The next morning was when everypony was heading back to Ponyville on the train. Echo looked very drowsy that morning, and often covered her head with her wing when she was in the sun. Twilight was sure to give the group a quick reminder not to be too loud around the nocturnal mare, as it would stress her out even more than being out in the daylight.

It wasn't very surprising that she fell asleep on the train.

Pharynx was sitting next to her window seat, making sure the blind were down so she was shaded from the bright morning sun. He had a wing over her sleeping form as extra coverage, taking care not to wake her up. He blushed and smiled at her peaceful face and quiet snoring. He nearly panicked when he noticed Hemlock giving him a side-eye, waving in nervous politeness. The red filly huffed and looked back out her window.

"That's actually a good thing coming from Hemlock," Starlight whispered from the row in front. "First time we met her, she conjured a hemlock tree to grab us. Whatever was done to her in the Nightmare Orphanage had caused her a lasting aggressive temper."

Pharynx cringed and glanced back at the brooding, scarred filly. He whispered back, "Skimmer and Hairstreak told us that Echo's right-hand filly had a blazing temper. They only told us her name was Hemlock. We didn't know who Hemlock was until Echo herself pointed her out."

Starlight hummed and looked down at the sleeping Bat alicorn. "She was a mother to the orphans, that's for sure."

Pharynx led the half-asleep mare off of the train when they stopped in Ponyville. Twilight, her friends, and Thorax went to the purple alicorn's castle. Hemlock and the Cutie Mark Crusaders returned to their homes and the Ponyville orphanage respectively. Two exhausted-looking Bat guards were at the entrance to the Everfree Forest. Pharynx led the Bat princess to them, her head resting against his withers. (He tried not to think about one of her soft, leathery wings pressed against his side.)

"Princess Echo," one of the guards sighed in relief. "Thank goodness you're safe. Princess Luna told us of the incident in the Crystal Empire. And I'm guessing you were the other victim of said incident," he added to the Changeling.

"Yeah; the name's Pharynx," he nodded. "Your princess is still a little tired, so I'll help you lead her back. She seems a lot bigger than you two, and you two are just as tired as she is."

The guards nodded with a look of relief. "Thank you, Pharynx," the other guard smiled. "Follow us."

The guards led Pharynx, half-carrying the Bat princess, down the path in the Everfree Forest. They ended at the large, dark-colored Bat Palace, where many more guards were waiting. The guards who led him there told the others of the situation, and they allowed them inside. Pharynx gave a few of the crystal berries he and Echo gathered to the royal gardener, saying that he should keep an especially close eye on any plants that grow from them. The gardener agreed, looking excited about the new plants that might grow.

The guards who led him there, who he now knew as Nocturne and Requiem, led him to the princess' bedroom. It wasn't nearly as lavish as Pharynx expected. It had a midnight purple carpet along the floor, reddish-purple drapes on the windows, a fur-lined cape hung on the wall, and thin silver vein designs along the midnight blue walls.

Pharynx gently brought Echo to the large bed, using his magic. He also removed her leg-rings and crown, stacking them on the painted black side-table. The Bat princess drifted off the second she was under the dark red covers. He chuckled watching her nestle in.

"Here's hoping you'll be more awake next time I see you," he murmured as he left the bedroom. He nodded to Nocturne and Requiem when he got back to the courtyard to tell them all is well. They both sighed in relief and bid him goodbye as he flew back to Ponyville.

Thorax was waiting back at Twilight's castle as Pharynx got back. "So, how did it go with Echo?"

That tone and question wasn't what the teal Changeling wanted to hear from his brother. He laid back his ears as he growled, "She was more than half-asleep before we got to Ponyville. There wasn't much to do besides get her home and put her to bed."

Thorax's ears flopped. "Oh well. Better luck next time, I guess. At least I found enough time to tell Starlight Glimmer about the whole thing while you were tucking in your princess. Don't worry, I made her promise to keep it secret. Got a hint on your next interaction?"

"It's an experiment in growing plants," he quipped, ears tilting back. "We'll update each other about that in two moons at the earliest. Nothing about anything else."

The larger Changeling shrugged. "Suit yourself. Still, whenever you have any free time from training new recruits to defend the Hive, you might as well see how you can 'move things along,' per se. And don't forget, your big younger brother is always there to give you some advice." Thorax winked.

Pharynx deadpanned. "And what do you know about that kind of love?"

Thorax stopped as his brother rolled his eyes and took off. He snapped out of it and flew after him. "Alright, alright! Touché on that! Just wait for me!"

Starlight chuckled as she and Spike watched the two Changeling brothers fly off. "Wow. Wonder what's gotten Thorax's brother all bent out of shape," the young dragon wondered.

Starlight shrugged, "No clue. Might as well get back to the castle. See what's happened since the whole issue of Flurry Heart's little tantrum." And ever since Pharynx suddenly started crushing on Echo. I hope Hemlock will be able to keep from stringing him by the wings when that comes out.