Queen Chrysalis did not land safely.

Immediately, the fight went out of the remaining vermin. Without their leaders, they lost heart. Rainbow Dash pointed a blunt hoof. "Into the basement, all of you. One false move while you're down there and we'll do to you exactly what you planned for us!"

She and Applejack shepherded them down there. "We'll stay here an' guard 'em while y'all go an' rescue everypony else," Applejack told Twilight.

Twilight led Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy and all the children outside. They walked past the lifeless carcass of Queen Chrysalis and headed for Twilight's castle.

When they got inside, the castle was deserted. But there were cocoons hanging on the walls everywhere.

They walked down the hall. "Hello?" Twilight called.

"Twilight? Is that you?" said a voice from inside a spare bedroom.

Twilight went and peered through the keyhole. She saw Starlight and Ocellus inside. "Yep, it's me. You don't have to worry anymore. Chrysalis and Ironbeak are dead."

She let them out. Then the friends started cutting down all the cocoons and setting everypony free.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Wish I knew what was gonna happen to us," Deadnose said.

"I think we're safe," said Mangiz. "These ponies are not killers."

"Huh, if we'd been captured by Chrysalis or Ironbeak it would have been a different story, mate," said Vitch.

The basement door opened. Twilight stood at the top of the stairs. "Attention, all of you. Listen to me!"

Murmuring died away as the vermin listened to hear what was in store.

"Your leaders are gone. You are defeated," Twilight said. "We do not make total war upon you because we are not killers. However, that would not be the case a second time. Remember that."

A timid paw showed in the ranks. It was Vitch. "Then we're not to be sentenced to death?" he asked anxiously.

Twilight held her breath a moment before speaking. "No."

There was an audible sigh of relief from the prisoners.

Vitch could not resist a second question.

"What will happen to us?"

Applejack appeared beside Twilight. "Right. Listen up, y'all. Ah'll only say this once. You will each swear an oath that you will never again carry a weapon or come near Equestria, though if'n Ah had mah way none o' y'all woulda got outta here alive. Be that as it may, Twilight here has said that y'all should be spared, so ya have her to thank fer yer lucky escape. Stryk Redkite will escort y'all out o' town."

The prisoners were led outside. Stryk was waiting out there. She clacked her beak threateningly.

"Count o' ten to be on yer way," said Applejack. "Them that stays here gits buried here."

Before she got to three, the vermin were already headed for the Everfree Forest, with Stryk chasing them. "Kreegah! Stryk Redkite fly!"

"Remember our promise, Stryk," Twilight called after her. "Let them leave our country peacefully."

Fluttershy stood by Twilight. They watched Stryk chase their enemies away. "When I was a filly, I could never make a kite that flew properly," Fluttershy joked. "Funny how you learn as you get older."

THE END