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// Intermission 4: Rebirth 
// Story: From the Ashes 
// by Dark0592 
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Dawn gaped in wonder as the Flotilla neared Twilight’s hive the next day. She thought Crystarium’s hives were the largest around. This was massive, though. It was the size of Canterlot, if not larger. The ships didn’t set down, there really wasn’t room for them to, but luckily the magic that kept them aloft was significantly easier to maintain over long periods of time when they were idling.

Twilight, who had since woken up from her exhaustion, led her mother and Crystarium through the hive. Crystarium recognized much of where they went, but was at a loss when they were taken to a small chamber with a few birthing pods. Twilight walked up to each of them, putting a hand on them to fill them with some of her life energy. She turned to her mother first.

“This will be an… interesting experience for you Mother. This will dissolve and recycle your body into organic material and energy for the hive to use, while preserving your consciousness and reforming it. I can’t do anything to help you if you are not one of my own, this will make you into one of my own Royals. When you wake up, you’ll be fully indoctrinated in my hive mind and you’ll get your own little chunk for yourself and your brood.” Twilight explained softly to her mother. Dawn took the information surprisingly well, almost like she expected it.

“What of my Brood? I’m under the impression that they would go feral without me to help calm and regulate them.” Dawn asked. 

“Not quite, since your consciousness and hive mind will still be intact they will just go dormant. During that time we can transmute them to match your genetic signature so they adapt to your changes as mine do with myself.” Twilight answered before turning to Crystarium.

“You’ll be undergoing the same thing, but only to preserve your memories. Afterall, what’s the use of punishment if the crime is forgotten? When you awake your royal blood will be virtually nonexistent. You will be a Drone in my Hive. Call it community service.” The lavender Queen almost spat. Crystarium didn’t seem happy about that.

“I’d rather you just kill me then.” The Cerulean Queen grumbled.

“And I’d rather my mother not be a changeling, or the thousands of lives that have been lost were still alive. Tough shit, we can’t always get what we want.” Twilight replied curtly. The two Royals were slightly stunned by the vulgarity. “I have half a mind to give you to Luna. You wouldn’t believe what a thousand years on the moon can do to your sense of mercy, and just how effective the literal manifestation of nightmares is at tormenting you.” She continued, stepping closer as both of the pods were moved closer by drones that had shuffled in.

“Now you’re going to get in there and submit to this punishment or I WILL make you suffer.” The Lavender Queen threatened one final time, right in Crystarium’s face. Outwardly the Cerulean Queen scoffed, almost insulted by the threat. But by the look in her eyes and every aspect of her body language, it was all she could do to not start shaking or quivering. She was a little terrified of Twilight fight now. Dawn was too, actually, though not in the same way. Twilight could feel her mother’s thoughts through the link that was created, her mother was worried just how much of that she meant. She let the affirmation that she meant every ounce of hate she spat in Crystarium’s direction.

“Well, I for one think that Twilight’s brood is a sight better than ours. Seems like the perfect opportunity to put that old thing you always say to use. What was it again?” Dawk asked as she slowly climbed into the pod.

“Prosperity through Evolution. Evolution through Adaptation. The way of the Changeling.” Crystarium replied lowly as she climbed into her own.

“It may feel uncomfortable for a bit, but try not to fight the anesthetic effects. Your brain doesn’t like seeing the rest of your body disintegrating and it might try to start simulating the pain, or it might just freak out.” She warned the both of them. Crystarium just lowered her gaze, apparently accepting her fate. Dawn nodded and took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. Twilight nodded to the drones and they started the process of filling the pods with the liquid.

Dawn was out within seconds of it fully immersing her, but Crystarium still glared at the ground for a little while. The Cerulean Queen looked up at Twilight, the younger queen was a little surprised by the expression. It was sombre, but it was also soft and almost… appreciative? 

‘Thank you.’ Crystarium tried to say, but wound up only mouthing it. Twilight got it though, she walked up to Crystarium’s pod.

“No hive, no brood, you are nothing but a betrayer and a feral queen. Hopefully your new life will bring meaning to you.” Twilight said. Crystarium  stared at her for a while until a soft smile creeped onto her face and her eyes closed, the anesthetics taking over to put her to sleep.

Twilight stepped over to Dawn’s pod and put a hand up to it. Normally she thought she’d be hurting to see her mother being slowly broken down in the fluid, at this point Dawn was missing most of her arms and legs and parts of her face had started going as well. Twilight could only smile, though, because this meant that she’d have her mother back again soon. And not as some pale imitation of a queen she hated. In Twilight’s brood, she could be whoever she wanted.

She took a deep breath and left the room, she had to go see Luna and her fleet off.