//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4- A Switch Is Flipped 
// Story: The Thestral With The Golden Halo 
// by DougtheLoremaster 
//------------------------------//

Tirek slowly opened his eyes. His head was pounding in agony. His vision was hazy, almost red. Slowly he reached up a hoof to rub his eye. Wait, a hoof? Lowering his head to look at it, his muzzle opened in shock. He had a hoof where his hand would be, and it had blue fur attached and it was dripping in crimson red where he had touched his eye. What sorcery is this? He thought angrily. He still wasn't sure what was going on but he began to look for the door to his freedom. Soon as I find that door, she will pay for this! He silently fumed as he spotted the door. He tried to stand up and head towards it. 
He rose to his hooves but rather than head to the door, his head suddenly turned, unbidden by him. He found himself facing a fallen mare who was buried under a pile of rubble. She looked at him and screamed. "Forget about me son! Run, don't let him catch you!"
What's going on? Let who catch me? Who was this mare?  Tireks felt his heart racing as his thoughts quickened. Was he afraid? Him? Lord Tirek the mightiest of centaurs, superior to every pony ever, was afraid? I am not scared, this is all some trick! He thought to himself, just before the entire side of the wall exploded inwards and a huge red hand grabbed him by the neck pulling him through the gap in the wall. Tirek's eyes went wide at what he saw. He wasn't afraid, no, he was absolutely terrified.

***

Hazel was grumpy, to say the least. It had taken quite a bit of time and even more magic, still she managed to complete the rooms that Starshine had requested for the five. Her wings drooped and dragged on the floor as she trudged into the throne room, completely exhausted and fully prepared to vent her grumpiness from being forced to work upon Starshine. 
As she entered, however, she saw a sight that made those thoughts die. Starshine was curled into a ball snoring away, on the bed the two had been sharing. Walking over to her, hazel gentle dragged a hoof across the snoring thestral's thigh. It's devoid of warmth. Hazel thought to herself. It seemed the new Warden of Tartarus still wasn't used to her new abilities just yet and had expended all of her energy in her task. Hazel smiled warmly as her eyes adopted a soft look seeing the happy smile upon Starshine's muzzle. Adorable. She really does look like an angel curled up like that. Her thoughts were warm and fuzzy. 
Hazel's eyes hardened once more. She was the sister of Faust, the darkest of the dark. She had no soul, let alone heart for some pony she had only just met. Hmmmph, she is only my plaything nothing more! She told herself as she gingerly draped a blanket over her and leaned down and licked her cheek affectionately. Still no reason not to give her a little comfort. It has nothing to do with feelings, though I am sure she will be hungry when she wakes up. I can make her something, not because I care or anything but to help her get back energy. With these thoughts in her mind and having reassured herself she wasn't getting soft, the former Ruler of Tartarus headed for the kitchen to whip up some fresh haybacon and dandelion greens for the sleeping princess with a soft blush on her face. Meanwhile, Starshine snored away, completely oblivious to the entire scene. Dreams of a picnic with three very special ponies filled her mind. 

***

Tirek stood, his mind recoiling in fear as he couldn't move. His now carrot colored fur bristling in terror. There was nowhere to run, that monster was coming for him. Twenty thousand times, so far, this scenario had played out before him in various pony forms. What have I done? He felt a strange emotion. I am a monster, why did I do this to them? His heart began to beat violently as once more he felt the fear of the pony whose eyes he was staring through as a massive hoof smashed down upon his head. To think they were made to feel this way. He was thrown through a nearby wall as his host defended his son. I am so sorry BAM he was punched in the face after his magic was drained. I'm sorry! SNAP The sound of his throat being crushed as he wheezed out his last breaths in the body of a mare who had been picking flowers for her mom. I'm sorry! Please...no more... He felt himself being held aloft in front of a classroom as he was helpless drained of magic while the children watched as he heard himself scream. "Please spare the children!"
I'm sorry, everypony, everycreature...please forgive me! Faust please forgive me! I'm sorry! As these thoughts occurred there was a bright flash and he stood in his centaur form once more before an alicorn in a sea of eerie light. Faust stood before him and gazed at him in warmth. She flared her wings and spoke softly as Tirek watched in awe. "My child, you have strayed far from your home making your mother worry. You committed rather dastardly acts as you ran from my guidance. Yet here you stand before myself willing to beg for forgiveness, tell me, what did you learn my son?"
Tirek smiled a genuine smile, the first in a long time. He finally understood. He finally saw what Starshine had so desperately wanted for him and silently he thanked Starshine for never giving up. Looking Faust in those opaque teal eyes he spoke, from the heart bearing his soul before the divine alicorn. Not as his normal egocentric self, but rather as a child would confess to their mother. "I saw my crimes from their side. I felt their pain, their terror, and for the first time I felt guilt. I learned empathy, Mother, I made a connection to the ponies I so hated while I walked Equestria. I humbly ask you for your forgiveness, and that I be allowed to walk the Path of Harmony once more, rectifying my mistakes and ensuring in the future Ponyville and the rest of Equestria is protected from such vile acts. Please, allow me to walk amongst them once more."
Faust eyed him carefully. His heart had no malice, and his words were true as a morning song, she smiled and nodded. "My son, I shall wipe your slate clean, now go. Make me proud."
Her wings flared wide and Tirek was blinded by the light radiating from them. He shut his eyes and when he opened them again he was in ponyville, standing before Celestia and Luna as well as Twilight. All three had their hoofs extended in friendship. He smiled. For the first time, Tirek placed his hands against each hoof curled up in the form of a fist, in the universely accepted form of a hoofbump. 
Faust watched from above, her wings slowly folded back down. That's one down. She thought. Perhaps Starshine really can do it Her thoughts drifted back to the image of her sister when they had both been working together to make Creation. Only time will tell, won't it?

***

Down in the depths of Tartarus, Hazel had been watching the scene unfold on the projection screen, having finished cooking. The plate lay next to the snoozing Starshine, still steaming hot. Starshine slowly opened her eyes as she smelled the delicious aroma beside her. She glanced at Hazel who still looked extremely tired. "Good morning sleepyhead."
The familiar seductive voice carried with it a hint of admiration as the blood-red thestral grabbed Starshine in a playful embrace. "Are you hungry? I made you something."
Starshine looked at the plate and at the mare currently stroking her mane. "That was so sweet of you, thank you."
She began to munch on it happily. "It's delicious! Oh, you are too kind to me!"
Hazel blushed and said hastily, "Not that I like you or anything. I just thought you might want some nourishment to get back energy, is all."
Her energy still extremely low, Starshine collapsed once more into slumber but not before uttering a soft, "I love you Hazy." 
Hazel lay down on the bed next to the sleeping alicorn-turned-thestral. As she snuggled closer to her, completely sure her mare friend wouldn't hear her, Hazel whispered in her ear in a tender voice. "I love you too, Starshine."