In a situation like this, where one had attacked a member of the Royal Family, the sentence for such a crime was usually death. But Celestia decided to sway that motion at the behest of both Twilight, and Queen Chrysalis. Chrysalis didn't want her conscience to be stained with the thought of Starlight being executed for something that was easily forgivable in her eyes. She had so many terrible things in her own lifetime that the pain of it all finally caught up with her.
She never truly blamed Starlight for her actions, it was Starswirl that was to blame for this whole ordeal they now found themselves in. He was the one that had sent his own daughter to cover crimes that he had committed in the name of the peace. He was the one that had cured her to this form that she now wore like some twisted badge. After the two of them had talked Celestia out of giving Starlight the death penalty, Chrysalis turned to Twilight and pulled her aside.
"I can forgive Starlight for her actions, but not her father Twilight,", she was as direct as she could be, but there was now a tone of sorrow laced into her voice.
"Starlight never told me everything she read in the journal we found," Twilight stared at the ground as she said this," But was it true what was written in there about the Changelings once being carniverous?", She was trying not to let her curiousity get the better of her right now.
"Yes," Chrysalis paused," When we were first expelled from the Empire, I couldn't think of any other way to survive... so i coopted the Changeling physiology to include the ability to eat meat from smaller creatures. Little did i know that was already an aspect of their form and that they had evolved past using that " skill" as it had been labeled by them,", Twilight's pupils shrank to the size of pin pricks.
At one point the changelings were capable of eating meat. Which could also explain the various expeditions over the centuries that others had tried to make into the Badlands, only to never show up again. All those adventurers that had inspired authors like A.K. Yearling had most likely been killed and devoured by feral Changelings before Chrysalis had become their Queen all those eons ago.
And meanwhile something was stirring in the mountains of the Crystal Empire. Far the prying eyes of the elite in Canterlot, far from Twilight and Chrysalis, something was turning the skies as black as night. Even though it was getting late and Celestia was in the process of lowering the sun, something began to stir.
A massive portal opened up, brimstone and fire plummeting the surface in the process. There was one other thing that Starswirl had never told his own daughter. Something that would spell either salvation or doom for their world.
During one of his planning sessions with the Princesses, he had been working on a device that would allow to travel to a parallel world that was much like their own. Save for the fact that humans still thrived on this planet, unlike here in Equestria where the civilization had wiped itself out through constant warfare. He made friends with 3 beings there. Two of them were humans named Gormlaith, and Hakon, and one other that was a dragon. His name was called Parthanuux.
He helped them displace a terrible foe at what would later come at a great cost. This foe was beyond measure for any of the humans that were in his company at that time. There was only one recourse that Starswirl could think of, one that was beyond irrational, but had to be done none the less. He openned up a scroll and by reciting the right verses and enchantments, dispelled their mighty foe into a massive portal, casting him adrift through the annals of time and space.
There was no way to be sure if their enemy was truly gone, or would just reappear sometime in the future. What he didn't realize was that this foe would wind up in Equestria in the near future. And that Starlight would have to take on her greatest task yet. And that the reward would be something completely unexpected as well.
"Va'sha frell lonackt Dovahkin,", Alduin spoke, his voice resonating through the air like thunder," Watch as your world ends welp,", this time she understood him better. Mostly since Twilight was right next to her, using a language spell to translate what he was saying.
The size of the dragon in front of them was enough to make the Dragon Lord look tame in comparison. His scales were as black as obsidian, and his wings were just as menacing. His form was enough to send shivers down Twilight's spine. But there was something about Alduin that intrigued her. And she couldn't stop thinking about it, even when she was trying hard not to. She didn't want to doubt Starlight's abilities, but the thought started to weigh on her mind.
Could Starlight beat this monster on her own?
That was when Twilight watched in shock as Starlight pulled a blade out from under a black cloak she was wearing. It had the symbol of a blackbird on the part connecting the blade to the handle. She watched as traces of magic began emanating from the blade itself with each slash that was delivered to the beast. Starlight dodged each strike Alduin made with his wings and claws. She could see the frustration in his eyes as his attacks kept missing his target.
He took to the air and let out a series of roars. Twilight could feel the power of his Thuum knock her and those watching to the ground. It felt like her head was constantly ringing because of it. She managed to keep her eyes open long enough to watch the battle unfold in front of her. She collapsed afterwards only to awaken to Starlight standing over her, and Alduin dead behind her. They both watched as his body disintegrated, the wisps of energy that had comprised his form traveling high into the air before disappearing forever.