After Sleight and the others made their way out of the infected zone, they waited for Twilight Sparkle and her fellow biologists to complete the antidote. Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long.
"I think we've finally got something." Twilight announced to Sleight and Chrysalis. "We've isolated the antibodies in your blood sample, and are currently working to concentrate and mass-produce them."
"The cure will be ready soon." Moon Dancer added. "Every Changeling affected will be restored, we promise."
"Oh, thank goodness." Chrysalis smiled. "We can finally put this nightmare behind us."
"Not before time, I say." Sleight nodded. "Not that I'm saying you guys were doing a bad job or anything..." He added hastily.
"We know what you mean, your highness." Echo nodded.
"We're just sorry it took so long." Lars added. "But even with the notes Elite's mystery informant gave us, it wasn't exactly a piece of cake..."
"Still, am I the only one who is wondering who that pony was?" Twilight asked, "I mean, he seems to know quite a lot about what happened over in Sandale. And the information they 'recovered'. How come the RDL managed to find such information at the exact time we needed it?"
"You think Elite and this informant might know more than they let on?" Moon Dancer asked.
"Perhaps." Echo admitted. "That informant is terribly good at his job, it would seem."
"As long as he doesn't keep too much of it to himself." Lars frowned.
"Look, everypony, even if he does, does it matter?" Sleight asked. "It's with their help that we even got through this. As long as they don't have a evil agenda like these 'Forefathers', I think I can care less what they know that we don't."
"Not exactly how I would put it, but he is right." Chrysalis nodded, as she turned to the scientists. "You all did fine, my friends. And even if it took you a bit, the fact that a cure has been found at all is cause for celebration."
"Yeah." Sleight nodded. "You eggheads have done alright."
"Thank you." Twilight smiled. "Though I think I speak for all of us when I say I dislike the term 'egghead'."
"Never cared for it." Echo nodded.
"I once killed another stallion for using that phrase." Lars said nonchalantly. The others glanced at him, as he pouted "This was before Crystal Sun, and it's pardoned, so don't give me that look."
"Okay, how about 'brainiacs'?" Sleight asked. "Does that sound good to you guys?"
"It works for me." Moon Dancer shrugged.
"I have no objection." Echo added.
"I've been called worse." Lars smirked.
"I suppose it'll do." Twilight smiled. "And we should have that cure ready soon enough."
"But how are you going to administer it?" Chrysalis asked.
"Oh, we have an idea about that..." Twilight smiled.
Just over three days later, the cure was ready. Sleight, Chrysalis and the others were gathered just outside the quarantine zone.
"So, just how are we going to get the cure into every infected Changeling in the hive?" Sleight inquired.
"Like this." Twilight grinned.
The roar of another airship filled the air. As this airship closed in, the other noticed it had large tanks on its underside.
"We've distilled the cure into a vapor." Moon Dancer explained.
"We will carpet the entire hive with it all at once." Echo added.
"Should get all of the infected in one fell swoop." Lars grinned. "And if it doesn't, the DCD ponies have been armed with dart guns and they will comb the quarantine area a few times over so that they don't miss any.'
"And where exactly did you get the airship?" Prometheus asked.
"Oh, I called in a favor." Elite smiled.
The airship moved into position above the hive, then emptied its gaseous payload. Every infected Changeling who breathed in the vapors convulsed, falling unconscious, as the fungus disintegrated, and their bodies restored themselves, healing most of the injuries caused by their transformation. The hive was freed from the contagion, once and for all.
"Thank you all." Sleight told their saviors.
"Hey, you were the one with the cure in your blood all this time." Lars grinned. "We just did some fiddling with it."
"Well, considering the alternative was letting every infected Changeling bite my husband, I'd say you did wonderfully." Chrysalis smiled.
"Always happy to help a friend, Chrysalis." Twilight declared.
"And to dissolve another of the Forefathers' heinous schemes." Echo added triumphantly.
"Let's just hope they don't try anything like this again." Moon Dancer frowned.
"Don't you worry about that." Elite smiled. "I had some friends take all the notes regarding the Last Bacterium, and had them shred it, burn it, beat it up with a baseball bat, stomp it a few times, wrapped up in a plastic bag, and dumped into a harbor, and have them check on it every weeks for two months... we're pretty thorough that way."
"Hey, as long as it means nopony can make this again, I can sleep easier at night." Chrysalis sighed of relief.
"Now comes the fun part." Elite smirked. "Bringing down those mythril walls and barriers and finally giving our poor Changelings some fresh air."
"With pleasure." Fletcher nodded.
"I was getting pretty sick of looking at those walls myself." Caboose grinned, as he then pulled out a cannon. "Good thing I packed Sheila 2.0! Let's have ourselves a wall-wrecking montage!"
"Oh, yezzz." Char nodded. "I've been waiting to zzzee that eyezzzore torrn down!"
"Allow me to lend a hoof... or horn, as the case may be." Prometheus added.
"We can all chip in." Sleight suggested.
"Oh, yes." Chrysalis smirked. "I imagine it will be quite cathartic after everything that's happened..."
"Let's do it." Sazh grinned.
One wall-wrecking montage with a jaunty tune later...
In mere hours, the barriers were brought down, and the DCD ponies departed.
"Pack everything up, boys!" Fencer urged. "Our work is done here."
"Some assignment, huh?" One pony asked.
"No kidding." Another nodded. "Doing boring old paperwork doesn't seem so dull right now..."
Twilight Sparkle and the others also took their leave.
"It'll be good to get back home at last." Twilight smiled.
"It was nice working with you all." Moon Dancer declared. "Even under the distressing circumstances."
"My thoughts exactly." Echo nodded. "It was my honor to work with such great minds... even you, Napoleon."
"The feeling is mutual, batty." Lars grinned.
"Farewell for now." Chrysalis declared. "And thanks again."
"Our pleasure." Twilight nodded. "Good luck with the rebuilding."
"We won't be needing it." Sleight grinned. "Our subjects are pretty great builders..."
After Twilight and her fellow "brainiacs" departed, Elite, Fletcher and Caboose made to follow suit.
"Well, I'm afraid this is farewell for us as well." Elite began. "Me and my fellow companions have much to do."
"Forgive me for asking, but what exactly are you guys doing?" Sleight asked. "And why are Fletcher and Caboose in on it? Is there something i missed?"
"Oh yes. But you will have to wait for 'Shades of the Past' to finish up, as well as the story right after that." Caboose explained. "Then everything should become clear."
"Ah, Caboose." Fletcher rolled his eyes. "Where would we be without you to liven things up?"
"Let's pray we never have to find out." Elite nodded.
"Hey, I just gotta be me." Caboose chuckled.
"Oh, before I forget..." Elite declared, as he then pulled out Sazh's hat and held it towards Sazh. "I figure you would want this back, Sazh."
"Um, but isn't it infected with the Last Bacterium?" Sazh backed away from it.
"Don't you worry about that. Normally, the DCD would incinerate all infected things, but I had a feeling the hat was very important to you, so I had them spray the same cure gas over it for a few hours, and there is no trace of the virus on it. I promise." Elite smiled.
"Thanks, Mr Everest." Sazh took the hat. "I really appreciate it."
"My pleasure." Elite nodded. "Now, we really must be off." He turned to Fletcher and Caboose. "Come along, fellows."
"Right behind you, sir." Fletcher nodded.
"Catch you guys some other time!" Caboose waved to the Changeling.
"See you around." Sleight nodded.
"You are welcome to return whenever you wish." Chrysalis beamed.
Following the departure of the hive's visitors, Sleight was approached by his grandfather.
"Congratulations, my boy." Prometheus smiled. "Everything is as it should be. Does my old heart some good..." He turned to leave.
"Wait, you're leaving?" Sleight asked.
"I don't want to cause any trouble." Prometheus shrugged. "Even nowadays, Changelings aren't as enlightened as I'd like to believe."
"You'd be surprised." Chrysalis grinned.
"Please stay, old friend." Wizel urged.
"We do have a lot of catching up to do, you know." Sleight smiled.
"Well, I suppose staying a few days wouldn't hurt..." Prometheus shrugged.
"Thanks, grandpa." Sleight beamed.
"Enough talk." Char rolled his eyes. "Let'zzz go!"
As Sleight, Chrysalis and the others entered the hive, they received great applause.
"King Sleight has saved us again!" One Changeling cheered.
"Our savior!" Another added.
"Looks alike Antler was wrong after all." A third noted. "We didn't need to kill our own kind to survive..."
"Sleight was right again!" A fourth whooped.
"Hey now, settle down." Sleight raised his hooves to calm them down. "I do not wish or deserve all the credit. It was a group effort, by not only myself, but our lovely queen, our wise elder Wizel, our general Char and our brave soldier changelings, the ponies over at DCD and the RDL, and our 'brainiacs'... however, there is one Changeling who I own great thanks to for helping me realize that I was the cure..."
He then gestured to Sazh. Upon seeing him, the crowd went silent.
"Oh..." Sazh cringed. "Um..."
"Look, I know how many of you must feel." Sleight stepped forth. "You blame him for bringing this disease upon our hive, and for the deaths of many since the outbreak... but before you cast him out, do note that Sazh is as much as a victim as the rest of you were."
"What?" A scout asked.
"How?" A nurse frowned.
"If anypony hadn't noticed the giant scary airship that crashed into the observatory- really sorry about that, guys." He quickly gestured to the construction Changelings. "It was the action of two selfish stallions who had decided to use us all like lab rats, and Sazh was unfortunately a victim of circumstance. I don't expect it to be easy for some of you, but I and the Queen both implore that you somehow find it in yourself to forgive him... that is all we ask of you."
"It's all true." Sazh sighed. "If you want to hate me, I won't stop you. Knowingly or not, I did almost end this hive. And while I helped Sleight realise he was the cure, it was entirely by accident. So, think what you will..."
There was a moment of silence.
"Hooray for Sazh!" One Changeling declared.
"Sazh! Sazh! Sazh!" The crowd cheered.
"I, er..." Sazh said awkwardly. "I don't understand..."
"Juzzzt roll with it." Char chuckled. "I think it's their way of saying they forgive you."
Sazh raised his hoof bashfully, waving to the crowd.
"You see that, little buddy?" Sleight smiled. "I told you they wouldn't hate you."
"Looks like the royal advisor needs to listen to his King's advice more often." Sazh joked.
"But not too often..." Sleight patted Sazh on the back.
"If I may, your highness." Wizel whispered to Sleight. "I believe I saw Harlhooves falling off the airship just before it released those metal fiends. He no doubt landed in the middle of the hive in the area where the infected were. While it's highly unlikely he would have survived, it may do us some good to retrieve his body."
"Yeah, he may have something on him we can use to get a lead on those Forefather clowns." Sleight declared.
"I already have a good idea of where he fell." Wizel noted.
"I'll come with." Sleight urged. "Be back soon, Chryssy."
"I know you will." Chrysalis smiled.
Sleight followed Wizel as the old Changeling followed his calculations. Sure enough, they found a Harlhooves-sized crater and blood splat... but no Harlhooves.
"Wait, that can't be right." Wizel frowned. "He should be here."
"Look at the blood." Sleight pointed out red stains on the ground. "He must have been mauled by the infected right after he hit ground."
"But if that's the case... where is his body?" Wizel asked. "There should be some manner of remains. It's not like the infected would have simply dragged his corpse away."
"Yeah, weird..." Sleight frowned. "Still, between the fall and the infected, I don't think we'll be seeing him again either way."
"I suppose not..." Wizel frowned, unsure of what had actually happened. But something else was bothering him.
"Something on your mind, Wizel?" Sleight asked.
"You could say that... it's this whole deal with Black Knight and what happened back in Sandale." Wizel declared.
"You mean with the 'Horsey-bug love' fiasco?" Sleight asked.
"Yes." Wizel admitted. "I mean, Sazh was right. If Black had not done what he did, chances are, Equestria and every other country in the world would had collapsed into anarchy and chaos, and the Forefathers would had taken it all."
"I know, it's a scary thought." Sleight frowned, "That by luck, a murdering psycho saved the world."
"...I wouldn't say that." Wizel declared firmly.
"Pardon?" Sleight raised a brow.
"It is true, Black is a murderer." Wizel nodded. "But out of all the days, of all places, he decided to raze this one village that just happened to be connected to the Forefathers. I'm sorry, but I believe genocide and domination was far from the first thing on Black's mind when he attacked Sandale."
"So, what are you saying... that in murdering all those ponies and Changelings... Black was trying to stop the Forefathers?" Sleight frowned.
"It would make sense, wouldn't it?" Wizel urged. "The ponies were using the Changelings as 'bombs' to destroy the world, so to Black, they were terrorists that needed to be stopped. As for the Changelings..." He let out a sigh. "I highly doubt that he had access to a cure like you, so the only thing he could do was put them out of their misery."
"I don't know." Sleight frowned, "That just seems a little far-fetched, doesn't it?"
"It does...but..." Wizel paused, as he then decided to share a little 'secret'. "A while ago, after you defeated Black and became king... I went out into the swamplands and found him, reeling from his defeat."
"...You did?" Sleight gasped.
"Yes. There was just something about him that didn't feel right." Wizel shook his head. "One, Red Eclipse was simply a foolish name for any self-respecting mother or father to give a son. Two... I don't know, but when he and I decided to get into it, I was able to look into his one eye... and you know what I saw?"
"A very ticked-off pony?" Sleight suggested.
"Funny." Wizel snorted. "But no. I saw... misery, anger, sorrow, hate... and this desperation... as if he is sheltering a secret that he desperately wanted to cry out, but can't. When the Crystal Sun incident happened, I assume it was because of his relation to the Paladin family... but now... I think there is more to him than I thought."
"Look, Wizel..." Sleight sighed. "I will not lie, this whole Project: Infestation thing had shed a light on a lot of things... but that doesn't change that Black did a whole lot of bad things."
"But surely it must have been with good intentions. A reason or method to his madness." Wizel insisted.
"Even if your theory about Sandale was right... that doesn't change the fact that I don't like the guy. He still tried to wipe you guys out, tried to harness the Crystal Sun, turned my wife into a nearly lifeless husk, almost killed my friends, and practically went bat-crap crazy. And I doubt any amount of reasoning can change that." Sleight growled.
"I suppose there is truth in your words, my King." Wizel sighed. "Forgive me. I simply wished to put a positive spin on that whole mess. Foolish of me, I know..."
"Not so much." Sleight admitted. "Seeing the best in ponies is a good thing... even if the good isn't there..."
"Thank you, my King." Wizel smiled.
"Let's not loom so much on the past, anyway." Sleight nodded. "Gotta focus more on the future."
"Of course." Wizel nodded.
"Now let's get back to the others." Sleight smiled.
Meanwhile, Prometheus received some odd looks from the Changelings he passed, as he expected.
"Maybe I should take a less-conspicuous route." He frowned. "I do not wish to distress everypony with my presence."
"That's nonsense." Chrysalis assured him. "Things have changed in the hundred years since my mother's passing, and I like to think that we made some excellent progress in accepting things that are 'different'. Observe..."
"Chrysalis, I don't think that is a-" Prometheus tried to stop her.
"My subjects." Chrysalis began, "I would like you all to meet a special guest of the hive, Prometheus Ennius Gambit, the King Changeling."
"Gambit?"
"King Changeling?"
"Does he look familiar to you?"
"Wasn't he the guy that burned that down the Aractus hive?" A changeling pointed out.
"Now, that was just a rumor that some fools started up." Chrysalis chided. "Prometheus here is simply a Changeling who had been treated unfairly due to having been mistakenly given royal jelly. He may seem odd, and his existence may go against old Changeling traditions, but he is a Changeling, just like you. And more importantly, he is Sleight's grandfather."
"Grandfather?" One Changeling gasped.
"How can that be? Sleight is a pony." A second Changeling asked.
"But didn't you notice Sleight's hoof when he gave that speech?" A third one pointed out. "It was black and holey, just like ours."
"Yeah, I saw." A fourth Changeling nodded.
"Sleight is... one of us?" Another gaped.
"It is true." Chrysalis nodded. "If not for Prometheus here, our wonderful King would have never been born. I'd say that deserves some acclaim, wouldn't you?"
"I guess..." A scout mused.
"If not for him, Sleight wouldn't even be here!" A soldier declared.
"I'd say that warrants some respect, don't you?" A nurse added.
"Yeah!" Another soldier agreed.
"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" The Changelings cheered.
"Thank you, your highness." Prometheus smiled.
"Now, now." Chrysalis smiled. "We're family. Call me Chrysalis."
"Of course... Chrysalis." Prometheus nodded. "You know, I think I might just stick around..."
"I'm sure Sleight will be pleased to hear that." Chrysalis beamed.
"Hear what?" Sleight asked, as he rejoined them.
"That I may be staying more than just a few days." Prometheus smiled.
"Really?" Sleight grinned.
"Really." Prometheus nodded. "Your wife is... very persuasive."
"So I've noticed." Sleight nuzzled Chrysalis.
"Happy to help, my love." Chrysalis purred.
"I must admit, I'm looking forward to seeing the inside of that tower of yours." Prometheus declared. "It looks like a marvelous piece of architecture."
"The construction guild will be glad to hear that." Sleight smiled. "They love to get compliments about their work..."
"And we have just the place for the you to sleep." Chrysalis added. "Quite... five star, as the ponies put it."
"Ooh, I can't wait." Prometheus chuckled, as they entered the tower.
The very next day, scores of reporters and paparazzi arrived at the no-longer-quarantined hive, eager to get the full story.
"What happened here?"
"Is the contagion fully neutralized?"
"Could this happen again?"
"Calm yourselves." Chrysalis urged. "We will answer all your questions... within reason."
"Put simply, the hive was victim to a viral attack." Sleight revealed. "One of our number was secretly infected with a pony-made virus, with the express intent of turning Changelings into mindless monsters that would later be taken and harvested to create a bio-weapon."
"King Sleight, how long will it take to the rebuild the hive?" One reporter asked.
"Not as long as you think." Sleight smiled. "Changelings are survivors. They've bounced back from worse than this."
"Queen Chrysalis, do you have an accurate accounting of casualties?" Another reporter asked.
"Alas, we lost many of our kind before the cure was dispersed." Chrysalis sighed. "Some of the infected were killed in self-defense, while some of their victims were too brutally savaged to be overcome by the virus."
"I think what our readers want to know most is who was behind all this?" A third reporter inquired. "Many would sleep more soundly knowing that the fiend responsible for this awful situation had been punished."
Sleight and Chrysalis glanced at each other, and nodded.
"We do know who was responsible for this virus." Chrysalis declared. "But I am afraid we will not be disclosing the names of the ones responsible."
The crowd went silent, murmuring among themselves.
"And why is that?" Another reporter asked.
"Because... does it actually matter?" Sleight asked, "The important thing is that this contagion is now gone, and the means to create it has been destroyed. There is no need to know who started it, or how it started... all that matters is that it's over, and with time, we will be able to move on with our lives."
"I couldn't have put it better myself." Chrysalis beamed.
"Can we quote you on that?" The reporter asked.
"By all means." Sleight nodded.
"And you can quote me on this." Chrysalis declared. "Our hive will always stand strong, no matter what, and that's a promise. Let those who dare to trifle with us do so at their peril. And to our friends who stood by us in this trying time: Thank you so very much. We couldn't have made it through this nightmare without you."
The reporters threw out many follow-up questions, and wrote down what they heard. At the end of the day, they had more than enough to make the headlines. They departed, leaving Sleight and Chrysalis to take a breather.
"And to think, I used to dream of fame." Sleight sighed, exhausted.
"Even fame has its ugly side." Chrysalis joked.
With the quarantine finally lifted, the loved ones of many Changelings rushed to reunite with them.
"I missed you so much, Sazh." Maud hugged her beau. Though her voice retained its monotone quality, her hug displayed her joy, for she was holding Sazh so tightly he could barely breathe.
"I missed you too." Sazh smiled through the pain. 'Boy, was I an idiot to wanting to be dead. I can't imagine how messed up Maud would be if I 'd actually gone through with it...'
"I can't tell you how happy I am that you're okay." Maud nuzzled against Sazh.
"I think I have an idea..." Sazh chuckled.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again, you hear?" Fleetfoot glared at Char.
"Perizzzh the thought." Char smiled, embracing her. "It'zzz zzzo good to be able to hold you in my hoovezzz again."
"It's good to be held." Fleetfoot said tenderly, leaning against Char.
"Don't get too uzzzed to it, though." Char smirked. "I'm zzztill not much of a hugger."
"I'll take what I can get." Fleetfoot joked.
Sapphire Shores and Wizel nuzzled against each other.
"I don't know what I'd have done without you, you old bedbug." Sapphire admitted.
"You would have survived." Wizel told her. "My girl is tough. But I think I speak for both of us when I say I'm glad it didn't come to that."
"You better believe it." Sapphire grinned. "Once everything's cleaned up over here, what say you and I go out and hit the town together, just like old times?"
"I say 'no time like the present'." Wizel chuckled. "The rebuilding's coming along nicely. It doesn't need the help of an old timer like me."
"Then let's go." Sapphire smirked. "I have some fond memories I'd like to revisit..."
"Me too..." Wizel chuckled.
Vito glanced around the hive, looking for Glinda.
"Glinda? Glinda!" He called. "Please be okay..."
Vito was suddenly tackled by Glinda, who pressed his lips against his. Vito returned the kiss with gusto.
"There you are." Vito said breathlessly once the kiss ended. "For a second there, I thought I'd lost you."
"Never gonna happen." Glinda beamed, as they both got to their hooves. "Not as long as Sleight is here to help this hive."
"Remind me to thank him some time." Vito chuckled. "But for now, we have a lot of lost time to make up for."
"We sure do..." Glinda nuzzled against him.
Gregory and Big Guns were looking for Carapace.
"Don't you let us down, you big ol' buzzer." Gregory declared.
"He's way too tough to go down that easy... right?" Big Guns said, unsure.
Carapace suddenly tackled them both from behind.
"GREG! BIG GUNS! OH GUYS!" He unashamedly cried. "I MISSED YOU GUYS SO MUCH!"
"We missed you too, pal." Gregory chuckled.
"Things just weren't the same without you." Big Guns added.
"Thanks, guys." Carapace grinned. "Nice to know I was missed."
"Ready to get outta here?" Gregory asked.
"You know it." Carapace nodded.
"Great." Big Guns grinned. "We've got a new job that could really use you..."
"Let me at it." Carapace smirked, as they headed toward the gates.
Though things had returned to normal within the hive, there were still some loose ends to attend to.
First off, there was the attempted murder of Chrysalis, Char, and Wizel. Fortunately, there wasn't much need for arrests, as almost all of the mob were apologetic and ashamed of what they did, and were promptly forgiven. However, there was one that was not at all sorry for what he did.
Antler was beside him with outrage as he heard about Sazh being welcome back into the hive, and had sought to finish what he had started... but before he could get a chance, Char (having feared that he would try again) had his soldiers come in and bring in for the attempted regicide of the Queen.
"You can't do this to me!" Antler struggled as the soldiers led him to the dungeons.
"I'm sorry it had to come to thizzz, Antler." Char frowned, "But I cannot turn the other cheek after you attempted to murder the Queen. Be grateful that attempted regicide is all that I am charging you with. Five yearzzz is much lighter than thirty yearzzz for attempted regicide AND attempted double homicide of yourzzz truly and Wizel."
"But it's not fair!" Antler roared. "I was doing what was necessary to save this hive!"
"Necezzzzzzary?" Char glared. "Murdering thozzze who got in your way while murdering zzzomepony that didn't meant to get this hive zzzick? You zzzhould be glad that your zzzzon didn't zzzee the Changeling you had become."
"Don't you dare talk about him!" Antler snarled. "He's still gone, because of you and because of that runt!"
"Yezzz, you got a raw deal. But no amount of hate will change that." Char declared. "Truzzzt me, I know what I'm talking about."
Char sadly walked away, the indignant Antler still spewing his rage.
"You know nothing!" Antler angrily screamed. "I won't forget this, Char! Once I get out, you'll be sorry! You'll all be sorry!"
And there was Pincer. While the infection outbreak was Sazh's fault to begin with, there was the fact that Pincer had begun the spread, when he attacked Sazh that day. While they cannot really 'blame' him for the former, they can bring him in for attacking the royal advisor.
Pincer was a bit harder to nab. After he and the other infecteds were brought into hospital wards to get checked out, Pincer himself slipped out, with a sole intent on finishing what he started with Sazh the other day, blaming him for his own infection (which had cost him his eye) and the death of his friends.
Fortunately, soldiers were already looking for him, and Pincer tried his best to hide by hiding in his own cellar, but the soldiers were able to sniff him out soon enough.
"It's not my fault I was infected!" Pincer roared, as the soldiers dragged him out. "That runt was the cause! You should lock him up, not me!"
"You are not being imprisoned for being infected." Wizel, who had been watching the whole thing, told him. "You are being imprisoned for the crime of assaulting the King's royal advisor. It has nothing to do with the fact that you ended up spreading what Sazh caught."
"Seriously?" Pincer spat. "That runt doesn't deserve to advise a bunch of dung beetles, let alone that phony King!"
"That is a matter of opinion." Wizel said calmly. "Of course, you're welcome to your own opinion, but you won't be able to share it where you're going."
"You think this is over?" Pincer spat. "Just wait until my buddies find out about this! They'll right this injustice! They will avenge me and my fallen comrades!"
"They're welcome to try." Wizel snorted. "I'm sure you could use the company..."
Soon after, Trixie, Smoke, Trickster and Dove arrived at the hive, having been worried about the whole outbreak for Sleight's life.
"We're glad to hear everything worked out for you." Trixie smiled. "I was really worried for a moment there..."
"So was I." Smoke admitted. "Despite all the grief we give each other, I'd hate if anything would happen to you, Sleight."
"Aw, thanks, Smoke." Sleight chuckled. "Didn't know you cared."
"Hey, guys." Trickster waved to Char and Sazh. "Good to see you're doing fine."
"Thanks, kid." Sazh beamed.
"It wazzz rough for a while, but we pulled through." Char smiled.
"Everything okay... dad?" Dove asked Sleight, still a little hesitant about their connection. "I heard about what had happened. I wanted to come sooner, but Fletcher wanted me to stay put. He's kinda overprotective of me."
"He's a good guy, though." Sleight smiled. "And you didn't have to worry. Everything turned out great."
"Better than we could have hoped, actually." Chrysalis added.
"And we're happy for you." Trixie smiled. "All of you."
"Wait, who's that?" Dove pointed at Prometheus.
"Well... that's your great-grandfather." Sleight admitted.
"...Excuse me?" Dove gaped.
"...What?!" Smoke spluttered.
"Seriously?" Trixie gaped
"Cool." Trickster grinned.
"It's true, my dear." Prometheus nodded. "I mated with a mare, many years ago. That union resulted in the birth of your grandfather, who also mated with a pony, producing Sleight."
"...Okay..." Dove gaped. "So that would make me..."
"About one-eighth Changeling." Sleight declared.
"You don't say." Trixie frowned at Sleight.
"Don't look at me." Sleight cringed. "I just found out myself!"
"It was a big enough bombshell to learn I wasn't Dove's biological father." Smoke sighed. "But this..."
"Does this mean Dove's like you guys?" Trickster asked Char and Sazh.
"Not likely." Dove shrugged. "I haven't been feeling very Changelingy even once for my entire life."
"It could be recessive." Smoke fretted. "You might turn tomorrow, for all we know."
"I assure you, you have nothing to worry about." Prometheus declared. "The Changeling side of Dove's bloodline is very diluted by now, thanks to all the pony genes in the mix, there probably isn't much Changeling in her system. In fact, it's practically non-existent."
"Good to know." Dove nodded.
"I don't know, she did her share of skittering around when we were young..." Trickster joked.
"Trickster..." Trixie glared.
"...Kidding!" Trickster cringed.
"Though there may be one or two recessive genes in there." Prometheus added. "Nothing too major, perhaps some slight behavioral tics."
"Well, I haven't experienced anything like that." Dove shrugged. "So I guess there's nothing to worry about-"
Dove suddenly clicked like a Changeling, covering her mouth instantly.
"Did I just...?" She gaped.
"Looks like there's a little Changeling in you after all." Sleight snickered.
"If you tell anypony, you'll be sorry." Dove blushed. "Dad or no dad, I won't hesitate to sic my trained doves on you."
"Relax, sweetie." Sleight chuckled. "That was probably just a fluke. I'm sure this changes nothing about you."
"Even then, none of us will say a word." Smoke nodded. "Not if you don't want us to. ...Right, Trickster?"
"Right." Trickster nodded. "Don't worry, sis. My lips are sealed."
"Thanks, brat." Dove playfully ruffled Trickster's mane.
"Come on, guys." Sleight urged. "Let's have us some tea. We've got something special we've been saving for honored guests."
"Ooh, sounds good." Trixie beamed.
"Oh, it is." Chrysalis nodded. "Trust me..."
After an excellent tea time, Trixie and her family departed, but pledged to return soon.
"Don't be strangers, guy." Sleight urged. "Drop by any time."
"Oh, we will." Trixie nodded.
"If only so we can get used to the hoof and the grandpa." Smoke joked.
"I may not be able to come by much." Dove declared. "I'm going to be a little busy these coming months..."
"Tough luck, sis." Trickster smirked. "More Changeling fun for me."
"You know it, kiddo." Sazh grinned.
"Zzzee you zzzoon." Char added.
"As always, it will be a pleasure to have you." Chrysalis nodded.
"Indeed it will." Prometheus added.
After waving off Trixie's family, the others returned to the tower. Prometheus was thinking to himself, having been reminded of Sleight's heritage...
The next day, Prometheus approached Sleight in the throne room.
"Good morning, Sleight." He smiled.
"Hey, grandpa." Sleight grinned. "What's up? Settling in okay?"
"Very much so." Prometheus nodded. "This tower of yours truly is a wonderful home."
"Yeah, I think so too." Sleight chuckled.
"It's wonderful how well you had settled in." Prometheus declared. "Your heritage notwithstanding, you, a pony, managed to fit in and became one with the hive. Especially impressive for a former carny."
"Well, there were a whole lot of bumps along the way, but I like to think that they made me more experienced." Sleight shrugged. "Saving the hive, standing up for malformed larvae, that Crystal Sun fiasco, dad's death, getting Chrysalis and Cadance to stop feuding, meeting the other hive Queens, finding out Dove's my daughter, helping Chrysalis get past her troubles with her mom's spirit, and of course, the whole 'Last Bacterium' mess."
"However, there still lies one problem..." Prometheus frowned. "The fact that your lifespan is still that of a normal pony."
"Hmm, yeah, Chrysalis made me aware of that." Sleight sighed. "So, I'm guessing me having a changeling hoof did nothing to change that?"
"I'm afraid not." Prometheus shook his head. "While you have a Changeling cure-all flowing through your body, you're only about a quarter Changeling. Your father never had this problem, but I guess you need more than a hoof of a Changeling to truly be one."
"Yeah..." Sleight frowned.
"However, I seek to remedy that." Prometheus smiled, as he then brought forth a bowl, containing a clear green liquid.
"Is that... what I think it is?" Sleight frowned.
"Indeed. It is royal jelly." Prometheus nodded "Extracted from my own body. As it turns out, both King and Queen changelings can make them. I just made this last night."
"...Okay... yuck." Sleight cringed, "I do not want to know where exactly it came out of you."
"I admit, it is rather... disgusting, but I urge you to take it, my boy." Prometheus held up the bowl. "Imbibe it, and fully embrace your Changeling roots."
"Um... does Chrysalis know about this?" Sleight asked awkwardly, "I don't want to go taking things without consulting her first."
"She does." Chrysalis entered the throne room, "And I want you to take it."
"But why?" Sleight asked, "Royal jelly I thought only truly works on Changelings... pure Changelings."
"But it doesn't only work on pure Changelings." Chrysalis explained. "Prometheus came to me last night and told me everything. Sleight, this royal jelly will bestow upon you what many Queens stow upon their heirs... it would make you into a true King of the Changelings, granting you more power as one, and allowing you to tap into your inner Changeling... but more importantly..." She held his hooves. "Ingesting this royal jelly would make you as long-lived as Prometheus and all the other Queen Changelings... we could truly be together for centuries."
"We could?" Sleight smiled.
"This is always who you were, my boy." Prometheus held out the bucket. "Time to accept who you really are."
"Whoa... this is a lot to take in." Sleight murmured. "If I do this, I become nearly immortal... living for so long, losing all my pony friends... losing Dove..."
"That is an unsavory side-effect..." Chrysalis noted. "But we would be together for all those years, ruling this hive together, helping it grow ever stronger, and more open-minded, forging ever greater connections to our pony neighbors."
"Yeah, I guess..." Sleight mused.
"It's your choice, Sleight." Chrysalis admitted. "And whatever you decide, I shall support you."
Sleight took the bowl, and hesitantly lifted it to his mouth. He looked at Chrysalis, who gave him an encouraging nod, and started drinking. The jelly had a rather bad flavor, tasting like a protein shake mixed with garlic, and other things he couldn't put his tongue on... or would want to.
But he managed to down the entire bowl in one go... only to drop it and gag.
"ACK!" Sleight grimaced. "That tasted horrible! You mean to tell me all heirs drink this stuff?"
"It is quite... tart, I'll admit." Prometheus noted. "When I tasted it for the first time, I thought it was another bodily fluid entirely..."
"So... how do you feel, Sleight?" Chrysalis asked.
"Um, I dunno." Sleight shrugged. "What? Was something supposed to-OOH!"
Sleight quivered and shook, hunching over in pain.
"Sleight?!" Chrysalis gasped.
"Don't worry. It's all a part of the process." Prometheus soothed.
Sleight groaned, as he rose back up, grasping his Changeling hoof. The pain he felt was soon replaced with a great sensation, an incredible surge of power within him. It felt... good.
"Hey, this is... kinda nice." Sleight smiled. "Like I just drank a drum full of coffee..."
Sleight's eyes began to glow a vibrant green, as flames spread around his Changeling hoof, as it then spread up his leg, causing more of it to resemble a Changeling's. Sleight quickly pulled off his jacket, in time to see it spread up to his shoulder. He felt his teeth sharpening into small fangs, as his horn and coat gained a shiny tint to them. His muscles strengthened, and his body became more solid.
The changed magician looked himself over, smirking at his change.
"Whoa." Sleight gaped. "I feel... I feel... amazing! I feel like I could jump over this entire tower!"
"Welcome to the rest of your life, my boy." Prometheus grinned.
"Thanks, grandpa." Sleight grinned. "You've helped me again."
"Indeed I have." Prometheus nodded. "I only wish your father could be alive to see this day. Alas, he refused to take any. Not that I blame him."
"To each his own, I suppose." Chrysalis noted. "But at least one member of your lineage has made the right choice."
"I suppose so." Prometheus nodded.
"And I'm very glad of it, too." Chrysalis beamed.
"Thanks, Chryssy." Sleight smiled."So... what do you think?" He held up his new leg.
"I love it." Chrysalis beamed. "But that leg doesn't change who you are. It's what's on the inside that counts. It always has..."
"Don't I know it." Sleight grinned, as he embraced his wife.
'Time to make myself scarce...' Prometheus grinned, as he slipped out of the room.
But that wasn't even the most unusual occurrence that week. To Sleight and Chrysalis' surprise, they received a surprise visit from the Queens of the other hives.
"Greetings, Queen Chrysalis." Myxine declared, as she and the others entered the hive.
"Good to see you again." Miasma nodded.
"I see things got a little rough around here..." Ambrosia mused.
"I've seen worse." Calliphora declared.
"Sleight, good to see you." Patina noted.
"Hello, all." Sleight nodded, doffing his hat.
"As charming as ever, I see." Lacera said approvingly.
"Not to sound ungrateful, but what brings you all here... unannounced, even?" Chrysalis asked.
"We heard about the recent strife you've been through." Miasma declared.
"We felt we needed to come and see if you and your hive were all alright." Calliphora added.
"You did?" Chrysalis smiled. "Thank you for your concern."
"We are all Changelings, are we not?" Lacera asked. "Of course we would be concerned about the fate of our brethren."
"And after you opened our eyes during our last visit, we'd hate to see anything happen to this unique, visionary hive." Patina added.
"Aw, thanks." Sleight smiled. "Didn't think we'd left that much of an impression..."
"Ah, but you did." Miasma smiled. "Thanks to you, we've all been running our hives a little bit differently since then."
"Yes, we've been a little more... open-minded lately." Ambrosia nodded. "As in 'not capturing anypony who wanders by so we can drain 'em dry'."
"I'm sure the ponies in your areas are deeply grateful for that." Chrysalis declared.
"I've even sent out some of my scouts to make friends with ponies." Miasma admitted. "Though progress has been slow, for some reason..."
"I can't imagine why..." Sleight cringed, as the changing wind sent some of Miasma's stench his way.
"I had my hive take down some of the coral spires." Myxine added. "To try and foster some good faith."
"While I'm not one for 'friendship' I have toned down any aggressive actions." Lacera declared.
"As have I." Calliphora noted.
"We're just trying to follow your example." Patina added.
"And we're all grateful." Chrysalis beamed.
"Who knows?" Sleight smiled. "In time, maybe all your hives will be as well-accepted as ours.
"That would be... nice." Myxine smiled.
"It certainly would." Chrysalis nodded.
"But enough about us. What happened to your 'husband'?" Lacera pointed to Sleight's new leg, most of it still covered by Sleight's jacket, "Why does he have a Changeling hoof?"
"Well, because... I'm actually part Changeling." Sleight confessed.
"What?!" Calliphora gasped.
"But... how?" Patina gaped.
"To cut a long story short, a Changeling from this very hive mated with a mare, and had a child." Chrysalis summarised. "Then that child mated with another mare, producing Sleight."
"A hybrid?" Myxine mused. "How... fascinating."
"Yep, that's me." Sleight smirked. "Seriously fascinating."
"Well, I gotta say... that suddenly makes you look much..." Ambrosia leered at Sleight. "Hotter."
"Oh, uh... thanks." Sleight gulped awkwardly.
"I knew there was something I liked about you." Lacera joked. "I must have sensed your heritage..."
At that moment, Prometheus entered.
"Oh, hello." He turned to the other Queens. "I heard we had guests..."
"Well now, who is this... well-built specimen?" Miasma asked.
"This would be my grandfather, Prometheus." Sleight smiled. "He's a King Changeling, you know."
"King Changeling?" Patina frowned. "I've never heard of such a thing."
"I am... quite unique, I'll admit." Prometheus shrugged. "I hope my presence isn't too off-putting..."
"Quite the opposite, actually." Myxine purred.
"Back off, Myxy." Ambrosia nudged her aside. "I saw him first."
"I'm sure a handsome gentlefellow like you would desire the company of a more... mature female." Lacera grinned.
"Um, I..." Prometheus gulped.
"Oh please, mother." Miasma snorted. "He obviously prefers younger ladies."
"Ever taken a walk in the cemetery?" Calliphora asked.
"Not exactly..." Prometheus gulped.
"Maybe I could show them some of my inventions sometime." Patina grinned.
"That would be... interesting." Prometheus nodded.
"Ladies, control yourselves." Chrysalis chuckled. "I'm sure Prometheus is charmed to meet you all, but this isn't really the best time."
"Of course." Myxine composed. "And it is hardly why we're here."
"Indeed." Ambrosia nodded. "If you need any help in the coming months, don't hesitate to ask."
"Anything at all." Patina added.
"We are all one race, after all." Calliphora nodded. "We help our own kind whenever possible."
"Not quite the old ways, but this is a new world." Lacera declared. "With new rules."
"Something else we agree on." Miasma nodded. "That's getting to be a habit..."
"Thank you all." Sleight nodded.
"Rest assured, we'll be sure to ask if we need any assistance." Chrysalis added.
"Alas, we must be going." Ambrosia declared. "But we'll be back soon enough."
"And we hope to see you again, Prometheus." Patina purred.
"Oh, thanks..." Prometheus said nervously.
As the Queens left, Sleight sidled over to Prometheus.
"Guess I know where I got my lady-killing charm from, huh?" He smirked.
"Yes, it's a curse..." Prometheus sighed.
That evening, Sleight and Chrysalis lay in bed together.
"Crazy few days, huh?" Sleight smiled.
"That's one way of putting it, yes." Chrysalis chuckled. "But even when things were at their darkest, I knew you could save this hive once again."
"Why does everypony keep saying that?" Sleight rolled his eyes. "It was a group effort, remember? Give the brainboxes some credit."
"But they wouldn't be able to concoct the cure without your blood, my darling." Chrysalis smiled. "Once again, we owe our prosperity to your presence."
"Okay, I'll give you that." Sleight gave in. "I'm still a little overwhelmed by the whole part-Changeling thing. Sometimes, I feel like I don't even know who I was before."
"You're the same pony you always were." Chrysalis assured him. "There was just more to you than either of us suspected. Not just a handsome, dashing, compassionate, heroic stallion..."
"'Just'?" Sleight joked.
"You know what I mean." Chrysalis grinned.
"I guess you've got a point." Sleight admitted, looking at his Changeling leg. "It's just now what I had inside is on the outside, for all to see. It'll still take some getting used to... though I'm not exactly low on time anymore, am I?"
"No, you're not." Chrysalis grinned. "And the things that leg puts in mind of doing..."
"Like what?" Sleight asked.
Chrysalis whispered seductively into Sleight's ear.
"...Okay, we can do that." Sleight grinned.
Then by all means, let's get to work, my King." Chrysalis purred.
"With pleasure, my Queen." Sleight chuckled.
The two of them nuzzled under the covers together. Their night was only just beginning...
The hive had been through its greatest challenge ever. It was a harrowing experience like no other, but they pulled through, and survived to rebuild, and continue onwards. And Sleight, who had embraced his previously-unknown connection to his Changeling subjects, pledged to do everything in his power to ensure such a tragedy never happened again.
In addition, he embraced his newfound longevity, safe in the knowledge that a normal pony lifespan wouldn't end up taking him away from his love so quickly. It had been a long road, but everything had finally fallen into perfect place, for Sleight, for Chrysalis, and the entire hive. All of them could look to the future with hope joy, safe in the knowledge that they could take anything fate had to throw at them.
The End.