Ebony and Ivory: Next Generation.

The main changeling  hive was a pitch black citadel. Tall towers of ebony and obsidian sprouted from its massive walls. Being in the middle of the savage lands it was almost impenetrable. Most armies could barely get through the savage wilderness by the time they reach the cities impressive defences. Many credit this to the changelings not being wiped out completely a long time ago. Thankfully for the brothers if you know the way and had the right equipment the trek was not nearly as unbearable. They rode on Chokipos, raptor like animals with long beaks and and large claws. Horses could never make the journey on account of there being very little grass to eat. Chokipos instead use their massive claws to dig into the ground and eat whatever they can find. Changelings are the only people to have discovered how to tame these beasts. It took the pair weeks to return to their home and not soon enough apparently. They were able to contact Queen Chrysalis of their findings shortly after leaving the Griffon capital thanks to one of the sub-hives spread across the world. Everything was fine at first until the two were flagged down by a harvester changeling with orders from the Queen. They were simple orders but made their blood chill. “Get home, now.” That was over a week ago. Now with their home in sight they spurred their Chokipos even further pushing them to their limits fearful of what news she had.

“Halt who goes there!” A voice called down to them as they reached the massive gates.

“What’s left of the invasion army! Surrender now and we will spare some of you!” Ivory called back. Ebony chuckled at his brother’s joke as they could hear a commotion from above them.

“Open the gates Prince Ivory and Prince Ebony have returned!” The voice echoed and the massive gates parted for the two. As the riders passed through the archway they were greeted by soldiers in full armor bowing to them as they passed. Dismounting from their Chokipos and handing the reins to one of the soldiers they were met by captain Thorn an old friend.

“Glad to see you two. My apologies but Queen Chrysalis has requested us to escort you to the castle as quickly as possible so if you’ll follow us.” He said as a troop of guards flanked them. The two nodded  and followed their lead. As they walked down the bustling main street of the city citizens stopped what they were doing to greet them. Most bowed, some of the more personal ones waved and said hi. The people were not always this kind to the adopted princes. When Queen Chrysalis first adopted the two after finding out that she was incapable of having children there was large outcry. But the two strangers persisted winning over the hearts of their people and earning the title of Prince of the Changelings.

“Thank you Thorne, where is our mother?” Ebony asked as they reached the castle.

“At the war room meeting with your aunts and other generals.” He responded. Thorn shifted his eyes back and forth before moving closer to him. “Ebony what is going on? Are we in danger?” He whispered into his ear making sure no one could hear them. “Your mother and Aunts have been eerily quiet in the hive mind for the past few weeks what the hell is happening?” He asked trying his best to not look scared.

Ebony put his hands on Thorn’s shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze. “Hopefully something we can prevent.” He said before letting go and disappearing through the castle doors with Ivory right beside him. Thorn hoped that Ebony was right.

The made their way through the massive castle noting the surprising lack of guards. Their mother clearly didn’t want anything getting out. Descending into the castle’s depths they entered the war room. It was a large circular room with a various maps in the center each on circular tables. There was a large basic map of the world with multiple pins in it in the middle. With more detailed three dimensional maps around it of various areas and cities. The Walls were lined with books upon books. Ancient texts of historical battles, treaties, civilizations both old and new, histories both ancient and recent. Standing around the table was their mother, Chrysalis, along with their four aunts: Papilia, Alexandrae, Arthemis and Priamus.

“There you two are.” Said Chrysalis hugging them both and giving them each a lick on the cheek. “Eugh, you two couldn’t wash your faces before coming here?” She said spitting out the disgusting taste of her unwashed faces.

“I thought you wanted us here in a hurry?” Ivory said giving her a hug and lick of his own.

“It would have taken you like 10 seconds.” She said rolling her eyes as Ivory walked over to his Aunts.

“Every second counts mom.” Ebony said wrapping her in a hug and giving her a lick from behind.

“Well since you wasted no time even for cleanliness. Let’s get to business.” Chrysalis said handing them a newspaper. In big black letters the headline read:

PRINCE PANDEMONIUM TO MARRY HARMONY, DAUGHTER OF RAINBOW DASH AND FLUTTERSHY.

Below that was a press photo of the happy couple standing together.

“Well I think we found were they’re gonna strike.” Ivory said as Ebony continued to read the article.

“It says that they’re gonna get married in Cantererlot in five weeks. This was published two weeks ago!” Ebony shouted throwing down the paper.

“What are you yelling about I told you to get home.” Chyrsalis said.

“It’ll take us two weeks to get to Canterlot with any kind of sizeable force so we’ll have a week to weed them out at best.” Alexandrae said leaning on the large table.

“That’s if we could get a force of any kind in. Pretty sure they’re gonna be looking for changelings.” Ivory added.

“If that’s the case how do you know for sure that they will even show up. You said that a little more half of their forces will be changelings.” Arthemis mentioned.

“I think that’s the point. They want this to be public spectacle. A changeling killing an Element of Harmony at a wedding. We’ve been living in relative peace since the failed invasion but something like that will surely spark full out war. Probably not just with Equestria.” Ebony said.

“So how would they get such a large group of Changelings back into Canterlot? No doubt they’re gonna have checkpoints at all public gateways.” Papilia asked.

“Null stones?” Ivory suggested.

“Fifty-five of them? I highly doubt that unless this was a plan 50 years in the making.” Chrysalis retorted.

“You saw what kind of money they were throwing around. Could have bought them.” Ebony suggested.

“Fifty-five null stones? Somebody really wants them dead.” Chrysalis commented.

“More like they really want us dead.” Alexandrae muttered.

“Assuming that they don’t have that money. How would they get a large amount of changelings into Canterlot?” Ebony asked.

“The caves.” Chrysalis responded. Beginning to chew on the nail on her thumb. .

“The ones beneath canterlot?” Priamus asked. Finally working the courage to speak up.

“The very ones. They are large dark and very hard to patrol effectively.” She responded.

“Okay so we know where they might get through if they don’t have null stones. So that leaves us. How do we get through them?” Asked Alexandrae.

“How many null stones do we have?” Ebony asked stroking his chin.

“Currently? Twenty-five. We had to use a large amount of them getting some harvesters. Into Minotaur territory.” Alexandrae responded. Chrysalis twisted her face in disgust.

“Eugh Minotaurs there love for war and pillage tastes awful.” She said.

“True but there is a lot of it.” Arthemis quipped.

“Can we get back to the matter at hand?” Ebony suggested.

“Right sorry dear. Were you going to say something?” Chrysalis responded turning her attention to her son.

“Well first I’m not too worried about getting into Canterlot. I’m worried about getting out without being captured by the Equestrians.” Ebony said.

“Well if we explain everything to them, surely they’d let us go. We are doing this to protect the Elements of Harmony.” Papilia asked.

“Please the Equestrians won’t believe a word we say if we get caught. They’ll think were with the attackers and this is all an elaborate ploy.” Alexandrae retorted scrunching her nose in disdain.

“Okay I have a question. Why don’t we just send a letter warning them?” Priamus asked.

“Multiple. One they probably won’t believe us. Second even if they did I wouldn’t put it past these guys to put a mole in the forces to lie and say we hired the attack. Another thing is that say all that doesn’t happen and they both believe us and don’t think we had anything to do with it we would still be back where we started with no information. Whoever these guys are they have a vendetta against our Hive we need to act to ensure that they don’t succeed.” Ivory responded.

“Oh.. okay.” Responded Priamus taking a step back from the table.

“I didn’t mean to dishearten you just pointing stuff out.” Ivory said affectionately.

“Oh it’s fine. I don’t know what I’m doing here anyway. I’m not very good at this logistical stuff.” She responded smiling sheepishly.

“Nonsense you’re the sweet little angel on our shoulders keeping us in line. You and Papilia of course.” Chrysalis said reassuringly putting her arms around both their shoulders. Making Priamus feel a little better but not quite stepping back up to the plate.

“Right, well back to the task at hand how do we get out of there?” Ebony asked stroking his chin-line.

“I actually think I have an idea.” Chrysalis said walking to the head of the table. “I have been racking my brain for a solution and I think I have a solution, but I wanted to wait and hear everyone’s thoughts.” She continued. “Clearly whoever these people are they’re not afraid to attack Equestria and perhaps even have their own plans for them and as the old saying goes “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” She said a cheeky smile forming on her face. “I say we use their public spectacle against them. Your right if we attack them in secret before the wedding we would have a problem getting our troops out when things inevitably get loud.” Pursing her lips to conceal her devious smile. “So I say we let the wedding go according to plan monitoring their movements and just as they strike we stop them.” She now began walking around them. “Now instead of being framed for the attack we come out as heroes. Who saved the Elements of Harmony. I highly doubt the Equestrians couldn’t believe us then.” She finished returning to the head of the table.

“So you're suggesting an alliance with the Equestrians?” Alexandrae said raising her eyebrows.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures. Enemy of my enemy… blah blah all that stuff.” She retorted.

“Okay so now we have the added difficulty of getting 20 strangers near them at a wedding.” Ivory pointed out. “Unless we impersonate them in which case I don’t think they will take too kindly to that even if we do save them.”

“We don’t need to get 20 of them near them only three. You, me and Ebony of course.” She said.

“Because dear this going to go from rescue operation to diplomacy real quick and we need someone that can be diplomatic. Which you two aren’t.” Chrysalis deadpanned.

“Hey we know Ebony can’t...” Being interrupted by a sharp “Hey” from Ebony. “But I can be diplomatic.” Ivory retorted.

“Maybe in some situations but not this one. Besides you’d probably offend Celestia by mentioning something about her body, especially her breasts.” She responded. Prompting Ivory and Ebony to roll their eyes.

“Seriously I do not understand their obsession with the body. I mean you mention the word tit around them and they get all flabbergasted. Makes no sense.” Ivory muttered. “I mean I don’t get why they get offended about complimenting certain aspects of the body but not others.” Ebony nodded his head in agreement. “The body is beautiful they should appreciate it more.”

“By the way why did you mention her breasts specifically?” Ebony asked.

“Oh by the mothers they’re works of art. Her whole body is. Both her and Luna. To be honest I wonder how open their marriage is. I wouldn’t mind taking a roll with her. Maybe even Discord.” She said pensively.

“Chrysalis, really?” Arthemis scolded.

“What? She’s a knockout.” Chrysalis responded Arthemis only rolled her eyes in response. “Anyway back at the task at hand. It will be us three near them at all times when they strike you two know what to do.” She said

“Drop them?” Ebony asked smirking fiendishly.

“Like a couple of badasses.” He said fistbumping his brother with a confident smirk.

Chrysalis giggled at her sons cocky attitudes. “Alright go wash and rest up we leave early in the morning.” She said. “Alexandrae can you get everything ready?” She asked.

“Of course sister.” She replied with a slight salute. As everyone adjourned to prepare for the next two weeks events. Unknowing what their actions will mean for the world and their hive.