

Cadence sighed.

She had to deal for the first time during her rule with a massive argue about why wasn’t Spike invited to the Empire during the Equestria Games earlier on the year, she knew her subjects were very thankful to him, even to the point of a somewhat fanaticism but she couldn’t blame them, after all they went through with Sombra, Spike had been like a hero come out of heaven to free them, so she had to made up a lie about it, telling her subjects he was very busy with royal duties in Equestria, thankfully for her the whole coronation event was seen as the reason why he didn’t attended.

Truthfully she wanted him to come, she adored the little dragon ever since he came into Twilight’s life, he was fun to be with, always had time to chat and simply loved the ice-cream cones she gave him but the reason behind why he wasn’t invited was because she knew about his greed phase in Ponyville. She was not afraid of what he turned into but more so that it would be her that turned him into it. The admiration devotion and borderline obsession would be too much for the poor dear. And with the revelation that came to light a few weeks ago she knew she made the right choice.

Currently she was sharing a well deserved rest with her husband Shining Armor on their personal chambers after a full day of listening to requests, reading, approving or vetoing new laws and/or taxes, listening to the council, approving new routes of commerce between their allies and many more things, Shining for his part was also exhausted due to training the new recruits and officers, the Empire needed to get more guards and capable officers soon, for crying out loud he was the only general or high ranking officer so far.

They were busy holding each other dearly speaking about their days and kissing every now and then, a sudden knock to the door made them groan.

“What is it?” Shining asked.

“Excuse me your highnesses, but Miss Daring has arrived, she is at the front doors waiting.” The guard said entering the room

“I think I gave my full permission for her to enter as she pleased when she returned.” Shining said, he really was grumpy about his time with his wife interrupted, making the guard tremble a little.

“Dear,” Cadence said making Shining shiver a bit, “be nice to the guards, tell her we will be there soon please”

“WON’T *pant* be necessary *pant*.” Daring said entering the room at high speed to the room through the opened doors, then she dropped unceremoniously to the floor exhausted, panting heavily.

“Guard, leave us please, it seems she has already arrived to us.” Cadence said smiling at the guard who only blushed and walked away closing the doors. “Are you alright?” she asked.

“I *Pant* Have *heavy breathe* found them!*heavy pant*”

No sooner Daring finished her sentence Shining was up putting on his armor, barking order to his crystal communicator as Cadence was sending a blue parchment message to her oldest aunt.

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*The Badlands*

Chrysalis was crawling through the cold floor of the Badlands, trying to get near her subjects, the one that were alive that is, after their defeat they had landed in the badlands scattered, some died upon impact their bodies breaking due to the massive force they had being sent away with, they had tried to regroup but something in the badlands didn’t let them leave it for some reason and somehow adding insult to injury they could not use their magic to contact each other, thus she was forced to search her subjects and the ones that followed her for the rest of them.

Before the invasion she was the high, proud and powerful queen of the changelings, now she was just a desperate mareling trying to save her subjects from a horrible death.

‘How could I have been so stupid!’ she screamed inside her head at herself, ‘I could have talked, I could have begged, but no, I had to attack the ponies…….but……we were so hungry……so…so hungry.’

Chrysalis stopped her movements to see her surroundings, about a thousand of her subjects were around her in a flat piece of land with dark soil and dead trees over it, most of her subjects were in the ground crawling just like her or simply lying still, some of them were screaming in pain due to the terrible pain of their hunger, she let a yellow tear fall from her eyes.
She had failed, she had been stupid, she had utterly doomed her people to the most horrible of deaths just because she didn’t take a second, one single moment, to stop and think for an approach, she could have done things so differently and she regretted every moment of her action and her decis----

“GRAAAAWWWWWAAAAHHHHH!!!!” the changeling before her screamed in pain as a river of yellow tears fell from the mareling’s eyes, the mareling turned her head towards Chrysalis.

Chrysalis tried to get up or crawl faster towards the dying mareling but to no avail, she saw the pain in the face and her eyes, she shouted to the heavens and to her to save her, that she didn’t wanted to die like that, yellow blood gushed out of her mouth followed by another scream, this one worse than the first, it made Chrysalis cry out in frustration and weakness, she saw as the mareling eyes, filled with terror and unbearable pain turned yellow, her carcass became darker, as dark as a piece of obsidian rock, her wings turned gray and then it stopped.

Chrysalis was frozen in shock, another one of her subjects had died in front of her-

"Another victim of your stupidity", her mind told her.

Chrysalis looked around, some of the changeling nearby the new corpse crawled away from it, tears of fear on their eyes, Chrysalis gritted her teeth as hard as she could and hoof stomped the floor with all her might as hot tears of powerlessness fell to the ground, the love she had absorbed during her stay with Shining Armor was gone, she had no more love inside of her, she had used all of her remaining energies to gather her subjects in that area and place a magic shield around them to protect them, what little love she had left she had used it to the most hungry ones, an amount of love that had seemed infinite to her was now gone and dry.

Pain, she looked up, she had felt pain inside her, the hunger was starting to act inside of her, a pain so great and so terrible that she couldn’t wish, not even to her most hated rival, to ever feel, a pain that threaten to destroy her very soul, body, mind, feelings and sanity all at the same time, a pain that would kill her from her very, deepest core, and she knew what her death would mean, she was the last queen, no more changelings would be born if she died, the pain became bigger and bigger, she knew that with her death no one would protect her remaining changelings, she knew that, as her grandmother had told her, she would become a foul beast, something from the ancient past, she had felt the pain before but never so strong, so demanding……….so powerful, the pain began to spread through her body every second stronger than before, she was about to scream in pain when suddenly, it was gone and she felt something at her right side, turning her head she saw a group of three changelings with their horns glowing a light pink aura and a bigger around her horn.

“No…..” Chrysalis whispered “….please……stop” they didn’t “NO!” she screamed at them but didn’t stop.

“My……..my queen,” a mareling said, “p-please…….you……y….you have to…….live.”

“W-we are……we are worthless……..you mus…….must endure.” the changeling in the middle said.

“You g-gave it to----to us………l-live…..my queen.” the third one said, smiling at her.

Before Chrysalis could say something or even channel the love she had just received the three changelings screamed in pain before dying fast before her, they had given her every last bit of their love to her, even their own life in the process so she could live a couple of hours more, she cried harder than ever and for a moment she begged death for her and her subjects, to die a painless fast death, if what her grandmother told her was true then she was willing to become one of those things if it meant a death without feeling that horrid pain of hunger, the curse of her people.

Chrysalis got up and walked towards a little changeling, no more than a year old, still a foaling, she saw the pain in his face, so young he was and he was going to die the most horrible death she could imagine.

“Not if I can help it.” she said catching the attention of the foaling, lighting up her horn she gave the little foaling halve of the love reserves her three previous subjects had given her, a small mantle of pinkish green light surrounded the foaling and her horn, Chrysalis began drooling yellow blood from her mouth, it was too much for her weak body to handle, “but by Tartarus damn me if I fail to at least save one of my subjects life.”

Finishing up her feeding and donation Chrysalis simply dropped to the ground next to the little foaling left side and embraced it, there in the dirt, hearing pained moans and screams begging for love or death filled her ears, she held the foaling even closer to her, closed her eyes and for the first and only time in her life, the powerful, proud and alluring queen of the changelings, Chrysalis, simply gave up.

*SCROTCH*

Chrysalis opened her eyes to see what caused the strange noise, more for the fact that it came in front of her, her vision was a blur for a moment and only saw blue and white before her, a couple of seconds later her vision was normal again, revealing the form of a long leg, a pony leg, looking up she saw a crystal like armor of purple, green and red, a chest piece to be precise, looking even more up she was greeted with a frowning face and stoic glare looking down at her, she knew that face very well, it was Shining Armor, looking at his right she also saw the pink alicorn princess, Cadence with a sad looking face, above her a khaki colored pegasus was looking around her in the verge of tears and behind her she could see many guards holding weapons and further down she could see wagons of some sort.

“…..So…….found me to get revenge?” She spoke looking at Shining “Well? Aren’t you here to commit justice, a massacre? Go on.” Shining didn’t even moved but his glare turned angry “Please…….just get on with it……….just……….just make it fast………for them please……I…..I don’t want them to suffer anymore”

“…………..Start.” Shining said, the guard behind him nodded and soon all the guards went around the field, picking up every changeling they could find that was still alive.

“…..how……how!.........HOW CAN YOU BE SO CRUEL!??” Chrysalis shouted at him, crying and trying to get up but she didn’t have the strength or the free space to do so, the foaling was looking between her and the visitors confused “WE……I……I did something stupid, it was my fault, MINE! Not them…….please….please don’t let them suffer…….the hunger……….the hunger is so horrible.” Cadence approached but Shining stopped her. “You….you monster” Chrysalis coughed violently spilling some of her blood to the floor, looking up she glared at Shining Armor, she took the foaling between her hooves and held her in front of Shining. “LOOK AT HER!, look at this little foaling! *Heavy Cough* She is innocent and yet *cough* and yet you want her to suffer!? For a mistake that was not hers?....................I beg you………….please………….save her from such a fate……….if one must suffer, then it’s me, not them……..please………Shining, free us from this torment.”

She saw Shining rise his hoof in a swift movement, Chrysalis closed her eyes but didn’t turned away, ready to receive her punishment, something pulled the foaling out of her hooves, she smiled, knowing their torment was soon to be over, then she felt it, Shining’s hoof on her face but it was not a hard blow as she had expected, if anything it was a soft tender touch under her chin, then she felt a warm, soft sensation over her lips followed by the unique taste of love, she forgot the ones before her, her subjects, her pain, everything that instant and like a leech she began to suck hungrily the love out off the softness pressed on her lips, a couple of seconds later, having ate enough love for her to regain her strength Chrysalis opened her eyes.

She saw the up-close face of Shining armor with his eyes closed kissing her tenderly, they separated slowly Shining’s lips and mouth covered in a light veil of yellow blood, Chrysalis was skeptical at his actions, she looked over to Cadence who had the foaling between her forelegs while sitting on her haunches, hugging her tenderly making the foaling laugh and smile, wrapping her small forelegs around her neck, she also saw what the wagons were, they were transport wagons, hundreds of them, she also saw other ponies, even the ones with weapons, hugging, nuzzling and even kissing some of her most ill and hungry subjects, looking back at Shining Armor he only smiled at her and offered a hoof.

“B-b-but…..wh—why?....ho-what?” Chrysalis tried to ask, accepting the hoof he offered to get up on her legs, but nothing came out.

“We will tell you when we get to The Crystal Empire.” Shining said, wiping the blood off of his mouth and lips.

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The trip back to the Empire was mostly uneventful, aside from treating some changeling nothing major happened; they had come through a portal made by the power of the Crystal Heart, reason why they had arrived so quickly to their aid, upon passing through the portal Chrysalis, who was at Cadence right side, was greeted by the utter magnificence and shining beauty of the central plaza, in the center of it a glowing sphere of light projecting the energy to keep the portal open and behind it the enormous crystal castle.

Quickly passing through the portal the wagons carrying her, at the moment out of danger subjects, formed a scattered line in the vast ample plaza, now that Chrysalis was satiated her mind had finally formed questions as to why were the ponies helping them and how were they able to give them love, it shouldn’t even be possible as far as she knew.

Two flashes of light erupted from the behind her, she turned around to see both Celestia and Luna looking at her both pitifully and mercifully.

“We are----I mean, I am charmed to meet the one who defeated my sister in combat.” Luna said approaching to Chrysalis, holding her left foreleg before her. “You have our admiration for that.”

“Thanks…..I guess.” Chrysalis responded, not sure of how to answer that but all the same shaking the hoof of Luna.

“Queen Chrysalis,” Celestia’s voice was low and dark, “for your crimes against Equestria and more directly to the royal family your punishment would be to be turned to stone,” she smiled tenderly at her, “but due to recent events and some…….shocking information, we know your actions were purely out of desperation, am I correct?”

Chrysalis turned her head down looking to the ground ashamed. “I……….I could have done things so differently, but I saw the chance…………and in my blindness and stupidity took it.” she said looking back to Cadence.

“But why did you do it?” Cadence asked her, holding the foaling on her back.

“Y-you don’t know what is like……the hunger……by the gods, it’s horrible,” she sobbed a little, “my subjects were dying, my mother succumbed to it before my sister followed suit, soon I was the only queen left, It was my duty to protect them! To do all I could to save them from such a horrible fate!” She looked up in the verge of tears.

“And here I am, so-sobbing like a pathetic foal in front of the enemies I so foolishly created,” she restrained a cry before continuing, “and they just saved us from our deaths.” Chrysalis threw herself at the ground crying happily. “Thank you…..oh thank you so much for saving my little changelings, thank you.” She said to no pony in particular.

Shining was looking at her with tremendous pity, approaching from behind her he tapped her head with his hoof a couple of times gaining her attention, his heart nearly fell apart when he saw in her face and eyes happiness, sorrow, regret, blame and shame. “I hated you,” he said, “I hated you so much after everything was over, I wanted to search you and your changelings and kill you and them personally for what you did to me and my wife”

Cadence and Celestia gasped, they knew he wanted revenge but to go so far, they were astonished by his revelation, Chrysalis by her part only got up looking at him with the same gaze.

“But then my wife told me, even when you held her prisoner down in the caves you never mistreated her or humiliated her, she had a plentiful ration of water and food every day during her imprisonment”

“Of course, why would we make somepony experience the pain we fear the most?”

“Then she came,” pointing at Daring who only smiled in return, “and told us about the Black Land and what she found.” Shining kept his gaze glued to hers. “It was at that point when all of my hate and anger turned into pity,” he gave her a sad smile, “I still wanted to find you, but this time to understand you more, we captured two rogue changelings and while they couldn’t tell us where you were they told us about the hunger and how they fed on love.”

“Once they finished telling us we desperately sent many scouts searching for you, to find you and to help you,” Cadence said standing next to Chrysalis, nuzzling her. “I have no grudge against you or your people Chrysalis.”

Celestia walked up to Chrysalis and stood in front of her showing her a face of regret, without warning Celestia bowed, “Please, forgive us for been so late.”

It was all that was needed; Chrysalis threw herself at Celestia, hugging her with all her might, crying over her flowing mane, screaming incompressible words and never stopped shouting how thankful she was at them for their selfless and merciful actions.

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*Crystal Palace-two hours after the retrieval of the changelings*

After calming themselves and their respective subjects, the leaders of both races went inside the castle to discuss a treaty between the ponies and the changelings sitting in the newly built council room, sadly for the changelings their original home, the Black Land, was dead and they could no longer live on it, secondly their numbers were very low, after counting the survivors only a mere 851 changelings remained, including Chrysalis, all in all the changelings had little to offer to this alliance.

Chrysalis soon came to a solution alongside Luna, the changelings would be taken into Equestria as refuges but treated as legal citizens IF they so wished, Chrysalis would still be in charge of her subjects but would answer only to the royal sisters as well as her changelings, also all them would have to sworn loyalty to both the royal pony sisters and Equestria and its allies, in exchange they would get their own territory near Canterlot, a land between the great city and Ponyville, they would receive all the materials needed to create their own town and homes, this also meant their love hunger problems would be solved, although a way to ask and give it freely was still left to come up with.

Celestia had explained that thanks to the efforts of her personal guard, Phalanx and their two now changeling guests, a way to give love to them was figured out, essentially the changeling had to take the love out of their victims through a magic spell but that was only if they stole it, if it was given to them freely then all it took was to be close to them, hug them, treat them kindly and with respect, even just by simply playing and getting along with them, their natural latent magic would absorb the well intended given love, if the situation was life threatening a direct contact was in order, a simple kiss was by far one of the best ways to give it to them directly, almost like a vaccine.

“Enough about this politics,” Luna said, “Chrysalis what can you tell us about your race?” she asked curiously, earning the nods of the other four ponies present.

“All I was told was that at some point of your history you simply lost the ability to give love to each other, but aside from that, I don’t know anything” Daring said.

“Well, I don’t know much about our own history, my grandmother always told me stories her grandmother’s grandmother told her,” she closed her eyes focusing on her memories. “She was deadly afraid to starve to death, not because of the pain, but because she told me that if any changeling died like that he or she would become what we once were, a monster or some kind of beast, nothing short of a demon if I remember correctly, I do not remember the name of that beast though
It’s just an old fear, a myth I believe but if it’s true……..I really do not wish to find out myself,” a moment of silence fell upon the room before continuing. “The reason why we lost the ability to give love to ourselves is also a legend, since we get stronger the more love we put on our reserves something inside of us simply broke one day, something to do with our origins, we could have enormous amounts of love but could not give love of our own to another of our kind, unless it was from our stolen reserves”

“That helps but not so much, is there anything more about your history?” Shining asked.

“Only legends and myths, we changelings don’t have many festive celebrations or outstanding cultural identity, almost everything we have was in a way made by pony hooves,” Chrysalis sighed. “We simply…..are, nothing more to it, truly ours as history just our old legends and our shape shifting magic”

“That’s so sad, not having a culture to be able to identify with.” Cadence chimed in.

“It’s not so bad I assure you, it helps us to focus, or helped us to focus more on getting more love.” Chrysalis said chuckling a bit.

“But why do you need love so much?” Daring asked. “I know you need it to survive but for what you told us you don’t need it to reproduce or even do magic.”

“We need it to live, we can eat the food you eat but it doesn’t do us any good, basically we need love so much because it’s the only thing we can get energy from.”

“How old are you Chrysalis?” Celestia asked her. “I just remembered we don’t even know your age, also I would like to know why you look so similar to us ponies?”

“I'm a little over two thousand years old,” she said. “I know I must be young compared to you, about your question, we were not much different in the past, not real ponies of course but very similar, we made the underground our home and as time went through we changed to look similar to an insectoid life form still holding a similarity to you ponies”

“You know,” Daring said looking very intrigued. “I want to know, why do you changelings have holes in your hooves?” at that moment the three princesses and Shining began to ponder on it.

Chrysalis raised her forehooves in front of her looking at them for a moment, putting them down again she saw all five of her newly gained allies were looking at her expectantly. “You know……that’s a very good question.” she answered looking back at her hooves.

Odd moments of silence filled the air until Luna laughed a bit at the irony, “S-sorry.”

“Wait…..If you two are here.” Shining said pointing at Celestia and Luna “Who is taking care of Equestria?” he asked tilting his head a little to the side.

Both sisters looked at each and giggled, “Discord” both of them said at the same time earning a grim looking Shining Armor.

“Don’t worry sir Armor, we were lucky enough to be delighted with the unexpected visit of miss Fluttershy and miss Rainbow Dash.” Luna said earning a sigh of relief from Shining.

“He agreed to help us in our absence to teach both Twilight and my son how to handle a day in the court, Fluttershy is a blessed bonus for us, she will keep the chaos he may cause to a minimum I assure you.”

Content with that Shining sighed in relief, he didn’t hate Discord or anything he just couldn’t really get used to him, his appearance was odd to him and his powers, though entertaining, were very creepy too.

“Then Chrysalis, do you accept the terms and conditions for our alliance?” Celestia turned to her smiling like she would an old friend.

“Of course I accept, one day I WILL repay your kind actions towards my subjects and me,” Chrysalis said bowing a bit before the royal sisters who only smiled content. “I have a question though.”

“Which is?” Luna responded.

“A son, Celestia?” Chrysalis asked arching an ‘eyebrow’.

Celestia smiled fondly to herself and sighed happily. “It’s a long story, do you want to hear it?”

Chrysalis nodded.

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*Canterlot*

“UGGGG FINALLY!” Discord shouted as he stretched his limbs, bones and, well, everything, all the while leaving the throne room after a full day in the court. “This is the only thing I HATED back in the day, haven’t changed a bit,” Discord grumbled. “So did you learned anything useful you two?”

“Oh YES! This is so much fun!” Twilight said, still scribbling notes to her parchment. “Well…..very repetitive but so very informative I feel like Im school again.”

“That’s nice, but what did you learn?” Discord asked making his way to the royal gardens, where Fluttershy was waiting for him.

“That the duties of a princess or any ruler in general come first and even if they are hard, boring or confusing you must listen to your subjects needs in order to achieve a balanced kingdom.”

“Geez, you only learned the boring part of all this Twilight dear,” Discord sighed disappointed. “What did you learn Spike, I'm sure you must have at least noticed it.”

“Well, I'm not entirely sure but I think it has to do with all those who came to the court to ask audience.” Spike said scratching the back of his head not very sure of himself.

“Yes, go on, go on”

“Errr…..for some reason, almost all of them were asking or more like expecting a favor to be done.”

“Exactly!” Discord snapped his fingers making a rain of exploding confetti to fall from the ceilings. “Now if you’ll excuse me I have a best friend to see.” and with that he disappeared in a flash of light.

“Well sure they were,” Twilight chimed in. “I mean they came all the way here for their rulers to listen them, didn’t they Spike?”

“Not really Twi,” Spikes said gaining her attention. “You probably don’t notice it because you, well ‘lack’ the experience to see it but I saw it many times when I was younger, before becoming your assistant.” Twilight sat on her haunches to listen carefully to Spike.

“Even I couldn’t notice it before until recently, but did you notice what almost all of the ponies that came to court looked like?”

“Yeah, mostly well suited or some high socially ranking stallions and mares.” She responded a bit confused.

“Did any of those ponies asked to solve a general problem?” Spike said looking at her with a smile on his face.

Twilight thought on it for a moment remembering every single petition made earlier, Spike was right.

“You’re right Spike,” Twilight realized. “All of them asked to solve their personal problems and thinking about it all of them were related to either their business or something related to bits…….I…..I never thought, realized! That most ponies here were so selfish.” They began to walk down the hallway towards the dining room to eat a snack or two.

“Yeah, kinda shocked me too when I realized it, no wonder mom gets so bored during her court times, there was one time that she almost fell asleep hearing a fat stallion complaining abo—HEY WATCH IT!!”

A pegasus pony guard had passed next to Spike not bothering to move out his way, hitting Spike over his shoulder making him almost fall to the ground, there was another unicorn guard at his other side chuckling, both of them stopped and turned around to face him.

“Sorry about what reptile?” the pegasus guard said.

“You hit me! I almost fell down!”

Twilight on her part was seeing this in silent rage, she wanted to say something but despite all her efforts she wanted to see Spike handle this situation, she had seen it in the past many times and Spike always excused himself and tell he was sorry, often she was the one to both give the guard a scolding and sometimes go as far as to report them to Celestia herself, now she knew he did it in the past because it was to keep his cover and because he didn’t want to cause any troubles, but now he was a crowned prince, he needed to stand up for himself.

“Oh, is the little lizard hurt?” the unicorn guard taunted. “I thought you beasts had tough scales,” he smirked. “Well the older ones must, you are just a pet lizard after all.”

“What are you going to do eh?” The pegasus guard said. “Are you going to hit me? Burn me? Eat me? Or are you just going to go crying to your mother?”

‘How can these two treat him like this! Can't they see his crown! Don’t they know who his mother is!?’ Twilight argued inside her mind, biting over her lower lip. ‘Come on Spike, tell them something!’

Spike was clenching his claws hard but didn’t move from his spot now, he exhaled a puff of smoke before speaking. “C’mon Twilight, let’s go, they aren’t worth our time.” Before he could turn around the guards laughed.

“Heh, maybe he needs help from his purple master,” The unicorn said. “I still don’t get how can she be a princess now, maybe I can become a princess too! I know I’ll lock myself in the library with a miniature monster all day studying pointless subjects, be the princess favorite pet and be sure to have an ugly coat color and a ridiculous mane style!”

“And while you are at it put on some light shows and claim to have defeated ancient evils, ha ha ha!” both guards began to laugh their flanks off, neither seeing the pained look on Twilight’s face.

“Apologize to Twilight, now” Spike demanded, his eyes showing up just how angry he was now.

“Ha ha, and why should we lizard? You may be a prince, you may be princess Celestia’s son, you may be cute and little now, but in a couple of years you will become just another mindless beast,” the pegasus face turned into an enraged one. “I have seen what your kind is capable of, the moment you grow you will start destroying everything in your path, Think we don’t know about your little incident in Ponyville?” Spike turned his head down; ashamed of himself. “sadly you turned back somehow and avoided the upcoming assault, dragons are better off dead.”

“I think we should quit the guard,” the unicorn said. “Equestria has their ‘heroes’ now and by how Celestia is handling things lately I think we better scramble before we die,” at his words Spike froze as did Twilight. “First she lets her demonic sister back just like that.”

Twilight and Spike couldn’t remember just how many times they had seen Celestia crying and sobbing before the moonlight, Twilight ignorant of the cause of her pain and Spike unable to provide ease to his mother.

“Then Discord came and what did she do? She hid and let her precious pets handle it.” the pegasus said.

‘She couldn’t fight because she lost her connection to the elements.’ Twilight thought darkly.

“Then she was defeated by the changeling queen in less than a second, our goddess of the sun defeated by an insect.” the unicorn said, mocking Celestia.

‘Mother saved you all you hypocrite, had she used her full powers you would be dead right now.’ Spike thought, anger sweeping through him.

“Then the Crystal Empire shows up and, again, she sends her pets to battle.” the pegasus said.

“Because it was part of a test.” Both Twilight and Spike murmured, barely audible.

“Then Discord is freed and re-joins the royal family after all he did and the horrible things he has done in the past.” the unicorn said.

“You don’t know anything about Discord!” Both Twilight and Spike murmured through their teeth and/or fangs.

“Then you,” the pegasus pointed to Twilight. “Somehow become an alicorn and a princess at that, a worthless princess in my eyes,” his eyes darted to Spike. “And lastly she names this lizard as her son and gets crowned as a prince, a fire breathing monster right inside our very homes,” the pegasus spit to the floor angrily, smirking at the dragon. “Who could be safe in the hooves of such a pathetic, coward and useless bitCHAAAAARRGGG“

The pegasus guard couldn’t complete his sentence as a dragon fist collided right on his snout, sending him backwards……..twenty meters down the hallway, the unicorn guard paled at the sight of Spike, his eyes full of anger as small tendrils of purple and green fire were coming out of his mouth and claws.

“Don’t you DARE insult my mother or Twilight ever AGAIN!” His voice sounded like a mixing of several voices colliding into one. “You don’t know anything, ANYTHING!” Spike was walking towards the pegasus calmly, each step he took leaving a mixed flame of purple and green fire over the floor, the unicorn guard tried to perform a spell but found himself paralyzed, all he could see was a purple aura around him. “You can insult me all you want, but if you TRY to say something offensive to my two most precious ponies, I WILL make sure you PAY!” the pegasus guard got up, his snout dripping blood certainly broken, opened his wings and charged at Spike at full speed, Spike by his part extended his arms ready for him, the guard was almost in front of Spike when something else smashed against the guard, confused by the sudden action his anger subdued a bit and another pegasus guard, flanked by many others, showed up.

“That is enough.” Phalanx said in his stoic but clearly angered tone. “Take these two and send them to Baltimare prison for attacking the members of the royal family and possible treason,” with that the other guards took the unicorn and the unconscious pegasus guard. “Are you alright Spike?”

“Y-yeah, thanks for the help Phalanx,” Spike said starting to calm down. “It’s just that…..I got so angry…I-I…. Im sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Phalanx said, “be proud, you stood up for your mother, our beloved princess Celestia, you defended her name, her honor and her dignity, you must be proud for it my friend,” he dropped into his haunches, putting a forehoof over Spike’s head. “And furthermore, be proud for standing up for your friend and now go to her, I believe she will need you.”

Nodding Spike went to where Twilight was, just a little over five meters behind him, Spike stood in front of her before smiling. Twilight returned the smile and both of them shared a sweet short embrace before going off to the dining room in silent.

Phalanx had stood there watching the scene with a small smile on his face, he had seen it all from the very beginning but decided to see how things would turn out, he was glad he did, Spike was growing, in more ways than one, the only thing he found wrong about the situation was the unbelievable strength and pure raw power Spike had shown in that moment and also he wondered, what exactly was that strange purple fire, he had never seen it before, regardless he was proud of him no matter what.

“Now then,” looking at the floor. “I must find a maid to clean up this mess then I must return to my duties.” With that he simply walked away.

-----------------------------------------------------------*************************************

*Canterlot Castle-Royal Gardens”

Discord, after teleporting from Twilight and Spike, found himself in the gardens. A table, with cloth and tea, located in the grounds was crowded with a group of animals and a floating Fluttershy, serving tea to each animal before noting Discord a little ways off.

Serving the last of the animals she flew to her spot before filling a cup infront of an empty chair right next to her, then serving herself.

“I’m so glad you could come Discord,” Fluttershy said sweetly at him. “I’m sure you have better things to do than spend time with me…..sorry for makin—“

“Shhh shhhh shhh,” Discord shushed putting a claw finder over her lips. “My dear Fluttershy I assure you, you are the most important thing in my life right now, I wouldn’t have missed this tea party for nothing, after all you are my best friend!” He said taking his tea and taking a sip from it. “Mmmm, Delicious as always my dear.”

“Oh my, thank you Discord,” she said blushing a little at his comment. “I also love spending time with you, you are so much fun to be with, wouldn’t you agree mister ottery?” the otter drinking some of the tea stopped, he was hanging upside down looking at her and nodded rapidly, clearly content. “To bad Spike and Twilight couldn’t join us, I mean if that was alright with you Discord.”

“Of course it is, why shouldn’t it be? They are also my friends now.” Taking another sip out of his tea he let himself rest down around Fluttershy, literally wrapping around her like an anaconda without messing the cups, the pot or the rest of the guests. “I'm just glad I get to spend time with you more, now care to tell me where is Rainbow Crash?”

Fluttershy was blushing lightly, feeling the scales, fur and feathers of Discord at the same time wrapped around her was an experience she had come to enjoy, she knew he did it as a sign of trust and friendship but she couldn’t help to feel all tingly inside every time he did it.

“Uhm, w-well she went to attend a race of the Wonderbolts.”

“Hmmm.” Discord hummed closing his eyes a little.

“She will come to the castle later, I think, at least, I hope so,” slowly the animals floating in the air or sitting over strange looking mushrooms began to drop to the ground slowly, making them return to their original positions, the mushroom began to shrink and soon were gone. “Discord?” Putting her tea cup on her tea plate she turned a little to her side to see his face, he was sleeping now. “Oh my, he must have been so very exhausted after working all day, and still,” she smiled, “he came to my tea party, just for me,” her smile grew, “you truly are a good friend Discord.”

Fluttershy leaned down and gave Discord a light kiss over his left cheek, Discord mumbled something and soon smiled in his dreams. “Sweet dreams, Discord.” Fluttershy told her animal friends to leave if they wanted, it was starting to get dark as the moon was showing up in the sky, she yawned and curled herself against Discord, hugging him by the base of his neck, she sighed and soon she also fell asleep, knowing she was safe with Discord as her blanket, pillow and bed.

Some animals decided to retreat to their homes in the gardens, other decided to stay and sleep along with their shy pegasus friend and Discord.

None of them was aware of a shadow moving through the bushes silently and fast towards the castle.

----------------------------------------------------------**************************************

*Canterlot Castle-Prince Spike Chambers*

“I still can’t believe what those two idiots said about you and mom, Twilight!” Both Spike and Twilight were in his room spending a late conversation from the previous events a couple of hours earlier. “Why would they even say something like that!?” And truthfully although he was a lot more relaxed now, Spike was still very upset about the whole thing “at least I was able to punch one of them good, I punched him right in the snout and WHAM I sent him flying it was like----!!” Spike rambled on making motions to show his heroic and brave actions, though fueled by anger, Twilight could barely contain her giggles.

Twilight was laying on his bed, a very comfy bed she might add, it was comfier than hers! She was watching him walk from one side of his bed to the other fuming and complaining about the incident and truth be told she was also very upset but more than that, she was hurt and happy at the same time, hurt because of the description those jerks gave about her and happy because Spike had stood up for her, yelling at the pegasus that she was one of his precious ponies, one of his two most precious ponies to be exact.

'That’s not such a big deal,' she thought, not really listening to Spike’s rambling and boasting anymore, but lost in her thoughts. 'I'm one of his closest friends, his best friend in fact.'

"Yeah, a best friend that doesn’t even bothers to invite him over her own birthday party". The dark voice of her conscience said.

'He was sick after eating ten gallons of ice-cream! I couldn’t bring him with me that day'

"Still, you didn’t ask or even bothered to say anything to him, did you? You just picked your other friends and left". Her conscience chuckled. Not that it matters actually, he was your own personal slave.

'He was my ASSISTANT!' Twilight answered angrily.

"Who cleaned up the mess YOU made after your long study hours? Who learned to cook for YOU just because somepony was too busy with her books? How many times was your ‘assistant’ so tired after USING him as a guinea pig for your experiments that he simply fell to his basket asleep? and yes a basket not a bed like the one he now has, but basket right in the foot of your bed"

'……….'

"Oh! and all those promises you made to him and in the end you couldn’t even remember them? All those times you saw him sad but didn’t ask what was wrong with him?" Her conscience told darkly

'Please, stop it' Twilight thought.

"No, I won't!! You must face the truth Twilight, you have been a HORRIBLE so called friend to him from the very start, using him to your benefit, working him from sunrise to dusk endlessly, not even bothering to say a thank you or somehow show your appreciation". Her conscience snarled at Twilight. "and yet, for some strange reason, you manage to actually blush when he says you are one of his precious ponies? You make me sick".

Twilight was on the verge of tears, it was true, even if she hated it, it was true, she couldn’t remember a time where she was acting like a true friend towards Spike, at least not before moving to Ponyville and even then she had a hard time remembering times when she did act like a friend towards him and not as his boss or owner.

After the book’s revelation and Luna’s tale she felt something change inside of her, she felt regret, regret that she had being so selfish and so stupid as to ignore Spike in their younger years. For Celestia’s sake before the dragon migration she knew next to NOTHING about Spike at all, what a great friend she was.

“Twi? Are you ok Twi?” Spike said noticing that Twilight was simply staring at the wall in front of her.

“…………..Spike, can you answer a question for me?” Twilight’s voice was low and sad.

“Of course Twi, what is it?” He answered very concerned about her.

“Promise me that you will answer me only with the truth,” Spike nodded. “Promise me!”

“Ok, ok!, I promise”

“W-Why am I one of your precious ponies?” A tear fell from her eyes. “After everything I’ve done to you?”

“…..Oh….Twilight,” Spike’s face twisted into a smile. “How can you say that?” Twilight snapped her head upwards facing him, letting him hold her face with his claws. “If you are worried you were bad or mean to me in the past, believe me, you weren’t, you were one of my friends and soon my best friend”

“Who went out of her way to protect me when other ponies bullied me?” Spike cleaned the partial tears running down her face. “Who hurt herself trying to bake me a cake for my first birthday together?” Twilight smiled a little embarrassed, remembering she *almost* burned down not only the kitchen but the entire castle. “Who made me feel useful and needed at all times?”

“You did Twilight; you have done so much for me that you can’t blame yourself over nothing.” Twilight embraced his long time friend hard against her. “You have neglected me sometimes, that is true but I understand why, your friends, our friends just gave you an experience you wished to keep feeling over and over again and that is not your fault Twi, even if it were, you gave me an awesome looking mustache, you showed me just how much you want me around, how much you need me.” Spike embraced her harder.

“You saved me from a hydra putting yourself in danger, for me Twi! You risked your life to save me!” He said cheerfully next to her ear “We have been together in good and bad times, we have faced enemies that we defeated side by side, we fight but don’t hold anything against the other because we are closer than that Twi,” Twilight rubbed the left side of her neck and face against Spike, showing him how happy she was. “We destroyed Sombra and saved the Crystal Empire, US! Together!”

“I'm so sorry Spike,” She said almost sobbing. “It must be so hard on you to d-deal with a pathetic and ugly mare like me all the time.” Spike broke the hug making her face him and his stern look.

“You are a very beautiful mare Twilight and you are the very opposite of pathetic, not because you are a princess now but because you never, EVER, give up, you want to be successful not because you don’t want to disappoint yourself but because you don’t want to disappoint those around you, you will never disappoint me Twi, never.”

Both friends didn’t said anything, they just hugged each other close and dearly, letting their feeling for one another do the talk for them, the warmth of their bodies making them feel like they never wanted to be separated again from the other, it simply felt right. After what seemed to be hours for them, they finally separated and smiled as widely as they could.

“So…….you think Im beautiful?” Twilight asked him, blushing a little.

“Ummm, well, yeah and yes you are Twi, you are very beautiful.” Spike felt a blush adorning his own face after finishing the sentence and looked away, he heard a light giggle and then felt a warm, soft and moist pressure against his right cheek, making him blush even more.

“Thank you, Spike”

“Y-you’re welcome, Twi.”

Soon both best friends began talking and laughing thoroughly throughout the rising night.

"Even now he's lying to make you feel better."

'Shut up.'

------------------------------------------------------****************************************

*Canterlot Castle-Outside Gates*

Rarity was trotting back to the castle after spending all day chatting and catching up with her dear friend and business associate Fancy Pants and some other high class ponies, after spending a little more than two weeks in Canterlot, investing her time in visiting fashion shops, shows and improving her social relations with the Canterlot elite she could say she had made wonders for her and her career as a fashion designer.

“And despite all that I can’t get Spikey-Wikey out of my head.” She thought to herself, entering the castle, barely returning the salute from the guards. Moving through the now familiar hallways of the castle she made her way to her room, as far as to Spike’s room was, once she was inside it she flopped into the bed giving out a heavy, frustrated sigh.

“Why can’t I stop thinking about my little Spikey-Wikey?” she asked herself, not really expecting an answer “Of course, as a lady I can see just what a perfect little gentledrake he is, he is very polite when needed, always aiding those who need it, a wonderful help around my shop and he even puts himself in danger for others,” another sighed finished her sentence, “But…..why can’t I stop thinking about him? I know he has a little crush on me but that never really bothered me before…….except during his last birthday, this has to be, The.Worst.Thing.Ever!, Why now!?” Looking to her side she saw the vanity mirror next to the closet, seeing herself wanting, demanding even, an answer.

“Because he is a prince now, darling.” Her reflection answered her.

“No, that can’t be it!” Rarity talked back to her reflection as if it was a normal thing to do, in reality this was the way her conscience talked to her, it wasn’t the first time that had happened and it usually occurred when she was really stressed. “There must be another reason”

“Oh please, darling! The moment princess Celestia made the announcement you were practically drooling over him, very un-lady like if I may say so.”

“I believe you must be mistaken, darling, Spikey-Wikey may be a prince now but that’s no reason for me to change my feelings and relationship with him.” Rarity nodded to herself approvingly, she was right after all.

“So tell me dear, why haven’t you been able to stop thinking about him?” Real Rarity stopped her movements and looked at the mirror. “I’ll tell you why, you’ve been thinking of all the possibilities a relationship with him would bring to you”

“Why I never!” Rarity snarled at the reflection. “I would NEVER use my poor little Spikey-Wikey like a simple tool!”

“Why not dear? You have been doing a wonderful job so far using him as your own personal tool and at your benefit”

“I DO NOT!”

“Really now? Uhmmm, let’s see you use him as a pincushion almost all the time, you make him dig your gems just because you don’t want to get dirty, you make him push clothes, dresses and materials through your shop all day long when he comes to help you, you make him take out your trash OH, and I almost forgot, you never say thank you or appreciate his work for you, well that’s not entirely true, you do pat him on the head from time to time and give him small gems as bribe and he accepts it with a smiling face because he has a crush on you…………and let’s not forget about the Hoity Toity incident, remember, you are very selfish my dear.”

“My Spikey-Wikey does it because he offers me his true, undiluted help and companionship and I AM very thankful for his kind and selfless actions, he may have a crush on me but as the lady I am I would never take advantage of that kind of situation just to get something I would desire,” Rarity puffed, “I have NEVER taken advantage of him in any way!” Rarity countered her reflection.

“Really now darling, a lady mustn’t lie! But you are right,” Real Rarity smiled, “how could I being so foolish as to think that the way you utterly manipulated his feelings for you to get his fire ruby for yourself could count as selfishness,” the reflection smirked, “how silly of me don’t you think?”

“My little Spikey-Wikey gave me that ruby out of the pureness of his heart, like the little perfect gentledrake he is!”

“Right after you used your charms on him, sweet talking it from him dear, you must remember that,” suddenly the reflection’s face turned into one of disgust, “What kind of lady, what kind of pony! Would steal something so expensive, brilliant and magnificent out of a teenager who was saving it for a special ocassion, using his feelings for one self to their advantage, only the most lowly of scum, dear.” the glare the reflection was giving to the real Rarity was so heated one could swear she was the sun goddess and not Celestia. “Face it darling you are nothing but a selfish hypocrite at the end of the day, you make me sick to be you.”

Real Rarity couldn’t move away from her own reflection but also couldn’t even cry, all she could do was to drop her head down, looking to the carpet ashamed of herself, the reflection laughed a little before continuing “But, this may work for you perfectly darling, all you need to do is to go to him and tell him you love him, then you become royalty just like you always dreamed, it would be so easy.”

Rarity snapped her head upward, hate filling her eyes glaring at the mirror wanting to destroy it and the reflection on it. “I would NEVER use my Spikey-Wikey like that, you whore!”

“Ah! Maybe not but you just admitted you DID use him before, even now you claim him as yours!” The reflection taunted. “Think about it Rarity, all you ever dreamed, fame, royalty status, regalia, bits, a castle where to live, an elite social life, all of your dreams fulfilled, the life you so much desire, all of it can be yours in an instant.” The reflection smiled wickedly as the real Rarity changing her glare to one of attention. “The price? Couldn’t be cheaper, lie to ‘your’ Spikey-Wikey, raise his hopes and then crush his heart, shouldn’t be too hard for you, after all, you are an expert at doing so.”

The reflection laughed heartily and loudly, enough to fill the entire room before breaking into millions of pieces by an enraged Rarity who neighed and puffed in anger, silence fell into the room, only interrupted by her harsh breathing, as Rarity began to calm down her harsh breathing and anger turned into sobbing and sadness, shame and guilt, the promise of a restless sleep once exhaustion caught her.

-------------------------------------------------------------*******************************************

*Canterlot Castle-Prince Spike Chambers, Midnight*

Canterlot castle was at this hour nearly empty and silent due to the lack of activity, almost every royal guard was already sleeping except the ones performing night duties and the lunar guard, it was midnight, the appointed time to change turns between the guard watch, the guards at the doors of the prince chambers felt like they could get away a few minutes earlier from their duty, it was all the time a shadowy figure needed to elude them and to enter the bedroom unnoticed.

The room of prince Spike was dark and cool, offering a peaceful sleep to the being sleeping over the comfy bed, after talking, laughing and playing for several hours both Spike and Twilight felt too tired to continue any further with their fun time and decided to sleep, Twilight had asked if it was alright for her to sleep with him that night, Spike’s response was simply to pat the bed over a few times.

Sleep had come for both of them fast, both of them hugging each other in their sleep, not wanting to be separated or disturbed for a long time, enjoying the warmth the other provided, it was so comfortable for both of them that they didn’t even snore. And in Spike’s case that was really something.

Spike felt something……odd inside his room, reluctantly he opened his eyes trying to adjust to the darkness, what he saw was a shining something hover over both of him and Twilight, without thinking he pushed Twilight out of the way with all his force letting the shiny object fall down onto him, landing right over his throat.

“GGGRRRRRKKKKKKKKKHHHH” Was the noise Spike made as the shining object pressed down his throat and pierced him to the other side cleanly, making a gush of purplish blood land and spread all over his bed.

Twilight got up as soon as she fell from bed, she was going to say something to Spike when she heard the noise, casting a spell before she could even think of what was the noise the light in the room lighted up, for a second she couldn’t believe what she saw, Spike was trying to take out a silver like dagger out of his throat while he was crying no doubt over the immense pain it caused and all the blood that was spraying around, then she saw a dark cloaked figure she easily recognized simply by the size, a griffon, the griffon noticed her and draw another dagger from its back and jumped at her.

Twilight couldn’t even move as the impression was still fresh on her mind, suddenly she felt something warm land on her face, using her hoof she whipped the substance from her face and then moved her hoof in front of her seeing what it was, purplish blood, looking up and finally out of her trance she saw the even more agonizing face of Spike as he tried to take out the dagger jabbed in his throat and at the same time holding firmly another silver dagger that pierced his chest cleanly.

Twilight Sparkle screamed.

Chapter 5 end.

Author's Notes:

Special thanks to Inferno Demon Dash for proofreading!

Special thanks to Bennet001 for proofreading, with out his help you wouldnt be able to read this at all so give him some love!

*Changelings in the Badlands Scene*