Two days later, night had fallen over the Badlands. Within the dark corridors of the Changeling Hive, sentries paced up and down, keeping a sharp eye out for anything suspicious. As the storm outside raged, torrential rain pelted the hive, while violent bursts of lightning split the air. In a high corridor overlooking the Badlands, a Changeling sentry known as Pharynx stood beside one of the windows, thinking.
The previous day, ponies had been spotted near the hive. However, by the time the Changelings had investigated the area, there was no indication that any ponies had been there at all. As a result, Queen Chrysalis had heightened security, and the Elements of Harmony had been moved to separate cells deeper within the hive.
Pharynx had a feeling all was not as it seemed. In addition, he had concerns about his older brother, Thorax. From the time they had been mere hatchlings in the nest, it was clear that Thorax was weaker than the rest - and not just in terms of strength. He was also weak in the mind, constantly whining about how "things shouldn't have to be this way" all the time. He was, Pharynx knew, what the ponies might call an idealist. A dangerous thing to be in a Changeling hive.
Pharynx scowled, a hiss rasping in his throat. He had hoped that with time, his brother would have come to his senses. Unfortunately though, that didn't seem to be the case. What was worse, his brother's opinions had seemingly swayed the minds of some of the weaker hive members. The more Pharynx thought about it, it was more than likely that Thorax would try to help the prisoners escape. It was also highly probable that Thorax would soon lead an uprising against their queen.
Pharynx put a hoof to his chin in thought. He could, of course, inform his mother of this problem. As the queen of the hive, she would surely take swift action to ensure that Thorax wouldn't succeed. OR - and a twisted smile appeared on Pharynx's face as he thought of this - OR, he could sit back and watch his mother and Thorax destroy each other. Then he, Pharynx, would be the new king of the hive.
Pharynx smirked. This was going to be fun.
However, Pharynx was abruptly jolted from his thoughts as he heard his mother scream in rage.
"HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO YOUR OWN MOTHER! NOW YOU SHALL PAY WITH YOUR BLOOD! DIE, TRAITOR!"
Whirling on the spot, Pharynx charged down the hall, a snarl of rage sounding in his throat. Thorax!
.....
What neither Pharynx or his mother knew of course, was that by this time Princess Twilight Sparkle and the Elements of Harmony were already far beyond their reach. During the previous night, after Twilight and her friends had spent the day inside separate cells, Pinkie Pie - using her ability to tunnel through solid rock at Twilight's suggestion - had created an escape tunnel. She then ran off to find help, and within a few hours had been discovered by her sister, Maud. With the information Pinkie Pie had provided Princess Luna and the others about the Hive, they were able to formulate a plan. Princess Luna, Kyra, Starlight Glimmer and Derpy would continue on to the Changeling Hive and assist Thorax and his followers in the fight against Chrysalis, while Maud would lead Pinkie and the Elements back to the station in Dodge City, and get them home. Within a short amount of time after this, Twilight Sparkle and all her friends had been quietly smuggled to safety, with Thorax and his followers taking their place in their cells.
Of course, that wasn't to say the plan hadn't had its share of awkward moments. Unsurprisingly, Twilight and the others had been suspicious of Starlight's intentions. By far though, the ponies that were the most skeptical of her involvement were Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack. The moment they saw her, both the ponies had glared at Starlight with ill-disguised contempt.
"Would someone please explain what the Hell she's doing here?" Rainbow Dash had growled. She managed to take a step towards Starlight, but that was all she could manage before her exhaustion won out. She collapsed to her knees, wincing and breathing hard. Even then, the ferocity with which she glared at the pink unicorn was enough to make Starlight inch backward, moving almost imperceptibly closer to Kyra. Angered by the way Starlight was being treated, Kyra stepped forward, placing herself between Starlight and Rainbow Dash. Her indigo mane bristled, puffing up to make her appear taller and more threatening. Her pale blue eyes flashed with anger as she glared down at the pegasus, satisfaction briefly flaring in her chest as she saw Rainbow's eyes widen in alarm.
"For your information, Starlight just helped save you all." Kyra's voice came out in an ominous growl as she spoke. "You ought to try showing a little more respect."
Something in the way she said it made Rainbow Dash drop her gaze, while Twilight and the others suddenly felt very self-conscious. The only exception to this was Pinkie Pie, who's face had assumed a comical "Ooo!" expression. Derpy rubbed scratched the back of her head awkwardly, before making a polite coughing sound into her hoof - and Maud blinked once. Slowly.
Meanwhile, Starlight looked at the ground between her hooves, feeling a confusing mix of shame from Rainbow's words and gratitude for Kyra coming to her defense.
Inside, Rainbow Dash was seething. Respect! Respect!?! She almost wanted to laugh - the idea was so absurd. Who the Hell does this mare think she is? Does she even have any clue what Starlight's done? Out of respect for Luna, though, she held her tongue. Even so, she and Kyra remained locked in a baleful stare. In an effort to prevent another spout of bickering between the two, Twilight spoke to Luna.
"What should we do now? It won't be long before Queen Chrysalis finds out we're all missing."
"That's where our work begins," said Luna. "And by 'our', I mean that Kyra and the rest of us will handle Chrysalis. But you and your friends must return to Ponyville immediately for medical evaluation. Maud will be the one to escort you there."
Twilight nodded, but there was concern in her eyes as she stepped a bit closer to the dark alicorn. "But... are you sure?" She glanced at Kyra and Starlight, before dropping her voice and looking at Luna again. "I mean, can we really trust those two?"
"Twilight." Luna spoke patiently but firmly. "I would trust Kyra with my life."
There would be no further debate on the matter. Yet in spite of knowing this, Twilight still wished she could be there to help. Luna could see it in her eyes. But she could not afford to give in to weakness when Thorax had already risked so much to help them.
"Go!" she said, with more urgency this time. "Go, quickly!"
As soon as Twilight and her friends were out of sight, Luna turned back to look at the Changeling Hive. Without a word she, Kyra, Starlight and Derpy began to move off towards it.
It was time to finish the job.