“So, let me get this straight,” Rainbow Dash asked. “We're walking right into the trap that you know she wanted to set, and that's when you'll have her where you want her?” She turned from window, shrugging at the others in the train car. Their assorted party had the car completely booked, orders of Princess Celestia, so Twilight could fill them in on the way.
“I gotta admit, sugarcube,” Applejack added. “It's a pretty, uh, bold move.”
“But the details are well thought out,” Rarity added.
“And we have to do it,” Fluttershy added. “All those poor ponies who don't even remember who they are.”
“It means so much to me that you'd be willing,” Iris Dash added. Chamberlain had shifted back to the form they had grown familiar with before they had rejoined the others. And maybe that he had grown familiar with, too.
“We'll stop in Ponyville for a few hours,” Twilight Sparkle continued. “Ch... Iris and Fluttershy will ride on ahead to Appleoosa to track down the elite changelings. We'll rest up and leave midday tomorrow, assuming their success.”
“What... what if we don't?” Fluttershy asked.
“You will,” Twilight added.
“That some future knowledge talkin'?” Applejack inquired.
“No,” Twilight smiled. “Just faith in my friends.” Fluttershy will be fine, she just needs us to be her confidence.
The train pulled into the Ponyville stop just after midnight, and everypony turned and waved Iris and Fluttershy on.
“We left the library a mess,” Spike reminded her, “but don't worry, Owliscious and I will get it taken care of, you just rest up.”
Twilight smiled her gratitude as she stumbled down the stairs from the station platform. When was the last time I had some rest? She had to think for quite a while before chuckling to herself. About 1,348 years ago, right before fleeing Aurelia, holding back dragons, teleporting two alicorns halfway across the continent, jumping over a millennium, walking a weary path in her friend's memory, and learning an invisibility spell.
Her friends excused themselves one by one to go to their homes to rest, stumbling with their own exhaustion. By the time she arrived at the library, only Spike and Starswirl remained. “Did you want to come in?” she offered politely.
“Hrm?” Starswirl said, snapping out of whatever thought he was lost in. “No, I... have some goodbyes of my own to say.” He looked at his hourglass cutie mark, adding, “I think no matter what happens tomorrow, my time here is almost at an end.”
“Do you... suppose we shall meet again?” Twilight asked.
“I wouldn't think so, but I suppose just about anything is possible.” He turned to leave, taking a couple steps before he stopped. “For what it's worth, Twilight Sparkle, my someday descendant, I'm proud to have known you.” He opened his mouth again as if to say something else, then closed it, nodding to himself.
“Wow, you obviously made quite an impression!” Spike said excitedly as they close the library door behind them. Twilight smiled lightly to herself as she walked, across the worn wooden floor and up their stairs. Spike continued to talk in excited tones, and she nodded at him, but she had only one goal in mind. She pulled back the covers, collapsed into her own bed, and fell asleep.
* * *
The next afternoon, they arrived in Dodge Junction, getting off the train to find Fluttershy and Iris Dash already waiting for them. The ride had passed in relative silence, everypony well rested, but anxious.
“Firebane has agreed to do as we ask,” Iris Dash said. “It's a good plan,” she said reassuringly, though the concern in her eyes showed her own worry.
Celestia's guards followed them as far as the edge of town, but they stayed behind to reinforce the defenses. If things went poorly, Dodge Junction would bear the brunt first. Halfway to the border into the badlands, Rainbow Dash took to the air and landed on the top of one of the nearby natural stone formations, then returned quickly. “I can see dust clouds ahead.”
“That's them,” Iris Dash said. “They weren't so far into the badlands to begin with, and they'd have moved closer with the need to constantly send expeditions out.”
“Is everypony ready, then?” Starswirl asked, squinting into the distance ahead of them. When silence followed, he added, “no, I suppose not. Well, here we go anyway.”
* * *
Chrysalis sat on her cold but serviceable throne. The changelings had done a fair job carving her a temporary kingdom out of the barren rock and stone of the Badlands, but it lacked the warmth that Canterlot would have provided, not to mention the sparseness of food. She shivered, rising, as she was about to ascend out of their artificial valley to see if they couldn't find some casual passers-by or expeditions to feed off of. Ponykind pushes out further every day, so being here has its rewards, even if it has its risks.
A sudden commotion at the entrance of the valley caught her attention. Some of the drones buzzing in that direction were forcefully pushed back, flying through the air. More drones interceded, but they were falling faster than they could be replaced so that the din of the struggle became closer. Soon, Chrysalis would see for herself who was assaulting her hive. As if I need to guess.
Within moments, she was thoughts were confirmed. “Ah, Twilight Sparkle! And you brought your friends. Welcome to the the seat of my monarchy's power!”
“A broken monarchy, Chrysalis,” Twilight Sparkle retorted, the tone grating on Chrysalis' ears. “We know you've got a faction that's left you.”
“It means nothing!” Chrysalis said, hoping her voice carried the absolute confidence that she didn't really have. “A few stray miscreants. And nothing has changed that would enable you to best my army.” The mass of the drones settled to the ground between Chrysalis and the ponies.
“It has, because we have these,” Twlight glanced upward at her crown, “and you can't get between us and them this time.”
Chrysalis maintained her poise even as she felt a shiver down her spine. She surveyed the line carefully, and managed to not change her expression or have her eyes linger as they past over the Dashes. Perhaps I can, Twilight Sparkle, she thought smugly.
“Okay, girls,” Twilight Sparkle signaled. “Let's do this!” Her crown began to glow, and then all of the Elements of Harmony began to glow in turn... including the one held jointly between the two Dashes.
No, Chambin, are you... it cannot be! Suddenly, Chrysalis' own fear and doubt closed in on her, the caustic taste in her mouth once again. She would never have thought Chambin could betray her, but she felt that of Faerbin as well. If my elites were still here, they wouldn't have even made it this far. What remains will have to do. “Changelings, protect me!”
Just as the elements combined their powers and shot forward its multicolored beam of light towards Chrysalis, her changeling army took flight, constantly shifting their pattern to block the oncoming blast. They could barely resist it for seconds before falling to the ground, stunned. Chrysalis stepped backwards slowly, step by step as the beam grew ever closer. They are tired, poorly fed. She could have almost touched it now, as she felt her flank bump into the rocks behind her. She could take flight, but she decided against it. It would buy mere seconds. No, better to go this way. She stood tall, regal, as she could feel the edges of it dance against her flesh.
Then it stopped.
It didn't fade, and nothing additional blocked it. It was just suddenly gone. Over the masses of her dazed troops, she looked to her assailants and saw that only one of the rainbow-maned ponies had the element now, fastened firmly around her neck. The other was covered with dust where she had been pushed to the ground. Chambin!
“Sorry if I concerned you, Your Supreme Majesty,” Chambin said, grinning wickedly. “It had to be convincing, and they should be exhausted after that.”
“Too exhausted to escape us,” a voice came from above, as another group of ponies descended by flight from the surrounding terrain or ran down the valley behind the commotion. They quickly took places around the ponies menacingly, blocking their escape and grabbing hold of the pegasi to keep them grounded. One of them, a mirror of Fluttershy, split off from the group and flew over to the Chrysalis bowing. “The rebellion was all just a ruse, my queen, a plan Chambin and I came up with. If they thought you were vulnerable, they would attack. We apologize for withholding the details, but we figured the performance would be more... authentic.”
Chrysalis laughed, delighted, as she simultaneously scowled at her captured foe. “Faerbin, I cursed your name many times these past few days, but you have brought me a wonderful gift.” Her smile twisted with maniacal glee as she turned towards Twilight Sparkle, then she furrowed her brow. She should be afraid, or confused. She looks more like she's... waiting. “Why don't you two, and the other elites, rejoin with me, so we may fully share with you the feast we will extract from these ponies?”
* * *
Uh-Oh. She must sense something's up. Twlight Sparkle saw the brief hesitation in Faerbin's eyes, and she was sure that Chrysalis would have seen it, too.
“I know you've found a way to feed without me,” Chrysalis said, green tendrils of magic slowly rising from her, twisting about. Twlight found herself having to carefully sidestep to avoid them. “And I won't put a stop to it. But if you are really still with us, that strength must be shared.”
“B-but my queen,” Faerbin said, her eyes darting nervously, “What if the prisoners escape while our guard is down? Wouldn't it be best to deal with them first?”
“Where could they go?” Chrysalis snapped. “Without their precious Elements of Harmony, and all alone, they will not make it beyond our reach.”
Just a little longer. Twilight moved forward just a little, inch by inch. She remembered that this was exactly what Faerbin and Chamberlain were worried about. If they share in the feeding, they may lose themselves, become one with her will again...
“Of course... my queen,” Faerbin lowered her head, landing from flight with a bow, waiting still as the tendrils of magic from Chrysalis caressed her. The other elites looked to each other and followed suit. Finally, Iris Dash, too, bowed, awaiting, her eyes darting to Rainbow Dash with a wink.
Rainbow turned to the others and nodded, before she began struggling to get loose. The others started struggling as well to create a distraction and finally Rainbow Dash got loose, grabbing Iris and pulling her out of the way just before the sinuous tendrils made contact.
“Traitor!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “How could you do this, after all we've been through? After the way we were friends.” She pushed Iris Dash yet again, further from the feeding.
Twilight could see the light leaving Faerbin's eyes, and then the others that had followed her. She's giving up everything to give us a chance. Twilight eked forward just a little more, doubling her efforts in an attempt to honor the faith Faerbin –no, Firebane – had placed in her. She's made up for doubting me all those years ago.
“Friends?” Iris Dash said with contempt. “What good is your friendship? What did it gain me besides the love I needed to stay alive?” She moved forward assertively, moving away just a little further from the tendrils following her. “You ponies like to pretend you're better than changelings, but in all reality you just feed off it, too. Pretending your friends mean something because they have a use to you, or amuse you.” She looked to each of them as she spoke. “We need it to live, what's your excuse?”
“If you're quite finished,” Twilight Sparkle said, eying the tendril of green carefully as it eked past her, closing in on Iris Dash quickly. “I am done being ignored. Look at me, over here.” She turned to Chrysalis, looking her right in the eyes. The queen had descended into a partial trance while she reconnected with her elites, and she regarded Twilight with bemused eyes. “Your time is up. Now or never, Twilight Sparkle!”
Chrysalis only had a second to be confused before the Twilight that she was looking at shimmered and shifted, a strange brown unicorn in a pointed hat in her place. “But.. impossible, you wielded the element!”
“Just borrowing it, this time, Chryssie,” Starswirl swaggered. “But I mean it. Now, Twilight.”
Sweat on her brow, Twilight dropped the invisibility spell, having crept as close to the queen as she could during the battle and the exchanges. I'll just have to chance it from here. No longer creeping along to keep the invisibility intact, her horn flared to its fullest as she charged into the queen. “Princess Chrysalis, remember! Though it may pain thee, remember!”
* * *
Chrysalis gasped as the spell hit her, and the tendrils disappeared almost instantly. Buzzing and confusion came from the changelings around them. Even the elites, reverted to their previous changeling states, recovered quickly, sensing a threat to their queen. They charged at Twilight, only to bounce against a powerful shield.
“I can't hold it for very long.” Starswirl cried. “Everypony, buy as much time as you can!” The others burst furiously from their captors.
“My turn, then,” Iris Dash said. She focused in her mind and brought forth the spell that she knew more intimately than anypony. If I had only never felt the need be somepony I was not. She carefully recalled the old memory, the image of the pony in her... his mind. He concentrated through the din of his friends fighting around him, never doubting for a moment they would keep him safe, give him the time he needed. There, he finished forming the image in his mind, then smiled bitterly to himself. And if only I'd known then that hurting you a bit would have saved you from this tragedy. He pulled the spell over himself in a blinding flash of transformation, opening his eyes as the sounds dissipated.
“Why are they slowin' down?” Applejack asked, bucking a changeling that was attempting to disrupt Starswirl.
“They're still linked to her,” Starswirl said, dodging as Pinkie Pie shot a a wad of confetti at a changeling on the other side of him, knocking it into another that was attacking the shield wall around Chrysalis and Twilight. “It's confusing them.”
Chamberlain turned his new form towards the scene, and his eyes widened. Inside the shield that flickered with each attack, he could make out not his queen, but his princess, slowly restoring herself. As her memories flood back in, she's finding her way back to her true form. This might actually work. He stepped into place, trying not to waver in resolve as he could hear within the shield.
“No!” Chrysalis sobbed. “Please, no. It cannot... I cannot.”
Suddenly, the shield around them vanished, and Chamberlain glanced back. Starswirl was glancing down at his own flank, a startled look on his face. The hourglass was empty. “Good luck, old friends!” He was fading from view quickly as he added, “Oh! And tell Celestia the other-” but the space where he was standing was empty, the element of magic drifting down into the dust.
“I don't want to remember!” Chrysalis shouted. “I cannot be without him!” Chamberlain turned to look again, and Twilight Sparkle was protecting herself now in a shield. The lovely alicorn princess that he had served all those years ago was pressing toward the shielded unicorn with fierce eyes and her horn aglow, still a sickly green as vestiges of the changeling enchantment remained.
“Without me, dear heart?” Chamberlain spoke with a voice that was not his own. A voice he always disliked the tone of. Or was it just jealousy?
Chrysalis turned immediately to face him. “Cocoon, my love?” There was such longing in her eyes, Chamberlain swallowed hard. No! No time for bitterness. Only the lie. Or, the truth. He smiled, the warmest smile he could with the face of her dead prince. He let all the love, all the tenderness that he had felt for her fill his eyes. He watched hers respond in kind, flaring with a pink hue briefly, reengaging the love spell that had never released its hold on her.
Chamberlain opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, Chrysalis darted in, placing her head tenderly against his neck. He lowered his head onto hers, pulling her into the embrace. Then, she suddenly pulled back, smiling coyly. “Thou art different than I recall.”
For a moment he nearly panicked until he realized she was staring at his sides. He turned and nearly gasped himself. How could I have gotten that wrong?! He flapped the silver wings tentatively, wings that the simple unicorn prince never possessed. “I- I was under such a deep spell, it kept me away from thee so for long. But thy love, it has transformed me!” He smiled convincingly.
Everypony was frozen in place, while Chrysalis contemplated the statement, rubbing her chin with one hoof.. Chamberlain looked over to Rainbow Dash. Of course, the wings just felt natural. Some part of me will always think so, now.
“Oh, dear Cocoon,” Chrysalis said at last. “I would love thee with or without wings or a horn, so long as I never need leave thy side again!”
“And here is one more thing we can share, my heart!” Chamberlain said, taking to the skies with a few hard flaps of his wings. “Even in the air, we can be together! Come, catch me, my heart!” He took off as fast as he could, looking back with a smile, but avoiding eye contact just the same. It will certainly help with this. I need only stay ahead of her for an hour.
* * *
“Wait for me, sweet prince!” Chrysalis launched herself skyward, heaving with her ornate wings as she followed more quickly than Twilight Sparkle expected. Chamberlain has quite a flight ahead of him, I think.
“So, there's nothing more for us to do here, then, is there, sugarcube?” Applejack asked.
“No, it's in his hooves now,” Twilight Sparkle sighed. Rarity carefully lifted the hat out of the dust and back atop Twilight's head, where it once again became her familiar tiara.
“Uhm Twilight,” Fluttershy said. “Shouldn't the changelings be changing back? I thought their spell was tied to her?”
“They probably will once the love potion is broken,” Twilight responded, “I think since that was the reason that she used the changeling spell, the two became intertwined as she... changed.” She glanced around, suddenly aware of the reason for Fluttershy's alarm. The confusion of her memory restoration, and her change back to her true form had stunned them briefly. Now, they were recovering, and the angry buzz of their wings seemed to be amplifying as more and more off them took to the air.
“Get in close, girls!” Twilight called, putting up a shield around them as the approached. “Closer, and don't move!” Her horn glowed brighter as she dropped the invisibility spell over the shield.
“Were they coming after us?” Pinkie Pie asked, as she aimed and reaimed her party cannon, trying to evaluate the nearest threat.
“No, they're going to be looking for her,” Fluttershy answered before Twilight could. “The hive needs its queen.” As if in response to her words, the changelings suddenly exploded into a flurry of motion, each flying in different directions, bouncing off their makeshift hive, tearing it to pieces as they went.
“Why are they doing that?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“I don't....” Twilight began. “They can't sense her! They're still linked to her, but it's so weak they don't know where.”
“That's good, right?” Pinkie Pie said hopefully.
“Sugarcube, look around!” Applejack pointed to the destruction around them, which seemed to spread as the changelings whirled in larger circles toward the top of the valley. “They'll keep doing that to anything and anypony they run across until they find her, does that seem good?”
“Oh, Ri-ight,” Pinkie Pie responded, nodding.
“So, we'll just lead them to her,” Twilight Sparkle said.
“But aren't they just as likely in this state to interfere with Chamberlain breaking the spell?” Rarity countered.
“You're right,” Twilight looked at the destruction. “We've got to contain them somehow.” She bit her lip nerviously.
* * *
Celestia slipped to the side of the tall pillar as Rainbow Dash flew up and landed on it. Fortunately, the pegasus' eyes were focused in the distance, so that she did not see the princess' hoof marks in the dirt. She remained only a moment before darting back down. “I can see dust clouds ahead,” Celestia could just hear as the pegasus darted back to the ground below.
Celestia sighed as she retook her perch. “So, it's all over, at last,” she said calmly to herself. “I've lived long enough to see it through.”
“Is that why thou hast lived all this time, Tia?” Luna's voice surprised her. Celestia turned quickly to see her sister landing regally beside her, eyes filled with tender sympathy. “How long has it been since thou hast left the castle without your guards, dear sister? It did not take me long to discern where thou were heading.”
Celestia turned away from the soft expression, towards the group that was slowly making its way to the opening of the changeling gorge. “I lived all this time, Luna, because I did. Everything that's happened was what I knew would happen. Well, more or less. Starswirl gave me exactly enough to go on. But that's over, now.”
“So, thou has no idea what happens now?” Luna said, smiling slowly. “Then why are thou here?”
“Starswirl left when the results were still... in doubt. I'm here to do whatever it takes to help. Even if it costs my life.”
“I see,” said Luna softly. “So thou art giving up?”
“What?”
“Dear sister, you have spent a long time in a prison. Believe me, I know.” She smiled, and still, no bitterness. “There were no walls, and no bars across the windows, but thou had always to answer to the march of time. Eventually, thou stopped resenting it. It was certainty. It was comfort, when thou had none. And now, thou art free. And the openness terrifies thee.”
Celestia frowned, opening her mouth to retort, but she looked into her sister's eyes, and closed her mouth again. Nothing was said that she could dispute. “How do you do it? How did she do it?”
“Do what, Tia?”
“Your first words to me, when you returned to yourself, were to beg apology. When the weight of my burden became too much last evening, I thrust that burden angrily on my pupil... my friend.” Celestia shuddered. “And she, too asked forgiveness for it. How can either of you still love me, when even now, I've asked no forgiveness for my deeds?!”
“Dear Tia,” Luna said softly. “Thou did what thou always do, what thou had to do. Thou gave the future of Equestria, of the Three Kingdoms, a fighting chance. And Twily and I will not forsake it for pettiness.”
Celestia leaned into her sister, embracing her with a fierce pride. I'm such a foal. She is ready.
“And,” Luna added, smirking at her sister, suddenly straining, sweat on her brow, “Aunt Armonia lived to be 1,800. I read thy memoirs on her. Thou are not leaving us anytime soon.” Suddenly, the moon unmistakably pierced the horizon, taking its place beside the sun. “So no more playing the martyr, dear sister.”
“You raised it the old fashioned way,” Celestia said, nodding appreciably. “Very well, then.” Celestia's horn and eyes glowed, and the sun suddenly seemed a little hotter, a little brighter. “Let the Sisters De Canterlot show Equestria what their united strength can do!”
“Oh, cousins!” a familiar voice suddenly startled the sisters, as the familiar Chrysalis that they had known ages before stood before them. She has changed not at all. The years have done nothing to her. “Did thou see? My prince lives, and he is an alicorn now!”
“He's what?” Luna said in surprise, before glancing upward at the airborne form of Cocoon.
“But, of course, thou already knew,” Chrysalis pointed to the sun and moon side by side in the sky. “Oh, cousins, thanks for the brilliant sky as a gift at our reunion!” Before the bewildered sisters could comment, an eager, enchanted Chrysalis could sit still no longer, taking to the air after Chamberlain, towards the north.
“They did it, then, Tia?” Luna finally asked after a moment of stunned silence.
“Perhaps,” Celestia answered, pointing a hoof towards the valley as the din of destruction rose to a level that they could hear in the distance. “But it looks like we're right where we need to be. This pass leads out of the Badlands into Equestria.”
“Then we shall hold it, for our subjects,” Luna agreed, lowering her head and summoning her magic to her. It seemed to flare all around her.
Celestia did the same, and it felt stronger that it had in weeks. Luna's right. I am free. She gazed fiercely ahead at the oncoming whirlwind of changelings. And I will survive to enjoy it. She felt the magic course through her, tingling everywhere. She lifted from a single saddlebag the light crystal that she had kept for over a thousand years, levitating it over between herself and her sister. She crossed horns with it, then looked expectantly to Luna.
Luna smiled, crossing her horn with the crystal, and with her sister's horn, and the magic arched between the three. A vast shield wall swept out from them, ground to sky, and along the edges of the badlands as far as they could see. The changeling wave reached it, battering uselessly against it.
* * *
“Too fast, my love!” Chrysalis shouted, and her tone sounded breathless. Chamberlain slowed slightly as he glanced back, but Chrysalis darted forward coyly when he did, forcing him to change direction sharply swerving at a downward angle so that Chrysalis would hit a thermal current.
You foal, don't let up! He absently pulled out his pocket watch and checked it discreetly. If she sees I have it, it will remind her of Chamberlain. Only half the hour was spent. As he tucked it away, he suddenly realized that if he had it, he was still holding the Element of Loyalty. Rainbow Dash! I'm sorry, friends. I hope you have no need of it...
“Ha!” Chrysalis said suddenly, startling him out of his reverie as she dove out of a could ahead. He changed direction quickly, flying close to her, right by and into the cloud himself. The sudden direction changes started to make his wings ache. I've done way cooler moves when I was Iris Dash, but this shape just isn't the same... Still, I can't take a chance, I have to stay in this form. He took deep breaths as he emerged above the clouds, trying to shut off the creeping fiery sensations in his muscles. I can do this. He went into a dead dive, back through the cloud, laughing with a feigned joy, so the sound of his laughter would draw the princess back through the cloud.
* * *
“They are fierce,things, Tia!” Luna said panting.
“We can hold them,” Celestia said in monotone, shaking her head slightly to keep the sweat from her eyes, adding, “and they will be ponies again.”
“Tia! Look!” As the swarm recoiled for another strike against the shield, they stumbled back across the valley they had sheltered in. It had been scarred and battered one too many times, and finally it couldn't hold itself anymore. The walls began to slide down into the valley, a thunderous chain reaction that made the valley almost swallow itself up.
“No! I will not lose them!” Celestia wavered only slightly, and a few cracks appeared in the shield wall as the changelings smashed against it. Her eyes burned with a stinging sensation. She glared at the next wave. “If they get through, retreat to Dodge Junction,” she said, her voice heavy.
“But-”
“Princesses, I'm so glad to see you here!” Twilight Sparkle's voice suddenly intoned behind them.
“Twilight! We were worried,” Celestia said.
“We're all here, including some old friends,” Twilight stepped forward, her other friends behind her as she stepped into sight. Neither princess dared to drop their focus for a moment. Next to appear in their peripheral vision was a group of unicorns, most of whom Celestia didn't recognize, and one in particular that she did.
“Welcome back, Firebane,” Celestia greeted her. “though these are not quite the happier times I had hoped for.”
“Not yet,” Firebane acknowledged, bowing deeply, “but the promise of it may yet bear fruit.”
“The unicorns regained their minds first,” Twilight Sparkle explained. “And the spell seems to have left them. So, they're here to help me take over this shield wall.”
“Twilight, we should be able to hold it, get everypony to safety,” Celestia ordered.
“Tia,” Twilight said, turning to look at Celestia, her face unreadable. “I'm not asking as your student. I'm asking as your friend. Please. Let us help.”
“We could use a rest, sister,” Luna urged her. Finally, Celestia nodded.
“The memory of being a changeling is already hazy,” Firebane said, “but I think we've learned a trick that may aid thee, Twilight Sparkle.” The group of unicorns lead by Firebane focused, their horns glowing brightly. The magic light slowly crept from their horns, wafting tendrils, moving as if carried on the wind. All the tendrils intersected above Twilight's head, swirling above her crown.
“It might be enough,” Twilight admitted. She brought her own magic to bear, Rarity stepping to her side, intersecting her own horn, offering what little power she could add. “Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, I'm going to make the shield so that you can get through. Some of the changelings in flight are earth ponies, and may need your help as they regain themselves.” The pegasi nodded. “Applejack, Pinkie Pie, I'm going to put you on the ground... do what you can to help them understand. They're still going to be a little confused.”
“Okie Dokie Loki!” Pinkie Pie responded as Applejack nodded firmly.
“Everypony... now!” the tendrils dove into Twilight as she took over the shield, teleporting the earth ponies to the ground below. The pegasi darted out, staying just beyond the changeling's reach as they waited to rescue them.
Celestia carefully considered her friend as dropped the spell herself, stumbling slightly, then she levitated the light crystal so it intersected with the tendrils of magic from the Aurelian unicorns. Twilight's crown flared to life, the Element of Magic stirred by the excess presence of raw magic.
The changelings gathered their mass and smashed against the shield again. Despite the collective magic being channeled into the shield, the cracks widened slightly.
“Twily!” Celestia called out. “The crystal, it connects directly with the palace of the Crystal Empire. They are all one!”
There was a brief pause, then, “Got it!” A single pulse of light formed around the crystal, then lashed out as a single laser, stretching itself razor thin toward an unseen goal to the north. Moments later, a much wider stream responded, striking the crystal. Twilight's eyes became suffused with light as the cracks in the shield began to repair themselves.
“Got some ponies snapping out of it!” Rainbow Dash yelled, darting forward to catch some earth ponies that had suddenly appeared from the mass, tumbling toward the ground, Fluttershy barely a single flap behind her.
“Tia!” Twilight called, her voice reverberating with the strength of the magic that she was guiding. “I think I can hold it for few more waves, but it won't be enough... unless, how long would it take you and Luna to push the sun and moon just below the horizon?”
“A few minutes, only,” Luna answered first, responding in like volume. She looked to Celestia, who shrugged slightly in confusion.
“Start now, then,” Twilight called, bracing the magic around her as the changelings barrage battered against the shield again, a few more ponies escaping the enchantment.
* * *
Physical exhaustion wasn't all that was straining against Chamberlain as he panted, quickly dodging through the thorny bushes of ghastly gorge to buy himself just a little distance from the princess. The spell was never meant for a mere unicorn to support the vast power of an alicorn's form.
He glanced backward quickly, making sure to avoid direct eye contact. He sighed, dodging up the sides of the gorge, suddenly taking his flight path low and between the trees. No helping it, there's no way I could have kept this far ahead and other way.
He took a moment to check the watch. Almost time now. Time for the greatest deception. He changed direction yet again, making a sharp ascent. Chrysalis saw him and was just a few yards behind him, and closing.
His lungs burning, his wings feeling leaden, and his horn dimming, her could feel the breeze of her wings flapping as she slowly pulled alongside him. “My dear prince, thou art a fair bit more fit than I recall thee,” she teased between her own ragged breaths.
He glanced sideways at the watch as he slowed. He had done it, the hour had passed. Now, the hard part. He closed his eyes, turned toward her, and then thought of everything he had been through. No, everything everypony had been through. I have to do this. For me, for my love, for my friends. I can do this.
He slowly opened his eyes, staring at the alcorn he has always loved, but he met her gaze with a cold, passionless stare. Not a look of scorn, or disdain, either – simply one of utter indifference. The same look that used to infuriate Chamberlain so much. He certainly knew it well enough to mimic it. But will it be enough?
At first, Chrysalis drew back slightly, as if stung. Then, she came closer again, as if seeing him for the first time. “No, that is thee... isn't it?” She sighed, the pink hue leaving her eyes, and the last tint of green aura from her horn drifting away on an errant air current, scattered like a handful of sand tossed into an ocean, until it was no more.
“It's done, then,” Chamberlain sighed, smiling crookedly. A coldness crept through him as his own changeling spell fell away, his magic finally and throughly exhausted. His wingless form began its decent, away from his princess. Before he disappeared into the cloud below them, he called to her, “forgive me.”
* * *
Twilight felt it like a tingling running up her spine the moment the spell broke, which she could only note briefly was impressive considering how much tingled with the magic she was carrying. I think I'm tingling in my shadow, and three inches from my skin.
“Ohmygosh! We're gonna need a little more help!” Rainbow Dash called out as all at once, all the remaining changelings regained their old pony forms. Earth ponies, disoriented pegasi, and even a few weaker unicorns that remained in sway until the end, became a jumbled mess plummeting towards the ground.
“Luna! Tia! Now!” Twilight called, and even though it was not in the direction that she was looking, she could feel the celestial bodies drop below the horizon.
The pulse that arose in her was massive. The light that suffused her eyes and crown spread along every inch of her body. Even still, it was more than she could contain, and it swept outward into her mane and tail, which were suddenly aflame with power. Even as she became aware of it, she only had seconds to act.
Ponies about to hit the ground suddenly vanished, reappearing safely upright and motionless on the ground, albeit even more disoriented than an instant before. I have to catch them. The frequency became greater and greater, as she quickly read even the minutia of their life force, plucking them out of the air, and setting them safely down, one by one.
“Twilight,” Celestia whispered in her ear. Twilight was aware of her friend and mentor be her side, even as the vortex of magic that was emptying into Twilight singed the princess.
“I have to save them,” Twilight strained to speak between her teeth, as if the magic might leak out if she opened her mouth too wide. She didn't stop her constant teleporting as she spoke.
“Twily,” Celestia whispered again, her tone plaintive, but firm. “That's the last of them. Let go.”
“I –“ Twilight felt the heat in her mane and tail in earnest now. “I can't –“ Finally, she folded the magic vortex back in on itself, and it collapsed almost instantly. So did Twilight, and the last thing she felt before she lost consciousness was Celestia's head supporting her, warm and familiar.
* * *
As he plummeted towards the ground, his eyes closed, he held in his mind the last he saw of Chrysalis. Her mane was wind-tossed from the flight, and her face and eyes were sad, but they were her own. Finally, completely, her own. He smiled happily, waiting for the cold ground to meet him.
Instead, hooves wrapped around him, startling him into opening his eyes, finding he was staring deeply into Chrysalis' own dual-green eyes.
Neither of them spoke for a moment while Chrysalis caught her breath. Finally, she said, “it was thee, all along, was it not?”
He started to nod, but then he realized her meaning was deeper than just his ruse. A tenderness in her voice. “It was. Always.”
She nodded, too, almost before he answered. She moved in closer, the tip of her horn just touching his. “Is it... is it all right that I miss him, Chamberlain?”
He leaned in closer. I've kept my promise well enough, Lord Sombra “Of course,” he answered firmly. He hesitated a moment, before boldly continuing, “Chrysalis?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for saving me.”
She smiled softly. “And thank you for saving me.”