> The Moon Worshiper Part 3: Twisted
>  by CreatureofTheNight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Gathering of Royalty
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You're a hero."

That's all Dark has been hearing from his fellow guard ever since the Queen of Dreams incident. That's all they called him, a hero. It was, humbling to say, the least for the pony whose life was mostly labeled as outcast, weirdo, or even freak, but hero? To say that he wasn't used to that kind of nickname was an understatement to say the least. The news spread fast around Equestria, the brave guard in training who stood up to the Queen of Dreams and pushed her to the limit. True ultimately, he wasn't the one who defeated her, that honor was of course reserved for the legendary Two Sisters of the Sun and the Moon, but he still went above and beyond the call of duty, nearly gave up his own life to protect every citizen of Equestria. Dark even received his own stain glass window in the castle! The miserable nobody freak of the Everfree Forest, the guard in training who came in dead last pretty much every single time in every obstacle course and training exercise, got a stain glass window next to the greatest ponies of all the land.  It was of the Queen of Dreams floating and Dark staring her down.  The window was located right next to the one of Princess Twilight beating Tirek with her castle in the background. All of this was humbling to say the least, not the least bit being all the veteran guards coming to Dark and thanking him for making guards look good, since the Chrysalis invasion made them all look very incompetent and useless.  Actual veteran guards of the Princesses, coming to a rookie and telling him that he made what they do look good, that sort of thing just does not happen.

However, despite all this new found attention, Dark himself hasn't changed all that much. He always wake up an hour before the rest of his battalion to watch the sun set and the moon rise. His position on the battalion was up for debate, some say he's getting special treatment because of his actions, and some say that it was an appropriate reward for a hero. He is positioned right next to Princess Luna when she is taking the throne while Celestia is asleep. The hero, right next to his very own hero. Some nights they chat about a few things here and there, some nights Princess Luna goes into town and Dark comes with both out of duty and because he really wants to, and some nights are him just sitting quietly and professionally, doing his job like he's supposed to do.

Tonight was different from all those other nights, because tonight wasn't even during the night. Tonight is the first ever Princess Gathering, at least the first one for Princess Twilight, where the four Princesses of Equestria meet and discuss politics with each other. It's top secret to the public, only the Princesses and their guards, or in Princess Twilight's case her friends, discuss what goes on in these meetings.  Dark and the leader of his battalion, another thestial like Dark called Wind but Dark always calls him Captain were up with Luna waiting for the arrival of the other Princess's in the meeting room.

"How is it that the ponies who are normally asleep during this time of day are the first ones in the meeting room?"  Princess Luna asked to nopony in particular.

"Beats me, Princess Luna," Dark responded.  He didn't call her my lady like Wind always did because it made him feel uncomfortable.   "But I'm sure Princess Celestia has a good reason for being oddly late."

Luna looked at him.  "Yes, I suppose so...still, it's odd, you'd think that she'd be the first pony here, considering she is usually up at this accursed time." She looked out and smiled as the door opened, revealing Princess Twilight and her friends.

Pinkie Pie, excitable as ever, zoomed to Dark.  "How you doing, Darkie?" She asked in her usual chipper tone while bouncing all over the place. "Is being a guard fun? It sure looks like fun, plus you get to hang out with your favorite Princess ever all the time, you must be so thrilled..." She started to talk so fast that Dark couldn't understand a word she was saying.

Rarity, in a huge formal gown that she whipped up just because she was in Canterlot, and just because she was meeting all the Royals today, looked at Pinkie.  "Settle down a little Pinkie, you can't expect Dark to answer all those questions at once!"

Dark nodded, and then Applejack walked to Dark and patted Pinkie on her head, getting her to stop, at least for now.

"Howdy!  How ya doing, sugar cube?" Applejack asked, using her traditional nickname for everypony.

Dark smiled at that.  "I'm actually doing okay, still trying to get used to the other nickname I always get though."

"Now what would that be?"  the orange mare asked.

"Hero," Dark murmured.

Applejack grinned at his humility.

Rainbow Dash flying over head.  "Why do you need to get used to it? I mean you saved all of Equestria for friendship's sake!" she called, clearly not used to shyness.

"No, I basically stalled until Princess Luna and Princess Celestia beat her," Dark responded, looking at his hooves. "It's a little weird that everypony is calling me a hero for what I did. I mean, aren't guards supposed to protect their Princess and their land?" Dark rubbed the back of his head, causing Captain Wind to look at him with a small smirk.

Fluttershy looked at Dark.  "Still what you did was very brave," she said in a small voice.   Dark blushed, kind of embarrassed by all of this praise.

Captain Wind spoke up "LT. Sidewinder is well aware of his accomplishment," he looked at the others.  "However, I do ask for you five, and LT. Sidewinder to remain calm when the other Princesses, and the Prince, arrive. Under technicality you are Princess Twilight's guards, as well as her friends, and every guard, including LT. Sidewinder, must be quiet and respectful when the Princesses are speaking."

"I am the Princess of Friendship, Captain Wind.  It would be perfectly all right if they spoke during the meeting, since I need their input to make some of the choices that either myself or the other Princesses, or Prince, bring to this meeting."  Twilight looked around. "Speaking of which, Spike and I worked all night to make a list of some of the stuff I wanted to talk about in this meeting, where is he?"

"Right here, "  Spike replied, sounding like he was carrying something very heavy. He walked slowly into the room, revealing a tower of parchment with tons and tons of writing on it. He fell over, placing it next to Twilight.

Twilight smiled and patted his head.  "Thank you Spike."

Spike was passed out on the ground.  When Twilight saw this, she smiled. Looking around, she saw Princess Luna.  "Princess Luna, not to sound rude, but where is Princess Celestia, shouldn't she be here? I mean this Princess Gathering was her idea." Twilight said.

Princess Luna shrugged. "I have no idea Princess Twilight Sparkle, she's not the kind of pony to be late, not even when we were fillies."

Twilight was about to say something else when the door opened, revealing Princess Cadence, Prince Shining Armor, one of their Crystal Guards, who Dark never bothered to learn the name, and to Dark's great joy, Starnight. Starnight smiled seeing Dark and the two walked each other.

"Okay I saved all of Equestria to become a LT. What did you do?"  Dark asked.

Starnight stood up straighter. "I just had to be awesome."

Dark gave him a sideways glance, not believing his story.

"Okay, so I may have mentioned I taught a certain little hero how to fight, and it made me look very good." Starnight said.  

Dark laughed.  

"Hey it's true!"  Starnight protested.

Dark smiled.  "Yeah, good to see you again." Dark and Starnight gave each other a bro hoof and then went back to their positions.

Twilight looked at Cadence.  "Speaking of being glad to see someone again," She said as she watched Dark and Starnight go back to their positions. Twilight smiled and hugged Cadence and Shining, "It's so good to see my sister-in-law and my BBBFF again.  It's nice that for once, Equestria isn't on the line, or Discord isn't pulling a prank on us."

Cadence smiled. "You know, while I may like some excitement in my life, I will admit you have a point there, a breather is nice."

Shining nodded.  "It really is." He looked around. "Where's Princess Celestia?"

Twilight shrugged. "No one knows," she answered quietly. "Everypony else is here, I wonder what's taking her so long."

Dark and Starnight paled as they both heard a voice from their past say, "She was picking up her new captain of the guards."  They turned to see Princess Celestia walking in, revealing General himself. "Dark, Starnight, hello you maggots."

Dark and Starnight gulped.

"Ah, I'm just fooling around, you're guards now, so you're slightly above maggot."

Celestia smiled.  "I thought it was time for him to get a promotion for my guard!" She looked at the other Princesses.  "Sorry, I'm late, let us get this meeting started."
> Uncomfortable Gathering
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Now than shall we get started?" Princess Celestia asked her fellow Princesses.

"Yes, please,"  Luna grumbled.

The off-white alicorn nodded and smiled.  "First, let's get this out of the way, Princess Twilight, do you want any royal guards in your castle?"

Twilight shook her head.  "With all due respect intended," she said, as her eyes looked at Dark, Starnight, Captain Wind, and General. "My friends are more than capable in protecting me when a bad situation happens." That caused all her friends to smile happily, as they knew she was going to say that, but it was still nice to hear.

Twilight looked at her long list.  "May I go next?" The other princesses nodded as Twilight went down her list of requests. About five hours later, Luna was asleep, Celestia had a small embarrassed smile, Cadence and Shining Armor were looking at each other quietly like they were having a secret conversation with their eyes, and all of Twilight's friends were pretty much just looking at her wondering if anypony got all of that list. Twilight paused and looked around.  "To long of a list?"

"A little bit, remember that for next time," Celestia replied.  She nudged Luna awake. "This Princess Gathering is made for all of us to discuss major or minor things that need to be fixed up in Equestria; for example, Prince Shining Armor, if you would bring your proposal you tried to tell me about the last time you were here?"

Shining Armor looked at Celestia.  "Well, while I am the Prince of the Crystal Empire, I am still the Captain of the Entire Royal Guard." He looked at Dark.  "And thanks to a certain guard in training, now LT,  Tartarus now has two of the most dangerous beings that have ever set foot on Equestria in it's pits." Dark rubbed the back of his head, and Shining Armor continued, "We can't risk Tirek thinking that the Queen of Dreams is an easy way back out of Tartarus, I am suggesting we form a separate level for both of them, and to make sure that Tirek and the Queen do not get out again, we suspend their cells over one of Tatarus's long drops, so if they did get the idea to escape, they cannot."

Luna bit her lip, and as Celestia noticed that, she sighed as her own thoughts to her mother came boiling to her mind.  "Shining Armor, that that sounds like it may be to extreme for the Queen of Dreams, that spell she is under makes it so she can sleep till her natural life cycle is over, so she's going to be sleeping for eternity. Tirek, you may go forward with your plan, but the Queen of Dreams would be an unnecessary waste of resources."

Rainbow Dash had to pipe up at that; she said point blank what Dark was thinking. "Are you crazy!? The Queen of Dreams put half of Equestria to sleep, including you two," she said to both Luna and Celestia, "If it wasn't for Dark, who knows what kind of damage she could have done?" Dark paused at that,  focusing on Luna whose eyes had shifted slightly.

Twilight nodded.  "I'm with Rainbow Dash, the Queen of Dreams should be able to know the weakness of her own spell, at least with my brother's plan we can assure Equestria's safety"

Luna's eyes shifted fully as they went into full Nightmare Moon mode. "BE SILENT ABOUT MATTERS YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT!" she ordered in rage, causing everypony else to suddenly be silent and look at her in shock. "YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE QUEEN'S TRUE IDENTITY, OR WHY WE CAN'T JUST GIVE UP ON HER!  SHE'S OUR MOTHER FOR PONY'S SAKE!" That last sentence cause everypony to just pause in complete shock.

Celestia scolded Luna.  "Sister, compose yourself! There is no reason to take this so personally, they have a point!"

Luna paused at that, her eyes shifting to normal.

"I love our mother too, but you saw what she was, she was just as insane as she was all that time ago." Luna looked away from her sister and Celestia sighed. "I know that this is hard for you and it will be hard on me too, but they may be right."

Luna looked at Celestia.  "But, she's," the blue mare said timidly.  Their eyes locked, and Luna revealed to have some slight tears in them.  "But, Tia," she said using Celestia's nickname. "She's our mother"

Celestia pulled Luna close to her in a loving embrace, and let a tear escape from her eye. "I know little sister," Celestia looked at Luna back in the eye and continued speaking, her voice calm and collected.   "But you saw how she was..." Celestia sighed.  "It's time we have to accept this simple fact that, while our mother's body may still be alive, albeit in a state of permanent rest, her mind was gone, a long, long time ago, and sadly we can not repair it, no matter what magic or words we try." Luna closed her eyes, tears escaping them."We will go with your plan, Prince Shining Armor." Celestia announced.

"Will you be okay?"  Dark quietly asked Luna while she was composing herself.

"Now is not the time to ask me that, Sir Dark Sidewinder," she responded somberly as the others had to continue the meeting.

"On a lighter topic," Cadence said, trying to liven the mood. "The Crystal Empire would like to announce a personal thank-you towards Princess Celestia for allowing us to have the first ever Equestria Games in our beautiful city.  They also would like to know if you would like to come and visit some time."

Amazingly able to hide back all the emotions she had earlier, as Luna noticed, Celestia smiled and replied, "Sure, I would love to visit your Kingdom!" Luna remarked to herself on how strong Celestia is and wiped her eyes, trying her best to be just like her older sister and suppress all the emotions she had earlier. Celestia noticed and smiled quietly at her little sister's efforts.

Twilight, thinking the same as Cadence to try to get on a lighter topic, said to Luna, "Princess Luna, some journalists of Ponyville would like you to come to them for an interview;  they really want to know more about the Princess of the Night." Twilight paused.  "That is, if you are up for it"

Luna smiled quietly.  "I would love to do that," She answered.  "I believe this was, very eventful, but I must raise the moon soon, so I think that we should call this gathering adjourned." The blue alicorn looked at the other members of Equestrian Royalty.  "This was fun, let's do this again some time!" she added somewhat sarcastically, but completely believing what she said.

Celestia nodded quickly.  "Agreed, Luna. I think we should have these at least once a month, but I think it would be wise to declare this gathering finished," she said with a clearly fake laugh. "Hopefully next time we will have lighter topics to discuss."

Suddenly, everypony paled as they heard a voice that sounded like several ponies talking at once.  "Oh darn, I missed the Royal Gathering!" The voice hissed with laughter. "Is it to late to request an over time?" There was utter chilling silence in the room as Queen Chrysalis walked in the room with two changelings at her side.
> Declaration of Peace?!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Chrysalis walked into the room, the uncomfortable silence filled the entire area. She smirked as she saw Cadence's eyes glaring right at her. "Still bitter?" she asked.  Cadence's glare doubled in size as Shining Armor matched her glare in spades.  Chrysalis smirked at that, getting amused as she walked around the room.  

Twilight, having the hate filled stare that was shared around the room towards Chrysalis, said the obvious question that was filling every pony's mind at that very moment. "What are you doing here, Chrysalis?"

"Ah, Twilight Sparkle." Chrysalis sneered.  "How are you liking the new title by the way? I wasn't invited to your, coronation; it seems my invitation was lost in the mail."

"You weren't wanted," Celestia replied with venomously. Her horn was already glowing. "If you try anything against my little ponies again, I'll teleport you strait to the surface of the sun and watch you burn!"

"My, my, so the Sun Goddess has a dark side,"  Chrysalis laughed, still having the same confident smirk she had as she walked into the room. "You can relax your little spells Celestia, I am a bit under fed at the moment. Not as much love around the other countries of the world as Equestria, and I'm afraid after the feast I had last time." She looked at Cadence and Shining Armor. "Any other love I take to survive comes off as mere garbage."

"That's funny, I've never heard of garbage eating garbage before," Shining taunted.

Chrysalis looked back at Shining Armor and just simply stared at him, causing the proud Captain of all the Guards to squirm uncomfortably in his seat. Cadence glared back and Chrysalis.  "What do you want, Chrysalis?" she demanded from her. "If you attempt anything you won't survive long."

Chrysalis rolled her slitted eyes.  "I wouldn't even dream of it." She looked at them, meeting each ponies eyes for a second or two.  "You see, after my recent defeat I know now that none can even compare to the mighty ponies of Equestria," she said sarcastically. "No, except for my changelings and dumb luck." Cadence glared harshly at her. "We lost because of dumb luck. My changelings and I had you!"

"You lost because you underestimated us,"  Twilight said pompously.

Chrysalis groaned.  "My point is,  as I said before,  I've been forced to feed my people by any means necessary, having to go to lower kingdoms around the land, just to survive.  My people need love to live, and while my pride wouldn't allow it, the method of how we are obtaining it, isn't working.  So I propose, an alliance."

"Give me one good reason why I should?" Celestia asked, glaring her down. "And it better be a very good reason!"

"You do remember that I beat you, right?" Chrysalis reminded Celestia, annoyed at the white alicorn's commanding. "You'd be a fool to turn down this offer. There will always be bigger and badder threats to Equestria, The Queen of Dreams is just the most recent example, but think about how easy it would be to have someone on stand by just to make sure if things go south, Equestria, or my Kingdom, will not die." She met Celestia's eyes. "I like you just about as much as you like me, but if we don't do this, neither of kingdoms may survive the next onslaught."

"You have a point, though I am curious how you would know about the Queen of Dreams, Chrysalis," Celestia wondered out loud.  "How long have been exactly planning this little 'alliance'?"

Luna looked at Chrysalis. "I too, am curious about that. "

"Well, if you want me to be totally honest, it started as a revenge plan," she explained truthfully.  "I had one of my changelings come in and disguise himself as one of your guards to try and attack the night shift when it's vulnerable." Luna narrowed her eyes at that. "In fact, um, Fang, you can stop with the disguise now." All eyes focused on Wind and Dark, Dark looked around nervously but then his eyes looked at Wind who started glowing. He slowly turned into a changeling like Chrysalis.

Fang, now revealed, said, "Of course my lady!" and walked to Chrysalis.  "No hard feelings, if it makes you feel any better, I do somewhat like you," he apologized to Dark.

Dark glowered.  "None taken," he replied with gritted teeth, clearly trying to look tough. Fang sighed as Chrysalis moved on to her next point.

"Now, would I do something like that if I was just lying to your faces?" Chrysalis pleaded. "I'm serious about this plan, and to prove it I will sit here, with Fang and take a blast from you all if you think I am lying."  Fang and Chrysalis did exactly that.

Celestia's horn glowed and then she paused hearing something that stunned her silent.  "Wait." That word was spoken by Twilight of all ponies. "Princess Celestia, maybe we should hear her out."

"Have your lost your mind!?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.  "Let's see, she kidnapped your sister in law, nearly killed Celestia, nearly killed all of us, and almost destroyed Equestria. Why aren't we blasting her to Kingdom come and back again!?"

Applejack nodded.  "Yeah, Twi, ya don't honestly believe her lies, right?"

"I don't," Twilight responded, which caused her friends to sigh with relief. "But lie or not we should take this risk." That caused the look of confusion to fill the room. "Princess Celestia, the damage that the Queen of Dreams did, it was unbelievable. Then there was Tirek and you felt his wrath too..." she sighed. "We can't keep just relying on our own power to protect Equestria forever; Chrysalis sadly has a point at that.  Make no mistake, I hate her guts the more and more I see her, but we sadly might need her someday." She looked at Princess Celestia.  "You told me that I became a Princess for a reason, Princess Celestia. Please, trust that I'm doing the right thing."

Luna was about to say something in protest, but Celestia interrupted with a sigh. "No, Twilight is right. While none of us are crazy about Chrysalis, our country has been in peril more times than I care to count in just the past few years alone." She finally acknowledged Chrysalis.  "Very well, we will...take you up on your offer."

Chrysalis stood up.  "Well, you aren't as much of a fool as I thought, I look forward to a..." She paused as Celestia interrupted her.

"Under one condition.  You let each of the Princesses in this room send one ambassador to your Kingdom to see if you would hold true for an alliance." Chrysalis paused at that. "For one month, they will live there in your Kingdom, and test to see if your true to your word. Any sign that you are filling falsehood, they will report to me. Then I can tell you exactly where you can shove your offer."

Chrysalis sighed after a moment of silence. "Fine, who do you want to send as an ambassador?"

Celestia eyed General and said "General, he's the captain of my guard and will not lie to you. Can you handle it?"

"Yes, ma'am!"  General responded.

Celestia smiled.  "That settles that."

"I would go myself, but I have duties in the Crystal Empire," Shining murmured.  He looked at Cadence. "As does she." He then eyed Starnight. "All though, if guards are an option..."

"Wait me?" Starnight exclaimed. Shining Armor nodded. "Umm...thanks I guess," Starnight replied, less than thrilled

"You'll be fine!" Cadence encouraged.

Every single one of Twilight's friends all eyed Fluttershy, who backed up timidly. Fluttershy faking ignorance, asked, "Wh...what?"

"You're joking, right?" Rainbow blurted out.

Rarity said "You turned Discord good, Discord! There is literally no pony else I can think that is less than perfect for the job"

"That and your super duper tough!" Pinkie Pie said excitedly. "I mean you once gave an angry bear a chiropractic massage!"  

"Because I can handle bears and Discord," Fluttershy said nervously. "She, on the other hand, scares me." Chrysalis smirked, taking that as a compliment. "A lot"

"I'm with every pony else Fluttershy." Twilight replied.  "There really is no one else I can think to have do this. We all believe you can."

Fluttershy timidly nodded, and said quietly to herself, "Okay..."

Finally it was Luna's turn, and the blue alicorn was silent for a moment or two. She then finally said "I nominate my LT of my guards, Dark Sidewinder,

for this task."

Dark paused as he said out loud, "Wait what?!"

Chrysalis didn't even give Dark a chance to talk to Luna about it.   "Now that that's settled, I'll have Fang stick around and pick you all up at the end of the week. I need to go home and prepare their beds." she said, aggravated she had to do these terms, which caused Celestia to smirk a little. "See you four at the end of the week." Her wings buzzed like mad and she took off.
> The Bond of Knight and Princess. 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was late at night after the Princess Gathering and Dark was trying to muster up the courage to speak to Princess Luna. She just immediately suggested him for this big ambassador assignment.  Why him of all ponies?! He kept thinking to himself about that, yes he help defeat the Queen of Dreams, but this thing should require professionals, not a guard. He sighed as he entered the throne room, and then paused at what he saw. Princess Luna was there first, sitting on the throne, crying. Dark's thoughts of his own self worth were put on hold as he walked  to her and sat next to her.

"Go away, Dark Sidewinder. This is not the best time for you to be here right now," Luna cried.

"But Princess Luna you're, crying."

"I'm not crying...it's just my allergies," replied, badly telling lies to her number one fan. Luna looked down as the tears flowed freely. Dark walked to with no hesitation. He sat beside her and looked ahead, the loyal Knight he was supposed to.  She looked away from her, trying her best to suppress her tears and she lied again, terribly, and said, "I'm fine, please leave me alone."  Dark stood there in silence. "Why don't you just go already!?" she shouted at him. "Go and leave me alone...like everypony else."

"Princess, I'm not gonna leave you alone when you're like this...you seemed so uncomfortable after the meeting, do you wanna talk about it?"

Luna looked at him in silence, her mind slowly processing what would happen if she told him. She sighed as she slowly realized she had virtually nothing to lose.  "When I was filly, my mother told me that, the one she loved other than my father, Celestia, and I, was how much she loved watching the moon rise as she raised it. She told that one day, that job won't be hers." She slowly smiled and looked at her cutie mark. "The one night, when no one was looking, I got up earlier than my mother. I looked around and, then using my magic I tried to be just like my mother, raising the moon over the sky making it so big and proud. I was just a filly, I didn't know about cycles, and time of day." A tear escaped her eyes. "I wanted to make my mother and father proud of me, Celestia already had her cutie mark before me, and they were afraid I may never get mine."  She gave Dark a little look as her eyes tell of her happy memory flooding back. "And I did it. It took hours and hours of trying, my body hurt so much but I raised the moon for the first time.  Mother was so proud of me, Father scolded me for trying something so dangerous, but he then said he was proud of me too, I remember how happy Celestia was, I even got my cutie mark!"

She looked down as more memories flooded back into her mind. "Then, mother went crazy. She was just a little off to Celestia and I that day, but father followed her with urgency. Then he came back alone, saying 'Mommy's going away and she may never come back'." Luna started to get choked up as Dark-fearful of close contact-didn't lay a hoof on her. To his surprise, Luna pulled him closer to her. "I took over mother's duties when she was locked away; I wasn't just the pony that raised the moon...I commanded all of the night." She then looked down on the cold ground and Dark felt very nervous. "Then there was the accident, and father died. Celestia, being the oldest took the mantle of ruler after that."

She let Dark go. "You know the rest, it's been told countless times in fables and tales. How many villains the Two Sister's defeated, the mightiest magic users of all Equestria, the fair and benevolent Two Princesses.  The Mare in the Moon incident happened, I can't deny that as much as I wish I never did it.  Then, after my redemption, and my adjusting, and the hours of modern English lessons Celestia taught me when she had the time," she joked about, causing Dark to smile to see his Princess at least somewhat back to her old self. "You came into my life. It's been nice to see someone as infatuated with the moon as I am." She smiled at him, showing that she was still vulnerable. "You make me feel good about myself, Dark Sidewinder. Making me feel like that, just because I'm the Princess of the Night, and I'm not as popular as my sister, it doesn't matter. I have ponies that surround me with more love and affection that I can ever hope for, I have friends that would die for me, I have guards like you who would protect me as much I would them, I have a sister who loves me ever more than that...and I have a Number One fan whose devotion and loyalty to me is the best kind of gift I could ever receive. Thank you."

Dark rubbed the back of his head.  "You're welcome Princess Luna," replied, embarrassed by all the praise he was getting from his hero. "I'm not that important. It's my job to make you happy isn't it?" he asked so innocently, that even after all the depression and sadness she felt earlier, Luna couldn't help but laugh at his embarrassed humility. "Princess, I'm glad that I make you happy. I've told this story 100 times, but I'll say it 100 more: When I was a foal I was...not treated very well given a cruel name treated like dirt by other ponies of that class, because I looked so different from every pony else. My home life was not better; I was adopted and honestly I could tell I was the last pony that my family wanted. " He sighed "I couldn't take it anymore, and I ran trying to find friends going from town to town in Equestria, doing various things, like trying to be a shaman of all things." He couldn't help but laugh at that. "To this day I don't know why I did that, but I did make this nifty skull necklace out of it, so it's not a complete loss."

Dark then paused, thinking of how to tell the story. "I eventually ended up in the Everfree Forest, and sort of found my place. It was, bizarre but it was a home.  I needed a friend...desperately...or I may not have been here today." Luna looked at him with concern.  "So I made one with the moon in the sky. It never abandoned me, made fun of me, and in my own warped mind it was the parent I always wanted. I knew I was in denial, but I was happy. Then, I heard about you from word of mouth when I visited Equestria in secret. I wondered what it would be like to meet you, but...I didn't know what you looked like, and you didn't know I even existed,  so I never dreamed about you." Dark was smiled, remembering his naivete. "It was so exciting to me, that there was someone out there raising the moon during the times I needed a friend to talk to, and lowering it just in time for me to not go into complete insanity." She smiled a little at his joke as Dark continued. "I then got the idea that I should say 'Thank-you' for all the times you raised the moon for me, so I started to write those letters.  It made me feel like I was talking to an actual pony, even though I never did get a letter back...then that day came, the day I will never forget. Six ponies came to me, and they made me feel so happy. I made friends actual friends who did so many good things for me, like making me meet my hero, using their own money to buy me a house in Caneterlot and asking nothing in return, the amazing amount of love and care I got...and while I was unsure at first, I became a guard and a hero." Dark smiled. "If I can make you feel as happy as I do now, I know I'm doing great!"

Luna smiled.  "You are doing great, thank you for talking to me my Knight."

"Speaking of Princess Luna, what does that mean?" Dark asked curious, Luna gave him a small smile. "I mean the Knights of old were proud warriors who fought for chivalry and justice. Now a days though, that sort of thing seems...unnecessary."

"Unnecessary?" she scoffed, faking being offended. "Dark Sidewinder, don't you dare think of such a thing. The title of Knight is the highest honor I could give one of my guards. It means that you are a pony of great bravery and valor. A title that recognizes you as a hero a great importance and stature.  Why do you think I suggested that you were to go on this Chrysalis thing?"

Dark paused as he remembered why he came her in the first place. "Do you really think that I can do something like that?"

Luna nodded.  "I would bet my own life on it, Sir Dark Sidewinder. Now get some rest, you have a busy day soon."

Dark saluted and said "Yes mam" He walked away from Princess Luna heading upstairs

Celestia was in the hallway as Luna said, "I know you saw all that."

"I'm not saying anything!" Celestia teased "He is quite charming though isn't he?"

A minor red filled Luna's cheeks.  "He is a good friend of mine nothing more. I know what you're trying to imply sister."

"Like I said, I'm not saying anything," Celestia giggled as she walked away to turn in for the night.
> Kingdom of Change.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the train ride, Dark was sitting next to Fluttershy and Starnight, two of Dark's closest friends, bonding over various things, mostly their respective Princesses. Starnight made a joke and said that Dark was trying to become more than just friends with Luna, which caused Dark to have a tinge of pink on him. There was laughing, until General told them all that they were arriving. They stepped off the train and then their eyes widened at the sight before them. The heat in this Kingdom was intense, like this Kingdom was where the sun always shined, where the Darkness of the Night never touched the land, giving it a brief cooling down that it so desperately needed. They looked ahead and saw Fang standing there.

"Not quite what you were expecting?" he joked towards them. "Follow me, I will take you to our Kingdom." Fang walked to a very large boulder. Dark was about to say something when Fang gently tapped the rock with his hoof, as the ground started to rumble. They all looked ahead and then saw the thing opening slowly, another changeling motioned his leg and Fang lead them inside walking down the stairs. "Yes, we live under ground," Fang said,answering the question that was on everypony's mind at the moment. "Under here we are safe from our enemies because they do not know where to look for us, and we also get a break from the sun. The only place that has a view of the outside world is Queen Chrysalis's castle, where you four will be staying. Her majesty wants you all to feel very welcomed."

"Well that was very thoughtful of her," Fluttershy responded with a minor smile. "It's nice of her to be taking this seriously."

General rolled his eyes as he said quietly under his breath, "Or maybe giving her the chance to slide the knife." Starnight nodded in agreement but Dark did not hear it.

"This place is kinda cool," Dark commented as he looked around and saw the various changelings all around the rock houses that belong to their respective owner. It was somewhat like a fusion between Ponyville and Canterlot, and honestly not what Dark was expecting. In his mind he thought he'd be entering a dictator's lair, where Chrysalis had to remind her subjects who ruled, but it was nothing like that. It was a refreshing and beautiful place actually, the rocks that the changeling's houses had some bits of gems inside of them so their houses actually glistened a little bit from their shine. "So where do you hang out?" Dark asked Fang.

Fang paused at that and looked away. "I....um...hang out where..." He then looked like he was admitting defeat or something and said to Dark. "I hang out with Queen Chrysalis a lot, she's so cool. She's smart, she's strong and she's so...so..."

Starnight muttered "Evil," under his breath, not really trying to hide his disdain for the Changeling Queen. General smiled as he looked at his former number one student. It was great to see that training did wonders for Starnight.

"I hear you Fang. I know what it's like to have some pony you look up to more than anything," Dark said, blissfully thinking about Princess Luna.

Fluttershy noticed butterflies flying under the ground and she whispered, "I didn't even know butterflies flew this low."

"They don't," Fang responded. "They just try to avoid the heat; we don't really have that much of an animal life down here. Unless you count worms...lots and lots of worms...though, we do sometimes have the rare mole or two that wanders to far and comes to our kingdom. Always a welcomed little visitor."

"Well that seems to be rather lovely!" Fluttershy smiled with no hint of irony or malice in her voice.  "Your Queen must be very proud of her wildlife."

"She's more of a 'changeling for her fellow changelings' type of ruler," Fang said in response to that. "Queen Chrysalis always calls us the mightiest race in all the world...though now that I'm thinking about it, is Fluttershy correct?  I was at the Battle of Canterlot, when you and your friends faced off against our forces...tell the pink one that it look me months to pick out all the confetti in my teeth," Fang said with a slight groan, which caused Starnight to laugh a little.

"Oh I am so sorry about that!"  Fluttershy exclaimed.  Starnight gave her a little wide eyed look and motioned to Dark and the two best friends were in the background while Fluttershy and Fang began talking about various other things.

"What's with Fluttershy? She's being so...so..." Starnight struggled to find the right word.

"Nice?"  Dark asked.

"Yeah, I mean these changelings tried to take over all of Equestria, yet she's treating them like any other pony." Starnight grumbled.  "We need to be careful here."

"I'm actually kinda okay with how she's acting," Dark replied.   Starnight looked at him, horrified. "We're here to help form a truce between our two kingdoms remember? Why not try to make the experience pleasant for both sides, we don't need to be harsh to them because of their actions. Remember, our Princesses all chose us to help make this truce thing official."

"Dark, they chose three guards and the pony who turned Discord into a model citizen!"  Starnight exclaimed. "We aren't diplomats; we're basically here for when they eventually turn on us and we stop them."

"Oh stop being so negative!" Dark replied, rolling his eyes. "We have to see the good in them, other wise we won't accomplish anything."

Starnight groaned.  "Dark, seriously, think about this..."

"Hey Dark, come up here! I wanna ask you something!"  Fang called.

"Okay!" Dark walked forward and Starnight muttered something under his breath.  "So, what is it?" he asked.

"Earlier you said that you pretty much understood what it was like to worship an idol, what do you mean by that?"

"Well, to me Princess Luna is the most amazing pony in the whole world!" he said, gushing instantly. "She's strong, she's sweet, she's beautiful, and she has the coolest special talent ever. To me she's the most amazing pony ever!"

"You know, no offense, but this sounds like a lot more than you just simply looking up to her," Fang joked.

Dark turned a deep red.  "Oh don't tease him Fang, Princess Luna and Dark are just friends!" Fluttershy scolded. "So, tell me more about this star-nosed mole you guys had in your Kingdom the last week."

"Yeah...just...friends,"  Dark muttered, though his face was a deep crimson as he thought about Princess Luna.
> Confessions
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------



After a long period of them walking around, Fang lead them to Queen Chrysalis's castle. As they walked in they noticed that Queen Chrysalis herself was asleep. Dark was about to ask when Fang told him that the Queen had a tough time today working on getting their rooms ready. Dark nodded and decided to thank Chrysalis in secret as to not wake her up. Fang lead them all to their respective rooms and went to sleep himself as the night was beginning to come soon. Dark slunk off and went to see the moon rising through the throne room in silence. He always did love seeing it, it was so big and beautiful, almost as beautiful as the pony that raised it. Dark turned beet red as he walked back to his room to, at least attempt, to get used to his new found sleeping schedule that he had to do for a month. The words of Fang earlier that day, and the words of Starnight on the train echoing in his mind. The implication that Dark was in love with Princess Luna. Truth be told, he never did really think about her in that way before; Princess Luna was always just his idol, somepony that he looked up to and admired for her power and her kindness and her moon. He never thought about her in a more romantic kind of way, though there was that kiss he got from her during his knighting, and he really enjoyed it, but...it was just a bonus right? She would never go for a pony like him, he's just her knight and even worse he's a thestrial...she deserves better than that, right? Maybe? Dark laid down as he struggled to get some sleep.

His eyes opened and he soon found himself into his old stomping grounds, and his moon watching area. He turned and then looked as a light glowed.  He covered his eyes as the bright light revealed Princess Luna herself standing right beside him.

"You aren't a dream this time right?" Princess Luna responded by simply giving him a little smile and Dark knew that this time this was the genuine article. Dark responded quickly by bowing and Luna quietly rolled her eyes.

"You know you do not have to kneel to me all the time, Dark Sidewinder," she said sitting next to him.  "So, how goes the negotiations?"

"Oh they are going quite well!" Dark responded. "Though, I must admit it is quite difficult to get used to the new sleeping schedule after I had finally gotten used to staying up all night with you," Dark confessed as a small joke, badly hiding the fact that this reason was not the real reason why he was having trouble sleeping. Luna, not being an idiot, just looked at him and Dark looked away, afraid to meet her gaze. "I'm a terrible liar aren't I?"

"I pray you never get good at it," Luna replied.  "Now, my Knight...please speak to me. What is truly the matter?" Dark paused as she just gave him a little look. He turned a large ting of pink and slowly looked away. "Dark Sidewinder, you have confessed to writing me a letter once a month when you did not know me, to having dreams where you and I watch the moon together and your 'method' of knocking yourself out of the Queen of Dream's spell. There is nothing you can say to me now that would make me think any less of you or surprise me."

Dark mumbled, "I..." He choked up as he looked away. "I just can't say it, I can't say what is on my mind Princess Luna; it's to embarrassing and I'm afraid that if I say it you may never look at me the same way again."

Princess Luna sighed and sat next to him, tilting his head up with her hoof. "Dark Sidewinder, I promise that no matter what it is, I won't look at you any differently. You are a wonderful kind pony, and nothing you can say can change that opinion I have of you."

Dark whispered something so quietly that nopony could ever hear him.  "A little louder please?" Luna asked.  Dark repeated himself a little louder, but it was clear that this was something he was terrified to say.  "Please Dark, I have a feeling of what it is but I need to be sure." she said, doing something she's never ever done before, which is call Dark by just his first name.

Dark was mentally processing that, then looked at Princess Luna in the eye and he looked away, fearful of the look Luna would make after he said this following sentence. "Princess Luna, I think that I'm in love with you."

Luna's own cheeks turned a slight ting of pink as she, herself had to mentally process that Dark just said that to her. Dark turned  to run but stopped when he remembered that he was in a dream, and Luna was the Princess of Dreams as well as Princess of the Night, so where would he had to go; however, he did hide his head, practically burying it underneath his hooves in embarrassment. Luna looked at him and couldn't help but slightly giggle at his own reaction to what he just said.

"Dark," she laughed, again just using his first name. "You do realize you're going to have to look at me eventually, right?"

Dark slowly brought his hooves out from beneath his hooves. "I'm sorry! Please, please, know that I really really didn't want to say that to you yet, or maybe even ever," Dark explained, beginning his ramble. "It's not that I don't find your beautiful, I do you look amazing, you're also smart, powerful, kind and so many wonderful and amazing qualities." Luna once again flushed at that compliment. "I mean, you're my hero you know, I just really really hope I didn't just mess it up by opening up my stupid mouth and saying something that ruined everything. I wouldn't even be thinking about this if Starnight and Fang didn't say anything, but I have been kinda feeling that way ever since I met you personally, but I kept chocking it up to just hero worship, and I don't know I mean,  what do I, how do I, what do I even say or do now I have no idea anymore. Please can we just go back to the way things were before I opened my stupid mouth."  Dark finished his rant completely depressed.

Luna sighed.  "Dark, I can't just ignore this, and I'm sorry that I can't keep my word to you that I would." Dark looked away. "But Dark, you must understand that I'm not the kind of pony you should fall for. I'm grateful for your friendship, and I'm grateful that you worship me like you do, but if your are truly in love with me, and from your actions lately as well as some of your previous actions part of me thinks that you are serious about this, you have to be absolutely sure that you are." Luna looked Dark in the eye.  "That also means that you would have to look at my bad qualities as well as my good qualities and determine if my good qualities really do outweigh the bad in your mind." Dark looked away from her again. "There is a side to me that you don't want to see, my Knight. You think your confession would ruin our friendship, this side of me could very well ruin everything." Luna paused and he looked away from her again. "If you are serious about this Dark Sidewinder, then I would like to propose a test if you will, that will test if you are serious, but note it is not for the faint of heart and...what you would see during it could very well change your opinion of me for life. Are you sure you want to take that risk?"

After a moment of silence Dark slightly nodded.  "I think that I am in love with you Princess Luna; I have to try this test to be absolutely sure that I am." He then slowly smiled. "But don't worry, nothing you can show me can ever change my opinion of you, no matter what I see, and even if it turns out I'm being an idiot right now with my feelings, will ever stop you from being my hero."

Luna's horn glowed.  "Very well, prepare yourself...for now you will be face to face with a nightmare."
> Trial of a Nightmare
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Luna's horn began to glow a sense of unease suddenly filled Dark.  He looked around and realized he was on a pitch black void of darkness where it looked light light never touched it. He could see in the dark, so that was not a problem, but he looked around and saw a door in front of him.

Princess Luna suddenly stood next to him.  "Dark, behind this door is my other side," she began. Her horn glowed and revealed how chained up and practically nailed shut this door was, it was clear that this door was designed to keep something, anything out but also seemed to keep something in. As Dark approached the door he noticed that the lock was bizarre, as on the bottom of it was shaped like all of his other friends cutie marks. He turned to Luna and was about to say something when Luna answered for him. "When I was blasted with the Elements of Harmony this  door was created by them. It can only be opened by one of two ways, either by myself for a brief window or by the former wielders of the Elements of Harmony if they wish to make this permanent." She looked at Dark.  "Are you absolutely sure you want to do this Dark? I value our friendship and I'd be perfectly happy if you and I can just remain friends with each other. I would not think any less of you if you wished to have this view of me of just a hero," Luna proposed, her voice sounding like  it wasn't what she truly wanted.

Dark shook his head no. "I have to know if I am in love with you, or if I am just going to be friends with you." He smiled at her and continued.  "I can't just not know Princess Luna, because if I am in love with you wouldn't that be a good thing?" Princess Luna paused looking in surprise at that as a tint of pink filled her cheeks. "What ever is behind that door, know that you will never ever stop being my hero."

Princess Luna nodded and her horn glowed.  The door itself glowed with an ethereal light as it slowly crept open, and Princess Luna motioned and Dark walked through it.

"Good luck, please be true to your word."  Princess Luna's voice was almost inaudible as Dark trotted through.

As Dark ventured forward.  He looked around and muttered, "What a bizarre room." The room was nothing but a blank white void, there was nothing, nothing there, and even though it was a dream Dark could feel how cold it was. He looked around and then saw that as the door closed a shadow clung to the door. The Shadow moved and darted around as he looked around frantically  trying to locate where it was  in relation to him. Suddenly the room twisted and distorted as Dark saw the trees of the Everfree Forest sprouting up from out of nowhere, he looked around and then saw a large castle sprouting from the ground. Now in a panic he backed up only to see that the castle doors opened and the shadows wrapped around his leg and gripped them, pulling him into the castle, the door slamming behind him.

Dark looked up and saw a familiar silhouette. "Princess Luna," he whispered with a sigh of relief. "If this is just your dark side, I can take it." Suddenly, he heard an echo of her voice, but it sounded twisted and distorted like it was mimicking her. The figure walked forward revealing while yes, it has her mane, this was not Princess Luna, this thing was pitch black fur. It's eyes Dark has only seen them once when Princess Luna was angered during the Princess gathering.

The thing smiled wickedly. "Welcome, Sidewinder, I've been expecting you." It floated down and landed next to him. "I wonder, did my weaker half ever give you my name?" Dark's muscles tightened as he squared his jaw.  "Oh that won't do you any good Sidewinder, but I take it she did not." The figure laughed.  "My name, is Nightmare Moon!" Dark paused, in shock, but he really shouldn't be surprised.  Princess Luna has told him several times before that she became Nightmare Moon out of her jealously. "So, my weaker half wishes to test your love," the infamous Mare in the Moon mocked as she walked next to him. " How pathetic, she should know that we can never ever fall in love. Only the weak minded would dare think that we could ever be in love with any pony, not only that but you?"

"What's wrong with me?"  Dark responded, his voice trembling.

Nightmare Moon started laughing maniacally. "What's wrong with you, let us count the ways, shall we? You're an obsessive nutcase who worships our weaker side blindly while trying to ignore what she has done. You get called a hero for actions that she did, not you and deep down you know that all she see's you as is a creepy weirdo with no sense of taste, no strength, and a pathetic guard that she gave the title of knight out of pity, not gratefulness." She smirked.  "How many times did you come into last place during your training? Several right? Oh I remember it well, you crying to us begging us to give you an answer why, while we pulled something out of our flank to make you smile, while secretly, we were disappointed in you, because you were so weak and pathetic." Dark looked away from her trying not to give her the satisfaction that he was listening to everything that she was saying. "Oh, and then there was mother."

Dark paused at that.  "The Queen of Dreams was crazy, she almost killed me!"

"It was still her mother boy, still her mother you helped defeat. You struck her, her mother! How could she ever love somepony like you? Somepony who broke her mother? I mean look at you, you're a monster, you always were and you always will be!" Nightmare Moon taunted. "Please, tell me that you still love her, or can even be friends with her, because of that!"

Dark was silent for a while as Nightmare Moon began laughing almost in triumph, her laughter echoing through her mind as he thought to himself that she was right about him, all the things she was saying, all the things Nightmare Moon said taunting him, berating him, and humiliating him. It was all the truth.

There was silence before Nightmare Moon asked, "Well? Do you still love her, after meeting me, the one who tells you the truth?"

Dark paused as there was still silence in his mind.  He tried so hard to think about it, he found no way to respond to the things she said. In his mind memories of Princess Luna and him talking replayed in his mind over and over, and over, until eventually Dark finally spoke. "You're right, it doesn't make any sense."

Nightmare Moon smirked and stood up straighter.  "I knew it!  You don't love her, besides, even if you did, she's immortal and you are not, it would never have worked out!"

"Shut up!" Dark finally exclaimed, venom coating his voice.  "It doesn't make any sense, but you know what, love never does!" Nightmare Moon's eyes widened as Dark spoke to her, a clear air of defiance in his voice. "Princess Luna means the world to me and I love her!  Meeting you have only doubled that in size as I know that she is nothing like you!" Dark glared at the alicorn before him.  "So what if I'm not the strongest pony, so what if I'm not immortal like her? I love her! You can throw as many insults and put downs as you want, you can show all the ways it doesn't make any sense, but Princess Luna means everything to me and I can not let someone like you ruin it!" Suddenly a light surrounded  Dark as he walked forward to confront Nightmare Moon, when suddenly Dark stared face to face with Princess Luna herself.

Luna's eyes were running. "Dark." Dark was about to say something when she pulled him to her. "Thank-you."

"Princess Luna," Dark whispered as they looked each other in the eyes. "I love you."

"I know," Luna replied, a tearful smile on her face.  She lent down and kissed her forehead, a brilliant light culminating from that action. Dark looked face to face with Luna back in his own dream world. "Dark, when you get back to Canterlot, I have to tell you something personally, I can't do it in a dream, it's just not proper." Dark paused and nodded. "Now, complete your duty, so we may speak." She started turning around and stopped.  "And Dark,"  Dark looked at her and she smiled. "Thank-you again."

Dark's eyes opened as he saw that it was the next day, and a new warmth suddenly flooded his body over the dream he just had about Princess Luna. He smiled as he stood going to find Fluttershy, the two of them were going to hang out with Queen Chrysalis today, per her request believe it or not. 
> Secrets
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dark's mood (understandably) sky-rocketed after the previous night. It felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders Even better, it sounded like Princess Luna might love him back!

This was the kind of thing that only happened in fairy tails…and it felt wonderful!

He awoke last, as to be predicted by his usual sleeping schedule…though the fact that Fluttershy was too polite to wake him may have had something to do with it.

“You know you could have woken me up?” Dark said to her, as he rubbed his eyes.

“Oh no I couldn’t! That would have been very very rude,” she murmured sweetly. Dark rolled his eyes slightly, causing Fluttershy’s to widen.“I’m sorry! You’re right, I should have woken you up!” she squeaked. A smile flashed across Dark’s features.

“Don’t worry about it Fluttershy,” he said. He stretched, then sat up straight. “So, you ready? Today is the day we get to hang out with 
Chrysalis.”

Fluttershy nodded, allowing a strand of pink mane to float across her right eye.“I hope she doesn't mind us being there,” she mumbled.

“She invited us,” Dark reminded her as they began their walk to the Queen's throne room. Fluttershy nodded rapidly as Starnight came racing towards them, stopping them in their tracks.

‘What's up, Starnight?’ Dark asked, frowning despite his casual tone. Starnight lowered his head, panting, before swinging it skywards once more to look Dark in the eye.

“Dark, please think about this for a second!’ he said, practically begging his friend to heed his words. “Chrysalis should not be trusted, she's one of the most dangerous beings that ever crossed into Equestria! For pony’s sake, do you not remember how much danger she put the crystal princess in?” He gazed mournfully at Dark, and in his eyes, Dark could see everything he was thinking. “Please. Dealing with the Queen of Dreams was reckless enough as it is, you almost died! Don't do something stupid!”

Dark sighed. “I know that it's reckless, but we have to give her the benefit of the doubt.” He was rewarded with a glare from Starnight. "We're here to help our lands come to peace, remember?”

Starnight continued to scowl at him, but his features softened as he saw Dark's near-hurt expression. He lowered his gaze and his tail swished uncomfortably from side to side as he smiled slightly. “Sorry…you’re right. I should trust you”

Dark grinned.”Thanks man,” he said, before brushing lightly past him. He tilted his head towards Fluttershy, motioning for her to follow him as he walked. “Let's go,” he said. ‘We need to speak with Queen Chrysalis immediately.”

A few minutes later, Dark and Fluttershy found their eyes widening in wonder as they observed the Changeling Queen and her changelings. They were working incredibly hard. Dark turned around as he heard hoofsteps, and his eyes fell on Fang.

“I’m sorry,” he said. "Her majesty apologizes…it appears that matters will take longer than we expected.” Dark shrugged and walked with him as Fluttershy tilted her head curiously to one side.

“What are you doing anyways?” asked the curious Fluttershy. 

Fang shrugged. “Oh, we’re trying to add more sunlight to the changeling kingdom. Her majesty thinks it would be the best course of action with the Equestrian and Changeling Kingdom alliance around the corner.” He presented them with a prideful smile. “I'm really glad you decided to come here actually, Dark. I have something to ask you.”

“Shoot," replied the dark green thestral, as they walked across the stony floor towards Chrysalis's throne room. It was empty, and the Changeling Queen was hovering lightly above her throne, clearly not in the best of moods.

“No, I said eight inches not twelve! Do you want us all to get heat stroke!?" she barked at her changeling underling. Her tone was downright furious. She rolled her eyes and landed as she saw Fang, accompanied by her ‘guests.’ "There we go! See?” she yelled behind her, causing Fluttershy to shy away. “It’s not that hard to listen to me!" She padded forward and patted Fang on his head before turning towards Dark and Fluttershy. “I'll be right back,” she said, continuing to walk. “I just need to check on a few things.”

Dark glanced at Fang, as Chrysalis walked away, who had begun to glow a little after the Changeling Queen had stroked his head. “So…what did you want to ask us?" an intrigued Dark enquired.

“Well…it’s sorta something personal,” Fang responded meekly. He looked down shyly. "I wanted to ask you if umm...well..." he rubbed the back of his head as he continued. "If you could teach me how to…to tell someone you want to go out with them?”

Dark turned cherry-red, and asked that first and most logical question that came to mind. “Er…why me?”

“Well, you got your princess to like you a lot and I want to umm...well I…” He began to stutter, and Dark had to lean closer towards him in order to hear his distorted words. "Well the thing is…er..." It was abundantly clear that he was exceptionally nervous about something.
Catching sight of this instantly, Fluttershy placed a hoof on his shoulder blade.

"You want Dark to help you see if you can get a date with Chrysalis don't you?” Embarrassed, the Changeling’s face grew even redder than Dark’s, and he nodded slowly.

Dark frowned, and asked the second, rather obvious question on his mind. "How did you know about what happened with me and Princess Luna last night?" Fluttershy and Fang stared at him curiously. He swallowed nervously as he felt heat fly to his cheeks. “Er…never mind,” he said quickly.

Fang squinted and the corner of his mouth twitched.  “I was judging the situation by her interactions with you when I was spying on you guys...what are you talking about?”

"Long story,” Dark replied quickly, attempting to steer the conversation back to Fang. “Umm…as for what to do about Chrysalis…my only real advice, man, is to just be honest with her. After all, the worst thing that can happen is that she can say no.”

Fang’s ears drooped dejectedly, and he closed his eyes. "But I don't want her to say no…” he said softly.

Meanwhile, in the other parts of the Changeling Castle, the General and Starnight sneaked in through a window and started to look around.
“All right, now if we are going to find anything incriminating we're going to have to be stealthy as possible,” General hissed. “We have to sneak around and…"

“We're ‘guests…’” Starnight interrupted. “Can’t we just ask?” He trotted up to one of the changelings. “Excuse me,” he said. “I don't mean to pry, but do you know where Queen Chrysalis used to do all her planning? We need to go there for…erm…treaty reasons.”

The changeling nodded. “Yeah, it’s the room down to the south. You can't miss it.”

Starnight smirked. ‘Thank you,’ he replied, as he walked down the road.

"Never back talk me again,” General grumbled, following him.

"You're welcome,” Starnight said with a smirk, rolling his eyes as they opened the door. The room was entirely empty. Starnight decided to keep watch as General looked around, hunting for anything suspicious. Starnight snorted as he heard the sound of objects flying. "I can't believe how stupid Dark is being.”

"He's the trusting sort..." General replied, rummaging through Chrysalis's things. "It's a nice quality…but not a smart one.”

“Still…” the LT of the Crystal guard said with a sigh, rather sadly. "I thought he was smarter than this” General paused. Suddenly, his pupils dilated.

"I knew it!” he whispered. Starnight started as his voice raised to a shout. “By Celestia I knew it!" He turned around to face Starnight. "This whole thing...this whole place...." He threw some files onto the desk, revealing names like "Operation False Alliance,” “Operation QOD,” and “Operation Tartarus”

The General glared at Starnight as he finished his sentence: “It’s a trap.”
> Bonding with The Queen
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fluttershy and Dark turned as Chrysalis came swooping back to them.“Sorry about that...I swear Fang, you are the only one I can count on.” The lovestruck changeling, of course, blushed deeply. “In any case...you wanted to spend the day with me, correct?”

Fluttershy smiled. “Oh yes! I would like to know more about your kingdom and your changelings. I mean, how do you feed on something like love? It doesn't seem all that possible.”

Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. “Well, there's not much to tell about my kingdom that I don't want to keep secret...that might endanger our little truce agreement.” Dark winced as Chrysalis continued to speak. “This land was founded by my great, great, great grandmother after the Great War between the Equestrians and the Changelings that occurred over five thousand years ago. We have been living here ever since; isolated from the world in an effort to keep our love, feeding in the shadows...more quiet than boisterous.” She sighed. “It was our original goal at said time to the feed off the love in Equestria from the shadows like we always do, but...I admit it...” she said, lowering her gaze. “I got a little greedy...power mad...” She laughed harshly. “Nuts. And...” She started ramble, and there was something oddly revealing about her words and the manner in which she spoke. There appeared to be a strange shame in her mind for her previous actions during the wedding of Shining Armor and Cadence.

As Chrysalis's nonsensical speech was starting to get a little out of hand, Dark held up a hoof.
“Don't worry about it your majesty,” he said with a smile, lowering his slightly shaking foreleg. “Happens to the best of us; though next time you get a little greedy, try not to go for the whole 'Conquering of Equestria' thing; that's not the right way to do things. Maybe you could have just asked Celestia or something...”

Chrysalis glared. “Do you think that blowhard would ever work with an freak like me?”

Fluttershy scolded her with a question. “Did you even try?”

After a rather awkward pause Chrysalis admitted “No, not really...but that doesn't change the fact that she can be slightly stubborn...and a pain. You were there at the meeting! she was about ready to blast me home”-

“Home?” Dark asked suddenly. He frowned. “Celestia blasts criminals to Tartarus...”

Chrysalis's eye twitched and she quickly changed the subject. “Ahem, yes, well...as for how we feed on love, we have two methods which can be compared to a leech feeding on blood...but of a more magical nature.” Her horn lit up and glowed green. “There are many different kinds of love in this world...the love that one feels for their friends...” She nodded to Fluttershy who offered her the tiniest of smiles. “The love one feels for the idols they worship,” she continued, throwing a knowing glance to Fang before turning to Dark:  “...and the love that two creatures of this world feel for each other.” She scorched Dark with a penetrating stare and he shrunk slightly into his shadow. Chrysalis sighed “We feed on it two ways...Mr. Sidewinder would you please step forward?” Dark did so, narrowing his eyes.

Chrysalis lowered her head and shot a blast of emerald magic towards Dark, causing the dark green thestral to flinch. He was confused until he saw a tiny heart float from his body towards Chrysalis, who caught it with her leg. “We changelings feed off the most minuscule pieces of that love...because even the smallest piece of love for us is like a normal meal for you ponies.” She took a small bite of the heart as her eyes widened and smiled with pure glee at the taste.

Dark looked at her nervously...the look in her eyes was untamed, wild...predatory. “Queen Chrysalis, a...are you okay?” he asked, swallowing hard.

“You love someone that loves you back,” Chrysalis said quietly, trying her hardest to prevent herself from stealing more and more love away from the poor thestral. “That type of love is the most divine and powerful love that exists in this world...the taste is so exquisite it's like...” She paused, thinking about how she could explain the taste of this love to the ponies standing in front of her “It's like eating the most lavish and expensive apple known to all Equestria,” she finished. Saying that caused Chrysalis to drool uncontrollably as she savored every ounce of the exquisite flavor that was the love of Dark and Luna.

Fluttershy smiled. “So...it's like Applejack's apples?” Chrysalis frowned confusedly at her. “Trust me, your majesty; Applejack's appearance may be deceiving, but you will not find finer apples in all of Equestria! I can promise that.”

Chrysalis decided to simply take her word for it: “I'm sure that the apples of which you speak aren't as addictive as the love two ponies feel for each other; especially if they are equestrian ponies.” She rubbed the back of her leg. “Cadence and Shining Armor was such an example...I ate...quite a bit of their love...” she murmured quietly.

Dark had to ask since she had just done the same to him. “What would happen if you ate all the love I have in me?”

Chrysalis hesitated. “You see...love the emotion and love the food work different ways. If I were to eat too much of love the food well...” She rubbed the back of her head nervously. “The pony I would be feeding off would have hatred fill the void left by love for three weeks...unless they experience an instance of strong love, as Cadence showed for Shining Armour.

Dark shivered. “Yeah, let's not do that.” He paused...he had to ask. “What's this second method to gain love?”

Chrysalis suddenly turned bright red and was about to say something when the door opened and she sighed with relief...the second feeding technique was rather...awkward. She turned to see Starnight and General and frowned, even though she was grateful for the interruption. “Can I help you?”

Starnight glared at her. “You may have to explain these!” he hissed. He chucked the files to the floor as General drew his sword. “Dark, I was right! This whole thing was a trap!”

Dark frowned at him and tilted his head “She did say that she originally had a plan for revenge that she scrapped...”

“That's right, she did...but here's what she didn't tell you,” the lieutenant of the crystal guard growled, seething with fury. “The Changeling Kingdom...is Tartarus!”
> Truth Revealed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

There was silence in the throne room as Starnight finished his sentence. The sheer amount of disbelief on Dark's face was apparent to all. He hesitated for a few seconds, then lowered his head and took a few, uncertain steps forward.

“Starnight…dude,” he said. “There is no way that the Changeling Kingdom is Tartarus...we would have seen the Queen of Dreams or Tirek.” His tail swished nervously from side to side as Chrysalis kept her cool under the accusations.

There was a clear hint of annoyance in Starnight’s next words to his best friend. “Okay, you want proof? How about you look out that window behind you?” He glared at Chrysalis. “I knew you couldn't be trusted.”

Chrysalis glared right back. “I haven't done anything wrong Starnight. The Changeling Kingdom is a dry land both above and below ground. However to accuse us of being Tatarus...” She never even bothered to finish that sentence.

It was at that time that General came with the plans he stole from the Queen's central chamber “Then what do you make of this?” He dropped the plan titled “Operation Q.O.D., Operation False Alliance, may I go on?”

Dark finally snapped. “I can't believe you two. Are you really so focused on being mindless, hateful morons that you are willing to come up 
with the most ridiculous lie I’ve ever heard trying to make Chrysalis look bad?” His gaze burned its way furiously over to Starnight. “I thought you would know better than that.”

The General’s pupils dilated angrily. “How dare you talk to me like that! I am the head of the Celestia guard. You are just some LT and I am still a superior officer!

Dark advanced menacingly towards him. “That doesn't mean you can't be wrong.” He snorted. “I'm gonna prove to the both of you how stupid this is”

While they were occupied, Fluttershy had actually sneaked past Chrysalis to avoid the fighting and had managed to manoeuvre herself right next to the infamous window that Starnight had told Dark about. What she saw made her jaw drop, and she turned to Dark, calling to him and stopping him in his tracks. “Maybe you should apologize to General and Starnight.”

Dark looked at her in confusion “What are you talking about Fluttershy? Don't tell me you believe this nonsense too!”

“Yeah, it's just nonsense!” Fang exclaimed, glancing at Dark, rapidly trying diffuse the situation before it spiralled out of control. Chrysalis sighed with relief as Dark lowered his gaze after glaring suspiciously at the Fang. She gave him a grateful smile, one that the love struck changeling greatly appreciated.

Dark, however started to think about the situation and than paused. “I have to see this for myself.” He than started to walk past Fang. “I have to find out if I'm wrong, because right now...the way you're acting...and what Fluttershy just said...”

“It's not that” Fang said rapidly again “Why don't we just go back and talking about Changeling Culture?” He said, trying in vain prevent dark from exposing the ticking time bomb that was about to explode.

Chrysalis sighed. “If you want some form of answer, I can explain the plans already. I said point-blank at the meeting that there were some revenge plans drawn up that I scrapped. Those plans are old; I simply haven't thrown them out yet because I needed a back up plan in case your precious Princesses are too stubborn to make any sort of Alliance with me”

Fluttershy's eyes narrowed; her next words were clearly defensive. “Twilight isn't like that your majesty. You’d be surprised what she’s had to deal with in her lifetime” She looked over at Dark, who was getting closer. “Dark…you don't want to see what's out there.” She was trying to disperse the situation just as much as Fang now, the latter having a great expression of appreciation on his face.

However, the stubborn thestral ignored Fluttershy as he walked past her and looked right out the window. He realised how much of a mistake that was not even a second later.

Above them, guarding two bottomless pits with cages, was Cerberus. He shivered as he saw the Queen of Dreams laying asleep just as they left her before. Fear filled his every orifice as he realised how close he had been to death the last time he fought her...seeing her this close to him, even in her sleeping form was enough for him to feel fear rock him to his core.

As Dark stared on, a stunned Fang went to damage control, “I can explain this.” He shot a nervous glance towards the shocked thestral before swallowing in terror. “Well,” he began. “We had to keep this secret I...I...I...”

Seeing he was failing, Chrysalis walked over to Dark. “We had to keep this secret because we knew that if we told you this...the chances of us getting an alliance would be slim to none.” General and Starnight nodded in disgusted agreement with the Changeling Queen's word. “Yes, our land is Tartarus. We live just a few blocks away from the worst of the worst. Would you be so happy to admit that fact towards creatures you do want a genuine alliance with?”

Dark looked towards Chrysalis in rage; his fear was quickly ebbing away. However Fluttershy ran boldly in front of him, facing Chrysalis. “What else?” she asked.

Dark stared at her in silent disbelief; this was so uncharacteristic of the shy mare he’d met earlier. “What else have you been lying to us about?” Fluttershy asked again.

Chrysalis looked at her and than sighed “I only dropped my revenge plans about a week ago…"

Dark’s eyes widened. “You mean you still had a revenge plan this whole time!?”

Chrysalis looked down as she begrudgingly nodded, sat down with Fang in the corner as a clearly angry Dark approached with Starnight and 
General. She winced ready for whatever punishment when Fluttershy dashed in front of them once again and yelled:
“WAIT!” Silence greeted her as she sighed; where was all this coming from? She then turned to Chrysalis.

“Let her finish first…” she said softly. Chrysalis nodded gratefully before continuing.

“I had a plan worked out...operation False Alliance. It was simply going to be me and Fang begging for an alliance when we were really planning to free Tirek and let him loose again. When the Equestrians looked to us for assistance, we would than join up with Tirek and destroy Equestria.” Fang stood in front of Chrysalis as she confessed, ready to defend her from three trained Equestrian guards and one Fluttershy. Chrysalis paused.“Than…I had a talk with Fang” Fang paused at that as he didn't think the talk they had had earlier meant much...it was so brief:

“I'm so proud to be serving under you Queen Chrysalis,” Fang had said.

“Why?” she had replied She was rather demanding of her citizens.

Fang had smiled and said “It takes a great leader to swallow their pride and do what's best for their people.”

Chrysalis sighed “I at first ignored his words but...the more I thought about it...the more that Fang's words rang true. I had a plan for selfish vengeance because of my own damaged ego...when...” She looked down truthfully as Dark's special talent came into play once more, he knew what even General and Starnight couldn't deny anymore. “Instead I should have thought of my people...I thought that you wouldn't need to know if you didn't have to”

For a few moments, there was silence…then the General sighed. “I can tell by your voice you're not full of it...but I'm keeping my eye on you from now on” Starnight nodded in agreement than looked at Dark.

Dark walked towards the Changeling Queen and did what he had done for Princess Luna before: He wiped a stray tear that was in her eye and smiled gently. “It's okay...just...don't lie to us again.”

Chrysalis turned slightly red as she nodded saying “Er yes…yes of course.”

He turned around and smiled, happy to be returning to his room after such a long day. Eventually the room emptied as it was only Chrysalis and Fang.

Fang looked at Chrysalis's eyes as she said “He was so...nice to me.” There was something different in her voice…something softer. Was it…love? Was she falling in love with Dark?

Fang narrowed his eyes and a green monster began to rise in his soul.“Yeah…he was.”
> Beware the Green Eyed Monster
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dark smiled softly as he rested peacefully in his chambers. Inside his head, however, He was smiling as he walked into the Grand Galloping Gala in his best suit and tie. However he wasn't there for just anypony…he was there for what he believed to be the true belle of the ball.

Celestia smiled to herself, with Discord (believe it or not) right next to her at the stairway.

“I can't believe she'll be at the Gala with me for the first time!” she exclaimed.

Elsewhere at the Gala, Chrysalis was beautifully dressed in full-blown gala gear and seated at a table with Fang. The changeling in question offered her punch as she spoke:“I think they deserve it after all they went through; overseeing the alliance as they did,” she proclaimed. She smiled at Fang. “And offering me a chance at happiness.” Fang smiled graciously and gently held her hoof in his as the two kissed.

Dark looked up as his Belle of the Ball walked down the stairs. Princess Luna, clothed in her best dress (designed by Rarity, of course) walked towards her beloved as she tenderly joined his hoof with her own. “May I have this dance my loyal knight?” she asked, dazzling Dark with her smile.

“My lady...” He said, bowing. “It would be my honour”

The two were dancing well into the night when suddenly, Dark was interrupted by a bright flash of light and suddenly, he found himself on the hilltop in the Everfree forest. He could hear the sound of flapping swooping towards him. He turned and became redder than a tomato as he realised that this was the real Princess Luna. She couldn’t hold back a giggle as Dark attempted to defuse what Luna had must likely seen: “Well…you did look good in a dress.”

Luna patted his head and said “You looked wonderful in a suit, too.” She paused, smiling amiably at Dark. “So how was you day today?”
“Eventful,” Dark replied, clearly exhausted even in his dreams. “I found out Chrysalis had a huge revenge plan, the Changeling Kingdom is Tartarus, and if it wasn't for Fang we'd all be dead by now.” He sighed with relief and said “So yeah…it’s been a day”

Luna paused and her eyes narrowed. “She had a revenge plan?”

“Yeah, and Fang convinced her not to go through with it...unintentionally but still.” Dark than paused before asking his next question…he had a hunch. “Did…did you know about the Changeling Kingdom's true name?”

Luna hesitated before lowering her gaze. “Yes I did,” she said quietly. “I hope you are not angry with me…”

Dark bit his lip and pawed at the ground. “Slightly,” he concluded. He sighed “But I guess if you told me I would have wanted to go even less”
Luna smiled gratefully, then closed her eyes. She had to ask. “How is…”

“The Queen of Dreams is still sleeping like a log,” Dark interrupted, knowing full well what his beloved Princess was about to say to him. A sigh of relief left Luna's lips as Dark smiled widely widely at her. She opened her eyes, then looked at her knight with a questioning look and tilted her head. Realising he was being slightly creepy, Dark turned red. “Sorry…it’s just…I’m just happy to see you, even if it's not in the flesh.”

Luna blushed and remembered what they were talking about. She walked with her…well, she wouldn't know what to call Dark now, as embarrassingly as it is she's never really had someone like Dark before. She guessed that if she had to call Dark anything it would be her...special somepony. “Thank you…” She said softly, attempting to diverge her inner thoughts. She smiled gently. “Well, I don't have a busy night tonight…would you like to spend some time together?”

“You have to ask?” Dark responded with a grin as the two traveled in Dark's dream-borne Canterlot gardens. The walk was pleasant, and Luna was surprised by the amount of detail which Dark had remembered in his short time as a guard. She could almost feel the cool air on her mane as the pair walked towards the small lake in the center of the hold garden next to the statues.

Luna eyed the statues, remembering the ponies these statues used to be one thousand years ago, and guilt flooded her night-blue irises. Not being blind to his princess's plight, Dark stopped and turned. “Something wrong?” he asked.

Luna sighed.“Just some after affects of the Green-Eyed monster that I sometimes forget”

Dark paused. “You know…I never noticed…but Nightmare Moon does have Green Eyes.” Luna looked at Dark with a playful glare “Well it's true!” Dark protested as Luna leaned on him. He really wanted to put his foreleg around her…but he didn't want to send his beloved away either.

Luna smiled, then hesitated before speaking sheepishly. “Tell me, Dark...you know that I've been jealous before...have you ever been jealous of someone before?” She laughed nervously. “It's okay...I'm fairly sure it won't be as terrifying as my own envy.”

“Well yeah…” Dark admitted, embarrassed.  He sighed. “I know I was jealous of other ponies who looked normal...a lot. I wanted to be out there with them, you know? Bonding with them, having friends…but at the time I thought that no one would like me because of how I looked. And I hated that so much.” He looked down. “I wished they all looked like me...and then I could be normal. Thestrals are really rare. I mean, of the few that even exist, most of them live in seclusion in a mountain hold.” His tail swished uncertainly from side to side. “I guess I also got a little jealous of Starnight when he was doing so well at the Academy and I...well...I wasn't...”

Luna gazed uncertainly at him. “What…what did you hope would happen to Starnight?” she whispered.

Dark’s eyes grew cloudy.“I know this was a bad thought...but at one point, I hoped that he would feel my pain and start failing while I got better than him.” He hesitated. “In a way that happened…” He swallowed anxiously. “Sometimes I wonder if Starnight's mad at me because...I saved Equestria.”

“Dark, he's not” Luna reassured him and said “That’s not something you need to worry about...everyone suffers from the Green Eyed monster sometimes.” She sighed. “But Dark...as long as you promise me,” she stressed, “promise me that you’ll never let that control you. Those who let Envy control them make monsters. Trust me.” 
She was speaking from experience of course.
Dark glanced at her, knowing she was hiding something from him again.

“You want to talk about it?” he asked. Luna shook her head: no.  “You know you're gonna have to talk to me about it eventually, right?”
Relenting on her secrecy for only a little, Luna responded, albeit reluctantly. “I feel as though I haven't learned anything from the one thousand years I was locked away for my past mistakes.” She looked down at her hooves. “My sister is still far more popular than I. I…I believe I’m just going to make the same mistake again”

Dark looked at her in disbelief.“Luna…there is no way that you would ever make that same mistake again”

Luna sighed and admitted something to Dark that she had never admitted to anypony “After my work as a princess, I…I’ve been giving myself a nightmare every night to punish myself for the crimes I have committed.*”

After a stunned silence Dark finally brought himself to respond. “Why would you even do that?” He whispered, shocked. Luna forced back tears as she spoke.

“I feel so guilty because I let envy control me, that I let envy destroy my relationship with Celestia. I still feels like...even though I have done so much good...it will never make up for the sins of my past.”

With a blunt response Dark began with two words Luna thought he'd never say to her. “You're wrong” Luna glanced up at him, stunned. “You said it yourself,” he continued. “Everyone feels envy at one point or another…but it's what we do when we feel it that makes us either good or bad.” He smiled. “Look what you've done just for me alone! You took a pitiful, miserable nobody who would never amount to anything, and you helped him become a hero, a real honest to you, hero.” Luna looked at Dark in astonishment; only her sister had ever been compared to a god. “And if you think I'm too weak an accomplishment, look at what you've done for those fillies back in Ponyville. Whenever I come to visit they tell me so much about how you're their hero because of how much you help them.”

“Dark...” Luna said quietly “But what if...what if…”

“There is no what if this time, mi'lady” Dark said with a smile “You're not gonna turn back into that thing, you are not going to hurt anypony else ever again because you have so many ponies who would never let you…and I would never let you” She rewarded at Dark with a fake smile, but Dark smiled genuinely back. “I won’t...”

Luna looked at her knight and said “But you won't be around forever.” Dark paused at that grim reality as Luna said “And I'm sure Celestia is scared of me.”

“Celestia isn't scared of you” Dark said with a smile “If you doubt me...why don't you look into her dreams?”
Luna paused and then tapped her foot. “I could never…”

“If you don’t, this is going to eat you alive.” He leaned forward as he saw a spark of doubt in her eyes. “Please?” Luna bit her lip…and nodded. Suddenly, several doors appeared before them.

“Alright, then. But please…” she asked. “Come with me…just a peek okay?”
Dark nodded in relief and the two opened the door emblazoned with a sun logo.

Celestia was standing on the balcony and smiled very happily. “Mares and Stallions, allow me to introduce to you, the new ruler of all Equestria, a pony who has deserved this position more than any other.” Luna gazed dully at the scene, expecting the words “Twilight Sparkle” to tear themselves from her sister’s mouth. However, her jaw dropped when “Princess Luna” emerged instead. There was silence between Dark and Luna, contrasting strongly against the cheers of the crowd, as Luna stared at Dark and held him in her sight with a minor tear in her eye. Celestia looked up as she felt that tear in her eye and peered at Luna with a small smile. Then, she closed her eyes and whispered: “You deserve it more than any other pony I know…Luna”

Suddenly, they were back in Dark’s dream. For a few moments, there was stunned silence. Then: “Thank you,” Luna whispered. Dark turned ruby-red as she kissed her “special somepony” on the cheek, then smiled and flew away, leaving her knight at a loss for words.

In the waking world, Fang was working hard on a project Chrysalis had asked him to do, as loyal and love-struck as ever. He glared. “You had better not be trying to take my Queen from me,” Fang hissed quietly. He glanced at Queen Chrysalis sleeping soundly beside him, then covered her with a blanket. “You're so…perfect…" he whispered. “We would be perfect together if only I had the nerve…”
> Rejections
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As Dark went to work beside Chrysalis with a smile on his face. The Changeling Queen was working on her latest project as Dark walked in, throwing her a casual glance as he did so. Chrysalis stared at him for a few moments, blushing, then shook herself out of her stupor.
“Oh hello, lieutenant Sidewinder.” Dark looked at her with a questioningly; she had addressed him so formally. Chrysalis smiled, buzzing down in an odd, almost charmed way to Dark. “I'm glad you're here”

“I'm glad too…but what’s this about?” Dark asked his host, rather confused and worried.

Chrysalis smiled. “Oh nothing” She said…she sounded unusually joyful. “It's just that I have to thank you for giving such…happiness today”
Dark smiled bemusedly, pleasantly surprised. “Er…You’re welcome!” he replied.

However, Dark slowly started to figure out what was going on as Chrysalis got even closer to him.

“Thank you so much for yesterday,” she purred. “I felt like I was in such a good mood today after you were so kind to me.” She patted his head. “So if there is anything you want to say to me…go ahead” Dark was about to say something when she interrupted his unsaid words.“Wait! How about you tell me at the banquet tonight! It'll be more…romantic”

"Romantic?"

Dark’s eyes widened and he asked the question weighing most strongly on his mind: “Er…what?”

“Nothing, nothing” The sly Queen hinted. She beamed. “Walk with me for a bit.”

Dark did as she asked, albeit reluctantly. “So tell me something,” Chrysalis sighed. “Are you enjoying your stay?”

“Yeah…” Dark responded.

“Any particular reason…why?” She then jerked her head towards one of her changelings, motioning her away. “Drat,” she noted. “We'll have to finish this conversation later.”  

She smiled, then swung around and trotted off to work on something else. Dark winced as a sudden bellow reached his ears: “No, the pits of swirling pain go under the cage not beside it! Come on this shouldn’t be that complicated!”

Starnight was there already doing some work to make up for his previous suspicions, despite the Queen telling him that it wasn't necessary. Dark glanced at him as he burst out laughing.

“Wow, you're a royalty magnet,” Starnight remarked. “If we give you a week with Princess Twilight and Cadence, and we might have a scandal on our hands!”

“Starnight, the heck you talking about” Dark said, making a feeble attempt to deny the implications…having Chrysalis blatantly star-struck and flirting with him only five minutes ago wasn’t helping.

“Dark, I know you,” Starnight replied. “You said it yourself; your special talent is figuring out situations really quickly. You know she's crushing on you bad,” he said cackled. “Oh man, you’re a bad liar.”

Dark glared at Starnight, sighed and relented. “And I pray I never get good at it. She's really into me…”

“Well you did kind of put the moves on her back at the accusations,” his best friend observed, smirking.“I was not!” Dark cried indignantly. “I was just trying to be nice to her. You know me, I have only one pony in my heart right now.”

Starnight sighed.“Yeah, yeah…” He peered at Dark. “You better let her down easy because we’re still trying for an alliance here…and this might be a problem”

Dark groaned and walked towards Chrysalis as Starnight wiggled his eyebrows accusingly. She smiled dazzlingly as he reached her. “Lieutenant  Sidewinder! It's a pleasure to see you again!”

Dark, unsure of how to handle the situation, took a deep breath. “Um…we need to talk.” He padded towards a deserted corner, motioning for Chrysalis to follow.

She followed him in a school-girl daze, then winced as Dark sighed. “Look…I think you’re a great pony and a great leader...” Chrysalis looked at him with hopeful eyes and he flinched.“But…” The light in her eyes slowly started to fade away. “I…er…I don’t like you like you like me. You're a great friend,” he said quickly. “But I…I’m not in love with you or anything like that.” He paused, not really sure what else to say. “Sorry.”
Chrysalis gazed dejectedly at him.“Oh…” Dark stared at her and felt incredibly bad at her next words: “Well…I guess I got my hopes up for nothing”

Dark responded quickly. “It really isn't you! Like I said, you’re a great pony and I think that you'd be a great date as well, but I don't like you like that. I love my Princess a lot.” He blushed deeply. “You were there yourself at the meeting…”

Chrysalis sighed, made a half-hearted attempt to deny his words, then looked down miserably. “My apologies…it’s just…hard. I don't have a special somepony in my life and I was hoping that…that I would finally have one…”

Dark pawed at the ground nervously and laughed slightly. “I guess it’s partly my fault as well… I think I was a little too nice to you yesterday…I just don't like seeing ponies or changelings beat themselves up over something that's not their fault.” Chrysalis smiled hollowly.

“Thank you for…for being honest with me” she said, looking down. Dark smiled back apologetically.

“Don’t mention it.” Then, before things could get even more awkward, her slipped back into his work.

Deciding to help Fang, who (unknown to both Dark and Chrysalis) was listening in and had begun dancing for joy when Dark rejected Chrysalis, 

Dark smiled.“You know, there is someone whose been crushing on you for a long time, maybe you should give him a chance”

“You mean Fang?” Chrysalis asked. Fang blushed ruby-red; he had thought that he had kept his secret feelings…well…secret. “Fang is my best soldier and my best worker as well. There is no changeling I'm more proud of than him.” Fang turned even redder after hearing such compliments from Chrysalis. Dark smiled at her next words: “I'll have to consider that.”

“I'll let you think alone then,” Dark replied, winking.  He walked past a shell-shocked Fang on his way out and grinned. “Well? Go in there and tell her you moron!” he teased.

Fang grinned manically, mentally thanking Dark and kicking himself at the same time for ever feeling jealous of the gentle thestral. Dark smiled and padded back to Fluttershy, who had actually found a star-nosed mole. He figured he could hang out with her for a bit.

Elsewhere, Fang smiled and walked towards his Queen “Hello…” he said shyly. Queen Chrysalis glanced at him and smiled. “I wanted to speak with you,” Fang continued. He took a deep breath; there was no going back now. “I have something I need to tell you,” he said, trying to play it cool; even though Chrysalis knew of his crush, she doesn't know that Fang knew she knew. She tilted his head as he inhaled sharply…and released his heart to her. “Queen Chrysalis…I’m just gonna come out and say it. You're my hero and I love you very much. You have such a beautiful mind, and beautiful body. You're so caring and giving and you're such a great leader that I'm honoured to serve under you.” He smiled, terrified and finally, he asked: “I want to take you out on a date tonight…if that’s okay?”

Chrysalis stared at Fang. For a few painful moments, there was nothing…pure silence.

And then, Chrysalis’s mental debate concerning her own feelings with suddenly ended as sen she realised something: “Fang...”
Fang looked at her with hopeful eyes, which then faded into sorrow as Chrysalis delivered her crushing blow: “I don't like you like that.”
> Brutal Honesty
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fang looked at Chrysalis with a crushed heart.
“Wh…what?” he asked, his eyes as flat as a plank of wood.

Chrysalis sighed. “I don't like you like that Fang.” She lowered her eyes, clearing her throat as she did so. “I’ve known about your crush for a long while. I've been debating this for a long time ever since you first showed signs that you may, like me…like me.” She patted his head. “Don't get me wrong, you're a wonderful Changeling and honestly the only one I can really rely on around here. But honestly, you’re better as a friend than someone as a romantic interest.”

“What can I do to change that?” Fang asked, sounding desperate. Chrysalis gazed at him with a tilted head. “I'll do anything, I can...I can make myself look like this…” Chrysalis bit her lip worriedly as Fang’s form shifted into Dark’s. “Is this what you want? I'll be that for you”

“Change back,’ Chrysalis said quietly.

“But you like him...” Fang gazed at Chrysalis with Dark's “pity me” stare.

“Fang...” Chrysalis whispered. “Change…back.” Her tone of voice was starting to shift to annoyance.

Fang didn’t change. “Please!” he begged. “What did he do right that I'm doing wrong!? I...I' m nice to you and I’d do anything and everything for you. What does he have that I don't?”

“For one I think he can take a hint when the one he loves doesn't love him back!” Chrysalis barked at Fang, showing true harshness for the first time ever since they had known each other. “Change…now!”

Shaking, Fang allowed his true form to show. Noticing his fear, Chrysalis sighed and pulled the heartbroken changeling into a gentle hug, then let him go. “Does…does that mean you'll give me a chance?” Fang said hopefully. Chrysalis’s features turned furious.

“I said no!” Chrysalis yelled. He just wasn’t getting it. “Fang, I'm not interested in you! You are my friend and nothing more!”

With short breaths Fang began to please. “Please! What do I have to do? I'll do anything! You know I will!”

“And don't think I'm not grateful but I’m…not...interested.” Chrysalis repeated desperately.

“Why won't you give us a chance!?” Fang hissed in anguish. He would do anything, anything…

Anything.

“Don’t think I haven’t considered it,” she breathed. Fang’s eyes filled with dull hope. “But every time I see us together, I just...can't. It's not you…it’s me. Though it's starting to become you because you're really starting to scare me…” Chrysalis said. She began to back away from Fang.
“I just want you to love me…” he whispered.

Chrysalis groaned. “That’s the problem! If you have to beg for love that it's not love.” Fang gritted his teeth, holding back tears.“You’re a good, close, friend...but that's all.”

For a few moments, Fang simply stared at her, breathing hard. Then he spun around angrily and fled the room. Chrysalis let him go. He needed to be alone…and she knew that.

She sighed. “Trust me Fang...I know how you feel.”

After talking with Fluttershy, Dark eagerly searched for Chrysalis, hoping to talk about Fang. He would be feeling like the luckiest changeling in the world! Unfortunately, when he finally found Chrysalis, he obvious depression dashed his hopes expertly.
“Are you okay?” he asked, walking up to her.

“There you go again!” Chrysalis barked at Dark. He backed up, scared. “I don't get you! Why are you so nice to me?! Why are you nice to me if you don't love me!?”

“I can't be nice to you anyways?” Dark asked bemusedly, making a valiant effort to ignore his fear.

Chrysalis glared at him, then looked down. “Why...what do I have to do to make you love me?”

“What about Fang?” Dark asked, stricken. He thought that he had heard the last of this.

“Fang's a great friend, but nothing more” Chrysalis said abruptly. She immediately diverted the conversation back to her own agenda. “What do I have to do? I'll do anything!? You want me to look like your precious Princess?” There was a flash of green as she shifted into Luna. “There we go, now you can do all the things she would never allow.”

Dark blushed and said “Um…Chrysalis…”

She reverted to her original form. “Let me guess? It’s not enough? Then what!? What does she have that I don't!? Is it because I'm a changeling?” Dark gazed fearfully at her.

“I…I don't want to be the one to have to tell you this, but…” And then Dark said something to her that hit her where she lived. “If you have to beg for love, than it isn't love”

Chrysalis stared at him in stunned silence. Then her eyes lowered in defeat. “No, it isn't...you're right. I'm being childish” Dark paused, surprised at how easily she was giving up. “Thank you...for letting me down easy. I…I’m going to go somewhere to be alone for a little bit.”

“You know…okay, he's gonna kill me for saying this…but Fang has this huge crush on you, maybe you should give him a chance?” Dark said in response

“I know…” Chrysalis said quietly. “He told me himself…and I told him what I'm going to tell you. I'm not interested in him like that. He's a great friend, but...I can't see him as my lover.” She slowly smiled. “Thank you, Dark.”

Upon reaching his room, Fang stormed in, kicking the door open as he started to scream his rage out loud.
“Why?” He began to pace furiously up and down. “I did everything her majesty said. I kept the Changelings in line, I helped her out everything she could possibly want…heck, when she got sick with the flu it took me four weeks and getting the flu myself to get her better!” He stormed off “Not to mention I’ve tried my hardest to be nothing but nice to her for years! And then, he decides to show up.” Fang glared poisonously into his mirror. “That...thestral...worm...”

He looked away from the mirror, seething. “I should have known a pony of any variety should have never been trusted, but silly me! Silly me for thinking that what everyone's been telling me was wrong. Don’t worry Fang, not all ponies are hateful little show-offs that only care about themselves. Ha! Speak for yourself.”

His voice lowered to a deranged whisper. “He...he wants to take my Queen away from me. He never loved his precious Princess! That slimy little weasel in pony form!” He stopped, looking down shamefully. “No no, maybe I should be happy for them...sure he's playing hard to get but maybe her majesty will be happy with him once he stops playing that game. But…he knew...he freaking knew! And he’s still trying to take her from me!”

Rage filled his broken soul. “Well, he can't have her,” he hissed. “If she doesn't love me yet…” A dark smile crept across his features. “Then I’ll just have to make her love me.”
> Worries and Anger
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, Dark found himself exploring the changeling land, trying his best to avoid Chrysalis. He still thought of Chrysalis as a good friend, but given the awkward situation, it was probably best to give her some space.

He sighed. “Poor Fang,” he murmured to himself. “Being turned down like that.”

“I mean I know that she hasn't officially said anything yet,” he thought. “And she may change her mind, but...I'm pretty lucky all things considered. If Princess Luna turned me down like Chrysalis did with Fang. I don't know what I would have done…”

“It would have hurt a lot, probably,’ he muttered.

“I don't think I would...do anything desperate. I’ll always have her in my dreams after all…” He frowned and shuddered. “Man that's creepy,’ he said out loud.

He kept walking, giving up on trying to confine his thoughts to hid mind. “I mean, I love Princess Luna with all my heart,” he continued. “I...I guess I always have. I always assumed she liked me back...and judging by the way she acts she probably does, but...what if she doesn't anymore when I get back? What if so this time has passed that she doesn't want to be my special some pony anymore?” He bit his lip. “I don’t know what I’d do.”

He started as he heard a laugh behind him. “Talking to yourself, huh?” Dark whipped around to see Starnight smirking ungraciously at him. 
Right by his side was Fluttershy, who smiled softly.

“Well, since we’ve got nothing better to do,” she said. “Why don't we have a talk about this?” Dark turned red.

“No, no, really this is kind of personal…” he stammered.

Starnight grabbed Dark and began to drag him away. “No, no,” he echoed, “I insist.”

Meanwhile, back at Canterlot Castle, Princess Luna was having the same thoughts…in her own way. She was pacing back and forth while Celestia listened to her sister's gripe (whether she wanted to or not).

“I've never felt this way about any pony, Celestia!” she lamented to her older sister. “I know that he and I both like each other very much, but he still has plenty of time in the Changeling Kingdom. What if he spent so much time with Chrysalis…or maybe another female changeling…that he won't feel the same for me anymore?”

Celestia was starting to get very annoyed very quickly. This was at least the seventh time this month that Luna brought this up. Not that she didn't mind helping her out with her relationship problems; being as old as she was, she had had many a suitor before, loving them until age sadly claimed them.

It was the blessing and curse of immortality…to fall in love many, many, many, many, times over. But she also knew that it always ended the same way: her still-young features gazing down upon her old grey lover on his deathbed.

It was for that reason that her knowledge of relationships was…limited. She hoped that one day, Luna, Cadence, and Twilight will know of this sort of pain, but understand that it's not something they should dwell on. Life is for the living, and they should count as many blessings as they could.

Currently, however, Luna was driving the sun-controller to the brink of insanity. Finally, she gave in: “Luna!” she snapped.
Luna looked up from her rant, startled. “Uhm…sorry…” She rubbed the back of her neck with a slender hoof. “It’s just that…I’ve always been an afterthought for the young. You on the other hand…”

Celestia cringed. “Don't remind me,” she muttered. “I had to beat them off with a stick…literally." Apparently being the next in line for the crown gets you a lot of attention. She sighed. “Though there was Lord Charming…”

“Not helping!” Luna howled. “Do you have any idea what's gonna happen if he comes back and he changes his mind about loving me? I'll be devastated! I don’t…I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“You'll move on” Celestia said softly, regaining her composure as she reassured her sister. “It’s his loss if he does change his mind.” She hesitated. “However…maybe you should visit him tonight and tell him your worries. I’m starting to think I'm not getting through that thick head of yours.”

“I do not have a thick head!” Luna protested.

Celestia levitated a pile of flashcards towards her sister. “Look! I have a list, and this ignores your big, thickheaded choice.” Luna winced, understanding what Celestia meant by that.

Luna hesitated. “Okay maybe a little thickheaded” Celestia cleared her throat pointedly. “Okay I'm very thick headed!” She said stopping her sister before she could recite a pretty long list of all the times she was stubborn.

Luna glared at her and Celestia smiled and sighed. “Seventh time or not, you're still my sister, and I'll say this a thousand times if helps ease your nerves: Dark is head over heels for you. I have proof!” She pulled out a massive scroll with yet another list of evidence.
Luna stared at her. “Why didn't you show me this the first time?”

Celestia groaned and said “Because I thought I wouldn't need to use this, I mean seriously Luna...you should know all of these now.” She cleared her throat as she started to list them “There's the fact that he spent the majority of his life worshiping the moon because it made him calm and happy. There's the fact that despite being stringy and weak, he still joined the guard corp for your benefit. There's the fact that he faced off against mother, a pony who was way stronger than him all to protect you. Because as much as he likes to claim it was for Equestria, it was for you.” She rolled her eyes. “And on top of all of that, he went on his journey to the changeling kingdom at your request.”

The scroll vanished. “Calm yourself, sister. There is no way, and I repeat, no way he would just fall for any pony or changeling at the drop of a hat. So relax.”

After a stunned silence, Luna breathed a sigh of relief. “Thanks sis…can I borrow that scroll...it might ease my nerves.”

Elsewhere, Dark had just finished explaining his fears to Starnight and Fluttershy. For a few moments, there was silence. Then:
“That’s ridiculous,” Starnight said, rolling his eyes.

Fluttershy smiled. “You aren't like that Dark. You're not a villainous sort” she murmured sweetly. “So please stay calm.”

Starnight snorted. “Yeah, she gets it!” He smiled. “If Princess Luna, isn't into her like you are into her…then don’t worry about it! You’re not going to do something crazy.”

“How do you know?” Dark whispered quietly.

Starnight groaned throwing his hoofs in the air in frustration. Fluttershy, on the other hand, placed a hoof on Dark’s shoulder.

“We know because you're not selfish Dark. You want Princess Luna to be happy, don't you?”

Dark was about to protest when he couldn't come up with a reasonable response to what Fluttershy just said. Starnight nodded, taking Dark’s silence as a “yes.”

“Than you should know,” he said, “that you'll always be a loyal guard to her, and you will just…move...on,” he said, desperately trying to get through to the thestral. “You're not the kind of guy would would go crazy if you got rejected”

“But what if...” Dark started again, and even Fluttershy started to look a little annoyed.

“Dark, you aren't that type of pony!” she exclaimed. “You're one of the sweetest ponies I have ever met!” She sighed. “Who saved Equestria?”

“I did” Dark said quietly “Though to be fair so did you...”

“Who joined the royal guard specifically because his princess wanted him too?” Starnight asked, following Fluttershy’s lead.

“I did” Dark repeated. Starnight nodded pointedly in return.

“Than stop sweating it. You're not selfish, you're not a monster, you're a good, honest, decent pony. Now will you calm down already?”

Starnight groaned in annoyance. Dark hesitated.

“O…Okay,” he said. He smiled slightly. “I’ll try.”

Night fell. Every pony was sleeping…no changeling was stirring…not even Queen Chrysalis. 

However, there was one who was awake.

Fang was in his room pacing wildly across the floor. He hadn't left all day, he didn't eat, he didn't sleep, desperately trying to think what he could do to get Chrysalis to love him.

Suddenly, his eyes widened in realisation: If he couldn’t get Chrysalis to willingly go on a date with him… He eased his door open and padded out, walking past the sleeping quarters of the visiting ponies as he did so. He eyed Dark, seething.

Then, his anger got the better of him. He bent his head low to Dark’s ear:
“You will not toy with my Queen anymore…” he hissed. “She is mine you hear! Mine!” Dark stirred but stayed asleep. Fang glared at him. “As soon as she is mine, my first act as king will be booting you out of this land, you heartless playboy, out of a cannon.” He than stormed off and slammed the door loudly as Dark groggily opened his eyes and glanced up. With no clear danger in sight, he feel back into sleep.

Chrysalis was sleeping soundly in her room, fairly relieved that she hadn’t seen Dark all day.

She needed that.

Though her romantic affections for Dark were less potent than before…they were still painful. She would have dwelled longer on the issue had she not been distracted by a cloth being slammed across her mouth.

“I will make you love me,” a voice whispered. Chrysalis’s eyes widened. Fang?

Her vision started to go black as someone ripped the door open. It was Dark. She could hear screams of anger and fear, but they were blurred. Her lucidity was rapidly declining.

The last thing she heard before she passed out was Fang’s deranged howling:

“She’s mine you hear! I won't let anypony take her from me…especially not you!” And then Fang’s wings buzzed to life as he soared out of the nearest window, taking the Changeling Queen hostage.
> Cell of the Queen
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chrysalis awoke to softness beneath her body. She glanced down groggily and saw red velvet, then traced a hoof slowly over the material, confirming that she was on a feathered bed. She observed her surrounding, fighting against her disorientation.
She was deep within Tartarus, deep within her kingdom. Her cell had once been host to the Queen of Dreams. She shivered as she heard a voice that once brought her so much joy. A voice belonging to her number one fan, someone she had thought would be her friend forever…Fang.

“Are you comfortable?” he asked his precious queen. He smiled gently and winced shyly. “I only ask because it wasn’t to easy to get a bed in here.”

Chrysalis fought her terror, trying to play it cool for fear of Fang’s reaction.

“Yes, Fang I'm comfortable,” she replied quietly. Her blood pounded in time with her nerves. “Fang…”

“I know, I know…this isn't the most romantic place,” Fang noted with a sly little smile. “I'm doing my best with what I have here. This is sure to make you love me!”

Chrysalis paled. “What are you going to do to make me love you?” she whispered. The dreaded question had been haunting her…and though she knew the answer, she had to ask.

Fang bowed his head low to his queen. “I'm gonna make you mine before that thestral can take you away,” he said. His voice was heavy with implication. “I won't like myself for doing it…but you'll be happier with me. I know it.”

“Than don't do it!” Chrysalis yelped, realizing that now would be a good time to begin her descent into panic. She was clearly petrified of her new found captor. “You don't have to do this! I…I’ll go on a date with you” She said relenting “I'll give it a shot, just please don't do this! Anything but this!”

Fang stared at Chrysalis mournfully. “I...I don't want you to just date me” he said, his jagged irises shaking. “I have…I have to make you love me. By any means necessary.” Chrysalis’s pupils dilated as Fang prowled closer and closer. She had to defend herself. She closed her eyes and pointed her horn towards her “loyal subject.” They snapped open once she realized that her magic wasn’t working.

“The Queen of Dreams cell was specifically tailored so that its inhabitant could not use magic.” She turned her head towards Fang as he spoke. “Think about it. You know it makes sense.”

Fang continued to advance and Chrysalis shook her head rapidly. She swung her foreleg towards his head. It didn’t work; he simply grabbed her hooves and forced her onto her back.

Chrysalis had always relied on her magic while her physical form remained untrained and crude. Without her powers, she was effectively useless. Realizing that resistance was futile, she closed her eyes and prepared for the worst…

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Was Fang having second thoughts? Maybe they could talk about this without something awful happening. She looked up to see Fang dropping from the bed, seething.

“That damn thestral,” he hissed. “He’s on his way here! How could he possibly know where we are?”

Dark, Fluttershy, Starnight, and General were running down the tunnels

“Fluttershy, are you sure the mole knows the way?” Dark panted.

Fluttershy had cantered ahead and she was talking to the Starnosed Mole that she was found a little while back. Dark winced as Fluttershy stared at the mole in shock. He waited with bated breath for the bad news…

Then:
“Such language!” Fluttershy exclaimed softly. Dark rolled his eyes. Language was hardly the worst of their problems. Suddenly, the mole scampered away and Fluttershy padded up to Dark. “He said that he's hurrying to Queen Chrysalis as fast he can. He saw Fang drag her this way.”

“This is bad; really, really bad,” Starnight muttered. He swallowed and peered nervously at Dark as they started to run again. “What’s Fang's problem with you anyways?”

“He thinks I'm trying to take Chrysalis away from him” Dark noted. “Truth is she's just a friend and nothing more. Really.”

“Well it doesn't matter. Fang has to pay for what he's done. He’s never going to see the sun again,” General declared flatly. “He’s too far gone and can't be saved”

“I don't think that's true,” Dark murmured thoughtfully.

“Son, it ain't up to me,” General growled. “He's committing several crimes right now, the worst being Treason. He's harming the ruler of his nation and that means that he'll be in Tartarus for life…at least in the Changeling cells.”

Dark, however, wasn’t paying attention. His surroundings had caught his eye. “This is where they put the Queen of Dreams!” he said fearfully. He had personally watched the Queen being lowered into Tartarus here and he shivered as he walked down the hall of the one who had nearly killed him before. His mind drifted back to Fang…he could be saved, right?

Starnight sighed, interrupting Dark’s thoughts. “I know you want to help, Dark, but there’s nothing we can really do.”

Fluttershy only nodded in agreement. “We’re getting closer,” she called.

“Everyone can be saved” Dark said to himself. He narrowed his eyes and picked up his pace.

Elsewhere, Fang could hear Dark’s hoofsteps. He paused, using a small amount of magic to see through his eyes. Him and his friends were chasing a Starnosed Mole.

“You're special somepony is here...” He hissed bitterly. Chrysalis bit her lip.

“Dark isn't my special somepony,” she insisted.“As much as I would like him to be,” she muttered under her breath.

Fang growled; his ears were sharper than Chrysalis thought. “I…will…not…lose you...to that thestral play boy!” He screeched manically. He closed his eyes, calming himself as Chrysalis shied away in fear. “Luckily…” he whispered. “I have a special surprise for them”

Chrysalis’s eyes widened. “What did you do?”

Dark stopped running as red mist began to leak from the walls. He gasped in terror…he knew this mist. It was the spell the Queen of Dreams had used to send its victims into a deep sleep.

“Fang…” he whispered. “You didn’t…” Dark dropped to the ground and held his breath, hoping to Luna that he was wrong.

Chrysalis stared wildly around the room, her eyes searching for the Queen of Dreams. She sighed in relief as she realised that she was suspended by wires hanging from the ceiling, her horn pointing down. However, her comfort was short-lived.

Fang buzzed his wings and flew towards the Dream Queen. He raised her tail upwards, then jerked it down like a crossbow, firing a ray of dream mist out of a small hole in the wall and into the passageway where Dark would be.

However, before he could do much, a furious Dark flew through the hole and tackled Fang, knocking him against a cave wall.
“Why...why are you getting involved?” Fang howled, climbing painfully to his feet. “This doesn't concern you. She's mine! And I will not have you take her away from me again!”

“Fang, you could have woken up the Queen of Dreams!” Dark yelled. He turned to see his friends collapsing into sleep; they hadn’t been fast enough to evade the mist. “Do you know what that could have done?”

Fang grinned demonically. “Lets find out, shall we?” He flew into the air and snapped the strings suspending the Queen of Dreams from the ceiling.

Dark snorted as Fang continued to cut the strings.“If she falls from that height, I don't have to worry about her waking up,” he growled. “She’ll be dead!”

He spread his wings and rushed towards the Queen of Dreams as Fang cut the final string. He caught her before she could fall to her death and sighed with relief.

That’s when Fang landed a hoof on Dark’s skull, sending him and the Queen crashing onto the cave floor.

Fang glared hysterically at him. “I’m not going to let you take her away from me! She's mine! I love her!”

Dark climbed torturously to his hooves, realising that he had no other choice. He stared Fang right in the eyes and spoke seven, world-shattering words:

“You have no idea...what love is." 
> Worshipers Clash
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“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”
> The Ball
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After returning to Canterlot, Dark had found himself trapped in a whirlwind of paperwork and meetings as the alliance between ponies and changelings was finalized. He had had hardly any time to talk to Luna and since Celestia had insisted on receiving detailed reports from himself, Starnight, Fluttershy and General, things had been a horrific mess of politics over the past few days. He was relieved when Chrysalis later approached him and informed him that she was enjoying her stay in Canterlot…and that her feelings for him had faded completely. She had realized that love would come at the right time and for now, she could enjoy the experience of friendship…something which was steadily blossoming between herself and Celestia as they resolved their differences.

Currently, he was at Princess Luna’s side in the final meeting before the party which Pinkie Pie had insisted on hosting in Canterlot.

“And…signed!” Chrysalis proclaimed joyfully. There was cheering all around; the alliance was official. Celestia, smiling graciously, levitated a set of tall glasses towards herself, Chrysalis, Luna, Dark, Fluttershy, Starnight and General before opening a bottle of champagne…Dark noticed that her glass was significantly larger than the others. Celestia's a drinker? 

“I think this calls for a toast,” Luna announced. Silence fell upon the table as she stood up, enclosing her glass in a swirl of magic. “It’s been a road full of trials and tribulations…and we’ve all been through so much. I am grateful to everyone sitting at this table. For the experiences you’ve given me…and for the experiences I hope we can share.” Dark smirked as the General wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.

“To new friendships!” Chrysalis yelled, shattering the moment.

“TO NEW FRIENDSHIPS!” There was much clinking of glasses. Celestia giggled, then downed her drink in a single slurp to an “Oh my…” from Fluttershy. Starnight grinned, then ruffled Dark’s hair affectionately with one hoof and did the same.

Chrysalis elegantly sipped at her drink, then smiled.“I have a proposition to make,” she said.

“Does it involve paperwork? Please tell me it doesn’t involve paperwork,” Starnight groaned. 

Chrysalis shook her head.“No…however, it does require the permission of the Princesses.”

“What is it?” Luna asked gently. Chrysalis hesitated, and Luna bit her lip knowing what she was going to ask. 

“Fang…” she murmured quietly. The light atmosphere grew dark. Fluttershy swallowed.

“You’ve decided what you want to do with him, haven’t you?” Celestia asked softly. 

Chrysalis nodded.“If it’s alright with you…I’d like him to do community work in Ponyville to make up for his crimes…After feeling so welcomed here…I think living in a friendly, open environment has the potential to reform him.” For a moment, there was silence. Then Celestia and Luna glanced at each other and nodded.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Celestia said, beaming.

“I agree with my sister.”  Luna wrapped a foreleg around Chrysalis’s neck in a hug. “It’s settled then.” 

Starnight’s head shot up.“Wait…so he’s gonna be here! Well, not here, but in Ponyville? Even after everything he’s done?”

“Starnight…” Cadence said with a warning tone.

Starnight shook his head rapidly, “Look…it’s fine, I can deal with it…I’m just surprised. That’s all.” 

Dark bit his lip.“I think he was just lonely,” he said. He glanced at Princess Luna, who blushed. “I don’t ever want to feel that way again.” 

Everyone nodded and Fluttershy smiled slightly.“If it’s okay…could I go and get changed for the party? I promised Rarity that she could make my dress.”

Celestia nodded and grinned.“Of course! In fact, I think we should all do that.” She leaned back luxuriously in her chair, then threw her head back and howled.“Tonight’s the night we PAR-TAY!” Dark winced. She should’ve gone easier on the drinks.

A few hours later, Dark found himself standing nervously next to Starnight in the Canterlot Royal Ballroom. They were both dressed in tuxedos…though Starnight’s was torn and tattered and looked as though it hadn’t been worn in years. The room was gradually filling up, but there was no sign of Dark’s Princess.

“Do you think she’s coming?” he asked anxiously. “She is coming, right?” Starnight rolled his eyes.

“Calm yourself, Loverboy,” he grinned. “She’s coming.” Dark nodded uncertainly, then smiled as Fluttershy floated into the room.

“You look really nice,” he noted. Fluttershy beamed shyly in return.

“Rarity really outdid herself,” she said. Dark nodded appreciatively, then turned as Luna, Celestia and Chrysalis walked into the room. He hardly noticed Fang by Chrysalis’s side as he stared at Luna.

“Holy…” he whispered.

The Night Princess was clothed in soft, black satin. A dark crown adorned her mane, which hung in a loose side-pony at her head, partially concealing one of her eyes. Dark walked up to her as though in a daze. Starnight and Fluttershy followed.
“I…You…” he stammered. Celestia rolled her eyes.

“My, but you certainly chose a smart one,” she snorted. 

Luna blushed furiously.“Sister!” Dark, however, smiled.

“Well, I certainly choose a beautiful one,” he said softly. Luna squeaked and Fluttershy giggled.

“Dark…I…” She swallowed nervously. “I…” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Oh, to hay with it all!” she said suddenly. She leaned forward and kissed Dark.

If Dark hadn’t felt as though his brain had melted into a puddle of cider, he might have noticed as the crowd erupted into cheers. Celestia breathed a sigh of relief as Fang stared mournfully at the scene, then dragged himself dejectedly to the other end of the ballroom. Ponies gave him a wide berth. Dark broke away from Luna and laughed dazedly, then hugged her tightly.

“I…I love you,” he whispered.

“I love you more,” Luna replied lovingly.

“These soppy lines are going to be the death of me,” someone growled.

Dark turned in surprise to see General, also dressed in a tuxedo.
“Good to see you,” he said. “I didn’t think you’d show.”

The General snorted.“Yeah, well…I did. I’m starting to regret it.” Dark laughed, then frowned as he realized Starnight had gone to get a drink.

“I’ll be back in a minute. I promise,” he told Luna. 

She smiled reassuringly,“I don’t doubt that.”

Dark trotted up to Starnight, who was holding a pair of punch glasses. He handed one to Dark and winked. "Cheers, bro.” 

Dark grinned.“Cheers.”

“So…” Dark said. He glanced at Fang. “It’s gonna be weird having a changeling in Ponyville, huh?” Starnight nodded slowly.

“Uh-huh.” He winced. “I kinda feel bad for him, y’know?” Dark nodded.

“I know what you mean. I think in the end…I think he just wanted to feel like someone acknowledged his existence.” Starnight shrugged, he then said something that surprised him “Well, at least he’s cute. He shouldn’t have any trouble in Ponyville.” Then his eyes widened in shock as he realised what he’d said. Dark turned slowly to face him.

“Starnight…” he said slowly. 

Starnight turned red.“I said that out loud, didn’t I?”

“You did.” Dark said quietly kind of taken a back by this sudden revaluation

“Uhm…right.” Starnight nodded 

"You're gay?" Dark asked quietly "Why did you never even attempt to...." 

Starnight interupted "Because you're clearly straight, and honestly even if you were, you're like my brother not my lover" He looked at Fang longely, which Dark noticed. 

“Starnight…” Dark grinned. “Are you telling me you have a crush o”-

“Not one word,” Starnight snapped. 

Dark stared at him.“How long?” 

Starnight sighed reproachfully.“Since I first saw him.”

“You don’t seem like the kinda guy who believes in love at first sight,” Dark noted, surprised.

“That’s the problem! I don’t!” Starnight howled, finally snapping. “Holy Celestia, what am I supposed to do, Dark! He’s a freaking changeling who tried to kill Queen Chrysalis! After everything he’s done, why do I”-

“I think if we’ve learned anything from this, it’s that we can’t control who we love,” Dark said quietly. 

Starnight snorted.“No, it’s that when we think we’re in love, we usually aren’t. I mean, how can this possibly be real?”

“Because you never became obsessed with him. You never showed it, even once. You just love him. Plain and simple.” Starnight grinned gratefully at Dark's words, then flinched.“So…you’re okay with…y’know…” Dark raised an eyebrow.

“Dude…I’m not going anywhere.” He jerked his head towards Fang. “I think you should tell him how you feel.” 

Starnight coughed in surprise.“Are you INSANE!” He lowered his voice as ponies started staring. 

Dark shook his head.“He needs someone to show him what true love is. More than anything…I just think he needs a friend.” Starnight hesitated.

He, however sighed and said, “Okay…look. I’ll befriend him and I’ll help him out. He’s in a bad place right now. But there’s no way I’m going to…” He jumped and yelped as someone cleared their throat. Celestia was standing behind them with a particularly evil grin on her face.

“Fang. Come over here, will you?” she called sweetly.

“Oh hay,” Starnight groaned. Fang padded dejectedly up to them.

“Can I help anyone?” he asked dully. Celestia smiled.

“No, I’m simply introducing you to your guard.”

Fang frowned.“My…my guard?” he asked uncertainly. Dark swore that Starnight was going to have a seizure.

“Your guard,” Celestia confirmed. “He’ll be overseeing your community service. Making sure you don’t get out of hand…that sort of thing.” She turned to Starnight who looked as though he wanted to sink into the ground.

“Make sure he doesn’t kill anyone. Stay by his side at all times.” She winked. “Including tonight.”

“B-but…” Starnight stammered.

Celestia walked past him, unperturbed, and Dark caught the words she whispered in his ear:
“You’ll thank me later.”

Starnight, still dumbstruck, turned to Fang.“Er…hi,” he said awkwardly. He didn’t know how to handle the situation.

“Look,” Fang started. “I know that after everything I did, I…”

“We’re cool,” Starnight said quickly. “I mean…you shouldn’t have done what you did. It was flat-out wrong,” Dark stared at him and shook his head wildly as Fang lowered his gaze to the floor. “But,” Starnight he quickly. “If you ever need someone to…um…er…” he blushed and Dark tilted his head meaningfully towards Fang. “I’d like to be your friend,” he blurted. Fang looked up and stared at him, taken aback.

“This is a joke, right?” he asked suspiciously. Starnight shook his head.

“Nope.” Dark grinned.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” he said slyly.

“Why?” Fang asked, puzzled.

“Yeah, why, Dark?” Starnight countered. He shot Dark a glare: “I’ll kill you later.” He simply smirked and padded back to Luna.

“Told you I’d be back,” he said. Luna smiled.

“I know.” She nodded towards Chrysalis. “Look,” she said. The Changeling Queen was talking to a number of ponies. They all seemed very engaged in their conversation…it looked like she was going to be just fine. Dark couldn’t help but smirk when he noticed the General dancing with Mayor Mare…so that’s why he’d come.

He kissed Luna absently on the cheek and she blushed.

“It’s being a long run,” he sighed, smiling as Luna laid her head on his shoulder.

“Yeah.” He smiled.

And then, Dark looked out across the ballroom at all the friends he’d made…remembering how far he’d come. And though he knew his adventures would never end, that friendship would never stop being magic…he realized that he had never been so happy. Right here. Right now, at this very moment. Because right now…

Everything was perfect, with the moon shining above.