//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6: Leftovers 
// Story: Misfits 
// by MattTOB 
//------------------------------//

With an ear-splitting BOOM, a wave of pure harmonic energy explodes out from the circle of six friends. As soon as it touches the changelings, they are sent flying straight through the windows of the Stained Glass Hall. As the wave spreads further and further, becoming a circle centered on Canterlot and reaching as far as Manehattan, evil changelings caught in it are blown away, ponies trapped by changeling resin are freed, hypnotic spells undone, and weakened ponies are healed by the harmonic magic left in its wake.

Chrysalis flies off into the horizon, screaming "CUUUUUUUUURSEEEEEEEESSSSSS!!!" until she can't be heard anymore.

With the balance restored, the Elements deactivate, and the ponies using them are lowered gently to the floor.

Ollie is the first to stir. "Wha... What just happened?"

"Did we do it?" Cupcake asks.

"Indeed." The friends turn their heads to find Princess Luna slowly rising to a sitting position, having been rejuvinated by the magic. "I knew you all had it in you."

"Princess Luna!" The group rushes to her side, glad that she is okay.

"Wait, you knew?" Lavender asks. "Did you plan this?!"

"Somewhat," the Princess admits. "When only you six approached me as volunteers, I had a hunch that Fate was trying to tell me something. As we progressed, I saw the Elements begin to shine through you, and it was then that I knew."

Icarus gasps, "Is that why you switched so quickly between being angry and proud at me?!"

She smirks. "A test of your Loyalty, although it had the bonus of also showing his Honesty and her Kindness," she points to Ollie and Tepid Waters in turn.

Tepid Waters raises her hoof, "But how'd we even use the Elements in the first place? I thought they already had users."

Luna nods, "Twilight Sparkle and her friends are, indeed, bearers of the Elements of Harmony, but they are not limited to them alone; the six of them are simply the ponies we knew exhibited those traits best, so they've been the group we turned to."

Icarus then points out, "But I'm not even a pony."

"Harmony is not something exclusive to ponies; every creature, even Discord, can exhibit it to some level. They might not embody it like we do, but they are still capable."

Ollie blinks at that. "Really? Even Discord?"

Luna nods. She then adds, in an irritated tone, "Even though he's never once shown it..."

"So," Morning Dream finally asks, "what now?"

"Now, we find my sister, as well as everypony else that Chrysalis captured."

Luna stands up and is about to leave, when a quiet whimpering echoes through the Hall. The group turns to find a lone changeling cowering in the corner, hooves over its eyes.

Everypony except for Icarus and Luna screams "Changeling!" and hides behind the latter. Icarus rolls his eyes, but doesn't comment, instead focusing a suspicious glare on the intruder.

Luna, however, approaches calmly. "What are you still doing here?"

The changeling peeks out from its hooves, then quickly goes back to cowering when it realizes it's all alone in front of Princess Luna.

Luna remembers something. "Are you the Changeling that tried to surrender when I asked it?"

The changeling quickly nods, not daring to look again.

The lunar Princess finally reaches the terrified bug-pony, reaching down to wipe its fearful tears. "I will not hurt you; I simply wish to talk."

The changeling slowly stops shivering, finally taking another look through the holes in its hooves. When it sees Luna's serene smile, it begins to calm down somewhat.

"That's better," she states, lying down onto her stomach to be on the same level as the changeling. "Now, what's your name?"

After a moment, the changeling responds, "Th-Thorax."

"Then hello, Thorax. Now, why was it you moved to surrender?"

Thorax pauses. He isn't used to ponies being interested in him — or even his fellow changelings, for that matter.

After a moment, he clears his throat. "W-well, I... I've always been different from my peers. From the moment I was hatched, I was singled out as the weakling; the runt of the litter. If it wasn't for my brother — closest brother, that is — protecting me, I probably wouldn't be around today.

"Then, during the Invasion, I saw the Elements of Harmony fighting together. Such unity, the camaraderie; it was unlike anything I was ever a part of back at the Hive. I didn't want to steal it; I-I wanted to share in it! I still do!

"I was kinda hoping for something to come along and separate me from the swarm, so that I'd have an excuse to finally leave..." he finishes, now being listened to by the whole group.

Luna raises an eyebrow, glancing at Icarus. He nods to her, silently conveying that Thorax is, indeed, telling the truth. She then turns back to Thorax and, with a smile, points out, "Seems like you're pretty separated from the swarm right now."

Thorax blinks. She's right, isn't she?

"And seeing as how the the Elements didn't blast you away," Icarus continues, "it seems that Harmony doesn't have a problem with you staying here. In fact, I don't think we'd mind, either."

Did his ears deceive him? Thorax looks at each pony in turn. Luna and Icarus are nearly grinning, and the others, while hesitant, are smiling as well.

"R-really?" the outcasted Changeling manages to squeak out after a moment.

In response, Icarus leans down and grabs Thorax into a hug. The others soon follow, giving Thorax the biggest (and only-est) hug he's ever gotten.

Thorax balks momentarily, before smiling and leaning into the hug.

Unfortunately, the moment is quickly interrupted by the door bursting open to reveal a trio of guards. They take one look at the scene in front of them, before pointing their spears.

"Changelings!" shouts one of them.

"They've got one of the Elements!" cries another.

"And they're creating a harem!" claims the third.

The first two pause to look at the third, before brushing past it and beginning to charge.

Thankfully, Princess Luna quickly leaps to the group's protection. "Stand down, guards!" she demands.

The three pause. "But the Changelings—"

"Are of no threat, Sargent Hue," Luna states. "In fact, the one with the Element helped to save us all."

The three guards look to each other, before the first two point their spears at Luna. "And how do we know you're actually you?"

In response, Luna's eyes begin to turn dragon-like. Her hair begins to lose its form, and she starts hovering with her wings.

The three recognize what is about to happen. "Yup, definitely her," the first squeaks out.

With that, the three rush straight out of the room, tails between their legs.

Luna takes a moment to calm down, before turning towards the stunned group. "Sorry about that, folks; Sargent Hue, Specialist Dew, and Private Lieu are rather new."

She then regards Thorax. "Now, where might I find my sister and the others?"

He helpfully supplies, "They're being held in the dungeon."

Luna nods, then turns to the group. "Well then, shall we go?"

The group looks at each other, silently making up their minds. "Actually, if it's alright with you, Princess, we'd just like to go home."

The Princess of the moon blinks at that. "But you six just saved Canterlot; don't you want to be recognized by them for what you've done?"

Ollie steps forward. "We were just doing the right thing. I'd rather make my fame my own way." The rest agree.

"Besides," Icarus chimes in, "I don't think they'd like to see me so soon after the invasion; I'm certainly not ready to face anyone else like this, anyways. I also need to retrieve Lite, too."

"And think about it this way," Tepid points out: "With nopony to take the credit, everypony will think you saved the day, and you'll be more loved than ever! A win-win!"

Luna thinks for a moment.