A New Day

Through Emerald's Eyes

"Lucky Lass ran into Ponyville, holding the orb up high. The ponies didn't know why, but the changelings took one look at her and ran away.

  They ran because they could taste her vengeful emotions. They believed she was going to wipe them out. Princess Celestia came to Ponyville as the last of them disappeared to the forest.

  She knighted Lucky Lass and the Ponyville citizens gave her a statue. The ruling queens at the time were told by these changelings that the Sun Queen stole it and threatened to destroy them."

  A few red shells moved to the back of the group.

"Ever since then we hid from ponies, letting them believe we killed ourselves off. They rid every evidence of our existence to keep themselves from attacking each other.

  The Sun Queen wanted to be sure we were gone. We know it as the Great Burning. Any hope for peace was lost, without the orb we couldn't repair our home.

  We lived in caves because of her, waiting. Trying to locate the orb. That was the sole purpose of the Queen's Circle. They lost interest in the orb, playing it off as a legend.

  But now, peace is possible. I have befriended the element magic, laughter and the Moon Queen. The other elements are sure to follow if Twilight Sparkle gives us her word of protection."

  All eyes turned to Twilight, some buzzed threateningly. Sunny nudged her side.

"Oh, uh.......I give you my word?"

"We can be friends with ponies once again, even after Queen Marigold's spell. Flutterwing please come up."

  The young princess came up to my side.

"Princess Flutterwing of pink, one of the two lings with the old traits. Her father has no holes in his mane, tail, hooves, or wings.

  Flutterwing has no holes except for two. She has the wings of the old queen. This means the spell is fading, we will soon be like the ponies in the olden days."

  Twilight spoke up.

"Emerald, this doesn't make any sense. If the parent and daughter share the same traits, then it's only their descendents that will receive these traits."

"I knew you would say that, Twilight. Flutterwing is the direct decedent of Queen Marigold, the spell is reversible. All we need is the spell book and the orb."

  Twilight thought for a moment.

"Where is the book?"

"In the one place no changeling would go, Queen Ruby's hive."

  Everyling winced, half of the red shelled fainted.

"We will worry tomorrow about how the book will be retrieved. Today we celebrate your arrival. Welcome to Ponyville, welcome to your hive."

"Did somepony say celebrate!"

  Out of nowhere, the element laughter jumped from the crowd. She quickly pulled a rope with the other element bearers tied to it. Not again.

  Most of them didn't know what to think, but after seeing my approval they broke into dance and play. I took the chance to speak with Twilight alone.

  I grabbed her around her waist and flew up to the crystal throne room. After landing I trotted to the door and went in, Twilight followed.

"Twilight can you ensure that Celestia will not harm me."

"Well..."

"I'll take that as a no."

  I sat down on the green crystal throne. It was extremely soft.

"Can I trust your word?"

"My word?"

"Your word of protection. I want to tell Celestia. I wanted to tell her for years about what I am. But I wanted to have somepony to be there in case she rejects it. And......"

  Twilight conjured some chocolate on a plate and placed it on the ground.

"Emerald, as long as you promise to protect us, you have my word."

"Thank you, Twilight."

  I gave her the biggest hug I ever gave. And I cried. She pushed me away after a moment, smiling. I smiled back.

"I think I should go change their colors now."

  Everyling was excited to be rid of their original colors. Some even continuously thanked me for a minute or two. All in all this night was great, I was told that two of them placed a cloaking shield around the house to hide anyling caught outside without a disguise.

  I gave them the job to keep this up. The others would continue their jobs here in my hive. My children would, of course, watch over them and lead them.

  I went down the spiral towards the kitchen, noling was going to stop me from creating the best meal they ever had. Except Onyx.

"My Queen! You don't have to cook, I am perfectly capable of cooking for the entire hive."

"Onyx, I'm not cooking alone. You are to help me."

  We spent a good two hours preparing and fixing dinner. When we were almost done with the giant pot of soup, this thing was as big as me!

  I sent a letter to Princess Luna, inviting her to dinner. She would help my newest broodlings trust ponies more. While Onyx stirred the soup, a ling came inside the room and bowed to me.

"My Queen, may I speak to you?"

"You already are, but go ahead."

"I am from your mother's hive. Do you wish to know more?"

  Mother?

"Yes, please."

"Your mother, Chrysalis, is currently hiding within Silverwing's cave. I was to send a message to you."

  His eyes changed to those double-ringed ones that had no mercy in them when my daughter disappeared. But now they were filled with fear and sadness.

"Emmy."

  It was mother. Speaking through her own.

"Emmy, I am sorry for all that I have done to you. My dear child, I do not trust Sliver any longer. Her soldiers have been drawing closer and closer to us.

  I fear she will turn on us and leave us to die at the hooves of her hive. Emmy, Cicada left me. I know it is a shock to know your daughter is alive, but-"

"Mother of mine, I know. She is here with me. What happened mother? How did you avoid the Helix code?"

"Child of mine, there is always a way around it. The Queen's Circle watched over her execution, but the didn't see the fault in the ling they saw die.

  It was her old skin, when she shed into adult hood. They thought she was still a filly."

"So you destroyed a dead skin?"

"Yes, my child. I am the first queen to leave the Queen's Circle. I would not allow my grand-daughter to be harmed by those monsters."

"Mother, you spared my Cicada?"

"Yes I did."

  This made no sense what-so-ever. Nothing could fix my mind around this.

"Excuse me, Queen?"

  Onyx was standing in front of me. Almost nothing could get him away from a stove, fire pit, or mixing bowel.

"Yes, Onyx?"

"Chrysalis is telling the truth."

"What do you mean?"

"Well......she had....to abandon me....and she told me....before I was left alone....to go find you. To...tell you.....Cicada was still.....alive."

"Are you saying that you were supposed to be the messenger?"

"Yes my, Queen. Please don't hurt me."

"I will not hurt you. Onyx you may go join the others, I need to speak to my mother."

  He bowed and backed out of the kitchen going to the dining hall.

"You took in a weakling?"

  I turned to the ling my mother spoke through.

"Yes. Unlike those other queens, I do not care for strength. As long as they have warrior spirit, they are welcome here."

"Emmy, I hate to ask, especially after all that I have done. My brood is down to three dozen, Silver is cutting our love supply to aid her soldier for battle, and we cannot survive here for much longer.

  My child, I ask you if you will aid us."