I apologize for the long absence of this story, some materials and motivation was lacking.


The light quickly faded away, the beams retracting into Blaze's hand, which was now a fist. Blinking rapidly, Twilight opened her eyes to discover that Skyla had disappeared from her hooves.

"Where's…?" Twilight began to ask.

"Don't worry, she is right here," Blaze said softly, and slowly opened his fist.

In the center of his palm lay little Skyla, curled up in a light sleep. Her natural pink colors had returned, as vibrant as they had been before. She yawned, stretched, and rubbed her little eyes. Slowly, they opened, and she looked up into Blaze's eyes. The giant blue dragon smiled.

"Hello, little one," he said softly as he smiled widely.

Skyla's eyes grew wide, as if she were seeing him for the first time. She craned her head back, and fell backwards to see an upside down Twilight gazing at her in awe.

"How did you do that?" she asked, bewildered.

"I come from an ancient line of dragons, Princess, of dragons with magic in their blood," Blaze said, smiling with pride. "I learned to use the healing aura magic long before Equestria was even founded. Although, the only way to heal little Skyla completely is by returning what was stolen."

"And how is that?"

Blaze chuckled. "That, young Princess, is an explanation for another time. First of all," he said, turning to see Cadence and Shining Armor running towards them, "I think someone wants to see their daughter again."

The entire crowd, Changeling and pony alike, had parted to allow the royal spouses to run to their daughter with newfound energy.

"Skyla!" they shouted with glee in unison. The little filly rolled over, peering over Blaze's massive hand at the sound of her parents' voices. Her face lit up instantly as they saw each other, and she stretched her little hooves out towards them. Cadence levitated her towards herself and her husband, and they all embraced each other. Blaze stood back up to his full height and smiled widely, his white teeth shining in the sunlight. Twilight smiled too, and with tears of joy in her eyes, trotted up and hugged her family. After a few moments of joyful crying, Cadence and Shining Armor looked up to the giant blue dragon.

"Blaze… we are eternally grateful for what you've done," Cadence said. "You not only returned our daughter to us, but you have healed her in ways we could not have."

"We'd be lost without you, Guardian," Shining Armor said. Blaze stepped back and bowed gracefully, spreading his arms and wings as he had when he first arrived at Canterlot.

"It is my honor to serve you, Your Highnesses," he said, his low voice vibrating the ground. "If there is ever any more that I may do for you, do not hesitate to summon me." All of a sudden, Skyla wriggled out of her mother's arms and began to crawl towards him. She stopped a few feet in front of him, and stood on shaking little legs. Eyes wide with excitement, she wobbled her way towards the big blue dragon. Her mother squealed with excitement.

"Her first actual steps!" Twilight squealed. Blaze lowered his head and got on his hands and knees, his chin touching the sand. Skyla, almost flinging herself, hugged the front of Blaze's nose and snuggled up to it. Blaze looked to the royal family and blushed, unsure what to do. All three of them giggled.

"Well, if you wouldn't mind taking up babysitting again," Cadence said, "we could use all the help we can get keeping her out of trouble."

"It's been ages since I've done any babysitting," Blaze said, crossing his eyes to look at Skyla. "But I haven't forgotten a single trick." Skyla laughed at the goofy look of her giant friend, and the surrounding ponies laughed at her cuteness.

"HEY!" a shrill voice cried out. "Don't laugh without us!" All heads turned to see Pinkie Pie and Rarity being wheeled over on their gurneys by their nurses. Rarity was awake and smiling weakly, her eye shadow faded and her hair in a mess.

"Rarity! You're okay!" Spike cried and ran over to her. She looked down to the little purple dragon and lowered her hoof, smiling.

"Hello, little Spikey Wikey," she said softly. Spike gently took her hoof in both of his hands, a tear coming to his eye.

"Don't tell me I missed out on the fun stuff!" Pinkie slightly whined. Blaze chuckled, gently blew Sklya back to her parents by exhaling through his nostrils, and stood up.

"Always with the bright things in mind, Pinkie," he mused. "That's what I admire about you." Pinkie smiled widely. Blaze smiled back. He felt someone tapping his foot and looked down. It was Fluttershy.

"Excuse me, Blaze," she said in her usual soft voice, "but where's Chrysalis?" All eyes turned towards the dragon, who cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I extracted the love that Chrysalis had stolen," he said slowly. "And upon doing so, there was a... slight side effect."

"What kinda side effect is yous talkin'?" one of the Changelings asked.

Blaze inhaled through his teeth. "How to explain this?" he muttered. "When you return home, you will find Chrysalis there. She is... not the same as she was."

"Get on with it!" another Changeling shouted. The dragon turned and glared at him. The one who spoke as well as the surrounding Changelings shrunk in fear.

"The queen has become that which her name implies," he said. "A chrysalis; a cocoon. She is very well alive, but she... has basically reverted back to an infant." A murmur erupted throughout the crowd, and Blaze held up a hand to silence them.

"She will continue to be your queen, but you have a choice to make, all of you," he said, his voice echoing across the sand. "You can either raise her and help her grow to what she was... or you can start anew. Teach her the way of love and kindness. The way of which," he said, spreading his arms wide, gesturing to the mass, "you have learned today. Many of you have helped those who were not your own species today. Not your own blood. Many of you made new friends." He looked to a male Changeling standing particularly close to a female pony. He raised a hand, gesturing to them. "Some have formed bonds even stronger than normal friendship," he said, smiling. The two blushed as all eyes looked to them. "And upon forming those bonds," Blaze continued, looking closer at the Changeling, "you have begun your own metamorphosis." The Changeling looked down at his feet, and then at his wings. His jaw dropped. His insect-like wings had change to become regular Pegasus wings! He fluttered them happily and looked at his partner, who smiled back at him.

"So which path will you choose?" the dragon asked, addressing the Changelings in a strong voice. "The old... or the new?" The Changelings looked amongst each other, unsure of how to respond. "Do not rush into this thoughtlessly," Blaze said. "Please, take the time you need. Return to your home, if you must, and vote on the action. We will await your verdict. But now, we must escort the wounded home for treatment." With that, he raised his hands and brought them together, creating another force field bubble. The majority of the Changeling masses fluttered to their own side of the field. One decided to stay behind; the one with new wings. Blaze smiled at him, not needing to say anything, and he smiled back.

Blaze turned to look at the rest of them. "Good luck to you all," he said as the force field slid underneath all the ponies and their medical equipment, lifting them off the ground. "May you choose the path that is best for your kind." The bubble floated away, and the ponies and Changelings waved at each other in farewell. The Changelings then turned to the ocean and took flight, heading home to make a choice... and to raise a queen.