//------------------------------//
// Makeing An Ending 
// Story: The Half Changeling: Isabella's story 
// by Sdlghskjvnkj 
//------------------------------//

With the forces Isabella and the bearers of the Elements had amassed, the Changeling horde was evenly matched. This presented Isabella, Big Macintosh, the Princesses, and the bearers of the Elements a perfect opportunity to get into the palace. 
Hawkeye had been right. Chrysalis had thrown everything she had at them, leaving not a single changeling, or even a proper guard, to bar the way, should anyone get through the enemy lines. A fool hardy strategy that may have worked had the Princesses arrived with the others. Twilight and the others all wore the Elements round their necks traveling in an uneven "V" behind Isabella. Big Macintosh was walking along side Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, watching Isabella. 
Isabella was now a splotchy gray green, the Changeling's blood having soaked her when she climbed It's hide and slew it. Though the others couldn't see it, her eyes burned a vivid acid green and her pupils had narrowed to angry slits. There was murder in those eyes, plain and clear.

The doors were opened quickly by Celestia and Luna's magic as they approached, opening in the main hall. They all stepped in and stopped half way through the hall. The only sound now was the distant ringing of the battle outside. Everyone but Isabella looked around. Luna and Celestia wore expressions of disgust and disappointment. Big Macintosh and the others all looked shocked, and Rarity said something along the lines of "Oh goodness, I think I stepped in something.". Isabella's eyes were locked on the top of the stairs, which she began walking toward with purpose.
Chrysalis was nowhere to be seen. She was either hiding, which was unlikely, or she was waiting for them. Isabella had a hunch as to where she would be waiting.

Isabella knew the interior of the palace quite well, having cased the building several times on her multiple visits to the parties and balls that had taken place here, during the absence of the Princesses. She'd have never actually been stupid enough to break into the palace, but it had been something enjoyable and interesting to do during the otherwise dull evenings. This evening would find her moving to the throne room, two floors above them and through an antechamber.

The black webbing created a few new walls, but it didn't halt their progress. The magic of Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and Rarity cut through the material like a butter knife through cream cheese. Minutes later found the ten ponies standing before the huge double doors that belonged to the throne room. The four unicorns approached the door, which had been almost completely covered in the black web. With an unsaid agreement, they lowered their horns. Four beams, one of gold, one of silver, one of violet, and one of pale blue, hit the door, blasting it open, almost off of it's hinges.
Isabella stepped through the doors and stared up at the defiled thrones, both of which were covered in so much webbing, they could no longer be seen. Chrysalis sat upon Celestia's throne, Prince Blueblood in the other, with that punch drunk expression that ponies with a bewitched mind normally wear spread across his face.
Chrysalis met Isabella's gaze as the others stepped into the room behind her, forming a semi circle around her. 

"So, you've finally arrived, and you brought help with you." sneered Chrysalis, as she let her wings flick out behind her, "You don't have the confidence to fight me on your own?"

"No. I'm here to kill you on my own."

The others looked at Isabella with surprise, but she kept talking, this time addressing those behind her.

"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Twilight, Rarity. I need you to seal this room. Completely. I don't want anything getting in....or out, of here."

Big Macintosh and Applejack appeared next to Isabella, each looking at her.

"Are ya sure about this sugar cube? She's strong, and dangerous." mumbled Applejack, into Isabella's ear.

"I know. I need to do this. I want you all to stay out of the way. Stay safe." 

She turned her head a little when Big Macintosh placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"I'll be fine, Big Macintosh. She's powerful, but I'm skilled."

He didn't drop his hoof for several seconds, but then moved it away slowly. She heard them both step back to the small group that stood behind her 
2
Isabella stepped forward, as Luna and Rarity stood half way up the room on the left and Celestia and Twilight stood half way up the room on the right, their horns glowing. The magical barriers were up, covering the windows and doors with a platinum sheen. Chrysalis stood, her wings standing up as her eyes flicked toward the two duos that stood to either side of her before locking her eyes on Isabella again. 

"One of us is going to die today, mother, and It's not going to be me." growled Isabella, her venomous green eyes locking on Chrysalis's own poison green eyes.

A twitch, the sound of blades moving through a sheath, the crackle of magic and the flutter of insectoid wings buzzing, and then they were pelting toward one another. Isabella moved from side to side as jets of green light shot toward her. Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Big Macintosh scattered as the blasts of green smashed against the walls and doors, scoring them with a black soot.
Isabella raised a blade as they drew closer, and swung moments before they collided. The blade was flung from her hoof as they tumbled over the floor, grappling savagely. Chrysalis sank her teeth into Isabella's neck as Isabella beat her hooves upon Chrysalis's ears, neck and back, biting one of her wings.
Chrysalis relinquished her teeth and lifted her back legs, kicking Isabella off of her. She fluttered back several feet, but found that her wing would not carry her properly. The bite Isabella had given the wing had bent and broken the delicate chitin, and now Chrysalis could hardly fly. 
She glared daggers at where she'd last seen Isabella, to find she'd moved to grab her fallen blade. Chrysalis shot a blast of magic as the fallen blade, causing it to spin away as she dashed after Isabella.

"Is that the best you can do?" shouted Isabella over her shoulder as she chased the spinning blade across the floor, ducking to dodge the on coming jet of green magic that crackled with electricity.

Isabella jumped and rolled, catching the blade up and turning just in time to take a swipe at Chrysalis, who halted just soon enough that the blade only caused a small slit to appear on her cheek. She let out a bellow of anger and slapped the blade to the side before jumping onto Isabella, blasting her in the face with a jet of green.
Isabella yelled and shot a hoof out, hitting Chrysalis squarely in the chin, knocking her back. Isabella lifted her legs and pushed Chrysalis off her, before jumping back at her. Chrysalis extended her back legs at the the right moment, sending Isabella flying over her, crashing to the floor, dropping the blade once again.

Isabella got up and turned to find Chrysalis holding her blade, pointing it at her. Isabella quickly drew her second blade, waiting. 
The stillness broke as they moved at the same time. Chrysalis lunged downward, aiming for Isabella's legs, which she blocked with a vicious slash that forced Chrysalis's blade to the side, giving Isabella the opportunity to charge forward, thrusting her blade towards Chrysalis's chest.
A small blast of magic hit Isabella's sword, knocking it off course. It missed by inches, going between her arm and body. Both mares let out a bellow as they swung the blades high. The clash of metal on metal rang through the room, and they stood, blade pressed against blade, glaring at one another as they both applied pressure, trying to knock the other off balance.

Chrysalis sneer, whispering. "You think you can still win this, you foal? I'm going to kill you, and when I do, I'm going to skin your handsome friend."

Her gaze snapped to Big Macintosh for a moment before returning to Isabella. Isabella growled, her eyes narrowing.

"I know I can win, because you're not expecting this."

She spat into Chrysalis's eye. Chrysalis yowled and stumbled backward, before Isabella kicked her hard in the chest, forcing her to fall backwards. The sword in her hand was flung to the side. Isabella jumped into the air, ready to bring the blade down on Chrysalis.
Moments before the blade touched Chrysalis, Isabella was blasted away. She flew through the air, slamming against the far wall, her own blade going through her right back leg. She heard Big Macintosh call out, and looked up, dazed. Chrysalis had retrieved the other sword and was rushing toward Isabella. Isabella shifted slightly, just before Chrysalis rammed into her.

The room went silent. No one dared breath as they watched the two, now completely still mares pressed against the wall. Seconds ticked past, and there was still no movement, until Chrysalis slumped gently and fell backwards, revealing Isabella. A small gash has appeared in her side, a small rivulet of blood streaming from the wound. Her right leg had been lifted slightly and the others now saw the dark blood that stained the end of the sword. 
Chrysalis had skewered herself on the blade protruding through Isabella's leg. Isabella had used the wall to hold the sword in place, and the blade pierced Chrysalis's chest. 

There was no cheering, or whooping, but the others gathered round Isabella quickly, pushing Chrysalis's body out of the way. Big Macintosh hugged Isabella hard as Twilight summoned several bandages, gauze and even a stitching needle and thread. As Twilight and Princess Celestia gently stitched Isabella's side, Rarity and Luna used their magic to remove the sword from her leg. Big Macintosh and Applejack held Isabella, who simply flinched every now and then, only groaning once.

As the sword was pulled from Isabella's leg, Princess Celestia spoke to the bearers of the Elements.

"You should head outside and help drive off what little of the swarm is left. They won't be very organized now and the Elements of Harmony will make it a much simpler task."

They complied, with out complaint, leaving the Princesses and Big Macintosh alone with Isabella. Luna spoke this time, as she wrapped the stitched wound, while Celestia ran a length of gauze through the hole in her leg.

"That was foolish. Your pride could have had you killed Isabella."

"It wasn't, oof, pride. I didn't want anyone else getting hurt. This was my fight, and I didn't want another Nextis." She locked eyes with Big Macintosh. He kissed her forehead as Luna finished the wrapping and Celestia began to wrap her leg.

A few moments later, they helped her to her feet, and they all looked across the room Prince Blueblood began coming back to his senses. Princess Celestia smiled slightly as they left the room, leaving Prince Blueblood gibbering with shock, confusion, and terror when he spotted the dead body of Chrysalis. 
The trip down form the throne room was long and arduous, as Isabella had to put much of her weight on Big Macintosh when they descended the sixty plus stairs between the throne room and the entrance hall. 
As they approached the main doors, the sound of a massive crowd talking could be heard, the sounds of battle completely eradicated. Princess Celestia looked at Isabella and Big Macintosh, smiling. 

"Brace yourself, you two. I have the feeling the cheers from everyone out on the field may blow us all back inside the building."

The door opened and the four of them stepped through. The sunlight momentarily blinded them as a cheer rent the air. Not only were the fighters standing at the foot of the palace, but the citizens of Canterlot had joined them, making the mass of ponies enormous in scale. As they cheered, Twilight stepped up next to Isabella, whispering into her ear.

"Wave. That cheer is for you."

The cheer doubled in volume as Isabella raised a hoof into the air, waving back and forth to the crowd. A smile slowly slid across her face. They had done it. It was finally over.




A week had passed since the victory over Chrysalis and the horde. Tentra had been found shortly after the battle and had been taken to the hospital tents they had just outside the palace, tending the wounded. Isabella had been forced to take time to rest and heal, the medicines and potions closing her wounds much faster. Big Macintosh had spent most of his time with her while the bearers of the Elements were helping Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and the returned guard clear out the palace.
Isabella's men and the citizens had begun going through the dead, separating the changeling bodies from the others. The number of ponies that had fallen in battle was much fewer than the number of Changelings and they were buried the day after the fight. Princess Celestia had insisted the changeling be given funeral pyres, and the citizens had grudgingly agreed. The bodies were loaded onto carts and taken out of the city where over a hundred pyre spots had been set up. The pyres were still going after the week had passed.
Hawkeye and Derpy were both uninjured and had found one another a day after the fight was over. They spent most of their time together, even when moving the dead. Derpy began teaching Hawkeye how to cook and Hawkeye did his best to show Derpy some flying tricks when they had spare time.

The morning of the seventh day after the battle found Isabella sitting up in bed, petting Big Macintosh's mane. He'd fallen asleep with his head in her lap and still hadn't waken up. She was considering shaking him gently to wake him up, when Princess Celestia and Twilight stepped into the tent. Big Macintosh woke quickly and sat up, looking at them. Princess Celestia spoke first.

"How are you doing, Isabella?"

"I'm fine now, thanks to you two and Luna. The doctors here have just been making sure my wounds heal properly and they've done pretty well. I think I'll be ready to walk today. If they'll let me out of here."

Twilight giggled a little and Celestia smiled. 

"Doctors can be a little over zealous sometimes, but I think I can have a word with them. In fact, that partially why I came here. I want to have a ceremony to honor you and those that fought beside you. Your men, my old guard, the ponies of Ponyville, and the pegasi from Cloudsdale that help fight to protect the city and It's people."

Isabella raised her eyebrows a little and looked at Big Macintosh. He shrugged a little. He knew just as much as she did about her condition so he was leaving it up to her.

"Yes, I would like that. When did you want to do this?"

"We wanted to do it today, around mid day." said Twilight, looking up at Princess Celestia, who nodded in confirmation.

Isabella smiled and held her hooves out. "Get me out of this bed. Lets go get ready."




The armor that Isabella, Big Macintosh, Tentra, Hawkeye, and Granny Smith had worn had been taken and repaired. They had all been re-outfitted in their armor and now stood before the thrones, upon whom sat the Princesses, the bearers of the Elements in a line just in front of them, facing Isabella and the throng of ponies behind her. Everyone bowed as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stood, stepping forward, past Twilight and the others, approaching Isabella's line, a small velvet cushion, hovering next to Luna as she walked.

"Isabella, thanks to your efforts, Equestria is safe. What may have begun as selfish motivation has turned to selflessness, friendship, and even love. Your actions and the loyalty you inspired in the last week has kept most of the citizens of Canterlot safe. Your own sacrifice had brought you great pain, and we will make sure to give Nextis a place of honor in both our history, and in our hearts. For your bravery and determination, we wish to grant you The Moon and Star, the highest honor we can bestow upon a pony."

A medallion, in the shape of a crescent moon with a shining star in the center of it was lifted from the velvet cushion and was hung around  around Isabella's neck, glinting sliver between the amber and lapis lazuli on Isabella's chest.
Isabella smiled at the Princesses, who smiled and inclined their heads, before moving down the line.

"Big Macintosh. You stood beside Isabella even in the darkest times. No truer friend ship or love could have been shown by your willingness to fight by her side and help save the people you loved and cared about. For your bravery and loyalty, we award you The Platinum Heart."

This medallion gleamed in the light of the hall, a brilliant, pure silver colored heart. It was lowered over his head and rest upon his chest, still gleaming as it lay against his black armor. Big Macintosh bowed as the Princesses moved down the line.

"Granny Smith, without your help, the strength of Ponyvill may never have come to help Canterlot. You're leadership helped bring victory in the Battle for Canterlot, and for that we award you The General's Heart." 

Granny Smith took off her helmet and bowed her head. A medallion in the shape of a hoof, a horn, and a wing crossing over one another was hung around her neck. She lifted her head, placed her helmet back on, and saluted the Princesses. They inclined their heads once again and moved down the line once again. 

As the Princesses gave the Medallions to Tentra and Hawkeye, Isabella leaned closer to Big Macintosh.

"You know, I was thinking. Your shack is nice when it's cleaned up, but a proper house would suit you much better."

He smiled a little. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, and besides. It would very difficult to raise children in such a small house."

Big Macintosh was about to respond when Princess Celestia stepped out in front of the line again, opening her wings, addressing the entire room.

"The names of all of those that fought in the Battle for Canterlot with be taken down in history, and Ponyville and Cloudsdale will never be forgotten for the role they played in driving out the Changeling horde. Let us feast now, for this evening we honor and mourn the fallen."

A cheer rose through the hall as the guards directed the mass of ponies out to the gardens. While everyone else moved towards the doors, Isabella reached up and kissed Big Macintosh. He grinned and raised his mouth to whisper in her ear. 

Her ears perked up, and she listened. A smiled slowly spread across her face as he spoke to her. When he finished, he looked into her eyes and a playful smile played over her face.

"Yes! Yes, I will marry you!"




Epilogue

As the snow fell around the statuary in the Canterlot Palace, Isabella stopped at one of the largest statues. She dusted the snow away from the plaque that stood just below the actual statue, which read "Nextis, the thorned stallion". She looked up at the statue and was thankful that they had carved him without his armor. A small smiled tugged at the corner of her mouth as something tugged on the tip of her tail.

"Mommy, who's that?"

Isabella looked down at the small pink unicorn that stood next to her, looking up at the same statue as she had been.

"That, Apple Butter, is a stallion named Nextis. He was a great warrior and a fiercely loyal friend. He would protect anyone he could from harm and was one of the strongest ponies I know of."

"Hey, what about me?"

Isabella looked up and smiled as Big Macintosh walked up, a small white pegasus bouncing along next to him, Pinkie Pies influence no doubt.

"Excepting your father, of course."

They kissed once and looked up at the statue for a moment before Isabella looked down at the small bundle wrapped to Big Macintosh's chest. She nosed the blankets away to reveal the small forrest green baby earth pony sleeping in the harness. Belle's nose twitched slightly and she huddled closer to Big Macintosh as the cold touched her face. Isabella kissed Belle on the forehead before placing the blankets around her face again.

"Mom, Dad! Look! I'm doing it!"

Apple Butter, Big Macintosh, and Isabella all turned to watch as Wing Nut fluttered a few inches off the ground, pumping his wings hard. He finally dropped back down and looked up at them, beaming.

"I did it! I can fly!"

Isabella smiled. "You sure did. Have you been spending time with Rainbow Dash?"

Wing Nut shook his head. "Rainbow Dash is always really busy with work and stuff. Scootaloo has been showing me how to fly. She's really good at it."

"She has gotten a lot better at it than she used to be." 

Isabella and Big Macintosh turned again, to see Princess Luna and Twilight standing there, smiling at them.

"Great Auntie Twili!"

Apple Butter and Wing Nut ran up to Twilight, jabbering excitedly to her. Big Macintosh chuckled as Twilight tried to pay attention to both foals at the same time.

"Alright you two, Twilight and Princess Luna probably came to talk to mommy, so lets go look at some of the other statues." 

Both foals grinned up at Princess Luna before waving to Twilight as they pursued their father. Twilight and Luna joined Isabella in front of the statue on either side of her, looking up at the imposing figure.

"You miss him." murmured Twilight.

Isabella sighed and nodded. "Yes. Yes I do miss him. He was one of my closest men."

They stood in silence for a long time, the snow melting in their manes, gathering on the statue and the plaque again.

"Have you ever wanted to go back to it all? Just you and your men?" asked Twilight quietly.

"I might have, if Nextis had survived, but I can't imagine anyone else dieing for me now. Plus..." She trailed off, looking over her shoulder at the three figures walking around in the snow, looking at statues, stopping now and then. "No. I don't think I would ever go back to that. I'm happy now. For the first time in my life, I'm truly happy."

"You've come a long way, Isabella. We're all proud of you as a pony, as a mother." smiled Luna, following Isabella's gaze. "They're so happy. I have seen many families come and go, and this one is a good one. I would be surprised if they did not do something important in the future. The ponies of Ponyville seem to destined for greatness."

Isabella smiled as Twilight laughed a little.

"You know. I wouldn't mind if they just had simple lives. Something with some excitement, but not as much as I've had. It wears on a pony." She ran a hoof over the long scar that was only partially covered by her fur on her side.

They lapsed into silence again and didn't break it until Isabella stood up, shaking the snow off of ears and tail. "I think me and my family had better get going. The last couple trains out of Canterlot will be leaving soon, and we need to get back home. Twilight, we'll see you in a few days. Don't forget Pinkie Pie has a Birthday Party set up for Wing Nut in a few days. Princess Luna," she bowed her head respectively, "We'll see you again at the Hearths Warming Eve pageant. I'm glad I got to see you. Could you tell Princess Celestia I said Hi?"

"Of course. She's been a little busy of late, but you'll also see her at the Hearth Warming Eve pageant. It was good to see you again." Luna inclined her head in respect.

Isabella and Twilight exchanged a quick hug, before Isabella walked away from them both, joining the small group near a statue that was in honor of Ponyville and Cloudsdale, before they all moved off towards the gate, disappearing into the snow.