Family Affairs

"So, are you clear on what your mission is?" the changeling queen, her mother, stood before her. Her sharp green eyes gave a piercing gaze to her daughter.

The young changeling was given all the information - pictures, names, and more importantly, what she has to do.

"Yes, your highness, Infiltrate Equestria. Charm my way into those foolish ponies' society. Then, strike. I shall not fail you.... mother." she said, looking back into her mother's eyes.

"You know not to call me that, Shade. I am your queen, just like I am to all my changeling subjects." Chrysalis lectured, "The fact that you are my daughter does not change that fact."

She nodded, hiding her sorrow. She had always wished for her mother to be more affectionate to her. She walked away slowly, saying nothing more.

As she walked out of the changeling hive, preparing to depart for Equestria, two other changelings appeared to see her off. Her two sisters, Cocoon and Siren, had come to say goodbye.

"So, mother has sent you off on an important mission, huh?" Siren asked, her emerald eyes glinting, imagining the excitement that would come from leaving the hive.

"Yeah..." Shade replied.

"That's no surprise. Every changeling in every hive knows how amazing your abilities of shape shifting and deception are." Cocoon cheered, giving her big sister an enormous hug, "You can suck the love energy out of a stupid pony without them even noticing it was gone, and then stab them in the neck without them even noticing they're bleeding."

"It's not that good...." she answered modestly.

"Oh, it is. I remember that time you changed into mother and fooled every changeling in the hive!" Siren laughed, "And that time you pretended to be a rock! I couldn't believe that any changeling could ever do that!"

It was true that Shade was master of disguise - if she imagined it, she could transform into it, even better than the adults. She discovered her talent for it after the attack, when Chrysalis was overburdened with business and military affairs. It made every changeling in the hive proud of her, especially her mother. However, she was still mostly ignored around the hive, as if she was just another changeling.

"And let's not forget that time she changed into you, Siren!" Cocoon started to giggle, "She made you look like such a fool!"

Siren rolled her eyes and sighed, "At least come home alive. We'll always be here for you. Contact the hive any time you can, I'll make sure to get your message ASAP."

Shade smiled at the supporting words of her younger sisters, savouring the last time the three of them would be together for a long time.

"You know I must come home successful, Siren. I'm expected to." Shade looked down.

"And then..." Shade thought, "Then maybe she will pay attention to me..."

"But if you do fail - which I highly doubt - don't feel as if you must live in exile for the rest of your life." Siren put her hoof on her sister's head, comforting her with soothing words.

"Yeah sis, Siren and I will always be there for you, no matter what!" Cocoon happily supported Shade.

Shade smiled and, before tears could fall, she left, on the long road to Equestria. Her sisters waved happily, watching Shade as she disappeared into the wilderness of the Dark Lands.

~~//~~

As Shade walked, she admired the scenery of the Dark Lands. The dark sky, the gloomy mist, the pools of green slime and disturbing mutated flora all felt familiar to her. She had heard from the briefing that Equestria was a much different place, full of grass and trees and happy clouds and the sky changed, depending on the time. Animals lived in the wilderness, and tall buildings lined the paths. The thought of a world like that scared Shade.

How could such unrefined creatures live in such a perfect world?

She dismissed the thought as she started stumbling upon the first sign that Equestria was ahead - the sight of light from a glowing ball in the sky known as the sun. The sky changed from black to a lustrous purple, mystifying Shade, as she decided it would be the perfect time to set up a guise. She knew of her mother's failed strike on Canterlot in the events of a royal wedding - she decided it would definitely not be best to transform into the ponies that her mother had shown her as examples. She used her magic and imagined a pony to the best of her ability, from the pictures. She chose to transform into something young, instead of an adult, as she found that having to seduce a pony just sounded so vile that the bile in her stomach rose into her mouth. She would find another way to trick ponies, besides, a way which she could acquire love energy as well without romance, just fit in and then call in the changeling hoard at the most suitable time. She changed into the form of a young filly, with a smoky grey coat, fluffy aqua mane and tiny wings. Her flank was blank, and she was rather slender and tall. She checked how her disguise looked with her rose coloured eyes. She believed that it was fine enough, but she wouldn't know until a pony saw her. She sighed in disgust. She felt as if  she became a monster.

She was finally in Equestria. She felt guilty to be in the majesty of such a beautiful world, one which should not belong to ponies, in her mind. She saw a small town in the distance, and a city made of clouds. And extremely far away, looking like a dot from her perspective, was Canterlot, though she could not identify it from the perspective she was at. The queen told her that she should go there, as that was where the princesses lived. Conquering Canterlot would mean conquering Equestria, and that would bring more land and slaves for the changeling empire. She headed towards the buildings, knowing that where there were buildings, there would be ponies, from the knowledge that Chrysalis had given her.

~~//~~

After a while of walking, she started to become quite tired. She had no idea how long she had been walking, and her hooves were killing her. Shade rested beside a young lush tree with leaves more radiant than any leaves that she'd seen in the Dark Lands. This was her first time seeing, or relaxing near, a real tree. There were no trees in the Dark Lands, and she had never left the Dark Lands before then. When the changeling assault occurred, she was extremely young, and the queen refused for her to participate. This mission made her extremely excited, but also sent a shiver up her spine. Could she really fulfil her role?  She dismissed these thoughts as she lay back and her eyes fluttered shut, falling asleep slowly.

She woke up from her nap refreshed and delighted, but something hit her nose. A small raindrop landed on her nose and trickled down her face. It was cold, wet, and not that delightful to Shade. It fell down from the sky and she was in awe of how it twinkled and shimmered, however still annoying her to no end. Then, something noticed her.

A pony. A pegasus mare, in a matter of fact.

"What are you doing out of your house at this time of night? Young fillies are supposed to be in bed!" The voice of the mare

made her look up.

"What?" Shade asked.

"Why are you out in the middle of the night?" she asked.

Shade replied, "... where am I supposed to be then?"

"In a house, idiot. Where else? Now go home to your mother and father." she lectured.

"If only I could...." Shade thought, then lied, ".... I don't have those. My mother took care of me alone. One day I saw her, the next day.... I don't know what happened. "

"You don't have a family? Well then, come with me. I'll take you to the Cloudsdale orphanage. A young pegasus filly like yourself is sure to be welcome there." the mare smiled, putting Shade on her back and flying towards the city in the sky, "What is your name, little filly?"

"Name?" Shade asked, "Shade, ma'am."

"What a lovely name." the mare smiled at her happily.

Shade gave a smile back, thinking, "This plan is going to be perfect. I will not fail for my race. Nothing will ever change that."

"Nothing."