Star Shooter knew these creatures all too well. As each one crept out of the shadows the ponies could see their legs hooves which had holes like swiss cheese. Their soulless eyes didn't bother Shooter. But why? Their fangs glinted in the gloomy darkness, some flew above others making their distinct buzzing sound even louder than before. She couldn't stop thinking why the soulless eyes didn't bother her. But she couldn't remember a thing before the Labyrinth they were in. She looked ahead and saw that nothing blocked their path. Every pony was getting ready to fight. Hoping to avoid a fight, she said, "This way!" And ran through the long endless hallway of the Labyrinth.
Every pony was becoming tired, but the Changelings were gaining. Despite running first, Shooter was behind every one. She was the only pegasus who wouldn't fly. And just to her luck, she tripped. Every Changeling stopped chasing and landed around her. Yet some began parting as the swarm's Queen came through. "Star Shooter! No!" She heard Berry Twist cry out as her friends turned around and charged. "Go!! Leave me, I'll be fine!" She begged her friends to leave and save themselves. "We're not leaving you behind!" She heard her friends call back. "You're trying to get them to leave before I expose you? I think they would be perfect guests." She froze as she remembered one thing, also the reason the swarm hadn't attacked her yet. "Bring them here my Changelings, they should know this about their 'friend'." As her friends were easily overpowered by not even a quarter of the swarm, thoughts ran through her head. 'What happened before the Labyrinth? What would she do if her friends found out? Should she fight back?' No, the question was 'Will she fight back?' Her friends brought forward, Chrysalis began casting her spell, and taunted Shooter. "Are you going to try and fight back? Or have you lost all of your Hope?" Star Shooter ears perked up as a Changeling she'd known from the beginning was shoved by another Changeling, yet also held back so she couldn't run. One word slipped out of her mouth, barely a whisper.
"Hope?"
Everything fell silent. It was Hope. Did that mean... No, Chrysalis wouldn't do that... Would she? Suddenly, a series of jumbled up memories and thoughts came back. And one word she dreaded her whole life. Hive. "Shooter? What is it? Why are you... Shooter?" Her friend's voice sounded far away. She ignored it all the same, she never heard the Queen's voice in her head for a reason. "Are you done with your... Silent final words I would say?" Chrysalis was clearly not expecting what came next. Something she's had coming for a long time, Shooter thought with a smirk as she looked back toward the Changeling Queen. She began with a taunt to anger her, "You barely fought at Canterlot, are you too weak or something? Were you scared?" Her taunt was working just perfect as she easily angered the Queen that she stood face to face with. "You're the one who is weak because you ran. You hid. You made foolish decisions that you can't take back. And now this a decision I will treasure forever, and will ruin your own life." Chrysalis backed up to cast the spell she had been charging. But she knew it was coming, her way was clear, and she had tensed up her muscles to do it.
She sprang straight up into the air and flapped her wings hard and fast for speed and balance. She flew up to the top of the Labyrinth, and zoomed down as fast as she could. But she hadn't thought one thing that now bothered her as she dove vertically. What about her friends? She shook the thought away, they would be fine. Changelings began flying up to stop her but they were too late. She had just broken the sound barrier half way down. She was now unstoppable as it only took seconds for her to crash to the ground. She caused a meteor sized explosion that sent every pony and Changeling flying, everything was a giant cloud of dust. Especially Star Shooter, who just plummeted headlong into the stone ground. What was she thinking? She tried to get up but she felt too weak to move, she also had a horrible pain in her head. Her ears were ringing horribly loud as she looked around without moving her head. But as soon as she closed her eyes, thoughts began swarming her mind. Though she had no idea why she was thinking any of them.
I could deal with being a shape-shifting dragon, she thought to herself strangely, Yes, that wouldn't be a bother. No pony would know and I would be fine... But that's not the case because- She stopped thinking as her eyes shot open to hearing a extremely loud screeching sound. She held her ears and shut her eyes tightly as it continued, though it stopped as quick as it had come.
After for what seemed like an hour she finally opened her eyes. Which were met with a scene that she thought couldn't be real. She was in... A garden? She couldn't believe it. All the Changelings were gone, the Labyrinth was as if it never existed. As what she just went through was only a bad dream... She slowly got up and walked around a bit. She looked to her left and saw something she would have never expected to see in her life. "Stark?" She walked closer, but slower, to her missing brother, but she stopped herself half-way. It wasn't her brother. Though it looked like him, it just couldn't be. He was a soft sky-blue and his mane was white like clouds. Just like her brother. Or, the form he chose. "Star Shooter!" A farmilliar voice called out her name from close behind but she couldn't take her eyes off of the pegasus that stood with his back to her, looking out over the short stone wall looking at... She stopped breathing. This wasn't real, it was a memory. It was the last time she had ever seen him. Peering out over the edge watching the tides of water... But she didn't hear any water, and this wasn't the garden either. Then a voice she would never forget spoke to her.
"This isn't a dream or a memory, my sister. My dear sister Star Shooter."
She froze as he spoke her name. She heard some pony walk up from behind but they stayed silent. She knew it was Flower Wishes by the fact that she didn't ask who it was. Flower was the only one who knew about him. No one else did. She asked a question she was desperate to know, "This is real? How can I be sure I'm not dead?!" Her panic was quickly soothed by her brother. "I am not dead. Unless I'm seeing ghosts now." He turned around, Shooter calmed as she saw her brother's caring hazel eyes look at her. He asked the next question as though he believed he was seeing ghosts, "Who is that?" She looked behind her and saw the pony she knew was there. "This is Flower Wishes, the one I told about you." He bowed formally as he always did when meeting some one new. "My honor to meet you Flower Wishes." Flower murmured a soft thank-you as he stood up straight again. "You haven't changed a bit, have you Cloud?" Her question was left unanswered. He seemed to be staring past them, the both turned around and saw an alicorn. Who was a dark midnight blue and seemed to blend in with the night. Night? The last time she checked it was the afternoon, the sun had been over their heads only seconds ago.
Who was this mysterious alicorn?