“What did you just say to me?" Fang whispered dangerously. His eyes were glaring daggers into his thestral adversary.
"You have no idea what love is Fang,” Dark repeated. The changeling’s slit eyes narrowed specifically to glare a hole into Dark. He prowled menacingly forward, but Dark walked around him. Fang persisted and the two began to walk in a circle, each staring the other down as they did so. “Love is equal. Love is pure. And love is meant to be a beautiful union between ponies."
"Shut up!" Fang barked back. Dark braced for attack before Fang slammed his legs into the ground. “What if your precious Moon Princess had turned you down, huh?”
Dark sighed. "I've been thinking that for weeks..." He closed his eyes as he finally answered his own desperate question. “It would just be enough to me that she’s happy. That's love..." He slipped into battle position as did Fang. "There's an old saying, if you love something let it go. If it comes back to you, than it's yours. If it never does...than it was never yours to begin with.”
"Liar!" Fang screeched. He dived forward. "She's mine!" Dark stepped back and bucked Fang in the head with his back legs; he’d improved greatly since his battle with the Queen of Dreams. He then soared into the air and rammed Fang on his side, then smacked him with his left hoof, knocking him into the dirt.
Undeterred, Fang jumped to his feet and charged towards Dark at full speed. The two of them grabbed each other, as Fang reared his head back and slammed his skull into Dark’s, sending the thestral into the ground. Quickly, he rammed into Dark’s body, then stood on his wings and reared, causing Dark to scream in agony. Dark bucked and lobbed Fang behind him. He backed his legs up and made to buck him again, but Fang side-stepped and smacked Dark in the head with his leg in what could only be described as a lariat.
The force from the shot sent Dark flying into the air. He crashed face-first into the stone floor and Fang took the opportunity to begin grinding Dark’s head into the ground. Dark howled, but Fang persisted, only stopping to slam a hoof into his head.
"I've been Chrysalis's right hand changeling for years!” he shouted. “I’m going to be the future king of this land, and there is nothing you can do that can stop it!"
His ego was getting the better of them and Dark knew it. He took advantage, driving a hoof into Fang’s stomach like a spear and slamming him against the stone wall of the cave. Stone shook and began to fall with the impact…including into Chrysalis’s cell. Which was closed.
Dark rushed to her aid, but Fang grabbed his leg. "This isn't over yet!” he growled. Dark struggled and eventually managed to shake Fang off, sending him flying in the process.
The changeling stood up…and finally noticed what Dark was noticing. If they didn’t get Chrysalis out of her cage she could fall. Fang glared at Dark and Dark placed his hooves on his shoulders. “Fang,” he said urgently. “If you have any ounce of love for Chrysalis left, you'd help me save her!”
Fang growled "You have to be the HERO don't you?!" He shrugged Dark’s hooves from his shoulders, then grabbed them and twisted them. Dark flipped and crashed into the ground."You know what?” Fang hissed. “Go ahead and beat me! I don't care anymore.” He began to slam Dark deeper and deeper into the floor. Each strike hurt more than the last. "If I can't have her...no one can!"“NO!” Dark cried.
But it was to late...there was a loud crash as a rock hit Chrysalis’s cell. The cage broke and…plummeted below. Dark simply stared, aghast.
“There…” Fang whispered manically. “Now no one can take her from me…"
Dark clenched his teeth…and his rage began to boil over. Fang started to back away; this was true fury he was seeing in Dark’s eyes…something he’d never seen there before. "You said you loved her..." Dark hissed, shaking in anger. "You said…you said you would do anything for her” He voice was getting louder and louder. "And you...you...you let her fall! YOU LET HER FALL!”
"It was your fault!” Fang said quickly. But Dark could see tears welling up in his eyes. “If you never came here...!" Dark snarled. The time for excuses was over.
"I'm going to break you.”
Fang gasped. Threats weren’t something one would normally hear from Dark. And then, Dark went blind. He could feel his hooves flying left and right, left and right, and then...he felt some pony put their hoof on his. Dark glanced down, breathing hard to look at Fang. He was unconscious. And then, he looked up and saw somepony he didn't expect to see.
"Princess Luna?" He asked, staring at his beloved.
Luna bit her lip. “Dark..." She gently drew him into her embrace. ”Your time here was up. I thought that after all you had done and all you were doing in your dreams that…that I should pick you up." Dark stared at Fang in shock. “You're not like him,” Luna confirmed.
"This should never have happened,” Dark mumbled. Then his eyes widened. “Chrysalis! She fell! She…”
"Is fine,” Luna finished reassuringly. She motioned to Fluttershy, Starnight, and General lifting up Chrysalis. She was a little roughed up from the fall, but mostly fine.
Chrysalis stared at Fang, who was starting to regain consciousness, then at Dark. "Dark...thank you" She said quietly. She sighed as she walked towards Fang, as he woke fully, though slightly dazed. "As for you…” she growled.
Fang stared at her, then looked down as he realised what he had done. Tears began to fall from his eyes. Chrysalis took a deep breath.
"I..." she said. He horn lit up, but she was shaking. "I hereby...send you..."
“Fang,” Luna interrupted. “Your actions were appalling, disgusting, and cannot be ignored" Luna claimed."With the Changeling Kingdom now being a part of an Equestrian Alliance, I have the right and power to issue your punishment.”
Fang didn’t look up. “Just...do it..." And then the tears became rivers and he howled in fear, anger and frustration…of himself.
"Guilt is a good start" Luna said softly."Which is why...I am banishing you to the changeling cells of Tartarus.” Fang nodded, trying to control the rapid breaths which were shaking his body. “For as long as Chrysalis desires"
Chrysalis bit her lip. "I can...agree with that”
Dark stared at Fang. Fang stared right back. "I'm sorry,” he mouthed. He couldn’t speak through his guilt. And then, he was teleported by Luna to the Changeling cells.
Luna surveyed Dark.”We'll be going back to Canterlot now" She smiled genuinely at Chrysalis. “I would be honoured if you came with us"
Chrysalis paused, then returned the smile uncertainly. “I…I would like that”