//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: A Spiritual Journey 
// by HalfAngelHuman 
//------------------------------//

	“Spirit, time to get up!” a voice rang out. Spirit groaned as he forced his eyes open, greeted with the sight of both his parents staring at him. Spirit immediately wished he didn’t open his eyes.
“Oh! Um...h-hi mom, dad.” Spirit said weakly. Akroma shook her head and sighed as she walked towards the bed. Standing in front of her child, she tightly wrapped her hooves around his body, pulling him to her.
“I’m just glad you’re still okay.” Akroma said in a hoarse voice. Spirit froze, his mind trying to process what was happening.
“You let your emotions take over again,” Fazz said, a frown on his face. “But you’re still alive. That’s all that matters. It’s not your time yet.” he said, pulling his son and wife into a group hug. “Your punishment is no strawberry oat smoothies for a week.”
“I guess that’s fair.” Spirit said. ‘Why that of all things!? That’s so cruel!’
“We just wanted you to know that we’re glad you’re okay,” Akroma said, pulling away from the embrace. “But I think it’s time you woke up. You still have to deliver that treaty.” she said, kissing him on the forehead.
“We’ll be watching over you Spirit. Don’t forget we still love you!” Fazz added as he watched his son fade away.

*Reality*

Spirit’s eyes flew open, a green and black ceiling greeting him. ‘It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen this before. I’m back in the Hive.’ he thought as he absorbed his surroundings. ‘From the looks of it, I’m guessing I’m in the infirmary.’
“Oh, you’re awake.” Spirit turned his head to find Kalinka staring at him.
“Hey Kalinka,” Spirit said as he sat on the edge of the bed. “What’s up?”
“You apparently,” Kalinka answered, now sitting next to the conscious hybrid. “Ever since Chrysalis and I brought you back to the Hive, all the Changelings have been talking about you. The only ones allowed in here is Chrysalis and me. Even the doctors can’t come in here without one of us with them.”
“...”
“What’s wrong, Spirit?”
“I killed it.” Spirit said suddenly.
“What?”
“The Manticore. I killed. When you got stabbed, I got so angry that I turned into...that.” Spirit explained, the urge to spill his guts to her strong. “Every time my emotions reach a fever pitch, I get frenzied. Only, unlike last time, I can vaguely remember what I did to Talon.” he said, looking down. “Everything is still hazy, but I can remember one thing clearly,” he said, staring at Kalinka. “I remember a single sentence going through my mind the whole time, ‘keep Kalinka’s promise’.”
“Spirit…”
“My parents visited me in a dream, they told me it might have something to do with me being a Unicorn-Changeling hybrid.” Spirit sighed, resting a hoof on his chest. “Just another curse of being born with a heart…”
“You say ‘curse’, I say ‘gift’.”
“W-what?”
"It's because your emotions spiked that you're still alive," she said, resting her hoof on his. "I think you have power sleeping inside you. Maybe if you give your emotions direction, it will give you strength?"
"Giving my emotions direction..."
"Oh yeah! I almost forgot!" Kalinka exclaimed, hopping off the bed. She walked towards the door where their saddlebags hung. "Now that you're up," she said, poking through his bag. "It's time to give Chrysalis this!" Kalinka said, pulling out the treaty.
"Wait, you didn't give it to her yet? Why?" Spirit said, hopping off the bed.
“After all you’ve been through, I thought you should be the one who would give it to her.” she said, handing him the letter. “Besides, Celestia asked you to deliver it, not me.”
“Well then,” Spirit said, holding the letter with his magic. “I think Chrysalis has waited long enough.” he said, opening the door. “And Kalinka,” he said, standing in the doorway. “Thanks for the pep talk. I really needed it.”
Kalinka looked at him before flashing a warm smile. “No problem, Spirit! I coming with you. Who knows what would happen to you on the way there?”
“I’d appreciate that.”

*Throne Room*

“Your Highness! HalfBreed Free Spirit and Kalinka wish to enter!” The Changeling guard said, standing in front of the double doors.
“Enter!” Chrysalis boomed from her throne. With a nod, the Changeling guard grabbed the attention of the other guard, both opening the doors to allow the visitors in.
“Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings!” Spirit said, bowing before his ex-ruler. “I have been tasked with delivering this treaty to you from Princess Celestia!” he said, holding the letter out in front of him. Chrysalis stood from her throne, her magic retrieving the treaty from the hybrid. She opened the letter, scanning over it before putting it down.
“I shall consider the agreements.” she said.
“And shall make my leave.” Spirit said, getting up.
“Wait!” Chrysalis commanded. Spirit stopped in his tracks and faced her. “To send you back after being attacked by one of my own would create great distrust between me and Celestia. You shall be allowed to stay one more day here. Until then, you will be treated as a guest.”
“Thank you, Queen Chrysalis.” Spirit said, bowing again.
“Come on, Spirit. Let’s get going.” Kalinka said as they started for the doors.

***

“She must know that I feel fine.” Spirit said, the doors closed behind them.
“That’s just mother’s way of saying sorry to you.” Kalinka answered without thinking. Her eyes widened as she slapped a hoof over her mouth. She looked at Spirit, his eyes as big as hers.
“CHRYSALIS IS YOUR-mhpf!?” he began to yell, Kalinka shoving a hoof in his mouth before he could finish.
“Keep it down! Nopony’s suppose to know that!” she hissed, removing her hoof.
“She’s your mother!?” Spirit said.
“I guess the parasprite’s out of the bag now.” Kalinka sighed. “When Chrysalis turned me into a Changeling, she infused some of her blood with mine. So technically, I’m her daughter by given blood.”
“If your Chrysalis’s daughter, doesn’t that make you-”
“A princess? Yes.”
“M-my b-best f-friend i-is a-” Spirit stammered as he fell to the floor. Kalinka stared at the collapsed hybrid before sighing. “I knew this would happen.” she said as she struggled to lift him. “And mother says you’re my future prince.” she groaned as she proceeded to drag Spirit back to the infirmary. “Nothing to see here!” Kalinka said to the watching Changelings. “He just fainted from hunger! Someone get him some fruit!”

*The Next Day*

Spirit and Kalinka stood in front of the Hive, Chrysalis handing them their saddlebags. “I had my servants pack both of you some water in case you need it. I wish you both the very best.”
“Thank you Queen Chrysalis/Mother.” Spirit and Kalinka said as the queen walked back into the Hive.
“So, Free Spirit,” Kalinka said, turning to the young hybrid. “Where to next?”