For the Hive

by law abiding pony

Rating: teen
Tags: Original Character, Adventure, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Rainbow Dash, Changelings
Length: 152161

Changeling Queen Twilight Sparkle delves into her race's past, and finds far more than she expected.

Having fully embraced her new changeling heritage, Twilight Sparkle turns to the past to learn more about her people. A difficult task, given that every other queen cares next to nothing about it.

What she finds will shed unwanted light on a secret better left forgotten.

Editor in Chief: ABitterPill

Coverart: Tulip

Published 2013-12-31 00:20:04 UTC
Last updated 2014-08-16 17:04:22 UTC

2: A Bug's Life

The day following the Summit saw the Phoenix bursting with activity. Everywhere Twilight went, her children were going about their daily routine of running the ship. Except now, forty of them were performing the final checks for the expedition.

Twilight was in the middle of personally performing maintenance on one of the larger transports when a caretaker named Gentle Touch pinged her over the hive mind.

Twilight removed herself from the engine compartment and silently asked the maintenance staff to have someone take over for her.

Twilight admitted.

The Phoenix’s twin hatcheries were a small affair, numbering only a hundred incubators each. Twilight passed the first hatchery with a warm smile at the sight of her eggs and the purple drones tending to them. Many of them were the size of watermelons and would hatch soon. It’ll feel good to finally start laying more often again. Everything will start clicking in place in a month. For every egg I lay, one will hatch, a nymph will form their chrysalis, and a chrysalis will hatch. Even with general development time variation, the hive can ride this cycle all the way up to thirty five hundred without missing a beat!

The prospect of it all was far too exciting for her to hide her enthusiasm. Luckily, the current eggs should hatch before I’m done filling the second hatchery, so I can keep laying for over two weeks! I could lay indefinitely if I halve my production rate. A wandering thought doused some of her burgeoning joy. Wait… that would mean I wouldn’t have any time when I could enjoy some wine or cider. Note to self: figure out how to prevent egg alcohol syndrome… aside from the obvious.

The snaking tubes and wires abruptly ended halfway through the chamber, where the two separate hatchery machines met. Twilight found a trio of lavender drones running tests on some pipework for the inactive incubator. “Gentle Touch, is it ready?”

Gentle jumped at the question. “Y-yes, my queen. We just fixed the last of the faulty pipes, and I have what you asked for right here.” She fished around in her saddlebags to produce a clipboard. “Here are the projected job needs in three years.” As she spoke, the closest incubators were filling with a lavender solution.

Twilight scanned the offered paperwork. “Excellent. Let’s get started right away; I’ve wanted to lay for over a week now.”

A caretaker ran over carrying a pair of large cushions. Twilight took the larger cushion for herself, and over the course of two minutes, she laid twenty eggs. The lavender queen relaxed on her cushion while the caretakers busied themselves with placing the fresh eggs. Twilight idly rubbed her now much thinner and lighter abdomen. She mentally prepared herself to start producing more eggs. “Next time, girls, please make sure the system is actually ready before you give me the go ahead to start ovipositing again.” I know I can hold onto forty for several months, if need be, but it’s very uncomfortable to feel that bloated.

The idea of throwing eggs away for her convenience never crossed Twilight’s mind. Gentle Touch finished her tasks before bowing an apology. “So sorry, my queen. It was entirely my fault.”

“No real harm done,” Twilight replied reassuringly. “Is the alchemy ready?”

“Yes, my queen.”

Twilight stood up while giving herself a mental note to wash herself before departing for the Ebony Castle. “Perfect. Now I want to hurry up and get the alchemy done before I leave for the expedition.” Gentle Touch prepared to relay all of her queen’s instructions to the staff manning the control room. Twilight idly stared at the filled incubators while mental calculations swirled in her head. “I want ten CCs of cordaline, seven and a half of vertain, twenty of zerrial…” Twilight rattled off over thirty additional chemicals as a group of caretakers from the first hatchery arrived to help.

Twilight brooded while the caretakers carried out her orders. That should do it for strain EP-59, but I need to make sure it works before committing.

The drone in question jumped at the sudden address.

Twilight sent the nymph a gentle brush of love upon her mind.

Twilight sent both Pepper and Rich Soil a brush of motherly pride over the hive mind. As long as the strain has levitation and disguises, I call it a success. It’s next to impossible to incorporate natural pony magic into a changeling without sacrificing something in return. I'll have to refine the strain to shore up its changeling magical ability later. Twilight returned to the present to find the gathered caretakers waiting for orders. “Strain EP-59 is a success, mark the records accordingly.”

The group cheered at the news, with one of them running off to follow orders. The rest happily drew chalk arrays on the twenty incubators with painstaking attention to detail. Once every array was checked, rechecked, and then checked five more times, Twilight stood in between the two isles of new eggs with her horn glowing bright pink as she gathered her love reserves. Thin tendrils of love snaked out to each incubator. Upon contact, Twilight tripled her love output to hasten the process. The arrays glowed bright pink as the love passed through them before sinking into the eggs. The lavender solution within the incubators luminesced a pale light as the alchemy took hold and changed the eggs to Twilight’s specifications.

One by one, the hive mind expanded to accommodate them, sending an intense thrill of satisfaction down Twilight’s spine. Once was all said and done, Twilight cut off the flow of love and was left feeling incredibly winded; the act had left her love-starved. Glad I can perform alchemy and give the initial love feeding at the same time.

Twilight collapsed on her cushion with laborious breath, and she was promptly swarmed by her caretakers. A warm chuckle escaped her as the changelings hugged their mother, feeding her with all the love they could produce. Twilight sighed contently as she lost herself in the moment. It was times like these when she was a mother first and a queen second.

The group gossiped and chatted for fifteen minutes until Twilight’s love reserves reached normal levels again. These were the times Twilight truly lived for. Each caretaker’s smile and loving embrace pulled at Twilight’s heart. If only I had the time to just sit down and talk with each of my children.

Gentle Touch let her fellow caretakers talk up a storm and was content to rest her head on Twilight’s forelegs, basking in the warm blanket of her mother’s fur and love. A motherly smile crossed Twilight’s features as she brushed aside Gentle’s mane and kissed her on the forehead. she broadcast throughout the entire ship. Countless words of thanks and declarations to retain that pride answered her back. I think Yumia said it best. It’s good to be the queen.

After a few more minutes, Twilight gave a silent command. The drones begrudgingly released their hold on their mother, and Twilight resumed her posture as queen. “Thank you, everypony. Now, I want all of you to quintuple check the eggs. If there were any complications in the alchemy process, I want them caught early.”

“At once, my queen!” They all responded in unison before dispersing.

Twilight spied a wall mounted clock. Good; I can take a shower and still remain on schedule.

She was just leaving the hatchery when Gentle Touch trotted up beside her. “Begging your pardon, my queen, but there is one other matter I’d like to discuss.”

“So long as you don’t mind walking with me. What is it?”

“It’s about our alchemy stores.” Twilight’s mood dropped instantly. “Zerrial is a very rare mineral, and is exorbitantly expensive when we can find a supplier. When you factor in the rest of the alchemy supplies, we’re burning bits faster than coal. I know you prefer to allow us to choose our gender, but might I suggest having at least one of the eggs be male to be used as a consort later? It would free up a number of other rare compounds for future experiments.”

Twilight hummed as she contemplated the proposal. “That would still take an additional three and a half years before he’d be ready, and double it for his progeny to reach adulthood.” She hoped it was enough of a reason to drop the idea. It would just feel unfaithful to Ratchet.

“True, but EP-59 is not absolutely necessary for us to be farmers,” Gentle countered. “Not to mention we can undergo rebirth to update a drone’s genetics. We just need to rebirth a drone with the latest strain, and he’d be ready to serve as a consort within two months’ time.”

“A fair point…” Twilight conceded. “Let me think it over for a bit, and I’ll get back with you.”

“As you wish, my queen.”

Gentle turned to leave when Twilight called back at her. Twilight knew her well enough to know that Gentle wouldn’t wait around for authorization.

Twilight steeled herself. This is in the best interests of the hive.

A quick shower later, Twilight proceeded to the main portside hangar where three transports waited to ferry forty drones and one queen to the Ebony Castle. Ratchet was muttering to himself when the local hive mind rang out.

With the sea of purple-fur charging to their seats, he almost missed Twilight making her way to the central transport with a spring in her step. he said, forgetting his troubled thoughts for the moment.

Twilight replied before bounding over to kiss him. “I finally got to lay those eggs I’ve been holding for the past week. Gave me some new respect for mammals, carrying a foal for eleven months… yeesh.”

“I can imagine,” Ratchet lied.

“Well come on, we don’t want to hold the schedule up!” Twilight practically shoved Ratchet onto the transport and towards the front where her seat was.

“Um, about that, are you sure I should be going at all? The Home Guard can be very particular about who’s allowed in. I’m not really a part of your hive, remember?”

“Can’t we just say you are?”

He shook his head, trying to convince her before they took off. “No way, each Home Guard drone has the ability to sense anyone around them in a huge radius. They can pick up on the individual’s hive mind connection, and what flavor that connection is.”

“Flavor? That’s an interesting way to put it, but I think I understand… Would you be averse to linking with me directly then? Even with your coat color being different, the HG couldn’t argue that point.”

Ratchet was so intrigued by the comment he didn’t react to Twilight pushing him into a seat or to the transport taking off. “…I’ve never heard of a willing transfer, but I’d like nothing better than to be in your half of the hive mind.”

“Great! I’ll go ahead and ask.”

It was not a question that came to any real surprise, but Cadista had been dreading the day it came. <…I’m loath to give up any of my sons and daughters, but…> I could only handle letting him stay with her because they’re in love.

Twilight’s initial even tone fell into self-admonishment.

Cadista replied hastily before Twilight withdrew. She heaved a heavy sigh.

Twilight took Ratchet’s hooves in her own and prepared her magic. The moment his voice vanished from the Link, he started hyperventilating and started to whimper out of fear. Twilight acted quickly and poured some of her love reserves into him. Ratchet’s wildly unhinged mind latched onto her love and the link between them was established. She held him tightly while rubbing his mane. “It’s okay, you’re back in the Link.”

Ratchet was stunned to realize he was drenched in sweat. “L—let’s never do that again.”

“Agreed.”

Ratchet’s emotional state leveled off by the time the transports touched down on the ground level of the castle. Twilight cantered out ahead of the pack to meet with a group of Home Guard standing in front of the ground level main entrance. The mesa, upon which the castle rested, was covered in an ancient city long since fallen into ruin.

Every fiber of Twilight’s being wanted to immediately go exploring, but she still had to get permission first. A formality really, but changelings outside of her hive were hidebound to follow tradition. “Captain Thoran, it’s a pleasure to see you.”

Thoran’s group bowed their heads. “The pleasure is ours, Queen Twilight Sparkle. When I first heard you showed interest in our race’s past, I laughed for two straight hours out of the impossibility of such thing.” Twilight shot him an unamused look. “N—now I’m glad I was wrong to think so.” He laughed nervously. “At any rate, you’re more than welcome to investigate the castle and the surrounding mesa to your leisure. However, I trust you won’t mind me posting a few guards with each of your groups. Just to make sure nothing gets damaged.”

“A fair compromise. I’d like a team to investigate the ruins, while the rest of us search the castle itself. All of the other hives, save one, had their archives in the main palace.”

“A prudent course of action, your highness.” Thoran eyed Ratchet, searching his aura. “…I’m surprised you have one of Queen Cadista’s drones with you, yet he tastes like he’s one of yours. Why is that?”

Now I understand why Ratchet said flavor. “He was a—”

“I was a parting gift, from Queen Cadista,” Ratchet interjected hastily. "My new queen here needed a consort of useable genetic material, and I was a perfect match.”

Twilight forcibly hid any reaction while Thoran studied Ratchet’s taller than average height. “Well, you certainly look like a consort… Rather odd that someone like Queen Cadista would willingly part with a drone. Does he speak true, Queen Twilight?”

“H—he does, yes…” she stuttered out of mild surprise rather than jumping to cover a lie.

Thoran’s gaze lingered on Ratchet for a bit longer before turning away. “Very well. You’re more than welcome to any part of the mesa. But do try to leave things as they were; the Home Guard is barely large enough to keep the castle together, and we just don’t have the dronepower to restore anything.”

“We’ll use the utmost caution.” She turned around to address her drones. They were already unloading their equipment and forming up into groups. A few moans of disappointment came from the cameralings. I know them too well to let that one slide. She turned to Ratchet, who was still a little out of sorts from the transfer.

Twilight nuzzled him affectionately.

He located a moss covered bench nearby and flopped down on it.

Twilight frowned at his apparent weariness. “Captain Thoran, you mind giving us five minutes?”

He cast Ratchet a disapproving scowl. “Take as long as you need, Your Highness. Although I’m rather surprised you would take a consort into field work with you.”

“He’s more than just a gene bank, Captain.”

“I meant no offense, your highness,” Thoran placated. “I just find it unusual, that’s all.”

Some of Twilight’s annoyance bled away as she gave Ratchet a curious glance, but his veiled expression revealed nothing. “Unusual how?”

“I wouldn’t dare presume to tell a queen what she should do with her own hive. Forget I said anything.”

“No, tell me! Why is it unusual?”

"It's no big deal, my queen," Ratchet soothed to try and give Thoran an out, but Twilight would have none of it.

"I asked you a question," Twilight growled.

Thoran started sweating profusely. Holy ground or not, Twilight had taken offense and was well within her rights to kill him on the spot. Not that she would have, but he didn't know that. “Well… from what we Home Guard overhear, a consort’s body devotes a lot of energy into remaining fertile for your use. Personal feelings aside, of course, but consorts are there for breeding, not normal drone work. T—that is, from the guesswork we’ve pieced together, I’m probably completely wrong.” Twilight’s glower weakened a bit, giving Thoran his opening. “How about I give you ten minutes; there’s no deadline, after all.”

With a tip of his helmet, Thoran bid a hasty retreat. Blah, let him go. He’s right, after all. I’m just glad we have enough food so Ratchet isn’t held back by his metabolism.

Twilight snickered at the distant curses as she walked over to Ratchet. “Feeling better?”

He moved over so she could join him on the bench. “Much, yes. I didn’t think transferring would take so much out of me.”

“Glad to hear it,” she replied with a relieved smile. Twilight leaned against him and studied the ruins around her. The past age had not been kind to the old city. It didn’t help that many of the structures had been made of earthworks and hardened wax. Outside of the castle, the only structures taller than Twilight were a few scattered wind beaten walls that had lost their paint long ago. In the stillness, the sound of buzzing wings and hoofsteps could be heard with a backdrop of a gentle breeze blowing around the mesa.

Despite the mixture of natural and artificial beauty around her, Twilight couldn’t stop thinking about the love of her life. “Ratchet… you don’t really see yourself as a gene bank, do you?”

“Hardly,” he scoffed before spying an eavesdropping Home Guard.

Twilight nuzzled him while draping a wing over him.

Ratchet was taken aback by her apologetic tone.

Twilight still found it difficult to believe that he was the one who originally wanted to cease siring eggs, and Twilight’s mental gymnastics somehow worked its way into blaming herself.

“What? Why?!” she cried out in astonishment before switching back to the Link.

He wasn’t sure whose job that was, but he wanted to make a point.

Twilight’s mouth hung open for several seconds. <Ratchet Altair! You are never a waste of my time! How can you even say that!?>

Horseapples!

If Twilight’s Ultimate Fanged Scowl of Doom could kill, Ratchet would have been one seriously dead bug.

Were it not for Twilight’s painful glower, Ratchet would have given a scowl of his own.

Her heart wasn’t in the rebuttal, and he knew it.

He dragged her quivering chin over to face him. His stern, but loving, expression met her wavering one. “Twilight, I will always love you. You know that, right?”

“I love you too, Ratchet,” she whimpered.

The sheer cost of the rare alchemical reagents was bothering her significantly. Cadista would never admit it, but Twilight knew procuring the supplies she needed was close to crippling her hive’s economy. My first obligation is to the hive. Somehow the words rang slightly hollow, but her duty as queen demanded it of her.

he replied, not fully understanding the idiom.

She shot him a wane smirk and pecked his cheek.

The couple was just climbing to their hooves, when Thoran buzzed back over while jabbing a hoof at the transports. “By the First Mother, what are those!?”

All three turned to witness three metallic changelings emerge from each transport. The bronze finish on their steel skin and clanking joints attested to their inorganic nature. Several of Twilight’s drones were puzzled by the dumbstruck Home Guard rushing over to surround the automata. The robots were loaded down with saddlebags and crates and completely ignored the black drones as they deposited their supplies near the purple changelings.

“Oh, those are the Clockwerks. Artificial changelings. They’re mostly harmless.”

Thoran kept glancing back and forth between Twilight and the Clockwerks as Twilight’s brood started doling out the supplies. “Artificial changelings?!” He let off a heavy sigh before landing. “Why am I even surprised at this point?” I swear, queens these days. First it was those walking biological weapons of Polybia, the so called “specters” from Jstrul, and now it’s artificial changelings. “I suppose I don’t have any issue with you bringing them then, just please don’t let them damage anything.”

“I wouldn’t dream of harming anything here.” At least, I hope it doesn’t come to that.

The group Twilight brought with her into the castle consisted of her original four escorts, who rarely left her side outside of the Phoenix, eleven other drones, Thoran, and one Clockwerk. Thoran kept stealing wary glances at the unnerving metallic changeling.

However, Thoran’s mood jumped several levels higher once Twilight’s group entered the Castle proper and she started asking questions. “These tapestries,” she pointed out to those hanging from the entry hall’s rafters. “The style seems oddly familiar… but I can’t put my hoof on where I’ve seen it.”

The group glanced up at the navy blue and silver tapestries depicting heavily stylized figures that could only be guessed to be changelings in some sort of battle with a shape or group too abstract to identify. Thoran grinned at them with pride. “You like them? Restoring those was my life’s work until I became captain.”

Aegis gave him a bemused smile. “Doesn’t take much to make captain in the HG, does it?”

Thoran shot her a scathing glare right as Riposte slapped her upside the head, eliciting a mischievous snicker out of her. “Forgive Aegis, please, continue.”

Thoran didn’t notice Twilight giving her son an approving smile. “Anyway, the tapestries along the ground floor depict the various battles against the jungle’s denizens as the First Mother carved the first hive out of the mesa’s previous inhabitants.”

Twilight gave a silent order, and her escorts took to the air to snap several pictures of the various tapestries and other historic artwork scattered across the halls and corridors. “Do we have any depictions of times before we started building a civilization? Preserved cave art, perhaps?”

“Afraid not,” Thoran replied woefully. “These tapestries are among the oldest surviving records we have. There was a large fire that burned much of the lower levels a few thousand years ago.”

“That’s not good,” Aegis commented upon landing. “I hope the archives survived.”

“That’s what we’re here to find out. Let’s break up into teams of three and search the north side. B team has the south. Contact me if you find anything big.”

“Yes, my queen!”

Hours melted away into days, and days turned in a week of ultimately fruitless searching. Twilight and her usual retinue were resting inside one of the dozen storehouses on the ground level. The room was covered wall to wall with murals that would leave a historian busy for years.

Thoran was chewing on a sandwich while brooding over the lack of success and constant bombardment of questions from not only Twilight, but all of her brood as well. I don’t have to take this anymore. The southwest wing is crumbling and we’ve had to devote so many able bodies away from maintenance that it’ll take a whole year to catch up.

He glanced at Aegis, who was tapping the wall with her ear pressed against it. Every so often, she would move to different section of wall, and tap away at both the wall and his sanity. He was about to ask her to stop that infernal tapping, when Twilight trotted over while gnawing on a meat-laden leg bone. “What room is this? I haven’t seen many chambers dedicated to murals like this.”

Always with the questions. There I was begging for a queen to care about us for more than being custodians and I get the one who can’t go five minutes without asking something. Shoring up his best public face, Thoran dipped his head in respect before actually contemplating her question. “This is the Vale of Heroines. And it’s not a bunch of different murals, but a single piece, showing the First Mother’s victory over a rebelling queen.”

Twilight studied the rather violent depictions of battle and death with a curious eye. “Why would ‘Heroines’ be plural then?”

“Some other queens remained loyal to the first,” Thoran explained with increasing enthusiasm. He was a historian at heart, after all. “This is the earliest historic record that remains intact to this day.”

Ferrum fluttered over, delivering a water skin to Twilight. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, how does the Home Guard hive mind work since you don’t have a queen?”

The question piqued Twilight’s curiosity, and left Thoran flat-hooved. “I ahh… I’m… not sure, exactly. I’ve never given it much thought.”

That turned everyone’s heads, save Aegis, who was still absorbed in her search. “What do you mean ‘not sure’?” Ratchet replied as he stopped tinkering with the Clockwerk. “Are you designed to link solely with each other or something?”

“No, we have a central nexus that acts like a queen, I think, but I’ve never seen it. I don’t think anyone has.”

An artificial queen? Is that even possible!? She was about to voice that question when Aegis shouted out.

“Ah ha!! I think I found something!” Everyone trotted over. “Captain Thoran, is there anything behind this wall?”

“Not for several meters. This is all solid rock.”

A wicked smile flashed over Aegis’ face as she stood back with her horn aglow. “Wanna bet?”

“Aegis…what are you doing?”

“Watch, Mother.” Aegis fired a lavender-orange bolt at the wall, blasting out a golf ball sized dent in the wall, sending a small plume of dust everywhere.

“What are you doing!?” Thoran screeched. “You can’t destroy sacred property!” He recoiled at the damaged drywall and the once pristine mural it once held. “D—do you know how long it took to restore this!? Your Highness, I demand restitution!”

“Hold, Thoran! Aegis, what did you find?”

The drone in question blew away some of the dust and took a flashlight off her belt and shined it upon the hole she made. “It’s hollow, Mother.” She peered into the hole. “There’s a staircase in there; deep too.”

“Very good. Everypony, take pictures of the mural.” She turned to Thoran, who was trapped between fury and curiosity. “I’ll be glad to give any restitution necessary, but I’m afraid we’ll need to tear down this wall. This could be exactly what we’ve been looking for!”

Thoran wrestled with himself long enough for Twilight’s drones to finish their photography. Well…what do I have to lose? She’ll pay to restore the mural, and she’s recording it so it’s not fully lost, and there’s a chance that this could be the archives. “I hope you’re right.”

Seeing his agreement, Twilight faced the Clockwerk. “Clockwerk unit Vespun: instructions, clear a large enough opening through the indicated wall to allow my passage.”

The robotic changeling stared at its master and followed her hoof to the cracked false wall. “Directive received. Executing.” Vespun’s joints hissed and clanked as it approached the wall. Its head cocked back and forth as it surveyed the obstruction.

Twilight gently slapped herself with a hoof. “Clockwerk unit Vespun: instructions, suspend current directive.”

The robot frozen in place. “Complying.”

A few nearby drones complied, allowing Twilight to speak again. “Clockwerk unit Vespun: instructions, resume previous directive.”

“Affirmative.” With an about face, Vespun bucked the wall with such force that the resulting boom and crumbling rock pained everyone’s ears.

Dust filled the surrounding area, making everyone back off or suffer a coughing fit. Twilight weaved a spell to clear the air to find the hole was large enough for her to duck inside and have two changelings side by side. “Clockwerk unit Vespun: resume default posture.”

“Understood.”

Twilight suppressed a snicker at Thoran’s astonishment. She summoned a horn light to illuminate their path. The stairs descended so far down into the mesa that her spell only revealed inky blackness and wax covered walls.

Riposte inspected the walls as the group moved in. “Yup, this is definitely ancient changeling make. The wax construction is exactly the same style used in the last two ruined hives we investigated.”

“Excellent. Good job, Aegis.”

Within an hour, all forty lavender changelings arrived, as did an equal number of Home Guard after Thoran gave a similar order.

There was an air of excitement coursing through the gathered changelings. Twilight’s brood was greatly affected by her own eagerness to get started. “Okay, listen up! We have no idea what’s down there, so we’re staying together this time. We could run into a nest of quarray eels again, or the area could be loaded with traps like the last hive we went to. Keep a sharp eye out, and call out anything suspicious.”

With Aegis’ squad taking point, Twilight lead the group down into the forgotten section of the castle. The stairs went on for seemingly forever, with only flashlights bringing any warmth to the lightless depths. The deeper they went, the more agitated the Home Guard became.

Thoran was trying to stare ahead and ignore the cold chill crawling up his spine. Begone from here. He tried to swivel his ears and look for the source.

Am I hearing things?

Leave, now!

That wasn’t a physical sound…

He strained both his ears and Link senses to try and hear it, but the voice did not speak again.

The stairs finally deposited them in a great cavern that could easily act as a hangar for some of Stripped Gear’s smaller airships. The ground was artificially flattened from use in ages past, but that was so long ago that stalagmites were starting to form in various places. Twilight and her drones were abuzz with excitement. “We found it! This has got to be the archives! Alright everypony, start searching for a way to get inside, but stay vigilant for traps.”

With various cheers and hollers, the purple drones swarmed over the area, armed with flashlights and archeological tools. Ratchet stood by Twilight with a perplexed expression. That expression was shared by the Home Guard standing dumbfounded around Twilight and her Clockwerks.

“Um, begging your pardon, your highness, but what they looking at? There’s nothing here but an empty chamber.”

Twilight looked at him as if he had grown a second head. “What are you talking about?”

“Wha—are you serious!?” Ratchet met Twilight’s incredulous look with a simple shrug. Every single Home Guard drone was looking at the throng of Twilight’s children swarm over seemingly empty space. “There’s a whole lost era structure down here!”

By the way Twilight’s drones were acting, it was obvious to Ratchet that something had to be there. “Can you try tapping your vision into me?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Within a few seconds, Ratchet saw a large ten by thirty meter dark stone structure materialize out of thin air. Already, most of the flashlights had been put on fixed stands to illuminate the area, and the drones were hovering or standing around it, too cautious to touch it for fear of setting off any traps.

Twilight was about to go join them when one of her sons flew over and bowed towards her. “My queen, this is simply a fascinating discovery! There’s a multiphased perception filter matrix etched into the decorative exterior.”

Twilight clicked her tongue. “Let me guess: it’s meant to render the archive invisible to changelings.”

Riposte smirked with pride for his mother. “Astute as ever, my queen. Did you gather that from the Link chatter?”

“No, actually.” That got a confused look out of him as she turned to face Thoran. “It appears that’s why you can’t see it.” It seems having a hybrid brain is more useful than I thought.

Twilight’s triumphant smile faded at the state the Home Guard. They were crowding around each other out of fear. Many were shivering, while others were downright quaking in their chitin. “Are you all okay?”

Thoran pulsed a command to shape up over his Link. “Yes, your majesty. Although I must confess that whatever it is you found is… frightening. I think invisibility is not its only defense.”

“I understand.”

A chorus of acknowledgements almost drowned Aegis out.

Twilight located Aegis easily enough, and circled around the structure to find her and two other drones writing down the carving around the seemingly flat wall. Aegis looked up from her work at her mother’s arrival.

“Found this.” She pointed at a series of runes. “These look to be the same dialect found in the Rock Gorge hive.”

“That was the oldest hive we’ve searched, until now. Do you have a translation for me?”

“Erm, I do, but it’s not the same self-flattery from the other hives. The part on the left reads: Here within lies the Chamber of Chitin. Any who would steal the knowledge contained within this room shall be stricken from memory, and suffer true death. So saith Oʊ.vɚ Kwiːn Tia’vil’yet, and so it is written.”

Twilight frowned at the warning. Stricken from memory? Could that be why nopony remembers anything of the past beyond the First Mother?

Aegis checked her notes and buzzed over to another part of the wall. “Now, if we go over to the left side of the door, the inscription reads: My passing will herald the final death of the ‘this part’s missing’. The memories will fade and be forgotten. We, The Changed, will live on anew, unburdened. The seals are—. And that’s all of it.”

Twilight studied the rock where the rest of the sentence would have been. “This part doesn’t look like it was defaced. If I had to guess, I’d think the writer stopped before they could finish.”

Ferrum traced a hoof around some damage caused by both blade and spell. “I’m hoping that means Tia’vil’yet didn’t get a chance to destroy the records as planned. There could have been a bloody coup that ended up saving the archive.”

“Hmm, perhaps. Maybe the archive has the answers. In any case, let’s see if we can find the right opening trigger…” Twilight trailed off as she probed the wall with her magic. To the naked eye, the black stone archive would look like little more than a lump of ebony with carvings decorating its surface. To the arcane eye, it had very subtle wards and spells interwoven into the very rock itself. However, to the eyes of the hybrid changeling queen, there was something else there as well.

Aegis scratched her head as her notes only confounded her. “The illusion enchantments keeping the door hidden need to be triggered by something, but there’s no indication as to what.”

“Only the original owner would have known, so I doubt she left hints. But, I think it’s more simplistic than we give it credit for… A royal’s magic,” Twilight replied at length. “That’s got to be it! The queen who built this would have been able to pierce the illusions, and I bet she would have it so only she could open it in case somepony took control of one of her drones.”

“But doesn’t anypony’s magic signature change slowly over time?” Riposte queried. “There’s no way she could ensure her magic would always work.”

“Normally, yes,” Twilight replied with a short squeal of excitement. “But, a queen’s magic signature is irrevocably altered by the use of alchemy, and only queens, like myself, ever use it. Yes, our magic still changes over time, but alchemy always leaves a particular flavor to the practitioner’s signature.”

Don’t the Home Guard have to use it to alter donated eggs? Aegis kept the thought to herself. There’s no stopping mother when she gets like this.

Twilight bounced on her hooves. “Finally! Four years of research and planning has led to. This. Moment!” Her horn lit up with an excited static charge and slid into the door. Keep it calm, Twilight, you still have to keep an eye out for traps. But I get to finally see my race’s origins! I might even get to write the changeling version of Hearth’s Warming Eve!! She squealed and clapped her hooves excitedly, much to the amusement of her children.

A loud click resounded from within the structure, stifling Twilight’s enthusiasm for fear of triggering something lethal. Acidic green magic formed arching lines across the stone surface, and the door revealed itself and opened. A wave of dust and musty old parchment wafted through the gathered changelings.

“Phew, that is rank! I think something died in there.”

Aegis’ words fell on deaf ears, as a green wave of light pulsed from within the archive. The moment it touched them, the already cold air in the chamber dropped below freezing. A psychic whisper started growing into a screeching wail. Twilight’s ears drooped at the sound of it. “That can’t be good.”

Author's Note

What's this? A cliffhanger leading to imminent battle!?

3: The Phantom Menace

Twilight and her brood recoiled at the psychic scream that attacked them. The entity within the archive wrapped itself around Twilight’s hive mind and immediately tried to wrest control from her.

The immense pressure of the psychic command barely registered on Twilight, but her drones were writhing and clutching their heads in a desperate attempt to retain their sanity.

All of her drones started falling out of the air and thrashing on the ground as they tried to keep the psychic wail from dominating their minds. Twilight watched on in horror as her children writhed in agony.

The psychic command tried to lay claim to Twilight’s mind, but her royal blood made her wholly resistant to it. Before she could even think on how to save her drones, the booming voice roared again over her hive mind.

Twilight was momentarily stunned by her drones’ pain.

<THINE? THE CHANGED ARE OURS BY RIGHT! THOU WOULDST DO WELL TO REMEMBER THAT FACT!>

Twilight could feel her drones’ pain as they tried to cry out for mercy and relief. Tears started streaming down her face.

Tia’vil’yet paused a moment, and her voice sounded strained.

Twilight gritted her teeth.

<THOU SHALT NOT DARE TO COMMAND US, TRAITOR! WE ARE THY BEGINNING, AND WE SHALL BE THY END!>

Twilight dug her hooves into the ground and stared daggers into the open archives.

Twilight steeled herself and squeezed her eyes shut to summon a tidal wave of psychic willpower, and she launched it through the hive mind with a growling roar of effort. Tia’vil’yet’s superior chuckling died in an instant as she reeled from the wave front, costing her valuable ground in the chaotic mindscape.

Twilight started sweating profusely, and her heart was booming in her ears as Tia’vil’yet redoubled the pressure on the Link.

Twilight saw an opening and sent a lash of psychic energy to strike Tia’vil’yet directly, causing her to cry out in pain. Twilight smirked with satisfaction as her drones stopped squirming in agony, but were still too befuddled by the battle over the hive mind to regain lucidity.

Dark laughter echoed through the local hive mind. Queries from those aboard the Phoenix and Cadista were hastily silenced by Tia’vil’yet.

Sweat fell from Twilight’s straining face as her eyes scanned the area around her. The stairs were twenty yards behind the archives, and several Home Guard drones were crawling over the archives with a murderous gleam in their eyes. Tia’vil’yet used the distraction to repay the injury with a scalding lance of energy that pierced Twilight’s defences. The lance left its mark upon Twilight as blood started oozing out of a fresh wound in her belly.

A dozen different plans cycled through Twilight’s brain as she backed away towards the far wall, deflecting other psychic bursts while barely managing to send a few of her own. Tia’vil’yet chuckled at the trapped queen.

With Tia’vil’yet’s constant pressure over the hive mind keeping Twilight’s drones incapacitated and the Home Guard marching towards her with lethal intent, Twilight was quickly running out of options. That is, except for one.

Twilight’s horn flashed brightly as she short circuited the control structure of the hive mind, denying Tia’vil’yet of her ability to control Twilight’s drones, and thus robbing her of her prize. The act lifted the painful fog from the drones’ minds, with many of them shaking their heads to clear their thoughts.

Tia’vil’yet raged, before scoffing. Tia’vil’yet sneered as she moved in to cut off any attempt for Twilight to reestablish control over her brood, making it impossible for either of them to control Twilight’s drones.

Tia’vil’yet would have laughed at the lack of control magic in Twilight’s command, but a fearsome battle cry erupted from behind the Home Guard closing in on the hybrid queen. In a wave of purple fur, Twilight’s drones descended on the Home Guard, brandishing fang and wrench to protect their queen.

Twilight used to the distraction to vault over the battle and fly towards the archive.

That was a lot easier said than done. The only thing most of Twilight’s drones had to contend with the Home Guard’s weapons were engineering and archeology tools. Knowing this, Twilight raced for the archives, only to hear Tia’vil’yet fly into a rage.

<INSOLENCE! WE SHALL HAVE YOU!> Tia’vil’yet abandoned the battle over the hive mind to launch a salvo of psychic spikes. The lavender queen deflected half, but three spikes struck home and paralyzed Twilight. She fell out of the air and tumbled to the ground between two Home Guards. She was so focused on keeping Tia’vil’yet’s follow up attacks at bay, that she didn’t even notice the black drones’ swords slicing the air towards her neck.

Twilight cracked an eye open to see a wire cutter and a wrench wreathed in lavender-orange magic fly over and thwack both black drones in the side of the head, knocking them out cold. Twilight felt like she was standing against a hurricane, searing and blasting against her in every attempt to dislodge her lockout on the drones’ minds.

Aegis and Intel slid their way through the skirmish and helped Twilight climb to her hooves, but the war over control of the hive mind dominated nearly every iota of her consciousness. Aegis tried to rouse Twilight, while Intel pilfered the swords off the two Home Guard and gave one to Aegis, right as two more Home Guard dove in for the kill.

“Mother, we need to get you out of here, but that banshee’s done something to the Link. I can’t call the ship for help.”

Twilight screamed as Tia’vil’yet dragged a hot serrated axe across her mind, blinding her from everything but the pain. Twilight wildly lashed out, sending freezing energy in all directions. Several drones on both sides were momentarily paralyzed by the frantic defense. One wave of psychic energy managed to ram into Tia’vil’yet, numbing her long enough for the searing axe to dissipate. Capitalizing on the opening, Twilight heaved a massive cold front at her opponent, buying her precious seconds to study the physical world. “Get…me in… the archive.”

“Roger that.” Aegis heard a feral growl above her and took Intel’s offered sword in her magic and brought it to bear just in time for Thoran to slam down on her. Only by adding her physical strength to her magic, was Aegis able to shove Thoran away from her, and jumped into a low hover between him and Twilight. “This is a bit of an overkill for all those jabs about your job, isn’t it?”

Thoran’s eyes were glowing much brighter than normal. His voice carried an edge as sharp as his sword while he slid into an aggressive stance. “You never should have come here.”

Thoran slashed left, only to be met by Aegis’ hasty parry. The captain pivoted the blade away from Aegis’ own and cut a deep line across her muzzle.

With a savage roar, Aegis blasted back with a kinetic pulse, knocking both blades away from them. That gave her the opening she needed to body check Thoran, knocking him back and buying Twilight some breathing room. “Is that right?”

Aegis scowled at the murderous glances Thoran kept stealing towards Twilight. You’ll never have her! Aegis found her sword and swung it at Thoran, only for it to be easily batted away by his own.

Thoran surged forward with his blade flashing towards her throat. Aegis tried to skewer him by throwing her sword, but he easily flew over it. Smirking at his victory, Thoran carved the air to remove Aegis’ head from her shoulders.

*Clank* Odd, that was not the sound of iron cutting flesh. A strange cylindrical weapon stood between Thoran’s sword and Aegis’ throat.

Thoran jumped back into a defensive posture. “You throw away a perfectly good weapon for that toy? And there you were, mocking me all week.”

Aegis smirked at him and brought her strange weapon to bear in a manner totally alien to the captain. “A sword’s all well and good, boy-yo, but a pistol’s better!”

Twilight was too slow. Chitin splintered as the shot tore through Thoran’s right foreleg just below the knee. He howled in pain as his sword dropped to the ground, along with the rest of him.

Ignoring Twilight’s protests, Aegis backed up to her queen to reload. “Intel! Stop horsing around and help move Mother!”

Intel had both his pistol and stolen sword dancing before him. “In case—” he ducked a vicious swing, “you hadn’t noticed, I’m a bit—” he flattened himself on the floor to avoid a third guard’s sweeping spear, “preoccupied at the moment!”

Twilight punished Tia’vil’yet with a fuselage of bug bites, momentarily gaining the initiative. “Aegis, if you so much as fire that weapon again!”

Ferrum flew over and bashed one of Intel’s attackers away while disarming the second by ripping his spear away with his magic. That left Aegis alone to heave the large queen on her back. “You can punish me later.”

Three more lavender drones broke off from the fighting behind them to guard Twilight as Aegis hefted her to the archives. With the rearguard established, and most of the Home Guard bogged down by the rest of the expedition team, it was a straight shot to the archive.

Tia’vil’yet saw it all through the the eyes of the enslaved drones.

Aegis snarled as they made it into the Chamber of Chitin. There was a large, diamond-shaped, acidic green crystal with an encased brain sitting on an iron pedestal in the center of the room. “Mother, what do we do?!”

Twilight surveyed the crystal and the iron pedestal it rested on. “Push it off; she’s drawing mana from the floor!”

Aegis nodded and set Twilight down to obey, but Tia’vil’yet lashed out with everything she had in a desperate psychic scream that blew everyone off their hooves long enough for the room to be enveloped by a green array.

Everyone in the whole chamber was teleported to the stairs in a massive jumble. The mound of changelings was mostly incapacitated by the forced teleport, with only Aegis, Twilight, and three Home Guard remaining conscious. The act taxed Tia’vil’yet immensely, and she was forced to recede all attempts to take control of Twilight’s hive mind.

Ratchet poked his head out from behind the inactive trio of Clockwerks, catching Twilight’s attention as Aegis quickly pistol whipped the three semi-lucid Home Guard before they could become a threat.

Once Twilight extended her psychic protection over her consort and last remaining bodyguard, she faced the archives. As if in response to Twilight’s readying herself for another assault, a pale green shield dome erected itself around the archive. Twilight’s attack bounced off the barrier without so much as a tingle on the shield.

The sound of thundering hooves and buzzing wings from the top of the stairs started filling the chamber.

Twilight faced the robots. “Clockwerks: Instructions: deny all entry into this chamber.”

“Directive acknowledged.”

“Mother, those things weren’t designed for combat, steel chassis or not.”

“It’ll be enough.” It’ll have to be. “Ratchet, you’re with me.”

The three of them sprinted to the archive’s entrance as a massive crash of metal on metal resounded through the cavern from the direction of the stairs. The archive door was still open, but the green barrier served as better protection, at least in theory.

Twilight extended her senses to permeate the barrier, while Aegis and Ratchet cast weary glances at the throng of black changelings trying to hack their way through the three metallic bouncers.

Twilight tried to block out Tia’vil’yet’s taunting, but the disembodied queen was relentless.

Twilight stole Aegis’ pistol, wrapped the lead ball in a swath of magic and shot the barrier. The enchanted bullet wedged itself inside the shield and started spitting teal arcs of electricity through the barrier and into the surrounding crystals, fracturing them into dust. The barrier fizzled out at the same time the Home Guard managed to break through the Clockwerks. With a telekinetic fist, Twilight slapped Tia’vil’yet’s brain crystal from its pedestal. In a snap, the magic surrounding the archive vanished, and the surging Home Guard dropped out of the air in a daze.

The archive fell dark, with only a few toppled flashlights outside casting erratic shadows upon its walls. Without the pedestal’s magic, Tia’vil’yet’s grip upon both hive minds evaporated. Ratchet poked his head in and whistled in astonishment. “That’s the mare I love! How’d you break the barriers?”

Twilight lorded over the crystallized remains of the long dead queen. “It wasn’t that hard. Celestia taught me quite a bit about old magic. This particular barrier was created before mages learned how to combine magic wards and physically resistant barriers. Both spells’ mana patterns cancel each other out, so all I needed to do was enchant the bullet to act as a conduit. Once both spells started feeding into each other, it resulted in a feedback loop that destroyed the emitter crystals.”

Ratchet joined her by the dimly glowing crystal of Tia’vil’yet. “Huh, well you can’t argue with results.” He eyed the odd crystal as Twilight levitated it to her face for inspection, and he pulled a flashlight out to help her. “So this was the thing that made everyone go crazy?”

“Seems so.” Twilight mused while turning around to see Aegis standing at the entrance. “Aegis, tell the ship to send down help and bring medical attention for the injured. I want a casualty report within the hour for both sides.”

“Yes, mother.”

As she ran off, Twilight focused on Aegis.

A tremor of fear shot through Aegis, but she ignored it to follow orders. With everything soon to be taken care of by her hive, Twilight restored her subtle control over her drones, thus bringing the Link back to normalcy. With that done, she returned her attention to Tia’vil’yet’s crystal.

She made sure her introduction was heard by both Tia’vil’yet and Ratchet.

Tia’vil’yet stuttered for a few more seconds before Ratchet laid a hoof on Twilight. “I think you broke it. What is this thing anyway?”

Twilight moved the flashlight around to take a closer look at the crystal, while moving outside into the cavern for better light. “…If I didn’t know any better… I’d say this was a mind imprinting prism.”

“In Vespid, please.”

“What I mean is, I don’t think that this is actually Tia’vil’yet’s brain in a crystal diamond, but an imprinted one. Probably from a drone or maybe even a royal daughter.”

Twilight shook her head sadly at the sorry state the consciousness was in.

“Looks like the only thing holding it together after all these years was that pedestal. I can’t put her back on there or she might try to attack us again.”

“Well good riddance to her,” Ratchet spat. “Somepony that can attack any nearby hive mind like that is just waiting to cause trouble.”

Tia’vil’yet’s presence over the Link faded completely, causing a few motes of green mana to fall away from the crystal as the bound magics finally lost cohesion. Twilight gently rubbed the crystal. Imprint or not, she was still a changeling in spirit. I’ll have to give her a proper burial. A terrible thought struck Twilight. “The Home Guard!”

She flew over the archives to find both groups of changelings milling around the base of the stairs. Medics from the Home Guard had arrived and were patching up the wounded, with some of Twilight’s drones assisting. Those still able to move were trying to organize themselves.

Twilight saw the black changelings were out of sorts, but otherwise no worse for wear. The same could not be said for her brood. Seven of her children were in critical condition, with four fatalities. The last thing Twilight wanted was to be reminded of their loss. It was hardly the first death among her hive, and it would not be the last. Stay strong for them, Twilight Sparkle. I’ll have plenty of time to grieve on the next Day of Mourning.

After shoring up her emotional strength and tying her grief up for another day, Twilight returned her attention to the Home Guard. They certainly don’t act like they’ve been severed from their hive mind.

She searched for Thoran, found him surrounded by two medics, and flew over to him. “Captain, are you alright?”

The medics were in the middle of surgically removing his foreleg’s chitin to get at the bullet wound. “Please, my queen, we need space to work.”

She nodded and backed off.

The archive was pushed out of Twilight’s mind as her brood worked to bring everything to order. She knew Aegis was trying to avoid her by sequestering herself in the Chamber of Chitin, but she was focused more on Thoran’s recovery.

After a few hours, Twilight made her way to Thoran’s quarters as one of her nurses exited the room. “How is he, Resta?”

“He’ll be fine, my queen,” Resta replied while double checking her clipboard. “The bullet shattered his chitin in two points and ripped a nice clean hole through the rest of him. It’ll take time, something I wouldn’t recommend using magic to accelerate, but he should make a full recovery in a few months once his new shell grows in. Until then, his subordinate will be taking over.”

“Can I see him?”

“Briefly, please. He lost a lot of blood before somepony could get some salve on him.”

“Thank you,” Twilight croaked as she made her way into the bedroom.

Thoran was propped up on his bed with a ledger, but he was barely able to keep his eyes open to read it. He might have jumped at Twilight’s entry, had his fatigue not kept him from it. “Your Highness, what can I do for you?”

“I came to apologize for the mess I made, and for what Aegis did to your leg.”

“She certainly caught me by surprise with that weapon of hers,” he admitted lightly.

“You’ll be glad to know that the source of your hive mind was not the ghost-clone of Tia’vil’yet, but the pedestal she rested on. You shouldn’t have any lasting effects upon your Link once my children finish double checking for any last minute surprises that may have been left for us.”

Thoran sighed in relief. “Good. When she had taken control of us like that, I thought we had at last been granted a queen to serve. Not that she gave any of us a chance to serve her willingly.”

“Sorry about that. Had I known knocking her crystal off the pedestal would have killed her, I would have found another way.”

“Please, your highness, you do yourself a disservice. Whatever that was that took control of us, it had no right. You know as well as I that a queen is far more than just a leader.”

Twilight nodded with a ghost of a smile. “We queens rule solely by our right as mothers.”

“I knew you’d understand, Your Highness. A queen who cannot produce drones is no queen at all. I’m just glad she wasn’t the source of our hive mind.”

“Even so, that doesn’t excuse what happened to your leg. Not when we managed to avoid shooting anypony else. So I’ve sent down several engineering teams to help you catch up on your restoration work while I see what the archives can tell us.”

The thought of guilt tripping Twilight into helping with that did cross Thoran’s mind frequently. If for nothing else, than as payment for the hailstorm of questions he had been bombarded with over the past week. It’s even better since it was her idea. “Thank you, Your Highness. I know there are several weakening structural supports all along the eastern wing and in the Summit chamber itself.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Thoran sat up a little straighter as Twilight stood to leave. “Oh, and our hatchery could use some renovating. I’ve been meaning to assign—”

“Alright, captain, I’ll get a crew for that too.” She eyed him warily, some of her pity falling away.

“Any chance you can install one of those air conditioning units Ferrum was talking about for the living quarters?”

“Captain!” Twilight interrupted tersely. “I will see to it, but I feel you should get some rest.”

Thoran erred on the side of caution and fell back into bed. “I feel you’re right, Your Highness. I trust whatever you find in the Chamber of Chitin was worth it.”

“It’d better be.”

Aegis was horn deep in her team’s thorough combing of the archives. Now that the room had decent lighting, the actual layout was finally visible. Most of the archive was filled with scroll cubbies, with a large desk at the far end. The cast iron pedestal upon which Tia’vil’yet rested was covered in sigils of humming power. The wooden desk itself was covered in mold and other rot, and most of the scrolls had mostly broken apart after the moderately fresh air from the cavern rushed inside.

All that was left was being meticulously investigated while Aegis was left to probe the pedestal itself. <AEGIS!> The drone nearly jumped out of her skin and turned around to find Twilight glowering at her from the entrance.

Aegis quickly prostrated herself in front of her queen while the rest of the drones redoubled their interest in their work.

Twilight replied coldly.

Aegis followed Twilight to the far end of the cavern with flat ears and her tail between her legs. Never seen Mother this angry before.

Twilight stopped abruptly and turned to face her daughter. “I had expected better of you, Aegis. Even without genetic enhancements you are my best soldier. You should have been able to disarm Thoran without nearly costing him a limb.”

“Yes, my queen.”

Twilight’s anger abated at Aegis’ obvious repentance. Best soldier my hoof. She’s spent more time digging in the dirt with me than in the training yard. My entire personal guard does… While Aegis couldn’t see it, Twilight’s face fell into a self-blaming frown. I’ll need to rectify that if I’m going to survive out here. If I had gone up against a living queen, her brood would have been more than a match for me. She regained her composure to address her daughter. “For the crime of disobeying a direct order, you are to help nurse him back to health for the duration of our stay.”

Aegis’ face fell. “What!? Can’t I be sent to the brig or given menial duty or something, please?”

Twilight arched an eyebrow at her daughter groveling at her hooves. “After you’ve razzed him all week about being a glorified custodian, and then feel like you needed to fire your weapon to subdue him?” Aegis wilted and she hung her head in defeat. “Now report to Resta, she’s overseeing his recovery.”

“Yes, mother.” Aegis moaned before taking to the air. That’s because he is a custodian.

Well that takes care of that. Twilight flew towards the archive to find Intel taking a dinner break.

He instantly dropped his steak sandwich.

“To put it bluntly, yes,” Twilight responded once she was within speaking distance. “Ferrum and Riposte got seriously injured,” she glanced at the salve covering his cheek, forelegs, and ten other places along his body. “You’re not much better off, why haven’t you reported to the medics yet?”

His first response was to grunt dismissively, but reigned it in. “Because I’m a member of the Jevruun Vrunningee. If your personal guard is lounging around in bed with these paper cuts, what does that say about the rest of our soldiers?”

Twilight gave him a weak smile. “Given how badly the day went, I’d say we still did poorly.”

At this point, Intel’s pride was as badly wounded as his body. “To be fair, my queen, you did order us to use non-lethal force. Our options were limited.”

“Be that as it may, I still think there’s room for vast improvement. Since Aegis is busy with… other duties, I want you to contact Cadista’s captain of the Guard and work up a new training program. And I want you to triple my personal guard.”

He bowed his head. “As you command, so shall it be.”

With Intel flying off to carry out his orders, Twilight made her way into the archive to find Ferrum leaning on a crutch while inspecting some partially intact scrolls. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

Ferrum merely shrugged. “If I’ve got time to rest, I’ve got time to work… at least during business hours anyway. That is… unless you order me, my queen.”

Twilight shot him a knowing smile. “Are you kidding? I kept trying to study Pinkie Pie once with worse injuries than that. So what did you find?”

Taking the indirect praise at face value, Ferrum felt his injuries become less troubling. “Only as much as we expected. Most of the paper documents are useless, but oddly enough, there are a lot of writings carved in chitin. Guess that explains the name of the place.”

Twilight entered the archive to find Intel at the desk. The chair had broken into several pieces after he tried to sit in it. “On chitin? That’s kind of morbid, don’t you think?”

Intel glanced at Twilight before returning his attention to his work. “Aye, but for all we know, this could have been our ancestors’ only way to preserve their records. Unfortunately, the only things I’ve translated so far are a bunch of day to day activity. Nothing about where we came from.”

“Then it looks like we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

Cadista could barely believe what she was hearing.

Twilight spent half of her attention translating more texts.

Cadista’s tone was far more dour than her daughter’s.

Twilight’s thoughts drifted to one queen in particular.

Cadista felt Twilight’s growing excitement.

This… famine is worse than we ever anticipated. All attempts to grow the Carn fruit in the valley below the Lone Spire have proven successful, but something is wrong with us. We drink of its nectar day and night, and we still thirst, whither, and die. All Arcanum efforts to reverse what has happened to us have failed. We must find something to slake our thirst again, or we shall surely perish.

Cadista commented.

Twilight tapped her chin as she contemplated more text.

“Excuse me, my queen.” Twilight turned to see Pepper, a drone that took every last scrap of bookishness from Twilight’s genes and doubled it, hovering nearby with a clipboard. “You might find this of interest.”

Twilight broadened her link with Cadista so she could listen through her daughter’s ears. “Go ahead.”

Pepper cleared her throat.

Fifth year of the Nocturne Moon, Twelfth day of Sun’s Height. That our luck could turn from horrid to blessing in one fell swoop surely must be a sign from the Night Mother that we have been forgiven for our terrible sins! Two fortnights ago, a snap blizzard, in the midst of the growing season, ravaged the land. We had long seen the frozen lands to the northwest, and we feared that whatever dark magic kept the sun’s rays from that lightless land would someday come for us. To punish us for our hubris.

The blizzard came upon us one day, shockingly swift. As if Gethar’s vorpal blade has cut the Spirit of Sumar in twain. The worker caste managed to retreat to the Lone Spire out of fear. Strangely, the blizzard and snow vanished as quickly as it came. But we feared it was a ploy by Gethar, for he is as much a trickster as he is vile.

When we finally risked stepping out of our crystal caves, we found them. Equids, like us! They swarmed over the surface of our Lonely Spire and declared it their own. I wanted to warn them that Gethar might return, that they were all in grave danger, but the Seer Council, what was left of it anyway, decided to let the sun worshippers suffer whatever fate Gethar had in store for them, lest we invoke his wrath again.

Pepper put her clipboard down. “And that’s all I got; the rest of the journal is missing.”

“Equids, right after a sudden blizzard? Are you absolutely sure that’s what it says?!”

“Yes, my queen. I always triple check everything.”

“YES!” Twilight couldn’t contain herself and jumped over to plant a big kiss on Pepper’s forehead. “Do you know what this means!?”

Cadista quipped.

4: The Queen's New Groove

Dear Princess Celestia,

As I informed you in my last letter, I’ve been researching the origins of my people. After a… minor incident that I would rather not get into at the moment, I found a spotty, yet still rich treasure trove of knowledge. Ah, you should have been there, after the incident, to see it all. The records of a lost era, all waiting to be discovered.

Anyway, the point of this letter is to inform you that my findings have pointed me towards Canterlot, of all places, as a possible location to my species’ birthplace. More specifically, the crystal mines that sit below the capital.

Strange, I know. Given the mines’ history, I’m hoping the prospectors left something intact, or better yet, that they never unearthed my ancestors’ primary living quarters. With that and the political climate of Equestria in mind, would I be able to bring my hive ship, the Ashes of the Phoenix, into Canterlot without causing a panic? The last thing I want is to repeat the wedding invasion in ponies’ minds.

I am adding a full written account of my findings in this letter.

Your faithful friend and ally,

Queen Twilight Sparkle

Twilight scanned her letter before deeming it fit. After rolling up a copy of her findings in with the scroll, she burned it. “There we go. Wouldn’t want the princess left with the political nightmare of my hive rolling into Equestrian airspace unannounced.”

The lavender queen stretched like a cat before peering at a desk clock. “Ooo, I have more than enough time to make it to my dinner date with Rarity.”

Twilight trotted over to her mirror to primp her mane and inspect her wings. As Cadista had before her, Twilight left her crown sitting on the nightstand. No need for it in my own ship.

Once her appearance was perfect, Twilight departed for the port upper decks where the primary mess halls were located. However, Twilight was not just walking through the ship; life was never so simple for a changeling queen. Every second of every day, two thousand minds conversed within her half of the hive mind, working together, gossiping, shop talk, researching, schooling, all of it passed through Twilight’s brain, and she loved every moment of it. No, she lived for it.

Yet even with the roughly four thousand minds of Cadista’s drones also occasionally passing through, it wasn’t enough. Oh no, not by a long shot. It was laughably easy for Twilight to direct her hive mind, not only because her drones were more than capable of handling the vast majority of tasks on their own, but also because a queen was built to expand, and expansion was always on her mind.

I wonder how large of a hive I can support in a decade or two… ten thousand? Maybe fifteen? Since we don’t need to feed on outside sources for love, if I get an excellent location for the hive to settle, I might be able to support a few hundred thousand in a century or two.

A dreamy look crossed her features. To hear the voices of a quarter million children… that would be a dream come true. I might even get to hear a million if I raise a few royal daughters.

Twilight halted in her steps as a thought struck her.

Cadista took a few moments to respond.

Twilight’s face scrunched at the thought, before continuing to the mess hall.

Twilight snickered at herself.

Cadista hummed as she handled a few matters in person.

Twilight tripped over her hooves and face planted the floor, but that was least of her concerns. <Three centuries worth of love!? Are you kidding me?>

“Woof,” Twilight said in a daze.

Cadista tried her hardest to project her flat look over the Link.

Cadista grew weary of Twilight’s chipper tone. I don’t think she’s really listening. <…I suppose that’s true. Since you are your own queen now, I can only advise you to take things slow. Give yourself a few hundred years to consolidate your power, find your hive’s equilibrium after colonizing somewhere, and don’t overpopulate. Just because you think you can support a hundred thousand, doesn’t mean you can.>

Oh, theoretically, I can support over three hundred and fifty thousand. Twilight mused. she retorted with a self-satisfied grin.

Twilight’s grin faded.

That tempered Twilight’s enthusiasm. After Cadista ended contact, Twilight refocused her attention.

The drone was in the middle of delicate work, but the inflection of Twilight’s communication stilled her complaint, somewhat.

The caretaker was dubious at Twilight’s coy tone of voice.

Gentle Touch tried to stammer out a response, but words failed her for several seconds.

That explains why she would pick me, of all Lings.

Twilight retorted cheerfully.

Thank the First Mother for that. Gentle heaved a sigh of relief.

As the lavender queen rounded a corner, a certain upside-down cyan pegasus collided painfully with Twilight’s horn. “Ow!”

Twilight rubbed her pained horn while peering at Rainbow Dash, who was dangling from the ceiling. “Rainbow? What are you doing up there?”

Rainbow grunted in pain as she tried to keep from falling to the floor. “Oh, hey, Twilight! Was just trying out these suction shoes. Doesn’t work as well as I had hoped.”

Twilight lent a hoof and held her friend in her magic while popping her hooves free of the ceiling and gently placing her on the ground. “Why do you want to do that anyway?”

Rainbow shook her shoes off and placed them in her saddlebag. “Are you kidding? You guys can walk on walls and you don’t prank with that? It’s criminal negligence I tell ya.”

“I’m sure you’ll rectify that in short order,” Twilight quipped.

“It’s my civic duty,” Rainbow replied with a flourishing bow before her tone sobered in an instant. “So, what's this I hear about a Day of Mourning tomorrow?”

Twilight’s ears drooped a little. “It’s something Yumia started. On the first Sunday of every other month, the queen of the hive leads a service for all the drones who died in the past two months.”

“Oh,” Rainbow replied with a downcast, yet perplexed expression. “How come you never told me about this before?”

“Well, it’s not held every two months. Only when a drone dies. Both Cadista and myself were unlucky and we both lost children in the same month.”

“Why not hold funerals for them individually?”

A weak smile crossed Twilight’s lips. “It’s mostly for my benefit; well, Cadista’s as well. As time goes on, and old age starts to claim my children, I’d be in mourning every day if we did that. So I save my grief for the Day of Mourning, so that I can rule the hive without constant distraction.”

“I guess that makes sense. Any chance I could attend?”

Twilight shot her friend a slight frown. “I would love nothing more than to take you up on that, but it might be kind of difficult. The service is held entirely within the hive mind.”

An angry scowl fell on Rainbow Dash. “Why? Crate Altair was a good friend of mine! Are you not even having a burial?”

Twilight halted in her steps. The carefully wrapped box of grief threatened to unravel. “We bury our dead wherever they died, if possible. Rainbow, I know it’s hard to explain, but there is little that can compare to a grieving hive mind.”

Darn Changelings use that brain web for everything. “Well, what about Rarity and me? Isn’t there some way to be a part of that? If only for the service?”

A tilted head was Twilight’s only reply for a second. “You mean join the hive mind? Rainbow, there’s no way for you to do that. Not without being rebirthed as a changeling, anyway.”

“We’ll see about that,” Rainbow muttered.

“What was that?”

“I said forget about it. I’ll just hold my own personal memorial for Crate by myself. Rarity can come too.” Not desiring to remain on such a dour topic, Rainbow derailed the conversation. “So, I hear we’re going to Canterlot!”

It took a solid minute for Twilight to mentally switch topics like that. “Ah, yeah, that’s right. I sent a letter to the princess already, so we should hear something soon.”

“Great!” Her thoughts drifted to the Ebony Castle. “And this time you have no excuse to leave me behind.”

Some of Twilight’s good cheer returned. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Twilight and Rainbow Dash stepped into the port side mess hall, but it was truly only called that for semantics. Like Stripped Gear, the dining area dominated nearly the entire port side of the deck, with the various kitchens and other services taking residence in the starboard side.

The dining area was nearly three stories tall, with quite a few tables occupying the ceiling. Of course, Twilight’s eyes scanned only those along the floor. “Do you see Rarity anywhere? She said she’d be here early.”

“Maybe she got caught in something,” Rainbow offered.

“Yooohooo!” a call came from above. Twilight and Rainbow looked up to find Rarity sitting on a rigid underswing ceiling chair with a cup of tea wrapped in her magic. “I’m up heeere!”

Changeling and pegasus alike shared a puzzled look before flying up to meet their fashion minded friend. “Rarity! How did you get up here?”

“One of your charming sons lent a hoof, or wing as it were, to help me up here. Seasoned Leek, I believe his name was. I must say, Twilight, the view from up here is nothing short of spectacular,” Rarity gushed as she pointed at the window. The entire port face of the second and third stories was a single glass plane overlooking one of the propulsion engines and the sunset-lit jungle below.

“I simply can’t get over the aesthetics your hive puts into its engineering work. I truly have half a mind to forget about Canterlot and set up shop here on the Phoenix.”

Twilight flipped upside down and secured her hooves on the metal ceiling while a drone flew over to attach an electromagnetic chair for Rainbow Dash, who gave the apparatus a skeptical look. “Are you sure this thing is safe?”

Rarity answered before the drone could. “Oh, phsaw, darling, look at it.” She tried to rock her seat loose with a few strong telekinetic hits, but her chair didn’t budge an inch. “See? Perfectly safe… for a couple of hours anyway.”

Rainbow eyed her ceiling mounted chair with a wary eye before settling down on it. “If you say so.”

Twilight relayed their orders before all three turned their eyes back to the window. Rarity swooned over the cascade of oranges and reds scattered along the clouds. The Phoenix briefly passed through a dense cloud layer that gave the onlookers a sweeping view of the majestic sky.

“Twilight,” The queen gave Rarity a quizzical hum. “When you pick a place to settle, are you going to keep the Phoenix in the air?”

“I don’t think so,” Twilight replied lazily, her gaze never leaving the view. “It’ll be easier to simply ground the ship and let it act as a central hub and palace.”

“Oh… a pity.”

“Why don’t you just make a flying shop then?” Rainbow suggested offhandedly. “You’re going to dismantle the engines after you ground this thing anyway.”

Twilight’s eyes lit up. “That’s right! Once that happens, the engines will be dismantled for parts, but if I saved a couple and built you an airship home, you could have an entire boutique on the go. You could travel anywhere in Equestria, and never leave your shop!”

Rarity gasped at the idea. “It’s a generous offer, but I don’t know the first thing about engines, let alone how to pilot such a home.”

Twilight paused as the waiter delivered their meals. She noticed the lingering eye Rarity cast towards the muscular drone, and spoke once he left. “You could hire an engineer. I’m sure you could find one who would be more than willing to join you.”

“Twilight, that is still such a generous offer. I couldn’t possibly accept that of you.”

Twilight laid a hoof on her alabaster friend’s foreleg. “Rarity, I’m basically the ruler of a city state. One little house is the least I can do for all the support you’ve given me over the years.”

“A little house indeed,” Rarity bantered playfully before giggling at the possibilities. “I can’t possibly thank you enough, Twilight. After spending so much time looking out across the clouds, I can see why Rainbow and you love to fly.”

“Very true,” Twilight commented. “So did you like the pictures I sent you of the Ebony Castle? I’ve barely heard from you for the past four days.”

“I’m sorry, dear, they’ve hit me with such inspiration this is actually the first time I’ve set hoof outside my little corner shop. I have a whole line planned out for the three of us and your personal guard for when we arrive at Canterlot!”

“I hope you’re not planning on stuffing me in one of those ultra frou-frou dresses I saw in your shop,” Rainbow countered with a half scowl. “I have a reputation to maintain, after all.”

Rarity let off a ladylike humph. “Never fear, Rainbow Dash, I am perfectly aware of your radicalness requirements.” She eyed Twilight conspiratorially. “Incidentally, those ancient changelings had such a dark color palette. It's strange really, some of the patterns were almost familiar.”

Rainbow was too distracted by the arriving food to pay Twilight’s intrigued reaction any notice. “Familiar how, exactly? Nopony’s ever set hoof in the Ebony Castle, and none of the other excavation sites had any preserved dress or artwork.”

Rarity cooed at the tantalizing aroma, but still managed to give Twilight’s question some thought. “Not sure. I could simply be mistaking it for a bygone fashion a few years ago, or I might have seen something similar in one of the museums around Canterlot.”

A museum… Yes, the crystal caves were a mine long before the wedding. It might not be such a bad idea to check any historical relics that might be in the city. I’m going to have to write a second letter.

The group gnawed on their meal while exchanging small talk for over an hour. Little things like that eased the burden of Twilight’s crown, an object that did not need to sit on her head to weigh down on her. Yet this peaceful moment in time was just that, but a moment. Gentle Touch brushed upon Twilight’s mind while Rainbow regaled about the latest adventures of Daring Do.

Glad I can multitask well enough to keep up with my friends’ conversation. A nonverbal shrug somehow managed to traverse the Link in response.

The caretaker nervously teased a lock of her mane.

To think she’s leveraged her attaché status so quickly. Twilight wasn’t sure if she should be impressed or worried.

Twilight was about to focus on a mild dispute in the engine room, when a cyan hoof waved in front of her. “Hey, Ling Queen, you awake?”

“Huh? “ Twilight blinked before fully returning to the present. “Oh, sorry, I guess I got a little… sidetracked by my assistant.”

“Care to enlighten us, dear?”

“Well… I’m not exactly sure how you’re going to take this, but…” Twilight furrowed her brow as she tried to think of the right words. “Gentle was heading up a selection process for my consorts.”

“Consorts?” Rainbow replied with a tilted head. “I thought you were already hitched with Ratchy.”

“I am,” Twilight replied with a nod. “But he and I talked about it… at length,” she grumbled just loud enough to be heard. “We decided that he would take the position of prime consort.”

“So ahh, where exactly are these consorts coming from, anyway?”

That was the one question Twilight feared most, but that didn't stop her from groaning at her prismatic friend anyway. “Girls, you know where.”

“Right,” Rainbow replied off handedly while casting a glance at Rarity. The fashionista found her hoof exceptionally fascinating at the moment while Twilight fretted over her friends’ response. “Not like it bothers me any that Rachy’s your brother and I’m guessing the consorts would be your sons…”

Twilight placed a tentative hoof on her prismatic friend. “Of course it bothers you, Rainbow. But please remember that changelings don’t work the same way ponies do. Getting consorts from another queen’s hive is politically not going to happen, Cadista notwithstanding. In addition, those drones would be incompatible with my hive. I…”

She sighed slowly to try to think of the proper words. “Its pragmatic, is what it is. As queen, it’s my duty to see the hive’s workforce is fit and able to operate, and I do that primarily through genetic manipulation. I’ve told you girls about alchemy a bunch of times.”

Rarity leaned back in her chair, her eyes drifted back to the window. The sky had darkened to the point where she could only see herself reflected in the glass. “You have, Twilight. It’s something that takes getting used to, that’s all. However, I must say, if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years since that day I was chosen to be one of the elements, it’s that friends can come from unlikely sources.” She turned her gaze back to her friends. “But here, on this wondrous ship, I learned that doesn’t have to extend only to personal friends. All of your children have proven to be good ponies…or changelings, at heart. I see no reason why, despite our differences, ponies and changelings can’t be good friends with each other just as we are.”

Rainbow was taking a long drag from her stein before slamming it down empty. “Hear hear! We can be Hearth’s Warming Eve, take two!”

Twilight smirked between bites of an amazingly good beef stir-fry. “So we have Equestrians and my changelings, who’s going to take the third slot?”

Rainbow tapped her chin for a few seconds before the figurative light bulb switched on. “Why not Luna’s little group… what are they called again? Bat ponies?”

“Thestrals, darling. And that won’t work because they’re already Equestrian citizens.”

“Yeah, so? Aren’t Twilight and the whole hive citizens too?”

Both mares looked to Twilight who found her meal had lost a bit of its appeal. “I’m not sure if we are. It’s been a while since I reviewed citizenship laws, so I can’t tell you if my children are citizens. But regardless, why mention Thestrals in this?”

“Get with the program, Twi. Sure they’re citizens, but nopony really knows anything about them. In all the times I’ve been to Canterlot, I’ve never seen a bat pony outside of the Night Guard. Makes a pony think they’re even more secretive than you changelings.”

Twilight hummed at the mention of the thestrals and detached herself from the ceiling to come into a hover near the table. With a whoosh of lavender-orange fire, Twilight remade her appearance. Her purple coat took on a much darker shade, with the same happening to her mane. Her gossamer wings were replaced by leathery ones, and her horn vanished along with all the holes in her body.

Rarity cooed over the new look. “My word, you make a simply gorgeous Thestral, darling.”

Rainbow whistled. “Gotta say, the fangs look better on a darker coat.”

Twilight summoned her hoof-mirror and primped in front of it. “You think so?”

“I know so,” Rarity gushed while leaning over in her chair to get a closer look. “I do have an eye for that sort of thing.”

“Interesting…” With a brush of magic, Twilight’s changeling features returned, but her coloration remained the same. “What about now?”

“You look alright to me, maybe a bit spooky though,” Rainbow blurted out while Rarity took a much longer appraising study.

“I don’t know… maybe if you added some lighter colors to your mane. You are named Twilight after all, maybe you should do something to play off of that.”

“I thought her original coat already did that.” Rainbow muttered as Twilight reverted most of her coloration back to normal.

The lavender queen focused on her mane and changed back to her original pony coloration. Then she changed a lock of hair on the left side of the pink stripe to a hue of bright vanilla. After that, she darkened the rest of her mane a shade or two . “There, what do you think?”

“Simply dazzling!” Rarity gushed, nearly falling out of her chair. “Oh you simply must keep it that way. And in return, I’ll make you an outfit to proclaim your new look to the world.”

Rainbow looked at it through half lidded eyes. “She only changed a single stripe of hair. Hardly seems worth making a whole new dress over.”

“Oh, don’t listen to her, Twilight, poor Dashie doesn’t have the eye for this sort of thing. Eh, no offense, dearie.” Rainbow merely shrugged before chowing down on her meal.

Twilight smiled at her reflection before casting the mirror back to her quarters. “It’ll take a little time for the new color to set in permanently, a week or so at most.” She turned around to make the same alterations to her tail, which also caused her to look at her purple and orange cutie mark. I'll keep the orange there. As a reminder of where I came from.

Her primping was cut short by a series of movements in her abdomen as more eggs were finally ready to be laid, but unlike her time as a proto queen, she was able to keep from having to lay at that very moment. Blah, it still makes me feel a little bloated though. Still, it’s not enough to drag me away from dinner.

Right as Twilight resumed her meal, Gentle Touch pinged her mind.

Twilight heaved a heavy sigh at her half eaten meal, prompting Rainbow to cast her a concerned look. “You okay, Twi?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Twilight partially lied with a nod. “Some queenly duties popped up. You mind continuing this at tomorrow’s dinner?” I need to work up a mating schedule after this.

“Yeah sure, can’t hog you all day.”

“I’d love to, Twilight, it’ll give me a chance to catch up on some back orders anyway.”

With Twilight helping Rarity reach the ground floor, the trio split up. The lavender queen couldn’t keep her mind from wandering towards Ratchet. So it came to quite a surprise to find him waiting for her just outside the mess hall. “Ratchet! I was just thinking about you.”

“And I you,” he replied with a smile before nuzzling her.

Ratchet never failed to warm her heart, or her passions. Twilight pecked him on the snout with her eyes lingering on his. “How’s work?”

He cocked his head and flashed a coy grin. “Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing.”

Twilight’s smile faded. “Gentle asked you to meet me, didn’t she?”

“Aye, that she did.” Twilight’s expression sank as she started walking towards her quarters with Ratchet following after her.

“Ratchet, are you really okay with this whole consort thing?”

The drone suppressed a sigh and head shake to exude the warm compassion he knew she needed. “Twilight, if anypony has reservations about this, it's you.”

Twilight didn’t answer. She couldn’t, not when she knew he was right.

“Twi, you know what I think? You’re just being jittery. Give the whole consort thing a week. By then, it should be as natural to you as laying is.”

Twilight’s ears wilted. Well, I’ll admit to enjoying the act of laying now. “Are you sure?”

“Do I even need to mention the first day you returned to Ponyville, and the bathroom scene?”

“Ugh, no.”

“Or how you freaked out when you had a hive mind of fifty adult drones, thinking you’d never be able to manage it all?” he said with mild teasing.

“How was I supposed to know my physiology made it so easy?”

“Because mother told you, constantly. What about the time you started using alchemy to do more than just scan and repair genetic defects?”

Some of Twilight’s confidence returned, along with an eye roll. “I know, I know, I was almost catatonic after thinking I did irreparable damage to an egg.”

“You want me to stop, or list out the twenty other times—”

“No, no, you made your point…” Twilight chuckled at herself. “Thank you, Ratchet.” She leaned in to kiss him in that slow but passionate way that he liked so much. “I needed that.”

“Anytime, my love.” When they arrived at the door, he stood off the side. “Now go on in and do our hive proud!”

Oh for the love of… Twilight glowered at his snickering face. “I look forward to having fun with you later tonight.”

Ratchet jabbed a wing at the door. “Only if he doesn’t tire you out first.”

Twilight did a double take. “I—is that a challenge!?”

“It is.”

Twilight played the offended mare and stuck her nose in the air with a harrumph. “Well then, the game is ahoof.” Twilight leveraged her bravado to shore up enough confidence to step inside. With the Phoenix being a predominantly civilian vessel, the queen’s cabin was quite large, but only half as much as her old quarters in the Stripped Gear palace. At the foot of her bed stood a rather imposing lavender drone that Twilight instantly recognized as one of her soldiers.

The new consort was fiddling with a clockwerk leg when Twilight cantered in. He yelped and hastily put the leg back and stood at attention by the desk. “Sorry, my queen, I ahhh…”

A small grin graced Twilight’s visage. “That’s quite alright, Iron Sight. Curiosity is the mother of invention.”

That helped the soldier relax a bit, prompting Twilight to make her way over to the bed. “Let’s get started, shall we? The sooner this happens, the sooner I can lay.”

The following morning was the Day of Mourning, a day Twilight had been looking forward to since the last one. To an outsider, one would only see the lavender queen meditating on a pile of cushions. There was no special gown, no ceremonial paraphernalia, just a queen, her pillows, and the hive mind. It was the Link that made all the difference.

Within the mindscape of the hive mind sat a verdant field of golden grain, with the sun shining down with a gentle light on a cloudy day. The high rising cliffs of the caldera which houses Stripped Gear lay to the south, with the Ashes of the Phoenix hanging in the skies above it.

Twilight stood in the field of grain swaying in a gentle warm breeze. She watched a living cloud of pale silvery motes of light pass overhead in a vast blanket above. The cloud was adrift in the slow wind towards the crescent moon which presided above a majestic mountain city of gleaming silver. From her earthbound position, the vast Silver City seemed to stretch on forever as the mountain reached to touch the moon itself. Dozens of endless waterfalls cascaded down the city’s elegant streets. Roaring bonfires dotted the city, forming patterns not unlike the constellations of the stars above. Were one to listen during a northern wind, they could make out singing in the breeze. Pale white trees and their night blue leaves rustled in the distance as distant figures danced around them.

She watched the slow progression with tears slowly dampening her fur and a sorrowful sob passing through the swaying wheat. Cadista entered the mindscape silently behind Twilight and rested a comforting hoof upon her daughter. “I should have expected you to recreate The Gateway early.” Twilight turned to embrace Cadista, her grief abated somewhat at her mother’s touch. “Losses in battle are always the hardest to bear.”

Twilight had no words to give. She let her pent up grief since the fight for the Chamber of Chitin pour out into Cadista’s withers, just as she in turn, did the same to Twilight. This was one of the very few times and places where the crowns were absent. The two royals wept for several long minutes, but Cadista found a thread of joy.

When Twilight’s tears abated, Cadista maneuvered them so they stood side by side to face the Silver City. They leaned on each other for strength. “Twilight… I know I’ve said this every other time we’ve been here, but I’m glad I’m no longer alone here, on the edge.”

Twilight searched the wisps as they drifted towards the city. “Do you ever see Yumia out there?”

“I imagine it every so often,” Cadista confirmed. She wondered if Twilight recreated the image of a distant queen every now and again for her benefit. “It was…” she choked back a sob to speak more clearly, “difficult, at times, to keep from ending it all to join her. But I still had a purpose to fulfill.”

“And now?”

Cadista gave Twilight a weak smile. “Now I have a new purpose. Yumia was always a patient changeling; I know she won’t mind waiting a bit longer.” A worried look crossed Twilight’s face, but she ultimately said nothing. “We should prepare ourselves. The drones will be joining us shortly.”

The lavender queen lingered with her mother. “Does it ever get easier?”

“…Controlling your emotions does,” Cadista replied after a few seconds’ thought. “In the sense of keeping the grief in check, at least. It’s one of the disadvantages of intelligent drones, we get attached to them as much as ponies do to their foals, and it’s one I gladly bear.”

“And I as well,” Twilight answered back.

Both royals steadied themselves and waited. Within less than a minute, drones started appearing by the dozen. A large cloud of grey bodies flew in from Stripped Gear, while a smaller group flew in from the Phoenix. Being within the mindscape of the hive mind, the drones moved with unnatural speed to take their place in a semicircle around the pair of queens.

The rapidly growing audience gave the royals a few meters of space as they filled the air. There was little chatter among them. Half of them were there as personal friends to the fallen, while the others were there to support their queens.

Being so completely immersed within the hive mind, Twilight could feel the waves of shared grief and anguish washing over the gathering. Yet there was immense efforts to comfort and console as well.

I think we’ve waited long enough, Cadista mused before turning to Twilight. “This is your first Day of Mourning as queen. Would you care to do the honors?”

“I would, thank you.” Twilight took a step forward and lit her horn. Not to use magic, but to signal the start of the ceremony. From the depths of the hive mind, Twilight pulled four changelings into being, all of whom had died in the caverns under the Ebony Castle. Cadista followed suit and summoned three drones of her own.

Tears streamed down Twilight’s face, but her voice was as even and regal as ever. “Today, we commemorate those who have died in service to our united hives. We queens have judged them, and they have been found…” She choked up for a moment as her eyes drifted to the still figures of her children, brothers, and sisters. “Deserving. I release them from the Link, to join the honored dead in the hallowed silver city of Havengaal. May they find peace within its walls.”

Twilight paused to collect herself, as an errant leaf danced across the field. Silence filled the air as the assembly of changelings sat in breathless anticipation of the time-honored tradition. When Twilight opened her mouth again, she did not speak.

She sang.

Twilight’s voice danced over the rolling hills, filling the air with melodious tones and evoking a myriad of emotions in the gathered changelings. Her voice was at once soft and powerful, gentle and mighty, hitting each note with practiced ease. One by one, the changelings that had perished drifted upwards, shedding their mortal forms. They joined the cloud of glowing white wisps floating towards the silver city as Twilight sang farewell to her fallen children. Then, it was over. As the last echoes of her voice escaped over the mountains, Twilight smiled at the procession.

Slowly, the gathered changelings departed the waking dream of The Gateway after they grieved all they could. Four hours later, only the queens remained behind. But even they could not remain here forever, and soon they too returned to the waking world, feeling emotionally drained, but happier nonetheless.

The Cresnox jungle was a place riddled with danger the likes of which would make the Everfree Forest look like a petting zoo. Carving a hive out of such densely predator-riddled lands was dangerous enough, so clandestine meetings were even harder to organize. Even if they were held in the skies above.

Far above the writhing woods, an ebony drone waited with the patience of stone. After what seemed like hours, a tan-colored drone buzzed in through the clouds and stopped in front of the first. Both drones barely gave each other any acknowledgment before both sent word to their respective queens.

Polybia assumed control first, and her drone’s eyes dimmed to reveal their reptilian slits. She did not have to wait long for Chrysalis’ to do the same. “Alright, Chrysalis, what’s so important that you had to drag me all the way out here? You know this is Fire Hornet territory.”

“No small talk? I was hoping I could hear how your heir was shaping up.”

Polybia groaned. “I would rather not waste time flying a second drone out after this one is killed by the hornets, just for some small talk.”

The black drone nodded sympathetically. “I see you’re in a foul mood. Perfectly understandable after hearing what that Equestrian in changeling chitin…or fur, as it were, did to the First Mother.”

The tan drone growled in anger. “I already know! That bumbling idiot of a queen killed the First Mother’s shadow! She should have accepted Her judgment rather than defy her.”

“Yes… a pity. You were right, you know,” Polybia’s puppet shot her a questioning glance. “About how the First Mother still watched over us all.”

“You called me here to patronize me?! You are nearly as bad as Cadista and her spawn.”

“You’ve got me all wrong, Polybia, even my eyes can be opened to the truth when it shines right in front of me.”

Polybia’s expression did not improve. “That’s all it took to make you do more than lip service? An old mind imprinted security crystal?”

A sidelong smirk crossed Chrysalis’ puppet. “You don’t honestly believe that, do you? That wasn’t a security system, it was a conduit for the First Mother herself!”

Polybia furrow her brow. “That’s not what the Home Guard report said. It was just a mind crystal lying dormant.”

“Now whose eyes are closed to the truth, hmm? Don’t you think it was awfully convenient that none of the Home Guard were there to see this alleged crystal while it was active?” Polybia’s eyes narrowed as Chrysalis continued. “Who else but the First Mother herself could take control of another’s drones without severing the link to their queen first?”

“It’s been done,” Polybia countered with a smug grin of her own. “I remember hijacking some of your sister Yeelindrus’ brood during the last border dispute we had. I still have a few of her drones left on display in my palace.”

“Taking a few drones is one thing, Polybia, but commanding a whole hive to follow you in an instant, and then being nearly successful in controlling some of Twilight’s drones as well? You know how hard it is to forcibly command those damned intelligent drones. The First Mother nearly succeeded in taking all forty of them at once, through a conduit no less!”

Polybia turned away to think. “You make a good point. Those devoted to the First Mother are granted a portion of her gift.”

“Velterantie, the Voice of Command. I’m telling you, Polybia, Twilight Sparkle willfully lied to the Home Guard, and by proxy, to us all. The First Mother obviously wants whatever Twilight is trying to find to remain hidden, and that Equestrian is ignoring her!”

“What of the artifacts of the true homeland then?” Polybia questioned as she turned back around. “Surely she does not want us to be without them.”

“Yet another one of Twilight’s lies,” Chrysalis replied with a snarl. “Don’t you see what’s going on? Twilight’s trying to cover her flank. She falsified her ‘findings’ from within the Chamber of Chitin to point towards Canterlot of all places. Canterlot! As the birthplace of our race!? She must have suffered some brain damage from the fight if she thinks the ponies’ capital is our birthplace.”

The real Polybia destroyed a few walls and columns in a fit of rage, but none of it showed forth in the puppet. “So,” she said after regaining her composure. “I assume you’ve discussed this with the other queens.”

“Most of them, but so far most are hesitant to see the truth.”

“To see the truth? Or stare down the guns of the Phoenix? Are the others still so afraid of the machines of Stripped Gear, even after three hundred years since the Battle of Dentar?”

Chrysalis gave her a scathing look. “You were still a princess back then, Polybia, a young one at that. I’m not surprised your mother never told you of the humiliating defeat Yumia inflicted on her. The Fernal Alliance collapsed after that, you know.”

“So what are you suggesting, then? If you truly wish to honor the First Mother, then we cannot stand to let the blasphemer live.”

“What I suggest is that you show no overt hostility to Twilight nor Cadista, and in the meantime, I need to you build an army.”

“With what?” Polybia challenged. “I have enough love for maybe another few hundred drones, but I can’t support more than that unless my collectors expand into Griffin lands.”

Chrysalis snickered at the thought. “Don’t worry about that. I can have dozens of prisoners transferred to you with but a word. You could siphon enough love off of them to satiate five armies.”

“How did you arrange that?”

“It was simple really,” Chrysalis tittered. “For all they champion the virtues of harmony, ponies have quite a few prisons that nobody likes to talk about. All it took was a few greased hooves, some lined pockets, and some prison transfer orders. And it’s not just with the ponies either. The griffins, zebras, and minotaurs are more than happy to empty their jails for me. You ally with me, and you’ll have all the love you’ll ever need.”

“Alright, Chrysalis. You have a deal. But I want your assurance that Twilight will pay for her crimes.”

“Ha! Oh, don’t worry, Polybia, she will pay.” But she won’t be alone.

Before either of them could say more, a swarm of burning hornets fell upon the drones, burning both of them to cinders before they could utter a cry of pain. Not that either queen cared, the messengers had served their purpose.

Two days later, Twilight was standing on the bridge, gazing out of the massive forward view of Equestria it provided. A powerful sense of belonging wafted over her. Finally, I’m bringing my home back home.

Twilight pilfered a spyglass from beside her throne and looked ahead to find Canterlot off in the distance. I’m sure Celestia and Luna wouldn’t mind a little social call while I investigate the cave ruins.

She closed the spyglass as an errant thought came to her. But then again… She turned to one of her daughters, who was dressed in a smart, crisp uniform, courtesy of Rarity. “Captain Veselov.”

The drone moved away from the radar station. “Yes, my queen?”

“Have somepony work up a shore leave rotation. The kids need to go outside and play.”

Veselov gave her a critical eye, but Twilight knew her brood well. Veselov’s irritation slowly melted away into childish delight. “Any chance I can get on the rotation?”

Twilight inwardly chuckled. They may be adults by drone standards, but they still have a child’s wonder. “Absolutely.”

Author's Note

just in case the song link is broken: Cé Hé Mise Le Ulaingt [ The Two Tree]

6: Machinations

The crystal caves under Canterlot were a strange and dour place. The upper levels under the castle were little more than drab grey rock and dull inert crystal that exuded a miasma of lifelessness. Twilight was thankful that she failed to notice that the last time she was here. Dark shapes danced about the craggy chamber as Twilight’s entourage of seven drones tried to occupy themselves with shadow puppets using their flashlights.

The hour was late, but that was part of the plan to allow Luna to join at a more convenient time for the nocturnal princess. At present, Twilight focused in on herself, or to be more precise, the clutch of eggs residing within her. Her magical senses probed each one as she sat on dusty stone ground. Only ten of them have been fertilized, and it’s been over two hours. I may need to have a second round with a consort to finish the job.

The sound of feathers on the stale air dragged Twilight’s attention to the eastern entrance, fully expecting Luna, but getting someone else instead. “Rainbow? What are you doing here?”

The cyan mare spun in the air before she descended to the ground near Twilight. “What’d you expect? You were trying to go on an adventure without me again,” she replied with pseudo indignation.

Twilight easily saw through it. “I didn’t think you’d want to go. We’re only going exploring in a cave system for archaeological reasons.”

“Oh yeah? Didn’t you go to the Ebony Castle for the same thing?” Rainbow challenged with a condescending lift of her eyebrow.

“Er, well,” she looked to her drones for help, but most only shrugged or couldn’t comment. Twilight suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and simply climbed to her hooves. “If you want to come, you’re more than welcome to.” That placated the pegasus, which gave Twilight time to spy the bejeweled iron circlet on Rainbow’s brow. “I didn’t know you were one for jewelry, Rainbow.”

“Oh this awesome thing?” she replied while patting it with a hoof. “My girl, Aegis, gave it to me. This thing is pretty sweet!”

The drone in question flew over after hearing her name. “You don’t have to wear it just to be nice, Aunty. I know you didn’t like it,” she said with mild bemusement.

Twilight arched a curious eyebrow as Rainbow Dash waved a dismissive hoof. “It wasn’t you, kid. I was just angry at my reassignment orders.”

“You’re really getting transferred? To where?” Twilight asked morosely.

“It’s the wing I’m assigned to. We’re being rotated to the chaos spawn border in a week,” Rainbow replied while trying not to sound terrified, and only partially succeeding.

“Oh…” Twilight’s ears fell flat. “I wish you luck then.”

“Hey, I’m not leaving yet, and besides, I already did a tour of duty a couple of years ago. They didn’t touch me then, and they’re not going to get me now!” Rainbow hoped she sounded braver than she felt.

Aegis felt her mother’s growing distress over the link and tried to steer the conversation off topic. “So, you really do like the circlet?”

The query had the desired effect. Rainbow adjusted her headgear to have her mane flow over it. “Yeah, it’s kinda grown on me.”

“So does it really make you faster like Curio said it would?” she asked with wided eyed enthusiasm.

Rainbow started to say something, but stopped herself to give it real thought. She rubbed her chin for a few moments. “No, if anything it's slowing me down a bit. Iron isn’t exactly light material, you know.”

“Bu—” Aegis tilted her head in bafflement. “Then why are you still wearing it? The whole reason I got it for you was to help you fly faster.”

Silly filly, it’s hard to remember sometimes you guys aren’t even five years old. Rainbow laid a matronly hoof around Aegis. “Girl, let me tell you something about gift giving.”

As Rainbow assured Aegis her gift was well appreciated, Twilight fell back to give them space. As she did, the hauntingly familiar scent of changeling magic leaked out of the circlet. It was so faint that she only noticed it after Rainbow poked the item with a hoof. She was about to start discreteely probing the circlet with her magic when Luna’s timely arrival distracted her.

The lunar princess, along with two Night Guards, trotted through the same entrance Rainbow had used, carrying heavily laden saddlebags; although one wouldn’t be able to tell given the spring in her step. “Good evening, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, I pray I haven’t left you waiting for too long.”

“Not at all,” Twilight reassured warmly. “We were just making final preparations, plus I already have several squads combing the upper levels of the mine. I left the juicy stuff down below just for us!”

“What are we sitting around for then?” Rainbow blurted. “Let’s go spelunking!”

The drones cheered their agreement and doubled checked their equipment before flying down the circular pit where a winding mine cart track descended into the lightless depths. There, they hoped to find answers to questions Tia’vil’yet had suppressed since times beyond remembrance.

Far to the south in the starlit jungles of the queendoms, a lean grey drone slunk through the dense wet underbrush of a small ravine. The never-ending light drizzle of the mistlands tried in vain to seep into his clothing as the drone jumped over a log on rubber shod hooves. The noise of drones approaching from the east caught his ear, making him shuffle behind some dense foliage.

The noise of gossamer wings on the air passed directly overhead and to a small natural clearing adjacent to a short waterfall. His genetically enhanced eyes saw the three dozen black drones carrying twenty cigar shaped pods of various sizes, before placing them near the riverbank.

a curt masculine voice replied.

Cypher watched the gathered drones as lightning struck a highly combustible Calero tree, blasting the area with noise and bathing the pods in orange light. Within them, he saw figures of various sizes.

Observer queried with a touch of worried concern.

Cypher replied bluntly.

Several of Jstrul’s drones fanned out from the center and started sweeping the underbrush. Cypher wedged himself between a hollow log and a jagged boulder where the overhanging branches of a recently felled tree completely concealed him.

Cypher grunted quietly.

One of the hostile drones started moving towards Cypher’s position. With expert control over his magic, he changed his disguise to that of rotting leaves without the telltale flash of magical fire, although he was unable to obscure his equine silhouette. The black drones sniffed around, trying to use their superior sense of smell to locate any predators or threats, but the mists made that nearly impossible. Even though Link speak was completely silent, Cypher dared not even think as a drone hovered directly above him.

He knew the light rain fouled most attempts at sniffing something out, but that didn’t stop a dose of fear from slipping through Cypher’s professionalism. The sniffing drone’s head jerked to the side, as if it caught whiff of something.

With his horn coated in a resin to hide the light, Cypher noiselessly slid his knife out. The hostile drone slowly looked down right at him, and in an instant, found Cypher’s blade buried in his throat. The scout cursed his luck and prowled away with the corpse in tow. He made sure the blood trailed behind him.

Cypher angled his ears back towards the other drones, and heard several of them racing towards his last position. He made it to the ravine and dumped the body. He barely had a few seconds to hide under a broad-leaved fern before several angry drones buzzed past his location.

There he waited for five minutes as the ebony changelings searched for the body, only to assume the worst and return to the drop site. Much to his displeasure, Cypher’s prediction proved true, and the drones started moving in teams of three. Better keep my distance.

The scout swore under his breath. He found a good perch in a tree and climbed up into it before withdrawing his glass. By now, the pods were surrounded by a ring of bioluminescent bladders, casting the pods in a gentle teal light. Half of the drones were busy fending off several small predators trying to eat their captives.

However, Cypher’s attention was focused on who the prisoners were. Odd, he mused before addressing his handler.

Observer brooded for a few seconds. That doesn’t make sense. Jstrul’s hive doesn’t have drones modified to work in Griffin and Minotaur territory. Smuggling such prisoners would be difficult, given that Kreesus controls the old western roads into Minatoria.

he quipped derisively.

Observer replied flatly.

True enough, an equal number of Polybia’s drones arrived from across the waterfall and gathered up the pods without uttering a word to the first group. That’s Polybia’s brood alright. I’d recognize that Tyrant strain anywhere. A shiver ran down his spine at the sight of the three tank-sized flying monstrosities being loaded down with half a dozen pods each.

The faint smell of burnt rose petals struck his nose. Damn, those flies are fast. Maybe they’ll snag some of the no-brains.

As Cypher slid away from the meeting place, a black drone at the top of the ravine silently watched him leave through reptilian eyes. The bait’s been taken; now I just have to wait for Cadista to leave herself vulnerable.

A mirthless laugh bubbled from the puppet’s throat as it left to join its brethren in the inky skies.

If there was one thing the bowels of the crystal caves and the wetlands had in common, it was humidity. Unfortunately for Aegis, the caves did not share the jungle’s warmth. Her teeth chattered quietly as she tried in vain to bundle up in her light uniform. Hate the cold; hate the cold; I really, really hate the cold.

She scanned her flashlight across the painfully drab room, seeing nothing but full crystal formations and slug-like rock biters that scurried away from the light. Several drones and a pair of thestrals were carrying supplies and accompanying Twilight and Luna as the royal mares led the way deeper into the mines. How could anypony live down here?

A friendly hoof landed across her withers, causing the teeth-chattering Aegis to turn to Rainbow Dash. “You look down, kid. You alright?”

Aegis cleared her throat to buy time to look tough for her favorite aunt. “It’s just a little chilly. I’m used to the jungle heat and all that.”

Rainbow took her leg off of the drone to walk normally. “I get ya. The cold’s not that bad for me, but that’s what I get for growing up in Cloudsdale. I could do without the constant murmur these caves are putting out, though.”

“I don’t hear anything,” Aegis replied with only a brush of concern. “It’s probably the raw mana around here. The ancient hives used to settle around ley lines, and I believe Canterlot was founded above one.”

“Oh, I guess that makes sense,” Rainbow Dash sighed. Glad I’m not going crazy. “Say, once your hive settles down somewhere, you want to see Cloudsdale with me?” Rainbow offered, trying to distract herself.

Aegis’ eyes lit up and hugged her. “Really, you mean it!?”

“Sure. You, me, and anypony else who wants to go. Just be sure to bring a jacket.”

Aegis bounced on her hooves. “Ah! You’ve got to show me the wea—” With some of the flashlights partially illuminating the pegasus, something about her seemed off. Is her facial fur darker than normal?

Rainbow waved a wing in Aegis’ face. “Hello, anypony home?”

“Huh? Oh, sorry, I think the mana around here is playing tricks on me again. But yeah! I’d love to go!” She would have said more, but an intense wave of surprise cascaded through the local Link, causing Aegis to run over to Twilight.

“I think we found something, everypony,” Twilight called out as she surveyed the underground stream before her.

Strewn across the room was a dense carpet of bones broken only by the flowing water. Some were still in nearly intact skeletons, while other bones were lying by themselves. Broken pickaxes and shovels were scattered around, causing the two royal mares to contemplate silently as their escorts started moving carefully around the area.

Luna cast her senses across the foreboding chamber. The feeling of the room caused her horn to ache. “There is primal magic at work here. We must be close to the ley line fount.”

“There was a ley line fount under the Ebony Castle too.” Twilight dislodged a pickaxe head from a broken skeleton. “All of this should have decayed centuries ago. Not to mention...” She surveyed the carnage and couldn’t help but to imagine the fighting and the dying. Stay objective, Twilight. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think they attacked one another. Did you get a chance to review the old records of why they closed the mine?”

Princess Luna bent down to carefully inspect the ground for any more subtle clues. “No. Canterlot’s founding and the mine’s closure predates my sister and I’s arrival in Equestria by a few thousand years. As for the records,” she groaned while pinching the bridge of her muzzle, “after I asked for them, the archivist would have laughed me out of the library had I been anypony other than a princess. All the old records were lost in a series of fires spread out across the last five thousand years, and being the ageless alicorn that I am, she thought that would be common knowledge for me.”

“Was she aware that you two haven’t ruled for even half that?” Twilight asked with polite incredulousness.

Luna shrugged her wings in defeat. “I don’t know. The archivist does her job, but her nose was lost in a ridiculous tabloid when I approached her, so she just might have been that ignorant.”

“I knew the city was old but… I had no idea it was so ancient.”

“A lot of old history was lost in the Shadow War with Sombra,” Luna commented. “Thanks to that, exact dates from historic events are smudged, and most writers just like to say ‘a thousand years’ for dramatic effect.” She picked up two halves of a shattered bone. “This was done by a shovel.”

Twilight commanded. “If I had to guess, I’d say the miners turned on each other.”

“Think your ancestors had something to do with that?” Luna’s tone was more clinical than anything else.

“Hmm… Given how deep into the mountain we are, I’d hazard a yes.” Twilight stood up to scan for a likely path further into the depths. “We must be close, just as the miners were.”

“And they were killed for it,” Luna remarked, earning a worried look from Twilight.

“I’m sure they had good reason,” Twilight replied, hoping to alleviate any negativity.

“Oh, undoubtedly,” Luna assured as she followed Twilight down one of the tunnels. “History likes to forget that early Equestrians were horrifically xenophobic. As was my sister in those early years."

Rainbow Dash decided to remain in the air and hovered near the alicorn. “But I thought Hearth's Warming Eve taught them the value of friendship with others.”

“Ha!” Luna chortled darkly for what seemed like minutes. Twilight shared a few uncomfortable glances with her drones and the Night Guard until the princess finally recollected herself. “Sorry, you weren’t there. Let me just say, that just because the tribes were finally able to overlook the racism between themselves, and only for mutual benefit I might add, doesn’t mean they were suddenly lovey-dovey to everyone else. As I recall, they waged war on the zebras a few times just because their stripes were seen as the Mark of Felnaroth. And don’t get me started on the atrocities committed against the griffins, even if they were justified.”

“...Wow… I guess that explains why ponies are so slow to welcome my kind.” Twilight traced a hoof across the tunnel walls. “On a brighter note, this feels smooth with traces of wax. This might be the right direction.”

Rainbow Dash flew over after Luna called out for everyone to move out. “Any chance we can get out of here any time soon? This place is really starting to creep me out.”

Twilight lit the downward sinking tunnel with a spell while giving her friend a cautious grin. “A graveyard isn’t exactly what I was hoping to find first thing either.”

“Well, that too yeah, but…” Rainbow scratched her head as if to try and dislodge a pest. “There’s a noise around here that’s bugging me. Ah, no offense.”

Luna stopped to face the pegasus. “It’s probably the echoes of the stream or subterranean life. There’s nothing here that poses any real danger, unless you fall directly into the ley line or the changelings left any traps behind.”

“I wouldn’t bet against that,” Twilight remarked while casting Aegis a knowing glance. The drone fretted over the memory, but tried to keep her nervousness concealed.

The group descended deeper into the mountain for several dozen meters through twisting tunnels that seemed to be designed to mislead any would-be intruders. Yet to one who knew what to look for, each step revealed a more artificial touch upon the walls, until they came to a crystal door. It was inlaid with worn runes forming a circle around the center. Both royal mares made sure enough light was on the door before Twilight bent down to read.

Luna took stock of their location with a geological spell. “By the stars! For all that walking, we’re only five meters below the site of the massacre! Looks like the miners dug too greedily and too deep for the changelings’ liking.”

“Sure looks that way,” Twilight agreed. “The door’s enchantment seems to have faded long ago, but I think the crystals that were used are still intact.”

“Allow me to assist; I am familiar with old changeling magic,” Luna offered.

As the two mares toiled away for over an hour, Rainbow Dash was finding it increasingly difficult to put on an air of cool confidence. Hundreds, no, thousands of voices whispered in the back of her mind. Her eyes darted back and forth at the brightly lit tunnel as the drones and two thestrals settled in to wait for their respective rulers. Some of the drones pulled out playing cards to occupy their time. Only one of the Night Guard decided to join the drones in a friendly game of Blackmare. Ferrum, the dealer, waved a hoof at Rainbow Dash to join them.

However, Rainbow Dash didn’t register the invitation as she scratched her forehead to try and ease an itch, but the voices were growing maddeningly loud. Shut up, SHUT UP! Get out of my head! A gentle hoof on her shoulder made her jump.

Aegis carried a gravely worried look. “Rainbow, are you alright?” She brought her flashlight up to inspect the pegasus’ face, only to gasp in shock. The fur around the pegasus’ head and face were a stark violet, and the roots of her mane were turning rich lavender. “Rainbow! Mother, something’s wrong with RD!”

Dropping everything, Twilight bolted over with Luna not far behind. Rainbow was sniffling out of fear. “Get them out of my head, make them stop!”

“Everypony get back!” Twilight warned. “I don’t know if this can spread.”

Everyone quickly obeyed while Luna scanned Rainbow for any sign of a mundane disease. Finding nothing, she switched to magical ailments. “Something is attacking her, but I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Twilight lightly tapped Rainbow’s cheek to get her to speak. “RD, what’s wrong? Does it hurt anywhere?”

The pegasus’ eyes were darting in every direction, and her ears were pressed flat, but the noise was only getting louder. “No! But these damn voices are making it hard to think! Get me out of here; I need to leave, now, now, NOW!”

A terrible thought crossed Luna’s mind, and she searched herself. I’m not hearing anything. She turned to Twilight. “We should take her to the surface; we can find out what’s going on there.”

“Agreed, but we can’t teleport this close to the ley line—” She stopped dead cold. Amidst the sea of voices that made up the hive mind, one of them was panicky, terrified, and frighteningly familiar. “No… How!?”

Luna levitated the stricken pegasus onto her back. “Twilight, we must hurry!”

“Wait a minute,” Twilight urged as she scanned Rainbow for a different magical signature. Her discovery made her breath quicken. “It’s not a curse; she’s being converted by alchemy! But that’s impossible!”

Twilight only half heard Luna’s stunned response as she quickly isolated Rainbow’s presence in the Link. I don’t know how this is happening, but at least I can ease her pain. Fearful that a complete cut might damage her friend’s mind, Twilight opted to deafen Rainbow from the hive mind. The effect was immediate, and she slackened on the princess’s back.

Luna turned to her guards. “We’re too deep to teleport out safely; get to the surface and tell the archmagus to meet us halfway. Go!”

She watched her thestrals depart for a moment before casting a worried glance between pegasus and queen. “You said alchemy? But I thought you needed a whole apparatus for that.”

“Normally…” Twilight’s senses directed her to the circlet, which she promptly ripped off Rainbow’s head. The act stunned Rainbow into a barely lucid state, but her fur stopped turning purple, and her mane mostly remained the same, albeit with different colored roots.

Twilight motioned for Luna to place Rainbow on the ground so they could inspect her. The lavender queen checked her friend from hoof to ear. “The alchemy’s gone; she won’t change any further.”

Luna cringed at the sight of the pegasus. The fur starting from mid way down her neck and up was completely violet that graded into darker shades, with the top being solid lavender. “How can you be certain?”

“She’s alchemically inactive.” Twilight took out her canteen and gave Rainbow a few sips before the stricken mare fell unconscious. “RD, are you okay? Speak to me.”

Rainbow Dash’s mind was experiencing too much shock for her to register Twilight's plea, which only served to send Twilight closer towards the deep end. “We have to get her to the ship, it’s the only place I can make sure she doesn’t have any deformities.”

Luna carefully placed the stricken mare on her back. “We should move her to the castle instead. It’s closer, and you can have any necessary equipment you need delivered easier.”

“That’ll work, but we need to move!” Twilight said before addressing her escorts. “Start searching for a way to open this door; I’ll summon an extra detail to give the bones a proper burial.”

“Yes, my queen!” They all replied.

Twilight fretted over the sleeping pegasus. While Rainbow couldn’t hear the hive mind, Twilight could still hear her. Hang on Rainbow. I’ll fix this, somehow.

Later, in the wee hours of the morning, Rainbow Dash awoke on one of the sofas in Twilight Sparkle’s tower. It was a new moon, so the only light in the central chamber was from the candles surrounding the exhausted mare’s desk.

Lying on cushions scattered around her sofa, Rainbow saw several drones were sleeping around her. Aegis and her squad were the closest. “Gah, what happened?” she moaned quietly. She blinked slowly at the lavender queen before drowsily taking wing to fly over to her. “Twi?”

Twilight jolted from her study of the circlet to face the violet/cyan mare. “Rainbow!” She gripped her friend’s head on either side. “Do you remember who you are? Who I am? Anything?”

Rainbow Dash arched a sardonic eyebrow. “Ah, yeah. You’re the biggest egghead royal bug I’ve ever met, and I’m the best Wonderbolt there is.”

The pegasus suddenly found herself being squished in a crushing hug. “Oh, thank the First Mother! Your memories are still there.” Rainbow struggled to breathe, prompting Twilight to loosen up. “Are you feeling well? Any pain or discomfort? I checked for nerve damage and tissue malformation, but I didn’t find any—” A cyan hoof planted itself in her muzzle, but her mouth was moving so fast she didn’t stop talking for a few more seconds.

“Twilight, what’s going on? Why are you asking me all this?”

It took Twilight a few moments to recompose herself and remove the hoof from her muzzle. “Please, answer my questions.”

Rainbow shot her a weird look before rolling her eyes. “I’m feeling fine, I’m not in…” She took a moment to pad herself down. “No pain anywhere. Happy?”

“Very; thank you. Do you remember anything of what happened last night?”

That was where Rainbow Dash was drawn up short. “Umm, I take it you mean besides the caves and the bones?” The lavender queen nodded slowly. “Well there were like a kajillon voices in my head. Is that the sort of trap the old 'Lings left behind, or did we piss off some ghost down there.”

Twilight fumbled with the circlet for several seconds to find the right words. “Rainbow… There were no traps or ghosts or anything. You were hearing my hive mind.”

That earned a tilted head from the Wonderbolt. “You wanna run that by me one more time?”

Sighing, Twilight levitated the circlet to hover between them. “This thing partially converted you into a changeling; specifically, Aegis’ template.”

“You’re kidding... right?” Rainbow hoped, only to find a mirror, wrapped in Twilight’s magic, fly over to her. Her face fell at the violet furry face staring back at her. Rainbow’s mouth hung agape as her brain failed spectacularly to process what it was seeing.

Twilight could feel Rainbow’s growing panic over the Link, but refused to bleed it away out of respect. “RD, I want you to know I’m going to do everything I can to fix this.”

“M-my fur… it’s supposed to be blue. Blue. Blue! Why am I purple!? I—” To both mares’ astonishment, Rainbow Dash’s fur shimmered an extremely faint lavender before returning to its normal cyan color, and the discoloration of her mane also faded away. “I—I… I’m blue again. Are you doing this?”

“No!” Twilight’s heart soared and she latched onto Rainbow’s face again. “Amazing, I knew your transformation affected your fur the quickest, but I didn’t think it was a complete conversion! I need to run more tests on you to gauge the extent of your changes… for science! By the way, it’s very light cerulean, not blue,” she added academically.

Rainbow was finding it hard to speak with Twilight’s hooves squishing her face. “Cwan yu wet go wow?”

“Oh, sorry!” The queen released her friend immediately. “I’m just shocked that you can use your disguise at all.” The partial conversion must have allowed her to generate some changeling mana.

Unfortunately, now that Rainbow’s panic was slowly bleeding away at the sight of her restored fur, whatever control she had over her abilities fell away and her coat faded back to violet. “No! Go back, go back!”

“Rainbow—” Twilight started, only to be given pause by a raised wing. The pegasus growled into the mirror in her hooves to change back, and her violet fur shimmered a bit, but couldn’t fully stabilize. Twilight pushed the feathered wing out of her face. “Rainbow, I can teach you how to control this, at least long enough I figure out how to reverse this.”

For several minutes, Rainbow tried to reclaim her original color. She would succeed for, at most, several seconds before the strain was too much and she reverted back. In the end, she turned to her lavender friend. “Can you reverse this? Like, before I go on deployment with the ‘Bolts?”

Despite Rainbow’s irate exterior, primal fear seeped through the barrier Twilight had placed between her and the hive mind. Twilight hugged her friend tightly. “I promise, Rainbow, I’ll do everything I can to fix this. But I don’t know how long it will take.”

“Hey, come on,” Rainbow scoffed, trying to reassert her bravado. “If you hadn’t been there, I’d be a hundred percent 'Ling now, wouldn’t I? So my fur’s a different color, big deal. Nothing a dye job can’t fix, right?” Twilight let go of her friend, giving Rainbow time to fully inspect herself. “I mean, awesome mane: check. Sky blue - er - cerulean coat: mostly check.” She flexed her wings into different positions and gave her feathers a good tug. “Radical wings: double check!”

Twilight hid an inner cringe. Oh no, she’s doing a checklist…

As Rainbow finished her self-inspection, Twilight recollected her notes on her earlier inspection while trying to ignore the connotations of Rainbow’s inspection method. “From what I gathered, your fur and skin from the neck up are nearly a complete conversion. Oddly enough, it’s only skin deep.”

“Am I going to have to worry about shedding or something?” Rainbow said, trying to inject some humor.

Not that it worked, since Twilight could sense the pegasus’ lingering terror under the surface. “Ah well, no more than usual, although you might find humid heat to be more to your liking,” Twilight explained, glad to bring her friend into a more amicable mood. “I stopped your transformation before your horn could start growing in, and as far as I can tell, nothing’s been changed below the neckline except for one thing.”

“So I don’t have to worry about eggs?” Rainbow asked with sudden intense dread. “I mean, eggs are good, but that’s all you, queen bug.”

Twilight attempted to give a flat look but it ended up turning into a sleepy yawn. “No, you’re entirely pony below the neck, except for an alteration to your metabolism and digestive tract.”

“Metabo what?” Rainbow couldn’t stop running her tongue over her distinctively not flat teeth. “Is that something do with my teeth being weird?” Before Twilight could speak, Rainbow’s eyes lit up like the sun. “I get it! Sharp teeth means you eat meat! I can eat meat now!?”

Twilight was at a complete loss at her friend’s sudden enthusiasm. “Umm…technically ponies have always had the ability, but—.”

“Yeah, yeah, most of us’d get indigestion. But are you saying I can actually eat meat totally safely now?” A confused nod was Twilight’s only answer. “This is awesome! All those years of Gilda dangling chicken in front of me, and recently with your hive…”

The pegasus was practically drooling over Twilight’s scrolls as she rambled about dining on Pepper’s famous Beer Roasted Beef with Onions. Twilight simply couldn’t find any words, although she could sense over the Link that her friend was grasping at straws. Anything to distract herself from how close she came to becoming a drone. Even with that in mind, Twilight had difficulty finding any semblance of logic to Rainbow’s incoherent mumbling about other changeling cuisine. “I’m starting to think the circlet actually did do something to your mind,” she muttered half-jokingly.

“You think my taste buds are more inclined to like meat now too? Because your kids eat more beef than ponies do hay.”

Twilight threw her hooves up at the figurative curve ball worthy of Pinkie Pie herself. “That’s it, I give up. I’m going to bed. But before I do. Would you allow me to teach you how to control your disguise? I can do it in a short minute via the Link.”

“Ahh…” Rainbow reimagined the constant nonsensical chatter that assailed her under the mountain. Her ears folded back and she started to hyperventilate.

Twilight felt a wash of terror from her friend. “Sorry, I should have known you’d be af—”

Rainbow’s ears shot up and a determined look crossed her face. “No!” Twilight stopped as the pegasus wrestled with her fear. “Will it hur - no, will it mess with my brain in any way? I want to still be me.”

“The hive mind is for communication; you’ll still be Rainbow Dash. You’ve seen my children; they have as much personality as any pony out there,” Twilight reassured. Although not as much as you half the time.

The pegasus forced her breathing and fear under control through sheer force of will and stared at her lavender friend. “Do it.”

As Twilight gently imparted the knowledge, the drone of the hive mind was unintelligible for several seconds until Vespid passed into her knowledge, followed by the nuances of wielding a disguise.

A thought struck Rainbow while it all happened. “Why does it not sound as terrifying as last time?”

“If I had to guess, it’s because you know what the voices are, and that they won’t harm you.”

Duh. “Okay. Um… That make sense.” She was having difficulty thinking with a few thousand voices in her mind. “How do you deal with all the noise?”

“You want the simple answer or the long one?”

“Simple, please.”

Twilight poured the last of her cold coffee in a mug and took a few sips before giving the cup to Rainbow. “Simply put, a changeling’s brain is wired to work with a hive mind. Given enough time, you won’t want to be separated from it.” Rainbow put the mug down, but Twilight jumped out of her chair. “Which is why I’m limiting you to just a thread connection until I’m sure I can sever you safely.”

“Now hold on!” Rainbow half shouted, stopping Twilight short. “You’ve gotten into all kinds of trouble over the years, and I wasn’t able to help you because I never knew about it until after all the action was over. You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”

Some of the drones awoke from the raised voice, while Twilight was frozen by the idea. “A-are you seriously suggesting—”

Rainbow waved her hooves defensively. “Not the whole thing, just you. So long as I’m part 'Ling here, I at least want to stay in contact with you.”

“I guess I can do that, but I’d really like to get some sleep.”

“Sounds good. But before you go, what did you find out about the circlet and where Aegis got it from?”

And there goes what little of a good mood I had, she inwardly groaned. “The shopkeeper lied about knowing what the circlet really was. He thought it was some old junk that he could con somepony into taking off his hooves.”

“You don’t really believe that do you?” Rainbow rebuked. “A pony like that’s gotta know what he’s selling.”

“Luna wasn’t convinced either—” Twilight yawned loudly, “but since he had a disclaimer sign at the door and register, and you didn’t die, we can’t prosecute him.”

As Twilight finished gently granting Rainbow the knowledge of proper disguise use, the pegasus felt some of Twilight’s drowsiness leak into her. “Maybe I’ll try it out in the morning. Night, Twi.”

“Good night, Rainbow Dash.”

Just outside of the window, a Night Guard listened in on the entire conversation. Rainbow’s rapid turnaround deeply troubled him. Nopony could be so accepting of having that plague brought upon them. That queen must have planned this. The boss will want to know. We have to stop the plaguebearer from spreading her curse any further.

With utter silence, the guard fell away from the window and powered his way to the noble district.

During the following day’s lunch in Twilight’s tower, Aegis’ squad watched on in mute awe as Rainbow Dash shoveled a roast beef sandwich into her maw. Moans and gasps of ecstasy escaped the mostly cyan mare between bites. Her plate had been filled with four different changeling dishes. There were no survivors.

Aegis nervously fidgeted with her hooves and couldn’t truly face her adopted aunt. While all of them felt guilty for not presenting the magical items to Twilight for inspection first, she was the one who had purchased the circlet. Rainbow took notice and spoke after washing her sandwich down. “Aegy, are you going to wear that apologetic look all day?”

“Sorry,” she whined. “I shouldn’t have been so stupid as to trust that crook to know what he was selling.”

“So you messed up, it’s not the end of the world.” Rainbow pulled Aegis into a sidelong hug and shot her a winning smug grin. “Sure, the purple fur’s not my thing, and I keep biting my tongue on these new teeth,” some of her cheer started fading, “and I have short fangs… and a bit of a love addiction…” Aegis’s mood plummeted. Rainbow cleared her throat and took a swig of her beer. “Look, it wasn’t your fault. And besides, Twi stopped it before I went full drone, and she’s cooking up a cure right now, and I get to eat meat, so that’s like a triple plus.”

It wasn’t enough to bolster Aegis’ spirits, and she leaned her head into Rainbow’s neck to whimper. I’m so sorry, Aunty.

A loud knocking on the door stifled any further discussion. Intel jumped out of his seat right as Twilight spoke from the upper levels of the tower. Rainbow successfully reverted her coat color before Intel could obey.

He found a nervous looking bellhop with a pair of brown boxes bearing the royal seal on his back. “Delivery for ahh...” the earth pony pulled out a scroll. “Queen Twilight Sparkle and Dame Rainbow Dash.”

Intel eyed the pony, and then the boxes, with curiosity. “I can take those for you.”

“I need your signature here, p-p-please.” He flipped his scroll over and offered an inked quill. Once Intel did as requested, he pulled the two packages off the earth pony’s back. “H-have a good day, sir.”

The bellhop ran off like a shot, prompting the drone to tilt his head. Maybe he’s just another superstitious pony.

Once the door was closed, Rainbow let go of her partial disguise with a labored exhale. “That” *huff* “was harder than I thought.” *puff*

Aegis gently patted her adopted aunt on the back. “Even though mom gave you the knowledge via the Link, it'll take time to get used to using it. But you're doing great for a beginner!”

Intel placed the packages on the table, while Rainbow gave her niece a crooked smile. “Thanks, kid.”

“So, were you expecting anything?” Ferrum asked while prodding the boxes to see which one belonged to Rainbow.

As soon as it was identified, the violet/cyan pegasus started ripping her package open. “The address said it was from Princess Celestia.”

As Rainbow finished tearing her box apart, Twilight fluttered down from her study. “I think I figured out what the circlet is.” She paused at the table. “What’s in the boxes?”

“Apparently, they’re gifts from Princess Celestia,” Intel replied evenly.

Twilight eyed the medallion Rainbow pulled out the tattered remains of her package. “You don’t sound convinced.”

Given the recent trouble with the circlet, Rainbow Dash was wary to do any more than look at her gift. “I think I’m the only one who has reason to be paranoid about jewelry right now.”

“Did it come with a note?”

“Uhhh…” Rainbow put her medallion on the table and searched through the box to find a folded piece of paper.

I’m terribly sorry I couldn’t deliver this gift personally, Rainbow Dash, but my duties hold my attention elsewhere. Nevertheless, I discreetly commissioned my personal enchanter to create a masking ornament for you. I hope it is to your liking, and that Twilight finds a speedy solution.

-Princess Celestia

Ferrum prodded the medallion with a hoof. “That was awfully nice of her, wasn’t it?”

“I guess…” Rainbow admitted reluctantly.

“This would give you plenty of time to master your disguise,” Intel added reassuringly. “I mean, I know jewelry isn’t your thing and all, but...”

“Yeah, yeah I get you, but sorry, I’m not wearing that thing,” Rainbow huffed as she pushed it away. “Gift from the princess or not, I’m not wearing any more magic items unless it’s called the Element of Loyalty, and I don’t see that happening anytime soon.”

Rainbow’s growing phobia made Twilight scoff. “Don’t be so melodramatic, RD. It’s just a simple illusion charm.”

“Oh yeah? And what if this enchanter guy messed up and it turns me into a newt?” Rainbow Dash said while crossing her forelegs.

“Look,” Twilight placated, “what if I scan the medallion right here and now, to quintuple check that’s perfectly safe?”

If I say no, they’ll think I’m being chicken. “Yeah, sure. Just make sure it’s safe, and then I got no problems.”

“Good to hear.” Twilight nodded warmly before directing her senses to Rainbow’s medallion. She took the time to visually inspect the medallion first, which a finely crafted gold necklace with bronze enclosing a gem-quality crystal. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she scanned her magic over it. “It’s just as the note said; it has a basic illusion charm on it. Nothing to worry about,” she said while nudging the necklace towards the hesitant pegasus.

Rainbow Dash decidedly pushed it back. “Legit or not, I’m not touching it. I’d rather muscle my way into learning my… disguise rather than be tricked twice by some piece of metal.”

“You’re hopeless; you know that?” Twilight groaned.

“Hey! How do I know the thing wasn’t cursed before the archmage got ahold of it? He coulda gotten this thing from Bargain Bin Warehouse for Cursed Junk, for all I know.”

Twilight twisted her muzzled into a disbelieving scowl. “Alright, alright; if I take a more detailed inspection, will you wear it?”

“Ahh…” Rainbow glanced at the drones and could just feel her cool factor draining fast. “Yeah, sure. If you can make it a hundred and twenty percent safe, then yeah, I’ll wear it.”

Twilight levitated everything off the table and shooed everyone away so she could focus entirely on the medallions on the center of the table. Her magical senses wrapped around Rainbow’s gift, again detecting the illusion charm. However, now that she was taking a scrutinizing look, she saw that a thread on the twelfth matrix line was slightly misaligned. Wait a second; that would mean the charm was altered to have an overcharge, but that wouldn’t be necessary to simply mask some of Rainbow’s fur.

She pushed her senses upon the awry matrix line, only to push through it to discover a very different enchantment underneath, one that caused nothing but confusion. “There’s a wearer’s enchantment linked to a locator beacon.”

“A locator beacon?” Aegis chirped with bemusement. “But those are only used for tracking.”

“Or for a remote teleport array to lock onto,” Ferrum added chillingly.

Rainbow hovered next to the queen with a smug grin. “I knew that thing was bad news… So what does it all mean though?”

Twilight’s mind churned troubled thoughts. “The wearer’s charm activates any linked enchantment when the object is worn, and it only works when the owner of the object puts it on, hence the name. The idea of it being linked to a teleporter is troubling.”

“Is there any way to be sure?” Aegis piped with as she brought a hammer over. “If not, we can either smash it or take it to one of the princesses so they can confront the archmage.”

Ferrum interposed a hoof between the medallions and the hammer. “Hold on a sec. It’s possible the package from the archmage was intercepted and this trapped necklace was put in its place. We could be dooming an innocent pony by doing this.”

Rainbow flew around to hover between Ferrum and Twilight. “Or we could be right and that archmage is up to something.” She snatched the second package up. “What about your package, Twi? I bet you fifty bits it’s a trap too.”

No one took that bet, as all it took from Twilight was a repeat scan on her own gifted medallion to find the same hidden enchantments. “Then we are at an impasse,” Twilight declared reluctantly. “We either ignore it, warn the princesses and the conspirators, or we take the bait and hope to fight our way out.”

Aegis felt a deep frown crease her face. “I have a plan, mother, but you’re not going to like it.”

Author's Note

Special thanks to A Bitter Pill and Letter J for editing this one.

7: Motivations

Princess Celestia loved politicking. For all her years, it was one of the few games that always kept her on her figurative toes. One might think even politics and the various players it brought to the board would grow stale, even for an ageless alicorn, but mortals always managed to find new ways to surprise her.

At present, she was attending a minor ball, a social gathering really. Barely a dozen aristocrats mingled with a few prominent businessponies and government officials mixed in for good measure. The thing that made the ball most interesting to the solar diarch was the lone lavender changeling in a dress Celestia could only surmise as Rarity’s craftsmanship.

Celestia lounged on a cushion, content to observe, rather than participate. I wonder how well Rolled Scroll will do here. Twilight sent a rather young drone to begin more diplomatic relations with the court… but I suppose her options are rather limited in that regard.

However, before she could truly pay the drone any real attention, a scroll materialized in front of her. Odd, I wasn’t expecting any letters today. While the letter had an unadorned seal, she could tell from the penmanship that Twilight Sparkle was the sender.

Princess Celestia,

Please make no unusual reaction to this letter, as I have reason to believe you are being watched by the anti-changeling group. If you commissioned Archmage Aged Page to enchant a pair of medallions for Rainbow Dash and myself, please rub your chin, if not, flick your ear.

Celestia leveraged her millennia of composure to maintain a neutral expression while delicately rubbing her chin with a wing elbow. She caught Rolled Scroll spy her actions in the corner of her eye. Despite her compliance with Twilight’s request, the letter was troubling. Has she become paranoid, or did her last visit here put her on edge, or… Is she correct?

If yes, then this is potentially more troubling than I feared. The reason I ask is because I received those medallions, thanks for the thought by the way, but hidden under Rainbow’s medallion was a tracking spell which I believe is linked to a remote teleporter. A similar trap was buried within my medallion as well. So either Aged Page is in league with them, or his package was intercepted and a highly skilled enchanter hid this new enchantment under Page’s. Either way, I have a plan to uncover this and use the trap against them, but I would prefer to act with your approval. Please nod or shake your head accordingly.

An immaculately dressed pegasus cleared his throat while bowing to Celestia before she had a chance to read the rest of the letter. “Princess, may I trouble you for some consideration on ordinance 398?”

“Of course Chairpony,” she said, keeping her exterior calm. Twilight has never given me cause to distrust her. She starkly remembered how her former student tried to oust Chrysalis before the wedding. I won’t make that same mistake again. Acting as if she was nodding to the supplicant, she looked directly at Rolled Scroll to convey her meaning.

Rainbow Dash paced back and forth in midair while Twilight painstakingly carved a series of runes into a heated glass orb. Aegis’ squad was keeping watch over her while Ratchet tried to distract himself with a tech manual, but his heart wasn’t it in.

“When are we going to punch some sense into those traitors?” Rainbow asked anxiously.

“As soon as I finish my carvings,” Twilight replied patiently as she focused on her work. The orb was roughly the size of her hoof with her magic burning the patterns into place.

“You said it’s a teleport beacon, right?”

“That’s right,” Aegis answered for her queen. “I have three squads with armored support preparing the other half of the array, once mother empowers the orb, we’ll drop in right on top of her. The ship’s the only place where we could gather enough mana for a long distance teleport.”

Rainbow tapped her chin thoughtfully. “You guys really think these creeps aren’t in the city?”

“It’s a possibility,” Twilight said as she finished carving the last line. “But going beyond the Canterlot area would require a portal, and these amulets are far too weak for that, so they can’t take us too far.”

Ferrum couldn’t help but study the cooling orb with wonder. “I checked with grandma Cadista. I don’t think any of the other hives have teleportation magic quite this advanced.”

“What Equestria lacks in technology, they more than make up for in magical prowess,” Twilight replied academically. “Perfect, the orb will do its job.” She levitated a runed glass orb near her mouth and spat a large wad of salve on it and used her magic to keep the viscous liquid around the orb as it hardened.

Ratchet put his manual aside and walked over to nuzzle his queen. “Are you sure you have to do it this way? You’re letting yourself get pulled into a nest of vipers.”

Rainbow and the drones decided to give the pair some space. Twilight let the orb hang in the air to dry so she could bend down to embrace her prime consort. “I know it's going to be dangerous, but this is the only way I know how to locate the group and uproot them. Plus I have to know if the archmage is involved… He was an old friend of mine, a mentor really. Celestia will want to know the facts either way.”

He hugged her tightly. “Please come back safely, Twilight.”

She gave him a longing, passionate kiss, flooding him with her unconditional love. “I promise, Handsome.”

The couple remained in each other’s embrace for a few precious moments before letting go. She brought over a pair of saddlebags filled with various items she could stand losing, and placed the glass beacon carefully within. “Alright everypony,” she said with practiced calm. “I have no idea what will happen when we get there, but I’m going to try diplomacy first. Hopefully when they take me prisoner they’ll be more willing to talk.”

“I still think you should let my squad go with you, my queen.” Aegis struggled to keep her objections from getting any louder than that. Can’t believe she wouldn’t let me take her place.

“Don’t worry Aegis, if I need your help,” Which I probably will. “I’ll summon the rest of the Jevruun Vrunningee. I need you to report to Celestia so our actions have her public support. Rainbow, are you sure you want to go through with this? There’s no telling what these ponies might do to us.”

Rainbow landed next to the lavender queen and shot her a derisive smirk. “After all the fights I’ve missed? Not a chance!”

She sighed with a chuckle at her friend’s bravery. “Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Twilight took the two medallions from Intel and gave one to her friend. “Aegis, stand ready and… you know what to do if I don’t return.”

The thoughts that entered the gathered drones’ minds were far from pleasant. “Yes, my queen.”

Nodding solemnly, Twilight donned her medallion with Rainbow Dash doing the same. Everyone waited with bated breath for their queen and adopted aunt to be taken from them.

They waited for five minutes with nothing happening, save for Rainbow looking like her normal pony self thanks to the necklace. Ratchet and Aegis were close to being nervous wrecks at the potential loss of their queen. “So ahh… Twi, are you sure these are linked to teleporters?”

A collective exhale at Twilight’s overreaction washed through the room while the lavender queen rubbed the back of her neck. “I was sure that’s what it was for… What good would simply tracking our movements be when I’ll be going back to the ship after we’ve uncovered more of the subterranean ruins?”

Ferrum tapped Rainbow’s necklace, producing nothing more than a light tink. “Not for nothing, mother, but maybe Canterlot’s got you a little paranoid, per chance?”

Ratchet could only sigh in relief. For being mother’s dream child, Twi puts herself in way too much danger without having an heir yet.

Twilight scowled at her necklace. “Hmmm…” Maybe I’m giving the specists too much credit. “You could be right—”

A wave of teal magic rapidly enveloped pegasus and queen alike, and whisked them away in an instant.

Twilight’s world was replaced by a darkened room with a spotlight and a teleporter array under her hooves. “Or maybe not.” She erected a formidable barrier around her, and started probing the room with her magic.

“I would advise against that, changeling,” a weathered, yet strong voice commanded. “You should at least remember what happens to shields when coming into contact with void stones.”

Several more lights came on, revealing five sneering earth ponies with the accursed stones adorning iron armor. “Archmage Aged Page, it’s been too long,” she said with thinly veiled scorn while dropping the shield. She scanned the room for the Archmage, but he remained cloaked in darkness. She could barely make out his silhouette a few meters away from her. I better not mention RD, and let them think she was in a different room when I was taken.

“Go ahead and place the warding iron on her, gentlecolts, she will not struggle.”

Twilight glared at the lead stallion, who turned to the aged unicorn. “You can’t trust the bugs to be civil. We should just revert or kill her and get it over with.”

“No need for that at present,” Page replied with a casual wave of a hoof. “We know the queens at least are capable of civility, one of them was able to successfully impersonate a princess for a time, after all. Isn’t that right, Queen Twilight Sparkle?”

“You obviously haven’t been paying any attention to Gloss,” Twilight spat. She glared at the earth pony who grabbed her by the withers and dragged her low enough to slap a bangle around her horn.

“My associates and I have reason to believe that Gloss is an aberration among your kind, not a reflection of the whole.” Once he was sure Twilight’s magic was locked away, he waved the earth ponies away. “You may leave.”

“The boss wanted her to undergo treatment immediately.”

“We have the former Element of Loyalty to test on first. Better to try on a half changeling, than some pony who’s been subverted completely.”

“That’s not what she ordered,” the lead earth pony warned, catching Twilight ear, and Page’s growing irritation.

“For someone of her age, you would think she would know patience. Tell her she will have to wait until I know the procedure works.”

“And what about her?” A different earth pony jabbed hoof at Twilight.

“I wish to speak privately with her… to get a measure of how the other queens think.” A few of the ponies were about to voice concerns, but he cut them off with a commanding tone. “With her magic no longer an issue, even these old bones can handle anything she may try.”

The earth ponies shared a worried look before filing out of the room. Once they were alone, Aged Page lit several candles, revealing the room to be his private study in his mountain retreat. Twilight fought to keep from picking at the bangle on her horn, and glanced around. “Celestia will find me. A teleport of two ponies over such a long distance is quite traceable.”

Page procured a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses. “And I’m sure you’re telling your brood exactly where we are as well. Even so, we’ll have plenty of time to talk while Dame Rainbow Dash is treated.”

She received no answer. “I want to see her!”

Page studied Twilight carefully as he levitated a glass of wine to her. “Tell me, do you care for her because she is your friend?... or because you are trying to maintain your grip on your hive’s newest acquisition?”

Twilight only eyed the drink for a moment before focusing on the unicorn. “What are you talking about? Rainbow’s transformation was an accident, and I stopped it before it could finish. I would never force that change on anypony!”

“So you claim. Personally, I actually do believe you in that aspect.” He glanced at a mirror on the other side of the room before looking at the queen. “Accident or not, you had plenty of time to turn Loyalty into an insect during her time in the jungles. Given how much you’re pushing the princesses with this PR campaign of yours, the timing is all wrong. In the end however, Rainbow Dash is not my ultimate concern…” he took a long drag from his glass before studying Twilight’s moderately hostile expression. “You are.”

If he’s willing to talk… Twilight relaxed some of her tension and took the still hovering glass. “Because of my relation to Celestia, my lineage, or because you still care for me?”

He sighed slowly as he ran a hoof along one of the wall mounted bookcases, nostalgia coloring his tone. “Do you remember your time here? You never could get enough of that book. Now where was it…”

Twilight arched an inquisitive eyebrow and carefully started walking over. “Why are you doing this, Page? You always taught me to embrace the other races of the world. That diversity brought strength. The princesses share in that view, as do I.”

“One does not let a fox guard the chickens simply because the fox can fight.” He pulled an aged tome and levitated it over to the queen. “Star Swirl’s Thesis on Magic Theory, you nearly broke my old copy’s spine.”

Twilight frowned at the book. “Is this another one of your tests? It was Star Swirl’s Thesis on Arcane Theory.”

Page hummed approvingly. “Glad to see your memory’s intact, but I wonder if you truly are Twilight Sparkle, and not merely a puppet of Cadista.”

“Page, you know me, haven’t I proven through my acts by now that I’m still Twilight Sparkle?”

“Are you?” he challenged with magic empowered steel. “The Twilight Sparkle that I helped teach, when the Princess was busy, would disagree.”

“People change, Page, be they pony, griffin, dragon, changeling, or any of the other races of our world. Even if I was still a unicorn, there’s no telling what my life would have become.”

“A fair point,” he conceded as he walked towards his oaken desk. “I have seen promising pupils lose their way as Sunset Shimmer did. Gallant knights, who I thought were destined for greatness, fall to corruption and dishonor.” He turned to face Twilight with a sad frown, his ears drooping. “A pony, destined to be a princess, be taken from us, from the Princess, to be twisted by the very beings who would see us enslaved. Did she tell you that?”

Twilight’s face slumped and she scuffed the ground with a hoof. “Yes. When I visited Canterlot last year.” That drew a surprised look out of him. “I was to be her heir, but I ended up becoming Cadista’s instead.”

“It devastated her, you know,” Page sat down at his desk and pulled a scroll over to write. “I fear that, were it not for Princess Luna, Celestia might have never recovered from her depression from your loss.”

Twilight scowled at him. “I may not be able to be a princess anymore, but I was not lost. I’m standing right here. My loyalty to Equestria has never changed.”

“Truly?” Page’s tone was even, but he weaved the power of truth in his speech. “All I know of changelings is from Chrysalis’ overt invasion, and now, your covert one.”

Without her own magic to defend against his, Twilight couldn’t filter what she said. “Mother’s not trying to invade Equestria. I just want my hive and Equestria to be one nation.”

“As equals, or as slaves?” Aged Page expected Twilight to resist answering; to fight his magic fang and hoof. She should know that without access to her magic, no pony can resist the Invocation of Truth.

Yet Twilight surprised him by replying instantly. “It saddens me you even have to ask. Of course I want us to be equals. Come on, Page, do you really see me as your enemy? You can’t judge us all because of one queen’s actions.”

“And what about the foalnappings? The infiltrations, both amongst commoners and government officials alike? You can’t tell me to simply forgive just how close your kind came to conquering us, can you?!”

Twilight adopted a regal posture but kept her voice as friendly as possible. “Yes, I can. For was Equestria not founded by those who had all the reason in the world to hate one another? It took them all nearly coming to extinction to finally look past their distrust. I would like to think modern Equestrians could remember those lessons, without the threat of annihilation hanging over our heads to do it.”

“…You almost sound like that little filly I used to know.”

Twilight took a risk and gingerly laid a hoof on the greying stallion’s withers. “I will not deny that I’m not really a pony anymore, but I still wholeheartedly consider myself an Equestrian and loyal citizen to Equestria. Give me a chance to prove it.”

The Archmage brooded over her words, his loyalty to the crowns, and most importantly, to his people. He glanced at the bangle around Twilight’s horn to reassure himself she couldn’t wield any magical suggestion. He brushed Twilight’s hoof off of him and walked nervously over to his desk to withdraw a wand. “History will call me a fool…”

A stinging headache welcomed Rainbow Dash to the world of the living. The noise of clinical ramblings of a physician off to her left side quickly made their way to her ears. That made her keep a groan from escaping her lips as she came to her senses. Each limb was locked in place with her wings pinned to the table as well. She took a moment to scan the room. It was little more than a converted storeroom with various simplistic, but thankfully clean, medical equipment.

“I don’t understand it,” came the teal colored unicorn doctor, “her brain and skull have completely reoriented themselves to support a horn, but the transformation was stopped before it could actually form. Why would the changeling queen stop the transformation so early?”

Rainbow craned her neck to see a peach colored pegasus mare standing next to the stallion. Both of them were looking over x-rays. “Maybe she timed it wrong, and didn’t want to arouse too much suspicion with Princess Luna.”

Rainbow inwardly groaned. Oh please, these guys are so pathetically paranoid.

“I hope you’re right. It could mean Twilight hasn’t had enough time to charm both diarchs after all. In any case, we just need an uncorrupted tissue sample to proceed.”

That got Rainbow to speak out. “Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa. You jerks better keep your samples to yourself.”

The nurse hummed in contemplation, but betrayed nothing. “It looks like the shock of the long range forced teleport has worn off. I trust our accommodations are not too uncomfortable. We do not wish any permanent damage on you.”

“Well isn’t that sweet,” Rainbow growled as she remembered this was supposed to be a surprise. “So who the hay are you guys?”

“We’re members of the Ponies for the Conservation of Equestria, your saviors,” the doctor said in a lofty tone. “At least we will be once we cure you of your condition.”

Rainbow glared at the two ponies as they came over to talk. “You’re nothing but a bunch of traitors!”

The nurse barely flinched at Rainbow unconsciously baring her short fangs. “The princesses will pardon us all once Twilight Sparkle is free of changeling influence.”

“Suuuure, and how do you plan to do that? Last I checked, Twi’s gone 'Ling to the core.”

The stallion produced a cloth and wiped his glasses. “Perhaps,” the doctor agreed reluctantly, “or perhaps her mind is enslaved by that hive mind of theirs.”

“Just like yours is,” the nurse commented sternly.

Rainbow arched an eyebrow as her ears drooped a bit. “What?” she deadpanned.

“Oh we don’t expect you to admit it,” the doctor replied, “assuming you’re even aware of it.”

“Or acknowledge it if you are,” the nurse added as she twisted Rainbow’s head around to inspect the fangs more clinically. “It also possible your partial transformation’s slaved you completely to her will.”

Rainbow shook her off to glower at her. “You guys are insane if you think Twilight or Cadista are anything like Chrysalis.”

“Are we?” the doctor countered as he took a pair of shears in his magic. “Chrysalis masqueraded as Cadance for who knows how long before Twilight finally ousted her. Equestria was caught off guard the first time, and she was the only one who saw through it. How convenient that she was nearly killed and the only way to save her was to corrupt her into an abomination.”

“You’re sick in the head lady. You need to get laid, badly.” The nurse snubbed her nose at the verbal barb.

With one swift motion, the doctor sheared a small tuft from Rainbow’s tail. The liberated hair flew over to hover in front of the unicorn. Rainbow tried to twist around at the noise, and her jaw dropped at seeing the loose hair. “You cut my tail! Let me off of here so I can plant my hoof in your face!”

The stallion ignored her ramblings. “Nurse, be a dear and have the sample tested for purity.”

Rainbow Dash’s first instinct was to keep shouting obscenities at her captors, but a newer part of her mind wanted to know more. “Why are you even bothering with that? If you were so hard up to ‘cure’ me, then why not just cast a normal transformation spell?”

“While I would expect a pegasus to be ignorant of that,” the doctor commented with a derisive chuckle, “I’m not surprised a Wonderbolt would be aware of it though. What with your organization being well versed in magic and all. In any case, transformation magic is normally temporary; a day at the very most without constant maintenance. Even then, it wouldn’t revert the damage done to your mind. No, we need a more permanent solution.”

The doctor walked off to assist the nurse, giving Rainbow a few precious moments to think. Not that she used that time to do so, and instead struggled against her bindings. She tested her left foreleg’s restraints especially hard. I just need one freaking hoof!

The leather straps had reinforcing steel chains around them and refused to yield to the grunting pegasus. “Arrraagg, let me go!”

The nurse turned away from her work. “I wouldn’t bother, Rainbow Dash, those bindings could hold a champion earth stallion.”

“Blow it out your a—” Rainbow’s voice caught in her throat as her captors rolled a large device over towards her. It was the size of a carriage, featuring a runed mythril swing arm having a large grey crystal mounted on its end. “Da ‘ell is that?”

“The solution to your problem,” the doctor said with pride. “This experimental masterpiece of mine is designed to permanently reconfigure anypony to whatever sample I give it. In your case, your pure pony hairs will remove the changeling taint from your body.”

“Uhh, I heard experimental in that. Shouldn’t you test that on something first?”

The nurse chuckled darkly, the unsettling sound fluttering around the room. “You misunderstand your position, Miss Rainbow Dash, you are the test. We have to make sure it works before using it on Twilight Sparkle.”

“You might feel some discomfort,” the doctor commented with an attempt to repair the bedside manner. “It’s completely safe, I assure you.”

“Yeah, sure it is,” Rainbow chided as her eyes darted over the machine. I gotta think of a plan to get out of this mess. After hearing how much Twi said about alchemy, these guys are way out of their league if they think magic alone can reverse it.

“Final adjustments are set, doctor.” With a flick of a switch, the machine thrummed with power. A series of crystals started giving off an earthy brown glow while a dozen inlaid arrays lit up in a similar color.

“Good, now, Rainbow Dash, are you ready?”

“Like I got a choice? I’m telling you clowns that Twilight’s on the level about wanting to help Equestria. Why can’t you guys see that?”

The nurse snorted in disgust. “Nothing but pro-changeling propaganda Cadista no doubt flooded your mind with. We’ll fix that soon enough.”

Oh geez, think of something Rainbow! You’re a Wonderbolt, think! She tugged at her wing bindings, but they were even more tightly secured than her legs. If only I had my wings free, I could fry them! She stopped her struggling for a moment when a thought struck her. Say…

Any further contemplation was interrupted by the humming power reaching a crescendo as the unicorn fed his mana into the machine. The large arrowhead shaped crystal on the swing arm was moved to point at a very nervous pegasus.

Rainbow Dash flinched as a dense beam of brown magic shot out and smothered her, making her skin tingle. Hey, this might actually work. She started running her tongue over her teeth to see if they were flattening as the tingling sensation spread throughout her entire body. The two medical ponies kept glancing between Rainbow and the machine to check for progress.

After two minutes of rubbing her tongue raw, Rainbow stopped waiting and the tingling was becoming a bothersome irritant. Well this is bunked, and now officially a waste of time. I need to get out here, 'Ling style!

“Why isn’t it working, doctor?” The nurse’s mouth was a pressed line as she checked the machine’s readings.

“The changeling curse must be stronger than we expected. I’ll up the power.”

Now’s my chance. Rainbow tried to focus on her disguise and slowly started to revert her color back to normal.

The nurse noticed the change immediately. “It’s working, doctor, keep it up!”

I better sell it. “No! I’d rather die than betray the true queen! Kill me!” Rainbow begged in faux pain.

“I knew it!” the doctor shouted triumphantly. “Hang in there, Miss Dash, you’ll be free soon.”

Rainbow Dash masked her difficulty in slowly forming her disguise as pain and frantic struggle. Inch by inch, her fur returned to pristine cyan, and her fangs retreated into nothingness. “Nooo – uahg.” She grunted while slumping into silence. It took everything she had to hide her struggle to keep her disguise active, and appear limp.

“I think we have her, doctor, shut it down.” The nurse gingery inspected Rainbow’s face, finding no sign of changeling features anywhere. With the room completely saturated with loose mana, the doctor didn’t bother trying to probe her to see if it worked. “Dame Rainbow Dash, are you okay?”

The sudden warm bedside manner almost made the pegasus chuckle. “Wha… where am I?” She cracked her eyes open to look at the earth mare. “Who are – wait, you guys were trying to save me.”

The doctor let off a heavy breath. “It was difficult, but successful, right?”

His question prompted the nurse to finish her inspection over Rainbow. “She’s still very tense, but otherwise in perfect shape. Miss Dash, are you up to talk about Twilight or Cadista?”

Rainbow acted befuddled for a few seconds, while repeating both names. Suddenly she started repeating them frantically. “No, Twilight, I have to save you!” She was starting to slip in her disguise’s control so she started frantically struggling against her bonds to mask her efforts. “I’m going to kill that conniving queen! Let me go!”

“Miss Dash, please relax. We have Twilight here with us. We just need to use the transmogrifier on her, and then she’ll be her old self again,” the doctor said soothingly.

“No, you don’t understand,” think of something, Rainbow! “Ahh, Cadista won’t let it happen. You’ve got to cut Twilight from the hive mind or else Cadista will melt her brain when you try to cure her!”

The nurse tried rubbing Rainbow’s mane to calm her down. “Don’t worry, Miss Dash, we have void stones covering the building. There’s no way Twilight could talk or hear over that thing.”

“Don’t you get it!” Rainbow raged, “That witch put a command word in my friend. If she even thinks she’s about to get cured, she’s to kill herself.” The two other ponies cast worried looks at each other, giving Rainbow a few precious seconds to shore up her disguise a little.

“The wretch,” the doctor spat at no one in particular. “Implanting command words like that is strictly forbidden, punishable by exile or execution. If we don’t cure Twilight Sparkle, we’ll be branded as traitors for life.”

“How do you know this was done?” the nurse asked with suspicion.

Rainbow tried to kick herself out of self-anger. “Because I was unlucky enough to see Cadista use it once. She caught me and put me under one of the brainwashing spells like what they did to the Captain of the Guard. I bet it was her who gave Twilight the circlet to make sure I would never talk if I broke free.”

“Then it’s a good thing Luna was there to keep you from being converted completely,” the nurse commented with a grin. “That’s proof enough that at least one of our princesses hasn’t been subverted yet.”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s great and all, but I have to use the command word on my friend to keep her brain safe and return to her senses! I still remember what the word was!” Good one, RD!

The nurse’s expression darkened a bit. “Tell it to us, and I’ll go do that. You need your rest after all.”

Rainbow’s disguise was fading out way too fast for comfort. The nurse’s eyes started to drift away from Rainbow’s face. No, no, eyes to me! “That won’t work! It’s in that freakish bug language of theirs and you have to say it exactly right or it’ll lock her brain up for good! Please, she’s my friend. I failed in my duty as a Wonderbolt and Element of Loyalty to keep her safe. It’s my obligation to do this personally.”

The nurse wasn’t entirely convinced, but the doctor nodded. “I lost my wife to one of those body snatchers. I only wish I could do the same for everypony else who's suffered because of them. Come on, let’s get you off of here.”

Rainbow pressed her head against the table to hide the growing line of lavender fur creeping towards the front of her face. Fortunately, it went unnoticed as the two ponies undid the straps around Rainbow’s forelegs and wings. Once their attention was fixed on her hind legs, she dropped her disguise completely and sat up with a superior grin.

She flared her wings the moment the last restraint was undone and empowered them with lightning. She briefly noticed the cracking energy was predominantly lavender with traces of orange flittering through it. She ignored the color for the sake of the moment. “Thanks for freeing me, now try a taste of the Wonderbolt Special!” With speed worthy of her name, Rainbow slapped the unicorn with her left wing, shocking him into unconsciousness.

The nurse ducked under the first blow, but had no chance against Rainbow’s speed. She found a wing whacking her in the face and 50,000 volts to go with it. With her captors out of the way, she cut the electric magic off. “Damn thing always rankles my feathers; I don’t know how Spitfire does it without needing to preen.”

Aged Page was rambling about old times, giving Twilight a few moments to talk.

Damn it’s weird talking like this. It’s going to take some getting used to thinking in bug speak. She finished restraining her former captors on the main and secondary operating tables before creeping over to the lone door to peer outside.

“You’re good, I’ll give you that,” Aged Page said a little louder than normal, bringing Twilight back to the present. “My heart wants to believe you, but my mind is not so old to fail me yet.”

Twilight huffed while claiming a cushion near a telescope. “I remember you being a very open-minded mentor, Page. Do you remember Steel Beak?”

The Archmage briefly turned away from the tome at his desk. He searched his vast memory for a few seconds before it came to him. “That boorish ‘diplomat’ from a few years ago? What of him?”

“You remember what I first thought of griffins thanks to him?” she replied with a gruff tone.

He sighed in fond remembrance. His mind’s eye wandered to better times when a certain lavender filly filled the air with questions and the energy of youth. Now when he looked at Twilight, all he could see was the enemy wearing his former pupil’s skin. He had to give her credit for not trying to hide what she had become, but the sight of her sickened him. Is she just the first? “I know where you’re going with this, and it won’t work.”

What happened to the kind old stallion I used to know? “It should,” she challenged heatedly, seeking to get a rise out of him. “How many centuries were we at open war with the griffins? How long did they used to hunt us for food before civility finally won out?”

“Too long,” he answered begrudgingly, “I’ll concede that point.” Page took a long drag from his wine glass. “But you forget that fighting griffins was by far more straight forward than countering you changelings.”

“Funny,” Twilight replied with more than a little sarcasm. “History says that same argument was made about the zebras when peace with the griffin empire was first proposed.” She skillfully hid her smug grin as Aged Page shot her a sour look.

His face smoothly returned to its mostly aloof expression. “At least Crimson Feather spoke for the entirety of the Griffin people when the accord was signed. Can you or Cadista say the same for your kind?”

That caught her short. It was an argument she had expected, but never could think of a winnable counterargument. “No, we can’t. Technically, each queen is beholden only to herself.” I won’t speak of the Summit with him.

“Then even if I could trust you, there would still be hostile changelings out to destroy Equestria.”

“I don’t believe this!” Twilight grumbled under her breath. “We have to start somewhere, Page. My kind began with freeing the prisoners. We offered the hoof of friendship, and the princesses reciprocated. Why can’t you honor that agreement, and the will of the Princesses?”

The greying stallion was silent for several seconds as he read his tome. At first Twilight thought he was stooping to simply ignore her. But he finally spoke with an emotional quiver he could not conceal. “Are you familiar with my son, Inked Quill?”

“Vaguely. Didn’t he go off to serve as a government administrator in Trottingham?”

“You memory serves you well. Due to the treaty between us and the queendoms, it was revealed that my son had been replaced a decade ago by one of your infiltrators. I stood there with my daughter-in-law and three grandchildren at the train station for his return for a week before hearing news of his death in one of those prisoner pods. The imposter had the gall to charm my daughter-in-law into bedding with a look-a-like so he could fake the foals being truly my grandchildren!”

The old stallion’s eyes projected his deep pain and anger, making Twilight wilt under the gaze and news. “I had no idea. I’m sorry for your loss.”

He huffed indignantly at her. “Your platitudes will not undo what your kind has done. I tire of this exchange, the guards will see you to your cell.”

A small bell on his desk was ensnared by his magic and was about to ring when Twilight called out. “Wouldn’t your son want his death to have some meaning?” The bell stopped, hovering in midair. Page’s left ear angled backwards, but he made no other indication he was listening. “Bringing the Queendoms and Equestria into open war will only make more families suffer the same pain you feel right now. If you forcibly change me back into a unicorn, Cadista will sever all ties with Equestria and the other queens will resume their old practices.” She cautiously approached him, trying to reach the bell, while not disguising her movement. “Give us a chance, Aged Page, I beg of you.”

He said nothing as Twilight gingerly walked over and attempted to grab the bell. He moved it out of her reach at the last moment, but remained silent. Twilight’s wings buzzed in trepidation. “Celestia and you always taught me to give ponies a second chance. If not me, then trust in the princesses.”

“…You’re right, I can’t trust you. But.” He put the bell down and took a deep breath. “Perhaps I’ve been too clouded.” I should have retired years ago. He faced her at last with a stern look that demanded obedience. “You’ve proven to me that you at least can mimic my old pupil. If you have any real shred of honor, changeling, than swear this to me: serve Equestria and her ponies to the best of your ability, even if that means warring with the other queens. Pledge your undying loyalty to Equestria right here and now.”

Twilight shored herself up to give his request the utmost seriousness, but she never got a chance to utter a word as the western door crashed open to reveal Twilight Velvet. “What is the meaning of this, Archmage!”

“Mother,” the queen spat, “can’t say I’m surprised.”

Velvet ignored her to focus on the unrepentant Archmage. “You said you were going to cure her!”

He huffed impatiently, drawing a curious look from the changeling. “I said nothing of the sort. My words were: that I would take my measure of my former apprentice, and act accordingly. I have seen enough to believe her heart still belongs to Equestria and those who call it home.” He faced the expectant queen. “Provided you have no trouble reaffirming your allegiance.”

“None whatsoever,” Twilight replied with forced friendliness. Velvet’s presence completely ruined her mood. What is she doing here?!

A vein throbbed on Velvet’s neck as she tried to process the archmage’s actions. “I won’t stand for this! I’ve come too far to let my daughter continue suffering as one of those demons! Guards!”

Aged Page struggled to stand as five ponies filed out from behind Velvet. Each of them were armed with nets or other restraining implements. “Leave the Archmage alone unless he intervenes, and drag my daughter to the good doctor.”

Just as the guards started to advance, the northern door exploded off its hinges, sending dust and splinters in all directions, causing everyone to duck for cover. Twilight used the opportunity to snag the pliers she spotted on a nearby table to get the bangle off her horn.

Everyone else however, stared at the smoldering remains of the door to find a purple/cyan pegasus standing just inside the doorway with her wings crackling with lightning and a daredevil grin smeared on her face. “Looks like I’m just in time for the party!” For once.

Everyone stood motionless for a few brief seconds, waiting for a signal to move. Twilight eyed her mother with an emotion she never thought possible, hatred. After being spurned and denounced every single time she had tried to mend their relationship, this final act was too much.

The guards were recovering quickly from the shock of Rainbow’s grand entrance, and were looking to Velvet for orders. The aging mare tsked at Rainbow’s interference. This ends today, either my daughter is returned to me or she dies.

8: Mothers

The tension in the archmage’s study was oppressive. Velvet and her minions tried to split up between Rainbow Dash and Twilight, who was trying to pry the bangle off her horn. However, the lightning enveloping Rainbow Dash’s wings had been replaced by a faint lavender-orange glow that gave Velvet pause.

Damn it! Of course she’d be a practitioner of Arcane Wing. “I’ll handle my daughter, take care of the Wonderbolt!”

Three earth ponies charged Rainbow to buy their unicorn brethren time to weave spells. A snide grin crossed Rainbow’s face as she jumped over the first, sidestepped a buck from the second, and slid under the third’s high swing to place herself in front of Velvet who skidded to a halt. “You dun goofed, lady.”

“Out of my way!” Velvet raged as she fired an energy bolt at point blank range.

Rainbow barely ducked underneath it in time, giving the attack a clear line of sight for Aged Page. The elderly stallion was too slow to react as the bolt slammed into Page’s chest, knocking him to the ground.

“Page!” Twilight called out while scrambling over to him.

Rainbow growled and lashed out with a fiery wing, scorching Velvet before she could shield herself and bounce back. Rainbow’s advance was checked by one of the unicorns latching onto her with his magic and hoisting her into the air. “That was easy enough.”

The trio of earth ponies bolted over to strike the helpless pegasus, only for Velvet to yell at the unicorn. “Stop, don’t hold her!”

With a savage grin, Rainbow’s wings started glowing pale lavender with erratic orange streaks coursing through them. The altered wing magic generated massive feedback that caused an explosion at the tip of the unicorn’s horn. The concussion wave cracked his horn, and knocked the other spellcasters off their hooves.

“Stop her!” Two pegasi came in from the northern hallway to keep Rainbow occupied. Velvet left them to it so she could refocus on Twilight who had finally pried the bangle off her horn with Page’s help.

Velvet weaved a powerful sleep spell over her daughter before she could regain even a shadow of her normal power. Twilight barely caught it in time as drowsy tendrils ensnared her mind, but it wasn’t enough. Her eyes felt heavy, her head stared to droop while her legs collapsed.

“Enough of this,” Aged Page grunted through the pain of burnt flesh as he forcibly countered Velvet’s spell, and conjured a pressure wave to blast her back and into the air. One of the pegasi saw the flying unicorn and caught her. The act gave the archmage enough time to speak as Twilight shook off her fatigue. “Vindicate my trust in you, Twilight. Spare your mother.”

Twilight deflected a series of firebolts from an opportunistic unicorn, and absorbed an electric jolt from Velvet. Why should- A particularly large chunk of arcane energy exploded on her shield. I even bother? She telekinetically latched onto one of the unicorns’ head and smashed him against the floor, stilling him for good. “I’ll try,” she grunted unenthusiastically while pulling the air out of the lungs of a second unicorn.

Page found himself bodily lifted and tossed behind a table with Twilight right behind him as the floor exploded out from under them. He shielded his face as splinters flew everywhere. “I know that tone, young filly, spare your mother or you’ll never forgive yourself!”

An unconscious pink pegasus sailed overhead, courtesy of Rainbow Dash.

Twilight ducked under the flying mare before letting a series of arcane lances keep Velvet and the last unicorn back. “Page, she’s trying to kill me!” A violet beam carved a burning line through the table. “In case you hadn’t noticed!”

“That’s not an excuse, Twilight!” he barked scornfully.

Velvet grimaced at Rainbow Dash punching the last earth pony to the ground, his fur smoking from several different places. “That’s it, everything dies!” She launched a blob of raw, condensed mana into the center of the ceiling before bolting for the west door. Those ponies who were still conscious fled with her. Rainbow Dash was about to go in pursuit when a loud cracking noise from above stopped her in her tracks.

Twilight yanked her saddlebags over and charged a teleport spell as hundreds of spider webbing cracks ran along the ceiling. The whole room began collapsing a thunderous groan of stone and wood.

Twilight snap-teleported all three of them through the hole in the floor right as fifty tons of stone buried the study. All three of them tumbled out of the teleport across a dusty old carpet in an unlit hallway. None of them were given a chance to catch their breath once they heard the ceiling beginning to groan under the weight.

Twilight was the first on her hooves with the saddlebags hovering in her magic. "This hall’s going to collapse too, we need to get out from under the study!”

Aged Page pushed back the darkness with an orb of light and shot it down the passage ahead of them. “Go, that way is your safest bet.”

Rainbow hefted the aging unicorn on her back, much to his protests. “Sorry gramps, I don’t trust your legs for this.”

“Humph,” he grunted before teleporting to the far end of the passageway. “You best hurry young ladies," he yelled over the buckling walls. Both mares went into a dead sprint across the fifty meter hallway right as the walls gave way. The crashing stone raining down behind them brushed the edges of their tails the whole way. Rainbow made the mistake to look up to find boulders floating above her head. Page leveraged his magic to keep the path clear until both mares skidded to a halt at his side.

“As soon as you two are done catching your breath, we should be leaving. Velvet has a small army here, and we need the assistance of the Royal Guard if we plan to make it out of here alive."

“A small army!?” Twilight half shrieked. “Do so many ponies fear changelings that she could raise an army?”

“Well no,” Page replied half worriedly as he led them down a fork in the tunnels. “Most are mercenaries. Their pay depends on you getting captured and changed back.”

Twilight gritted her teeth and her wings buzzed angrily. “Not going to happen!”

Aged Page paused. “We can catch our breath here for the moment.”

Rainbow Dash scanned the high class décor of the new hallway that was cast in the pale light of a solitary mote of mana. The walls had maroon velvet wallpaper with ivory sconces holding unlit lamps at regular intervals. Page took one of them off the wall and brought it over before lighting it, casting the group into deep shadow.

Despite her novice experience with the hive mind, not even Rainbow Dash could miss the boiling fury wafting off of the lavender queen. “Twi, when you said ‘don’t hold back’, did—”

“What do you think I meant?!” She retorted harshly. “She’s a traitor!”

“Velvet is your mother, Twilight Sparkle.” Aged Page stood up to give his old apprentice a stern gaze, only to find that Twilight was more than capable of leveraging her regal bearing to rebuke him.

“Is she? I’ve tried diplomacy, I’ve tried reconciling with her, bonding, ignoring, silent treatment, everything!” Rainbow stepped back from the heated mare while the archmage stood his ground, letting the wounded mare vent. “She doesn’t care how many hoops I jump through to win her back over, all because I won’t jump the one she wants.”

“Twilight,” he began calmly, “she wouldn’t be doing all of this if she didn’t love you.”

“But she doesn’t LOVE ME!” She screamed with all her might. Despite the rage across her visage, several tears betrayed her. “Y-you don’t know what it’s like, Page. I c-couldn’t feel any love from her… Not even a speck.”

“Then why is she doing all of this?” Rainbow asked incredulously.

Hot tears flowed freely, creating dark lines down Twilight’s face. “She can’t love who I am, only who I used to be.”

Rainbow was partially affected by the sorrow via the link, but she didn’t let that stop her from comforting her friend with a hug. Aged Page laid a wrinkly hoof on the weeping mare’s withers. “Twilight, I know this is difficult for you, and if Velvet was anypony else I’d say you were right to do so; but I’m begging you, don’t kill your mother.”

Twilight breathed heavily to get her composure under control. She cast her red puffy eyes at the old stallion with more steel than he’s ever seen her carry. “I’d never do that to daddy or Shiny, but I refuse to call that witch my mother anymore.”

Rainbow Dash took the hint and backed up to let Twilight stand up while she rummaged through her saddlebags. “We’re going to need help if we hope to go up against these guys.”

“I agree,” Aged Page commented dryly, thankful Twilight had been talked down. “I trust that ‘hive mind’ of yours allows communication, but you have no idea where we are.”

“That was the point, wasn’t it?” Rainbow rebuked curtly. “That whole room you guys were in was a fake.”

How do you know that? He discarded the question for the time being. “Look, it won’t be long before Velvet’s search through the rubble reveals we’re not dead. We’re in the old Celvard cliffside monastery on the far side of Canterlot Mountain.”

“I thought these walls felt familiar,” Twilight nodded in thanks to Rainbow and took the offered orb into her magic along with a canteen of water. “I’ll send word to Celestia, but we need reinforcements now!”

Knowing his former student, he waited expectantly for whatever plan she had to unfold. Rainbow Dash on the other hand was debating with herself for a solid minute before speaking. “Twi, I want you to let me link with the troops when they come through.”

I wish this salve would melt faster. She turned to her friend with a mildly perplexed look, one that was shared to a greater extent by Aged Page. “Sorry, I can’t let that happen.”

The stallion’s confusion only doubled at that, while Rainbow stood her ground. “Come on Twi! I’ve seen how the drones coordinate themselves. They do it all over the hive mind. How am I going to be able to fight alongside them without having that connection?”

“I understand, Dash, but it’s just not a good idea.”

“What? You don’t think I can handle it?” she fumed quietly.

Some of the glass was finally visible under the melting salve. “No, quite the opposite.” Twilight saw the unasked questions in both their eyes. “Okay, look, once you’re a part of a hive mind, you’ll never want to leave it. That’s why I’ve limited you to only me until I can fix everything.”

“Forget it, I know how 'Lings fight! The only way to keep all of us from crashing into each other is with the hive mind. Come on, Twi, I think I can handle an hour or two,” she pleaded with clasped hooves.

Twilight glanced at her old mentor, only to receive a reserved shrug in reply. The glass orb filled with her magic while floating over to an empty section of the hallway. “…This is a fine line you’re walking, RD. Trust me, I know. Once I was fully integrated into Cadista’s hive mind, I never wanted to leave.”

“Is it really so addictive?” Page asked with a mix of curiosity and condescension.

The lavender queen gave him a hard look. “It’s mostly out of convenience than anything else. Remember all the times you sent me out to fetch reagents for your work back in the day?”

He arched a bemused eyebrow. “Yes, what of it?”

“Well consider how much faster it would have been if you could mentally talk to the various herbalists the moment you needed something, and they could send a delivery out to you scant seconds later?”

The wheels in Page’s old but sharp mind chugged along as other possibilities jumped to the forefront. “Yes, now I see what you mean. The applications for such a communication method are endless. It would be difficult to give that up. But what if I don’t want to talk to a particular—”

Rainbow butted back into the conversation. “We don’t have time to argue about this, Old Guy. Twilight, I can take care of myself, please let me help.”

Twilight wrestled with herself and turned to Aged Page for guidance, only to receive another shrug in response. “…Alright, Rainbow, but I’m cutting you off from them the moment we’re finished here. Prepare yourself.”

A dozen incoherent voices suddenly entered Rainbow Dash’s mind. They were quiet at first, barely a whisper tickling the back of her skull. The sound rose sharply up to the point where it felt like she was in the middle of a small chatty diner. Now that she knew what to expect, the noise did little to frighten her. This is nowhere near as bad as the academy’s mess hall was.

With only a dozen minds to sift through, the unintelligible conversations quickly organized themselves into the background. Right as Rainbow Dash was on the cusp of understanding them, Twilight finished energizing the orb and fourteen figures materialized in a blinding flash of lavender light, drenching the hallway in a star’s radiance. The glass orb was pulverized by the magic coursing through it, but it had served its purpose. Aegis and her full squad took up position at far ends of the hallway with a pair of heavy Clockwerks. Page couldn’t help but give his old student a nod of respect. I had my suspicions, but I was right. Twilight did know it was all a trap. Let’s see how you play your cards from here.

Aged Page pressed himself against the wall at the sight of the mechanical changelings, but was able to pass off his fear for curiosity. There’s strange magic within those golems. Something wholly unnatural.

Rainbow Dash shook her head to try and separate her thoughts from the new arrivals. Four faces in particular caught her eye. “Aegis, Intel, Ferrum, ah Riposte! Finally out of bed, eh?”

“With a new sword to boot,” the swordling replied with a flourish of his skysteel weapon.

The rest of them shared a perplexed look once they realized they could hear Rainbow’s passive voice over the hive mind. Aegis spoke for the group. “I would ask why I can hear you over the Link, Aunty, but we have bigger issues.”

“Indeed,” Twilight started, “no doubt the garrison will have noticed I’m still alive after your entrance. We need to find a way to extract ourselves and Twilight Velvet so she can stand trial.”

She turned to Page to take the lead. The old stallion was visibly put off being crowded by so many changelings, even if they did possess fur. I never did like leaps of faith “Your m – target would likely be tending to your father.”

Cold fear crept into every changeling’s heart, Twilight’s most of all. Her voice carried more fear than anything else. “Why is he here? I thought he had to work today.”

“To keep him away from the Royal Guard. All I know is that he found out what she’s been doing for the past few years, and she had to detain him up in the main cathedral, two floors up.”

A single thought hammered itself into the focus of her mind. I have to save daddy!

Before she could voice that one driving directive, a war cry resounded from the north end of the hallway, followed by a trio of gunshots.

Given Twilight’s familiarity with the place, she shared that knowledge with her defenders. Aegis looked to her queen for permission, which was given with a quick nod.

Ferrum glanced at Riposte with a toothy grin before facing all three of them.

the entire squad cheered, sending a thrill down everyone’s spine.

As one, the groups split off in both directions with Twilight, Page, and both Clockwerks going with Aegis. Rainbow Dash stayed close behind her, finding it strange how she always seemed to have some indication of where the drone would turn next, when she stopped to scout a bend in the corridor or at the foot of the stairs when they came to it.

Even above the heavy steps of the clockwerks, hooffalls could be heard coming from above. Aegis readied two pistols in her magic, with the rest of the group doing the same.

“Got it!” With a flick of her wings, lightning crackled over her feathers and Rainbow surged up the stairs with a smug lopsided grin.

She barely made it up a single flight before the first unicorn came into view. He fired a panicked magic bolt that Rainbow easily dodged by pushing off the wall. She sailed up and over him to slam down on the earth stallion behind him. The unicorn never got a chance to take revenge when Aegis followed up and shot him between the eyes.

Rainbow gritted her teeth as she sidestepped an earth pony’s spear, but the tight quarters of the stairs worked against her. She tried rushing him, but the stallion backed off and kept her at bay with the point of his spear. That was until Aegis poked her head out from behind the bend in the stairs, along with her pistol, and planted a bullet in his chest.

With the last hostile down, Rainbow was free to race up the last flight of stairs to find herself in a wide grain silo. She crept over to the door and carefully peeked outside to find the mountain complex to be much like Canterlot, hanging off an artificial ledge, but on a much smaller scale. Five structures were within her immediate line of sight, with a cathedral dominating the center of the narrow shelf. A bell tower stood on the far end of the chapel. The entirety of the monastery was crumbling stone and eroded walls having long since been abandoned after the arrival of the alicorns.

However, ancient décor was the last thing on Rainbow’s mind. A cloud of pegasi watched over the skies while their ground bound brethren poured out of the chapel towards the side buildings where the other changeling squads were making a show of it to draw attention onto themselves.

Twilight and Aged Page joined her at the top. “When you said a small army, I was hoping you were exaggerating a little,” she whispered with a frown.

“Well, half of them are mercenaries, the Headhunters if I’m not mistaken.” Page rattled on as the radicals and soldiers of fortune organized themselves. “No idea where they’re from though.”

“We can figure that out later,” Twilight whispered back. “They look like they’re just trying to contain us.”

“Yes, teleports can come in, but the void crystals running along the rooftops and carried by the pegasi will keep us here.” Page replied irritability. “I hope you have a better plan then this, oh queen.”

“I do actually.”

Celestia tapped an irritated hoof as Twilight’s first diplomat into her court, Rolled Scroll, gave her a play-by-play recount of everything that passed through his queen’s ears. Her trust in her student was absolute, but what she was hearing only made her wish that was not the case.

“Sister, you know what the law demands,” Luna said with grim stoicism. “Velvet raised an army within Equestria’s borders without our consent. Not to mention the rest of her crimes if she truly has been leading the PCE all this time.”

The solar diarch’s tapping slowed. In her mind’s eye, she vividly remembered the day Twilight Sparkle was selected to be her personal student. She inwardly smiled at the little purple filly bouncing around out of pure joy, and the filly’s mother wiping away tears of pride. Celestia recalled days later, how Velvet bit back a mother’s anxiety as Twilight entered the castle for the first time, how she was there at every graduation, award ceremony, every birthday. Every single event Celestia had been able to attend, Velvet had been there too, along with Night Light, Shining Armor, and even Cadance. All of them showered Twilight with affection and praise, Velvet chief among them. In all her years, so had never seen a parent so proud of their child.

How has it come to this?

Celestia, ever the regal princess on the outside, was emotionally devastated. I’ve failed you both. I saw the signs, but I failed to act. I should have—

“Princess?”

Celestia’s musings were derailed at her Guard Captain’s query. “Glinting Lance, tell the Guard to expect casualties, and inform the press of my decision.” She looked to her sister. The alicorns shared a look that communicated on a level only siblings could fully understand before addressing Rolled Scroll. “Tell Captain Veselov that he may proceed.”

Aegis winced as a crossbow bolt dug into the stone wall next to her face, showering her eyes in gravel. She leaned out and took aim at the arbalist pegasi perched on the roof of the chapel and fired. The shot went so far wide that the pegasi didn’t even bother to duck as they reloaded their weapons. She grumbled at herself.

Twilight yanked a void crystal tipped bolt out of the carpet under her hooves and tossed it out into the sun baked walkway.

Aegis bit back a curse and silently glanced at the small pile of bodies littered around the silo’s exterior. The mercenaries had learned quickly about the limited range of the changelings’ firearms, and were keeping them locked down.

Her first instinct was to double back through the underground passageways to find another route, but all it took was the sound of gunfire and the clack of steel to know they were trapped in the silo. Or at least, that’s what Aegis wanted the mercenaries to think.

Rainbow Dash stood over the prone form of an earth stallion, a snarl remained on his dying lips. Taking lives, even for the veteran soldier that she was, was never easy. No matter how evil or demented her opponents might be, they still had someone who cared for them. And there she was, taking that husband, son, daughter, or friend away from someone else.

But this is where her chosen path had taken her. When diplomacy and harmony was not enough for some people, she along with every other Wonderbolt both past and present stood vigilant.

Rainbow looked up, scanning the eyes of the four ponies who pressed forward. All of them bore seething rage at their comrade’s fate. But Rainbow’s mana coated wings gave the mercenaries pause. She was a Wonderbolt, a demon in the air. She should be grossly handicapped in the height confines of the narrow hallways, barely three ponies abreast. Unfortunately for them that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Rainbow Dash gave a short warning shake with her head, but it went unheeded as the first grey earth pony charged in, her sword carving a lethal arc. The unicorn behind her cursed her recklessness and started weaving a spell to support her.

Rainbow flicked her wings, instantly changing the mana from an amorphous mist to tight banding ribbons, giving her wings a hard edge. She slipped under blade and moved to slam her left wing into the mare’s skull, but a warning over the Link made her fall flat on her belly as a scything wave of burning magic passed through the mare and singed the top of Rainbow’s ears.

The Link told her the mare had been unharmed by the spell, and rolled left to avoid a vicious downward slash. The moment the blade dug into the carpet, Rainbow kicked the blade out of the earth mare’s mouth and brought a wing up on her neck, collapsing her trachea.

With Rainbow still low to the ground, the changelings behind her fired upon the remaining mercenaries, downing two with the fourth barely managing to slip inside a broken door.

she called back as she ran to the grain silo’s doorway. She ducked behind a narrow corner where she slumped to the ground to level out her breathing. A nearby drone turned to the clockwerk. “Clockwerk unit Resolute: instructions, barricade the doorway.”

“Complying.” The Clockwerk stepped forward and took a heavy pill shaped grenade off its back and threw it a few meters down the hall. With a massive *phoomph* two meters of corridor was crammed with quick drying foam akin to porous stone.

“That’ll hold them for a while,” the queen’s guard announced with a smug grin.

Aegis took another potshot at the arbalists, if for nothing else than to keep from feeling impotent. This is not how I expected to be fighting ponies for the first time. She turned to find a grim face upon her queen. It was hardly a surprise, given the circumstances.

A few moments later, the arrows stopped coming. Aegis and the rest shared quizzical glances before poking their heads out. The sight drew Twilight's ire in an instant, which only caused every changeling in the area to feel it as well.

The chapel’s main doors yawned open after silence fell over the monastery. Three unicorns escorted Velvet as she marched over towards Twilight’s position. The queen stood in the doorway, but made no move to leave it, having lost trust in her first mother. Velvet stopped several meters away, sighing at the dead and dying. “I want this bloodshed to stop, Twilight. If there is even a single trace of equinity left in you, surrender now.”

“You speak of equinity, Velvet, but you seem to have forgotten about what it means to be a good mother.” Velvet bristled at Twilight’s chiding tone, but the queen brooked no interruption. “You would have me condemn my hive to death? Not a chance!”

“You know nothing about being a mother!” Velvet raged to the point of scratching her throat. “I’ve seen enough changelings behind bars and on the dissection table to know there is no way they could ever be worthy of the term: child. How far has your mind been twisted to see these tools as children?”

“Who are you calling a tool, bitch!” Ferrum shouted, drawing attention and a hoof across the back of the head, for a moment before Twilight spoke again.

“Were you blind the day of the Phoenix’s arrival, or when I introduced my drones to you and father?”

Velvet slammed her hoof down. “I did not come out here to debate! You will surrender here and now, or more ponies will die to end your threat to Equestria, one way or another.”

“I’m not the one sending them to die, Velvet. Their blood is on your hooves!” Twilight shot back. A few of the mercenaries felt the queen won that little shouting match, but the bits were too good to pass up, and they had the changelings cornered.

Velvet stared into Twilight’s face. She no longer saw a changeling wearing her daughter’s skin. She’s faded away completely. I should have done this long ago. “So be it, Queen Twilight Sparkle. Then I will carry that blood willingly.” She turned to the mercenary lieutenant at her side. “End this. Release my daughter’s soul from this living hell.”

“As long as you got the bits, lady.”

A distant shadow passed over the sun baked marble stones between the chapel and Twilight’s position. Velvet didn’t need a telescope to know what it was. “It’s the Phoenix, she means to send her entire swarm down on top of us!”

High above the monastery, the hive ship descended at a seemingly lethargic pace. Its biggest guns remained unmoving, but the dozens of smaller turrets readied themselves and aimed at the structure below. Despite the danger, numerous pegasi from Canterlot followed the airship at a distance, baffled by its sudden departure from the city’s airspace.

Captain Veselov’s eyes bored into the ceiling mounted clock hanging above the ship’s wheel. Each second was too long in his book.

He stood up to join the younger drone at her station.

Twilight ducked back inside the small grain room and threw up an atmospheric barrier around the interior of the silo as moments later, well over a hundred shells in the first volley exploded all around them. Instead of the fire and shrapnel that Velvet and the mercenaries expected, whitish smoke filled the air. The entire monastery and a twenty meter radius around it was smothered in the clinging opaque gas.

The mercenary lieutenant’s first thought was a smokescreen, and blew the whistle around his neck. “Move it lads, get in there and squash those bugs!”

Most never got the chance to comply as the smoke revealed itself to be a choking cloud that burned their eyes and noses. All but a handful of pegasi dropped to the ground as the gas sent everyone into a coughing and sneezing fit. “Why aren’t the void stones working?” One called out between sneezes.

If any answer was forthcoming, he never got to hear it as the changelings surged out of their positions and waded through the crippled mercenaries and purist fanatics. The lieutenant tried to cover his eyes with one leg while pushing Velvet back towards the chapel. “Rally inside! Move it, move it!”

Velvet barely got inside when the lieutenant saw past his watering eyes to witness a prismatic blur racing through the gas with a glass helmet on. He tried to weave a fireball into being, only for his mana to immediately drain into the dozens of void crystals the pegasi had dropped. Ah bloody 'ell, was all he could think before Rainbow Dash planted a hoof across his jaw. With a quick one-two punch, he went down like a sack of potatoes. The cyan pegasus didn’t linger as there were still plenty more mercenaries and fanatic heads to crack.

Night Light had gone through a range of emotions ever since waking up in a bell tower, chained to the railing with a warded lock. Disbelief and confusion were chief among them before settling into depression. Velvet… What have you done?

It had been two hours since his wife left him there with lunch and a promise to heal their family. “Heal the family indeed,” he fumed. “Twilight’s perfectly happy how she is; you’re the only one who needs healing.”

His anger fizzled out at the sight of the meal. Cucumber Gratin and truffled potatoes… our favorite. Oh Velvet, I hope our daughter can keep you from doing something we’ll all regret.

With all the recent commotion outside, Night Light was torn between trying to find a way to remove the chain around his right hind leg and getting the mana locking bangle off his horn. He noticed the white smoke crawling its way inside almost too late to react, and finally recognized the cause of all the coughing and sneezing outside.

The wooden slats covering the exterior of the tower snapped with a massive *crrrrack* and a controlled gust of wind blew the gas back out of the tower as Twilight Sparkle landed next to her father. She ripped off her gas mask and squashed her father in a crushing hug. “Daddy! Thank the First Mother you’re alright!”

A massive smile crossed his lips and he hugged her back with all the strength his aging bones could muster. “Twilight! I was so worried your mother was going to do something we’d all regret.”

Her smile fell. “She did. We’ll talk about it later, right now I need to get you out of here.”

A hatch off to the side burst open to reveal a coughing and hacking Velvet stumbling out. Twilight immediately let go of her father to storm up to the helpless mare. “If we were back in the jungle, Velvet, nopony would bat an eye if I killed you right here and now.”

Velvet kept trying to rub her eyes clear, but the gas had clung to her fur, making it even worse. *hack* “So, are you *cough* finally going to reveal that *sniff* corruption for all to see?”

Night Light rushed over to restrain his daughter, but hesitated to do more than laying a hoof on her withers. “Twily, please, don’t do this. Let your mother stand trial.”

“Raaa!!” Velvet shot an energy bolt blindly in Twilight’s direction, but the shot went wide and carried past Twilight and straight for her husband. Night flinched at the oncoming bolt, but it never reached him thanks to a last minute shield from Twilight. Growling, Twilight grabbed Velvet in her magic and yanked her over so she could speak directly in her ear. Night Light was dumbstruck by how low his wife had sunk.

“I am a daughter of Equestria, Velvet, I won’t harm you. The whole nation will hear of what you’ve done in court, I can assure you of that.”

*wheeze* “Bah. *hack* The battlefield may change, but I will never give up the fight to free my daughter’s soul! Sooner or later, monster, somepony will kill you, and free her from your grasp.”

Shame burned in Night Light’s gut. For his wife, his lack of foresight, for his inability to protect his only daughter, and now that his family name would get dragged through the mud. “Velvet, you need help. No matter what the princesses’ decision will be, I’ll make sure you get it.”

“I’m not the one who needs help, Night, Twilight is—”

“Enough!” Twilight roared as she suffocated her mother with a sleep spell so strong it would keep her in a coma for a week. She let her mother drop to the floor while taking several long deep breaths to cool down. Only, she cooled too quickly as all of her anger, hate, and everything else she had bottled up for the past few years broke through. Twilight Sparkle’s lip quivered at the sight of her mother.

After inadvertently inducing a dreaming sleep, it was the first time since she had awakened from the chrysalis that she saw a truly peaceful look on Velvet’s face. Night Light instantly switched to supportive father at the sound of his daughter’s sniffles and pulled her into a deep hug. “Why can’t she love me, Daddy?”

Their position allowed him to look upon his wife and her euphoric expression. “I don’t know, Twilight… I honestly don’t know.”

The main audience chamber of the chapel was clear of smoke, thanks to several pegasi pushing it back, giving the rest of the fanatics some breathing room. Not that they had to worry too much about it. The Phoenix stopped firing after the second volley and the high winds were already dispersing the gas.

Rainbow Dash stood at the head of a dozen changelings who emerged from the fading gasses. Aimed at the fanatics were and an equal number of pistols, two Clockwerks, and one blood-soaked skysteel sword. Most of the surrounded ponies kept giving the Clockwerks and their blood covered hooves fearful glances. Rainbow briefly glanced at Riposte, who was quite happy to have an opportunity to wield his new sword before fixating on the trapped ponies. “Stand down,” she barked loudly enough to focus all attention on her, “and you’ll not be harmed.”

A bronze coated unicorn pushed past his weary comrades. “Never trust a changeling. They’ll kill us or corrupt us, and you’re proof of that, Dame Rainbow Dash!”

Aegis couldn’t help but send her apologies over the Link, but Rainbow ignored it.

A trio of dark contrails roared in from one of the broken windows and stopped abruptly between both groups. It was a Wonderbolt strike team led by none other than Spitfire herself. “By royal decree, everypony stand down!”

Both sides held fast. The fanatics were unwilling to yield against the perceived changeling threat, and the drones only unquestioningly obeyed the voice of their queen. Despite Spitfire’s proximity, some of the fanatics tried to get a clear line of sight on Rainbow Dash, while the drones’ pistols shifted targets.

Rainbow stared the fanatics down, daring them to try. When she saw their hesitation, she glanced at the drones at her back. “Do as she says, everypony, fight’s over.”

Without hesitation, the changelings holstered their pistols. Some of the younger fanatical unicorns saw the opportunity and began weaving spells at Rainbow. Before they could execute any of them however, a lightning bolt in the form of Spitfire came down on the lead unicorn’s head like a ton of bricks. Her wings crackled with electrical power before she brought them down on the other two, dropping them as well. Several more Wonderbolts moved in to surround the mercenaries and fanatics. “Anypony else want to test me?”

Shaking heads and reluctant ‘noes’ answered her. “Good. Now all of you against the wall.”

It did not take long for the Royal Guard and Spitfire’s squadron to lock down the rest of the monastery. The mercenaries were not paid enough to go up against Celestia directly, and surrendered en masse. The fanatics tried to flee through various means, but most were rounded up within an hour.

Spitfire watched a handful of chariots arrive from the city to escort the prisoners away while barking orders to a few Royal Guardponies as they arrived. Rainbow Dash zipped down from above and snapped a crisp salute. “Lieutenant Rainbow Dash, reporting as ordered, ma’am.”

Spitfire returned it. “At ease.”

Rainbow could tell her commanding officer was put off by her altered appearance, even if Spitfire was good at hiding it. “Just finished sweeping the lower levels, the non-combative criminals destroyed a lot of equipment once our reinforcements arrived. There’s barely anything left to retrieve for evidence.”

“Typical. This group did the same thing to their last base of operations we raided.” Spitfire took her goggles off her eyes. “It’s disgraceful to think ponies have come to this.”

The thought of it disturbed Rainbow greatly, but her military bearing kept the sentiment mostly out of her tone. “I hear you on that, Commander.”

“Walk with me, Lieutenant,” Spitfire ordered curtly before finding an eroding grain silo for some moderate privacy. She scanned the immediate area to make sure they weren’t being watched before speaking in a lower-than-normal tone. “The princess said something had happened to you, but I didn’t think it was this.”

Rainbow’s ears fell flat at Spitfire waving a hoof at her face. “Yeah, well, when you mess with old artifacts without thinking, you can get into some real trouble.” She resisted the urge to nervously scuff the ground.

“This isn’t good, Dash. If the PCE were able to fund a small army right under our noses, then we’re in even worse shape than I thought. The military has to take steps to demonstrate we're not slipping under changeling infiltration, no matter how unfounded such talk may be.”

Rainbow was taken aback. “Wait a minute, you’re not actually going to kick me out of the Bolts are you!?”

“Not quite,” Spitfire replied with curt reassurance. She sighed while resting a hoof on her subordinate. “Look, Dash, you’ve earned a place in the Wonderbolts fifty times over. Hay, you would be my XO if it wasn’t for the damned nobility raising a stink. But if the PCE already knows about what’s happened to you, then you can expect all of their sympathizers to know as well. The climate’s too volatile right now.”

Rainbow had to leverage a monumental amount of self-control to keep from bucking the wall. Damn all those bigots to Tartarus! “So if you’re not kicking me out, what are you doing?”

“Until you’re cured, or ponies calm down about changelings, which ever happens first, I’m taking you off rotation into the chaos lands. I’ll see about making your liaison assignment to Twilight permanent.” She could see Rainbow’s temper flare under her professional exterior. “It’s still prestigious enough to keep you on the career track.”

Barely. The one place Rainbow Dash did not want to be right now, was standing out in public with her CO. Her blood boiled and she ground her teeth together. “You know what really sucks? It’s that I know you’re putting yourself on the line just to do that much…”

“Sorry, Lieutenant, but that’s how we’re going to have to play this out. I’ll send the necessary paperwork to your quarters.”

“Yeah…” Rainbow muttered to keep her anger in check. “Thanks.” She flew off into the blue to blow off some steam before it could boil over.

Later that night, Pinkie Pie was laughing maniacally as she bounced on her hooves while circling Applejack and Fluttershy as the group exited the train at Canterlot Station. She was wearing a foal harness with her little colt, Pie Slice, giggling at his mother’s antics.

“I can’t believe it girls, Twilight’s finally back in Equestria! I have to prepare the biggest Hive Warming party for her.” She bent her head around to gaze upon the teal coated foal on her back with a huge grin. “You’re going to help, right Slice?”

“Ya momma!”

Applejack let off a warm-hearted chuckle. “Ah remember when Apple Bloom was his age. Cutest filly Ah ever did see.”

Fluttershy kept pace with her friends while flying just above the ground. “Speaking of foals, I can’t wait to see Twilight’s nursery. All those cute little drones scampering around,” she added wistfully. “I’m still in shock that Canterlot Regional Medical Center asked me of all ponies to do it!” She hid behind her mane to conceal her bashful excitement.

“Well of course they’d ask you, Fluttershy. Ah ain’t seen no pony as good with critters and trusted by Twilight enough to do all that.”

Pinkie Pie settled her bouncing path to be between her friends. “And critter foals are the best critters!” She turned around to nuzzle her son. “Isn’t that right Slicy Whicy, you’re a silly willy critter witter!”

Pie Slice giggled madly as he brushed his mother’s snout. Pinkie’s right ear started flopping. “Oop, I think somepony’s getting hungry!”

As Pinkie tended to her foal, Applejack noticed an older pegasus colt standing on the street corner ringing a loud bell as ponies all around gathered around him. “Extra, extra, read all about it! Noblemare Twilight Velvet arrested for treason against the crowns! Trial to be held this Friday!”

Applejack stopped dead in her tracks when the announcement fully registered. Oh no.

Author's Note

Editor's note: It's been a pleasure working on this story and I look forward to continuing to do so.

9: Fallout

Twilight Sparkle walked through the marble hallways of Canterlot Castle with a calm presence in her step and Ratchet at her side. The morning was just starting to creep over the horizon so the tall regal passageways were still lit by torchlight. As the moon slowly gave way to the sun, a few yawning Night Guard were leaving their posts as their day aligned counterparts relieved them.

A few of the passing thestrals gave the pair of changelings a passing glance or respectful nod. Whether this was respect was towards Twilight’s station or for her person the pair didn’t know.

Ratchet glanced at his queen every so often, unsure about what he wanted to say exactly. “Twilight, are you sure this is a good idea?”

“A good idea? Perhaps not, but I feel it is something I have to do. There were too many witnesses, and the press is classifying the whole monastery furball as a diplomatic incident.”

“Which means…”

Twilight stopped walking with a heavy sigh. There were a few passing servants and guards silently walking past, but she didn’t care for privacy. “Which means the princesses have to get involved with mother’s trial personally, and they have to come down hard. So the PCE and Vel… my mother will be petrified in stone.”

A hot tear dampened her face. She could feel more slowing creeping down her face. “I just have to see her.”

He nodded silently. “I'm afraid I don't understand, but I’m here if you need me.”

“Thank you, Ratchet.” She leaned forward and kissed him. Although the act was simple, the warm blanket of her freely given love addled his mind for a brief moment with its intensity.

There were two types of prisons in Equestria, one for commoners, and one for the nobility. The latter was rarely used, if only because none of them dared do anything to end up in one. The only real difference between the two was one being located a floor higher than the other.

She found the warden, a stocky earth stallion, sipping his coffee upon her entry into the cold unwelcoming stone prison. “Ah, Queen Twilight,” he said with a hasty bow. “I honestly expected you earlier.”

She draped a wing across Ratchet. “I needed a couple of days to cool off after everything that’s happened.”

“Aye, you don’t have to explain anything to me. I don’t know what I’dda done in your shoes.”

The sleepy warden quickly shut up at the somber expression leaking through Twilight’s regal mask and grabbed the keys before heading to the cells.

Twilight turned to Ratchet before leaving the warden’s office.

<…As you wish, my love. Just be careful around her.>

Cold grey stone, iron bars, wooden cots, and a musty stench lingered through the air. It was the last place she ever wanted anyone to end up. Then again, she never thought a family member would try to kill her either.

The warden was a few paces ahead of her and rapped his iron shoed hooves across the bars. “You got a visitor.”

The warden stepped aside to let Twilight enter. Velvet had not moved from the warden’s call and had propped herself up on the edge of the barred window to watch the sunrise. The view of the sleeping city backdropped by the rising sun among the clouds would have brought a tear to her eye on any other day. “Tell me, changeling, did you spare me to maintain your cover, or to use me for a show trial?”

Without the adrenaline rush from her last encounter with Velvet, the festering hate wafting off of her would have caused some to be ill at ease. However the loss of a mother’s unconditional love and hate being its chief replacement was physically painful to the point where the nerves all over Twilight’s body felt like they were being dipped in acid. She briefly contemplated leaving the room, but held fast against the intense agony. The building migraine didn’t help either.

She did her best to try and ignore her agony, but it was far from easy. “As ashamed as I am to admit it, neither. It was only because Aged Page talked me down that I spared you.” Velvet turned her head askew to eye the queen. “All those times you’ve called me a monster…” She briefly wondered if she was only giving Velvet more ammunition, but it had to be said. “Y-you don’t know what that does to an empath… Especially from somepony who I thought loved me.”

“I love my daughter Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn, student of the princess,” Velvet replied with a vicious scowl. “You are not her!”

Twilight had prepared herself for hostility, and each drop of verbal venom felt very much real. “Am I really so alien that you cannot accept me as your daughter?”

“Do you even need to ask, empath?” Velvet returned her gaze to the window. Her tone never lost its hostile edge. “Why do you even bother with the act anymore? You’ve got the princesses wrapped around your hoof, and now I’m going on trial for treason. You belittle us both continuing with this facade!”

“It’s not an act, mother, it never was.” Velvet finally backed away from the window and shot Twilight a disbelieving scowl. Twilight grit her teeth from the waves of disgust and loathing but refused to show it or raise her voice. “Okay, I’m different than I used to be, I’m a changeling through and through, but I’ve never, not even once hidden that fact.”

“My issue was never with the fact that you hid what you were, but the fact that you never wanted to be a pony again,” Velvet said as if she had been repeating the same reason a million times. “My Twilight Sparkle would have agreed to this… procedure to save her own life, true, but to stay as one of you freaks? No, you are somepony different. The only thing you have in common with my daughter is that you stole her body!”

She’s… she’s gone completely insane! Twilight masked her slowly weakening agony as exasperation. With Velvet casting her daughter aside so definitively, Twilight’s body started acclimating to her loathing. Bit by bit, the pain she suffered from the middle aged mare’s disgust was beginning to lessen. “Mother, have I really changed that much? Yes, physically, but mentally? Why can’t you see I just wanted us to be a family again?” Velvet said nothing, prompting Twilight to continue. “But that wasn’t enough for you. You couldn’t let me live my own life, could you?”

Velvet scoffed a short mirthless chuckle. “You call that a life? You can’t even see how much of a slave you are to Cadista. You’ve spent almost five years spewing eggs and propagating Equestria’s mortal enemy!”

Twilight was utterly dumbfounded and couldn’t speak for several seconds with her mouth hanging open. Velvet only saw it as mockery. “Should I bother mentioning the warship hanging over our heads, or is that too obvious?”

Twilight’s train of thought had a sluggish restart. “First off it’s a colony ship outfitted to survive the jungles, not a warship. Secondly, how can you hate my kind so much without even knowing how we changelings work? I’m a queen, I alone dictate the purpose of my hive, and I want to be allied with Equestria, my homeland! Haven’t you even cared to notice how fundamentally different my drones are compared to Chrysalis’ own?”

A niggling thought wormed its way into Velvet’s mind. Fancy Pants, and a few others were quite enamored by them before I left for the monastery. She smashed the thought down hard. “You’re arguing semantics, nothing more.”

“Am I?” Twilight shot back. With her body growing increasingly numb to Velvet’s hatred, Twilight was feeling energetic enough to put some fire in her speech. “Have I ever once done anything to threaten or weaken Equestria since becoming a changeling?”

Velvet chewed on her lip and turned back towards the country she had risked everything for. “Plenty.”

“How? I’ve increased trade between Equestria and Stripped Gear, and I personally oversaw the return of all love prisoners from the other queens. I risked my hive’s future by pulling too many drones to help Ponyville against Discord’s plunder vines while my friends and I stopped them at their source.” Celestia still wants to minimize public knowledge of the Tree of Harmony. “Should I even bother mentioning the incident at the Equestrian Games? Or how about the ten other times my friends and I saved Equestria?!”

“It’s all just one big ruse, Twilight. You changelings don’t want Equestria’s destruction, just our enslavement. What better way to do just that, than to earn our trust first?”

It’s always the same excuses and self-deceptions with her. She mentally asked Ratchet to fetch the warden. Velvet’s presence still grated at her, but the most she felt now was phantom pain. “I think I know the real reason you can’t accept me, mother.”

Only stoic silence filled the room. Velvet tired of her presence. A thought came to Twilight, but she stopped as she noticed something. She could still sense Velvet’s emotional poison washing over her, but she had gone completely numb to it, as if Velvet was just another stranger. The realization caused her ears to fall flat and her wings to droop. Twilight cast a quick spell to dry away a few resigned tears. There’s really no hope… is there?

Velvet almost called for the warden to get the silent queen to leave that much quicker, but Twilight spoke out before she could act.

“It may just be a dying light in a sea of ink, mother, but I know you actually do recognize that I am still your Twilight Sparkle. You’ve been fighting my desire to remain a changeling so long you’re too frightened to admit it.”

That niggling voice in the back of Velvet’s mind gave unwanted weight to Twilight’s observation.

“I may never see you again, but… I forgive you, mother. I am sorry we could never make it work between us.” The cell door’s lock clanked loudly, heralding the warden’s return. “Good bye, mother.”

Velvet’s head ached at the nagging voice that casted doubt on the one thing of which she had been absolutely certain. Fear wormed its way in. Not for her own well-being, but there was actually the possibility she had been wrong all along, so utterly preposterous though it may be. No, I must have been right, I must!

The only other alternative was too heart wrenching, too terrifying to even consider. Yet that small whisper that would not be silenced, kept speaking of that horrible possibility. By the time she glanced back, Twilight and the warden were already halfway down the hall.

Later that day, Rainbow Dash was headed towards Twilight’s chambers aboard the Ashes of the Phoenix with a plate of blue bacon balanced perfectly on her back with her wings spread out to give additional support. It was either that or the bacon was causing quite a stir with her. One of the god-sent strips of meat was currently being teased by her tongue as she savored every last bit of texture and flavor. “Oh Celestia, this bacon is orgasmic. I don’t care what it takes, I have got to convince Twi to let me stay half 'Ling so I can keep eating this ambrosia.”

Rainbow polished off the last of the bacon by the time she reached Twilight’s door and found a few caretakers carting away twelve eggs resting in a padded trolley. The trio of drones snickered at overhearing Rainbow praise her meal. “So that’s all it takes, Aunty? I guess we know what to tell the next colt that catches your eye, huh girls?”

Far from being embarrassed, Rainbow smirked at her adopted nieces. “Then be sure to tell him to get me a pack of country style. Salt plus bacon equals one happy mare,” Rainbow ended with a wisecrack grin and causing the drones to burst out laughing. Rainbow eyed the egg trolley. “You gals busy running off with the daily dozen, or giving them a tour of the ship?”

The new chief caretaker, Gear Ratio, had originally been slated to join the engineering corps, but her preference and talent for nymph care superseded that and joined the caretakers instead. Gear smiled warmly at the hive’s favorite person, outside of Twilight herself. “No tour today, I’m afraid. It's a shame this’ll be the last clutch for a week or so until more slots in the incubators open up.”

Feeling a little love hungry, Rainbow smoothly placed the now empty plate between the eggs and briefly nuzzled Gear. “How are you holding up in your new position?”

Even with Rainbow’s extremely limited connection to the Link, sensing their aunt’s desire was trivial, and the three caretakers were quick to wrap Rainbow Dash in a group hug. “It’s tough work,” Gear admitted with tired joy, “but highly rewarding.”

It was weird at first, needing to feed on love. However, it was easy for the brash pegasus to let her guard down around her adopted nieces and nephews. I guess that it’s not so bad, as long as it’s with these purple ponies, she thought while ruffling the youngest caretaker’s mane, eliciting a lighthearted giggle out of her. The act signaled her desire to end the hug.

Rainbow gently rubbed one of the still glowing lavender eggs. “I better let you get your future sisters to the tube farm.”

“Sure thing, Aunty,” Gear replied with pride, sneaking a loving nuzzle on her aunt. “Say, are you still up for flying lessons tomorrow? The nymphs love it when you teach them.”

“Sure thing,” Rainbow replied with a huge grin. “Speaking of which, you still remember the lessons I gave you right?”

“Don't fight the thermals, let them take you to new heights” The trio of caretakers recited energetically from memory. The trio flapped their wings in a crisp salute.

“That’s my Buzz Bug crew! I’ll see you later, oh, and can you take care of my plate for me?”

“Absolutely, Aunty! Cya!” The caretakers waved their wings in farewell, prompting the half pegasus to reciprocate the adopted changeling gesture.

With the caretakers leaving, Rainbow was left to knock on Twilight’s door. Actually, if I’m going to keep this, I might as well give the brain web a try. She pinged Twilight for entry and was promptly answered.

The pegasus in question poked her nose through the door to find Twilight stepping out of her bathroom with a towel wrapped around her mane and tail. Her large red wings were splayed out and flapping lightly to air dry. “Hey Twi, I needed to ask you about something.”

Twilight sat down by a mirror to use a spell to dry the holes out of her legs. “If it’s about progress on reversing your condition, I’m sorry I haven’t made much progress as of late. All I know is that it was meant to work on people who have not been affected by alchemy, it's not intended to be reversible.”

“Funny you should mention that,” Rainbow replied as she flew into a low hover near Twilight. “I’ve been thinking of staying a half 'Ling, permanently.”

Twilight’s spell fizzled out and she turned to her multicolored friend in surprise. “Come again?”

“Well you know,” she replied as if it was no big deal. “I really like the meat thing, I mean, damn. Also these fangs are really starting to grow on me, and this brain link’s freakin’ awesome! Soooo yeah, I want to stay like this.”

Twilight's first response was to outright deny her, but Velvet's actions were still fresh on her mind. The chance of inadvertently repeating her mother's mistakes stayed her hoof. “This isn‘t exactly something to take lightly, Rainbow. Why do you want this?”

Rainbow landed to use her feathers to count off. “Well the ability to eat meat regularly is off the awesome scale by like five factors because of bacon and steak, I mean wow.” Twilight restrained an eye roll as her friend continued. “I already mentioned the fangs, I mean for a soldier like me, you can’t dismiss the intimidation factor. I mean, who’s going to mess with a Wonderbolt with fangs eh?” Twilight couldn’t discount that on an academic level, but still felt it was flimsy. “The brain hive thing I still have with Aegis and her crew is just crazy cool, but I guess I’d be preaching to the choir telling you why.”

Twilight slapped herself. “Oh no, how could I completely forget about that? I should have throttled your connection days ago.”

“Well I’m glad you didn’t,” Rainbow replied a bit defensively. “Sure the brain hive’s not for everypony, but it’s crazy cool like I said. You saw me fight back at the monastery didn’t you? It was like having eyes in the back of my head, I knew where to move and when!” She jumped back into the air and started play fighting an invisible foe.

Twilight took the opportunity to sigh at her rambunctious friend giving a devastating uppercut. “What about your career, Rainbow?”

The Wonderbolt’s cheery demeanor dampened immensely. “Look Twi, it’s like this. One of these days, you’re going to be the first Equestrian 'Ling-Queen, that’s a fact. And who knows, maybe one day some of the grubs will want to join the Bolts. Even if I never make captain, I want to be there, ready to welcome you guys in.” She smirked at Twilight’s warming mood. “Assuming of course, that I can whip some of your rugrats into Wonderbolt material.”

“You’ve put a lot of thought into this, haven’t you?”

Rainbow’s face twisted in thought. “I’ve been doing a lot of that lately. Whether it’s this whole political crap with my career or what this half lingification’s done to me, is up in the air. But, yes, this is what I want, for real.”

In that moment, Twilight had a strange sense of déjà vu. This must have been how Celestia felt when I told her I was going to stay a changeling. If that’s so, then who am I to stop you? “I guess we should be glad this happened to you, and not somepony who’d start a changeling plague craze or something.”

“That’d be our luck wouldn’t it? So umm…” She sheepishly rubbed the back of her neck while trying to word her request correctly, but the question was so loud in her mind that Twilight sniffed it out from the Link without even wanting to.

“You want full access to the hive mind.”

Rainbow gave a wide grin coupled with a nervous giggle. “I gotta admit, Twilight, just the tiny bit I have with Aegis is freaking awesome to the max.”

While Rainbow’s massive pleading grin and clasped forelegs smacked of an impulsive decision, Twilight felt the pegasus' underlying determination and assuredness. I can’t keep prying like that, but if she truly wants this, who am I to stop her? “Alright Rainbow, I’ll do it.”

“YES!” Rainbow pumped an elbow. “Brain hive and Arcane Wing is going to be awesome!”

Twilight brought all of her psychic control to bear and slowly pulled Rainbow’s mind from its semi-quarantined state and gently pushed her into the heart of the sea of voices. A tidal wave of noise crashed into Rainbow Dash’s mind. Every last one of them quickly realized who this unexpected addition was, and overwhelmed Rainbow with a dominating sense of heartfelt welcomeness so profound it made her fall to the ground with tears in her eyes.

A lopsided smile crossed Twilight’s face. I wonder how I would have reacted to being inducted if I had been conscious. Still…

Rainbow couldn’t help but to unconsciously hug herself as thousands of minds took her in as one of their own. A feat made easier with her long standing relationship with them. “It’s… it’s beautiful, Twilight. T-thank you.”

And this is why I didn’t want her even touching the hive mind in the first place. Once you’re in, you never want to leave. “I hope you never come to regret this, Rainbow Dash, but you’re welcome.”

It took Rainbow Dash half an hour to finally come down from the high her welcoming committee inflicted on her. By then, Twilight had finished preparing herself after the shower and had a pot of tea delivered. Rainbow’s brow furrowed as she swam in the sea of the Link. “What gives? Why can’t I actually understand anypony? It just sounds like background noise in a restaurant, but I can’t make anything out.”

“Give it time, Rainbow. Your brain has to learn how to deal with so many voices at once. Plus it doesn’t help that you’re only partially a changeling,” Twilight explained matter-of-factly.

“I’m 'Ling enough to hear it, so why not understand it?”

“To put it simply, because you’re picking up a weaker than normal signal. To help with long range hive communications for infiltrators and love collectors, my ancestors modified the changeling nervous system to have hundreds of small receptor nodes throughout our bodies. Given that you’re only a changeling from the neck up, well… who knows how long it’ll take. But I’m sure you’ll be able to converse over it in due time.”

Giving Rainbow Dash a chance to contemplate the information, Twilight slowly drained the last of her first cup of rich honey spice flavored tea, and offered a second cup Rainbow more out of courtesy than any expectation of it being taken.

Already being in an adventurous mood, Rainbow took the offered drink. “Thanks, I actually could go for a drink right now.” Too bad alcohol and tea don’t mix. I need something stiff.

“Glad I could help. How is everything else going; you’re getting a decent supply of love every day, right?”

Rainbow took a deep breath to feel out how energized her mind still felt from the caretakers’ love. “Yeah, yeah, I got a ton from Gear and her crew on the way over. So I think I’m set for the day.” Although she was not really expecting to like it, Rainbow took the whole cup in one gulp just get some water in her system. But that one fleeting taste of honey and spices wrapped her tongue in such an explosion of flavor that it left her groaning in a way she had thought impossible for frou-frou tea. Da hell is with this day, first bacon, and now some bang'n tea!?

The mostly cyan pegasus was licking the last drop at the bottom right as Twilight turned back around after filling her own cup. She couldn’t help but tilt her head at her friend. “And here I thought you were just being polite. I didn’t know you liked tea.”

Rainbow forcibly put the cup down. “I don’t usually. What’s in this? It’s like amazingly good stuff!”

That produced a curious eyebrow out of Twilight. “It’s tea made from royal jelly. Normally, I’m the only one whoever eats it, or drinks in this case. But some drones have been known to use it as a spice of sorts.”

Twilight watched in bemusement as Rainbow snatched the teapot, with a silent request first, but stopped short of pouring a third cup. “It’s not rare is it?”

“No, it’s just a nutrient rich jelly made from various ingredients and salve, along with some other little bits. It's perfectly safe for anypony to eat. The jelly allows me to keep from having to eat so much food during full egg production.”

Sensing the silent permission, Rainbow started guzzling the tea straight from the pot’s spigot. Twilight was about to say something, but Rainbow threw up a hoof asking to not be interrupted. Twilight gave up and waited for the pot to run dry. It was only then that she realized what her lavender friend was trying to say. “Wait, this isn’t going to make me fat is it? I mean… twelve eggs a day can’t be cheap.”

I want to see if I can find a way to safely bump that up to fifteen a day. She refocused on her friend. “Knowing your workout regimen, I doubt it,” she said with a casual shrug, “and I still eat the usual three meals. The rest of the supplements would only affect a royal like myself anyway. I can tell the kitchens to increase production for you.”

“Sweet, thanks! I’m going to go find more of this stuff.”

Right as Rainbow was about to take her leave, Ratchet entered the bedroom with a few newspapers on his back. The spring in his step lifted Twilight’s spirits. “Hey Honey, RD, have you checked out the latest headlines? The press are at war with each other on whether or not the monastery incident was a sign of our willingness to be true allies with Equestria.”

Confusion rocked through the mares as Ratchet took the top newspaper in his mouth and gave it to Twilight who took it in her magic.

Foalnapping of Changeling Queen Twilight Sparkle Prompts Military Response!

According to Princess Celestia’s press conference yesterday, the changeling queen’s hive ship S.G.C.V. Ashes of the Phoenix bombarded the Celvard Monastery that had been occupied by an unsanctioned mercenary army. In a surprising turn of events, this army was funded and commanded by none other than Noblemare Twilight Velvet who has been revealed to be a chief member within the Ponies for the Conservation of Equestria. This group is known for openly defying the will of the crowns by conducting population screenings looking for changelings and torture of those they find.

The changeling use of “less than lethal” weapons that only did cosmetic damage to the historic monastery was intensely surprising, as one captured mercenary had to say. Was it an act by this Queen Twilight Sparkle to back her honeyed words with actions, or something more? Article continued on A6

Twilight was dumbstruck. “I don’t believe it… This is from The Canterlot Chronicle! They hate changelings!”

Rainbow Dash lifted an eyebrow at that. “It wasn’t exactly glowing praise, but considering the source…”

Ratchet grabbed a second newspaper. “Here, I circled the good part.”

Even under threat of her own life, Queen Twilight used nondestructive means to defeat the foul mercenaries. The historic monastery suffered more damage from the PCE than from the changeling technophiles’ bombardment. It is this reporter’s opinion that these changelings are putting on a show of good faith. Perhaps this reporter might have been wrong to blanket all changelings as enemies of Equestria. Those that hail from the Ashes of the Phoenix at least, have proven their willingness to defend Equestria with their lives. Although, considering that their queen is a former Equestrian, hindsight should have made it more obvious.

Twilight fell on her rump at the implications. Rainbow Dash snickered at her hanging jaw until she waved a hoof in front of her eyes to snap Twilight out of it. “You’re a popular mare, Twi.”

The euphoria that Twilight had saved for this day was blunted harshly by what it had cost both her, and her pony family. I wanted unity, but not like this. She sighed and put the paper down on her bed. “I’m sure Pinkie will be adding that into the hive warming party. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Ratchet. I really needed to see this.”

He moved in close to nuzzle her affectionately.

Twilight’s heart swelled at his thoughtfulness and a warm smile blessed her face. Twilight pulled him in close for a more passionate embrace. Rainbow arched a wolfish eyebrow. I better skedaddle and let these lovebugs have some room.

“I’m torn, Aged Page,” Celestia stated coolly from her perch on the throne. The cavernous chamber was vacant of all others save for Princess Luna standing at her sister’s side. Where Celestia wore a dark but controlled expression, Luna was unreadable to the old stallion. “On one hoof, you were compliant in the foalnappings of Queen Twilight and Rainbow Dash.”

“And on the other you assisted them in escaping and neutralizing the situation,” Luna finished dryly. “What kind of game are you playing, Archmage?”

“I wanted to test my old student; to see if she truly still held Equestrian values in her heart, or if she had become a second Chrysalis. To be blunt, your highness, I felt you were too close to Twilight to gauge her properly.”

Celestia weighed his words for a few seconds. “…We have had a long standing arrangement, Page,” Celestia started slowly. “I turn a blind eye to much of your dealings, because you have proven time and again your unshakable loyalty. But this… this crosses the line.”

“I knew that there were only two possible outcomes going into this, Princess. That I would have found Twilight wanting, or that she would prove herself. I am glad it was the latter. I was not expecting to walk away a free stallion in either event.”

Celestia’s brow twitched at his callousness and opened her mouth to speak, but stopped short when Luna resting a hoof on her foreleg. The siblings shared a tense moment before the elder sister conceded. Luna addressed the stallion who stood unrepentant, waiting to be exiled. “Would it surprise you, Aged Page, that Twilight requested you to be pardoned? As reparation for what her kind did to your son?”

A guilty look passed over Aged Page’s face as Celestia went from confused to irate understanding. “Funny you should mention that, sister. My secretary recently mentioned that Inked Quill recently won his reelection campaign.”

“I – I may have fabricated a sob story to convince her of my reasoning for joining the PCE. I simply haven’t had the opportunity to inform her of the truth.”

“Such is the harsh nature of prejudice,” Luna rebuked coldly. “I remember having to make large concessions to the aristocracy to keep them from snubbing my Thestrals in their ridiculous little politicking games.”

Celestia finished Luna’s point without missing a beat. "Despite my best efforts, after my sister's banishment they were persecuted harshly, for so long that they become the recluses they are today."

Luna kept her profound irritation in check, but it was no small feat. “I have only just recently been able to restart introductions in court within the past month. Needless to say, my Thestrals have been unjustly subjected to persecution just as harsh, if not more so, than Twilight and her drones are now.

"However, it seems your actions have allowed public opinion to turn where we have failed. Whether that was your intent or not is irrelevant to me as you have ended up doing far more good than harm. Personally I feel we should leave your punishment up to Twilight Sparkle. She’s the one whose trust you have betrayed most, and regardless of the outcome, you still put her in mortal danger.”

Catching onto her sister’s meaning Celestia nodded in agreement. “Due to the number of witnesses to your presence, it will be up to her to decide what your role in all of this will be to the public.”

The archmage was quick to reign in his surprise. Celly never liked going with traditional punishments. He bowed deeply. “I will see her at once… and I will tell her the truth about my son.”

“Be sure that you do, Page. I would hate to see you fall in disgrace. Dismiss—” Celestia paused abruptly and her face scrunched in thought.

Luna and Aged Page shared a glance. “Sister?”

Celestia studied the archmage. “You lied to Twilight about your son, but changelings are naturally empathic. How did she not pick up on that? You’re a good liar, Page, but not that good.”

“The PCE discovered some interesting things during their… autopsies of captured drones.” He adopted an academic, almost wistful tone, as if he was reliving his days as a lecturer all over again. “It appears that a changeling’s horn is not just for wielding magic, but is actually a sort of hardened antenna to detect and feed on emotions. They are insects after all. Oddly enough, it seems to require a changeling quite some time for their innate empathy to attune to an individual before they can detect anything besides love. But as an extra precaution, I wove a spell ahead of time to emulate old emotional pain, just to make sure I sold the lie.”

Luna already knew much of this from her past dealings. “Clever. I don’t know if I should be worried or congratulate you on a ruse well played.”

“I’ll hoof over all the findings the PCE granted me. I hope it can be put to better use. If that is all?”

Celestia mulled over the information for a bit. “No, that’s everything. Speak with Twilight before the trial in the morning.”

“As you command, Your Highness.” He bowed before departing without further discourse.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Luna sighed forlornly. “And here I thought rule was much simpler than it was a thousand years ago.” She turned to give her sister a bemused eye. “Since when did the position of archmage have such lack of oversight?”

“Well-earned trust, dear sister. I keep ponies like Page around me, to make sure I never become too distracted from threats here at home. He’s caught quite a few in his day. Strange it backfired this time.”

Luna turned to the door the archmage had just departed with a ghost of a smirk haunting her face. “Perhaps…”

If there was one thing an Equestrian never wanted to be, it was the defendant in the Court of the Sun and Moon. It was being held in the throne room of Canterlot Castle with ponies of all walks of life flanking the wide aisle where Velvet Sparkle was being escorted by two Royal Guards on one side and an equal number of Night Guards on the other.

Sitting upon their thrones were the royal sisters, both wearing carefully constructed expressions to conceal their thoughts. But everyone knew how this was going to turn out. This court did not recognize due process, there would be no jury of her peers, no waiting for months for the trial to actually begin. Twilight Velvet was found guilty the moment she set hoof in the room, and she knew it.

Twilight sat in a raised balcony along with Shining Armor, Night Light, and Cadance. The princesses had informed them of the sentence ahead of time, but with emotions running high through the broken family (as well as the entire chamber), it gave them little time to prepare.

The ponies crowded to the sides insistently murmured to themselves, each wondering a hundred different things as the unrepentant Velvet marched her way to the thrones. She glanced at her one-time supporters, former acquaintances, secret allies, and enemies all.

I gambled everything and lost. Damn that archmage. Twilight would have been freed if not for him. She tried to look for him, but the crowds were too thick, and she didn’t want to appear frightened. By the time she was more than halfway to the thrones, she gave up trying to hunt for him and stared straight ahead.

The cold, lethal glares of the princesses finally sliced through her calm mask. They wouldn’t execute me would they? Discord did way more than I ever did, and they pardoned him for Pete’s sake.

After reaching the end of the parted crowd, the guards backed off to let Velvet stand alone. The eyes of Equestria were upon her in the worst way possible. Celestia enhanced her voice to carry over the chamber. “Twilight Velvet of House Sparkle. You stand accused of high crimes against the crowns included but not limited to: foalnapping, conspiracy to incite social unrest, raising an unsanctioned mercenary army on Equestrian soil, attempted regicide, and instigating subversion within the guards of the twin crowns.”

Twilight blinked at that. “When did that happen?” she muttered quietly, but her brother picked up on it.

Shining Armor leaned into his sister’s ear. “Officially, I was called into Canterlot to witness this…” Even he had difficulty maintaining his composure, and couldn’t find the right words. “…But Princess Celestia wants me to do a clean sweep of the Guards to wash out any PCE supporters.”

Twilight’s reply never came as Luna took center stage in grilling the still defiant unicorn. “All evidence against you, including the confessions of your fellow conspirators is now public record for all to see. Your guilt is a foregone conclusion. What say you in your defense?”

Velvet could just hear all of the silent jeering from the crowd behind her. Barely two days ago, she had dined with many of them at a ball, now they judged her as harshly as the law did. Velvet squared her shoulders to address the diarchs. “I have tried to do what you failed to do: protect this great nation from those who would destroy it.”

Celestia scowled at her to obscure the heartbreak Velvet’s actions inflicted within her. “This group of yours, the Ponies for Equestrian Conservation, I believe. I find it difficult to believe that you could ever produce change for the betterment of ponykind by spreading fear and racism. Your group’s propaganda officer was captured at the monastery as well. I’m sure the warden gave you a public copy of his confessions,” Celestia ended with a hostile frown.

“Your Highnesses, we were trying to raise awareness of the changeling threat—”

“While we were trying to bridge peace with them!?” Luna retorted bitterly. Velvet flinched at the intensity of the outburst, with the crowd doing the same. The lunar diarch calmed just enough to keep her tone level. “While the law allows anypony to be open about their opinions, even those that in direct opposition with our own, that does not give you carte blanche to terrorize those sympathetic to peace with the queendoms!”

Velvet stood her ground. “B-but you opened the door for more of those insects to steal children, husbands, and wives! You can’t deny the fact that we had changeling infiltrators in all levels of government before the invasion.”

A few murmurs of agreement filtered through the courtroom.

Luna cooled off at the sight of a cautionary glance from her sister. “Ponies like you, Velvet Sparkle, are the reason peace between our neighbors took centuries of warfare and misunderstanding to realize. History likes to forget that the zebra states tried to apologize after causing the Demanescus incident, and their king offered his life in recompense. So how did Equestria respond? By mutilating the king’s body and sending the messenger back with an army on his tail.”

A collective gasp and shudder of disbelief coursed throughout the court. A few ponies shared awkward glances at the small number of zebras in attendance. The scattered few foreign dignitaries, griffins, minotaurs, and Saddle Arabians were all reminded of the more hostile moments of Equestria's history.

Not exactly the phrasing I would have used, Celestia mused dryly.

Luna gave the crowd a few moments to let her words sink in. “So long as I draw breath, I will not let that cycle of xenophobia to continue. Even if every other changeling queen becomes hostile to Equestria, Queen Twilight Sparkle, your own daughter, and Queen Cadista have done everything in their power to maintain the peace between us.”

She gave the floor over to Celestia with a nod. “My sister and I are in complete agreement that Equestria will do the same. For each changeling queen who truly desires peace, we shall share it. Which leaves us with what to do with you.”

“You’re making a mistake,” Velvet stated coldly, her voice echoing throughout the halls. “Don’t you see what those insects are doing? My daughter was our best hope in stopping the changeling takeover, and it is rather convenient that now she’s spearheading ‘peace’ between us. Can’t you all see those bugs are naught but corrupting demons that look upon us as nothing but food?!”

“Some might,” Luna admitted. “Just as there are ponies like you, who hate changelings because you feel wronged, there will be queens who feel the same about us. But that is no excuse for warring against the queendoms as a whole.”

Velvet ground her teeth at such nonsense. When did the princesses become such hypocrites? “Would you have sat there and done nothing if you had a daughter taken from you!? I did what had to be done, and you would have done the same!”

A flash of indignant fury sliced through Celestia’s calm mask, but she recovered quickly. “This is no time for jests. Your daughter was injured, I grant you. The only way for her to survive was to become a changeling. And once she recovered from her brief amnesia, where did you think the first place she wanted to go was? Home. To her friends, family, and you. But ever since then I have heard nothing praiseworthy about your treatment of her.” She pointed at Twilight sitting with her family. “There she is. She’s been here for years, and you’ve treated her as less than dirt! Which is why I’m under the distinct impression that you are no longer fully in control of your faculties.”

“That thing is not my daughter anymore! She’s been corr—”

“That. Is. Enough!” Luna shot back while casting a spell to silence Velvet. The cold fire of her outburst would have silenced the now trembling noblemare anyway, but Luna would brook no further interruption. “I am in full agreement with my sister. Your actions thus far have convinced me that you are wholly unrepentant. You have also clearly demonstrated that you are mentally ill. I hereby remove you from House Sparkle along with your noble status. I will not have your actions stain that longstanding loyal and noble house.”

Celestia leaned forward, her regal voice hiding the pain she felt from having to do this. “It is with a heavy but firm heart that we sentence you to Arcmane Asylum, Institute for the Criminally Insane.”

Velvet took an involuntary step back. “I am not insane! Why am I the only one who can see Twilight Sparkle is deceiving all you?! She wants your trust so she can enslave us all!”

“Captain, escort the patient out of here,” Luna commanded tersely. “I hope that you will live to see the day that you recover.”

The lead thestral grabbed Velvet, only for her to struggle to free herself. “The changelings will ruin Equestria, mark my words!”

The quartet of guards manhandled her until she stopped resisting and was dragged out of the chamber, leaving the whole room in a buzz.

There were only a handful of things that taxed Celestia’s composure. Sentencing Twilight’s mother to an insane asylum ranked high on the list. “May she act as a warning to all about the twisting nature of fanaticism. I call this court to a close.”

Applejack craned her neck to look over the crowd to see Twilight and the remains of her pony family silently depart. Even though she was half a room away, she could see all four of them were beyond depressed. “I hate thinking ill of somepony’s kin, especially a good friend, but I thought she would have been executed or imprisoned in stone for sure.”

Rainbow Dash’s disguise as her normal self was starting to buckle under having to hold it for so long. The last thing she wanted was to go out in public as a hybrid and give Velvet a chance to use her as an example. Just one more day, RD. Keep going. Applejack’s comment gave her a welcome distraction. She waited for the mass of ponies thin out as she and the rest of her friends exited the throne room.

She kept her voice low and pulled everyone close to hear. “Actually, AJ, Twilight asked for Velvet to get the insanity sentence instead of getting stoned.”

Fluttershy wiped a tear of sympathy away. “Do you really think Twilight’s mother will get better?”

“I doubt it,” Rainbow huffed irritably as she led the group out of the castle. “That mare’s gone completely nuts.”

Applejack pulled Fluttershy into a sidelong hug, giving her friend a shoulder to cry on. “The whole thing just feels rotten. I just hope Pinkie Pie doesn’t try throwing that party too soon. Everypony’s mood would just kill it.”

Perfect excuse to go back to the ship and let my disguise go, Rainbow Dash thought before trying her hardest to put out a single loud request over the hive mind for a shuttle. She was rewarded with an incoherent garble. Oops, maybe I yelled too loud. Wait, I think somepony actually understood me… or is he saying something about pizza? “Guys, we should go check on Pinkie on the ship. Who knows what she’ll do once that Pinkie Sense of hers detects the low pressure wave of funk headed towards her.”

“I reckon yer right. We should give Twilight and the others plenty of time to come to terms before we throw any celebrations. Go fly on ahead and stop Pinkie. We’ll hitch a ride on one of them steam carriages sittin' at the docks.”

Rainbow gave the orchard farmer a crisp salute. “On it, AJ.” With a prismatic blur trailing the speeding pegasus, Fluttershy regained some of her composure and started flying low to the ground.

“You girls are right, if anyone should be crying, it's poor Twilight. I’ll find Rarity so we can think of a calmer way to cheer her and her family up, so that Pinkie can throw her party sooner.”

“Sounds like a plan to me, Shy. Anyway I can help, you let me know.”

To Brass Excursor, Stripped Gear was his home and the jungles were his playground. The fire pits, undead wyrms, acid viper nests, and the Vale of the Dead were among his favorite places. There were few other locations where his resolve to survive could be tested to his satisfaction. The place he was headed to now was one of them.

The great stretches of dense sunlit vegetation were bordered by a tall earthen wall that rose barely high enough to touch the low ends of the branches. A single changeling sentry watched from its perch on the wall. He settled into a nook in the trees to watch his mark.

If it’s watching over the wall, then it must have a direct link to an overseer, and then to Chrysalis herself. I just gotta do this quick before they try to kill me.

Seeing no other changelings or jungle predators in the area, Brass waited for the unsuspecting drone to turn away from him before beginning a slow creep along the jungle floor. Even with a disguise hiding his form, he was not so arrogant as to believe the sentry wouldn’t spot the shaking ferns or his buzzing wings if he flew.

Inch by agonizing inch he crept forward, eyes always glued to his target, and that, of the jungle immediately around him. More than once he missed a shadow scorpion along his path. In fact, one was currently sitting in front of his nose, invisible save for a slight shimmer when it moved. To think I can thank this little guy for our ancestors learning how to give us all disguise magic.

It took him over an hour to crawl thirty meters undetected, and find a location at the base of the wall that wasn’t coated in the most horrendous repellant so foul it burned his nose hairs. Glad it rained last night, the dummies haven’t had a chance to recoat the walls yet.

With the wall blocking the sentry’s vision, he crouched low and jumped into the air, and leveraged his large wings to bolt up and over the wall, and tackled the sentry dead on. The black changeling cried out in surprise as the pair fell into an orchard tree.

Brass briefly scanned the fruit orchard to find several drones nearby. However, most were completely unfazed by the intrusion, but he could hear several soldiers on their way. The sentry pinned between his hooves and the swaying branches hissed at him only to receive a mostly harmless punch to the jaw.

“Listen up no-brain, our queens gotta have a little chat.” He pulled a white runed stone emblazoned with a black carving of the Ebony Castle. The drone stopped hissing, and the encroaching soldiers backed off into a hover. Brass pocketed his rune stone. “Yeah, even you numbskulls recognize the Seal of Parley.”

He let his chitin bound counterpart up at the same time its eyes lost their blue glow to reveal reptilian slits. A sneer crept over its face as savage intelligence replaced savage instinct. “My my, you’re one of Cadista’s brood. To what do I owe the pleasure of Parleying with my favorite furry queen?”

As much as he would have loved nothing more than to kill the puppet, he did have to act diplomatically. Glad I don’t have to talk long.

Brass felt Cadista’s presence upon the Link suddenly expand a thousand fold until it supplanted his mind entirely. As with the other changeling, his eyes were replaced by Cadista’s own. Chrysalis purred with malevolent mirth. “Cadista, it’s been far too long, how have you been?”

“I did not come here to gossip,” she spat back harshly. “I want whatever you’re doing to Twilight Velvet to stop, now!”

Chrysalis’ puppet made a show of deep thought while tapping its chin. “… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Do not insult my intelligence by playing dumb. That’s beneath even you.”

Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “And what makes you think I have anything to do with dear, poor old Velvet losing her mind?”

“Because it’s exactly the sort of twisted game you would play.” Cadista was holding back a tidal wave of hatred, held in check only by the fact that the drone was a mere puppet. “I swear by the First Mother’s honor I will not let you do to Twilight what you did to me!”

“Funny you should speak about honor.” Chrysalis sighed with faux moroseness. “As much as I would like nothing more than to rip both of your furry hides from your bodies, I am honor bound not to interfere with Twilight… for the time being.”

Honor among changelings was a strange thing. When it came to infiltration against other species, there were no laws, no codes of conduct, no rules of engagement, nothing but the objective mattered, whatever it may be. However, there was honor among royals.

Cadista was caught flatfooted. “Y-you made an agreement with her?”

“Oh, didn’t she tell you?” Chrysalis replied with a superior sneer. “I promised that I would not interfere with her during her little errand, provided of course that she finds the true homeland and returns with artifacts in hoof. A queen’s word is her life, and I intend to keep it.”

Cadista’s first reaction was to immediately check with Twilight, but she checked herself in time. Asking too quickly would reveal our unified hive mind. “I will check with her, and if I find out you’re lying—”

“You’ll what?” Chrysalis interrupted with a coy flare. “You may have been powerful when Yumia was around, but now you barely have the strength to keep the other queens from annexing your lands.”

Cadista’s puppet sniffed indignantly. “That may have been true a few years ago, but now I have stronger allies than you. For all those centuries you’ve been feeding off ponies, you seriously don’t know how Equestria works, do you?”

“I know that when the time comes to settle our account, Cadista, your allies won’t save you.” Chrysalis lost her false jovial tone for one of venom. “Yumia paid the price for trying to ponify herself by shedding her chitin, and both you and Twilight Sparkle will pay for that as well.”

Cadista’s puppet growled as it stepped forward and slapped Chrysalis’ drone across the snout, splashing crimson blood across the tree’s branches. “Don’t you, dare talk dogma to me! We are changelings! It is our right to adapt and alter ourselves to survive and prosper. Yumia paved the way to our future!”

Chrysalis spat blood at Cadista’s puppet, snarling all the while. “It's disgusting. Have you ignored the jungle’s teachings? Prey masquerade as predators to hide from danger, not the other way around. It is one thing to disguise ourselves for infiltration, but to intentionally weaken yourself to be more like ponies, and then have the audacity to want to ally with them is vile!” Chrysalis pulled the other puppet’s face in close so Cadista could taste her rage and hatred. “I will have no part of that future, and neither will you.”

Before she could get a word in edgewise, Chrysalis shoved Cadista’s puppet away from her. “Now get out.”

Cadista saw the black drone’s eyes return to normal, along with several others pressuring her to leave. One of these days, that witch will be dead at my hooves.

10: Life Slices

An electric lamp cast a stark white light over Twilight’s cluttered (in her mind) steel desk. Luna’s moon waned in the window as the lavender queen chugged her tenth cup of cold coffee. The beverage went down hard, but Twilight ignored the distaste so she could refocus on the ancient chitin that mocked her with its secrets.

Twilight fought the bags weighing her eyes down as much as the indecipherable text before her. She squinted while levitated a quill to trace the text as she read.

Third Sabbath of Moon’s Zenith: I know not what the High Deacon did to us to make us so alien, so monstrous, but last night was the most trying yet. I barely returned to my chambers after the evening meal when the pains that confounded me all day finally ended with two spherical objects being expelled from me.

Even for a prestigious scholar as Twilight, it took her a moment to compute what she saw through the late night fatigue. “I don’t get it… why would she not know what egg laying is? At least that’s what it sounds like…There has to be something I’m missing.” I’m beginning to wonder if this is even the right queen’s journal.

As she started carefully sifting through the various slates of magically preserved chitin, a gentle knock on her chamber door along with a respectful ping over the Link pulled some of Twilight’s focus away from her work.

The former caretaker held a small tray with food aloft in her magic. She spied Ratchet was draped over a new combat Clockwerk. He was obviously snoring, but the air rippling around him betrayed the noise cancelling enchantment.

She danced the line between snarkiness and being polite.

A headache that had been slowly prowling Twilight all night chose that moment to strike. Twilight squinted in pain as she peered at the clock. “It’s after five already?” she replied quietly.

Gentle set the tray down after Twilight cleared a spot for it. I had hoped the week she spent at her pony family's home would lift her spirits.

Twilight gave a long tired yawn before sipping from her cider.

The drone snickered as she nuzzled Twilight’s foreleg.

Twilight pulled her personal assistant into a side hug, relishing both her presence and the love they shared. A blade of sadness hit her in the heart at the thought of it. I’ll never feel this kind of love with Velvet ever again… She pushed her depression away as quickly as it came. It can wait for the next Day of Mourning. I have a hive to run and a homeland to discover.

She managed to hide her brief lapse of depression from Gentle. Twilight looked down at one of her very first drones, the tenth to hatch by her count. Gentle buried her muzzle into Twilight’s fur. Her eyes were closed while a dreamy content smile danced over her lips. Twilight was moved every time her drones could sneak in a few brief moments of mother Twilight, rather than Queen Twilight. After seeing Kreesus’ and Pulpa’s drones, I could never survive in a hive full of mindlessly obedient children. She hugged Gentle a little tighter.

The moment could not last forever, and a second yawn from the exhausted queen heralded its end. “I should get to bed. Can you delegate the rest of these translations?” Twilight requested while pointing at her desk.

“Of course. The archaeological team from the Equestrian Reclamation Service came aboard today, so this should keep them busy.”

Twilight downed the last of her cider. “Perfect. The more we intertwine our efforts with ponies, the easier integration will be later.”

“That’s the plan anyway,” Gentle commented as Twilight carefully levitated Ratchet off the mechanical golem and placed him in bed. Fearing she might wake the prime consort, Gentle continued over the Link.

Twilight stood still for a moment and focused in on herself. A few nerve signals there, a muscle pull there, and she was rewarded with the all too familiar brief tightening of a few organs.

Gentle Touch lingered as Twilight climbed into bed. It wasn’t like her to hover like that.

She nervously rubbed her foreleg.

It wasn’t the first time Rainbow Dash spooked one of Twilight’s drones, so she thought little of it.

Her bed demanded satisfaction for making it wait so long, and Gentle was keeping her from it. Twilight teased as she snuggled up to a sleeping Ratchet.

Twilight wanted nothing more than to cuddle with Ratchet, but Gentle’s concerns wormed at her, even after the former caretaker departed. RD’s asleep right now, I’ll have Resta take a look at her just in case. There might be some issue with her high hybridization ratio.

With the command sent to the medical drone acknowledged, Twilight happily buried her muzzle into Ratchet’s mane and promptly fell asleep.

Princess Celestia walked through the royal garden with the lightest of springs in her step. The chirping summer birds and the scent of flowers filled the air as she allowed herself to be taken in by the abundant greenery. Alas, even on a beautiful day like today, the burden of rule was omnipresent.

The day court was only held every other day, but that was only half of ruling the nation. The other was done away from the public eye. Not so much for herself, but for the typically noble petitioners. Each proposal made to her was publicized before ever being decided upon, but the petitioner was kept anonymous.

Celestia made it a game of sorts. I wonder who will approach me first. Kick Back with his green bean tariff reform, or will it be Count De Monte with some new tax he wants to impose?

She rattled off a dozen other possibilities as she bent down to smell a tantalizing rose before biting the tasty treat off the bush. The lush petals reminded her of a bygone era that echoed through her memories. Memories of before crowns, politics, and the other less pleasant aspects of leadership.

“Princess Celestia,” a lofty masculine voice called out from further inside the garden. “Could I have a moment of your time, if it pleases you?”

The diarch in question looked up to see Prince Blueblood of all ponies approaching her. I thought he was on a business trip to Manehatten. “I’m free for the moment, what can I do for you?”

It was only when he got closer that Celestia noticed little mechanical pony toy walking beside him. “Thank you for your consideration, your highness. It has come to my attention that Queen Twilight Sparkle has made – discrete – overtures in formally merging her hive with Equestria.”

Celestia momentarily eyed the little robotic toy at his hooves. It was painfully obvious it was of changeling make. “If that was the case I would welcome it,” she replied carefully.

“I suspected you might,” he replied stoically, “as do many in court, given recent developments. I personally don’t care much for political games, they’re so boorish. No, I am far more interested in things like my little friend here.” He levitated the robotic pony to be eye level. “Fascinating little toy isn’t it? It only has a single crystal barely a fifth the size of my hoof providing it with rudimentary intelligence, but everything else runs on steam. I dare say these technophilic insects have created a form of magic all on their own.”

“They do have a certain knack for that sort of thing. Although I don’t believe you’ve come all this way to show me a new toy.”

He gave an oily grin and lowered the toy back to the ground. “I’m a business pony first and foremost, your highness. You know that, I know that, and since we’re in private I don’t need to put on an act to shoo off any annoying suitors, I can finally talk business. To be frank, Your Highness, my motives are painfully obvious to you so I won’t beat around the bush. These changelings are an economic powerhouse waiting to happen, and I would like to put forth my full endorsement that Queen Twilight be allowed to settle on Equestrian soil. Customs and tariffs are such a pain for everypony involved, and I see no reason that should get in the way like it has with the Crystal Empire.”

“I’ll put your proposition into consideration. I assume you have put many of the aristocracy’s worries to rest before coming here.”

“That is, unfortunately, not an entirely exorcised problem,” he replied disheartedly. “Even after utilizing every single ounce of tact and guile at my disposal, quite a few houses are still vexed by the idea of giving over good homesteading land to Queen Twilight Sparkle. I will give them credit where it’s due however. Given that the relationship between the two of you seems as strong as ever, it is practically a foregone conclusion that you would want her to settle in our fine nation. I tried to argue that better lands for them meant faster profits, but they simply wouldn’t listen to reason.”

“There seems to be a lot of that going around lately,” Celestia remarked dryly in a rare lapse in tact around others.

Blueblood only nodded sympathetically. “I knew you would understand, Princess. So many short sighted ponies these days. So you can understand that I was equally vexed by the conundrum, but then I remembered these changelings originate from the Cresnox Jungle, in the deep south.” Celestia nodded to hide her confusion. “Any and all tales I’ve heard about that place are completely dreadful, it makes one wonder how they survived down there, let alone build a civilization.”

“I admire the queendoms’ resiliency,” Celesta agreed, “although it makes me wonder why they chose to settle there permanently.”

“A riveting mystery I’m sure,” Blueblood sniffed dismissively, “but it gave me an idea. These changelings are a hardy breed, and are already well adapted to hostile climes. I put forth the idea that we could hoof over territorial rights of the Everfree Forest to Queen Twilight. She gets to keep her sovereignty (if she so chooses), and in exchange Equestria would get in house trade agreements.” Celestia cooed internally at the idea keeping Twilight close by, but betrayed nothing as Blueblood continued. “The forest is pretty from afar, sure, but it’s a dangerous and inhospitable area. The insects should feel right at home there, and Queen Twilight gets her reunion with Equestria.”

Once she took it all in, Celestia frowned inwardly. Is it really too much to ask to give Twilight better land? We have plenty of wide open land that would suit her better… but I suppose that’s the point. “I will run the idea by the queen before making this proposal public.”

“I knew you were a smart businesspony, your highness. I’d say you missed your calling, but you’d actually give me a run for my money,” he tittered at his own joke.

“Heavens forbid you be freed from your wallet. If that is all?”

“Yes, quite right. I’ve taken far too much of your time. I have a ball to attend anyway, and it started…” He looked at his timepiece. “Two hours ago, perfect timing for me.” He bowed deeply. “You’re highness.”

She gave a slight nod, cuing him to leave. I’ll have to inform Rolled Scroll of this. It might be the only option I have without causing political backlash.

A couple of days later, a knock on a door echoed through a darkened room. “Rainbow, are ya awake in there!” a feminine southern voice called out. “You promised Pinkie you’d help watch Slice while she sets her party up!”

“I told you, she’s unresponsive over the hive mind, she’s obviously asleep,” another voice replied in a raspy tone.

“Well she’s gotta get up or else she’ll be late holding up her Pinkie Promise and I do not want that hurricane happening on this floating castle of yours.”

A dull clunk resounded through the frame and the door slid open to the left with a small exhale of steam. The light from the hallway was cut in half by the Stetson hat perched on top of the first intruder. The first thing that hit them was an ear splitting snore.

The second prowler folded her ears back and quickly followed her in. “I’ll get the lights.”

With a temporary electric buzz the lights came on to reveal a messy room with various bits and pieces of junk strewn about haphazardly. The bedroom was quite large for an airship, but that still only made it as big as Applejack’s bedroom back on the farm.

She spotted the snoring pegasus draped over her bed as if an interpretive dancer was in mid-step and just dropped on the bed.

“Consarnit, Rainbow, get up!” Applejack shook her friend until the pegasus jolted awake.

*Snzznt* “Huh?” She blearily blinked her eyes at the farmpony glowering at her. “Oh, heyya, AJ.” She belted off a long sleepy yawn. “What’s up?”

Resta, one of the hive’s physicians, walked out from behind Applejack. “Aunty, you have to keep a promise to Pinkie Pie.”

“What time is it?” Rainbow groaned as she flopped out of bed.

“Only you could sleep twenty hours a day and still be tired. All you’ve been doing lately is sleep’n.”

“Oh buzz off, I always take power naps,” Rainbow tried to shush her with a feeble hoof wave.

Resta cleared her throat. “It’s half past four, Aunty. I think Applejack is more accurate than she realizes. You don’t normally sleep this much.”

“I’m fine,” Rainbow protested as jumped to her hooves and shook herself like a wet dog to get the blood flowing. It wasn’t quite enough so she snatched a still mostly full tankard and chugged the whole thing in one go, much to Applejack’s annoyance at the delay, and Resta’s indifference. It was a bit stale, but it actually tasted better at room temperature. Rainbow gave a refreshed gasp while wiping her mouth with a fetlock. Wish I still had a plate of bacon left. “Too much royal jelly cider makes me crash after an hour that’s all. But a little pick me up like this,” Rainbow tapped the keg for a few more drops in her stein, “perks me right back up, in a big way.”

Everyone looked at the now empty keg which was as big as a pony and distinct lack of any other steins meant she had drank it all herself. Rainbow picked up on Resta’s chiding disbelief via the Link. “Okay, so maybe I drank more than a bit.” She downed the last of the sweet nectar before dropping her stein.

“You’re going to end up killing your liver if you keep that up,” Applejack scolded.

Resta found the empty mug still had a drop left, and hummed at the taste, however it was the smell that was the most telling. “This is Pepper’s Malt. Seventy five percent jelly, and only five percent proof. You’d have to drink…” She looked at the keg. “That whole thing to get a buzz.”

“See? My liver’s doing just fine.” At the thought of her internal organs, one in particular chose that moment to pounce. Rainbow squeezed her hind legs shut and started dancing impatiently. “But my bladder’s not! Thanks for waking me, and all, but I gotta go!”

“Hold on a moment, Aunty, mother wanted me to check up on your health. Just to make sure nothing’s wrong with your stark level of hybridization.”

Rainbow puffed her chest out and thumped it for good measure. “I’m fine, I’m healthy, but I gotta go! Look if it’ll make you drop it, I’ll tell you how it is, the royal jelly just puts me to sleep if I eat too much. I’ll lay off it a bit in the mornings, okay?”

Resta pointed at the adjacent restroom, one of the perks for being Twilight’s close friend. “Go on, but I’m going to wait right here until you’re done.”

“Kay, thanks!” Rainbow shot inside and let off a sigh of relief so loud, Applejack blushed out of embarrassment.

Being the speedster she was, and running on the high her latest dose of cider had given her, the prismatic pegasus was out of there in less than a minute. “Okay, see ya later, girls!”

Resta ran over to block the exit. “Sorry, Aunty, but I insist! And seeing how you’ve avoided me for days about this, I’m pulling the ‘doctor’s orders’ card. Besides, your reaction to the jelly is unusual to say the least. I just want to give you a brief examination, it shouldn’t take too long.”

“Gah!” Rainbow groaned as she rubbed her face out of mild exasperation. “Fine, whatever, just don’t put me on bed rest for weeks on end.” Applejack rolled her eyes at that one. “I’ll be there soon, AJ.”

“Ah wouldn’t worry about ‘er, Resta. The only thing wrong with her is lazyitis. Ah'll see you girls later, ah have to get back to the farm and teach the new farmhooves how to do things the Apple way.”

“It was good seeing you again, AJ, try not to harass the drones too much.” She wrapped Resta in a friendly hug while jabbing her in the chest. “You guys make great engineers to be sure, but farmers? I just don’t see it.”

“Heh, just wait til the new strains mature,” Resta quipped with a hip bump. “But enough stalling. Sit down while I ready the probulator.”

Applejack cringed as Resta withdrew an unpleasant looking instrument out of medical satchel. It had hooked scalpels, a extendable syringe, and automatic needier for stitching. The whole thing twisted and popped as it extended out to its full size of a pony’s head.

The farmpony gave an impressed whistle. “Welp, you two have fun now, ya hear?”

“It was good meeting you, Applejack.” Resta’s murder toy started a whirring sound, reminding both ponies about the horrors of the dentist’s office.

Rainbow shot a fearful glance at the probulator before giving Applejack a pleading one. “You wouldn’t abandon a friend in need would you?”

“Now hold still,” Resta warned flatly, “if I do this wrong it’ll hurt a little, if I do it right, it’ll hurt a lot.”

Applejack nodded to her friend and rushed to lay a distracting hoof on Resta’s withers. “Hold your horses, girl. What is that thing for anyway?”

Rainbow Dash waited just long enough for Resta to turn around before giving Applejack a thankful wave and bolting out of the door.

Rainbow shot back with a smug grin.

She ignored any further protests from the fuming medic as she flew through the hallways. The past couple of weeks was all she needed to complete her integration into the hive mind. The first thing she used it for was the same thing she was now. That is to say, blitzing through the hallways at breakneck speed while using the Link to know which passageways were blocked and when to veer up to avoid ramming into anyone.

A rainbow contrail filled a fourth of the ship before she arrived at the main reception hangar where Pinkie Pie was banging away at a stage. Streamers and balloons decorated room. A handful of drones were arranging tables and chairs, and gave passing greetings to Rainbow.

Pie Slice was biting one end of a balloon while Gummy was gnawing on the other end. Rainbow rustled his mane as she passed by. “Hey Pinks!” Whew, not late.

The party pony grinned massively and bounced over with a cardboard box on her back. “Thanks for coming over to help, Dashy. Slicy Wicy is such a sweet colt, but he accidently ripped up my last four banners. So I need somepony to keep a hoof on him while I set up the new one.”

“How did he manage four... you know what, never mind that. What is this party for anyway?” She looked to the scattered drones in the area, only to receive confused head shakes or shrugs in response.

“Why for Twilight’s hiveship’s landfall of course, see?!” Pinkie set the box down and pulled the banner out to reveal the banner saying the same thing.”

“Uhh, Pinkie – where did you get the idea that the ship was landing?”

“Well, my mane was itchy, my right back hoof was all floppy, and I thought it was going to rain bowling balls, and I was like, ‘no way, I didn’t get a eye flutter first, but then my tail went all wavy and then it all made sense! Twilight’s getting some super exciting news, and it can only be that she’s founding her hive home in Equestria! And that means this big metal bird isn’t going to be a bird anymore!”

In a flash of motion, Pinkie raised her banner overhead.

Happy Hive Landing Day!

Now that the purpose of their labor had been revealed, the drones cantered over to join the ponies. “I haven’t heard anything about being granted a landing site,” one commented.

“Mother says she hasn’t heard anything about it either,” a third added.

Rainbow Dash however, felt a massive grin cleave her muzzle. “Girls, if there is only one thing that you ever learn from me, it is that you should never doubt the Pink.”

Celestia poured over her written proposal as she read, reread, and then reread it again to make sure it was perfect. Every loophole was filled, any nebulous phrasing was absent, and the legality was all there. Twilight worked so hard to earn her title as queen, it would be unfair to ask her to surrender it. Not to mention the other queendoms might see it as a weakness. But this, this should satisfy everypony.

She looked up and away from the parchment to rub her sore eyes. Celestia’s private study would be considered a museum by most, but to her, the tomes and artifacts were physical manifestations of her memories of an age most ponies glanced over in the history books. It was the only place in the entire palace that had authentic first generation Equestrian décor, with busts and furnishings heavily decorated with the symbol of Equestria.

Even an original oil lamp sat at her desk unlit only because of the midday sun casting the entire room in a brilliant light thanks to all of the strategically constructed windows and reflecting surfaces near the ceiling.

The ruffling of feathers on the wind caught her ear, and Celestia looked over to see her sister coming in for a graceful landing. “Lulu, I’m glad you’re still awake. I wanted you to give this your eye to see if it meets with your approval.”

Actually I was asleep, Luna grumbled inwardly, but the request had piqued her curiosity enough to crawl out of bed. “You usually don’t ask for me to give a joint signature on new laws or whatnot. But this is reason enough to make an exception.” She talked while walking towards her older sister who promptly levitated the document over, cutting her off. Luna arched an unamused eyebrow before giving in to the silent request. “I was wondering when you would finally finish drafting this.”

Celestia remained silent as her sister read the document carefully. As keen as her eyes were, Celestia wanted to make sure she didn’t miss anything. While she would never admit it openly, Luna had a better eye for the letter of the law than she did. When the proposal was returned unmarred by corrections, Celestia’s magic wrapped around a large bell sitting on her desk and rung it near the door, prompting a guard to stick his head inside. “Would you please tell Rolled Scroll I will see him now?”

“At once, Princess.”

Luna spied a half-eaten cake and snuck a bite before the lavender drone could enter. He bowed low, his falsetto tone carried the same reverent respect Twilight held the princesses, only to a higher degree. “I am at your disposal, Princesses. What do you require of me?”

“Please, come in.” Celestia levitated a pair of cushions for her sister and guest. Scroll graciously accepted and took the offered document into his magic. “With the press finally working in our favor, and a few key noble ponies seeing the benefit of having your hive stay on a more permanent basis, we-“ she said while glancing at her sister, “finally have an opening to grant your queen equestrian land.”

“Truly?” Scroll’s wings buzzed excitedly. “My queen had not expected this for another several months, and even then only at the cost of political strife.”

“Well, therein lies part of the problem,” Luna added dryly. “The land we can grant you is not exactly choice. I’d prefer if Queen Twilight could look this over to see if its agreeable before we go public.”

“I see. One moment please.” Scroll tilted his head and closed his eyes as he communed with his queen. A slight tug pulled the edges of his lips upwards. A few moments later, he opened them again, only with lavender slitted eyes taking their place.

Both alicorns were taken aback by the sudden change, and their confusion only mounted when Scroll spoke in Twilight’s voice. “Hello, Princesses. I figured this would require my immediate attention.”

Twilight missed the alicorns sharing a highly confused look as she started pouring over the document. Scroll’s entire body language changed to perfectly mirror Twilight’s own. Luna saw her sister was not exactly sure what to say, but found she was an equal loss for words. Did – did Twilight just take over his body? The old queens never showed that ability, if it is indeed true. “Twilight?” she asked carefully.

The puppet bent the paper away from its face. “Yes, Luna, is something wrong?” it asked with a slight tilt of its head.

“I do not believe I have ever seen you dominate another’s will like this before. Is it over that hive mind of yours?”

Twilight let out a light ‘eep’ at the awkwardness. “Oh I’m so sorry, I thought you already knew about this.” She waved her puppet’s face. “From your past dealings with changelings.”

“I’m afraid this is the first I’ve seen this. All of the queens of the past met with me in person. Even Cadista never appeared to me or-” she turned to Celestia who shook her head, “my sister in this manner before.”

“Oh…” Twilight’s puppet nervously clicked his hooves together a few times while giving stuttering giggle. “Well I know full well about Equestria’s laws against mind magic, but it isn’t like that at all. I’m going through the hive mind.”

Celestia gave a sigh of relief while Luna was a bit more reserved. “So you can’t do this to anypony outside of your hive mind?”

“Correct, and only to drones,” she nodded quickly. “The other queens do this all the time to speak to one another without risking themselves. There's no record as to how we queens evolved this ability, but given the... hostile nature of the jungle, it was a highly valuable development that has since propagated to become a core part of our being. Plus it never harms the drones because they've genetically designed to be suitable hosts since before Yumia was alive.”

Luna leaned back to think about it. “Seeing how critically important each queen is to their hive, I have no real issue with this, if only because it’s not actual mind influencing magic.”

“As admittedly strange it is, I can see the value of such an ability. It would also be terribly unfair of me to condemn something that is a part of you.” Celestia dismissed her concerns with an easy smile. “Since it doesn’t harm your child, I see no reason it should be shunned.”

Twilight’s puppet relaxed by sinking into her cushion. “Thank you. It would have been difficult to stay in contact with the others if I couldn’t use it. Now,” She cleared the air and her throat at the same time. “back to the proposal. I’m a bit surprised you went with the Everfree Forest.”

“Yes, I know its far from being prime real estate,” Celestia replied with a modicum of her annoyance slipping through. “But its the best I can give you at this time without the press thinking I’m giving you better land as reparations for… Velvet’s actions. The only other option would be to continue to let things cool down.”

“…I see. Well - don’t worry about the location, Princess.” Twilight pushed the wave of guilt aside to take solace in the moment. “To be honest, I was planning on settling outside of Equestria and remaining closely allied with you. But if the public doesn't mind letting me have the forest, I’m not going to complain. You have to remember, I re-grew up in the jungles, the Everfree would be easy to settle by comparison.”

Celestia smiled at that. I suspected she would find it agreeable. “We can work out the proper treaties and trade agreements today if you have time.”

“I would love nothing better,” Twilight replied excitedly. “The sooner I can found a permanent settlement, the sooner I can start contributing back to both Equestria and Stripped Gear.”

Luna let a long and loud yawn slip by. “Well I would love nothing better than to return to bed. I trust you two to hammer out a mutually beneficial arrangement.” She stood up, but kept her eyes fixed on Twilight. “But before I go, I would like to say I’m greatly pleased we found a way to let your hive settle here without costing you your title as queen. I always greatly valued my friendships with the old changeling royalty, and it is good to see that will continue with you, Queen Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight’s puppet stood up and nodded respectfully. “I may only be able to speak on my behalf, but this queen is more than happy to resume friendly relations with ponykind, and you personally, Princess Luna. Would you be free later to go flying? I must admit ever since I grew wings, I finally realized why Rainbow Dash loves the skies so much.”

“Sounds like a wonderful idea,” Luna replied with a small grin. Her heart soared at the idea of her savior from the Nightmare was now giving her a chance to restore friendships with the elusive changelings. “How about tomorrow night?”

“Perfect,” Twilight’s puppet happily clapped its hooves while its wings buzzed noisily. “I look forward to it!”

“Until then, Twilight.” Luna dipped her head. “Good day, sister.”

“Sleep well, Lulu.”

Once Luna departed, Celestia faced the puppet. “Now, I believe we have a treaty to fine tune before the announcement.”

“I can be here all day if need be.”

Twilight’s puppet levitated its cushion over to sit beside Celestia so they could look over the document together. A tidal wave of nostalgia crashed into both of them once Twilight settled into her new seat. With Celestia being the tall motherly figure, and Twilight’s puppet being the size of a normal pony, it felt like old times again.

Celestia wanted so desperately to drape a motherly wing across the puppet’s back, but she checked herself. No. She’s her own mare now, and a ruler in her own right. There will never be another pony quite like you, Twilight Sparkle, she lamented bittersweetly. At least I know you will live a long life, and can be reborn when time takes its toll on you.

A warm motherly smile graced her features as Twilight’s puppet lightly leaned against her, just as she had done as a filly. It was that gentle touch she had always craved, but never dared to presume to do more without consent. Welcome home, Twilight.

Meanwhile in the bowels of the hive ship, Aegis scratched her noggin as she translated several old text from the chitin scattered around her room. Riposte was at her side, going over the same scraps of chitin, but with far less enthusiasm. His skysteel blade hovered on the far side of the room, still wrapped in his lavender-orange magic. It sliced the air with deft arcs and swings, making the air whistle with its passage.

Aegis scowled at the constant noise. “Would you stop that? We’re supposed to be trying to find our homeland here.”

“No. Because this isn’t our job.” He brought the blade over and embedded it into the wooden table with a loud thunk. She rolled her eyes impassively at him. “We’re supposed to be honing our combat skills, not ‘digging in the dirt’.”

She harrumphed at her brother, and continued working. “Working on translations helps improve mental fortitude, and that’s far more important than working on one’s swordplay.” She jabbed the sword’s hilt with a hoof, and withdrew her pistol. “Especially when we have firearms.”

“Then we should be at the shooting range, whatever.” He tugged on his blade to dislodge it before finding its scabbard while Aegis holstered her pistol. “The point is, leave this to the archeological teams. We’re the Jevruun Vrunningee, the elite, the cream of the crop, etcetera, etcetera. What we are not, are dirt diggers.”

“But we’re so good at it,” she teased while flicking his nose with a wing. “Besides, if you’ve got such a hard one for maximizing your combat potential, then I don’t see why you decided to go with the male form. Mares are naturally more lithe and we consume less rations on average.”

“Maybe, but I can take a hit easier and keep fighting,” he countered. “The added muscle mass and hormonal difference also gives me better stamina. Why do you think almost everypony in the Jevruun Vrunningee switched over in the first place?”

“'Cause you guys are overthinking it again,” she reported playfully. “A female body is a smaller target, royals notwithstanding, and I’m able to play my feminine wiles if the opportunity ever comes up.” She kissed him on the muzzle while teasing his wings with her own, but he was having none of her games and grunted at her sultry foreplay. She sat back and blew a raspberry. “Not to mention those hormones you’re sooo proud of make you more susceptible to a rival queen’s pheromones by thirty percent.”

“As if a royal would ever take to the field of battle,” Riposte countered passively as he begrudgingly took one of the pieces of chitin and a notepad.

Silence reigned for a few seconds as Aegis gave him a condescending eye. “Mother’s been in two fights in the past month.”

“Our queen can hardly be compared to any of the others,” he dismissed, “she’s entirely unique.”

Aegis scribbled more translations onto her tablet. With so much attention on her brother, she was only translating one word at a time, and not truly reading it. “Are you trying to say none of the other queens are unique? I think Fluffy would disagree.”

“Assuming it had the capacity to do so,” he shot back with a smug grin. “But come on. I don’t presume to tell mother what to do, but at least the other queens know they’re too important to risk the dangers of the battlefield. What do you think we’re here for? And they command via just the hive mind or through puppets.”

Aegis tsked at him, but said nothing as she worked for a few minutes. “I still think we drones are better off with female forms if we’re going to be soldiers.”

“Combat doctrine dictates mixed forces often achieve better results than homogeneous armies. It's a scientific fact. Just look at the win-loss ratio of wars against Stripped Gear.” His tone was as dry as college instructor. “Both genders have advantages in combat which is why soldiers are prioritized if we wish to exchange a sausage for a taco, and vice versa.” He sighed heavily. “But I know for a fact you stayed the same because you’re more interested in sex than anything else. You sleep with at least three to four siblings a week, and should I even bother mentioning the five ponies you’ve bedded with since we arrived at Canterlot, or does that go without saying?”

“You're just mad because you miss the female side of sex," He scoffed at her, but Aegis knew it wasn't a denial. Even so, she decided to have mercy on him. "I still don’t know why so many of them only want hetero, what’s up with that?”

Riposte looked at her as if she was wearing a dunce cap. “You can’t possibly be that dense. Could it be, oh I don’t know, because their society is structured around unchangeable genders maybe?”

“Sucks to be them then. If it wasn’t for the one month waiting period I’d try a sausage out just see how it is.” Any further banter caught in her throat as she actually read what she had just translated. “Quit your nagging and take a look at this.”

I cannot carry on anymore. The scale of what we’ve done. The lives we ruined and destroyed both deliberate and accidental haunts me to this day. The others just want to forget, to live on guilt-free. I tried to tell them that we must carry this pain, so that we never repeat the mistake, but I am ignored. They choose to embrace the change where my brother and I wallow in misery about it. I miss having fur, to feel the soft touch of a lover’s warmth, to enjoy the grass beneath the moonlight.

All we are left with is this hard soulless shell. When Fer’dath, Night Mother bless his soul, tried to comfort me last eve, all I could feel was his hard unyielding shell against mine. There was no room for tenderness, because of these cursed forms. The others are leaving. The sun worshippers’ mining encroaches and we will not reveal ourselves. Me because of my shame, them because they do not want to risk discovery to our food source.

Food.

Is that what the sun worshippers are to us now?

Sure my body requires bread and water, but the addiction we tried so hard to free ourselves from was replaced by the life energy of these equids. If that was not damning enough, those things my body kept producing are eggs. I kept the first few out of morbid curiosity before disposing of the others, as did the rest of us.

They… hatched. What I saw was a collection of insects in a mockery of my already horrid form. That was when I finally knew what must be done. Our hubris has damned us, and now we wear our sins. I must kill the others. To keep them from spreading this evil we have become into the world.

The others destroy everything of our past so they can forget the horrors we unleashed on that ill fated day. But I will never forget that my heart, soul, and sanity were left behind in Rookhaven. Since my kin are so keen on forgetting their crimes, then I will slay them all, so that they will never have a chance to repeat them.

May my atonement see my soul to the Silver City.

Riposte furrowed his brow. “Well that was dark. But at least we finally have a place’s name.”

“Sure, do.” Aegis pumped a hoof in celebration.

she ran a hoof along her notes to find the name again.

Riposte grumbled to himself. Am I the only one who actually wants to improve his martial skills?

Intel was greatly intrigued.

Riposte demanded.

He turned to face his new friend who was begging one of the guards to cover for her.

Riposte threw his forelegs in the air.

Aegis asked incredulously. He shrugged uncaringly as he levitated his sheathed sword over. Having been thoroughly dismissed, Aegis groaned before refocusing on Intel. she added with shameless pride,

Intel waved at his new friend as she finally convinced the guard to lock up the wing for the day. He kept a friendly face despite being disheartened by the discovery.

Momma's going to mark me for future rebirth for sure! Maybe I'll even get to be reborn as a princess when we're ready to have one! Aegis was hardly perturbed by his dour tone and started dancing and singing around the room.

Aegis’s Buzzing Victory Dance of Historic Discovery was cut painfully short.

Intel waited patiently for his thestral friend to grab her bags. She gave him an apologetic lopsided grin as she tried to hurry.

Aegis' dream of future queenhood went crashing into the ground.

Author's Note

Editor's Note: "Remind me not to proofread at 3AM

11: Phoenix's Roost part 1

Author's Note

I've broken this chapter in half due to its length.

11: Phoenix's Roost part 1

Eight days after Aegis’ discovery, Twilight sent out a complete record of her findings to the Home Guard, who then copied it and sent one out to each queen. Chrysalis sat upon an ebony throne, deep within her hive. It was an exactly replica of the one in the Summit chamber; a constant reminder of her goals. A dozen scrolls bearing the broken seal of Twilight Sparkle sat off to the side with one of their number wrapped in the dark queen’s magic as she read it.

Her middle sister, Jstrul paced slowly to the left side as she read her own copy of Twilight’s letters. A dangerous smile smeared her lips. “This is almost too perfect. Our real homeland is far to the north right in the heart of the chaos lands? May she die in this venture and rid us of a future obstacle.”

Chrysalis remained more or less neutral. “I suppose. It will delay the acquisition of authentic artifacts, but that can wait until Equestria is under heel. After that, we’ll have all the time in the world to claim what is ours. If Twilight somehow succeeds, then she’ll have gotten the hard part done for us.”

“Either way, we win in the end.”

“Of course we will.” Chrysalis discarded the scroll while communing with her hive mind. She kept enough focus here to continue speaking. “How has your alchemical research been progressing?”

Jstrul balled up her scroll in a brief flash of anger. “Entirely scrapped. After my spies witnessed the Phoenix using its smallest weapons to disable a semi-fortified position, everything I’ve been working on is garbage. I need time to restart from scratch.”

Chrysalis hummed in contemplation. The loss of thousands of drones meant nothing to her, but victory still mattered. “Don’t worry yourself about it too much, dear sister, but don’t rely purely on research. The jungle teaches much, and may have an answer to Twilight’s firesticks.”

“I have actually seen a few creatures out there that could prove useful, but I did not think I had the time to use them.”

“Originally, no.” Chrysalis replied coyly as she left her throne to walk towards her sister. “But my spies report Queen Twilight’s hiveship just left Canterlot airspace, interestingly she’s not heading north, but south towards the Everfree Forest. A treaty was annouced barely three hours ago that ultimately amounts to Celestia giving all land rights of the Everfree to Twilight Sparkle.”

“The forest?” She grunted approvingly. “If there is anywhere on Equis that can come close to the inhospitality of the jungle, it is that forest. Perhaps Twilight Sparkle truly has the heart of a queen after all. The soft lands of the rest of the country are unworthy of a hive.”

“My thoughts exactly, sister.” Chrysalis nodded warmly at Jstrul. “Plus her integration with Equestria is to be expected, really. While I believe her efforts to pacify the ponies’ fear of changelings will eventually work to our advantage, we can’t afford to underestimate Twilight. She’s not going to the Chaos Lands unprepared, and that means she’s going to spend the next year or so consolodating her strength.”

“A pity no one thought to include a time limit in her little quest. If the ponies have one thing over us, it’s the wisdom to possess a sense of urgency.” Jstrul tapped her scroll. “Thestrals though? I knew our similarities to ponies were a little odd, but I never expected this of all things.”

“It is quite interesting,” Chrysalis agreed with a rare warm if toothy grin. “Polybia will probably be squirming in her nest, but I for one find this a fascinating discovery.”

“That we originated from the same beings we feed upon as food? Frankly it leaves a sour taste in my mouth.”

Chrysalis chortled while wrapping a loving foreleg around her sister. “You’re not looking at the whole picture, Jstrul. Twilight’s findings are not an insult, but grand flattery!”

Jstrul arched an eyebrow at her elder sister. “You almost sound like you actually approve of Twilight now.”

“It’s a step in the right direction, at least. That furry royal just proved once and for all that our foremothers were a bunch of ponies who got the right idea to improve themselves. You and I, sweet sister, are the culmination of all their efforts. Along with every other royal alive today.”

Jstrul arched a sardonic eyebrow at her sister’s theatrics. “Even Yumia’s bloodline?”

“She forgot what true power is,” Chrysalis lamented as she separated from her kin. “It’s a pity really. Had she known of this fact beforehoof, I would have avoided being so… overzealous with Yumia’s assassination. Changing yourself to be closer to the first mother in body is a noble goal, don’t you agree?”

“Perhaps.” Jstrul cantered over to a bowl of fruit that a drone had brought in. She picked up a bundle of flare cherries, Chrysalis’ favorite, and levitated it over to her sister. “Perhaps Yumia was indeed on the correct path for our evolution, but her reasons were wrong.” Chrysalis hummed inquisitively between bites of her food. “By accepting a weaker evolutionary line along their physical power, it forced them to find power in another form.”

“You’re referring to their lifeless technology of metal and steam,” Chrysalis ate the last of her cherries. “When you put it that way, I can see the merit. If that had been Yumia’s intentions all along, I would seriously reconsider my stance on her. Yet Yumia wanted fur to better publically integrate with our food, and that sort of mentality needs to be stamped out before another royal of her bloodline can hatch.”

“So what do we do about Cadista and Twilight Sparkle?”

A second drone wordlessly flew over with cloth and wax. Chrysalis sat back down on her throne while the drone went to work cleaning and buffing its queen’s shell. “We have to kill Cadista, she still holds fast to her mother’s ideals, and wants me dead because of it. Twilight however… could be turned to see the true path of our collective future. She is still a young queen, and with the right persuasion, it should prove possible to have her see things our way.”

Chrysalis summoned another drone to groom her sister. “You’re wings are looking a bit brittle, allow me.”

“Thank you, sister. It’s all that time I’ve spent in the laboratory, I haven’t had any real opportunity to go flying lately. At any rate, I highly doubt Twilight will ever see us as anything other than enemies. Why waste time on her?”

“Because, sweet sister, it is our duty as queens to ensure our race’s continued survival and rise to power. If Yumia’s methods ever end up succeeding over us, it will be through Twilight Sparkle. All that’s necessary is to make sure she conducts herself as a queen should, not the coddling ways of Yumia and Cadista.”

Jstrul sighed in contentment as her wings were massaged and meticulously tended to. “It will be impossible to influence Twilight ourselves, or so long as Cadista draws breath.”

A conniving sneer split Chrysalis’ muzzle. “We can handle Cadista, but I’m thinking a certain red queen could enlighten dear Twilight of the true changeling path. Only then will our race’s future be assured.”

Rainbow Dash was not a happy camper. Her joints ached, her wings itched horribly, and she had a stabbing headache. The Phoenix had few sickbays, and unfortunately Resta’s was the closest one.

Aegis hefted the ailing pegasus on her back as she brought her into the medlab. “Aegy, I told you, I’m just a little ill. Nothing a little cider and bed rest can’t fix.”

“Aunty, you’ve got a lump on your head and open sores on your front fetlocks, and you have no idea how they got there.”

“I just fell down some stairs.” Rainbow grunted in an attempt to get off Aegis’ back, but the drone kept her in place with her wings. “I don’t want to see Resta. She’ll stick me in bed for months and I’ll die of boredom.”

Aegis could see Resta’s door, and picked up the pace. “You’re going to end up dying anyway if you let those sores get infected, and I am not going to let that happen.”

“Just don’t tell Twilight, okay? She’s got enough going on with the princesses onboard.”

“If this is as serious as I think it is, momma’s going to want to know.” Aegis busted through the door to find Resta washing the salve off a recently injured drone and applying gauze. “Resta, you gotta take a look at Aunty. She’s in bad shape.”

The medic took one look at Rainbow groggy face and rolled her eyes. “I told you to let me examine you, but did you listen to me? Noooo.” She faced her current patient. “Stay off that leg for a day or two or I’ll have to put it in a cast.”

The young drone was barely out of the chrysalis and looked at Rainbow’s weakened form. “Yeah, sure, is Aunty Dash going to be okay?”

“Don’t worry, she’s probably just overdosed on cider.” Normally not possible, but with her… However, any and all smugness evaporated after taking her first good look at Rainbow. Purple salve coated the mare’s front fetlocks, she was breathing a little heavily, a couple sky blue feathers had fallen to the floor, and a quick inspection revealed a prominent bump on her forehead.

“What in the world happened?” Resta asked Aegis as she telekinetically lifted Rainbow up to set her properly on the examination table.

“I don’t know,” Aegis replied worriedly. “I hadn’t heard a peep from her since yesterday morning. I go to her room, and she’s sleeping in her bed with blood oozing out of her sores and at least a dozen loose feathers on her bed.”

Resta saw one of the nurses walking by and pinged her over the Link. “Hold on, Aunty, you’re in good hooves.”

“I’m just molting okay? It happens to all pegasi.”

“But molting can also be a sign of serious infection. Aegis, tell mother what’s going on, she’s going to want to see this.”

The Royal Sisters, and Queen Twilight Sparkle were standing in one of the underbelly observation blisters as the Phoenix slowed to a halt near the ruins of Castle Everfree. Twilight was casting a spell to give an overlay of the surrounding landscape. “I’m thinking of restoring the castle to be a historic landmark, or possibly a library.”

“You might find restoring it as a library to be a worthwhile task,” Luna commented. “As you may remember, there are several enchanted bookshelves that keep any tome resting upon them safe from the ravages of time.”

“The forest has always had a constant stream of free-flowing mana, so the enchantments have never faded,” Celestia added. “Blueblood’s actions have also proven to be a boon in another way.” All eyes turned towards her and then to her hoof as she pointed to a familiar cave not too far to the east of the castle. “Ever since Discord’s plunder vines nearly killed the Tree of Harmony, I have been concerned that something else might bring harm to it. As such, I was hoping I could entrust its protection to you, Twilight.”

“I would be honored, Celestia.” She rubbed her chin with a wing for a few minutes as she consulted with her urban planners. “If it’s okay with you, I would like to expand the cavern to become my new hatchery. It’s already a facility that would need very high security.”

“I see no problem with it,” Luna nodded, “that would insure the tree’s wellbeing is always being looked after. But what about food? It might take a while to clear enough forest for agriculture, or an industrial base to trade for it.”

“You remember that other ship I requested passage for?”

Celestia looked up to think. “The… Golden Harvest if I’m not mistaken. By its name, I’m assuming its to assist in farming.”

“It’s actually a giant floating greenhouse that is able to produce enough food for five hundred changelings a year. Granted that’s hardly enough, but it can ease our food imports a little.”

“Well don’t forget Twilight, our treaty allows both of us to freely aid the other.” Celestia was especially proud of winning the public over for that addition. “Equestria will be more than happy to send whatever aid you need to get started.”

“Thank you, Celestia. I must admit, I’m glad I was able to avoid having to surrender my title. It would feel rather silly to be a queen, but not hold the title.”

“You’ve more than earned it already, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna declared firmly. “You’ve discovered your tribe’s origins. To think your kind used to be my Thestrals. Strange how time muddles things.”

“If you don’t mind, princesses, I’d like to get started building right away.”

“You don’t need to ask us for permission, Twilight.” Celestia smiled graciously at Twilight’s humility. “This is your queendom now, after all.”

Twilight tittered at herself. “Sorry, old habits die hard.”

With a single command, twenty shuttles and a cloud of drones descended upon the forest below to begin clearing space for the hiveship to land.

The crews barely reached the ground when Aegis hit Twilight with a high priority ping.

Aegis wasn’t one to panic, hence her position as Captain of the Guard, but the terror in her tone gave Twilight a cold sweat and a sense of dread to match.

Luna caught on to Twilight’s plummeting mood while her sister was distracted by the dense activity below. “Twilight, is something wrong?”

“Rainbow’s sick, and it sounds serious. I have to see if she’ll be okay.”

Celestia pulled herself away from the window and shared a knowing look with her sister. “We’ll come too. Dame Rainbow Dash has done much for everypony.”

"And we would like to lend what support we can,” Luna finished for her elder sister.

“Thank you, I just hope its not as serious as Aegis is making it out to be.”

With all of the activity with the deployment of the hive, the three royal mares couldn’t safely teleport to the medlab, so they ran as fast their legs could carry them. The Link was abuzz with news about Rainbow Dash, but ultimately, they had to get back to work.

Twilight made it to the sickbay in less than ten minutes with the alicorns right behind her. Aegis was holding one of Rainbow’s fore hooves while a heart monitor beeped rhythmically as the sleeping pegasus rested thanks to a sleep spell. Twilight’s irises shrank to pinpricks at the sight of Rainbow Dash being on a respirator. Resta was using her probulator to isolate the problem, and writing down the results on a clipboard. The troubled look on her face cast the whole room into a somber tone.

Standing orders of Twilight’s medical staff was that if they were with a patient, they did not need to stand or acknowledge her so they could be free to tend to the patient. Even so, Resta gave a resigned sigh and bowed her head to the approaching royalty, with Aegis doing the same.

Twilight bit her lower lip and went over to gently rub her friend’s mane. “Resta, what’s wrong with her?”

The medic scanned the results of her instruments. “The patient’s nervous system is showing signs of stage two love withdrawal, so I’ve kept Captain Aegis nearby to stabilize her. There’s no infection, viruses, physical parasites, or diseases (pony or otherwise) that I can see. If I’m reading this right, I think she contracted a curse somehow.” She gave the chart over to her queen. “The patient’s mana is being syphoned off at an alarming rate. From what I can tell, it’s being used by some kind of enchantment that has encompassed her entire body, and it’s changing her biochemistry to the point where she’s having difficulty metabolizing oxygen. The weirdest thing is, this curse, at least I think it’s a curse, almost has the same signature as your magic.”

The alicorns gave Twilight a confused look, with Twilight giving a stronger one as she stood up. “W-what? What do you mean my signature?”

“It’s what the manascope tells me. My field is in medicine, not magic. Outside of easing her pain and putting her on life support, this is out of my element. But whatever you do, I suggest doing it quickly. I put her to sleep to ward off the pain, but the magic seems to become more and more active the longer she sleeps.”

“Then let me take a look at you manascope readings,” Twilight all but demanded.

“Of course,” Resta took the clipboard off the foot of the bed and flipped to the right page before handing it over. “As I said, it almost matches your signature, but there are key differences that make me think someone was trying to emulate you.”

Luna and Celestia crowded behind Twilight to investigate the data. Celestia’s brow furrowed in concentration. “I remember seeing something like this when I came to visit you when you were still undergoing rebirth, Twilight.”

“You’re right…” Twilight gasped at a realization. “This isn’t a curse. She’s alchemically active!”

“How is that possible?” Luna inquired worriedly.

“I –I don’t know.” Twilight sat on her rump as she tried to make sense of it all. “I only ever use alchemy on eggs or a rebirthing drone. As soon as I stop casting, the alchemy is set in stone, and only rebirth can break that. Plus, I gave you the circlet weeks ago so it could be kept in the castle vaults.”

Aegis tried to comfort her aunt with a hoof. “The data says the signature's different than normal. Could it be something left behind by the circlet, maybe?”

“I don’t see how. Rainbow was alchemically inert when I took the circlet off.” That eased some of Aegis’ worries, but that didn’t solve Rainbow’s problem.

Luna stepped back to pace around an empty patient bed to ponder the issue. She stopped when an idea hit her. “Wait, I remember since coming onboard that Miss Rainbow Dash has a fondness for royal jelly food items. Could that be tied to this?”

Twilight shook her head after a moment. “No. The only thing close would be one of RJ’s key ingredients: glucono delta-lactone‎. It’s used in a number of different foods, but it acts like an enzyme during alchemy to help accelerate the process. By itself, it shouldn’t be doing anything to Rainbow because whatever alchemy was done to her by the circlet locked in place the moment I took it off her.”

Celestia tried to think of anything that could reveal the answer. I’ve seen plenty of manascopes in my day, and I’m familiar enough with Twilight to know this isn’t her doing. Even if it was in her character to do this, the signature is off.

The manascope’s data was depicted in a line graph, with spikes of high and low points, detailing both the signature and the type of magic at work. Much of it was alien to Celestia due to her inexperience with alchemy, but the more she looked at it, the more something didn’t add up. As to what it was supposed to mean, Celestia could not fathom.

Resta spied bruising around the center of the bulge on rainbow’s forehead and gathered a sponge right as the skin split open to make room for the growing horn. “Aegis, use this to keep the blood from getting everywhere, but only use very light pressure. I have to see what my other test results came up with.”

“Sure thing, doc.” Aegis couldn’t contain her guilt trip as she worked. Oh, Aunty. I’m so so sorry. Why did I have to pick up that stupid circlet! WHY! What was I thinking!? Her self-deprecation came to a screeching halt when she noticed something weird about the tip of the horn poking through. “No wa – huh? It… It’s blue. Why is it blue?” She dabbed a little more of the blood away before facing the royal trio. “My queen, something weird’s going on. Shouldn’t Auntie’s horn be purple like ours?”

She’s not supposed to have a horn at all, Twilight fumed. The meaning of Aegis’ query clicked a split second late. “Wait, what?” She rushed over to inspect the tiny piece of ivory poking out as the fur and skin started to sink back to the skull, revealing more of the small horn. As Aegis said, the horn was sky blue, just like the rest of Rainbow’s fur below the neck. Twilight looked down to the base of Rainbow’s neck to find the lavender fur was retreating up towards her head.

Celestia saw it too, and that’s when the final piece fell into place. “The monastery!” Everyone looked at her, forcing Celestia to compose herself after the outburst. “Rainbow Dash said the PCE tried to cure her by using a machine, but it ultimately did nothing, correct?”

Twilight caught her old mentor’s meaning. “Those weird spikes in the manascope! Those are only created by crystal arrays. That machine must have warped the alchemy the circlet inflicted, and it has been active ever since!”

“Then that would mean Dame Rainbow Dash’s recent love of that new cider has been accelerating it,” Luna concluded.

Well isn’t that ironic, Aegis grumbled, those bigots try to cure her, and end up making her more changeling. “Is there any way you can stop it, my queen?”

“I wouldn’t dare try,” Twilight balked before explaining herself. “The thing is, alchemy is a strictly controlled process. I would have to map out every last fragment of what’s being done to her first and then try to find a way to preserve what pony there is left in her. If I tried to stop it, it could leave her heart half reformed or cause other defects to pop up.”

Celestia sighed and squeezed her muzzle. This is the last thing we need after making so much headway. “How long would you need?”

“A century or seven,” Twilight barely restrained herself from kicking the bed. “Assuming it could be done in the first place.”

“Is there truly nothing that can be done?” Luna asked, grasping at straws.

Twilight had to leverage all of her royal training to stay focused on the problem instead of worrying about her friend. “Since that machine in the monastery was destroyed I have no way of knowing how it reactivated the alchemy, let alone what it changed. What about the doctor and nurse who worked on that cure ray of theirs?”

Luna’s mood soured intensely, only barely noticing Resta’s silent return. The medic’s expression had not improved. “One of my Night Guards slipped by Shining Armor’s investigations and assassinated those two before being arrested. Apparently he was acting alone so their research couldn’t be used to create a counter agent. Insanity knows no bounds it seems.”

The conversation sputtered out after Luna’s dismal observation. Ideas raced through Twilight’s mind, but she shot down every one of them as unfeasible. It was mirrored by the alicorns, but ultimately the tricky nature of alchemy refused to be denied. With that realization, Celestia pushed past her fellow royals to gaze morosely at Rainbow Dash, and a guilt riddled Aegis at her side.

“I think…” Celestia began, drawing attention on herself. “That this is Rainbow Dash’s decision.” She turned around to face her sister and former student. “Ultimately this is her life, and I will not allow politics to dictate that.”

Luna and Twilight slowly nodded in silent agreement. “Very well. Resta, remove the sleep spell while I shunt whatever pain she feels over the hive mind,” Twilight said.

A few moments later, Rainbow Dash’s eye cracked open to find her princesses and two changelings standing over her. It didn’t take long to notice the monitors, oxygen mask, four very concerned faces, and the neutral one of her doctor. “Give it to me straight doc, how long do I have?” she chuckled in a dry wheeze, failing in her attempt to inject some humor.

Resta glanced over her readings to be sure. “I give you forty eight hours.” Her dry medical tone brooked no argument. “Her body’s entering a stage where key metabolic processes are being shut down to make the conversation from pony to changeling. The only way to save her life is to put her into a chrysalis and let the incubator take over full life support. I’d rather not go into what will happen if we don’t in present company.”

“That’s what I always liked about you Resta, your bedside manner is totally spot on.” After Rainbow’s instinctive sarcasm failed to hit the mark, Resta’s statement finally broke through. “What do you mean from pony to Ling?”

Celestia walked over to Rainbow’s side and laid a comforting hoof on her chest. “We have a few things to explain.”

“And that’s when we woke you up,” Celestia ended quietly.

Rainbow was sitting up in bed, and staring absently at the blue primary feather in her hooves. The oxygen mask bothered her insistently, but Aegis kept batting any hooves that tried to remove it. The ailing pony toyed with her lost feather; admiring its strength, resiliently, and color. The room was silent around her save for the rhythmic beeping of the monitors. Fear gripped her heart as steadfast as the alchemy coursing through her veins. Even her mind had gone blank of everything except for that long blue feather.

Twilight was doing an admirable job holding back tears, but Aegis was far less successful. “I’m sorry, Aunty. If we had caught this a few days ago, there might have been some of your untouched pony genetics to work with to stop or at least reverse this someday.”

“So… this was my fault.” Rainbow stated flatly as she remember the past couple of weeks. She closed her eyes as hot tears escaped her. “I’m going to lose my wings, the Wonderbolts, and any chance to have a foal, ALL BECAUSE I WAS TOO DAMN STUBBORN!”

She refused to weep. Not her. Not the Lieutenant of the Wonderbolts. And yet, her body betrayed her; and every time another feather fell away was an additional knife in her heart.

Aegis was afraid to touch her, for fear of causing further pain or embarrassment. Luna however, had the courage to do so. “Lieutenant Rainbow Dash. I may not have the power to do more, but I can assure you, your place within the Wonderbolt will remain your own. Changeling or not, you earned your uniform and every bar of that rank. I will not let that be taken away from you.”

“B-but how is that f-fair to everypony else if I get special treatment from you, P-princess?” Rainbow hated herself for her emotional stammering, but fought through it.

“Is it?” Luna challenged, “Or am I simply leveling the playing field? I have always wanted to curb the influence the aristocracy has over the military, and now is the perfect time to start. I will still require you to be able to fly like a Wonderbolt however,” she remarked, playing at Rainbow’s pride. “I’ve heard you created your own version of the Bolts right here on this ship with Twilight’s drones. I also heard you planned to have some of them compete in Equestrian flying competitions.”

Luna let the sentence hang, giving Rainbow time to think, time to pull herself out of the depression she was mired in before she had a chance to sink too far. Of everyone there, Luna knew first hand on what sort of darkness that kind of depression could bring out of a pony.

Rainbow looked over to Aegis’ wings. None of them fly as good as the Bolts, but none of them are even five years old yet. Maybe if I had to have wings like that… She looked up to Aegis’ face to find she was an emotional train wreck. Her tail was wrapped around her waist, her eyes were puffy, dark lines of wet fur ran down her cheeks, her ears were folded back, but she didn’t whimper, physically.

It was something Rainbow hated to see, and something just clicked into place that made her open her forelegs for a hug. Aegis hesitated just long enough for the gesture to register to everyone in the room before she threw herself into Rainbow’s forelegs. She couldn’t hold the tears back anymore and sobbed into Rainbow’s fur. “I’m so sorry, A-a-aunty. I should never have gotten you that stupid circlet! None of this would have happened if I just left it alone. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say but to apologize over and over.

“Hey, hey, hey, it’s not like I’m dying, right?” Rainbow asked as she stroked Aegis’s mane.

“So long as you don’t take too long jumping a pod you won’t,” Resta quipped dryly. “Or are you going to ignore that until the last minute too?”

Twilight scowled at the shameless drone. “Resta, do I have to order you to retake bedside manner courses?”

She shrank back a bit, finally realizing her normal mannerisms would get her in serious trouble. “I’m not lying. Her health will fail if she doesn't enter a pod.”

Rainbow ultimately ignored the medic when Aegis got ahold of herself. The Guard Captain pulled out of the hug to wipe her tears away. “Why am I crying? I should be the one comforting you.”

“Because I’ve long since forgiven you, Aegis. It was an accident. A really bad one, yeah, but your heart was in the right place.” Maybe… maybe I don’t need my own foal. Why bother when I have all these awesome drones that look up to me. I mean, its to be expected really, but they all look up to me like a second- Her tears fell away to give rise to determination. “Princess Luna, I can’t accept your offer, but thanks anyway.”

“Your service to Equestria has been exemplary, Rainbow Dash. It would be criminal to let them expel you.”

Celestia stood by her sister’s side. “I agree wholeheartedly, but…” Experience told Celestia that she was wasting her breath. “I feel you still won’t let us.”

Rainbow tried not to think about her wings and all the lost feathers on the bed. “Since I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t, I have to go full Ling. I’ll go up to Spitfire personally and ask to stay. If she says no, then…” Rainbow tried with every ounce of stubborn pride she had to keep her voice level. “I admit, I have always hated all the ones who got in just because of their bloodlines. I couldn't stand wearing the uniform if somepony else simply gave it to me... I want to have earned it, with all of my worth.”

“Even if it’s being unjustly taken from you?” Twilight managed to finally say. “You’re giving up your dream.”

“Am I?” Rainbow tried to stand, but her muscles refused to obey properly and the oxygen mask pulled her back down. “How can I say I’m living the dream when I can’t fly like I used to because I have to adjust to new wings? The Bolts are the masters of the sky, and I won’t drag them down just because I’ve got friends in high places. Just give me a few years. By then, the hive will have earned public trust, and I’ll be the best bug in the sky, and then I’ll get to be the first changeling Wonderbolt!”

“I guess that would make you a historic figure,” Aegis commented, trying to keep Rainbow’s spirits up.

“Hey that’s right,” Twilight replied, catching onto her daughter’s strategy. “That means you’d be a question on the Wonderbolts’ test someday!”

“Huzzah,” Rainbow deadpanned with a sharp wince of pain before it was bled into the hive mind. “It’s getting a little hard to breathe.”

“Then we mustn’t tarry,” Luna stated curtly. “The longer we wait, the closer to death’s door you become.”

“Right. Resta, prep Rainbow to be moved to the nursery. I’ve already given the order to prepare a chrysalis.”

With Aegis and Resta hefting Rainbow Dash on a stretcher, Twilight led them all to the nursery. Numerous drones along the hallways watched the group pass by with worried looks, but the mobilization of the engineering corps demanded everyone’s attention, and they could not linger for long.

By the time they reached the nursery, Rainbow's pod was ready to receive her. Celestia and Luna had never been to the nursery before. In a way, it was simply a much larger version of the hatchery with lavender chrysalises covering the entire room with racks of them filling every millimeter of space with feed lines snaking between each one. Each rack had a walkway large enough for the chrysalis to be removed and placed in a clear area so the emerging mature drone had space to hatch.

The chrysalis that awaited Rainbow was just like all the others, purple wax with three caretakers putting the finishing touches on the lower half. A thick rubber tube snaked from the wall and into the bottom of the chrysalis. A line of twelve nymphs were standing by the showers as the caretakers cleaned them before being put in chrysalises of their own.

Leaving one caretakers to watch over the nymphs, they wordlessly took Rainbow off her stretcher and bathed her, much to the pegasus’ annoyance. However Rainbow was familiar enough with the process after having watched hundreds of nymphs being prepared.

Even so, she was still greatly apprehensive when she was placed within the empty chrysalis roughly four times bigger than she was. The apprehension only heightened when purple liquid started flowing through the hose and began rising up.

Rainbow could feel the fluid worm its way into her fur and what remained of her feathers. When it was up to her neck Twilight levitated the oxygen mask off her friend. Terror started setting in when the liquid reached her mouth, but Twilight sent calming thoughts to her, cutting off the anxiety before it became a panic attack. Rainbow let herself sink to the bottom and let go of her last breath before her lungs were filled with the purple fluid. She passed out within moments. Soon afterwards, the caretakers sealed the chrysalis at the top so that there was no air in it and moved the pod into the racks with a specially modified crane.

Aegis and the Royal Sisters watched on in silence while Twilight stood on the catwalk as she placed a hoof on Rainbow’s pod. “Come sister, we should return to Canterlot. Dame Rainbow Dash is in good hooves.”

Celestia nodded. “I don’t know what will come of this, but I hope it will not further tarnish public opinion.”

“We have time to prepare for the fallout this time around at least,” Luna commented. She faced Aegis who had recomposed herself. “Captain Aegis, it is my understanding that Twilight needed a close guide when she was reborn. While I expect Twilight to do what she can, she does have a hive to build and rule. Can I entrust Rainbow Dash’s acclimation to you?”

“As if you even need to ask, your highness.” while her words were sarcastic, her tone was forceful and respectful all at once.

“Good. Tell your queen we will be departing soon, when she’s ready.” Celestia sighed inwardly as she guided her sister to the hangar where the royal chariot awaited. May Rainbow Dash find the same joy in her new form that Twilight has.

11: Phoenix's Roost part 2

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12: Eggs Over Easy Part 1

Author's Note

If you have not yet had a chance, or you missed it, Please read my blog about this chapter. This will most likely be the last 2 parter, so I hope you all enjoy!

12: Eggs Over Easy Part 1

Twilight Sparkle stood atop the Phoenix looking down at the burgeoning hive below. At present, the hive only consisted of several prefabricated structures and a wooden wall at the first perimeter surrounding an area of roughly three and a half square kilometers with the Phoenix at the center. Supplies from the colony ship’s hold were being stockpiled outside as the drones laid the foundations for more permanent structures. A sawmill near the walls, a foundry near the Phoenix's bow, and a tailor towards amidship were just a few of the businesses already in high production. Bit by bit, the colony ship was being broken down at the edges to fuel the hive’s growth, yet only a few meters on each side had been repurposed thus far.

There was an electric excitement in the air as the drones worked night and day to build their new home. Those of the more militant variety barely had a day’s rest between the constant pressure put on by the Everfree Forest itself. The untamed woods did not give up land easily, and fought the technophilic invaders for every scrap of land they claimed. Disruptions to construction efforts ranged from Poison Joke rendering drones and machines ineffective to the mighty hydras and manicores breaching the walls on multiple occasions with the latter being driven back by the lethal turrets on the Phoenix. At the very least those breaches provided a new source of steak for the week.

At present, Twilight had a wide grin fixed on her muzzle as she was riding high on what she felt was the most revered queenly activity: deep communion with the hive mind. A few soldiers remained by their queen’s side to make sure none of the aerial threats of the Everfree Forest could threaten her as she completely immersed herself in her work. With their queen concentrating so much on the Link, construction crews found themselves more efficient, complementing each other’s movements and seeing greatly improved construction speed. The sentries manning the walls more vigilant and reacting to any threats one of their comrades spotted instantly. Each drone felt their queen’s influence bolstering their morale and drive.

Even the nymphs playing in the schools and dormitories felt the stronger presence of their mother. Many were urged on to study harder, and others were more rambunctious in play time. Some simply sat there, basking in Twilight’s palpable presence. While the young changelings could have whatever information they needed to learn simply handed to them via the hive mind, Twilight limited it so that her children would develop a love for scholastic endeavors. It didn’t always stick.

While the majority of Twilight’s concentration was directed at the hive mind, she spared enough to seek out her newest sister. It was not hard to find her. Aegis and several of her fellow Jevruun Vrunningee were panting heavily as they recovered from the grueling training session Rainbow Dash had just put them through.

The former Wonderbolts officer wasn’t content with just physical training however and had the ailing changelings follow her to the top of one the Phoenix’s main deck guns. Twilight decided to borrow one of the soldiers’ ears and eyes rather than interrupt her briefing.

Rainbow Dash was flying near a chalkboard and paced back and forth in front of it. Her flying under the new wings was rocky, but hovering and slow flight was simplistic enough. “I know most of you are used to me giving you guys flight lessons, but things have changed. Previously, my oath to the Wonderbolts forbid me from instructing you in ways of combat, but (rather obvious) recent events have seen me discharged from the Bolts, and both Princesses have given me permission to share sensitive information. As such, I can teach all of you how to handle the chaos spawn we will be facing down in roughly six months' time. Seeing as my sister..." Rainbow paused briefly as a small smile flit across her face. There was something about referring to Twilight as a sister that felt… right. "My sister has put me in charge of the hive's military training, and we're not going to waste any time!”

She landed to try and wrap the piece of chalk in her magenta magic, but Rainbow was barely a week out of the shell and her magical command still left much to be desired. Bah, I don’t have time for this. Rainbow snatched the chalk in her hoof before her weak telekinesis attempt could become awkward and started drawing.

Rainbow talked as she drew a ten centimeter high changeling on the far left side of the chalkboard with a twelve centimeter version of herself standing next to it. She made sure mini-RD struck a radical pose, although her tone was all business. “I’m going to say it here and now. The Chaos Lands are a complete disaster area. The first area my platoon patrolled during my tour was right on the south western edge of an active volcano. The land around it is little more than a lava blasted ash wasteland. There’s three pegasi weather teams stationed there at all times to clear the ash after eruptions.”

She finished drawing a crude recreation of what the gathered soldiers could only surmise to be a rocky bulldog with no eyes and an oversized mouth. It stood twice as tall as the drone figure. “This beastie’s called a Lava Hound. Not very imaginative, but you try making up a better name when he’s boiling your hide off just by being next to you. They’re dormant except during eruptions and that’s when they rampage the surrounding area until the volcano chills out. They don’t really seek anypony out as they don’t care about eating ponies, but they’re still deadly and cause forest fires if allowed to go far enough south.”

The gathered soldiers tried to ignore the mild twinge of apprehension, with most taking solace in their ability to fly.

Rainbow Dash revealed three other creatures that called the outskirts of the Chaos Lands home, not all of them were as disturbing as the last, but they were all equally deadly. She was about to go over a fourth when Twilight signaled a hive wide lunch break.

Finally some grub, Rainbow mused happily before addressing her audience. “I want all of you to disseminate this information to the rest of the military arm. I want everypony coming back from the expedition when it finally starts.”

Scattered acknowledgements answered back. Rainbow found one of the plazas below was being furnished to an outdoor dining area, much like Stripped Gear’s own. I think Rarity and the others will be down there.

A spoon wrapped in lavender-orange aura gently mixed Twilight’s tea while a second spoon swirled Rarity’s own beverage. They were sitting with Fluttershy on one of the first tables placed on the South Central plaza as they waited for their order to be delivered from the ship’s kitchens.

“I must say Twilight, your progeny are quite industrious,” Rarity complimented as she let her eyes examine the hive growing around the colony ship. “The Everfree Forest might be a decent place once you’re done with it.”

Twilight giggled before taking a sip. “I hope so. I’ll be living here for a long time.” She looked over to Fluttershy who was poking the small toy Clockwerk with curiosity. “I’m glad you came by to visit today, Fluttershy. The nymphs have missed you since we left Canterlot.”

The bashful pegasus blushed. “They’re such sweet little angels, even if some can get a bit rowdy. You’ll be pleased to know that Canterlot Medical was rather surprised by my report on nymph development cycles. They were half expecting the eggs to hatch into a caterpillar-like larva.”

Rarity scoffed at such ignorance. “Well I for one am glad you set them straight, Fluttershy. The more the public knows about changelings, the less they’ll fear.”

“Which will also help strengthen ties with Equestria,” Twilight added. “It won’t happen overnight, but I’m sure one day my hive will be as welcome as griffins and minotaurs are.”

“Speaking of the hive,” Fluttershy prodded meekly, “how’s Rainbow Dash handling things? It must have shocked her to death to wake up a princess.”

Twilight glanced up at the blue changeling flying towards them. “Why don’t you ask her yourself?”

Everyone looked up to see Rainbow Dash come in for a mostly smooth landing. “Hey girls, sorry I couldn’t say hi earlier, Flutters, the kids are seriously lacking real combat experience.”

A drone flew over to drop off some cider for her aunt before buzzing off to tend to her siblings. Twilight repeated Fluttershy’s concerns via the Link. A slight frown crossed the blue changeling. “The whole egg thing’s got me kinda freaking, to be honest. But I guess… I guess I’ve always been a part of Twily’s hive.” She shot her sister a weak lopsided grin. “The kids sure think so, and they’re real class acts.”

Both ponies were a little distracted by how Rainbow heard Fluttershy’s earlier statement, but passed it off as a non-issue. Rarity cooed as the waitress finally arrived with their food, Rainbow’s included. “I must say, Dash, you surprise me with how much dedication you’re putting into your new role in things.”

Rainbow sighed with pent up sadness as she munched on a salad. “It’s not like I got much else to hope for. I’m a royal bug, and at some point I’m going to end up looking like Twilight. And not for nothing, sis, but your body shape and size may be great for laying a dozen eggs every day, but it just wouldn’t cut it in the Bolts.”

It didn’t take much for Twilight to sniff out the other side of the problem. “You’re more worried about laying eggs than flying fast, aren’t you.”

Rainbow tried to ignore her sister’s statement of fact with more food and said nothing. Yet the silence itself was answer enough. Twilight knew better than to try and lift Rainbow’s spirit via the hive mind. She needs to work this out for herself.

Fluttershy nibbled on her food for a minute or so, battling with herself on how to phrase her next comment. “You seem to like Twilight’s drones a lot.”

A slight upward tug on Rainbow’s muzzle lasted only for an instant. “Yeah, they’re a good bunch of kids. A lot of them are just as dorky as their mother, but it’s the good kind of dork that makes them alright in my book.”

“I don’t know if I’ve just been insulted or complimented,” Twilight fumed mildly.

“Just take the compliment, Dear,” Rarity encouraged while trying to avoid giving Rainbow an admonishing glance. “As you for you, Dash, I thought you’d see this whole egg thing as a blessing more than anything else.”

Twilight and Fluttershy’s ears perked up at that, but said nothing as they ate. Rainbow Dash leaned back on her chair to give the fashionista a disbelieving scowl. “Look Rares, the whole princess thing isn’t all bad. I get it. Hell, I’ve practically been an honorary princess to the kids for years. Now that I’ve become Twilight’s biological sister, it just means I’m officially their aunt. But even if I could get my old wing power back, I’m going to end up growing into a queen long before that happens, and I just can’t see myself ever being Wonderbolt material after that.”

Rarity tried to make a reply, but Rainbow grit her teeth as she kept going. “So I’m stuck okay? I really like it here with Twilight. I don’t mind taking up this whole princess role, because for all intents and purposes I’ve been one for years now.” Rainbow suppressed a depreciating sigh. “I really thought that at least as a drone I’d get a chance to enter the Bolts again one day. But now…” She looked at Twilight and saw her future in her. “Now it’s just not going to happen. So the hive’s all I got anymore.”

Oh, Dash, I wish I knew what to say, Twilight lamented. Rarity busied herself with her meal while Fluttershy was struck with an idea.

“You know Rainbow, this could be far better than you being a drone instead. Not, that I have anything against drones I mean,” Fluttershy quickly added, but Twilight was far from being insulted.

Maybe I should have just eaten lunch by myself. I’m just dragging everypony else down. Rainbow tried to lift a fork with her magic, but only managed to rattle her silverware and sighed in resignation. “How?”

“Well, umm, you’re going to have lots of drones one day, right?”

“As if I could forget.” Rainbow guzzled her cider to get the sour taste of the conversation out of her mouth.

Fluttershy nervously rubbed her forelegs together as she tried to word everything correctly. “And they’ll all be like you, right?”

“I guess so,” Rainbow muttered as she gave up on the magic and just leaned forward to eat.

“While Twilight’s children are wonderful fliers, I know without a doubt that yours would be the best possible right?” Fluttershy gave Rainbow her best encouraging smile. Twilight was more than willing to concede the best flier title to her new sister, and leaned back without saying anything while giving a nod of agreement. When no one objected, Fluttershy pressed her point. “So maybe you can’t be a part of the Wonderbolts anymore. That doesn’t mean you and your children can’t make something ten times better, right?”

Twilight hummed in curiosity. “If you do it right, you might be able to outdo the work you’ve put into the Jevruun Vrunningee.”

Rarity gasped as a she bounced in her seat with a lady like shriek of cheer. “And I could design a whole uniform line that would fit your stunning mane colors to a tee!”

Rainbow Dash stopped chewing the instant her friends’ suggestions finally registered. She looked up at Fluttershy with a lackluster smile. “Yeah, the princesses mentioned something like that. The idea’s cool and all, but what it’ll take to get there…” The thought of laying hundreds of thousands of eggs, having thousands of drones calling her momma, and the prospect of one day managing a hive, sent a cold shudder down her spine so frigid that it made her wings buzz in fear.

Fluttershy wrapped a lock of her mane around a hoof and kept twirling it as she spoke. “I know its not what you expected to have to deal with, Rainbow. But you’re the bravest pony - er - changeling I know. You wouldn’t let something like this drag you down, now would you?”

Rainbow Dash blinked slowly as she processed Fluttershy’s encouragement. It helped a little, but it wasn’t enough to pull Rainbow out of her funk. “I guess not.”

The timekeeper drone sounded the changing of the hour across the hive mind, causing both royals to look to the Phoenix. Rainbow snarfed the last of her food before standing. “I better get back to it, or the kids won’t last five minutes in the chaos lands. Cya!”

Twilight watched her go before giving her pony friends a quick hug. “I better get going too. I need to oversee a new logging machine before it's implemented.”

“Just as well, Darling,” Rarity fussed while collecting the dirty dishes in her magic. “The life of a seamstress is never dull around here.” She saw Fluttershy trying to give her a nod towards Rainbow Dash who was already nearing the awaiting soldiers. “But RD has me worried. You wouldn’t mind giving her a sister-to-sister talk would you? I’m sure it would do wonders for her.”

Twilight followed Rarity’s gaze to her sister. A frown sullied her features. “I gave her an open invitation to talk about it, but I felt giving her time and space was what she needed most. Still, maybe actually talking to her about it would be for the best.” She worked up a smile and shared it with her friends. “I’ll do it as soon as I can. Bye, girls.”

The sun had long since slipped below the horizon when Rainbow Dash sat alone on the edge of a main deck gun. Her forelegs dangled over the lip of the gun barrel as she watched the night shift work under lamp light. Day or night the hive was under constant construction.

Fear simmered at the edge of her mind as she watched Twilight’s brood toil away to build their new home. The cold night sky felt nice upon her withers as the breeze tousled her mane. Yet even after eight days since hatching, the image of the nursery’s hundreds of chrysalises haunted her. All of her bluster and posturing from before melted away the more she thought about it. Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but to squeeze her back legs together as if hoping that would be enough to delay the inevitable.

What am I going to do? she thought worriedly as she gripped her head. I’ll never make a good queen! I’m nothing like Twilight and her stupid crazy organization or Cadista and her perfect leadership.

Rainbow let her head go and vacantly stared down at the hive. I’m supposed to be a Wonderbolt. Top ace flier and daredevil, not some egg laying bug queen.

The hive mind sensed her deepening anxiety and several drones tried to talk to her, but Rainbow blocked it all out, leaving only the background din audible. As much as she hated it, a tear dampened her fur. Twilight doesn’t need a military dog for a sister. If anypony it should have been Rarity or Fluttershy. They’d love being a royal, I’ll just fail miserably at it. The hive’ll crumble, and the worst part is Twilight won’t do the right thing and kick me out. Maybe I should—

“Hey, sis.” Twilight’s voice snapped Rainbow out of her musings. She had been so deep in thought she hadn’t even noticed the queen’s buzzing wings until now. “You’re feeling kind of down.”

Rainbow’s first reaction was to puff up her chest and give her trademark superior grin, but then she realized there was no point to it. She deflated almost immediately and slumped on the turret barrel. “What’s the point in trying to hide it from you…? Or anypony on the Link for that matter.”

Twilight fluttered over to the turret’s second gun barrel to land. “I can teach you how to shield your emotions, Rainbow.”

“Maybe later.” Rainbow tried to stretch her face with her hooves, but they bumped into her horn. Stupid useless thing. Why does pegasi magic have to be so different from using a horn?

Twilight wasn’t sure what to say, so she settled for nestling down on the other turret barrel. It’s not like her to think this hard. She’s trying to forget about oviposition, but what can I say to make her feel better?

Coming up with nothing, Twilight settled for just keeping her new sister company. Wish she had picked a place where I could hug her without falling off.

Ideas about what her future drones would be like, and what she’d end up doing with them slid in and out of Rainbow’s mind, but she mostly just tried to keep her brain vacant. Unfortunately it was a lot harder than it used to be, and eggs kept bouncing back into her mind’s eye. Gah! If there’s anything else I can’t stand about all this is that Twilight’s blood is making me think too much. I can’t not think about it.

Rainbow casually glanced around to see if there was anyone else within earshot before turning to her sister. Twilight was stargazing. A slight furrow in her brow betrayed her inner concerns, but overall she was a paragon of content. “Twi, can I ask you something?”

“Of course you can, RD.” Twilight turned away from the stars to face the blue changeling.

“How do you handle the whole… egg thing?”

Twilight wanted to laugh, but kept it down to keep from insulting her morose sister. “I’ll be the first to admit it was terrifying in the beginning.”

A snicker escaped Rainbow Dash, injecting some much needed humor. “That’s for sure. The look on your face in the library’s bathroom was priceless. You’re lucky I didn’t have a camera.”

Twilight shared in the laughter and covered her mouth as she did. “What can I say? It was life changing.”

“Yeah… I guess it was.” Rainbow’s cheer threatened to fall back into depression. “What about now though?” She waved at the hundreds of drones toiling below. “You just get used to it?”

“Well…” Twilight looked up as she tapped her chin. Memories of her proto-queen days bubbled up, bringing an odd sense of nostalgia back with them. “It sort of became routine by the end of the first week, and after that it was just a fact of life for me that I would always lay eggs for the rest of my now very long life.” Rainbow’s ears drooped and she laid her head back down on the cold steel turret. “But it all changed once my first eggs hatched and the nymphs entered my life.”

Rainbow leaned her head towards Twilight, but didn’t face her. “I hear a lot of mothers feel that way about their first foal.”

“Yeah, so do I,” Twilight said with a smirking shrug. “While I don’t want to belittle what a mammalian mother experiences upon seeing their first foal, for us queens its far more potent.”

“Ya sure?” Rainbow’s curiosity was starting to override her reluctance. “Cause I would think it would get diluted over having so many kids.”

“Maybe,” Twilight admitted evenly. “But I like to think that I treasure each and every one of my children as much as any mammal.”

Rainbow’s ears flicked in agitation. “Are you really trying to hammer home we’re not mammals anymore?”

“It just came up.” Twilight shrugged before flashing a comforting grin. “No point in deluding ourselves.”

“I guess.” The conversation petered out as both mares enjoyed the wind in their manes and the sounds of construction below. Rainbow could feel the overwhelming serenity washing over her from Twilight. She followed her bigger sister’s gaze to a boarding house that was being raised as the first domicile outside of the Phoenix. Some part of Rainbow resonated at the sight, as if she felt inspired by the drones’ work.

“You seem really happy at least.” Rainbow Dash tried to sound like more pleasant company.

“What’s not to be happy about? I’ve finally gotten a place to build our new home and construction is going swimmingly. The forest isn’t giving up land easily, but we’re still progressing.” Her tone was wistful and full of love. “I know it’s a big shock to you, RD, and I want to help you in every way I can, but I couldn’t ask for a better sister to help me lead the hive into a bright future.”

“Bah, anypony would be better than me. I’m a soldier. I can lead an army, but I’m no good at this civilian leadership stuff.”

“I’m not asking you to be, sis,” Twilight stated firmly, pulled Rainbow’s gaze away from the drones. “We all have to start somewhere, RD. I wasn’t born to rule, I was trained to. First by Princess Celestia, and then by Cadista. I’m sure you weren’t the best flier in all of Equestria on day one either, right?”

“Well, no… I trained myself every day since that race to save Fluttershy’s honor.” Rainbow realized Twilight’s point the moment she finished speaking. “Y-you really think we can make this work?”

A large friendly grin came over Twilight as she flew over to pull her sister into a strong hug. “Rainbow, you can do anything you set your heart on.” She back up to look at the blue changeling in the eye. “You’ll make a wonderful queen one day, sis. And I’ll be here every step of the way. Together, our hive cannot fail.”

“I think you put too much faith in me,” Rainbow replied somberly. She both hated and loved that Twilight’s affection wrapped her in a warm blanket that was prying away at the insecurities that she was clinging to so tightly.

“Nonsense,” Twilight chided before nuzzling her sister. “You have the makings of a great queen, Rainbow. Knowing you, you’d only have to give fifty percent effort to make an awesome possum queen.” Rainbow’s depression cracked a little. “One of these days you’re going to look in the mirror and be proud to call yourself: Queen Rainbow Dash.” Twilight leaned back to reinforce her warm but strongly serious tone. “I know I will be.”

Rainbow stared into the loving eyes of her friend-become-sister. Twilight’s love was like a sun against the snow of her terror. In her mind, Rainbow knew that heat would fade once they departed each other’s company. However for that moment at least, her worries felt less imposing than they once did. “I promise Twi, I’ll be the best sister I can be.”

She hovered above the turret and wrapped her sister into another bear hug, and held on for dear life if only to keep close Twilight’s love to stay warm from the blizzard of doubt that threatened to return. “I know you will, RD. Just remember that anypony in the hive will be more than happy to help you in any way possible. After all, a happy queen is a happy hive.”

*Snrrt* “Sure is.”

“Come on. We should get some sleep, and then-” Twilight separated so she could giggle and clap her hooves. “-tomorrow will be a perfect day to strengthen the bonds of sisterhood!”

“Doing what?”

“Learning all about changeling magic of course! You’ve got a horn, and I’m going to show you how to use it for more than a built in shish kabob skewer.”

“That was one time!” Rainbow attested as she playfully swatted at her sister. Twilight laughed cheerfully as she took the hit on her foreleg. Rainbow tried to look up at the spike jutting out of her forehead and tapped it with a hoof. “Fine by me though. If this thing’s going to camp itself on my head it better start paying rent.” She breathed easier listening to her sister laugh. The blizzard of fear was smaller now, and even as Twilight waved goodbye for the night, the snow failed to return in full. Maybe this’ll work out after all.

12: Eggs Over Easy Part 2

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

13: Tip of the Iceberg

The active volcano loomed over the landscape as the royal changeling sisters studied it from a safe distance on the bridge of the Deception. A thin but steady column of steam and ash billowed from its craggy peak. Far below, the last of the lava dogs stirred by the recent eruption were burrowing down into the cooling lava tunnels and the forest fires around Fort Saddlebelt were settling down as the ponies reclaimed control.

Rainbow lowered her telekinetically held spyglass and looked to her sister. “We’re in luck. Mount Boom already blew its top recently, so we can glide right over without worrying about another eruption for at least a month.”

Twilight hummed nervously at the dense layer of ash hanging high above the lonely volcano, but that took a backseat to a more pressing issue as she shot Rainbow a scathing glare. “Mount Boom? Really?”

“What? That’s its name.” Rainbow arched an eyebrow at her fluming sister.

“It’s named The Throat of Chaos,” Twilight stated matter-of-factly.

“Yyyeah, the only ponies you’ll find out here are military. Good luck changing their minds on that.” Rainbow laid it on so thick that a wave front of sarcasm rippled through the hive mind.

Mount Boom, honestly. I can worry about that later. Shaking off a groan before it could escalate, Twilight refocused on the landscape. “Any chance we can use an alternate route? I’d rather not have ash clog everything.”

“That depends on what you want to risk most.” Rainbow rubbed the back of her head to think of all the different outer regions and the chaos spawn that called it home. “As far as I know, nothing flies over Mount Boom, so the volcano’d be our only concern. There’s a mountain range to the east that has gale force winds at all times of the year except spring, but we’re too late in the year for that. We could swing around to the northwest, but that’s Eagle Ant territory. Even with the cloak I’d rather avoid that area if at all possible.”

“Crud.”

The chief engineer stopped inspecting a troublesome boiler to peer out of a porthole.

Twilight scanned the landscape before her. Somewhere off the distance was the capital of the old Thestarian empire, abandoned long ago due to some great catastrophe. Discord can say he’s innocent all he wants, but it’s not called the Chaos Lands for nothing. “Captain Veselov, take us above the ash layer.”

Veselov’s gaze had never left the far reaching black clouds that ascended too high for him to even see their ceiling amidst the ashfall. “I’m afraid that would be impossible, my queen. The venerable bird may be good in a fight, but she’s not designed to go that high. We’d never get above the ash.”

Rainbow tsked in expected exasperation. “Typical. We can forget waiting it out, by the time the skies are clear, Boom will blow its top again.”

“Then we have no choice,” Twilight replied definatively to her sister and captain alike. “Take us in at best possible speed.”

“Aye, my queen.”

Both royals cantered back to their seats as the drone captain casually walked over to stand behind the wheelhouse. “Helm, come about and put us at fifteen knots. Take the path with the thinnest ash.” Confirmation led him to address the defense station. “Ensign, deploy the cloak, I don’t want any spawn down there thinking we’re a snack.”

With a mighty lurch, the Deception steamed forward into the dark, ash smothered sky with only a wrinkle in the light to mark its passing.

The dead and burning landscape stretched for several kilometers in all directions of Mount Boom. Small wind storms created miniature ash tornados that blew across the hilly terrain. Ashfall from the black clouds above rained down, covering the airship in soot, along with the crystals projecting the cloaking bubble. The ship was barely halfway past the blasted land when the drone crewing the cloaking terminal looked towards Veselov with a worried expression on her face.

“Captain, the ash is starting to destabilize the crystals. We’re going to lose the cloak in a matter of minutes.”

Veselov looked out across the skies as the ash blizzard slowly trickled down. Glad the air intakes are beneath us. “We have to keep going. The wind should take care of the ash soon enough.” He turned to Twilight with a question on his lips.

It was easy enough for her to sniff it out and she flew over to join him at the soot covered windshield. “Keep the current heading. Luna said this was the general direction of the old Thestral capital.” Twilight used her magic to wipe enough of the window clean so she could peer at the landscape. “There,” she announced after pointing a hoof downward. “That canyon seems to mark where the ash cloud layer is being diverted further north. The wind’s strong enough that you can see it. We need only go that far before we can stop to clean the ash off of us.”

Rainbow Dash cantered over while addressing the cloak technician. “Retract the crystal booms. I don’t want them sheared off by some bad weather.”

The helmsling didn’t need to be prompted and started a slow descent to give the vessel better speed towards the canyon.

Along the way, the engines started coughing and sputtering, but Ratchet and his team of engineers kept the Deception in one piece long enough for the vessel to pass through the ash blizzard and into the tight winds blasting through the canyon below. The sudden gust of violent wind rocked the ship so harshly it was pushed up several meters. The helmsling fought with all of her physical and magical strength to keep the Deception level. “Hang on to your flanks, this is going to be rough!”

Everyone in the room latched onto their chairs as the airship groaned loudly with creaking steel as it struggled to keep itself in one piece. The turbulence threatened to throw everyone to the deck as the shaking vessel tossed drones against walls, along with bursting dozens of pipes, spewing steam and oil in all directions.

After what seemed like an hour, the Deception passed through into the airspace over the dense green/purple forest that miraculously still grew intact on the far side of the canyon. It took the pilot a few moments to level the ship off before she received a nonverbal command from Twilight to cut the forward thrust.

Rainbow Dash was nursing her horn after smacking it into her chair.

Twilight placed a hoof on her chest to calm down.

A round of affirmatives resounded throughout the ship as the helmsling checked her instruments. “Engines one, three, and four are idling, two’s gone dead.”

“Alerting damage control teams,” announced another bridge officer.

The pilot only nodded in acknowledgement. “Altitude controls are responding, and only one of our lift engines appears to have suffered critical damage. As long as nothing else happens, we’ll be fine.”

Rainbow Dash borrowed some of the lower observation drones’ eyes. “Don’t count on that while we’re in the CL.” That wind would have torn a lesser ship apart, or grounded it at least.

With the whole ship on high alert, every gun crew scanned the skies and ground for threats. Even if the forest below appeared tame at the moment there was no telling what dangers lurked below the dense canopy.

The overall damage was minor and took less than half an hour to fixed everything, save for getting every last scrap of ash off the cloak crystals. During that time, Twilight couldn’t take her eyes off the scattered purple trees below. It was enough that Rainbow’s curiosity dragged her away from Veselov’s conversation. She cantered over to try and guess what Twilight was looking at. “I don’t think you’re going to find a hay fry joint down there, sis.”

“I could actually go for some right now, but I’m more interested in those Jiyya trees. Celestia told me some time ago that they only grow naturally in the Thestral homeland.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. Only she could be fascinated by a tree when we’re in the middle of a war zone. “I guess purple trees are interesting,” she got an idea that caused a snarky grin to dance over her muzzle. “Maybe if we took some seeds home you could trim them into mini Twilights.”

Twilight guffawed. “I’m more interested in their fruit. Jiyya fruit is a critical part of the Thestrian diet during foalhood and adolescence. So much so that the scant few trees they’ve been able to cultivate has limited Thestal births to less than ten per year. If we could learn how to grow some in the Golden Harvest we could gift it to Luna and the Thestrals to further cement peaceful public relations.”

Rainbow fired a sardonic scowl at her sister. “That’s nice and all, Twi, but what’s stopping you from asking the batwings for some seeds? There’s no need to go down there where who knows what could be lurking about.”

“Because the seeds are exorbitantly expensive, and most of them are used in magical rituals to keep what trees they currently have alive and healthy. We’re currently parked above a figurative gold mine for strengthening relations with Equestria, and it’s too good to pass up.”

“Hmm…” Rainbow’s wings fluttered in contemplation. “Since you put it that way, it might be worth the risk. Even with the horror stories, I find it hard to believe every scrap of land out here is a deathtrap.”

“I hope you’re right,” Twilight commented before addressing Aegis, who was watching the lower decks for boarding attempts.

Although she was able to hide it, Aegis grumbled to herself. Why on Equis do we need to go grab fruit in this nightmare land?

A group of eight Clockwerks descended from the Deception towards the largest nearby patch of Jiyya trees as the warship moved in to hover above it. The artificial changelings crashed through the canopy with ease, creating holes for the drones following them to enter.

Aegis and her squad of soldiers swarmed the ground around a pine tree and scoured the area for threats. The only things she found at the business end of her weapon were fleeing birds and rodents, the latter being unusually large. The hole one of the Clockwerks created happened to be where a large nest of hoof sized wasps was located. Ferrum was unlucky enough to be flying in right after the robot only to find himself surrounded by the enraged insects.

Aegis brought her weapon on the swarm.

He barely had time to sprint away before Aegis unleashed a stream of ignited oil that tore straight through the center of the swarm. The flames burned or disoriented the wasps, scattering them to the four winds, but not before stinging Ferrum a half dozen times. With the threat neutralized, Intel and one other soldier flew over to spray foam over the burning oil to dowse it before it could grow out of control.

Intel gave quick orders for everyone to spread out before addressing his commander. “Even with the fire extinguishers, bringing a flamethrower is hardly the best weapon in the middle of the woods, captain. The last thing we need is to broadcast our location with a forest fire.”

“Or damage the trees we came here to harvest,” Riposte added as he swept the landscape for more targets.

“If you have time to complain, you have time to form a perimeter,” Aegis rebuked as she eyed the swaying branches with suspicion.

As everyone spread out to obey, Aegis flew over to find Ferrum hissing in pain on a tree branch. “How you are holding up, guardsling?”

“I’ve had worse,” he rasped at the lumps forming on his flank and legs. “The flame ants back home have a worse bite than this.”

Aegis shook her head and pointed up. “Go back to the ship and get yourself checked out anyway. I’m not risking you over some unknown venom when there are fifty others who can take your place.”

The noise of whooshing flames and cries on the local hive mind cut any retort Ferrum had, so he opted for a quick salute before shakily flying back up to the ship. Aegis turned away after making sure he would make it back, then sped off to find the worst of the action.

It did not take long for the forest denizens to flee in the face of the fire wielding invaders from the sky. The outer ring the changelings had cordoned off for the scientists was more or less safe for the time being. Riposte and a junior soldier prowled the far north eastern edge. His jungle training kept him more or less out of sight; while his companion stayed close to learn from him.

Flechette nodded curtly before she spied a rather oddly shaped plant and pointed at it.

“What?” He followed her hoof, and sure enough there was a small tree seemingly growing out of the back of a wooden earth pony as if it was laying down on its belly.

Now, any sane person in the middle of a hostile forest would let sleeping dogs lie, but if there was one weakness that plagued Twilight’s brood the most, it was their insatiable curiosity. So it was, that Riposte felt compelled to walk over to investigate, but not before double checking his surroundings first.

When nothing dangerous seemed to be lurking about, he stepped over as quietly as possible with his tagalong close behind.

Flechette had to fight to keep her ears from falling flat so she could keep them alert for threats

The thought made Riposte pause between a pair of dense ferns. A bright orange centipede tried to take a bite out of him, but Flechette was quick to smack it away with a hoof. Riposte nodded appreciatively as the bug scuttled away.

The pair was much closer now, barely seven meters with only a few fallen twigs and leaves between them and the wooden pony. Flechette swelled with pride at her brother’s praise, but it didn’t last long as she inspected the object of their attention. Her bile rose at what she saw.

Sure enough, the branches growing out of the wooden pony’s back were akin to flared wings where instead of feathers, short thin green leaves grew in all directions, giving it a very dense canopy. A trio of bright red and purple flowers bloomed along the base of the tree-like wings. The air drifting across both changelings’ noses was cloyingly sweet.

Riposte was more focused on the head, which wore an almost serene expression. His vision began to swim and he shook it to try and clear his thoughts.

He was about to pull back when Flechette slumped to her side and fell out of the fern. No… the - pollen… He fell to his knees, but not before mustering out a pitiful cry for help before darkness claimed his vision.

Within moments, he was as still as the forest around him. However, it did not remain so for long. The bark covering the tree-like pony started to chip and crack under its own accord. The leaves started to fold in on themselves and retreat into the now skeletal looking wings. The branches cracked and popped before coming to life and folding neatly at the pony’s barrel as its bark finished transforming into brown fur. Her mane and tail were a tangle of green vines that shook as the mare climbed to its hooves upon stiff legs.

Slitted eyes the color of roses blinked the last vestiges of stiffness away before she sniffed the air. Amid the usual myriad of forest smells, several new ones attacked her nose. Ack-chi-wa! What is that horrendous odor! Her nose directed her to the two comatose changelings several meters away. What manner of animal befouls the air in such a manner?

The plant-like pony sniffed the air to make sure no threats lingered in the area before moving in to investigate the two purple intruders. What a miserable catch. If they reek as foul as the silverback’s backside, they will make a poor meal indeed.

Her nose burned more the closer she approached to the two sleeping creatures, but what she saw, fueled her curiosity. The purple beings were wearing items of metal and most peculiar of all, clothing. The pony eyed the pair with curiosity and trepidation in equal measure.

These beings are beyond mere strange, nor are they food. She sniffed the nozzle of Riposte’s flamethrower, only to fall back on her haunches as her nose suffered chemical burns down to her throat. *cough hack* “What manner of creature shapes metal and smells of fire?” She snorted her nose several times to try and clear it.

The sound of buzzing wings, far heavier than any she had heard before caught her attention. Aegis and two other changelings suddenly broke through the canopy above, and quickly encircled the plant pony. Aegis took one look at her two fallen siblings, the row of carnivorous teeth in the strange green and brown pony, and pointed her flamethrower at the creature. Only Riposte’s proximity to the creature stayed her wrath. “Get away from them!"

The creature cowered at the warning burst from the flamethrower of one of Aegis’ wingmates, and tripped on her own hooves in primal fear of fire. “De’la tu’luna be’resa!” She cried out in abject terror in a language no changeling understood. “Ma ya’delra! Ma ya’delra!”

One of Aegis’ wingmates gasped.

A crazy thought crossed Aegis’ mind and she holstered her flamethrower.

The plant pony saw the strange purple beings were slightly distracted and tried to make a break for it, but barely got three steps before a lavender-orange aura enveloped her. She cried out as she was hefted off the ground. “Da’hua! Dutel’veta calner’ vetiata!?”

Aegis grunted as she had to keep the struggling creature stable in her magic.

Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash stood in a hallway in front of a door where a frantic plant thing was banging on the walls yelling out in a frantic tone. Aegis stood before her queens, now free of her flamethrower.

“So let me get this straight, Aegis. You found an apparently sentient being and instead of trying to do things diplomatically, you foalnap her?” Twilight inquired with more surprise than ire. Rainbow kept peeking through the small window in the door, but remained silent.

“That thing didn’t come across as willing to talk. I thought that you could learn how to communicate with it under more controllable circumstances. Maybe it could direct us to some ruins that might still be intact.”

“It was a good call if you ask me,” Rainbow announced before Twilight could speak. “There’s no guarantee the old Thestral capital is still there, let alone if it has anything worth digging up.”

“It’s still incredibly rude to have foalnapped her like that,” Twilight rebuked. She waved off Aegis’ rebuttal before it could leave her lips. “But we might as well try to communicate. At the very least so you can apologize.”

Aegis remained stern in the face of her mother’s displeasure. “It sounds like a corrupted version of ancient Thestarian.”

Twilight’s horn lit up and a small sphere of dancing letters and symbols appeared in front of her. “Then at least I have a starting point to work with. Just make sure she keeps talking.”

Rainbow Dash huffed comically at the torrent of fearful shouting. “I don’t think you have to worry about that.”

Over an hour passed before the sphere of letters grew dense enough to grant Twilight enough understanding for her to make an attempt at establishing a dialogue. She opened the door with a tray holding bread and water at her side. She hid the magical sphere behind her to keep it from spooking her guest.

The plant pony stopped crying out and fled to the far wall at the sight of the tall and powerful looking queen. Yet what drew her attention most of all was her ponyish shape and reptilian eyes. Twilight tried to keep a friendly face, but had no idea how any expression would be interpreted.

“Hello, I’m Twilight Sparkle,” she said placatingly, and decided to drop the title. “Can you understand me?”

The brown and green pony-thing nodded dumbly. “The Mark of Reformation is upon your being! By what magic are you not of the lost ones?”

Twilight furrowed an inquisitive brow. “Umm… I have no idea what the mark is, nor who the lost ones are; but can we start with your name? Do you have one?”

“Y-yes. Mine ancestors bestowed the name Arya upon my person, Arya Ge’ula.” Arya’s wing-branches stopped quivering in fear, but her ears were still pinned back.

“Good to meet you, Arya Ge’ula.” Twilight suddenly wished the storeroom they were in had been given a chair or cushion. “I must apologize for my daughter’s rash behavior in bringing you here.”

Arya zeroed in on Twilight’s carnivorous teeth and fangs. “Not good meal am I, oh great and powerful Twilight Sparkle!” Arya attested hastily. “I am more sap than blood.”

Twilight brought the tray over and set it down in front of Arya. “We only brought you here to talk. We don’t want to eat you.”

Arya’s gaze drifted down to the presented bread and water. She glanced warily between the food and Twilight as she sniffed the presented items. They reeked of oil and smoke that was commonplace on the ship, but fine otherwise. She snatched the hunk of bread and tore into it before looking around at the wood and metal room she was bound in. “What manner of flying beast clinks and clanks and thrums and churns?”

“We’re on an…” Twilight said ‘airship’, but the spell failed to translate it out of Vespid. “We’re on a—” Stupid spell never worked right. She sighed to center herself. “We are on a large construct that we have built. It is not a living beast, but an object of our own design.”

Arya quickly devoured her small meal and had started sniffing the steel deck at her hooves while Twilight spoke. “You hear the beast’s thrum and the churning and burning, do you not? How can you not see the life?” Yet before Twilight could even think of a counterargument, Arya gasped with excitement. “Are you the Queen of Prophecy!?”

Twilight’s first replied died on her lips. Let’s hold off on telling her I’m actually a queen. “What prophecy?”

“Yes, yes, you would not know of it! The elders said as much!” Arya bounded over to grovel at Twilight’s hooves, her tone was too ecstatic to carry the reverence she should have been displaying. “She said you would be tall, far taller than any of us. That you would bear the Mark, but also have the eyes of our foremothers!” Arya spread her wooden wings out low in a submissive gesture, something that was mostly lost on Twilight. “Farseer Vel’in once spoke of a great metal sky beast bearing two children of the royal caste! Please, I beg of you to enlighten me, do you have an equal here with you?”

At least she’s completely forgotten about the foalnapping, Twilight mused dryly. “Slow down, please. Before we go into this prophesy business, I’d like to know what you are.”

Arya leapt to her hooves and flared her skeletal wings out to their full height and prostrated herself before the queen. “I am Arya, Child of the Lost Empire, Second Seedling of Ve’tul’na. I may only be a second circle druid, but service to the Ponies Hidden in the Leaves is the highest of callings.” When Twilight did not immediately answer, Arya risked cracking an eye open to see Twilight’s unreadable expression, and inwardly slapped herself. Ah tach! None of that means anything to the prophesied one! “My people are called Tea’la.”

Ah, good. Now we’re getting somewhere. Twilight gestured with a hoof for Arya to rise, and was glad it translated. “As I’ve said, my name is Twilight Sparkle.” There’s no point in hiding it, or insulting her intelligence. “I am a changeling queen here with my sister Rainbow Dash on a…” The spell failed to translate the word she wanted to use, making her grumble at it. “We’re on a journey to uncover our people’s past.”

Arya’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “And the sky would carry a steel bird that carried two inquisitive podmates born from royal amber. You must come see the elders! They will help you on your journey, I swear it on my people’s honor.”

Twilight was initially taken aback by Arya's enthusiasm, but inwardly shrugged at herself. I’d probably be just as bad if monkeys from space came down and said hello. “I must admit I wasn’t expecting to meet anyone” or thing “friendly out here.” If they can point me at some ruins or even some authentic pottery, that’d be perfect! “If I take you to one of the viewing areas, can you guide us to your people?”

“It should not be difficult to locate. All you must do is find the tall hill with a ring of purple leaved trees. My people are at the center.”

Rainbow Dash had been content to let her sister handle everything up until now, but she felt Twilight was missing a key element.

Twilight halted before she turned around to open the door when Rainbow’s question stopped her. She turned back towards Arya who was trying to decipher the pattern of the woven tray. “Arya, did the prophecy ever say what those of the returning royal family was supposed to do?”

“The elders would know more than I, but all I know is that you will find the true nature of your forbearers’ sins.”

Twilight couldn’t help but tilt her head in curiosity. “I found mention that the royals of old felt that they had done something terrible, but they never said anything definitive. Do you or your elders know what happened?”

“Hiding the truth of the matter? Or has time truly stripped you royals of the inherent guilt?” Arya replied cryptically. “Your desire to relearn is telling and curious all the same.” She eyed Twilight carefully, studying her intently. “This land that I call home is the product of magic beyond imagining. Magic wrought by the old imperial family.”

I don’t like where this is going one bit, Twilight thought dourly as she turned to fully face her guest once more. “What are you trying to say?”

“I know not all the fine details my elders do.” Arya extended her left wing and traced a hoof along the longest branch. “The oldest tales say that this land was once a vast lake of sand and rock. The royals, like yourself, changed all that. But they also changed all who dwelt here. In essence, this land is of our own making.”

Author's Note

14: The Tea'la

The air shimmered around the cloaked Deception as it slowed to a stop near their destination. The hill in question was scant meters from being called a mountain. The dense ring of purple leaved trees surrounding its base marked it as the home of the Tea’la people. What threw off Twilight’s expectations was that there were no signs of a civilization anywhere to be seen. For all intents and purposes, the forest on the hill looked completely untouched by civilized hooves, save for a comparatively small break in the canopy towards the summit.

Once her fear of her hosts had abated, Arya marveled at the feeling of flight. She was currently on the bridge with both royal changelings as she watched the landscape sail by. To see the Nel’lok Forest from above was breathtaking. A trip that would have taken her a week passed by in a matter of hours. The dangers of the forest seemed almost insignificant to the great monster of steel and steam. The stories of death and fire that surrounded the objects identified as ‘deck guns’ sent shivers running down her spine every time she looked at them.

Such power! Does the rest of the world possess such destructive potential as the forest distilled into this directed form?

“Hey, Planty, we’re here!”

Arya turned away from the porthole to see Twilight elbow Rainbow Dash in the ribs before walking over. The form of address had not translated, but its meaning had. “Did you want to talk to your people before we meet?”

“Wisdom worthy of the imperial family you show. Our home is guarded by many druids such as myself. With the dangers of the forest being as they are, my kin would act first, and act with aggression. Even if you could withstand their wrath, the whole area is smothered in our pollen. You would fall into a sleep so deep that there would be no waking.”

“Right,” Twilight replied with less diplomatic calm than she would have liked, “we’ll just drop you off outside the purple ring okay?”

Arya glanced out of the window, only just now getting nervous from the sheer height. “Unlike you, I cannot fly. To carry me down would expose you to our sleepful pollen.”

“We have ways to protect ourselves.” She turned to find an aid waiting nearby. “Flint, escort our guest to the ground outside the ring.”

“Aye, my queen.”

Rainbow watched Arya leave the room with a troubled look. “Hey sis, how do we know these guys aren’t going to try and eat us when we get down there? This whole prophecy thing could be completely bogus.”

“That sort of mentality is healthy against rival queens, Rainbow, but we should at least give Arya’s people the benefit of the doubt.”

“Yea well the last time Daring Do had some natives say she was part of a prophecy, they tried to throw her into a volcano.”

Twilight tittered and playfully swatted her blue sister. “Only after she told them she was a virgin, and neither one of us have to worry about that.”

“Kind of hard to hide that with so many purple kids around,” Rainbow trailed off as she watched a pair of masked drones carry Arya to the ground. “But these ponies have survived in a lethal forest not unlike Jungle of the Lings for a long time, and you know how cutthroat the other queens are.”

Twilight held back her first reaction to rebuke Rainbow’s argument when a memory of Celestia brushed the edge of her mind. My biggest mistake, Twilight, was dismissing my little sister’s ideas simply because I thought I knew better.

Twilight’s slight frown switched to a thin smile. “Alright, Rainbow, tell you what. How about I weave some dead mare’s switches? If either one of us falls unconscious we’ll be teleported back here.”

Rainbow thought about it with a hoof on her chin few a few seconds before slowly nodding. “Yeah, that should work. Don’t you need a physical object for that since you can’t cast it on the pony herself?”

Twilight beamed a smile as she took her crown off her head. “That’s exactly right, sis. I’m glad to see you’re actually remembering stuff like that.”

Just accept the compliment, Rainbow. The cyan queen kept herself from rolling her eyes. “I kinda have to since magic and alchemy go hoof-in-hoof.”

“How’s your wing research going by the way?” Twilight inquired as she focused on constructing the spell within her mind.

“Meeeh, slow. I’ve been too focused on learning the basics and mastering telekinesis.” She tapped her horn and looked at it from her reflection in the windshield. “Being able to move stuff with my mind’s really addictive.”

Twilight’s crown started glowing in her magic as the enchantment started taking shape. “You’re making excellent progress, sis. I was groomed since I was a filly to master the arcane arts. Celestia once told me to take magic at my own pace, and I’d like to tell you the same thing.”

“Pah! Your study pace almost rivaled my sonic rainboom speeds.” Rainbow shrugged nonchalantly at her sister’s lopsided grin. “I’ll make the time. Even if I can’t be the speedster I used to be, I’ll make sure my kids can be.”

“That’s the spirit!” Twilight cheered as her mana flowed into her crown. “Speaking of which, have you talked to your kids back home since we left?”

An embarrassed smile forced its way over Rainbow’s face, making her turn away. Unfortunately for her, her embarrassment also made her fur turn completely beet red which only further compounded it issue. Stupid disguise! It only took a moment for her to get her changeling magic back under control. Once she got over her lapse in control, Rainbow could not, and would not, deny how much the five hundred voices of her nymphs pulled on her heart. “Yeah, I talked to Blitz’s clutch while Aegis was busy gathering fruit, and to the lot of them in general this morning.”

With her thoughts centered on them, a few dozen cyan nymphs brushed upon her mind, smothering her psyche with their unconditional love. While she could gain no nourishment in this manner, it melted her heart all the same no matter how many times it happened.

Twilight finished her work on her crown and placed it upon her brow before walking over to give her sister a sidelong hug and nuzzled her, much to Rainbow’s initial weak protests.

Rainbow snorted in faux disagreement. Yeah, I guess we are. Her mood shifted as she pulled away from her sister. “I’ve got just the thing for you to enchant for my dead-switch!” Rainbow lit up her horn and closed her eyes to concentrate. The magenta glow intensified as she struggled to weave the spell properly. She was gritting her teeth as a blood vessel on her forehead threatened to burst. Twilight was about to ask her to ease up when a large ring finally materialized and dropped to the floor. Rainbow growled at the possibility of having damaged the object. She quickly swiped it off the deck before presenting it to Twilight, but had to suppress her labored breathing all the while.

Twilight’s magical senses gave her a shock. “This is real! You actually summoned a circlet using a… hearth charm!”

Rainbow couldn’t hide her spike of fatigue and gave herself two deep breaths before speaking. “Yeah well, Gnarled Staff had some interesting spells he was showing off. I figured this one would be useful in case I ever needed a gun or something.”

Twilight adjusted her enchantment so it wouldn’t interfere with the charm and started weaving the spell. “Even so, I didn’t learn that charm until I was a sophomore. Very impressive indeed.”

“Me being awesome is old news. That aside though, I was going to make that thing my crown when I’m ready to earn it.”

That piqued Twilight’s interest. If she’s willing to go that far, then she must- Twilight’s thoughts halted when the glow faded around the headwear and she recognized what Rainbow had given her. It was the circlet (or a good forgery of it) that had first hybridized her. “I thought we left this back in Canterlot Castle’s vault.”

“We did. I had this fake made from memory.” Rainbow snatched the circlet in her magic and pointed at the engraving along the band with a grin. “I don’t recall how it looked exactly, not that I would want to recreate the runes anyway.”

“And… you want that as your crown?” Twilight was stunned. Rainbow didn’t answer right away as she rolled the circlet in her hooves and studied it wistfully.

Everything Rainbow Dash had gone through over the past several months flashed across her mind’s eye. Although Twilight missed it, the date of when Rainbow had first donned the circlet was engraved along the top of the band along with two words in Vespid: Aegis’ gift. With a snarky grin worthy of her name, Rainbow Dash placed the circlet upon her head. “I thought it was fitting.”

“That it is,” Twilight replied with a warm smile and a quick nuzzle along her sister’s cheek before Rainbow could pull away.

A ping across the hive mind stifled any further conversation as the two queens looked through the window to see the pair of drones returning with woven baskets.

Rainbow shot Twilight a cautious look. “Putting a lot of clout on faith here, Twi.”

Twilight fell into a regal posture that Rainbow had seen all too often. Her withers were squared, her face warm but strong, and an intense look in her eyes cast her into what Rainbow saw as the definition of a queen. “Sometimes the benefit of the doubt is the only way to give peace a chance.”

There had been enough powder for both queens and a squad of Aegis’ best troops. With Aegis taking point, the group flew down towards the forest below. They descended through a hole in the dense forest canopy where Arya was waiting alone for them. She bowed deeply to Twilight and Rainbow Dash once they came down to a landing.

“Returning members of the imperial family; I, Arya, welcome you home.”

Rainbow grimaced at the formality while Twilight took it in stride. What set Rainbow on edge was the complete lack of a bigger reception committee.

Twilight chose to ignore the pet name. Assuming her station required less prostration, Twilight opted to dip her head in respect with Rainbow mimicking her a second later. “Even if imperial blood runs through our veins, this is not our land anymore.”

“For now,” Arya replied coolly as she assumed a normal stature. “You must forgive any strangeness from the absence of others here to greet you. It is not our way to welcome anyone here on the edge of our land where the forest devils can swipe at us freely.”

Rainbow crinkled her nose at a coy oder. “Anypony else smell that?”

If there was any insult to be had, it flew over Ayra’s head as Rainbow shrugged off the scolding. “That could be the many purple Fu’tia trees. With them in such numbers, they change our pollen into life-stealing which slays all creatures but ourselves.”

The changelings tensed, but a quick silent command from Twilight stayed their weapons. “That’s what the powder was for, correct?”

Arya noticed the change in mood, but did not comprehend the danger of the more mundane firearms that remained holstered among the drones. “Y-yes. The farseers knew this day would come, so we made sure to create something that would allow you safe passage. We would not dare bring harm to any of the imperial family. Such dishonor has only one way for atonement.” Arya continued speaking before anyone could inquire further. She proceeded to point towards the center of the hill. “Let us not dwell on such things. Today is a day of celebration!”

Aegis only half listened to Arya ramble as she led the group up the hill. The path barely deserved such a description as it was little more than a semi-cleared trail visible only because Arya’s passage. What she saw around her only served to put her more on edge.

Twilight suppressed a groan.

Nothing but trees and untouched nature surrounded the group as they pressed onward. Arya’s originally jovial tone lost some of its happy streak at the thought of the airship above. “I have heard tales of the old empire’s power and culture. I fear we have lost nearly all of it ever since the sands gave way to the forest.”

Both royals shared a troubled look with Rainbow voicing their mutual question. “It’s been thousands of years since then. I’m sure you’ve made some new stuff on your own.”

“We have, your graces, but ahhh… The sands of time are not kind to such things. Even the forest has constantly conspired to rob us of our old ways.” Ayra’s melancholy tone subsided when she spotted a clearing up ahead. “We are nearing Lūn’s embrace…” She inwardly cursed and didn’t need to turn around to know the changelings were in various states of confusion. “That is the name for the inner circle where no creature can venture before succumbing to the pollen.”

Twilight had instantly picked up on the name “Lūn” and pinged her sister to discover Rainbow had noticed the same thing.

The clearing was barely large enough to accommodate a shuttle. However that was enough for the changelings to see well over three dozen Tea’la waiting for them in a wide semicircle. Many more were either exiting their tree-like state or were filtering in from further up the hill. Standing upon aged wrinkled hooves stood five elders, all of whom were stallions. Every last one of them bowed their heads in supplication.

Twilight, used to such functions, had no problems exercising the necessary political caution. Rainbow Dash's ego on the other hoof pulled at her to strut her stuff. She however kept herself from stepping out in front of her more diplomacy-savvy sister. I figured Planty was just blustering so we wouldn’t eat her, but we’re genuine celebrities with these guys!

Upon reaching speaking distance, the eldest stallion in the center looked up to study the mostly purple visitors. “I am Vel’it, seedling of Re’tula. Your subjects welcome you home.”

“I thank you for the warm welcome, Vel’it of Re’tula,” Twilight began. “It is a testament to the strength of your people to have thrived in what my foremothers thought they could not.”

A collective exhale of bittersweet pride washed over the gathered Tea’la. The central stallion elder spoke for the group. “You give us honor we do not deserve, your imperial majesty. We barely survive the trials of the woods on a nightly cycle. Our homes have been uprooted more times than I can count within my own lifetime alone.”

A third elder continued the dismal tale. “It is only within the past moon that we have made our home here.”

One of the younger hot-blooded mares nudged the elder closest to her. The act went unnoticed by the royal sisters as the other elders reclaimed enough wits to introduce themselves. She glared at the old stallion long enough to impress what she wanted to say through him. The elder’s old bones weighed so heavily upon him that his wings drooped nearly to the ground. “Imperial majesties, while our troubles seem unending, we have done more than survive. The farseers have preserved what culture we still possess. It is they who foretold us that your return to these lands would be soon.”

Once her station had been named, the mare came forward with reverence in her step. “That we have, elder. Forgive my impertinence, your majesties. I believe this is a time to rejoice, not burdening you with our woes. Come please, we may not possess many of the old ways, but we have made new ones all the same.”

“You got music, Miss…?” Rainbow blurted out before Twilight could answer.

The farseer understood most of the question and her eyes lit up while her wings shivered in anticipation. “That we do. Come! We shall fill the leaves with the songs of my people.”

Much to the changelings’ dismay, the farseer leapt out of the semicircle to face her kin. “Come! They deserve nothing less than an imperial welcome!” Everyone except the elders cheered loudly and clattered their wings together in exultation.

The Tea’la scattered further up the hill, leaving only a select few of their number, Arya included, to escort them up. “You arrived at a most opportune time,” she explained to both royals. “Game has become scarce or resistant to our sleep pollen. We know you will help with all of that!”

Twilight felt Rainbow’s suspicions grow along with her own ill-at-ease. “In what way?”

“The council of elders and farseers will tell all after the feast!” She waved them forward to follow after the rest. “This way to our humble but proud abode.”

The gathered changelings followed after their exultant hosts with a show of friendship and confidence that they didn’t truly possess. Twilight was cycling dozens of ideas as to what to expect, while Rainbow kept looking up at the canopy to scout future exit points.

Twilight wrinkled her nose at the smell of cooking fires up ahead. Judging by distance to the top, it smells like they could feed an army.

The group gave silent acknowledgements leading to a lapse in the conversation. In that lull, Twilight noticed something was off. Furrowing her brow slightly she expanded her magical senses, and Twilight didn’t like what she felt.

Rainbow tried to keep her exterior demeanor calm, but she went on high alert.

To Twilight, the very air faintly writhed as the atmospheric mana twisted and turned on itself as if a magnetic field was being distorted by some unseen force.

Rainbow tried to sense what her sister did, but her skill was not up to the task.

Twilight absently kept walking forward as she slowly cast her gaze along the hilly forest around her. The trees swayed in the mild wind that blew faint clouds of golden pollen through the air. Remembering where she was, Twilight shook of her bad feeling.

Twilight first caught sight of the village in the form of tents and hastily fabricated tree houses. The structures ringed the top of the hill with a large clearing in the center. The presence of various tree stumps made her hum in contemplation.

Rainbow snickered much louder than tact would call for.

Twilight rolled her eyes and saw several cooking fires were scattered around while a tall pile of logs was being piled up in a circle of stones for a future bonfire. Each fire pit had knee high stone barriers around them to keep any would be rogue flames at bay. Even with such precautions, Twilight noticed Arya's wings started to clatter as she trembled at the sight of the active fires. The druid averted her gaze and ears away from the flames to keep her composure.

All the while, Arya probed Aegis and her siblings with a barrage of questions ranging from mundane to personal, anything to distract her from the flames. “Exalted Captain. Why do all of you look so much like one of your queens?”

Aegis passed the question on to her mother to see if she could truthfully answer it. She didn’t like the response, but complied regardless. “We are all Queen Twilight Sparkle’s children.”

“W-wha?” Arya took a second, then a third and fourth look at each of the drones and then back at Twilight. “You are all royalty?!”

“Ah, no. We don’t work that way.” Aegis tried to keep her kind’s true nature as obscure as possible, and passed it off as no big deal, because it wasn’t. Might want to keep it simple for her. “Only the tall ones are royals.”

Arya wanted to probe deeper, but a barked command from the gathered farseers grabbed both her and the changelings’ attention. “Arya Ge’ula!” She immediately identified the senior farseer and bowed in respect. “Go make sure the eastern ring has enough defenders so our revered guests will be in no danger.”

“By your will, honored one.”

Arya departed quickly, leaving the Tea’la alone with the changelings. The grey furred mare prostrated herself in front of the changeling queens. “I am He’la, third seedling of Del’la’rus, and Chief Farseer of my people. I want to extend my people’s full hospitality to you and your guards.”

Rainbow was more than happy to let Twilight do the talking as she addressed the drones.

Rainbow gave a series of more personal orders to each drone and only refocused on He’la towards the end of the farseer’s conversation with Twilight. A stallion Tea’la was whispering in He’la’s ear. She shooed the stallion away to speak to Twilight unimpeded. “If I may be so bold, your imperial majesty, can I see the metal sky beast upon which you rode in? No one can see what Druid Arya claims to have been within.”

Twilight leaned toward Rainbow to silently ask her advice. The cyan queen wrestled with the idea for a few moments before nodding curtly. “Fine.” A few moments later, Rainbow simply pointed up at the small opening in the canopy.

He’la and dozens of other Tea’la quickly spotted the steel warship hovering barely fifty meters from the trees. None of them knew it, but it had to be that close for the dead mare’s switches to work. All they knew, was the prophecy was on the cusp of being fulfilled.

A thrill of excitement so palpable that it gave the empathic changelings brief headaches as it swept through the Tea’la like wildfire. Thunderous cheer and the rattle of wooden wings filled the air before He’la ran over to a group of villagers and gave several orders. Soon enough, several crude wooden tables were brought out to give a place for the cooks to display their food. Several musicians produced a collection of large horns and took up position near the gathering tables and started the celebration in earnest.

Several Tea’la guided the changelings to tables covered in what food and drink the locals could spare. The villagers sang and danced to a tempo as alien and violent as the forest they lived in. The flowers on their backs opened and puffs of pollen filled the air, which were tossed about in a tempest as the bonfires were lit. The heavy pollen sent the Tea’la into a psychedelic dancing frenzy. The dancers sang in unison with the deep angry horns, shaking beads, and chilling strings that threw them into a fevered pitch of manic wails and dancing around the bonfires.

The Tea’la scarcely ate anything for hours as the music continued well into the night. Most barely sat down for a scant few minutes to wolf down some food before rejoining their kin. The fires cast eerie shadows across the darkening woods.

By then, most of the changelings had loosened up and found themselves carried away by the intoxicating tribal music that struck a primal chord within them. Not even Rainbow Dash was immune to it and was right there in the middle of the chanting, wailing ponies, throwing all decorum and what little regality she had cultivated to the four winds.

Only Twilight and Aegis maintained their regal and military bearing respectively; even if they were deeply tempted to join in on the festivities. Twilight remained seated more out of intense curiosity, and Rainbow’s warning that her dancing would cause a diplomatic incident. Aegis remained at her mother’s side out of sheer force of will and profound sense of duty with a heavy dose of paranoia for good measure.

Twilight teased as she looked up at the ship which had long since resumed full cloak.

Fatigue was clearly evident in his voice.

He let of a heavy sigh while flopping onto the royal bed.

She whined sympathetically.

Twilight barely finished the sentence before Rainbow plopped on the bench next to her, giving Aegis a jump-scare at her sudden appearance. She was drenched in sweat from her fervent dancing. Twilight knew Rainbow well enough that she might slip into vocalized chatter and took her off the translation spell. “I gotta tell ya, Twi, these stick-wings know how to have a bang’n good time.”

“That they do,” Twilight agreed with a yawn. Aegis tried her best, but the contagious yawn escaped her as well. “You seem to have made some friends.” She pointed to He’la who was dancing with a pair of drones.

Rainbow chuckled wholeheartedly. “Say what you want about their food being kinda bland, they have a way to party that would make the Canterlot underground jealous.”

“I bet.” Twilight paused while her sister shoveled some food down her gullet in a manner unbefitting for a queen. Not that it truly mattered to them; Twilight was just happy to have Rainbow around, and Rainbow didn’t care about carrying an air of regality. “Why don’t you share party stories with her?”

“I don’t think,” *snarf* “telling her about,” *gulp* “fog machines and turn tables is going to translate.”

“Maybe not. But you could tell her about the world outside the chaos lands and she could tell you about the dangers of the forest.”

Rainbow was gnawing on a leg bone of an animal she would never be able to identify and spoke with it still in her mouth. “Thaff not a bad idea.” She spat the bone onto her plate. “I bet somepony here has to know where the old capital is at least. Maybe they could warn us of some super hydra that sleeps there or something.”

Twilight saw He’la collapse in her seat and pile food onto a plate until it was overflowing. “Now’s your best chance, she just sat down.”

“Uhh… Yeah alright.”

Twilight watched Rainbow stand up before holding out a hoof. “Oh, sister?”

“Yeah?”

With a slight smile, Twilight tapped the side of her head, prompting Rainbow to do the same, only to tap her circlet instead. “Remember you’re a friend and a queen. She’ll think of you as both.”

A pit of dread sank into Rainbow’s gut, but pride buried it. She grimaced at herself and nodded to her sister. “Right.”

Both purple changelings watched Rainbow trot over to He’la and begin talking. Aegis had trouble computing what had just happened for several minutes before turning to her mother.

Twilight replied teasingly. Aegis waited for her to expand on that, but Twilight was content to silently eat a few rather tantalizing fruits.

Aegis shook her head.

Twilight looked at her daughter and gave a mischievous wink. Rainbow and He’la talked for well over an hour. Twilight chose to hold faith in her sister and refrained from eavesdropping. Instead, she took the time to commune with the hive back home.

Looks like the first amphitheater is under construction. Rarity will no doubt love the injection of high society that can bring. Part of a stone wall three kilometers further out from the first wall is getting started tonight, good. We need more room for agriculture. Good thing Zecora is there to help preserve any useful plants that might otherwise have been lost.

Gear Ratio was all too happy to speak once Twilight contacted her. Gear’s tone was more business than normal.

Poor filly. She only has half a job to do.

Gear was standing in the hatchery, staring at the rows upon rows of empty incubators with a sullen expression.

Twilight couldn’t help but give off a hearty laugh.

Gear gently rubbed a welt on her flank that one of the dashlings had given her by accident.

Twilight’s gaze fell upon her sister who had just clapped He’la on the back while laughing uproariously.

Gear Ratio’s pride in her mother only grew at how deeply she cared for her sister.

Twilight hummed at the mention of her own first clutch.

Gear amended with dry wit.

Twilight tapped her chin in deep thought.

Twilight brooded on the discovery for a few minutes. Aegis has already proven herself worthy of rebirth, not that I’ll tell her that. It’d go to her head. Besides, hopefully rebirth won’t be necessary for a long time anyway. Still… if I had known how rare rebirthing reagents were, I would have only gone with seven consorts instead of ten. However, if this bond is deeper and more unique than we realize, I’ll have to find a way.

Any further contemplation was interrupted by Rainbow Dash flopping onto the bench with a scowl on her face. Uh oh.

She desperately wanted a stiff drink, but the Tea’la had only supplied water.

Twilight and Aegis scanned the crowd, but the locals only seemed even more enthusiastic than before as He’la spoke to her kin.

“Pah,” Rainbow groaned as she frowned at a meatless bone.

Rainbow grimaced at as she gave Twilight an apologetic look. A look complete with sad frown, wilted ears, and pleading eyes.

Aegis leaned forward on the table to she could see past her mother.

Rainbow chewed on her wooden cup as she tried to keep from emotionally exploding on herself.

Both purple changelings tilted their heads out of confusion, prompting Rainbow to shrug.

Twilight spit-took her drink and slammed the cup down. “WHAT?!”

Aegis was rendered speechless. Rainbow buried her face in her forelegs. “I knoooow.”

Twilight’s eyes started twitching and hairs started popping out of her mane and tail as the urge to scream started to boil up through her carefully constructed regality. A mad hatter grin cracked across her face as she hastily constructed a simplistic Linkscape to scream her lungs out.

Aegis’ ears drooped at the sight of her queen. Uh oh… Mother’s got that look again.

Author's Note

No episode this week? Then I here by give you all your pony fix.

Editor's note: Bitching about what I missed may now commence.

15: City of Marble

Aegis could see the veins on Twilight's temple throbbing heavily as her mother leveraged every ounce of willpower she had to keep from screaming. The world around Twilight faded away as her mind bent. With her last bit of self-control, Twilight thrust her consciousness into the simplistic pocket of Linkscape she had thrown together.

For the next five minutes, a changeling filly version of Twilight ran in circles while screaming nonstop. Even in this isolated place, her scream echoed faintly throughout the entire hive mind. Every last one of her drones were unnerved by the event, and the queens suffered headaches from it.

Cadista sighed and grumbled as she squelched the scream on her end of the hive mind. Here we go again. Judging by the pitch and tone, she does not appear to be in any danger. Rainbow probably just pranked her... or she feels she's doomed the world again. I'll have to check in later.

Twilight’s hysterical scream petered out slowly; lung capacity meant little in the Linkscape. Once she had regained enough composure to calm down (and revert her appearance to that of her adult self), she forcibly pulled Rainbow and Aegis into the Linkscape consisting of nothing more than a white ground and blue sky.

The new arrivals were disorientated by the forced transfer, but that quickly flipped over to deep concern at Twilight’s twitching face.

Oh no. It’s Want it Need it all over again.

Twilight shoved her muzzle into Rainbow’s face. “What. Did. You. Do!”

Rainbow stumbled backward to get some space. “Whoa, whoa, hold on. I didn’t do anything. It’s the stick-wings that got it in their head that we’re the chosen ones. Even if I failed the stupid test of theirs they’d just make up another one.”

“How in Tartarus do they expect us to ‘tame’ the CHAOS LANDS!??!”

“Ahhh… magic?” Rainbow flinched at the expected marexplosion, but it never came.

A malkavian grin crept over Twilight’s face. “Magic!? Pfffft well why didn’t I think of that?! It’s so obvious!” Twilight turned away toward no point in particular. “Magic will save the day. He he he, why not? Doesn’t it always?!”

“Here’s an idea.” Both queens zeroed in on Aegis who fell flat on her belly at the off-kilter scrutiny her mother was leveling upon her. “We could just ignore the whole thing.”

Twilight’s mad hatter gaze unnerved to her daughter as much as her manic tone. “And have these ponies hounding us the entire time we’re trying to dig? If we just go back to the ship and ignore them they could retaliate! Do you really think we can survive the Chaos Lands and hostile natives?!”

Rainbow was getting increasingly unnerved by the number of loose hairs in Twilight’s mane. How does that even happen in a Linkscape? “Listen, Sis, maybe there’s a double meaning to all this, or we might not have to do anything at all.”

“What do you mean do nothing?” Twilight barked as her eyes bore a hole through her sister’s forehead.

Rainbow wanted nothing more than to calm her sister down. Every second she’s like this, her drones get more and more unstable. “Y-you know, one of those – ah – self-fulfilling prophecies.” I hope that’s what they’re called.

Twilight’s eyes shifted to random points as she processed the idea before centering back on her sister. “Did you think to ask how they expect us to do that!?”

“He’la said the past and future are one in the same. To find one, is to save the other.”

“Damn it all,” Twilight growled. She started pacing between her sister and daughter. “This is why I hate divination.”

Aegis flew into a hover in front of her queen. “This could be easier than we thought. The past could mean the artifacts we need.” Twilight stopped pacing as she mulled over the idea.

Rainbow caught onto the meaning. “Yeah, and if the future bit is us taming the forest then maybe there’s some big bad out there that we can trounce with the Deception.”

Twilight’s scowl wavered between a deep frown to that of a pressed line. “And what if they actually expect us to stay here long term? Our home is back in the Everfree, not the Chaos Lands.”

Aegis was getting rather disconcerted by the barren Linkscape. Only queens could craft them, and every one she had been in so far were works of art rather than this painfully empty space. “Maybe we could create a separate corps of drones dedicated to helping the Tea’la. We don’t have to dedicate our entire hive to taming the land.”

Twilight’s wild emotions fizzled out and she deflated a little. “That… That might work. Prophecy or not, surely they don’t expect this to be an overnight fix.”

Whew. Rainbow sighed before smirking and locking her sister into a friendly neckhold. “And besides, if this actually works, by the time we show some real progress in taming the CL we’ll be ready to hatch some royal daughters and they could use the place for their hive.”

That caused Twilight’s ears to perk straight up. She slowly turned against the neckhold to face her sister. “You really want to have a royal daughter some day?”

Aegis was just as surprised as her mother was. I knew Aunty had embraced her new species, but I didn’t know she was willing to go that far already. She hasn't laid many eggs since her proto-queen days.

Rainbow let her sister go and stared off into the incredibly bland landscape. “Someday, yeah. I think I’d like to do that. The CL is a place ponies have been content enough to leave be. But…” She looked back at her sister. “We Lings seem to love camping out in the worst places to live. I figure our future royal daughters would love the place.” She shot Twilight a winning smile. “After we till the land a bit.”

If there was one thing Rainbow had learned during her time as a queen, it was how strong the instinct to expand was. She watched as the gears turned in her sister’s brain with a knowing smirk. Twily would never pass up an opportunity to continue our bloodline.

True to form, Twilight eventually nodded. “You’re right. The CL would be an excellent place to found new hives. The danger around here is perfect to hone our biological and technological evolution.”

“I don’t know if I would put it like that, but whatever works, right?”

Aegis felt Intel ping her mind and exchanged a few words. “My queens, the Tea’la are starting to take notice of our vacant bodies. The last thing we need is them thinking our souls were stolen or something.”

With the plan for the future in her mind, Twilight cracked a smile, but she didn’t quite catch Aegis’ warning. My children have amazed me time and time again at their ingenuity in surviving the Everfree. I get it now. We changelings thrive on adversity. However… She could hear the laughter and joy of her children both on the ship above and the hive. I think the other queens possess only half the answer.

Aegis tactfully tugged on her mother’s leg. “My queen, the natives are getting restless.”

“Yes, you’re right.” Twilight shook off her introspective. She nodded to her cyan sister. “Let’s get back and talk things over with He’la. We have work to do.”

Twilight awoke in her body to find a ring of drones trying to keep the worried and concerned Tea’la away from her. She took a moment to gain her bearings and to locate He’la. It didn’t take long when the pony in question tried to jump through the cordon of drones to reach her.

“Your imperial highness! What happened to you and yours?”

Twilight stood and held up a calming hoof. “Fear not, I was merely using a special technique to talk to my sister and guard captain privately.”

The drones had spread talk of comparatively strange magic that many of the Tea’la had never dreamed existed. So it was that the vast majority of them passed it off as just one more unreal magic the royal family possessed. He’la let the drones holding onto her push her back out of the cordon. “Amazing. With such power, you would have no problem taming the forest and rebuilding the empire anew!”

Twilight glanced at her sister out of the corner of her eye.

Rainbow snorted with that competitive edge she was famous for.

<Right!> Sharing her sister’s smirk, Twilight’s gaze zeroed in on the expectant farseer. “Before I break it down for you, He’la, let me ask you something. Does the old imperial capital or any other cities of the empire still stand, or do you at least know where they were?”

The gathered Tea’la became uncomfortable, most of them gasped or took an involuntary step backward. Both queens noticed it instantly. He’la cleared her throat to hide her own worry. “Rookhaven?” She looked up at the faint ripple that marked the Deception’s position. The steel beast may have strength, but can it withstand Gethar’s wrath? “Yes, we can show the way, but I must warn you away from that place. I do not think even you possess the power to sunder a god.”

“A god? Really?” Rainbow replied with far more sarcasm than Twilight would have liked.

Several Tea’la nodded slowly with one of the stallion elders stepping forward, his head bowed in submission and respect. The drones had eased up on the cordon now that Twilight was on her hooves again. “We would not jest, exalted ones. The old capital is the frozen domain of Gethar himself. To enter it is to let the pains of death enter into your body.”

“Heh!” Rainbow propped herself up on the table to bore a hole through He’la and the elder with a stare that exuded confidence. “Twi and I’ve beat down spirits of chaos, a beefcake power-hungry centaur, and a small army just to name a few. I think we can take on a ‘god’ any day of the week.”

“I pray that you are correct, your highness.” He’la sounded less than convinced, eliciting a grunt of dissatisfaction from Rainbow. “I truly do, for you will need all your power against him.”

The next day, half past noon, Twilight Sparkle was munching on a late breakfast brought about by the late night celebration. She presided over the forward observation blister with Ratchet at her side. The cramped space meant that it was the perfect excuse for queen and prime consort to have the room to themselves.

The sweeping glass offered a panoramic view of the landscape below. As the Deception chugged along, the forest was slowly giving way to a swamp. Drooping green-grey trees poked out of an unnatural mist so dense that it took on the appearance of filthy water. Endless swampland expanded in all directions, untouched by civilization. Even the noonday sun could not dispel the mist hanging over the land. Ratchet’s ear flicked every time he saw a large shape slide just barely out sight.

Twilight swallowed a lump at the sight as well, but was content to rest her head on her lover’s withers. The observation teams will spot anything that can threaten us. Even if something could, our altitude should be sufficient defense.

“It was a good call dropping the cloak while we’re over the swamp,” Ratchet commented as Twilight shifted her seating. “We’ll be able to save fuel for the journey back out.”

Twilight turned away from her alchemical notes, savoring the coarseness of his fur and oil-tainted musk. “True, but we’ll be leaving a smoke trail behind us now. I hope the smell of it alone is enough to keep any would-be predators at bay.”

He hummed in agreement. “That plant pony’s a weird one. Do you really believe her story that the old capital is out here in the swamps?” He twisted his head around to find a contented Twilight rubbing the back of her neck on his withers, smiling all the while.

“Arya? I do. This is still in the general direction Luna told us it’d be. Even if the old stories and journals said this place used to be a desert…” She glanced outside and gasped as a monstrous beast the size of a building rose up from the mist. There was a second beast grasped within the claws of the first, which proceeded to throw its prey into a group of trees before pouncing. The second crustacean-like creature shrieked so loudly that it rattled the glass before the first’s claws cracked its shell, silencing it forever. The changelings were frozen as both beasts slid back into the mist with the first beginning to feast.

Just what have we gotten ourselves into? She noticed Ratchet shrug it off, even if it still unnerved him. The existence of creatures on par with hydras didn’t surprise Twilight, but it was still disconcerting. Taming these lands for my future royal daughters isn’t going to be easy or quick. Heck, I might need to be reborn once or twice before our hives cover the land.

“Hey!” Ratchet’s call broke Twilight’s brooding as he looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “Don’t worry about it, all of that is future Twilight’s problem.”

“Huh? How did you know what I was thinking?”

Ratchet chuckled and flicked her snout with a wing. “After all these years, you’re as open to me as a book.” He licked the top of her head. “We’re already mapping the land as we go. Once we grab some pots and bones we can come back later with a bigger crew.”

“Heh, I can’t help it.” Twilight chuckled as she rolled over to lay parallel to him. Even with him being a consort, Ratchet was still smaller than his queen. Twilight held his gaze for a few seconds before looking off into space. “Taming the land to make room for the next generation of queens is too exciting.” She gave off an impatient sigh and rolled over to drape herself all over him, squashing the poor engineer under her weight. “If only my estimations didn’t place this project as such a long term gooooal.” She flailed her legs around out of exasperation.

Ratchet belted off a long laugh at her expense. I can count the number of ponies she completely drops the air of royalty around by the number of holes in my right leg. It’s an honor, really.

Twilight narrowed her eyes and pouted at him. “What’s so funny?”

“You,” he teased. Ratchet licked her nose to make her flinch backwards. He chuckled again. “You’re funny when you let that queenly instinct get the better of you.”

“Meh,” Twilight wrapped her legs around him. She huffed, ruffling his mane. “It’s difficult to control myself sometimes.” She briefly rubbed her abdomen. “Especially since I have countless changelings within me, waiting to be brought into the world. I can’t wait until we have a larger food supply so I can start laying in earnest again.”

She sighed contently at the mental image of a full hatchery. Purple and sky blue eggs covering every scrap of space in the room. A wide beaming grin split her face. “Being a queen is so rewarding.” I’m glad Sis came around to that fact as well.

Ratchet rolled his eyes, and blew at the bits of her purple and vanilla mane that had spilled in front of his face. “So you keep saying. Me, I’d rather spend my days in the engine room. And…” He glanced below at the murky wetlands. The clinging mist obscured the dangers lurking below. “Away from this Tartarus pit. Something about the mana around here just feels… wrong.”

“You sense it now, too?” Twilight asked rhetorically. She lit her horn to taste the ambient magic.

“It’s sour to the point of bitterness.” She gave his fur a long lick just to get the taste out of her mouth. He stiffened at the long line of damp fur, but didn’t complain. “The ley lines have been thrown out of sync with the natural flow for a long time, possibly as long as changelings have walked Equis. It’s almost as if they have been ripped out of the earth and tossed into a blender and then left to fester. Just what happened here?” She lifted her hoof up to look at the holes in her leg. What did our foremothers do to turn us from thestrals into changelings and Tea’la?

Ratchet suppressed a shiver as he followed the overwhelming trail of rotten magic. “Whatever it is, it feels like we’re moving in deeper to the broken ley lines.”

“Right where Arya's guiding us to.” Twilight climbed off her prime consort to stand. “I’ve got a really bad feeling about this.”

Ratchet put his manual down to join his queen in observing the horizon. “Could you imagine if we had to walk the whole way?”

“Agh, that’d be horrible!”

Before either one of them could speak further, Riposte addressed both of them over the hive mind.

Twilight shared a glanced with Ratchet before nabbing the two spyglasses off the bulkhead and giving one to her consort. Jutting out of the mist, gleaming pillars of marble reflected the sunlight with such a luminous shine that it made both of them rub their eyes just to make sure they weren’t seeing things. “There’s something practically glowing out there.

Rainbow was glad she could speak via the hive mind with a mouth full of dried rations. Not that she would let conversation interrupt a meal, of course.

A manic grin spread across Rainbow’s muzzle for a split second before she wrapped Arya in her telekinesis and bolted for the door.

“Going where, your imperiaalll?!” Arya screeched as she was dragged along, narrowly avoiding all of the tables and drones the whole way through.

Twilight ignored the mild cries of alarm marking her sister’s wake. Aegis and her squad are off duty right now, but she’d give me those sad puppy eyes for months if I didn’t let her lead the vanguard.

Minutes earlier, sweat, labored breathing, and a variety of odors clung to the claustrophobic four-bunk room. Intel rolled off of Aegis and fell a short drop onto the floor. “So, how was it?”

Aegis was still basking in the afterglow, and was staring up at the top bunk with a stupid grin on her face. “Not bad at all.” She turned to look at her clutchmate with teasing grin. “You’ve improved, that’s for sure. If I had to grade you, I’d place you in third behind Ferrum and Riposte.”

He grunted from the effort of standing up. “I’m sensing a ‘but’ in there.”

Aegis chuckled. “But, you still did a lot better in bed as a mare. You have no real talent as a stallion, plus you never did get your voice any lower than a countertenor.” She saw him starting to look crestfallen and stumbled to quickly rectify that. “But, you’re high on the list because you can kiss like a god and are a master of foreplay.”

“Pah!” The compliment did the trick, and Intel scoffed with faux irritation. He nudged Aegis over so he could lay down next to her. Of all of their siblings, Intel felt the closest to his clutchmates, Aegis most of all. “If that's the case, why were you screaming my name a minute ago?” She shrugged wordlessly, but that didn’t stop him from nuzzling her with a content yet thoughtful sigh. “Still…” Aegis saw he was still hanging off the side of the bed and scooted over to give him some more room, only to find herself squished between him and the wall. That, however, was a small price to pay for his comfort. “I do kinda miss the mare side of things,” he said at last. “Ferrum, on the other hoof, I don't think he'll ever go back.”

“Yeah, he’s taken quite a shine to it. As for you though, why don’t you switch back over when we go home? The other queens will be placated with the artifacts, and there won’t be much of a need for us soldiers while we build our numbers for a few decades or so.”

Intel tapped his chin as Aegis started nuzzling him. “Well, our clutch has been sitting at an imbalanced ratio of 3:1 long enough already, and I haven’t seen any noticeable improvement in our combat effectiveness because of that.”

Aegis shuffled to look him dead in the eye with a malkavian grin. “Yes, Intel, return to the mare side. It is your destiny!” she egged on overdramatically while ribbing him.

Intel arched an amused eyebrow at her. “Say, just about all of our siblings have tried both genders for at least a little while, but you’ve never tried out stallionhood. Why is that?”

“Doesn’t appeal to me,” Aegis rolled over to face the wall and buzzed her wing a little to get them stiff enough for flight.

“Why not?” Intel walked over to gently massage his sister’s back along her wing shoulders to loosen them up. “Mother always encourages us to live life to the fullest, and experiencing both genders from time to time is part of that.”

Aegis sighed contently at Intel’s soothing touch. It was his personal way of cooling down from such activities which made him her favorite romp partner. “Going male doesn’t coincide with my life’s goal.”

“Huh? What goal could possibly exclude being a stallion?” he asked while moving on to her lower back. He snickered at her right hind leg wiggling whenever he loosened a knot. As he eased their recent activity out of her wing muscles, he caught a glimpse of a faint, complex pattern etched by the longitudinal veins in her wings. Intrigued, he brought up a horn light, only to see there was nothing actually there. Must be my imagination.

Aegis was slow in her response. “One of these days, I’m going to truly prove myself to momma, and earn the right to be reborn as a royal daughter.”

He was taken aback by the audacity of it all before he broke down into laughter. “Right, and after that I get to come back as a unicorn to be a living memorial of mother’s roots.”

“That would be rather amusing, but you’d miss flight too much… If you remembered what it felt like at least.” Aegis flipped around and planted a lustful kiss on him, to which Intel eagerly reciprocated. The sheer amount of love he poured into the act could keep Aegis fed for hours. He may not be all that good in bed, but by the First Mother is he a great kisser. Aegis let him take over the loving embrace for half a minute before speaking again.

Intel broke the kiss to give her a strange look. “Of all of our siblings, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anypony wanting to be a queen.”

Aegis took to the air to let Intel take her place on the bed. She started massaging the tightly bound stiffness out of his wing muscles. “I asked around, but I haven’t noted anypony else either. It’s strange, if you ask me.”

“I’d rather avoid having to lay eggs all the time, plus I don’t have the mindset to wield alchemy the way mother does.” Intel melted into the sweat (and other fluid)-soaked mattress. Blah, I knew I shouldn’t have let her talk me into using my bunk. He fell silent to fully enjoy the massage until Aegis moved on to his legs, rubbing his muscles into loose putty.

Aegis was more than happy to return the favor. She furrowed her brow as the veins in his wings seemed to form an unnatural starburst pattern, yet as soon as she lit her horn to take a better look, it was gone. Weird.

“So.” He dragged his sister out of her inspection, and she squelched her light. “Have you asked mother about that? Being reborn out of merit is one thing, but to come back as a royal seems out of any of our reach. Especially since Aunty became one only recently.”

He moaned in comfort as Aegis lovingly kneaded his neck. “You never know. With our queens’ new goals for the Chaos Lands, they’ll need more royal daughters soon enough.”

Intel found his thoughts becoming sluggish at her gentle touch. “I hadn’t thought of that. Still, becoming a royal and all the muck that goes with it? Sounds like such a drag.”

Any further conversation was stifled by Twilight barking over the hive mind.

they shouted in unison before bolting to the showers. Or at least Aegis did. Due to the massage, Intel's body didn't want to respond, his muscles being too relaxed, resulting in him crashing to the floor hard.

“Get up ya lump of meat, we got work to do!” Aegis growled playfully as she wrapped her brother in her telekinesis and took off to the showers with him in tow.

“Right behind you, Sis.”

Aegis kicked the hatch open to the semi-busy bathroom and threw her brother into the nearest empty stall. “How does momma always know when I’m doing the nasty?” Aegis grumbled as she shivered at the momentarily cold water.

“You might want to trying not screaming into the hive mind during climax,” her brother offered with a smirk. With adrenaline pumping in his veins, Intel was able to stand on his own again.

Aegis wasted no time in lathering her brother up as he did the same to her. “This is no time to be snide, Intel, we gotta boogie!”

By the time the core members of the Jevruun Vrunningee reported to the bridge, both queens and Arya were already there. Aegis could feel that the ship was slowly descending, its bow pointed below the horizon. What lay beyond hushed every voice onboard.

Spreading out from a stark border at the edge of the swamp sat the lost city of Rookhaven. The fabled white city of sparkling marble shone forth with the color of moonlight. It sprawled out before them with an otherworldly beauty seemingly untouched by nature or time. The clinging mist was completely absent, revealing cobbled streets, homes, wooden carts, vendor stalls, everything imaginable in a living city, including countless thestrals. Only something was wrong. Everyone on board felt it, and it didn’t take them long to see it.

Arya shivered on the floor, her wooden wings rattled noisily. “Lost ones! Lost in time, lost in space, bad omens abound. The ribbons of the world are twisted and broken.”

As far as the eye and spyglass could see, hundreds if not thousands of thestrals were frozen in mid-flight as if they were trying to flee from the center of the city; but they weren’t alone. Countless mutated ponies were attacking many of the thestrals, with their numbers increasing the closer towards the center as everyone looked.

Rainbow Dash held a scowl so fierce it seemed as if her lips might fall right off her face as she examined the motionless scene before them. She looked at one of the lost ones frozen in place as it raked its hoof-turned-claws right through a stallion’s wings. Even though she couldn’t make it out at this distance, she knew the civilian’s face was likely frozen in a mask of terror and pain. Everywhere she looked, there were more mutants, or ‘lost ones’ as Arya kept calling them. Each of them were in the process of chasing, attacking, or eating the panicked civilians or grossly outnumbered soldiers.

None of the lost ones were the same. Some had claws instead of hooves, others had spines growing out of their back that dripped with venom. Still more were legless with over sized wings and a prehensile tail that bore bony clubs or spikes. Some were the size of a small dogs while others the size of chimeras. If there was one word to describe them all it would be: diverse.

“The mana of this whole area reeks.” I wish Twi hadn’t taught me how to smell and taste this stuff. “Not to mention the carnage all over the place. Just what in blazes is going on here?”

Twilight looked away from the carnage to focus on the smaller details. The roads are cobbled, but everything in between the buildings is sand and dust. Everywhere she looked, breaks in the streets, the spaces between houses, even the dress style that some of more affluent ponies were wearing told her everything she needed to know. “Arya’s right. The whole area’s frozen in time. Whatever apocalypse caused all this, the epicenter took the worst of it.”

Everyone followed Twilight’s pointed hoof to the distant center of Rookhaven. The shredded buildings of the imperial district were surrounded by countless ponies being hunted down by lost ones, although at that distance they were little more than dots.

Aegis ground her teeth at the sight of it all. Great. We get to go down into a funhouse of horrors the size of a city. All we need now are ghosts and vamponies to complete it.

“Aegis,” Twilight commanded with quiet steel. “Round up a Clockwork squad and send them down to make sure it’s safe for the rest of us. I don’t want anyone stuck in time, or whatever might be holding those ponies.”

The four present Jevruun Vrunningee gave a crisp salute before thundering off, with Ferrum remaining behind at Twilight’s silent request. The lavender queen studied her son’s injuries. The welts had shrunk down considerably, but she could tell they still caused him discomfort.

Ferrum squared his withers to put on a show of strength.

Twilight arched an inquisitive eyebrow and hummed carefully. Her gaze weighed heavily on him.

<Yes, my queen!>

Ferrum gave a second salute, turned about face, and sprinted off of the bridge. Rainbow Dash glanced away from Arya and excused herself to walk up to her sister. Twilight gave Rainbow a sidelong glance to find her sister was sweating.

Twilight nodded at Rainbow, prompting her sister to give out a series of orders. “I’ll be counting on your expertise to survive whatever we find out here.”

Rainbow’s ego got the best of her and a massive grin cleaved her muzzle. “Ha! You worry about collecting pots and dusty old hairpins. The soldiers and I will keep you covered.”

“Right,” Twilight replied with a fire usually only seen in Rainbow Dash. Both sisters locked eyes and shared competitive grins. “We sisters of Phoenix’s Roost will show the other queens what we’re made of.”

Something pulsed between them that resonated with Rainbow in a way she had never felt before, but liked it intensely. The bridge crew and Arya watched the display with keen interest. “Yeah, the Chaos Lands ain’t got nothing on us!”

“So long as we’re together,” Twilight chimed, riding the same thumping pulse her sister was feeling.

“United in our cause!”

“We cannot fail!” Both queens shouted in unison. Twilight’s horn glowed brightly before she teleported both she and her sister to the marshaling bay. Captain Veselov stood there with a befuddled look that was mirrored by most of the bridge crew.

Arya cursed in her native tongue. “Giah! Gethar will not welcome you if you don’t bear the Stone of True Spirit!” She sprinted off to try and catch up.

The fire control officer regained her bearing first and trotted over to him. “When did they start doing that?”

Veselov exhaled slowly and readjusted his naval hat. “Must be a queen thing, or something from their pony days. Either way,” he swept his hoof at the bridge crew. “Standing orders for constant diligence are still in effect! Pony those stations and be ready to lend naval support at a moment’s notice!”

“Sir!” everyone shouted back. Veselov was about to leave it at that, but he sniffed something out among the commotion of the local hive mind: fear. Run away imaginations were leading to terror and it was seeping through his bridge crew. He let off a quiet sigh at the sight. They fear this place. This isn’t like facing down rival queens. Rotten mana, uprooted ley lines, and a city seemingly frozen in time right in the middle of some Mother-damned invasion. Who’s to say those beasts won’t wake up when mother and Aunty set hoof down there. However…

Veselov flew over to his seat and retrieved one of the cigars Fancy Pants had gifted him in Canterlot. He sat down and lit the tobacco with a brief snap of mana. It’s not like mother to jump in like this. I hope it was just to get Aunty fired up because at least one queen has to keep a cool head down there.

Twenty clockwerks landed heavily onto the outskirts of Rookhaven. Some cracked the old cobblestone roads while others descended onto the low rooftops of tightly packed houses. One such automaton landed on the edge of a balcony where a frozen thestral mare was being ripped apart by a six legged mutant that only held any similarities to a pony thanks to it's head. Everything else was covered in chitin and serrated green claws.

The emotionless machine regarded the pair with cold logic. First directive achieved. Mission timer of ten minutes proceeding. Secondary objective: eliminate lost ones.

With cold machine efficiency, the clockwerk’s left foreleg opened up to reveal a wicked skysteel blade. The air sung as the blade scythed the mutant’s head clean off its body. Or at least that was the plan. The robot hesitated for a few seconds, waiting for the head to fall off, but it stubbornly remained attached to its body. It retracted the blade and pushed at the lost one’s head, only to find its hoof pass right through as if it was an illusion.

“Anomaly discovered. Nature undeterminable. Logging for further study.” It ignored the pony the mutant was attacking. Even if it could interact with her, she was beyond saving. The clockwerk looked down at the roof it was standing on and tapped it hard with a hoof, then moved on to various other inanimate objects and found each one offered the expected resistance. “Assessment logged.”

It looked around to find its brethren encountering similar circumstances. Thus far, nothing else was reportable so it remained in place to wait for the mission timer to expire.

Back on the bridge of the Deception, Captain Veselov puffed on his cigar as he waited for the ground teams to depart. His stoic vigilance was halted when both he and the helmsman spotted a blue point of light coming from dead center of Rookhaven’s shattered imperial district.

Something stirs in my city.

Veselov rose from his chair as he heard something over the omnipresent thrumming of the engines and coursing wind.

“Captain, do you see that?”

Veselov coolly motioned for silence as he twerked his ears. What was that noise?

When it did not repeat itself he refocused on the light. Could be nothing. A repeating cycle perhaps that we're here to see it start. On the over hoof it could be trouble.

Twilight was in the middle of her final checks for their descent to the city below.

Within seconds, Veselov’s eyes were replaced by Twilight’s own. She did not dominate him completely, and he was left to move and think freely. Twilight’s heavy presence in his mind grew concerned yet calm, a mostly welcome change from her demeanor on the bridge. Maybe it was for Aunty’s benefit after all.

Twilight withdrew from her captain to refocus on her immediate surroundings. Around that time, one of the clockwerks returned bearing a crystal. “Primary directive achieved.”

Twilight Sparkle took the offered gem in her magic and signaled Rainbow to join her. Both queens used their magic to peer within it. The collected recordings of all deployed clockwerks.

Twilight grinned at her fellow queen. RD may be no good at normal studying, but playing to her flight perception has really paid off. She refocused on the images within the crystal.

Twilight warned, eliciting a confused look from her sister as they stopped looking at the crystal’s contents. “That might have worked originally, but we have to take into account your conversion into a queen. Traditional fossils and pottery isn’t going to cut it if we want the other hives to leave us in peace.”

Far from feeling guilty, Rainbow grunted in expectant thrill. “You think we should go raid the castle? There’s got to be some juicy stuff in there.”

“Right!” Twilight replied definitively. “Not to mention we might find a gift or two that would be perfect to give to mother. Something material to symbolize my thanks her for what she’s given me.”

Rainbow could feel her sister momentarily expand her presence on the Link to briefly brush upon all of her children’s minds. The ocean of love that washed over her was potent enough to leave the taste of strawberries in Rainbow’s mouth. Can’t really blame her. Rainbow touched the minds of her own nymphs. Although their numbers were but a fraction of Twilight’s own, they were more than enough to move her to tears. Why do they taste like oranges though? The first time my drones’ love tasted like grapes and then bananas after that. Ah whatever. At the end of the day, it’s my kids who make the whole changeling thing worth it, but my sister… She looked at Twilight who turned to match her gaze.

No words passed between them. Silent understanding was all they needed to convey the mirrored thought that passed between them. We're going to show the world what united queens can do!

Rainbow nodded to Twilight before addressing the gathered drones.

The room was filled with the buzzing of a hundred wings as the drones took to the skies. Rainbow jumped after them with Twilight about to join them were it not for a panicking Arya jumping in front of her. “Wait oh imperial one, please beg I do! Take me with you.”

Twilight skidded to a halt and had to flap her wings to keep from ramming into the Tea’la. She sighed and relayed the situation to her sister to keep anyone from worrying at her tardiness. “Is this part of the prophecy?”

Arya nodded quickly. “Yes, but a different separate one. Farseer He’la had a vision before we left the village. If I am absent at the imperial city, all will fail and the land will continue to rot and grow.”

Rot and grow? Twilight passed it off and lit her horn. “Well I can take you down in my magic.”

“Aahhh eeiaa! To be held aloft in the magic of the heralded empress! I am unworthy! Oh, important fact!” Arya pointed her left wooden wing at an irregularly shaped boulder the size of a proto-queen. “We must bring the Stone of True Spirit. To not is to invite death. Certain the farseer was.”

Twilight grimaced at the size of the boulder. Ugh. I could carry it, but I’d rather not do that for too long. I want to save my mana and stamina in case we run into trouble. She scanned the hangar to find an engineer working on a hovercart just as he was putting the finishing touches on its repair. Perfect!

Twilight presented the hovercart to Arya and hefted the Stone onto it. The cart’s engine grumbled at the weight, but it wasn’t that much more than the field artillery it was designed to carry. “This thing can remain active for two hours before it’ll need to leech off your mana. Think you can handle that?”

Leech my soul blood? If that’s what it takes! “Yes, heralded one. I would gladly accept this honor to bear the Stone.”

“Very well then.” Twilight’s telekinesis hitched the laden cart upon Arya’s back before levitating both of them off the deck and towards the ground below.

Arya flailed the whole way down, ineffectively flapping her wooden wings from long dormant instincts. “Aiieeeaaaaa! Ancestors watch over meeee!”

Four city blocks away, a clockwerk surveyed the frozen carnage along the rooftops surrounding a small plaza. The scene of death meant nothing to it. Its only directive was to map out the surrounding area before returning to its queen.

Its gaze noted a red ley line heading straight up from the ground and directly towards it. The robot barely reacted in time to leap out of the way. One of its incorporeal mana wings were hit by the barrel sized vein of raw magic.

The clockwerk stumbled on a clothesline but managed to stay upright. It faced its wing to find it flickering wildly before the emitter cracked and exploded. The emitter of the other wing had a piece of steel lodged in the crystal that sputtered and spat before failing as well. “Damage sustained. Contingency directive initializing. Returning to the queens.”

It turned around to come face to face with a snarling lost one. The automaton halted and tried to swing at it in an instant, but its hoof passed right through the frozen mutant. Its logic centers tried to process what it was seeing. Continuity error. Designation: lost one 8845b not in previous location.

A much larger ley line passed right in front of the clockwerk and straight through the lost one. The mutant solidified and bellowed a roar at the robot before biting into its neck, denting the armor. Combat protocol engaged. With an electronic growl, the clockwerk’s right forehoof opened up into a claw and the robot sunk it into the lost one’s barrel. The lost one howled in pain and let go of the robot as the metal claws dug their way to the beast’s backbone. With clanking gears and an exhale of steam, the clockwerk gripped the spine and ripped the lost one away from itself and slammed it straight through the white painted sandstone roof.

The expectant wet splat on the floor below never came. The robot saw that the lost one phased out of time in midair. “Contact with hostiles made. Priority directive: report to the queens.”

A third ley line smaller than a thimble, flashed right through the robot’s knees, frying the majority of its motors. Within moments, three more lost ones swarmed the disabled clockwerk. The mutants made short work of the robot and jumped away before phasing out of time.

Intruders of blood and metal. This place is forbidden to all.

Author's Note

While I try to put in hints and bits about Changeling reproduction in the fic, I've received enough questions about it that I feel that I should post a copy of one such answer here. If you're squeamish or want some mystery to remain you may want to skip, or don't.

A full queen has 3 wombs, each of which can produce up to 12 eggs at one time. It takes 3 days for an egg to mature, so each clutch of 12 eggs takes 72 hours before it is deposited into the egg sack. To even things out, the second womb starts producing eggs 1 day after the first, and the third starts producing eggs 2 days after the first. After 3 days, the first womb deposits its eggs into the egg sack and starts another clutch. After 4 days, the second womb deposits its eggs into the egg sack, and after 5 days, the third womb deposits its eggs, and after 6 days, the first womb deposits another clutch, etc.

So, every 24 hours, a clutch of 12 eggs is ready to be laid, even though it takes 72 hours for one clutch to fully mature. This allows the queen to only fertilize 12 eggs with a single consort instead of all 36.

A queen can control how many eggs she produces by conscious hormone production. At the time a clutch is ready for laying, the queen can increase or lower the amount of localized hormones at will to raise or shut off production altogether, and that womb will be permanently switched to that setting until she desires to restart the production process, and does not need any further conscious effort on her part.

Unfortunately, once a clutch of eggs is in production, she can not abort the process and will have to carry or lay them in 3 days. So that's why Twilight was holding onto 20 eggs for a week while the incubators were in repair. (chapter 2)

P.S. Any chance we could get a physical description of Yumia later on?

A good description of Yumia would be the cover art for Of the Hive.

Granted, Yumia didn't have Twilight's colors, cutie mark, or mane style, but the carapace is the key here. She was on the last part of the rebirth cycle that still had chitin. (and no Twilight did not actually have chitin when she was laying her first eggs, you can blame artistic license for that.) I don't have Yumia's coloration in stone yet.

P.P.S. What happens to an egg if it does not get a love dose at all?

It dies. Typically within 10 hours after being laid, and complications start appearing after 2 hours though, and after 5 its generally not worth saving. Since the egg is unfertilized while remaining within the queen, they are not metabolically active yet, and can't be loved-starved.

16: The Sins of Our Mothers

The air was heavy with the sound of buzzing wings as a hundred changelings quickly descended through the choppy downdraft of the Deception towards the sandy city below. Rainbow Dash was the first to set hoof on the sandy cobblestone road on the far southwestern edge of Rookhaven. The mists roiled and shifted scant meters behind her from the turbulence caused by two hundred wings as each drone landed in a forward semicircle centered around her.

Movement from behind drew Rainbow’s attention towards the swamps. Within the thick mists stood a two stories high monstrous shape full of spines moving just deep enough within the mist to obscure its features. Even for such a novice empath such as herself, Rainbow Dash could feel the beast’s instinctual hunger and how it saw the gathered changelings as a potential meal. She was moments from sounding an alarm, when the whiff of unmasked fear skirted the edge of her awareness. The beast regarded Rainbow Dash for a few seconds before its hunger and fear of the haunted city drove it deeper into the swamps.

She tsked and dug her hoof into the road as the drones started forming a perimeter. What was it that Soarin said during wilderness training? “Pay attention to animal behavior, they know danger even your observant eyes will miss.” Rainbow pivoted her ears backwards at the sound of her sister landing nearby.

Twilight took a brief moment to give some orders to her retinue before looking to her sister. Everything looks clear so far.

Rainbow finally turned away from the mists and jumped into a low hover.

Being up close and personal with the frozen inhabitants was unsettling to everyone. Both queens tried to keep their ill-at-ease from leaking across the local hive mind, but it wasn’t a complete success. Twilight tried to shake it off as she looked up to her flying sister. “We should progress slowly. We need to study the time phenomenon closely and keep in constant contact with the ship. It’s still possible a prolonged stay could trap us here.”

“Maybe…” Rainbow Dash forced her ill at ease to the corner of her mind as she regarded the scattered thestrals around them. “Do you think they’re still alive, even after all this time?”

Twilight cantered over to the thestral mare Rainbow was inspecting. She was looking back towards a stallion directly behind her who had a badly wounded wing, keeping him grounded. Both ponies wore horrified expressions that were mirrored by most of their kin. Twilight had to choke down her emotions to inspect them impartially.

“Horology has only theorized at prolonged time-locking. Every theory states that nothing can be completely pushed out of the timestream. After a year or so, unless the environment is perfectly controlled, the subject would expire. That’s why many of Equestria’s worst criminals are set in stone.” She stepped away from the ponies and gave a forlorn sigh to her sister. “I doubt anypony here is alive anymore.”

“Great, then it’s like we’re digging around one of those freaky wax museums.” Rainbow shuddered at the memory of a few before flying a little higher, enough for a few drones to join her as escorts.

As with the extraction operations of the Fu’tia trees, Aegis and her Queens’ Guard quickly took up a perimeter enclosing close to thirty sandstone houses. With Rainbow’s order to largely ignore the swamp, more soldiers were being freed up to expand the zone of control.

Aegis petted the nozzle of her flamethrower lovingly. She had perched herself on a roof next to a particularly nasty wolf-ish lost one that was covered in blood from ear to paw. The crazed eyes spoke of a madness that sent chills down the captain’s spine.

She’s not calling me Aunty right now, Rainbow mused dismally. Good. That means she’s taking this too seriously for pleasantries.

Aegis replied hopefully. She saw her siblings nearby start to hang on Rainbow’s reply.

Rainbow Dash’s eyes saw what she didn’t want to. No footprints, sloshed water, or even small insects around. Something’s not right here.

Aegis didn’t reply. She was too busy trying to swallow the lump in her throat without the others seeing.

Twilight pinged her warriors to find them moving into in place. Once they were, she addressed the thirty scientists assembled around her. “Alright listen up.” She turned to a group of ten drones weighted down by saddlebags full of testing equipment and pointed at the trio on the left. “You three will start scanning the area for any concentrated points of temporal anomalies. We don’t exactly have the best equipment for that, but try to make do. Even if everything looks stable around here, that doesn’t mean it’s uniform throughout the entire city. You’re to make sure no pony gets phased out of time.”

“At once, my queen!” With a nod from her, they stepped away from the group to start calibrating their equipment.

“Group B,” she said to the center four, “your job is to find any books or script in the area.” She jabbed a hoof at Arya. “And take her with you.” Arya jumped at the attention. “Now that we have a native speaker, she might be able to help us add pronunciation rules to the translation spell.” Twilight gave the Tea’la a warm and friendly smile. “If that’s okay with you, that is.”

Arya clapped her hooves excitedly. “Oooo! You wish to expand your understanding!?” Twilight’s nod confirmed it, making her prance on her hooves for a moment. “Such a high and noble goal that is, but that need to wait for another time!” Much to the gathered changelings’ bemusement, Arya pulled the Stone towards the two queens. “First we must appease Gethar, the Blind God of Justice with the rites of supplication and mercy. Lucky day that all druids learn these rites ever since the vision was seen.”

Rainbow cast a sardonic look at her sister.

Twilight suppressed the urge to roll her eyes at Rainbow so she could focus her attention on Arya. While she directed the comment at her sister, she said it more to remind herself as well. “Arya, I truly appreciate the help, I really do.” Twilight kept a friendly tone all the while as Arya dug into her saddlebags with one eye on the queen. “And for that, why don’t you walk one of my personal guards through the ritual before we get started?”

Riposte found himself lifted bodily up by Twilight’s magic and presented to Arya. He faked a charming smile that was enough to win over the druid. “Ah yes, very good idea, imperial one. Such wisdom! Much intelligent. Gethar will not excuse a failed ritual, so is good that we can have trials with your kin, very acceptable!”

“Perfect.” Twilight nodded to her son who could see Rainbow stuffing her hooves in her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. “Riposte, I trust you’ll handle this with the respect and diligence this deserves.”

“It would be an… honor,” Riposte replied with as much tact as he could muster. Every changeling in the vicinity could hear the swordling’s frothing grumblings. It’d be my luck that it’s some kind of blood sacrifice.

As Arya set about preparing the ritual, complete with face paint, tattoos, something smeared on Riposte’s snout that smelled of sulfur and vomit, leaves stuck to his tail with mud, and topped off with Arya teaching him a chant that would last for half an hour.

The things I do for the hive…

With Arya left in contentment, Twilight sent out two groups of scientists to investigate the time-locked city with one of them accompanying her. Rainbow Dash busied herself with enforcing the security zone.

While the changelings set about their tasks, the ley lines started to converge on their position. The living bands of the world moved towards them but suddenly fell away before anyone could notice them.

Tainted guilty beings. Why do you possess the Stone of True Spirit and a faithful that stands among you? Why are you here if only one of your number heeds her words?

Twilight Sparkle surveyed the “safe” zone her children had created from the air. Each house was made of the same white painted sandstone to make the appearance of marble from a distance. Must be the lower class district. Marble must have been expensive even back then.

The voice of one of her team’s researchers snapped her out of her inspection.

Twilight almost took off immediately, but her eyes were drawn to the Stone. It’ll slow me down, but leaving it behind would insult Arya. With a brief use of telekinesis, she strapped the harness on and took off to the temple.

Just out of sight, a thin ley line, no thicker than a bit, emerged part of its snaking mass out of a house where a ghostly eye followed the lavender queen and her rocky burden.

What lies in your heart, corrupted one?

The snaking ley line twisted itself upward so the eye could follow Twilight all the way to the small and modest temple.

Twilight found half of her team waiting just outside the only building with a sharp blue color. Standing above the whitewash were several blue patterns and diagrams. Each one had a stylized deer head, complete with antlers appearing as head high statues around the entrance.

The drones were standing away from the entrance which was surrounded by a ghastly frozen scene. No less than seven lost ones were engaged in bloody combat against three thestral temple guards armed with spears that were trying to keep them at bay. Some of the drones cringed at the bloody corpse of a fourth guard being dragged away to be eaten. The ghostly eye remained out of sight and narrowed at what Twilight said next.

“If any spirits or gods are still watching over this place, please forgive our trespass.” Trying to crush the seed of fear in her stomach, Twilight stepped through the fight and into the temple with her children close behind.

The words were lost to the eye, but the emotions behind them were not. You dare to enter his domain weighted down by such sins. One cannot pass judgment without understanding.

Within the temple were five rows of pews overcrowded with ten ponies on each bench. A single priest in simple white and blue garb stood near the marble altar at the back of the building holding a sapphire antler to the air, his mouth frozen mid-speech.

The room was completely crammed with thestrals bowing and praying, whether it be for deliverance, protection, or penance was unknown. The changelings typically tried to avoid walking through the frozen beings, but it was impossible to do so here. Even the air was filled with more pleading ponies.

“Alright team, fan out and try to find any religious texts, but put them back when you’re done. This place is unnaturally heavy with magic. I don’t want anypony setting something off.”

As each drone moved off to investigate the stained glass windows and holy murals painted onto the walls, Twilight headed over to the altar. She unhitched herself from the Stone and let it rest next to the priest. Upon closer inspection, she found the altar actually had two tiers. The smaller top part was actually shaped like the proud but caring face of a stag. His antlers were missing. She turned back to the priest and the antler in his hoof. So maybe this place is dedicated to that deity.

She turned back to the altar’s second tier to find it was a simple slab with tiny marble statuettes arranged in a spiral pattern. She tilted her head as she inspected each one: a goat, snake, lion, eagle, lizard, bat, blue jay, dragon, a thestral stallion with gleaming armor, with the sun and moon being larger than all the others. The last three were the closest to the center of the spiral, with a stylized half-moon being dead center. Curiously, the two halves of the moon were given two different names: Lūn, and Sweva the Dreamer.

Their presence bewildered Twilight to the point where she kept scratching her head. I Don’t get it. Do the statues represent gods? Aspects of a moral code, perhaps? Constellations maybe? Why would some be animals while others are not? The journals from the Ebony Castle and under Canterlot never spoke of any gods except the Night Mother and Gethar. Could my foremothers have abandoned the old religion along with their homeland when all this happened?

She turned back to the frozen priest and the sapphire antler held aloft in his outstretched hoof. Out of sight from everyone in the room, the phantom eye focused on Twilight as she closed in on the priest. Religious objects would score some big points with the Summit. Even as she said it, the words rang hollow. She wrestled with herself and stared intently at the glowing antler for a solid minute.

Eventually, she released the holy symbol. No. This just doesn’t feel right. These ponies deserve to be laid to rest before we do anything further. But how are we supposed to go about that… She stopped herself dead cold. Arching an eyebrow, she waved her hoof through the priest’s outstretched leg, only to pass through as expected. After that she grabbed the blue antler and moved it around as a normal object. While holding it both in her hoof and then in her magic, she waved the antler through the priest as if he were an illusion. As a final test, she dropped the antler on the priest’s hoof and it fell right back where she had found it.

“This place makes no sense!” She growled before turned away from the priest, causing the disembodied eye to scrutinize her further.

Judged one, you bring forth the Stone of Pure Spirit, and have yet to beg forgiveness. My patience nears its end.

Twilight flicked her ear at the faint noise and turned towards the eye, barely missing it as the ley line pulled back into the wall. “Did anypony hear something just now?”

The scattered drones looked between themselves and her, with the closest of their number voicing the shared thought. “Nothing out of the ordinary, my queen.”

The queen stood still to try and hear the faint sound again, an easy feat since she could fully ignore the hive mind traffic. She didn’t get much to time investigate when a drone pinged her loudly enough to get her attention, and induce a mild headache to boot.

Oww. She brought the Link back to normal ambience in her mind and recognized the sender as the leader of one of the science teams.

Even though she addressed the group leader, the transmission encompassed the whole team.

Twilight tilted her head in preparation for the rambling of a lifetime. I think Fulcrum got the worst of my genes.

Yet before the chief scientist could gather any steam, his apprentice interrupted him.

Twilight’s eyes narrowed out of confused suspicion.

Fulcrum slapped his unruly apprentice upside the head, and two others on the team for no doubt encouraging the apprentice. He adjusted his glasses while looking down at the young bug.

Particle grumbled, but said nothing. Twilight however, jumped at the idea.

Fulcrum gave Particle a stink eye that could peel paint, but she used Twilight’s interest to push forward.

She cleared her throat at the memory. <-soldiers stepped in. If it worked on them, it could work on the uncorrupted ponies as well.>

Twilight grinned massively and turned to the priest to charge him with mana, but stopped herself short.

Fulcrum butted into Particle’s response. Particle pouted at her superior.

As soon as he uttered those words, Fulcrum instantly regretted it as he knew what Twilight would do.

the team replied eagerly.

Fulcrum scowled deeply at his youngest apprentice, but Particle was already flying away with her gear. Now we’re going to end up dead for sure.

Twilight told her own team to pack it up and leave for the Deception before contacting Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash was roosted on a cloud overlooking the security zone.

Twilight sent out a dozen orders and the drones moved as one to form a moving chevron formation with the scientists near the front.

Rainbow wasn’t disagreeing. In fact, Twilight could tell in her sister’s tone that the idea appealed to her greatly. Rainbow barked off a few dozen orders of her own to improve the formation before they moved out.

Rainbow scoffed and waved a hoof at the drones.

Within a half an hour, the whole expedition had gathered on one of the larger streets that ran straight towards the central imperial district. Rainbow’s observations revealed there were five other streets patterned out like the spokes of a wheel. Good, we’ll have a straight shot towards the castle.

As the mass of changelings marshaled into a chevron formation with the scientists and queens in the center, Arya ran over to Twilight and Rainbow with the Stone of True Spirit rocking in its hovercart. “Imperial ones! I have finished preparing the rituals of supplication. We should begin at once to appease The Justicar.”

Twilight saw Riposte was doing everything in his power to keep from gagging on the reeking paint Arya had decorated him with.

Tears from the bile rising stench reddened the suffering drone’s eyes. I think I’m going to hurl if I have to speak aloud.

The royals took an instinctive step away from Riposte with Aegis and the rest of their squad giving him both a verbal ribbing and sympathy at the same time. Rainbow addressing Arya to keep from joining in. “I guess some sort of hocus pocus protection is fine, so long as we can bathe right after.”

Arya nodded in agreement, but did not avert her nose from Riposte as others were doing. “That is acceptable. The smell is to add to ones suffering, to let to Him know the penance is sincere. Gethar outlawed self-flagellation before the Huge Doom, but found this acceptable.”

Twilight cringed inwardly, but steeled herself. “How long would it take exactly?”

“The farseers knew, yes they did. With the blame of the Big Bad on your wings, and the corruption of the land into what now stands, Gethar would only be appeased by at least a decade long ritual.” The collective jaws of the local hive mind dropped at the idea, not that Arya noticed. “I’m sure Gethar would allow biweekly interruptions for refreshment, but he would demand that time to be recompensed.”

Rainbow Dash dragged her sister away from Arya. “Give us a moment, would ya, Stick Wings?” She gave Twilight a desperate frown.

Twilight began with a shuddering sigh at the time frame.

Rainbow separated from her sister and fired off a bright blue horn light high into the sky to summon the clockwerks, leaving Twilight to talk to Arya.

She approached the pensive Tea’la with respect and dignity. “I’m sorry, Arya, but that’s simply not possible. I’m more than willing to help tame the Chaos Lands, but performing that ritual for so long is impossible.”

Arya’s ears wilted and her branches started to tremble out of fear. “He will know of your refusal and punish us all for it. Please think twice on this you must. Lest we all die here in this lost city in time.”

“I’m sorry Arya, but we can’t do that. Maybe for a day or so, half a week at most, but ten years is far too long.”

Arya sat on her haunches and wrapped her wings around her to hide her face. “He will not relent. If you cannot or will not serve your sentence wholly, then his wrath will know no bounds.” She peered out from between her branches at the worried queen. “But my role is clear. I was chosen to be the one to aid you in the prophecy. Without your taming hoof upon the lands, we Tea’la will die, god or not.”

The entity that had been watching all along felt its patience run dry. They are so bold as to come here with one of my disciples and bear the Stone of True Spirit, but then deny proper penance?! I will suffer their sinful presence no longer.

A single ley line was pulled out of the ground and expanded rapidly to encompass the entire group of changelings and the Deception above them. It happened so fast that most were only noticing the slight blueshift in their vision a few seconds after the fact. Yet what really got their attention were the dense black stormclouds that started to materialize above their heads.

Twilight was busy trying to find out what the cause was when lightning cracked in the sky, striking the warship with enough force to fry an army. However, the vessel took the hit with only a little carbon scoring. What it did do, was grab everyone’s attention. Let them tremble at Justice’s might.

Rainbow Dash started hovering next to her sister. Her muscles were coiling for a fight. “Sis, what in Tartarus is going on?” As she spoke, rain started trickling down before quickly ramping up to a heavy downpour. “Where’d this storm come from?”

Twilight’s horn ached from the primal forces at work, and noticed some of the cartographer clockwerks were returning. The ley line must be too diluted to damage them. Twilight saw that the rain wasn’t pooling anywhere. “The water’s evaporating almost as fast as it’s falling. There’s an intelligence behind this, I bet my crown on that.”

The fur on the back of Rainbow’s neck stood up as she scanned the blue tinted sky. “Well I wish he’d stop showing off and show himself.”

As if it was waiting for the invitation, a bitter ghostly voice breathed through the air, cutting perfectly through the noise of the storm. “Children of the imperial family, your bodies have changed much since your ancestors fled these tainted lands, but you cannot hide what you are with my mark of judgment branded upon your cursed forms.” Everyone was stunned to silence by the righteous malice that dripped from every word. “You stand in the domain of the incarnation of justice itself. I am Gethar the Justicar, the ever vigilant. By my divine right, I demand to speak with both you before I mete out your sentence anew.”

The cordon of drones tightened around their queens. Rainbow bristled while Twilight looked across the various one story houses to try and find a singular point to speak towards. I don’t think pleasantries are in order here. “You say you are the spirit of Justice, I would like to know what exactly we’re being accused of!” she challenged back nearly at the top of her lungs to make sure she was heard.

Gethar did not speak for several seconds. “...A fair request.” Three large vibrant red ley lines barred the way by slowly weaving in front of the changelings. “You stand accused, bearing the sins of your ancestors, of dooming the Empire with profound hubris. Since you stand before me, it is obvious my judgement did not enact out the prolonged death I had intended.”

Rainbow scowled at the disembodied voice. “Prolonged death? What, you mean cast them out in the wild and hope the pampered nobles could survive out there?”

Gethar ignored Rainbow’s tone. Such insolence. ”No. As the royal families fled the city, leaving their people to die at the hooves of their abominable creations, I judged them with a holy curse. I would have just killed them then and there, but Sweva thought of a more fitting punishment that I was proud of until your existence proved its failure. Since they were wholly incapable of feeling love for their supposed “lessers,” I branded them so that those who were without love for others, could not survive without the love of others. Sweva and I were in agreement that it should be a slow end.” Malignant bitterness choked many of the drones into whimpering. ”Obviously it was too slow.”

“So sorry to disappoint,” Rainbow spat venomously.

“You keep saying all of this was our fault.” Twilight stared placatingly. “We know next to nothing of what happened here, only that we’re allegedly to blame.”

The very air in the whole sector of the city rumbled in unbridled rage. “I should have expected no less. You of the royal family were always quick to forget your crimes against nature and land. Your ancestors discovered a form of magic. Judging by your forms, I’m sure you know it all too well. Arcanum.” The hatred for the word alone tinted the ley lines a few shades redder. “No doubt you used that demonic art to save yourselves from my judgement.”

Rainbow’s anger was starting to eclipse her fear. I remember Sis saying that was the old word for alchemy. “And what’s wrong with wanting to improve yourself and others, huh? You keep saying our foremothers were cruel, but I think you’re twisting the real truth!”

“I am justice INCARNATE!” Gethar boomed back, rocking some drones out of the air. “I do. Not. Lie!”

Damn it, Rainbow, we need answers out of him for as long as we can. “If the practice was so evil, why didn’t anyone stop it or revolt?”

The ley lines shifted a little back towards blue. “The lies your family spread throughout the lands made them ignorant of the danger. Even the other avatars either encouraged or were indifferent towards the practice. What I saw as a cruel twist of nature was seen as just another piece of technology to the others. Lūn and Sweva approved of it especially, and look what became of her.” The changelings could almost feel a thousand condescending eyes upon them. “Or have you forgotten that too?”

Twilight ground her teeth while passing quick words of warning to her drones. “The first generation of changelings made us genetically uncaring about the past, and as such, we’ve forgotten nearly everything.”

“I still don’t get why you have to lash out on us, just because we’re of the same bloodline.” Rainbow snarled.

“How very typically of the imperial family to try and escape my justice. You haven’t changed at all.” Gethar’s voice rattled the walls and quaked the sand with its intense baritone. “It was to be the empire’s crowning achievement. The day you would alter the land and bend it to your will. But I knew the real truth. The imperial family wanted absolute control, as all rulers end up craving. They tricked my fellow avatars into helping construct a vast array to make the desert lands fertile, but I knew they were also using it to change the population as well. You need only look upon the abominations around you to see what they wrought.”

All eyes fell upon the scattered lost ones. Twilight recoiled at the idea. “No, no, that’s not possible! Alchemy is meant to strengthen and improve! Even if somepony was deranged enough to abuse it, alchemy is strictly controlled by what it can do based on the array and reagents. There’s no way it could produce so many different mutations in a whole city’s worth of ponies!”

“A child’s naivety. You know nothing of the power the Empire once possessed. Not only did your ancestors mutilate their subjects, but their true intent was made clear by what happened to the other avatars. All save for myself, Celesti, and the twins of the moon were ripped asunder by the array’s activation. Most of their life-force was used as fuel. Had I not taken what tattered remains of the other spirits and fused them together…”

Every changeling had experienced pain before, but the ageless torment Gethar was suffering was akin to an avalanche of frigid bone numbing agony to the empaths. “I know not what happened to Celesti or the twins, save that they would never recover from their wounds.”

Rainbow wanted to verbally tear into Gethar, but Twilight jumped in first. “Fused the spirits together? What do you mean?”

“Exactly that,” he replied as if it was a stupid question. “Their minds were as shattered as their forms. I only had time to save their lives, but not their sanity.”

Rainbow pushed past her sister, only to find there still wasn’t a central point to yell at. “Look, pal, we’re here to fix the damage that was done. Shouldn’t that be enough penance?”

“There is no salve that will mend the scars of this land. However, justice can still be satisfied… With your lives. How fortuitous that you have come here on your own. Now, I have finished extolling your sins, and by ancient laws, you still bear the weight of your foremothers’ actions. Accept your sentence with dignity and there may yet be a place for you in the Silver City.”

Several additional ley lines twisted and turn through the city streets and buildings, spearing many lost ones, pulling them back into phase. The changelings were dumbstruck by the dozens of lost ones all around them suddenly coming to life. Their howls and cries for blood filled the air as Gethar’s voice echoed across the city.

“The sinner will always be consumed by her sins.”

Author's Note

Cliffhanger 9001 brought to you by Acme Co.

Editor's note: I'm starting to think Aegis is a bit of a pyro.

17: Gethar's Fury

There was a brief moment when time seemed to come to a halt. Twilight could not hear the hive mind as she stared over her drones towards the legion of lost ones. She stood stock still, surrounded by her children staring death in the face. Many lost ones were in the air, but others crawled across rooftops and the biggest ones shook the ground with each step.

The diluted leyline that encompassed her, along with a whole sector of the city, vibrated with anticipation of the coming vindication of the law. Gethar did not care about losses, the lost ones were better off dead anyway. All that mattered to him at this moment was enacting righteous retribution. The old laws demanded no less.

A slow almost lethargic voice, both in the real world and across the hive mind rang out from directly above her. She looked up to discover it was Rainbow sweeping a hoof across the area in front of them. “This clown thinks he can blame us for some long lost ancestor? Screw that! Fight for the hive, and your queens!”

The last thing Twilight heard before the world snapped back to normal speed was Veselov’s voice broadcasting over the local Link towards his gunners in the disturbing calmness that only a naval officer could possess in combat. He puffed on his cigar as the delightful boom of heavy cannons rattled the deck.

The underslung deck guns fired true, bombarding the elephant sized lost ones that were charging across the streets with shells the size of a pony. Puffs of black clouds filled the air in front of the changeling formation, cutting down numerous lost ones before they came anywhere near the defensive line.

The lost ones on the ground couldn’t care less about the death raining down from above and charged headlong into the wall of fire and dust. The Deception made no effort to spare the historic structures surrounding the queens. Homes and businesses were riddled with holes or outright destroyed to get at the lost ones. However, the warship was only a frigate, and as such, countless lost ones still made it through to the waiting changelings.

Aegis was in a low hover at the very tip of the chevron with her three clutchmates at her side. She smirked in anticipation while giving her flamethrower a kiss on the nozzle before activating the pilot light. The lost ones were upon them in seconds once they got too close for naval support. Four other flamethrower armed changelings took position directly behind the armored swordlings and waited for Aegis’ command. They didn’t have to wait long.

Aegis brought her weapon to bear with a malkavian grin cleaving her muzzle.

Rainbow held a restraining hoof up. We have to weather the first wave before we can start to advance.

When the time was right, she pointed straight at the broken palace in the distance. “Fire!”

Aegis couldn’t be happier. Streams of burning oil traced sweeping ribbons of fire in front of the defensive line, burning everything it touched. Screeches and wails of pain filled the air as nearly all remaining lost ones were burned to charred meat. Aegis’ grin only widened as a feral wolfish lost one slid under the streams of fire to charge Riposte. She momentarily cut the stream and unleashed it again, straight into the gaping maw at the same time Riposte’s magic wreathed skysteel sword buried itself in the wolf’s chest.

Riposte yanked the sword out to find it covered in flaming oil. The flaming sword found a new target as a warped lost ones dashed to the side. He was barely able to bring the blade back in time to catch the monster’s claws just short of his neck. The creature roared in pain as the flames spread to its fur and fell dead to a bullet from Intel.

Three more broke through the wall of fire only to be gunned down before even reaching the blade line. Aegis’s grin dipped a bit at the sight of a five lost ones she had just doused in oil were still standing frozen in time. It was only then that she realized that the enveloping red ley line had split itself to open a patch of clear air around the changeling line. This is bad.

Rainbow saw more and more lost ones were starting to phase out of time along the route towards the palace. Damn it. It’d be a massacre if we try to walk through that. she shouted, only to find her sister casting shields around any drone who was about to get cut down.

The split second distraction was almost enough for her to miss one soldier who nearly took a raking claw to the neck, only for the attack to be deflected by Twilight’s lavender-orange shield.

I don’t have time to think.

The chief scientist was cowering a few meters behind his queen. The ground quaked from the naval bombardment with the thundering hooves and claws only adding to his terror.

A tear escaped Twilight when she was too late to save one of her children.

Particle wasn’t doing much better than her superior. Twilight could only grunt impatiently.

With a bear-sized, tooth-filled lost one slashing at one of her children with bloodlust, Twilight relayed the problem to Cadista.

Twilight’s horn ached as the bearlike lost one was riddled with dozens of bullets but never stopped its brutal assault on the three drones. It singled one out and slashed, finally shattering the shield and tearing the drone to ribbons. Ferrum buzzed over with a rifle wrapped in his magic. He landed on the bearlike lost one, bit onto its mane and pulled up so he could angle his rifle to fire down the lost one’s ear. The shot liquefied the bear-thing’s brain, and it fell with a thump.

Ferrum jumped back behind the swordlings and tossed his rifle at Fulcrum. “Don’t just sit there! Help reload the firearms, go, go, go!”

Aegis cheered at each target that fell to her infernal blaze, but she was getting increasingly worried. For every five lost ones she put to the torch, one phased out of time within spitting distance of the swordlings. Already there were over thirty lost ones frozen in place directly in front of the formation. Her grin faltered when the surge of burning oil from her weapon sputtered and died. She growled while smacking a frothing mad lost one with the pommel of her combat knife and slicing its throat.

Veselov briefly noted several clockwerks and drones flying to rearm their brethren. The constant chatter from the hive mind painted a grim picture to match what he saw below. Yet he did not remain alone once Cadista barged into his mind and snatched his eyes and ears. He felt compelled to turn this way and that to fully survey the battlefield.

He couldn’t help but feel a flash of indignation. Veselov grumbled.

Cadista saw the gap forming in the ley line and the growing throng of frozen lost ones forming around her daughters’ drones. The ley line… she barely waited for him to acknowledge before speaking again.

6B? That’s the primary cloak control center. A second heavy lightning bolt struck the Deception amidship, again doing little more than marring the paint. But it did set everyone on edge.

Cadista released most of her hold on Veselov, but continued to make use of his eyes and ears.

He looked to his right-hoof changeling. “Flint, you have the engine room.” He then summoned four other engineers to go with him. Ratchet ran out of main engineering and one deck down to the cloak control center. He barged through the door to find an intensely bored engineer mare inspecting the dials. She jumped at the team of drones storming into the room. It had been a while since Ratchet had last worked with the dizzying array of knobs, switches, levers, and dials spread out wall to wall. “Rusty, I’m going to need your expertise with this one.”

Finally, something to do! Rusty snapped a salute. “Sure thing, Pops, what can I do?”

Cadista was not one to waste time on pleasantries, not even to give her son a chance to refamiliarize himself with the control layout.

Ratchet designated positions for each of his team members as per Cadista’s instructions.

Gethar tested the warship with a third strike of Judgment’s Hammer, only for it to once again shrug off the lightning as if justice’s wrath meant nothing to it. What sort of demonic magic allows a siege engine to withstand such power?

His indignation was put off as the vessel slowly sank towards the center of the sinners’ position. Perhaps it is less formidable than I gave credit. Still, some might escape to breed again. We can’t have that, now can we?

He tightened his grip on the bloated ley line’s gap and prepared to close it the moment the ship crashed to the ground. He took no pleasure in their deaths, only in carrying out a just sentence.

Rainbow Dash hovered above the line, watching the battle like only she could. With her level of perception, the drones below her moved almost flawlessly to shore up any weakening point in the line. No matter where Gethar focused the lost ones, Rainbow was always one step ahead of him. Twilight was hardly idle. Due to her sister’s raised position, Twilight focused primarily on shielding Rainbow from Gethar’s lightning and the airborne lost ones. She leveraged her pony family’s expertise in shields to keep her flying kin alive.

However, the battle was not the only thing on Rainbow’s mind. A sinister grin crossed her face.

Cadista growled back.

Twilight sent a concussion wave harmlessly through her drones, only to have it blast five lost ones back far enough for the riflelings to fire, but unfortunately only two bullets found solid targets. Five sets of field artillery along with their clockwerk handlers dropped down hard enough to crack the street. Twilight barely acknowledged them locking down all around her as the Deception’s cloaking crystals were extending in an unusual pattern with them pointing downward. Every drone on the ground fell flat on their bellies while those in the air pulled up to Rainbow’s position.

Twilight mustered all her strength to form a tight lavender-orange shield directly above her prone children right as a bright purple sphere of light burst forth from the Deception. The energy wave beat back the enclosing ley line, sending shockwaves of confusion and pain towards Gethar. The pulse pushed the dense ring of lost ones back into phase.

A grim scowl tugged at both Rainbow and Twilight’s faces. They unintentionally shouted in unison. “Clockwerk squad, command, FIRE!”

“Acknowledged.” With a deafening series of booms, the field artillery launched grape shot at the frothing horde, ripping dozens into ribbons in mere seconds.

Rainbow commanded, though she needed not have bothered as the changeling crews were already slamming the next shells into the breech. What little survived of the lost one horde was tearing at the shield protecting the drones, only to be ripped asunder by the second volley. The Deception’s gunners were not idle, and blasted away at the lost ones until a cloud of dust and smoke obscured their targets.

Gethar recoiled in pain at the pulse and withdrew the massive red ley line, shrinking it back to normal size. Every single lost one for eight city blocks phased out of time within seconds. His howl of pain rumbled the sand between the changelings’ hooves and rattled the windows of the warship. “Damn you all! I will not stand for this! I will not be humiliated by you mortal gnats!”

Twilight saw the path towards the imperial district was clear of reanimated lost ones and a collection of seven ley lines were writhing as Gethar recovered from the pulse.

Rainbow located several of the logistics drones and focused on them as she surged forward with the air support.

As one, the drones and remaining clockwerks charged forward, heedless of any remaining lost ones in their path in order to gain ground. The Deception above followed closely behind, and readjusted its crystals back into a spherical pattern.

The ley lines tightened together and flung themselves at the warship. Instead of passing through, five ley lines grappled the hull with one around a crystal boom and two more tightening their grip on the rear engines. Veselov chewed on his cigar while his eyes darted back and forth to the red tentacles of raw mana trying to wrest control of his ship from him.

Ratchet’s hoof rested on a large lever as he watched the capacitors recharge. Even after ordering the boilers to redline it was still too slow for his liking. The sound of groaning steel and snapping cables resounded through the ship.

“If you have any sense of justice, servants of sinners, then cease all activity, and I will allow you to repent.” Gethar’s voice echoed throughout the entire vessel.

A sneer cleaved each engineer’s face as the panel lit up to one hundred percent charge. The general consensus from the crew was mirrored in Ratchet’s retort. “We have our own justice, and do not care for yours,” Ratchet called out to the walls before he pulled the switch.

The exterior crystals rapidly became blindingly bright before sending out a riotous shockwave of lavender energy. The ley lines disintegrated under the magic destabilization field. The ship lost some altitude before the engines compensated and restabilized. The same could not be said for the ley lines as the pulse burned them to cinders.

The shriek of pain came not only from Gethar, but the very planet itself. The ground beneath the city broke apart. Columns of earth shot up almost a hundred meters while other parts sank into bottomless pits at the loss of the local ley lines.

Twilight felt the wave front from the Deception coming and turned back to see the earthquake following in its wake.

As one, the whole formation took to the air, only to have most of them fall right back to the ground as the wave destabilized the changelings’ ability to fly. Several drones rolled on the ground at the sudden shift in momentum while others managed to land and keep running. Rainbow and her squad of ten drones were blitzing through the air well ahead of the wavefront and somehow managed to outfly it before it petered out. In a moment’s time, she scanned the area. The last surviving visible ley lines were hanging limp in the air as Gethar fought to recover from the attack. No lost ones were in phase with normal time, and Twilight’s grounded changelings were falling out of formation in a mad dash to flee the oncoming earthquake. To her stunned horror, the quake was already spreading throughout more sections of the outer city.

Twilight screamed once she realized Rainbow was just hovering there.

Twilight feverishly buzzed her wings as she ran. At first she had only short hops, but they were slowly becoming longer and higher. Maddeningly, the clockwerks were already fully airborne, except those five with mounted field artillery. One of their number was holding onto Arya who was dumbstruck at the devastation nipping at their heels.

The thunderstorm expanded wildly to blanket the whole city with a torrential downpour to match.

“Damn you all! You compound your sins by sundering the very fabric of the world! And here I believed your kind could not surpass your old sins, your hellish machine only confirms you are beyond salvation!”

Gethar summoned more ley lines and narrowed them down to a razor’s edge. With his focus solely upon the Deception, he largely ignored the changelings surging towards him. Veselov was surrounded by the smoke of his cigar as he looked upon the cracked and shattered remains of the primary bow crystal.

The cloak control room was belching black smoke that was flooding the whole section. A few crewlings with gas masks were using fire extinguishers to control the flames in the walls while Ratchet was coughing up a lung as Resta provided first aid for his burns and cuts.

Veselov witnessed a few flak shells and deck guns fire on the incoming ley lines, but nothing even fazed them.

Ratchet waved Resta aside and started limping to his post.

Veselov started barking more orders when a ley line stabbed through the windshield as though it were wet paper and impaled him where he stood. The last thing he saw was his cigar falling from his mouth, and a phantom image of Twilight Sparkle. Looks like this is it. Give him hell… mother.

Hot tears spilled from Twilight’s eyes as she shoved her grief into its little box as the crew of the Deception bought her precious time with their lives. Rainbow Dash felt the same pain. Her wings burned as the deaths of each of her nieces and nephews spurned her to ever greater speeds.

When the steel armor of the Deception proved too strong, Gethar focused on the propellers, and ripped them off one by one until the ship took a nose dive and crashed between two pillars of stone, where it was wedged in place. With the gunners slain, he was free to snake his ley lines in through the shattered windows and began hammering away at the sealed bulkheads. “I will have your heads mounted on pikes and your entrails scattered out into the streets!”

His rage was so great and so focused, that he almost forgot about the queens until Rainbow Dash breached the outer plaza of the palace. “Do not think I have forgotten you, demon.”

Rainbow Dash was overwhelmed by the chaotic disaster area of the palace grounds. There was a blue light radiating from the shattered remains of the once magnificent seat of power. The true marble walls and columns that once spoke of authority and might were shattered. Fragments of marble debris that hung in the air were so dense that it made flight next to impossible. What Rainbow noticed most of all, was the complete lack of lost ones. Well over a hundred thestral imperial guards armed with archaic weaponry were frozen in a battle that lacked an opposing force. It didn’t take long for her to realize that they had been fighting lost ones, but they had all been pulled by Gethar to attack the changelings. Rainbow glanced around to see Intel and Ferrum were still at her side, along with eight other members of the Jevruun Vrunningee. All of them were exhausted by Rainbow’s grueling pace, but not a word of complaint passed between them. Every last one of them could sense their siblings dying simply from how much quieter the local hive mind was becoming.

Rainbow didn’t like her new surroundings one bit. We can’t fly with so much clutter in the air. The palace looks like someone took a giant hammer to it from the inside. To top it all off, the whole place is so thick with mana my horn hurts.

Her eyes darted across the frozen soldiers and then behind her. Close to a kilometer back, the lead elements of Twilight’s formation were racing towards the palace on both wing and hooves.

No sooner had those words left her mouth, when a red ley line expanded over the courtyard. The imperial guards were thrust back into normal time with most of them shouting war cries and still amid swing. It didn’t take long for confusion to set in for the changelings, who quickly rallied around Rainbow Dash who had ducked behind a shattered fountain to stay out of sight. The guards glanced about at the sudden disappearance of their lost one opponents.

“Servants of the imperial crown!” Gethar roared to pierce through the confusion. The soldiers immediately knew who was speaking. “The empire has been betrayed by those you swore to serve. Look around you at the devastation they have wrought.”

Ferrum made sure his rotating four barreled rifle was primed to fire.

Rainbow Dash ground her teeth at the idea. Twilight might be able to talk them down, but I’m no good at it. The uneven tiles under her hooves made her slip a little, and Rainbow looked down to resecure her footing only to spot the holes in her leg and nearly slapped herself out of the brilliance of the idea that struck her. The fact that she had practically forgotten her changeling nature didn’t help her mood either.

A round of affirmatives came back at her, prompting Rainbow to relay the plan to Twilight as she wrapped herself in the guise of an imperial guard.

Rainbow questioned somewhat worriedly.

Twilight tried to keep her voice controlled, but the mounting losses of her children was taking its toll. It was only with Cadista and her brood back at the hive bleeding off her grief that kept her focused.

Everyone in Rainbow’s squad heard her, causing most of the changelings’ tension to surge. After double checking her disguise, Rainbow leapt over the fountain and galloped towards the imperial guardponies who had formed up into a box formation with two of their number stepping towards the palace. The pair standing at the front consisted of a lithe mare covered in blood that was not her own, and a stallion in worn but well maintained armor.

“Protect the palace at all costs, while I personally deal with the remaining loyalist troops.”

The soldiers stamped a foreleg and shouted over the torrential rain. “For the restoration of the Empire, for Rookhaven!”

Ferrum furrowed his brow at the imperials.

Riposte tsked at him. Personally, i’m just glad the rain washed off all that funk Stick-wings slathered all over me.

Gethar’s gaze turned to the advancing disguised changelings. At such close range to the palace, his presence felt like a heavy pressure wave. There was a moment of deep concern as the group feared he could see through their disguises. “Good, you have heard my voice from afar and have come to join your brethren.”

Ferrum feigned ignorance and measured fright to mask his relief. “Do you know what happened to our city? To the imperial family!?”

“I will leave such discourse to your commanding officers. For now, Champions, I will grant you my boon.”

Two ribbons of teal mana emerged from the bright blue core of the palace and sank into the two lead thestrals. Their forms grew as their bodies began to glow a magnificent teal light. Their armor became more elaborate, forming engraved lines and sigils while the edges flared with artistic splendor. Everyone stepped away from the pair of oversized luminescent guardponies as they grew to match Celestia in height. “Arise, Scions of Justice. Defend the palace until I purge the city of that accursed war machine.”

The twin teal ley lines remained attached to the new scions, but Gethar’s shift in attention was palpable this close to the center of the city in the form of lessening air pressure. The disguised changelings slowly crept forward towards the scions in cautious curiosity. Riposte couldn’t tear his eyes off the glowing imperials. “What… what did he do to you?”

One of the scions found his spear had been warped into a staff with the crescent moon symbol of the Empire. It was matched by his counterpart. “I have been charged to be judge, jury, and executioner in His name.” With a stoically neutral face and a flourish of his staff, the former brigadier general pointed in the direction of Twilight’s group off in the distance as they reformed around her. They were close enough now that the gathered thestrals could see the changelings’ alien natures. “He must have granted us purity of sight so that there would be no mistake.”

The scion mare looked up at the clutter making flight impossible. “To think the imperial family has gone so far as to rip the nature of the world apart.” She bit her lower lip until it bled. “Just what sort of monsters did I spend my life protecting?” Finding her staff moved with her thoughts, she leveraged the arcane knowledge granted to her by Gethar and blasted the air clear.

Rainbow’s squad was slowly filtering into the imperial ranks, but was stopped short when one of the imperial guardponies noticed something off about them. While a changeling’s magic could disguise their appearance and clothing, it did nothing for their weapons. A flamethrower wielding changeling was stopped by one of the lieutenants.

“Hold it.” Everyone within ten meters froze. “What is that thing you’re carrying?”

A few other thestrals finally started to take notice of the newcomers’ strange equipment. The flamer drone sweated as he turned to the officer. “It’s something I found lying on the ground when the Justicar brought me back. I just assumed it was an instrument of his will.”

The other drones without swords caught on to the ruse quickly. “Yeah, same here. My old weapon was shattered.”

“He must have granted me this replacement when he guided me here.” Ferrum commented as he made sure to physically pull his rifle off his back.

“Wish mine glowed like you two’s,” Riposte gestured to his skysteel blade. “Wish I was the favorite.”

Most of the thestrals seemed pleased by their responses, and refocused on the changelings that had started to march towards their position. The scion mare however, was not, and watched them carefully. Something’s not right.

The remaining seventy eight crewlings aboard the Deception waited in nervous anticipation for either Twilight to end the threat outside, or for the unspeakable. Ratchet and a couple of marines slouched against the wall of a lower corridor. They were facing a sealed bulkhead that lead to one of the secondary defense turrets. The door was banging constantly as Gethar’s ley lines tried to pierce through, but the steel armor held fast. One of the marines checked her blunderbuss for the twentieth time in the past half hour. “Hey, Papa. You really think Momma and Aunty can pull through? We’re stuck here with that tentacle monster outside.”

“Just because I’m the prime consort, doesn’t make me your father,” Ratchet replied dryly. I’ll never understand why Twi’s brood feels the need to call me that. I never thought of my sire as such.

The other marine huffed in amusement and playfully punched his mouthy sister on the withers. “Ha, and here I thought only wet navies had to worry about sea monsters.” His sister punched him back into his old sitting position.

He laughed it off if only to ignore the amount of death it took to bring them to this point. “Hey, Father, you think the bastard will finally realize lightning and pounding his hoof at us isn’t going to work? That even with us grounded every ship in the fleet is practically invulnerable to that?” He clanged his hoof against the metal hull. “Grounding wires and steel’s pretty good at that sort of thing.”

Ratchet’s ears flinched as the pounding on the door picked up tempo. “Just be glad your mother is Twilight. I’ve never seen so many drones be apt enough at magic to turn away a ley line” Even if it’s taking over half of the surviving crew to do it. He remembered passing the infirmary of the bare handful of drones that had been pulled from the turrets before the doors were sealed. “Otherwise we’d all be Swiss cheese right now.”

The mare marine smirked in satisfaction. “Mother’s something else, that’s for sure.”

“Makes me wonder what Aunty’s kids will be capable of.”

The mental image of hundreds of cyan drones pranking the entire hive sent a shiver down Ratchet’s spine. “I can’t wait.”

A massive impact rocked the side of the ship, knocking everyone off their hooves. The mare growled at the noise echoing through the ship. “So he finally figured a sledgehammer was better than a thousand needles?”

A second hit rattled the lights, dimming them briefly. Ratchet listened to the tone of the noise. “He’ll break through eventually, but…” He inspected his revolver. “It’s too diffused along our most armored section. It’ll take weeks.”

The stallion sighed in relief. “Then we got nothing to worry about. Momma will cream this guy long before then. Too bad I won’t be there to see her do it in person.”

What little mirth that had filled the room evaporated when a new sound came from the door. It was a noise Ratchet knew all too well. “What the…? That sounds like acid.”

“Acid?” one of the marines queried incredulously. “Pah, that’d probably take longer than the-” *BANG* “the beating the ship is taking outside. But I’ll give him props for being creative.”

“It’s too loud,” Ratchet warned, silencing his companions. By now, the sound of hissing animals along with banging and scratches on the door were coming in loud and clear. They were interrupted only by Gethar steady beating on the side of the ship.

The locking wheel on the door started to wobble before falling heavily to the deck. A fast growing hole in the center of the steel door was forming as the steel dissolved away. The mare saw the snarling lost one vomiting more acid on the door and promptly ran forward and shoved her blunderbuss in its face. The creature snarled a challenge, only to receive a face full of shrapnel and gunpowder.

*SCREEEEEE*

The piercing wail threw the marine off guard long enough for a second lost one to spit acid through the hole. She yelped in alarm as her weapon started dissolving and jumped back to avoid a second attack. However, instead of a glob of acid, a third lost one spat a trio of spines through the hole. The mare cried out as one grazed her on the neck and the other two punctured deep into her chest.

“Damn it, Screwy!” The male marine grabbed her in his magic before she could collapse, and pulled her towards him. “Papa, get her to a medic, I’ll hold them here!”

“We don’t have a stretcher up here, I’ll have to carry her manually.” He gently flipped her over and placed the wounded marine on his back and faced the adjoining bulkhead. “We can’t hold this position, fall back to the next security point!”

Both stallions fired at the quartet of manic lost ones trying to squeeze through the slagging door, entirely heedless to the acid burning away at their hooves and claws. The marine emptied his five barreled blunderbuss into three more before flipping it around to use it as a club. “You go, I’ll buy you all the time I can!” He picked up the fallen corpses and used them to plug the ruined door, but the living lost ones were quick to rip and shred through the meat shield.

Ratchet nodded his understanding and bid a hasty retreat with Screwy coughing up blood on his back. Say what you will about Twi’s brood, they understand personal sacrifice. The chief engineer found a corpsling and two more marines waiting for him at the next point right as he heard the stallion’s death cry behind him as the lost ones tore through him. “Patch her up, doc. The rest of you, seal the door.”

Ratchet found a spare shotgun thrust in his face by one of the marines and took it with a grateful nod.

“Nooo! Are you kidding me!?” Ratchet yelled as he bucked the wall out of fury. “It’ll take forever to fix the place if we do that!”

One of the crewlings started running to the nearest armory while the three marines finished sealing the door. One of their number clapped Ratchet on the shoulder. “Don’t feel bad, Engy, this just means you’ll have the perfect excuse to renovate and improve the wiring and deck plating when this is all over.”

“I hardly call setting land mines inside the ship a good idea!” Ratchet barked back.

Scant seconds later, the lost ones were at the hatch, banging away with wild abandon far out stripping even the most vicious predators of the southern jungles. Everyone knew it wouldn’t take long before this door was breached as well.

“Sorry, Pops, but I don’t think we got a choice in the matter,” the sergeant replied. “For every second we keep that justice guy focused on us, Mother has that much longer to do her thing.”

The familiar sound of dissolving steel filled Ratchet’s ears. Hurry, Twilight. Please, hurry.

Twilight Sparkle had waited long enough. She and her remaining escorts of just over sixty changelings and eight clockwerks marched straight at Gethar’s scions along with their one hundred strong imperial gaurdponies. Several of her best mages warded off the nigh constant bombardment of lightning and stabbing ley lines from striking anyone in formation.

Rainbow Dash primed her magic as she held onto her disguise while standing near the two scions, and waited for the right time to act.

“Damn your wretched hide, sinner! Why won’t you die!”

A snarl circled Twilight’s lips at the being who had ripped so many drones from her, and was continuing to do so. “Your spellwork is as archaic as your sense of justice, Gethar! A foal could deflect your magic.” She stopped a hundred paces from the two scions who crossed their staves in open defiance of her. “You wouldn’t bother trying to stop me from proceeding if you weren’t at the center of all of this, now would you?”

“You will not harm our lord and master,” the mare scion shouted flatly at the encroaching queen. “I’ve seen your Arcanum work before, but your destruction of our beautiful home is all the evidence I need that you must die here!” An emotional tremble colored her voice, but her stance remained rock steady.

“We did nothing of the sort-”

“I will suffer the royal family’s serpent tongue no longer! Kill them, justice demands it!”

“You heard him,” the thestral commander shouted to his troops. “Blades of the Empire, take a long look at what the true colors of the royal family! They have finally taken on the monstrous forms that truly defines them! Cast aside any remaining loyalties to these monsters so that Rookhaven can be rebuilt stronger than ever!”

Even as he spoke, Gethar unfroze more surviving guards from around the fragmented imperial district and dragged them through his ley lines and deposited them towards his champion scions. The glowing champions were a known symbol and served as an instant beacon for them to rally around. It didn’t take long for Rainbow and her squad to find themselves in a throng of soldiers numbering well over three hundred.

“End this, and together, loyal sons and daughters of Rookhaven, we can remake the empire as a model of morality and justice!”

Twilight Sparkle was not idle as her enemies gathered. Her drones formed ranks with clockwerks and swordlings up front, riflelings directly behind them, and the remaining three artillery clockwerks aimed down range. The only thing staying her hand was Rainbow and her infiltrators who were trying to quietly filter towards the rear of the gathering thestrals. Each of them laced their presence in the hive mind with a locator spell so they would appear bright lavender to the other changelings.

Arya was heartbroken at the presence of the scions. My blasphemy against the lord is not enough, oh harsh fate? I must aid in his blessed ones’ demise as well? May my ancestors forgive me for what I must do. She stood guard in front of Twilight and eased out her wooden wings and focused her innate magic into them. The bark hardened to match steel, and the tips of her branches sharpened to cruel barbs. “This one stands with you, imperial one.”

With a mighty surge of lightning that left four of the mages in a daze, Gethar signaled the attack. With a bone-chilling war cry, the thestrals charged in to carry out their master’s will.

Aegis challenged as she primed her flamer. Intel started to hum an old battle song over both the hive mind and aloud for the Queens’ Guard. He was soon joined in by Aegis and all the other changelings as they stared down the imperials while the scions hung back to remain in the center. The field artillery blasted almost the entire front line of soldiers, but Gethar’s ley lines intercepted one of the shells, allowing the thestrals’ morale to remain strong under his protection.

The front ranks of the imperials came into range of the rifleling second, and the last verse of the war song signaled their first deadly volley. It would not be their last.

Author's Note

Okay guys, the ACTUAL update is here.

Editor's Note:

Say it with me: Aegis is Best Pyro!

My personal prediction is if she does get rebirthed as a royal, her own brood will have colors stylized in reds and oranges, with manes colored like flame. They'll be fireproof and their salve will spontaneously ignite upon contact with air. :pinkiecrazy:

18: Of Guilt and Sin

The ensuing conflict was not a battle, it was a slaughter. The thestrals were not the innumerous mindless hordes of lost ones that blindly threw themselves at the changelings, but sane beings that barely numbered over three hundred. The field artillery cut a wide swath of them to ribbons with grapeshot. Those who survived that found a wall of lead from the riflelings sizing them down to just over half their original number.

Although only five remained, the flamethrowers proved the most terrifying of all. Primitive fire magic was well known in the empire, but those spells were useless in the rain. With the flaming oil however, the rain only succeeded in spreading it far across the ground. The changeling spell-weavers took advantage of that and pushed the oil away from them to form a wall of fire. The oil clung to fur, and seeped through chinks in the imperial’s armor. The blaze was as brutal as the swordlings waiting for them at the front. The changelings didn’t need to rely on their mouths or wings to wield their weapons. Their telekinesis gave the drones the reach of a spear and the dexterity of a dagger. To make matters even worse for those few imperials that reached the changeling line, the swordlings were focused completely on defense. They stalled just long enough for the riflelings behind them to take the easy shot. Even while Arya fended off two imperials lucky enough to reach the front with her iron-bark wings, she couldn’t help but to gawk at how quickly the thestrals were being cut down.

Rainbow Dash and her squad feigned death near the beginning of the charge and stayed along the left flank, so the artillery fire could focus elsewhere.

The two scions struggled to keep the imperials’ morale intact in the face of such technological disparity. She dropped to the ground to keep a perfect field of view on the two glowing thestrals. The male was slowly walking forward with a convex teal barrier protecting him and well over a dozen imperials. He stops moving every time the artillery buckles his shield. I hope they’ll be willing to surrender.

The scion mare flinched from behind the teal shield as an artillery shot deformed it frightfully bad before it recovered. With most of the imperials dead, she slammed the butt of her staff into the marble ground so it would stand on its own. From there she drew upon the ley line tethering her to Gethar to empower her staff. Gethar himself stopped his electrical assault to assist his champion.

Rainbow Dash waited for the clockwerks to reload as she watched the scions. What is she doing?

While her wings were extended, the raw power the scion was channeling lifted her off the ground as her voice took on a deep husky tone that demanded to be heard over the rain. “Servants of the Empire, arise anew!”

A blinding wall of golden light enveloped the entire plaza. The guns fell silent as everyone averted their gaze. The power needed was so massive that the ley lines withered, and the rain stopped completely. Even Gethar felt dimmed by the sheer demands of granting another his power. I can only channel so much of the world’s energies before having to use my own.

Twilight Sparkle rubbed her eyes to clear the spots from her vision. That was a massive restoration spell. Just what kind of power did the old empire have?! She shook her head to finally clear her vision to find the dark clouds above were breaking up as Gethar could no longer focus on them anymore. Yet that was not what stunned the changelings as they recovered their sight.

All of the imperial guardponies that had been cut down by the changelings were now standing around the scions in perfect health. Most stumbled about in a daze from having their lives returned to them. The male scion impatiently and noisily slammed his staff onto the ground, cracking the marble floor. “Form ranks and prepare to charge again!”

With practiced ease, the imperials obeyed, forming a phalanx. The changelings were stunned by both the magic, and the ponies’ swift acceptance of a second suicidal charge. “Again?” Ferrum challenged as he shoved his way through the gathered thestrals to get in front of the scions. “We just got slaughtered!”

“And?” the male scion replied coldly. “Attack and resurrection is standard operating procedure to gauge an enemy’s tactics and strength when scions lead the army. Shouldn’t you know this?”

Ferrum’s ignorance caught him flat-footed as more thestrals started to scrutinize him until Rainbow Dash came to his rescue by shoving her way in front of him. “Have you taken one good look at our equipment?! We’re in no shape to attack again.”

The imperials may have been physically healthy again, but many of them had broken weapons, shattered by cannon or rifle shot. Some of them had torn up armor while others feverishly tried to remove their armor which was still covered in burning oil.

The female scion was too winded to respond, so it left was up to the stallion. He snapped his head around to bark angrily at Ferrum. “Know your place, Recruit! It is not our place to question the avatars!”

“Maybe it should be,” Rainbow Dash replied harshly as she shoved her way to the front. “Were you watching that fight? We were slaughtered!”

“And yet here we stand, whole again. We can fight indefinitely!”

The mare scion propped herself up on her staff. Her steely gaze tried to instill discipline in Rainbow Dash, but the queen held her ground. “The Justicar protects his own. I can bring you all back again and again if need be.”

Riposte made a show of slamming his sword on the ground. Please don’t break. Ignoring his sword’s plight, he swept a hoof at the changelings who had stopped firing. “That might help if we actually did something to them! As far as I can see, not one of them lies dead.”

Rainbow Dash risked a quick talk with her sister.

Rainbow nodded slightly before returning her attention to the argument. The thestrals were starting to look questioningly between the disguised changelings and the scions. It was obvious many of them did not want to face down the technological might of the changelings a second time. “Why don’t we try talking to them?” She interjected in the middle of the scions’ rebuttal.

Everyone stared at her as if she was mad. “The royal family sees us as traitors for attacking them. They’d never let us live.” One guardpony called out nervously.

“He’s right. Our best chance is to run. We can’t stand up to such power!” said another.

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing!” The mare scion raged as she swept an accusatory glare at them all. “We have the Justicar on our side! With him, we can’t lose.”

“We just lost pretty damn badly a minute ago,” called out a disguised changeling.

“That’s right,” Ferrum pointed out. Several nearby thestrals shouted their agreement. “If the imperial family wanted us dead, they’d still be attacking us right now, but look!” He pointed past the translucent barrier. Every changeling remained where they had originally started. “Of all the monsters we’ve fought so far today, not one has given quarter to any of us, let alone be smart enough to use whatever magic they have to wipe us out so fast. I say we try to talk to them.”

The stallion scion’s eyes flashed with anger and leveled his staff at Ferrum’s face. The drone froze in place as the scion spoke slowly, clearly, and dangerously. “You will fall back in line, or I will kill you where you stand. And this time, we will not bring you back.”

Riposte was not about to let his clutchmate stand alone, and pushed two thestrals out of the way to stand at his brother’s side. “Take a look at her!” He stabbed a hoof at the scion mare. The ley line connected to her was as thin as a candle, and she was gasping for breath. She struggled to rise to her hooves, giving Riposte an excuse to press his point. “She’s got what? Maybe one, two of those left?” The scions growl at him as he grabbed a soldier and hauled him forward. “Look at him! His armor’s ruined, and his sword’s nothing more than a hilt now.” He let go of the hapless pony. “How many others have ruined equipment?” Most of the soldiers started muttering to each other as they compared the poor state of their arms and armor.

“Enough!” The male scion roared. He slammed the butt of his staff into the ground, creating a teal ripple along the cracks. “Get back in line, all of you, or be sentenced for treason.”

Rainbow pinged her sister, letting her know now was the time to sow even more dissent. Twilight used her magic to make her voice carry to the thestrals without distracting Gethar from his monologue. “Soldiers of Rookhaven. Stand aside and you will not be harmed. Judging by your priest’s weakened state; I know you cannot resurrect yourselves twice.”

The scion in question tried to rise on shaky legs until a sudden influx of power from the ley line in her back and Gethar finally discovered Twilight’s subterfuge and ripped the sonic dampener away. “Do you honestly think your paltry tricks could prolong your lives? The true sons and daughters of Rookhaven will no longer stand by while you destroy the land!”

The disguised changelings silenced themselves while the scions cheered for their master. Twilight opted to play a different game. She made sure her voice would carry to everyone. “I did nothing of the sort. The destruction of the ley lines was your fault! If you knew one iota about them, you would know they are not to be used as somepony’s personal playthings.” The very air rumbled at Gethar’s fury, but his hesitation gave Twilight an opening to continue. “Have you bothered to tell them you allowed the good ponies of Rookhaven to be trapped here for thousands of years? If you could free them at any time, why have you not done so earlier?”

“Trapped?” one thestral queried with confusion. “What is she talking about?”

“Yeah, it’s only been four hours, max, since everything went to Tartarus!” yelled another.

“They remained here to defend this city!” Gethar raged, silencing all debate among the soldiers. “They swore an oath to defend the Empire with their lives, and they will keep it.”

“And what about the civilians?” Twilight challenged. “Did they swear an oath too?”

“Any loyal citizen of the Empire would die to protect it! It appears that is something you have forgotten.”

Rainbow Dash saw a perfect opening to dissolve the imperial guard’s loyalty, and put on an air of insulted rage. “Is it true, Justicar? Has it really been thousands of years?”

“So what if it has? Everything I have done was in the Empire’s name, and to protect the world from the corrupted ones.”

“How do we know you didn’t cause it?” Ferrum barked accusingly. “You always hated Arcanum, and yet there you are controlling the threads of the world.”

The male scion slammed the crown of his staff next to Ferrum’s head, purposefully missing it by inches. “It is not our place to question why, only to follow and die.”

Gethar’s ley lines blue-shifted as he regarded his champion, but Riposte saw an exploitable flaw that he was all too eager to snatch. “Isn’t that exactly what we did when we attacked the royal family in the first place? Our duty lies with them, not the Justicar!”

The scions quickly found the soldiers starting to bicker about who to side with. The drones kept sowing more confusion on top of it all until the scions became the objects of the soldiers’ distrust. Twilight was getting increasingly impatient with every second the lost ones gouged their way deeper into the Deception.

Twilight concentrated on the shattered steps leading into the palace. The glow of her horn would have pierced the growing gloom of nightfall were it not for Particle having the presence of mind to weave an illusion to mask the spell cast.

Not that Gethar would have noticed as his rage reached new heights at the growing resentment against his scions. “Traitors, all of you! I should have you all executed, but you have served your purpose in stalling the royals.”

Right before their eyes, hundreds of lost ones raced out of the northern districts of the city filtering throughout palace itself and every nook and cranny they could squeeze through. The scions dropped their staves out of profound shock and betrayal. The mare was the only one of the two that could speak. “You were controlling them all along?”

Gethar ignored the comment. “I will consider everypony’s… assistance when I call upon you again. But I have a special task for you, my scions.” Without another word, he removed the ley line from around the thestrals, leaving them frozen in time within moments. The two scions were heaved into the air by the ley lines tethered to them and were yanked in towards the center of the palace. During which time, Gethar scarcely noticed Rainbow’s squad was still active in his attempts to keep the lost ones corralled away from the imperials so his monstrous minions would not phase back out of time.

Twilight’s spell neared completion with only one other thought running through her head.

A moment before Gethar could unleash another bolt of lightning, Twilight and her entire remaining escorts blinked out of existence, rendering him dumbstruck. The changelings reappeared on the far side of Rainbow's squad, in the middle of the one place that the lost ones were not coming through, a long flight of stairs that lead straight towards the center of the marble palace. Rainbow and her squad dropped their disguises and made a mad sprint towards Twilight’s new position as her drones opened fire on the waves of lost ones. “You can teleport!?”

The sea of mutants may have lost their original target after the teleport, but Rainbow’s squad was exposed in the center of the plaza and an inviting meal to them all. With Gethar still reeling from witnessing teleportation of such scale, Twilight and a few of her mages dropped their protection to grapple the fleeing changelings with their kinesis. Gethar saw Rainbow’s team as an easy target, and abandoned his thus far ineffectual lightning in favor of seven spear-like ley lines that he sent racing towards them.

“YOU! You caused them to betray me!” The sky turned red at Gethar’s boundless fury. “I should have killed the whole royal family all a long time ago. Time to rectify that mistake.”

Serrated tendrils speared through the air at Rainbow’s squad, catching two luckless drones along the way. Aegis saw her two siblings casually tossed into the carpet of lost ones to be torn apart. She briefly checked her fuel gauge which sat at just above half a tank. Better make it worth it.

The moment Rainbow’s surviving team entered the formation, the changelings opened fire with everything they had to slow the tide. Even with the withering opening salvo of rifle fire and ribbons of burning oil slaying nearly a hundred in seconds, the mutants behind them simply trampled the dead to get at the drones. Arya saw a hole open up in the hastily formed ranks and jumped in to shore up the flagging left flank. The instant she was at the front, she planted her hooves on the ground and lashed out with her iron-bark wings and sunk her barbed tips into a skinless lost one and ripped it away from the rifleling it was about to cleave in half. The lost one’s blade-like forelegs slashed at her wings, but her hardened bark proved superior, for the moment. Trusting her allies, Arya refrained from going on the offensive and wrapped her wings around herself to ward off the barrage of retaliatory slices from her opponent.

She barely had to suffer four seconds of its blistering assault before a trio of bullets and one magic blast found the beast’s head, pulping it in the process. A series of heavy whumps drew her attention above her head to find a lavender-orange dome was flashing constantly at the relentless ley lines hammering against it.

Rainbow Dash did a quick assessment while her sister provided a heavy kinetic pulse to push the lost ones back far enough for a round of artillery grapeshot. It’ll buy us time, but not much. She studied the lost ones before realizing something. She was stunned and exultant at once.

Twilight’s face was a permanent scowl as she blasted three airborne lost ones with arcane ice.

She growled as a lost one tackled her in midair. Rainbow suffered several cuts across her belly before she got her legs underneath it and kicked it away with a pained yell. Lighting her wing with a steady magneta aura, Rainbow spun in mid-fall and cleaved the lost one in two. She did not get long to savor her victory because the act forced Rainbow to the ground, dragging her injuries across sharp broken stone.

Barely a moment later Twilight and two drones helped her back up. A medic quickly started to bandage her wounds with what little gauze was left. “Go” *grunt* “On, I’ll be fine. Somepony has to keep these Hollymare rejects busy.”

Twilight knew that stubborn angry look meant her sister would not back down. “Just stay alive, RD.”

“I could tell you the same thing,” Rainbow shot back with a pained smirk.

Nodding, Twilight let go of her sister to concoct a plan. Under Rainbow’s direction, the changeling formation slowly backed into the main entry hallway of the palace. It was spacious, but the entrances themselves were quite narrow, and there was only two ways in or out. Once they were inside, Rainbow had the mages erect a heavy energy barrier at each entrance. Luckily, the sturdy construction of the palace meant that the countless cracks and fissures in the walls were not large enough for even the smallest lost one to crawl through.

Twilight only glanced at the frozen history she was standing in as her mind focused on the matter at hand. “Aegis, on me!”

Not knowing what to do, but sensing Twilight was going to try something, Arya joined Aegis and her clutchmates in escorting their queen. For her part, Aegis was winded, but refused to show it. “Good work, all of you, against the thestrals. Now we just need to get to the center of this place before Gethar can send his army through the service passages to block us off.” The drones nodded their understanding, prompting Twilight to look to Arya. “I was going to call for you, but I’m glad you showed up first. Is there anything else about Gethar you might know about?”

“Maybe yes, maybe no. Many tales of him that would shine light you already know through his actions. Justicar is avatar. I know not what is story and what is truth. But one always gave my branches a cold night shiver. It is said that when one avatar’s body failed the druids of old would prepare a new body for them.”

“Are you saying if we kill him, he’ll try to find somepony to possess?” Ferrum queried incredulously.

“Or us?” Aegis replied out of disgust for the idea.

“As I say, it is the story that reminds me of all the avatars. The Justicar will not rest his blade until he suffers true death.”

“Then we’ll figure out how to give him that death later,” Twilight butted in while trying not to sound impatient. “I can handle it if I can get in contact with the ley lines at the center. Is there anything else we need to know about Gethar?”

“None you have not seen, if your intent is to fight.”

The deaths of two more drones from within the Deception erased what was left of Twilight’s patience and willingness to plan. “Then we’re moving out.”

The shields blocking the entrances were buckling under the pounding assault from Gethar and the lost ones. Nearly every drone was adding their magical talent to the shields to keep them intact.

Twilight only nodded in response. With her five escorts huddling around her, Twilight concentrated on the expansive ley line that flooded the whole area. The drones were at odds with Arya joining in with Intel voicing the shared thought. “You should stay here—”

The front shield crackled loudly as it bent backwards under the constant attack. Rainbow wisely kept several drones in a reserve cycle between resting and reinforcing the barriers. Yet it was obvious over the hive mind that fatigue was starting to set in. It would not be long before the shields fell.

Arya’s fear of the flamethrowers was starting to overcome her fear of being torn apart by the horde. She had to say something to get the group moving before she ran for the hills just to get away from Aegis and her flamer. “I must go! Promises and oaths made to see this queen’s victory today.”

“We don’t have time to argue,” Twilight snapped more hotly than she intended. “Brace yourselves. No pony could be manipulating this many ley lines without being at the center, so we’re going to ride one straight to him.”

“What do you mean, ride it?” Riposte asked with a lump in his throat.

The group’s perception of the world twisted from the altered teleport spell. They were compressed into a thin line and streaked through the massive, yet diluted, ley line. Arya wanted to scream in terror at the warping reality around her. The group blitzed through half a kilometer to find a massive antechamber. A small figure was held aloft in the center of the uprooted ley nexus, and only noticed the changelings in the last instant when they were flung out of the fount of mana.

“What, how!?”

The baseball stadium sized antechamber’s floor had been ripped out by the ley lines into a jagged landscape. Were it not for the changelings’ ability to act quickly after a teleport, the lot of them would have smashed into the rocks. Arya slammed into a thankfully flat surface. Her bark-like hide took the brunt of the damage, and she found her footing on a small patch of marble below. The changelings spread out to encircle Gethar.

“Aegis, burn him out of them now!”

With a quick flick of her magic, Aegis took aim with a sinister grin at the half-full fuel gauge. “Ready to roast!”

“HOLD!” A massive blast of magic exploded out from the center to blanket the entire city. Every single person in the city was locked in place except for one, Gethar. The spell was so thorough that not even Twilight could summon her magic. His astonishment fell away quickly as he took stock of Twilight’s sudden appearance. “You continue to surprise me, royal. Since you’re so intent on reaching me in person, I will allow you to see the extent of your family’s sins before I kill you. Here is where your family’s fall was total.”

Now that all she could do was look at him, Twilight finally registered what she was seeing. The once regal structure was truly massive for its time, reaching seven stories tall. Not that anything of the roof remained aside from chunks of stone floating in the air. The ley lines themselves ranged from spidery filaments to ones as thick as houses. They uniformly shifted from red to a steady sky blue, but Twilight’s real focus was the figure held aloft at the center. It was obvious to Twilight from the amount of floating debris that the ley lines had exploded out of the ground, destroying much of the palace in the process.

Gethar was easily the size of Princess Luna, but aside from his roughly equine shape, that was where the similarities ended. He had been a thestral originally, but he could no longer as claim such anymore. His forelegs were broken and twisted from wild mutations. His hind legs were little more than emaciated bones wrapped in skin. His barrel had growths more akin to grotesque cancer than any sensible design. His neck had shrunk away to the point where his head emerged out of his barrel. His wings were elongated and rippled with misaligned muscles rendering them useless. Only his head remained somewhat normal, save for being furless.

Twilight shared in her drones’ disgust at the avatar’s appearance. “You murdered my children!” She shrieked with heartbreak. “As soon as I break free of this enchantment, you’re dead!”

“And you murdered an empire. As for you breaking free, you might as well try to lift the world itself. Unfortunately… I can do nothing else while holding this stasis spell.” He narrowed his eyes. “What I can do, is wait for an eternity." It was a slight bluff, as he wanted to keep the scions empowered, but couldn’t do it for weeks on end.

The local hive mind buzzing in Twilight’s ear was in complete disarray. While everyone was locked in place, many drones both aboard the Deception and in the entry hall of the palace were staring down the jaws of a lost one. Others were kept on death’s door, with one unlucky changeling having a claw freeze in the process of eviscerating him. Twilight couldn’t stand for it and tried to lash out with a trio of psionic blasts only for the density of the ley lines render the attack powerless. “I don’t care about your archaic sense of justice, all I want is your head!”

Gethar ignored her threat. “You are obviously unrepentant, that comes as no surprise.” A tendril rubbed his chin as he regarded her further. “Regardless of your dismissal of the law, you traveled along the ley lines.” Twilight squirmed in her fur at the burning gaze Gethar was casting her. “That is an art I thought only us avatars knew how to perform. Tell me where you learned how to do that, and I’ll grant you a painless death.”

“I’ll tell you exactly where to shove your painless death!” Aegis barked back. “Now let me go so I can burn your ass!”

“Your execution will be in due time. For the moment, I find myself intensely puzzled by you, royal. Not only do you possess a secret art, you bear the curse of the imperial family, and yet you are not suffering from it at all. Why? I would have remembered your unique appearance, so you are obviously a descendant. How is it that you have survived all these years?”

“The only thing I’m interested in is taking you down, Gethar!” Twilight growled. She was finally reigning her emotions in check, if only just.

“You fail to acknowledge the situation,” he countered coldly. “I am holding everypony in place while the planet itself powers the spell. I can keep this up for a very, very long time. Long enough for you to die of thirst, of that I assure you.” Twilight lashed out with an even more powerful psionic bolt, and almost cut halfway to the Justicar, but again, the sheer raw mana of the ley lines proved superior.

“You really want to know?” Twilight fumed, refusing to avert her gaze from the horribly disfigured avatar. He did an approximation of a nod. “Every changeling in history has fed on the love of others to survive. Aside from myself, mother, and sister, every other queen has forcibly taken love from others. For at least ten thousand years, your curse caused nothing but suffering for innocent ponies the world over!”

The ley lines flashed scarlet at Gethar’s first inclination was to denounce her, yet even he could see the facts. “I cannot trust a word you say, but your very presence here this day is irrefutable.” Twilight squirmed in his vice-like grip while Gethar turned away to face a massive hole in the building. There he could see the edges of the frozen city. “I will admit that freezing the city in time has blinded me entirely to the world outside. Tell me, royal, if you have any shred of decency within you, tell me of the land outside of Rookhaven. Is it still a desert?”

Twilight was about to verbally lash out when Intel stopped her short. her fury washed over him, but he pressed through to speak. This guy won’t free us so close to him, but maybe we can save a few drones this way.

Biting down on her tongue and fury, Twilight put on her best attempt at sounding diplomatic, feeble though it was. “Release my children from your hold so they can be healed, and I will tell you the truth as I know it. I swear on my honor as queen.”

As if I could take her word for it. “That is quite impossible. The hold I have on you is either city-wide, or none at all.” His demeanor soured at her phasing. Children? An odd phrase to call one’s subjects. “Do I need to reiterate my profound patience?”

Bastard! Twilight growled. Every second her dozens of wounded children remained in agony did nothing to calm her down. “No,” she said at length. It took surreal force of will to remain civil. “There is nothing but swamp land surrounding the city. Beyond that is a forest choking with creatures far deadlier than those lost ones you were so kindly throwing at us. To top it off, an active volcano borders the land to the south, and nearly year long gale force winds at every corner gave this land the name, Chaos Lands.”

“So that is why none of my scouts ever returned…” Confusion washed over the changelings, plus one tea’la, as the ley lines shifted to a deep blue. “Everything I did was for naught. The damned array’s influence still spread throughout the empire.” The deep blue tinted to an angry purple as Gethar screamed his eons’ long torment. “My sacrifice was MEANINGLESS!!”

In an instant, he removed the ley lines from all the lost ones in the city and severed his stasis hold on the changelings. Rainbow’s platoon was in tatters, well over half of their remaining numbers were casualties. The cyan queen herself heaved a heavy sigh at being able to move again.

The drones shouted their compliance, but it did nothing to help her mood. Tsk, we’ve got too many wounded to move right now. I don’t know if we can split up again without leaving both groups too exposed. You better make it out of this, Twilight.

Gethar’s hostile audience was unsure of what to do when he didn’t seem to attack immediately, but readied themselves to fight nonetheless. “I damned many to sin and this frozen hell for the greater good. But intent is not enough when the failure is this profound! Only to compound it all by failing to stop the array’s influence from spreading out of Rookhaven!?" His eyes stopped wandering and recentered on Twilight. “I see only one path to salvation left before me now.”

“Suicide?” Aegis jabbed hopefully. “Or execution by firing squad sounds about right.” She briefly nuzzled her flamethrower while keeping her eyes fixed on Gethar.

Ignoring the drone’s sarcasm, Gethar’s gaze never left Twilight. “Our sins are equally incalculable. Trial by combat is the only way to purge either of us from the stains upon our souls.”

“To the death?” Ferrum queried worriedly.

“As if you need to ask.”

“Of all the asinine… Fine,” Twilight fired a blindingly bright beam at Gethar to stun him long enough for her escorts to engage.

Aegis left her brothers to handle the scions and tried to blitz towards the disoriented Gethar, but he lashed out in a blind kinetic pulse that pushed her all the way back to Twilight’s side. While her mother unleashed a scathing salvo of fireballs, a manic idea graced Aegis.

Grunting in the effort of diverting a clumsy swipe from a ley line, Twilight was baffled by Aegis’s request.

Twilight yanked a chunk of stone up to block a veritable lightning storm. <...Alright.> The queen mustered her mana and flung Aegis headlong at the center of the forest of ley lines.

“Wwwaaaa hooo!” Aegis angled her approach to launch a stream of burning oil. Gethar slid through the root ley line to duck under the flames and brought several thin ley lines up to grab hold of her. Twilight let go of her daughter and sent a quick slash of mana to sever the thin strings of mana before they caught Aegis.

Ferrum was light on his wings and ducked and weaved through the stallion scion’s attempts to smack him with his staff. He spun his rifle around and thwacked his target on the side of the head, but his helmet absorbed most of the impact. “Why do you keep fighting for this creep? You heard what he did!”

The scion belted a war cry as he swung his staff at the drone. Ferrum flew backwards as predicted and got hit by the unseen pressure wave that followed the weapon. “I have been chosen! My life belongs to the Justicar now!”

Ferrum recovered in the air just in time to see Arya jump down from behind the scion and dig her barbs into his armor. “Blinded one, own your choices.” With surprising strength, Arya locked her barbs in place and flipped the scion off his hooves and planted him flat on his back.

Ferrum saw the stallion’s underbelly was exposed, whirled his rifle back around and fired. The shot went wide when the mare scion sent a jolt of lightning his way. The bullet cut through a strap in the stallion’s armor, allowing him to tear himself loose from Arya’s grip.

Riposte’s sword flashed to cleave the mare’s head off to get her attention away from Ferrum. “Your fight’s with me, big mare!”

The alicorn sized scion smirked at her lone opponent and caught Riposte’s sword on her staff. Her grin fell instantly after seeing the weapon so up close. “This sword… You were one of the soldiers from before!”

Riposte flashed a savage grin and donned his old disguise. “Guilty as charged.” The sudden shift made the scion balk at him, allowing his skysteel sword to slip under her guard and split her neck from sternum to jaw. Just for good measure, Riposte channeled his magic through his sword and severed the ley lines tethered to the scion.

A blast wave from Gethar cut Riposte’s victory short as the avatar blasted both Twilight and Aegis away from him. Everyone save Riposte was flung to the far ends of the room while he had crashed into an floating boulder and was pinned in place. “An eye for an eye!” Before Riposte could recover, a ley lines snaked around his body and held him aloft so Gethar could see him directly. “That’s enough of you.”

Twilight shook the stars from her vision only to watch her son being electrocuted. “Riposte!” The box of pent up grief shattered at the sight of one of her first hatched being killed before her eyes. Arya and the others recovered and stormed Gethar, but Twilight went straight for Riposte.

The grief from every last child she had lost today came roaring back as Twilight sent a wild lance of caustic magic to free her son from the ley line and caught him before he fell. A river of tears and shaky lip obliterated what was left of her regal bearing. She tried to heal him with magic while taking him to a floating boulder. “Come on, Ripossy, you’re going to be okay, you’re going to be okay!”

The glow of Twilight’s spell steady intensified as Riposte failed to stir. “You have to wake up! I can’t lose any more, not you, not anypony!”

Gethar swatted Ferrum with an almost lazy swipe, pushed Arya back with a hailstorm of loose gravel, and forced Intel back with a series of rapid strikes. Only Aegis and her flamethrower posed a real threat after she mimicked her mother’s spell that allowed her oil to burn away at the ley lines. Yet not even she could ultimately get close enough to truly threaten the Justicar.

However, his attention was fixed on Twilight. She weeps? Since when did royals love anyone other than themselves? Gethar briefly noticed the remaining scion try to electrocute Arya, only for Intel deflect the bolt with his magic. I must test it further. He singled out Aegis and carefully lashed out with a dozen lightning bolts and half-hearted attempts to grapple her in order to guide her slowly towards the distraught queen.

Aegis blindly sprayed the area in front of her while turning back to her mother.

“I-I can’t save him.” Twilight whimpered. “I couldn’t save any of them.”

Aegis could barely stand the sight of her dead brother, but one thought gave her strength.

That snapped Twilight out of her daze and she fixated on Gethar. The Justicar sent out just enough lightning to stun Aegis and provoke Twilight, but the queen quickly deflected it with a spear of mana. A cold fury radiated off of her as Twilight summoned the depths of her magical power.

With a burst of magic and a feral war cry of her own, Twilight teleported directly above Gethar and unleashed a maelstrom of caustic mana upon the root ley lines protecting the Justicar. He discarded his old plan and pulled from deep in the planet to summon more power. The two forces clashed with a blinding flash of light that sent the drones and Arya sprawling.

Lavender-orange magic burned away layer after layer of the world’s ley lines, while Gethar redoubled his efforts. A titanic ear splitting grinding noise quaked the chamber as Twilight poured everything she had into stripping Gethar of his power. Even the scion stopped his duel with Intel to dive for cover. Arya ducked behind a rocky outcropping next to Ferrum. “Is not right! Veins of world burn with her touch!”

“What else can she do? Our magic can’t cut through that much raw mana!”

Twilight could see Gethar becoming slowly concerned as she dug deeper and deeper towards him. “I will have you, for killing my children!”

“Why do you care for them, royal? Are they naught but pawns to you?”

Grinding her teeth all the while, Twilight tried to send psychic needles at the object of her hate. “I. Am. Not. My FOREMOTHERS!!” Even though exhaustion was creeping up on her, Twilight redoubled her beam’s strength, further pushing Gethar back.

It took a bit longer before he felt one needle graze his cheek and then a second along a tentacle before he realized Twilight’s true attack. Rather than counter attack, he simply slid around the ley line to evade. “Why should I believe you?”

When Twilight’s only answer was to keep pushing her attack, Gethar swung a loose ley line around her flank and bashed her out of the air where she smacked hard against the rocks. The wind was knocked out of Twilight. Her beam cut a huge swath of before stopping just short of cleaving Ferrum in two.

“You have power, I’ll give you that. But neither you, nor your war machine could ever hope to overpower the world itself!” Gethar’s gloating was matched by the sea of ley lines snaking their way towards the prone and dazed queen. “Your wretched life ends here.”

“Stay away from her!!” Aegis’ manic command was heralded by a wash of fire as she landed next to Twilight. Her queen could barely keep her eyes open, so she stepped protectively over her. Her remaining brothers, Ferrum and Intel took position at her side.

Even Arya stood atop of the rock face Twilight was leaning against and flared her branches protectively. “You’ve not earned her life!”

“Oh I think I have, priest.”

Intel inquired fearfully as he loaded his last three rounds. All around him, the red ley lines snaked through and around the rubble.

Aegis stood firm, even as the ley lines closed in.

Riposte’s skysteel sword hovered threateningly next to Ferrum.

All he got back were negatives. “Why do you protect her? What has she done to deserve your loyalty?” The drones stiffened as the monstrous form of Gethar closed in on them. “I will let you, and the rest of your… people leave this place if you give her over to me.”

“Never!” Aegis wanted desperately to burn his hide, and her magic tightened on her flamethrower. Coward has too much mana to eat through.

“Why defend her? She, like all the others of the royal family, controls your lives with no regard to your wellbeing, save to keep you useful. Has she exploited her own laws at your expense?” Gethar tested, fully expecting them to deny it. Yet what he was really looking for, an ounce of hesitation, or a glimmer of striking the truth in their eyes, never revealed itself as Intel retorted with as much acid his voice could carry.

“She’s the Queen-mother. I would think you can understand that,” Intel spat bitterly.

“And where do you get off prejudging our queen?” Aegis snapped off at Gethar’s confused expression. “If it wasn’t for Aunty or Granny, she’d be the only queen in existence that truly cares for us drones!”

Ferrum coated the last three rounds in his rifle with mana burning enchantments and aimed for Gethar’s face. He only wished firing would actually matter against the Justicar’s defenses. “Damn right! I’ll kill you right here and now!” I just got to figure out how first, he mused worriedly.

Before any of them could act, Gethar’s ley lines sank into each drone and Arya, freezing them in place, and rendering them unable to even think. I must know the whole story if justice is to be satisfied. Movement off to the left of the changelings caught his eye. The remaining scion was clambering over the rocks with his staff primed with mana. “Stay your weapon. The truth of this matter lies within them, and I will have it.”

He didn’t like it, but the scion would not disobey. “By your will, Justicar.”

With the matter settled, Gethar sifted through the drones’ combined memories, searching for any and all information on Twilight and anyone else who the drones considered royals. Finding the Tea’la a mostly useless source of information, he focused only on the changelings and zeroed in on the biggest memory fitting those parameters: the summit. As luck would have it, Aegis’ squad had been present at two of them. He witnessed the other queens’ complete disinterest in history, and utter ignorance of their past. Perhaps they couldn’t stand to remember what they had lost, and chose to forget both their subjects and their crimes. How typical.

Gethar was momentarily distracted by movement coming from Rainbow Dash’s direction. The palace was massive, and the colossal amount of floating debris this close to the ley line nexus slowed her platoon’s movement considerably. I will brook no distractions. A shame it’ll be easier to simply delay them. I must know who Twilight Sparkle truly is.

He hesitated before diving into Twilight’s mind. No… She was using some kind of new magic outside of normal mana. Even in her state, she could use the mind-link to overpower me.

Sticking with the drones, Gethar grew increasingly disgusted with the actions and motives of the other queens. Just as I expected. They haven’t changed at all. These…changelings they call themselves, may be physically different than when I cursed them, but their hearts are as black as their chitin. Still… this Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash are completely different. But why?

His search brought up multiple encounters with Discord, but his alien amalgamation of parts was far different than what Gethar had pieced together in the previous age. As such, he did not recognize the product of his own hasty actions. However, Gethar made a dead stop when one memory came across the royal alicorn sisters. A genuine smile came over him. So Celesti and Lūn survived after all. Their new bodies are strange, but their emblems are unmistakable. If they survived, perhaps Twilight Sparkle learned how to travel the ley lines from them. Either that, or they made the knowledge public. As much as he dearly wanted to know more about his old friends, the task at hand was more pressing and he refocused on Twilight.

That’s when he saw it; the series of events starting from Aegis finding the circlet, Rainbow’s slow transformation, and when she hatched from the chrysalis. Finally, so much of what had been hinted at from so many different memories made sense.

She wasn’t born into the royal family… she was adopted! He pulled back to think, but had the presence of mind to keep his hold on the drones. Twilight is an aberration among her own kind!

Gethar was at a loss as to what to do. She has still committed crimes this day, the destruction of the threads of the world alone is tantamount to heresy and murder. And yet…

He noticed Twilight beginning to stir. Using the ley line as a tether, he pulled the remaining scion to the far side of the chamber so he would not interfere. Locked within this city, I can never bring the other queens to justice, and killing Twilight Sparkle will not satisfy the cosmic balance. His thoughts drifted towards the ebony queen, Chrysalis. Her actions alone made all of the ley lines shift to bloody crimson. I cannot allow such an embodiment of sin to roam free. If Twilight lives, those two will eventually come to blows, of that I am certain. There is still the matter of this trial by combat to resolve.

Knowing what had to be done for the sake of bringing the descendants of the imperial family to justice, Gethar steeled himself for his next act. He withdrew his ley lines from the drones and shifted his position towards them, peeling back his layers of protection all the while. “Twilight Sparkle! I tire of this, and of the sins I bear. I will personally end your life!”

Shaking off Gethar’s stasis spell, Aegis hunkered down next to her mother and aimed her flamer. “Not happening!” Knowing it was futile, Aegis fired the last of her oil at the rapidly charging Justicar. Instead of only burning through a few centimeters of the ley line, the oil cooked straight through like dry grass. Gethar was wreathed in flames, howling in pain.

The drones, and Aegis most of all, were completely dumbstruck. “T-that worked?!” Aegis commented dumbly.

Gethar’s control over the ley lines faltered and he fell in a heap in front of the group, reeking of burning meat and fur. Arya was quick to act and jumped from her perch with one wing’s barbs aimed straight for Gethar’s chest.

Intel freaked and tried to push Arya’s attack with his magic. “No! We need him alive!”

His magic came too late. Arya’s barbs had already rooted themselves into Gethar’s ribs and when she was forcefully shoved off, half of Gethar’s chest and part of his ribcage went with her. Arya herself went went flying head over heels with her open flowers’ sleep pollen away as well. “Giyaa! What you think I doing?!”

Twilight’s vision was only just now clear enough for her to see it happen. In a panic, she clumsily pushed her kids off of her to jump to Gethar’s side. “Tell me how to use the resurrection spell!”

He ignored her as his brackish brown life fluid drained away. “You walk away, purified of guilt.” *gurgle cough* “The reigns of the empire have always lied with the Family. Maybe now you—”

“I don’t care about that!” Twilight raged. She shoved her face into Gethar’s slackening eyes. “Tell me how to use the resurrection spell!”

Gethar coughed up blood, splattering Twilight’s face. His gaze was losing focus and his breathing became shallow. May you bring the rest of your cursed kin to justice. Even if they force—you to…

Twilight’s bile rose as Gethar went limp. Any hope of bringing her children back sunk until she heard Ferrum pulling the male, and still very alive, scion out from behind a marble slab. She ignored the low but growing rumble emanating from the center of the ley lines and teleported straight in front of him. Now that Gethar was no longer feeding him power from the ley lines, the thestral had returned to normal, but his magical armor had disintegrated, leaving him defenseless.

Ferrum smirked while pushing the barrel of his rifle into the pony’s flank. “Found him trying to run away after Arya wasted Mister High and Mighty.”

It took all of Twilight’s measure and poise to keep the tears back as she stared down the cowering thestral. “Tell me the resurrection spell, NOW!”

“I-I can’t, it’s impossible without the Justicar.” The normally hard soldier was still reeling from Gethar’s death.

“Lies!” Twilight bellowed. Her horn took on an angry sheen of mana. Despite the fury of his queen, Ferrum noticed the ley lines were started to move almost randomly and an impossibly complex alchemy array started to materialize thirty meters above ground. “Tell me how to cast the spell, or where I can find a book on it!”

The former scion could stare at the most hideous lost one and not flinch, but Twilight petrified him. Her alien appearance wasn’t helping matters. “I swear to you. Only the avatar of the Justicar Path can wield such magic. With him dead, his spirit will try to find a new vessel. But even if he found a new vessel this instant, it would be too late to use the spell on anypony.”

“Vessel? What do you mean?” Twilight demanded.

“T-the avatars are partially immortal. If their bodies die, their power transfers to a new host, preferably a prepared one.”

“Arya was talking about something like that.” Ferrum commented, breaking Twilight’s gaze on the scion.

Everyone turned to find the Tea’la in question, only to find her standing over Gethar’s body. She was muttering something while Aegis watched on. Intel had run off to gather Riposte’s remains.

The captain couldn’t decide if Arya’s bizarre ritual was more interesting, or the vast pattern centered on the ley line nexus forming over their heads was more disconcerting.

“Ah tech-gala!” Arya fussed as she hurried to finish painting on Gethar’s corpse. The ritual markings were next to impossible to adapt to his mutated form, and the gaping hole in his chest wasn’t helping matters. Nevertheless, she was skilled enough to make it work. Hopefully. “Stupid bug boy had to push me. If spirit escapes before the true spirit stone can claim it, there will be such fury upon him, ancestors as my witness!”

Her eyes widened as a pulsing blue orb with tendrils poking out in random directions seeped out of the corpse. Arya’s work had made Gethar’s spirit visible to the naked eye, but was by no means ready for the task. “Yeea’ nou! Get back in there, you ball of met’vat’lu!"

“Stick-wings. What are you doing?”

“Amend your kin’s folly is what! Now sush sush shh!”

Her painting was starting to become highly difficult as the ley lines writhed in the air and shook the ground. With no one holding them in control, the veins of the world were retreating to their normal states, but there was still an array blocking their path. It was beginning to crack.

From his distant location at Riposte’s side, Intel was the only one who could see exactly what was going on.

An array!? Twilight gasped at the runes and glyphs that danced across its surface.

Aegis shouldered her weapon and grabbed onto Arya. “The whole place is about to blow, we gotta move!”

“If leave now, he be lost for all time!”

A thunderous crack rang throughout the entire chamber. The glowing lines and runes of the array shattered into tiny motes of mana as the ley lines forced their way back underground. A pressure wave of mana so dense that it threw everyone over forty feet away washed over them. Arya screamed and howled curses as Gethar’s spirit was propelled by the wave front and was lost to the sky. The wave spread throughout Rookhaven and beyond, blasting away the fogs over the swamp. It stripped the forest of countless leaves, and went so far as to shove Mount Boom’s ash cloud all the way over into Equestria.

The veins of the world set about restoring themselves. Yet that most immediate thing on Twilight’s mind was the free floating rocks across the chamber starting to crash back to the earth as gravity reclaimed them. Even now, her surviving brood was reporting both lost ones and thestrals were moving on their own again.

Yet all of that was drowned out by Riposte’s body she found draped across Intel’s back. The grief she had forgotten about hit her again with full force. Not even Rainbow Dash’s call over the hive mind could be heard as the profound sense of loss paralyzed the lavender queen, never again to hear the voices of so many of her beloved children.

Author's Note

Editor's Note: *Bows head in moment of silence for Captain Veselov, Riposte, and all those lost on this day...*

19: Portents

Cadista found an active linkscape while trying to reach Twilight Sparkle. Her daughter sat upon a hill covered in dead grass with her head low. The Linkscape being what it was, Cadista was able to phase to her daughter’s side. It was there that she found a large granite slab with the names of every drone who died in Rookhaven. Twilight herself was weeping silently while carving each name with a mana-held hammer and chisel. There were already just over a hundred names with Riposte’s at the top.

“My daughter, there is a time for grief and mourning, but it is not now,” Cadista stated softly. “Rookhaven is in chaos, and Rainbow Dash is going to need your help.”

Twilight stopped hammering away and simply let the tools disappear a moment later. She couldn’t summon the strength to look up at her mother. “I know… I shouldn’t even be hiding here.”

Biting through her feelings of awkwardness, Cadista nestled down next to Twilight and tentatively draped a wing over her. Even after all this time, it felt off to her. “If it helps, I was the same way when the first time I lost so many children at once.”

“Is this when I ask if it gets any better?”

I wonder if that’s her sister’s influence. “In a way.” Twilight looked over to her mother with a question in her eyes. “The grief from each loss softens after a few hundred years, and you learn how to seal away your pain for the next Day of Mourning easier… Sadly, only with practice.”

“…I understand.” Twilight’s ear flicked at her sister’s approach in the real world.

“After things settle down, we’ll hold the Day early,” Cadista said before Twilight could fade away.

“Thank you, I’ll need it.”

Cadista studied the stone Twilight left behind. Echos of pain new and old danced across her mind’s eye. Even as the rest of the Linkscape collapsed around her, the stone remained until she was left in a black void. On a whim, before departing, she lit the area again to find the stone had persisted. So she means to keep it. Dare I wonder how large such a stone would be had I kept track after all these centuries?

The problem with memories like this, is we long lived beings will end up getting dragged down by their weight. Yet if we do forget… She let off a forlorn sigh and faded back to the real world. What a cruel joke, the universe has played.

Twilight blinked as her awareness returned to the broken palace of Rookhaven. Dusk had come and gone, leaving only the half-moon above as a light source. Fortunately, thestrals, and their changeling descendants, were quite well suited to seeing by moonlight. Aegis and her clutchmates were clustered around Riposte and Twilight, waiting for her to give the word. It was obvious from one look at their bloodshot eyes that they shared their queen’s grief. Arya was fuming over Gethar’s corpse at having lost his spirit.

Rainbow Dash flew in with a fireteam at her back. “Twi, I know you’re not in the best shape right now, but we’ve got a giant mess to deal with before we ha—”

“I know, RD.” Twilight’s half-commanding response drew her sister up short. “It’s just a lot to take all at once.”

“I get ya, Sis. I mean damn…” She trailed off to briefly hug her sister. It was rare for Rainbow to show public affection, so Twilight leaned into her for support. “This empathy makes your pain clear as day. I may not be their mother, like you Twilight, but they were my family too, ya know?” She silently commanded the medic in her team to tend to her sister and drones. “Last time I was out patrolling the Chaos Lands when I was still in the Bolts, I lost my whole squad to a lava dog, save one fresh recruit. I couldn’t get their deaths out of my head for months, and I was losing it until Spitfire sat me down and told me, ‘We still have an obligation to the living. The dead are a patient bunch.’”

Taking a long deep breath, Twilight slowly but surely closed the lid on her box of grief, painful though it was. “You’re completely right.” Standing up, she set her regal bearing back in place. Twilight nodded at her sister who also rose to her hooves. “Our only choice is to move forward until we’re safe back at the hive. What’s the condition of our remaining drones?”

Rainbow wanted to smile at her sister’s strength, but the situation ruined it. “We’re messed up pretty badly, but the worst seems to be over. I left the shield mages back with the wounded in that entry hall. The lost ones seem to be living up to their name, and are just as eager to kill each other for food as they are us. But thanks to the shield, they don’t seem to want to bother with us anymore.”

“Good, good.”

The prime consort in question was crammed inside a maintenance shaft with four other drones. The room reeked with sweat, blood, and fear. The power was out, so those in the passageway only had a few flashlights and light spells to see with.

Twilight sighed in both sadness and relief.

It was at this point where his profound irritation surpassed his fear of the lost ones prowling the halls. Even if he could hear them fighting outside the hatch.

Rainbow rolled her eyes at the comment about her training, but the last comment piqued their interest. Rainbow’s wings practically vibrated in anticipation.

“Well that’s good news,” Twilight began. A light snapped on in her mind.

Gentle, and about everybody else in Phoenix’s Roost had been fretting constantly at their queens’ peril.

Twilight rubbed her chin in thought. “Rainbow, take what’s left of our combat ready forces and re-secure the ship, then go out and save as many civilians as possible.”

Rainbow jerked her head at Aegis and her squad. “Got it. I’ll try to keep anypony from running off into the swamp if possible.”

“Good idea. And try to find the guardponies we were fighting earlier, they can help out too.”

Flying off as fast as her wings could take her, Rainbow’s face soured.

Arya was left to her own devices as Twilight communed with Canterlot.

The Night Court was a small affair. While her older sister handled political affairs with a master’s touch, Luna’s return had seen her take the more clandestine defenses of the nation. An aspect that Tia never could get a handle of, she mused lightly.

The court itself was in a chamber half the size of Celestia’s throne room, and had three other ponies sitting around a round wooden table. Stacks of notes and reports cluttered the chamber in a semi-organized fashion. One scroll in particular was held aloft in Luna’s magic that had a rather interesting report. “Gleaming Dagger, you were the commanding officer in charge of this operation, were you not?”

She flipped the parchment around for the pegasus’ purview. “Strange sightings in the Palomino Ocean?”

“Oh yes, that…” Gleaming Dagger took the offered document. “There were rumors going around from local pegasi that there were wet-ships of unknown design sighted in the area, but none of them have ever tried to investigate under the assumption that they’re ghost ships or some-such. I wouldn’t have even seen this document if my assistant hadn’t knocked over the pile of reports when she told me about the minor earthquake a few hours ago.”

Luna continued to tap her chin. We don’t normally get earthquakes in Canterlot. We only noticed because some earth ponies felt it. I hope that it was nothing more than a fluke.

Luna shook the troubled thought away to refocus on the report. Where was I? Oh right, aside from Vanhoover two hundred kilometers north, we don’t have any major settlements along the west coast beyond nontaxable villages and homesteaders. We’ve never had a port large enough to support an exploration enterprise. Perhaps now is a good time to start—

The doors burst open with a lavender drone trying to muscle past the two thestral guards. “Princess Luna, I have pressing news from the north!”

“Go through the proper channels,” the first guard barked as he yanked the drone back by the tail.

“You’re lucky you’re a diplomat!” spat the other.

Luna waved a hoof, making her guards halt. “Rolled Scroll. I’ve been expecting you,” she half-growled at her guards.

Luna’s court eyed the embarrassed guards. They let the drone go and bowed to their matriarch. “Our apologies, Your Highness, we assumed the nature of your court…”

“Is not for you to decide,” Luna retorted. The guards took the hint and backed off to close the door. Luna heaved a sigh. “Don’t worry about them, Scroll. They’ll get into a bar fight in the morning and forget all about this. Now,” she squared herself, “you have urgent news?”

“Yes, my queen requests refugee aid and any available form of transportation brought over to Phoenix’s Roost.”

The tension in the room shot up to match the frantic drone. “Did something happen to your home?” Luna queried.

“Was there an attack?” Dagger asked. “Do we need to mobilize?”

“I’ll give you the abridged version.” He cringed in sheepish embarrassment, and fiddled with his hooves. The act only made the ponies around him even more nervous and the leaned forward a bit in anticipation. “My queen may or may not have killed a self-proclaimed god or avatar of one and awakened a sleeping thestral city from stasis…”

Luna pinched the bridge of her muzzle. It never ends with that mare. “What would you have us do, Scroll?”

Aegis landed heavily on the shattered bridge of the Deception. Intel, Ferrum, and Rainbow Dash flew in from the window. Every last one of them was exhausted to the bone, Aegis more so than the others.

“Holy Mother of Burrell. I think the Justicar threw a temper tantrum in here.” Ferrum commented dryly.

Panels were in ruins, the consoles weren’t any better off, and half of the seats were ripped off their moorings. “Why didn’t you ditch the flamer back at the palace?” Intel admonished as he surveyed the damage.

“Burny’s special, and nopony’s going to convince me otherwise.” Aegis countered, only to find Rainbow giving her the stink eye.

“Ditch it for now, I don’t need to tell you that’s not going to be used aboard my ship.”

NO pony better steal him. “Alright, let’s clean this place out so we can properly rearm.”

A few minutes earlier, Twilight prodded the male ex-scion along as the pair flew through the shattered remains of the palace. It was barely ten minutes since the temporal stasis spell collapsed, and already there were small skirmishes throughout the imperial district. The fires that had been frozen before, now raged anew. The one thing he noticed most of all though, was the swarms of lost ones had been thinned considerably. Most notably, the skies were practically devoid of airborne lost ones, thanks to them being Gethar’s most accessible tool during the assault.

“If I’m going to talk with you, I might as well know your name.”

He turned to see the large queen behind him, still giving him small jolts of electricity. (an irony she found darkly unfunny.) “Fen’jet, I suppose I am Centurion Fen’jet again, after what happened to the Justicar.”

“Well, Centurion, if you would agree to fly with me willingly, I’ll stop with the shocks.”

He whirled around in midair to stare her down. “I am not some whipped prisoner that will bend to your will!”

Twilight matched his cold stare. “I am not taking prisoners today. I want your help in evacuating the city.”

“Evacuate? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. The children of the Moonlit Empire will rally, and we will not abandon the city to you or the Arcanum victims.”

If only every available hoof wasn’t already trying to get the wounded to the ship and the rest to secure it for our end of the portal, I could spare some forces to help the civilians. The fact that Fen'jet had not killed any of her drones, though not for lack of trying mind you, made it far easier for her to be patient with him. “Did you not pay attention at all to what Gethar and I talked about? There’s nothing but swamp outside the city’s borders. You’re not getting any outside reinforcements, and once the creatures of the swamp no longer fear the city, all of you will end up dead. Assuming you don’t starve to death without any farmland first.”

“Why should I trust you to help us? The Justicar’s trial may have cleaned you of sin, but your form is still corrupted by it. How long will it be until that corruption affects your mind once more?”

I really hate diehard bigots. Twilight pointed at a squad of soldiers fighting, and winning, against a small group of lost ones. “Look at that! It wouldn’t matter if you retook the city or not. The social order is unrecoverable here without outside support.” She calmed her tone, drawing an uncertain frown from him. “I give you my word that I can take you out of the city. If you really want to come back after that, then that’s entirely your decision, but right now we need to think of the civilians.”

Every inch of the soldier in front of her yearned to go down and aid his troops, but the general in him could see the bigger picture. “…What would you have me do?”

“Gather as many of your people as you can, and make for that point in the center of the seismic disturbance over there.” The pair cleared the inner walls to see the city at large. Fen'jet’s eyes widened and his jaw went slack at finally noticing the jagged spires and pitfalls all along the southeastern districts. I think it’d be best to leave the cause of that unknown for the moment.

“W-what happened?!” He shook himself before turning to Twilight. The buzzing noise of her wings and the holes in her extremities were off putting to the point of disgust, but the empire came first. “That can wait. I’ll spread the word, but know this,” he ended sternly. Twilight arched a curious eyebrow. “I for one, will never serve the imperial family, or you, after this night.”

Twilight’s expression turned flatter than the second dimension. “To be frank, I’d prefer it that way. I came here looking for artifacts in an ancient ruined city, not a city that still lived.” Rolled Scroll pinged her mind, informing her of Luna’s agreement to her request for aid. The act reminded Twilight of the pantheon from the temple. Do I really want to tell them about Luna and Celestia? It’s possible it’s a coincidence. If it is, using her name to garner cooperation now could bite me later. If by some chance Luna and Celestia are Celesti and Lūn, it might be better to let them speak up about it if they so choose. I should still warn them about it first though…

Fen'jet was still finding it difficult to believe Twilight’s claims, but when the queen fell silent in thought, he departed to tend to his troops. He rocketed down to the squad of soldiers who were mopping up the last of the nearby lost ones. For her part, Twilight flew back towards the palace to help carry the wounded drones back to the ship.

Clearing the Deception was a rather simplistic and quick task. Without a guiding hand, the tortured minds of the lost ones quickly lost interest in the drones barricaded within engineering or hidden in maintenance shafts. In one such section, Rainbow Dash found a pair of wolfish lost ones gnawing on the plethora of corpses laying around. A singular wall light cast the room into a grim gloom.

Rainbow’s ire rose sharply after noticing the mutants’ meal was drones. Aegis went with the others to clear out engineering, but I’d rather handle these two myself. Besides, she thought with a down frown, I need to make sure He’s rescued personally. If only to ease Twilight’s mind

Ratchet’s tone was slightly pained with a heavy dose of worry.

Rainbow’s thought trailed off as one of the lost ones started convulsing. Damn they’re creepy.

Ratchet’s reply went unheeded as the convulsing lost one’s abdomen split down the center and it keeled over dead. The other one didn’t seem to notice, but high pitched squealing met her ears as four infant lost ones erupted out of the mother and started feasting on her remains. Rainbow had to choke down the contents of her stomach. Okay, that’s completely disgusting.

Barely a second later, the second adult lost one started convulsing as well, snapping Rainbow Dash to action. “Oh hay no! You stop that!” Picking up a discarded wrench, Rainbow ran in swinging. The small lost ones were fast, but not fast enough to escape Rainbow Dash. By the time she squashed the last one, the second wolf-thing broke open to loose its spawn.

*SPLAT* “and here I thought” *Squish* “Lings were creepy” *Splurt* “About laying eggs,” *Crunch* “At first.” *Smish* The bent and now useless wrench was coated in ichor and disturbingly green blood. I don’t get it. None of these guys had green blood before. I’ll have to give the rat bastard his due. Gethar might have saved us by freezing these guys like he did. With this section of the ship finally clear, Rainbow tapped on the corroded hatch to the Jefferies tube.

With a grating noise of steel on steel, the damaged hatch swung open, allowing Rainbow’s telekinesis to ease the injured drones out. Ratchet was first among them. “Thank you, my queen. I’d stay and help, but Twilight wants me to start prepping the ship to support the portal.”

Two more drones, along with Lieutenant Rourke, were pulled out of their hiding place. “You going to be able to do so on that leg?”

Ratchet tested his cramped wings and took to the air. “I’ve only got one bad leg. Mother saw fit to grant me a few spares.”

“The wings help, I’m sure,” Rainbow teased. She shared a chuckle with Ratchet before nodding for him to leave. She turned to the engineer and marine who were carrying Rourke. She scowled at the sight of her unconscious form. “She’s in bad shape. I’ll escort you two to sickbay in case you run into anything.”

“Thank you, my queen.”

Rainbow’s eye lingered on the small lost ones she’d stamped out. The sooner we’re out of this hell hole the better. I better keep a marine detail here to keep the repair crews safe, just in case.

The sun started to creep over the horizon as more and more thestrals started arriving at the downed warship. The aftermath of destroying the ley lines in that area, and the subsequent earthquake made travel by hoof impossible. That wouldn’t normally be a problem for the winged thestrals and changelings, but the sheer number of wounded and personal belongings made flight untenable for many. Luckily, with Gethar’s control over the ley lines over, the world was already beginning to heal the damage caused by the Deception.

At least, that is how it was until what remained of the Phoenix’s Roost Engineering Corps found a winding path along the jagged earth toward the Deception. After that, where to put so many thestrals became a second issue, what with so little flat ground to rest on. Yet none of that really compared to the trust issue.

Through Fen’jet’s position and command ability, what few lost ones Gethar had overlooked in his attack on the changelings were either cleaned up or scattered into the swamp which was already regaining its fog cover.

At present, Rainbow Dash was making sure the broken remains of the Deception remained secure from the curious hooves of the locals, while her sister focused on constructing the portal. Rainbow noticed the majority of the civilians were enamored by the broken warship. Despite its obvious damage, it was an object of wonder and fear to all. Sitting squarely on the side of wonder and awe, Rainbow spotted saw a filly eyeing her mother, who was distracted by her badly injured husband. The filly silently took off, trying to sneak inside one of the shattered gun turrets of the ship.

Rainbow stifled a tired yawn and flew down to intercept the filly. The young one was barely a meter from the ship before the imposing figure of a changeling queen landed right in front of her. The shock from Rainbow’s sudden arrival nearly caused the filly to tumble off the side of the ledge. Only Rainbow’s quick reflexes with her magic kept the child from falling. “Go on back to your family, kid. The ship’s not safe for you.”

Instead of being intimidated, the brash youngster puffed her chest out once she was deposited on the ledge. “I’m not afraid of those monsters!” She stopped a moment when the queen in front of her snickered in amusement. “Say, what are you, lady?”

Rainbow mentally told a few of her soldiers to stand down. She studied the filly a bit longer, only just noticing the mother was paralyzed by fear at what Rainbow would do to her daughter. “What do you think I am?” Where did that come from? she mused at herself.

“Well… mama says you big ones are some of the imperial family that caused all this. Is that true? Is that why you look like that? Why do you have a spike on your head?”

“I don’t know what your parents said, but we didn’t do anything except free you guys from being frozen. And we have head-spikes because of reasons.”

The filly scrunched her muzzle. “I don’t remember being frozen. How does somepony get frozen in a desert?”

“Of course you wouldn’t remember being frozen, that’s because you were too frozen to remember.” Rainbow inwardly chuckled at the filly’s expense.

Any further questions were suddenly stifled by the mother finally breaking her fear and rushing to her filly’s side. “S-sorry to bother you, ma’lady. Come along, Garnet.”

Much to the child’s protests, her mother practically ran scared of Rainbow. Not too surprising, I guess. Between the world shattering around them, getting attacked by freaks, finding out the empire’s gone, and now being told they’re to evacuate the city, they’re just too shell shocked to say ‘thanks for saving our bacon.’ Her stomach started to rumble. Speaking of bacon, I wonder if Cookie has some breakfast for us.

While Rainbow queried about food, Twilight was busy trying to refrain from verbally ripping Fen’jet’s head off as he nagged her. Twilight was on the other side of the Deception where the only flat area large enough for the portal, and close enough to the ship, was located.

“As I told you a hundred times, Centurion, this is a portal back to my home. From there, an allied nation will take you in as refugees.” Twilight’s temple was throbbing at the math in building the portal while the general and two other thestrals, whom she hadn’t gotten names for, practically hovered over her shoulder. Or would have been, if Aegis and what was left of her squad were not forcing the locals to stay a comfortable distance.

“Portals are a fantasy,” one of the other thestrals scoffed. Judging by her clothing, Aegis assumed the mare was a government administrator. “As is magic based travel in general. Not even the royal family could accomplish such feats.”

Twilight threw up a sonic dampener around herself to shut them out.

Aegis sneered with her refueled flamer bouncing lightly on her neck. She had to “requisition” the last of the oil from her other soldiers, her rank helped expedite that effort. With Twilight now more or less in control of her box of grief, that control was starting to affect the drones nearby. They found themselves more capable of focusing on their jobs rather than who died, but it varied between individuals.

Aegis’ ears wilted at the order. Well there goes that plan. With a groan she holstered her flamer on top of the fuel tanks. “Look, buddy, I can call you buddy right?” She ignored the cold stare from the trio. Intel was too hung up on Riposte’s death to see the humor, while Ferrum used it as a welcome distraction. “It’s like this. You’re like… forever out-of-date.” She pointed at the Deception. “You see that thing there? The big metal thing with cannons and such? We built that.” Well, Granny’s hive built it, but whatever. “What’s the best you can do, a catapult? Trebuchet maybe?”

The more diplomatic of the theseral trio bowed his head in respect. “I realize she is quite busy,” the stallion clown, by Aegis’ reckoning, placated. She really had to summon herculean strength to keep from laughing at his polka dotted priest robes and face paint. “Gethar’s absolvent of your queen’s sin means the faithful and I are willing to put this horrible event,” and your appearance, “behind us. And yet.” He struggled for the briefest moment to find the right words. “It’s just this whole “portal” business. I’m fully aware that the imperial family restricted knowledge of the advanced arts from the commoners, but surely teleportation-style magic is impossible. I even heard the Empress herself say as such in conversation once.”

“Look clo — friend,” she said with a forced smile. “Didn’t Queen Twilight Sparkle teleport right in front of you barely a few minutes ago? You’re not blind are you?”

“S-she did… Forgive me. It’s just difficult to grasp that such magic exists at all.” The priest did a short prayer, asking for strength. “A lifetime of hearing about its impossibility is a struggle to overcome.”

Maybe the clown’s not so bad. “Like I was saying, the empire’s been dead since before time. As I told your chum over there, magic and technology’s advanced way beyond what you know. Portals are very real,” she added with a lethargic shrug. Her pride and duty were the only things keeping her awake at this point.

“I refused to believe this incident!” the administrator challenged, “could topple the Empire.” He waved his hoof at changelings at random. “The Moonlit Empire spanned the known world! This catastrophe is trying, I grant you, but it is hardly enough to lay us low. If we could master the sands, we could conquer the swamp just as easily.”

Ferrum said as he dropped down from his hover. Aegis flourished a bow to her brother and stepped aside. “You know what? You’re absolutely right. The empire, probably could. If you really want to stay here, then be my guest. We’re setting up a relief effort for you guys because it’s the right thing to do, but if you don’t want our help then so be it.”

Fen’jet chafed at such disrespect from a fellow military personnel. “What will happen to us when we go to this new land? Are we to be your slaves or guests?”

“That’s entirely up to the princesses of Equestria. They're the ones who agreed to accept you as refugees. They already host the only known population of thestrals. After you all share some hugs, kisses, and plot slaps, you can do whatever pops in your heads. But until then, you can wait a few hours for the portal to be ready, okay? Go beat each other off until then. You guys need some stress relieve something fierce.”

Aegis chided playfully.

“What do you mean, ‘beat off’?” the clown inquired at the unfamiliar slang.

Aegis and her brothers shared a knowing look before laughing over the hive mind. Even Intel was pulled out of his depression just a little. “Why don’t you three go tend to your people? You’re not doing anypony any good bothering us.”

“I still say this is a waste of time,” Fen’jet commented more to his compatriots than to the drones. “We shouldn’t be listening to some fantasy about instant travel.”

“Let’s not be too hasty,” the clown cautioned while raising his forelegs up at his companions. “The Captain makes a good point, and the metal war machine makes me believe there could be a chance this might work.”

Aegis flew backwards to exit the conversation. That’ll keep them busy for an hour or so. I hope Resta isn’t getting any trouble.

Medicine is and ever shall be a delicate art, at least in Resta’s opinion. However, this was one matter she never really thought to plan for. The entirety of the Deception’s medical supplies and equipment had been carried out and placed on various spires around the vessel. The medic worked on a badly wounded stallion with a lacerated stomach. Two nurses assisted her with the civilian’s two family members watching with equal parts fascination and worry.

“Sawbones, I need another bowl of salve. Joy, get a sleep spell on him so he doesn’t reopen the wound.”

“On it, ma’am.” Joy replied as Sawbones slipped behind some enclosed curtains. There she found a pair of drones carefully spitting salve into tin bowls scrounged from the mess hall. A third was hovering above the curtains, making sure no one came over to investigate the real source of the seemingly unending salve. The bowls were enchanted to keep the salve from hardening upon contact with the open air, but it was only effective for a short time. As a result, she grabbed two full bowls and was about to leave when one of the drones yawned noisily and tugged on her blood covered apron.

“I always get so exhausted donating salve. How come you medics haven’t done it yet?”

Sawbones swished her tail to flick her sibling’s nose to make him let go. “You just answered your own question. We’re out of Salve Aid or else we’d do it ourselves. In the meantime, go grab some chow and rest. Momma promised us survivors some time off to recoup when we get back.”

The other donor, Particle, merely stared at the purple gel in her mostly empty bowl. Her eyes were damp, but her voice was level. “Sorry. I gave all I had to try and save Fulcrum. It wasn’t…” Particle tugged on Twilight’s superior control over her emotions to level out her own, if only for a little. “… Enough.”

Sawbones’ expression flattened and she rested a hoof on her sister. “What’s important is that you tried. Every drop helps.”

She only nodded before giving up her bowl. I hope mother got what she needs to secure her crown.

Artifacts were the furthest thing from Twilight’s mind as she inspected the inactive portal in front of her. It was a circular ring of salvaged armor scraps. The irregular pieces were covered in softly glowing runes on the front. Over a dozen snaking power cables were attached to the lower half of the ring. The portal itself stood roughly half a meter taller than Twilight and three meters wide. The haphazard nature of the device grated Twilight’s perfectionism to the point where she had to forcefully keep herself from casting an illusion on it to make it look more orderly.

Okay, that should about do it. Better check it a seventh time, just to be sure. As Twilight and four of her mages inspected the portal, Ratchet and his crew did the same with the connections to the boiler room.

When Ratchet signaled the all clear, and Twilight found no errors in her spellwork, she allowed herself a small smile.

Twilight and the others backed off as a thin membrane of teal mana formed over the iris of the portal gateway. It roiled and churned for about a minute as several thestrals came over to watch. With a blinding flash of light, the portal opened, revealing the main street in Phoenix’s Roost. Within moments, three dozen changelings passed through into Rookhaven, carrying supplies and coal to keep the Deception’s boilers active.

With a silent command, Twilight’s soldiers started guiding the ponies towards the portal. Most of them were weary of the device. However, rumors of the giant swamp creatures starting to invade the city pushed many of them into accepting exodus over staying.

Once the first thousand locals passed through the gateway, twenty drones flew in with hover carts and took off towards the palace. Twilight remained near the portal itself to monitor its stability. Perfectionism is there for a reason. Yet when all I have to work with is scrap, you do what you can, I guess.

Fen’jet remained in Rookhaven to oversee the evacuation on his end, and saw the cart bearing drones. “Where are they going?”

“They’re going to find artifacts.” They’d find out sooner or later, anyway.

Understanding dawned on him. “You mean they’re going to go looting?”

“Only from the palace.” Twilight gave him a flat sidelong look. “I’m entitled to that, at least, am I not?”

He grumbled irritably, but ultimately didn’t voice any objections.

As the thestrals continued to file on through, it was nearly noon the next day and Twilight was practically dead on her hooves. Fen’jet was not much better off. Neither one of them desired to show weakness to the other, Twilight only did so to keep him from nagging her, and Fen’jet did it out of stubborn pride.

It was about that time when Twilight heard someone climbing the ledge a few meters away from the portal. She was about to go investigate when a wooden bony wing flared up from over the cliff and Arya dragged herself up. Several thestrals moved to either get away from her out of fear, or cut her down until Twilight yelled out. “Stop! Arya is a friend, and not a lost one.”

Aegis and her clutch rushed to their friend’s aid, just in case some of the more militant locals didn’t back down. All it took was one pass of her flamer to make everyone back off. “Nice and easy guys. Stick Wings’ with us.”

“At’tehya. This why I hide all this time.”

Aegis noticed Twilight and Fen’jet arguing about Arya’s continued existence, but left it up to her queen to resolve the matter. She holstered her flamer and patted the Tea’la on the back. “Where’ve you been all day?”

“Had to bury the Justice One. Can’t let him come back as zombie, very bad omen that’d be.” Arya flopped on her belly, exhausted from the climb.

“A zombie?” Intel queried with a half chuckle. “Why would he do that?”

“Eeeeeeeaaaa… My soul trap markings failed to catch him, so bury the body or else evil spirit could claim his shell. Bad mojo surrounded him, big beacon he was.”

“I see…” Ferrum commented worriedly. “So since we’ve finally won, what are you going to do now?” By this point, the passing thestrals were only giving Arya a wide berth as they made their way through the portal.

“Must tell my people the story of Rookhaven. Then, I no know. Maybe we leave the forest, or we stay. Up to elders and farseers to decide.” She ended up shrugging with her wings. “But with flying metal monster hurting, I no know how to tell them. The swamps are too troubled to travel.”

Aegis pondered the issue with a tapping hoof on her chin. “We can get a chariot through the portal, in pieces if necessary, and let you go back that way. I’m sure some of the Equestrian guards can make the distance.”

“Yeah, they're built for endurance flying,” Intel added. “In the meantime though, why don’t you come over to the hive for a little while? The portal’s not going anywhere until the Deception is flightworthy again.”

“OOOooo! Yes, yes! Love idea, much good! Too see your… tech-no-gee would be very fun.”

“Well I’ll be glad to give you a tour, after some sleep,” Aegis offered.

It was only after Aegis turned around did Arya notice the flamethrower on her back. Ahh, nou! I pray she not keep that everywhere. I lose leaves when dragon breather is around.

It was late in the afternoon when the last thestral who was willing to leave departed through the portal. By then, Twilight's head was swaying back and forth from the sheer exhaustion and she only remained awake through sheer willpower. Just a bit longer. Just a bit longer, only a bit.

Rainbow Dash tried calling her over the hive mind, but Twilight was too out of it to respond. The cyan queen jumped from her perch on the upper deck of the warship to land next to Twilight. Fen’jet had opted to remain with the thestrals who refused to leave the city, so there was no one around the two sisters except for drones. Rainbow sighed at her sister and used her magic to give her gentle push forward.

Twilight started walking on automatic and almost fell over if Rainbow had not been there to catch her. Rainbow let her sister lean on her as they walked towards the portal. Rainbow sighed in relief at Twilight remaining whole throughout the entire ordeal, and looked up at the gateway. “Come on, Sis. Let’s go home.”

Author's Note

My muse smacked me upside the head earlier than normal so... enjoy.

Editor's note: First one to post 160 grammar mistakes from this chapter gets a cookie.

20: For Those Who Carry On

It was a long and grueling week before the Day of Mourning could be held. Between ferrying and temporarily housing the imperial refugees, Phoenix’s Roost was busy night and day. Close to an army of relief workers and administrators from Equestria had arrived to help. It was a rather peculiar situation where the changelings found themselves the minority in their own hive. For today, however, Twilight pushed the refugees out of her mind to focus on the Linkscape before her.

A vast landscape of gently rolling hills of grain swayed in a gentle breeze as the hour of twilight cast the skies above in a cascade of purples and oranges. Far to the east, and opposite of the setting sun, sat a full moon and the Silver City rested before it. Cadista and Rainbow Dash stood at Twilight’s side, with close to six hundred drones arrayed in a semicircle around the ethereal forms of every changeling who died in Rookhaven. Their numbers weighed so heavily on Twilight’s heart that she found it difficult to maintain her regal bearing throughout the week. Today however, she let it fall away completely.

Even Rainbow Dash’s brash nature was greatly dulled by the Day of Mourning’s effect upon the hive mind. The grief that permeated the Link was so intense, that she found it difficult to project her signature awesomeness. Twi, always said the DoM hit you in the gut, but I never expected it to be so… She couldn’t stop the snivels no matter how hard she tried. So intense.

Drones had been coming and going all day to pay their respects. Unfortunately, not everyone could attend the main ceremony due to the need to keep the hive operating. Rainbow briefly scanned the drones standing in attendance. Profound grief was the expected thing that hit her first, but she wasn’t their emotions that caught her interest. Every last one of them are clutchmates of those who died. She spotted Aegis and her squad had positioned themselves nearby. While Twilight loved each and every drone, Rainbow couldn’t help but notice Riposte was the closest spirit.

Rainbow Dash felt an immense feeling of déjà vu powerful enough to stop her breath for a moment. This is just like realizing I was a royal bug in the hatchery… A shudder of dread ran through her as her mind’s eye saw all the dead purple drones shift to a cyan coat for a brief moment. A fresh wave of foreboding washed over her, only with a much darker tone. Rainbow chased it away when Cadista began addressing the gathering.

The elder queen scanned the fallen, and those that still lived. “Sacrifice. It’s a word that has different meanings to different cultures. For other hives, sacrifice is a fact of life. Built right into each and every changeling. For Equestria, it is the highest act of service any pony could perform. This is something too often overlooked by the other queens about ponies. After all, there is something to be said about a generally peaceful race willingly going into harm’s way to preserve their way of life. For our hives however,” Cadista glanced at Twilight Sparkle, who was absorbing every word Cadista said. Rainbow Dash listened intently to learn Cadista’s view on Equestria. Her opinion of the elder queen hinged on what she would say.

Even as Rainbow scrutinized Cadista, the old queen’s thoughts drifted to her. Loyalty. Such a thing is difficult for those in high places, Rainbow Dash. I pray you are able to stand firm. Cadista refocused on the speech and on the drones in particular. “We mesh both worlds. The hive is everything, but none of you serve mindlessly. Take pride in knowing that your brothers and sisters died securing your hive’s future. Their sacrifice, their legacy, is Phoenix’s Roost itself.”

“And the crown upon my head,” Twilight interjected, surprising Cadista for a moment. The elder queen let her daughter take the front. Twilight let her changeling crown materialize in a raised hoof. “I never wanted this to carry a blood price, but…” She felt Rainbow lay a reassuring hoof on her back. It helped keep the steel in her voice from fading. “Fate saw otherwise.”

She placed the crown upon her brow and looked up at the sleeping ghosts of her children. Her heart felt like it was ripping in half trying to force the next words out. “Go to your f-final rest.” She started weeping, but refused to avert her gaze from the spirits. “My beloved children, I hope to see you all again when my time comes.”

At her silent command, a few of Twilight’s drones flew a few meters into the air and had several instruments manifest before them. As the first notes of the song played, the dead coalesced into wisps of light and started to drift off towards the Silver City.

Twilight kept her bloodshot eyes fixed on the spirits as her legs collapsed out from under her. Each passing wisp was a needle in her heart. Rainbow Dash could be as outwardly tough as anyone possible. However the one thing that could always burrow past her tough exterior was music. Although embarrassment made her try to keep a stoic expression, even she broke down before the song was halfway through its first playing. Cadista stayed at her daughter’s side, ever ready to lend moral support.

The memorial stone Twilight had created earlier stood a few meters away from the gathered changelings, and sat under the drifting spirits. As each one passed, the names carved on the stone started to glow faint silver, denoting their honorable final resting place. Her crown felt as heavy as the massive stone. I must bear its weight so that their sacrifice has meaning.

For her part, Rainbow Dash said little. Not by choice however. She opened her mouth only to close it right back several times. Each time she thought of something to say, it soured on her tongue. Grr! I’ve never been good at moments like this. The words never come. Resolving to let her actions speak for her, Rainbow Dash sat down next to her sister and nuzzled her. Twilight was quick to reciprocate, and leaned against her.

Cadista would have attempted to join them, but the sight of the royal changeling sisters together like that summoned memories of Yumia. The hundreds of years and multiple lifetimes spent with her soul mate turned to old pain at knowing she would never feel Yumia’s presence again. Tears she had never been able to heal fell as her eyes turned to the Silver City. As before, she tried to see if Yumia was standing at the edge, waiting for her. Were it not for Twilight and Rainbow, you know I would rejoin you in a moment, Yumia. Twilight would be a good queen to my children, but she has a long way to go before she can stand against the other hives. A ghost of a wry grin pushed through her grief. But she will one day.

That night, in the valley containing the Tree of Harmony’s cave, Twilight held a memory crystal the size of a grapefruit in her magic. A pedestal of stainless steel with a conforming bowl allowed her to place the object onto it so the crystal was eye level with her. There, now no pony can ever forget them, not even through rebirth.

A golden plaque was attached to the basin, and faced the path leading to the Tree.

The honored dead of Rookhaven.

Seeing that the memorial’s exterior was in order, Twilight nestled down on the carved path to the hatchery, and dove her consciousness into the crystal. The separated Linkscape was a recreation of what many equestrian artists depicted as the Summerlands, the pony afterlife. It mirrored the landscape she had recreated during the ceremony earlier. The rolling hills of golden wheat were interrupted only by a single monument: the stone. Nearly two hundred names marked its diamond cut surfaces. Her eyes paused over each name until stopping at Riposte.

Sorrow mixed with vexing confusion, but it took a backseat when Twilight noticed someone had joined her. Turning around, she found Aegis at the Linkscape’s entry point, who then phased over to be next to her mother. “Hello, momma.”

“G – Evening, my child.” There was little ‘good’ about today, save for finally being able to release all the grief from the events in Rookhaven. Yet it continued to surprise her how much better she felt after every ceremony she’d been a part of. Twilight laid down on her belly so she could be eye level with her very first daughter. “I suspected you’d join me tonight.”

Aegis was not about to let time with ‘momma’ Twilight slip by and latched onto her. The two shared several quiet seconds until Aegis spoke. “Something’s been bothering me ever since Rookhaven. Besides the obvious, I mean.”

With all the time they’d spent together, Twilight knew Aegis better than she knew herself. “You mean why Gethar let us win?”

“Exactly!” Aegis threw her hooves up in exasperation. The moment replayed in her mind like it was taunting her. “I mean, as much as I hate to admit it, my flamer barely did anything until he charged us and then all of a sudden it burned right through to him.”

Twilight’s shoulders sagged. The whole battle pained her just to think about it. “At the end, he told me ‘May you bring the rest of your cursed kin to justice’. I'm convinced that his mind was close to breaking after what the failed nation-wide alchemy array warped him into.”

“He was pretty messed up,” Aegis admitted. The image of Gethar’s twisted form brought a shudder out of her. “I guess I never thought to put two and two together on that.”

Twilight gave her daughter a weak smile. “We were under quite a bit of stress.” Her smile fell into a slight scowl. “Still, what he assumed about what we queens are like, was mostly correct. We end up warring with each other more often than not.” Even if I’d rather not.

“Aside from us and granny, you mean.” Aegis scowled so hard she would have pulled a muscle in the waking world. “Of course, if Sticky Spit has anything to do with it, war’s inevitable.”

“Sadly, you may be right. Mother’s spies have noticed a spike in activity among Chrysalis’ hive, along with those of her allies.” Aegis gave her a worried look as Twilight continued. “We believe she’s stepping up egg production. Far more than should be possible.”

Aegis jumped to her hooves. “I thought they were in a love drought. Have they been foalnapping ponies again?”

“If it was that simple, Celestia would have already called to arms, or at least deported what love collectors we know about.” Aegis tilted her head as Twilight rose to her hooves. “No. Chrysalis and her allies have been taking prisoners, and not just from Equestria.”

“So what is Celestia’s response? Even prisoners have rights in Equestria, right?”

Twilight huffed in agitation. She looked off into the distance. She weaved a dark cloud to focus on. “You don’t give Chrysalis enough credit,” she said bitterly. “She went after all of those who have life imprisonment, and went through all the paperwork to do it legitimately. Not to mention prisons cost serious bits, and when Chrysalis offered to take them for free, the local governors jumped at the opportunity.”

A perfectly scheduled breeze started blowing in from the south, temporarily making the swaying wheat a little too noisy for normal conversation, so Aegis had to speak a little louder. “And Celestia just let it happen?” Aegis started pacing in the air. “I can’t believe that.”

Twilight couldn’t help but be reminded of her own penchant to pace while nervous. I think there used to be a rut in the library back in Ponyville. “Her options are limited. On one hoof, she could decree the transfer contracts void, and get her citizens back. However,” Twilight grumbled as she contemplated the issue. “All she’d be getting back are the worst ponies society has to offer. This isn’t petty criminals we’re talking about, but murderers, psychopaths, and generally unpleasant company. The citizenry is going to be split on the issue no matter what her ultimate decision will be.”

“I bet Luna was pissed about missing that one.” Aegis’ comment reminded Twilight of just how irate the diarchs had been.

“I have little doubt. She’s launching an investigation, or will very soon.” Twilight’s ear flicked as Rainbow pinged her mind. “We can discuss this later. Right now, I have queenly matters to discuss with my sister.”

Queenly? That can only mean one thing. “Good luck with that,” Aegis snapped a playful salute. “You’ll need it.”

Twilight watched her daughter phase over to the Linkscape’s entrance before fading back to the waking world. “Bah, Rainbow’s intelligent enough to understand.” She repeated her daughter’s steps and exited the memory crystal in the same manner. Unlike normal Linkscapes, the one forged inside a memory crystal could only be exited through a specific location.

By the time Twilight’s awareness returned to the waking world, Aegis was already flying off and Rainbow Dash was landing nearby. “Hey sis,” her tone was anything but pleasant. “You said you wanted to talk about eggs.”

Twilight summoned a mixture of sibling warmth and regal seriousness. “I did.”

“Isn’t this something that can wait til morning at least? We barely sent the dead off to rest.”

Twilight walked over to be side by side with her sister and draped a wing over her and started walking towards the hatchery. “I’m sorry, Rainbow, but time is not on our side. Chrysalis is on the move. She’s slow and methodical, and I have no doubt she’ll act when she’s ready.”

Rainbow eyed the Tree of Harmony with half-wonderment as they passed by it and into the tunnel below. Even now, it still sparked an aura of mystery about it. “You really think she’ll go to open war with Equestria? Even she’s got to realize attacking either Equestria or us is basically stirring up a hornet’s nest.”

Twilight noticed much of the downward sloping tunnel’s floor had been coated in resin to reduce noise. “Which only makes her activity all the more troubling. As…” A wave of nausea at her next statement gave Twilight pause. “Horrible as our losses have been, it does open up an opportunity, as Gentle Touch pointed out to me yesterday.”

Rainbow’s expression soured. Her time in the Bolts had given her some measure of strategic vision. “Our food problem, is no longer an issue, am I right?”

“I prefer to think of it as giving the fallen’s sacrifice just one more boon to the hive.” She looked her sister squarely in the eyes with steel that gave Rainbow a slight shudder. “My children gave their lives for us all. You can bet that I’m going to squeeze every drop of worth out of that sacrifice.”

Rainbow Dash’s scowl abated slightly. “They deserve no less.” She nodded slightly, but that only made a pit sink in her stomach at what she knew Twilight was implying. “Alright, Twi.” She ran a hoof through her mane to chase away her reservations about egg laying, not that it worked all that well. “I don’t like it, and you know I don’t, but.” She preemptively waved her sister’s reassurances away with a hoof. “I’ve… gah! I’ve been putting this off for far too long as it is.”

She stopped walking towards the hatchery and ground her teeth together. “I know I’ve already laid a ton of eggs, but I didn’t have much choice, and now I do.”

Twilight wasn’t sure if she should hug, nuzzle, or simply lay a gentle hoof on her sister’s back, so she opted to simply keep her tone pleasant. “You’re right, it is a choice, and part of what it means to be queen.” She took a deep breath as Rainbow looked at her intently. To Twilight, it felt like Rainbow’s future role hinged on what she said next. “I personally feel that you, and you alone,” she tapped Rainbow’s chest for emphasis, “should want to lay eggs. Whether we split the egg laying right down the middle is entirely up to you, Rainbow. I can’t make this choice for you.”

Indecision warred in Rainbow’s mind as she sat down. Is this what I really want? I mean, I’ve gone this far haven’t I? Twilight and the whole hive already sees me as co-queen. And I gotta admit, I really like the little buggers. But laying eggs…

The thought of three groups of a dozen eggs growing inside of her, and their eventual laying still made Rainbow’s skin crawl. To top it off, all of her reasoning felt like duty-bound excuses rather than personal desire. She was about to give her answer when Blitz and a few other cyan nymphs brushed upon her mind, seeking a mother’s love. Rainbow’s heart melted instantly and she gave all that she could over the Link. That reminder hit her like a sledgehammer. In for a penny, in a for a pound. “Twilight? How about I take the egg laying a bit slow to start off?”

Twilight reached forward and squashed her sister in a tight hug. “Take all the time you need, Rainbow.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and pushed her clingy sister off. “Enough with the mushy stuff already.” I get enough of that from the kids. The fact that she enjoyed such contact with her nymphs rankled her ego. “So are we making a bunch of soldiers or what?”

Twilight started walking again, with Rainbow Dash quickly chasing after her. The fork in the tunnel came and went as Twilight led her sister towards the hatchery, leaving the nursery alone for the time being. “Not quite. We’ll need to increase our military power, true, but I don’t want our hive to be militaristic.”

“Whew, I was hoping you’d say that.” When Twilight gave her a quizzical eye, Rainbow elaborated. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the military, but I still think civilians should be the lion’s share of our hive’s population.” Rainbow thumped her chest with a smirk. “Makes us military mules stand out and shine better.”

“Heh, of course. Then it’s a good thing I’m in complete agreement. Besides, personal combat is not our strong suit.”

Rainbow’s eyes turned upwards, but she wasn’t looking at the rocky ceiling. “You want to build more airships.”

“Exactly. Luna and I discussed this matter briefly. With our alliance as unbreakable as it is, if war was to come to either of us. We would provide the navy while Equestria supports us with infantry.”

“Combined arms doctrine. I like it. But that’s a long way off,” Rainbow replied with concern. She looked back down at her sister. “Building ships takes a while, not to mention requiring an industrial base we don’t have yet.”

“Then we have our work cut out for us,” Twilight declared as they finally arrived at the hatchery. The chamber was almost depressing. All seven hundred and twenty five incubators were completely empty. A sight that made Twilight’s muzzle wrinkle in disappointment. “As queen-mothers, we must accept the cycle of life and death. Death has had its day. Now is the time for life.”

She looked to her cyan sister who nodded in agreement. “You said it.” Rainbow furrowed her brow in concentration to remember Twilight’s teachings. A minute later, both queens were producing eggs once more.

A few days later, Applejack was proving to the world that she was a mare of habit. Wake up at the crack of dawn to the rooster’s crow. Bathe, eat a hearty breakfast, brush her teeth, apply her tried and true Stetson hat on her brow, and step outside to begin her chores.

She was so immersed in her routine of chores that she almost missed spotting a quartet of lavender drones flying in from the Everfree. They arrived by the time Applejack finished setting up the wooden baskets around the first few trees of her orchard. She waved them over with a friendly smile, causing the quartet to veer away from the farmhouse and land in front of the orange mare. “Howdy y'all.” She arched an eyebrow at their lack of hovercarts. “Ah’d say your supply of apples is in the second barn, but some’n tells me you’re not here for fruit.”

The lead drone introduced himself with a firm hoofshake. “Good morning, Madam Applejack, my name’s Plied Trade. I’m, or I should say, we’re here for you actually.”

That made her tilt her head. “Don’t call me madam, it feels weird. And what’cha want with me?”

Plied Trade gave a nervous chuckle. “Well the thing is. Mother’s in a bit of an agricultural bind, and she wanted to hire your help in the matter.”

“Farm’n?” Applejack’s face lit up like the sun. “Well shoot, Ah’d love ta help out. Butta… Why does it take four a ya to gimme a message?”

“Well that’s the thing,” Plied Trade started with an academic tone. His gaze started wandering all over the place. “Mother knows how busy you are this time of year, what with it being apple buck season and all, so my siblings and I came here to help your family with the chores while you’re away. She didn’t know how long it might take, and she didn’t want your crop to suffer for it.”

Applejack chuckled. “Well that was mighty thoughtful of ‘er.” She looked towards the farmhouse to see her brother, Big Mac, walking out to do his half of the day’s labor. Applejack raised a hoof to her mouth and shouted at him. “Hey Mac! We got farmhands, show’em the ropes!”

Her brother waved in acknowledgement. “Seein’ how there’s four a ya, Ya can forget the bits and we’ll call it even. It’s the least Ah can do for her loss.”

One of the drones in the back ribbed her brother, who grumbled and gave up a coin pouch. Plied Trade’s friendly nod recentered Applejack’s attention on him. “My queen sends her thanks, and a shuttle will be here soon to pick you up.”

Applejack’s ears perked up at the prospect. “Ah gotta say, those fancy flying machines a yours are a hoot to ride in.” The group of drones started to fly off, but Applejack grabbed Trade by the tail before he could leave. When she had his attention, she spat his hairs back out. “So while Ah’m wait’n, what’s this farm’n problem she’s got?”

“Oh, right, I should have told you,” Trade laughed at himself. “Have you ever heard of Jiyya trees?”

Applejack’s throat caught before a mask of deep thought crossed over her. “Yeah, Ah know a’them. Granny and Ah heard how profitable selling that fruit would be, and we tried to raise the money to buy a few seeds. Sad to say, we couldn’t raise enough. Ah knew the fruit was expensive, but the seeds were even worse. It woulda bankrupted us to front the kind of money the Thestral Agricultural Community was ask’n for. Then they had the gall to say it’d be a waste to sell them to us anyway cause our farm couldn’t support it.” The farmer snorted in anger.

“Well as luck would have it,” Trade flew down and cast his eyes back and forth conspiratorially before leaning his mouth towards Applejack’s ear. “We picked up a few cases of the fruit from the Chaos Lands, along with a few saplings and ten crates of soil samples. We also have a greenhouse ready for use.” He leaned back up to speak normally. “And mother knew that the only way to make it work was to get the best orchard farmer in the business to help figure out how to grow them.”

If there was one thing Applejack and Rainbow Dash shared, it was a stadium sized helping of pride. “Well, you came ta the right place, friend. Ah’ll figure them out licitly split. That’s on my honor as an Apple.”

The chopping and whooshing sound of an approaching shuttle could be heard coming over the tree line as the pilot located a clearing to land. Applejack had to admit it was all happening a bit too fast for her. “Trade, Ah need to tell the family where Ah’m go’n. Don’t want them frett’n none if Ah’m gone for too long.”

“Take all the time you need, Miss Applejack,” Trade called out to her. With his message delivered and accepted, he flew on over to join his kin milling around Big Mac. I really can’t wait for the farming nymphs to mature. I was meant to be a trader, not a tree bucker. He tried to bury his sour mood before reaching his destination.

Applejack entered the farmhouse to find Apple Bloom helping Granny Smith with the dishes. “Granny, you won’t believe what just happened!” She ran up to the wrinkly green mare with a smile cleaving her muzzle. “Twilight got ahold of some Jiyya! The fruits, seeds, soil, and even some saplings ta boot!”

“Huh, wha?” Granny had to lift an ear with a hoof. “Mah hear’n must be getting real bad cause Ah think you said Jiyya.”

Applejack gave a goodhearted chuckle. “Ah sure did. Twilight said she got a bunch of the plants and seeds! Could you image what that would do for the farm if we could grow them right here!?”

Apple Bloom forgot her chores and zipped over to jump up and down between her kin. “Ooo oo oo! That’s that stuff bat ponies eat! It’s all super rare too! Canna come too? Please! Please! Please!”

Applejack put a gentle hoof on her sister’s head to keep her from bouncing. “Maybe next time, Bloom. You got chores to do, and Ah don’t want you walk’n the forest. Twi’s kids may be work’n on making a safe road between Ponyville and her hive, but it’s not ready for travel yet.”

Granny waved a dismissive hoof. “Oh hogwash. Ah think it’d be good for the youngin. These old bones ain’t good for much no more, and iff’n we do get these Jiyya trees goin’ ya’ll need somepony else in the family who can do it. Big Mac can tend to the farm fer now.”

“Thanks Granny Ah’m going to pack!” Apple Bloom blasted out of the kitchen before Applejack could try to object.

Granny playfully smacked Applejack on the withers. “Well get along. This is an opportunity the family’s been wait’n fer. Go on and make us proud.”

“Ah will, Granny.” She hugged the Apple matriarch as tightly as she dared. She let go and yelled up the stairs to put some fire in her sister. “Apple Bloom! Ya better hurry up or Ah’m leaving ya behind!”

General squeeling and screams escaped the upstairs. Applejack departed the house and got four steps before Apple Bloom and a large suitcase lept out of the second story window. Apple Bloom and the suitcase bounced down the stacks of hay bales before ending up as a jumble of hooves and luggage at the bottom. “What did ya pack anyway?” Applejack asked as she helped her sister up.

“Rarity’s been hanging around PR for a while now, so Sweetie Belle’s there, and Scootaloo went over to see Rainbow Dash. So Ah packed crusading stuff!”

“Oh. Joy. Well come on.” Even after getting their cutie marks, the sprouts still call themselves the Crusaders.

A short walk later, the pair boarded the shuttle and were ferried off to the not-so-distant hive.

Twilight Sparkle stood on top of the battlements of the Castle of the Two Sisters with the titular siblings at her side. They were watching the thestral refugees below who temporarily called the stone walls home. Very little restoration work had been done so far, but that mattered little to the newcomers. By Luna’s command, only her modern thestrals were providing relief aid aside from the odd drone, and pegasi transportation. She wanted familiar faces to help them acclimate to modern times for a month or so to ease them into interactions with the other tribes. In the end though, racial relations were not the royals’ chief concern.

“I’ve always been seen as the custodian of the sun,” Celestia began with a note of concern, “but to be viewed as its avatar is a bit much.”

Luna’s wings fidgeted in annoyance. “At least you’re not outright worshipped as I am.” Her roving eyes fell upon a small personal shrine dedicated to the moon. Her scowl deepened slightly as several thestrals were bowing and praying to it. “I’m worried how they’ll react to modern views.”

“Have faith, sister,” Celestia replied calmly. Luna detected a note of sarcastic mirth. Celestia smiled at the generally positive mood of the ponies below, even if there was still an air of tension hanging over them. “They’re proving to be adaptable. They may yet surprise you. Not everypony is as deeply entrenched in tradition as the nobility.”

“I’m not getting my hopes up.” Luna fought the urge to outright ban the practice. Things were really bad before Tia and I took the thrones. And to think all those years ago I was begging to have anypony love my nights. Now I think I have too many in the wrong manner.

Twilight saw the troubled looks the sisters were giving each other as a good excuse to switch topics. “Speaking of avatars. Are you two sure that you remember nothing of your lives as Celesti and Lūn?”

Both alicorns tried for a moment to dive into the depths of their memories. Celestia was the first to shake her head. “I’m afraid not, although I wish I could. It would have prevented so much death,” she added forlornly.

“Thank you, Celestia,” Twilight added quickly with a weak smile. “I know you would have, but you needn’t worry about me. The Day of Mourning is remarkably therapeutic.”

Both Luna and Celestia eyed the rather serene queen with studious gazes. She certainly didn’t look like someone who had lost nearly two hundred children. “I’ll take your word for it,” Luna replied at length with a touch of good humor. Yet it quickly soured. “I however, did have a specter of that old existence for much of my life.”

Celestia gave her sister a worried look, yet when Luna glanced her way, Celestia gave her a reassuring nod. “The thing is, Twilight, Sweva was a separate part of me all the way up until you and your friends cleansed me with the Elements.”

Twilight turned to Celestia who nodded that she knew of it. “I take it Sweva didn’t remember anything either.”

“No, she didn’t,” Luna confirmed. “She didn’t even go by the name Sweva, and instead simply called herself ‘The Dreamer’ because of her ability to dreamwalk. I used to tease her about giving herself such an unimaginative name.” Luna’s brief lapse of bemusement fell quickly. Twilight took the hint and silently ordered the local drones to make sure they were not disturbed.

“Back before my…episode, Dreamer was the real reason I knew that our subjects shunned the night.” Luna wrestled with old pain. Celestia rested a comforting wing across her sister’s back.

“You knew of her?” Twilight asked Celestia.

“I did, yes. I had always known the two, well, three of us were far from the norm. I simply thought Dreamer was a natural part of our unnatural status.”

Luna gently pushed her sister’s wing off. She glanced at Celestia, silently communicating that she wanted to speak without handholding. “Dreamer was also dramatic to a fault, and often exaggerated tales of how much our subjects vilified the night. She and I became so… caught up with ourselves that we… did what we did.”

She took a long deep calming breath. A shame I cannot participate in a Day of Mourning. Given how Twilight’s acting, I could certainly use a week or so of it.

“So is Dreamer still with you?”

“No, and at the same time yes,” Luna replied bitterly. It was more at herself than anyone else. Twilight became rather concerned at the reaction. “When we were struck by the Elements, the feeling is… difficult to describe. I felt the Elements’ power tearing away at our minds before merging us into one consciousness.” A shiver of dread crawled up her spine at the memory. “I’m not sure what parts of me are the original Luna, and what parts are Dreamer. But I still feel like I identify more with the old Luna, so I kept the name.”

Twilight turned to Celestia who was poorly hiding her aching heart. “I admit it was difficult to handle once we learned the truth of the matter.” Luna’s head dipped bit while casting her sister a mournful glance. “I still see much of Dreamer within you, your ability to dreamwalk chief among them.” Celestia’s face warmed and she nuzzled Luna affectionately. “I think you are much stronger now, more… balanced than before.”

Judging from Luna’s flat look, Twilight couldn’t decide if Luna agreed or was simply tired of hearing it. “I suppose it was easier for the public to accept the fused you, since no other living pony knows how you used to be.”

Luna’s face softened as Twilight’s words struck an old chord. She turned away from them to look at the clouds above. The untamed weather of the Everfree was cooperating for once, and she basked in a sunbeam that broke through the cloud cover. “You mean, besides the refugees? I suppose so. After all was said and done, I do feel happier this way.” She smirked and looked at Twilight. “I know Tia is certainly glad for it. I prefer to use my dreamwalking to banish nightmares rather than spy on our subjects like Dreamer did.”

Celestia allowed a brief moment of snootiness. “Humfph, she was a witch. Unlike you, dear sister, Dreamer could never acknowledge the importance of the sun. I dare say she was a bit touched.”

“Careful, Tia, Dreamer technically is half of who I am.” Luna chuckled lightly at Celestia’s dismissal before leaning into Twilight’s ear. “When Dreamer controlled my body during the day, she would always prank Tia rather heinously.”

Twilight took one look at Celestia’s rare bouts of overt fuming to see the bad blood. “I see. Thank you, for telling me about this, Luna. I’ll keep it in the strictest confidence.”

“Oh there’s no need for that anymore,” Luna waved dismissively. She beckoned everyone’s eyes to look more closely at the altar to the moon below. “They will undoubtedly spread word about Dreamer’s existence, and every being has a right to free speech in Equestria.”

“Censorship in this modern world always backfires spectacularly,” Celestia added.

A cloud of pegasi bearing chariots was coming in from the north. Celestia looked to Twilight who passed the word on.

Acknowledgements resounded in her head. Yet before she could speak further on the matter, the Golden Harvest caught her eye as its shadow passed over them. “Say, Luna.” The alicorn in question hummed inquisitively. “With such a massive jump in the thestral population, rations of Jiyya fruit are going to become spread rather thin.”

Luna’s ears fell flatter than her scowl. “Yes. With Mount Boom and the heavy winds you encountered, retrieving more fruit from natural sources will be next to impossible. And our current gardens won’t be sufficient.”

Twilight’s ear flicked and temple throbbed for a moment at the mentioning of the volcano’s nickname. Oh no, not Luna too. Hiding her Profound Irritation of Righteous Scholarly Indignation, Twilight remained pleasant. “Well, the Deception can make the journey, and should be operational enough to fly back within a month. After some time spent in dry-dock, it can make regular trips to the Chaos Lands for more fruit.”

Celestia gave a short giggle. “That is wonderful to hear. After the reports your ship’s crew gave to our own ship captains, our airships could never survive such winds. But such work is hardly befitting such a venerable warship. Even if I prefer it having a more civic use.”

Rainbow Dash briefly told Twilight about how exuberant Applejack was at finally being able to work with real Jiyya trees. “That’s Rainbow’s sentiments as well. Which is why I brought over some Jiyya trees along with the fruit, and enlisted Applejack to learn how to grow them in the Golden Harvest. If she can pull it off, we can build more flying specialized greenhouses for you, so you’ll never have to worry about Jiyya supplies ever again. You can ground them where ever they're needed.”

Luna’s eyes lit up like the stars in her flowing mane. “Truly?! By the stars that would solve so many problems!” She tapped her chin and looked down in thought for a few seconds. She looked back up when she came to an idea. “Once again, Queen Twilight Sparkle, you aid Equestria on your own initiative. A gift of this magnitude cannot go unrewarded.”

“I agree, Lulu,” Celestia added. The next group of refugees below were already moving into the waiting chariots. Oddly enough, several thestrals were gathering around the Ashes of the Phoenix where several drone guards were attempting to find out what they wanted.

All it took was a short conversation with one of the guards to figure what what. Some of the thestrals want to stay in the hive!? Given how they reacted to our appearance, surely this is a joke in bad taste. Twilight put the matter aside to focus on Celestia.

“I say, since this is a joint effort between you and an Equestrian citizen, namingly Madam Applejack, which means this falls under the purview of a research agreement between allied nations.”

Twilight hummed in agreeable understanding. “Grant funding. It’ll be like old times back in my Canterlot tower. I can use the extra funds to accelerate the hive’s infrastructure and the industrial center’s construction.”

“Thus allowing you to build more flying greenhouses,” Luna added, “I like it. I’ll have my aides draw up the accord as soon as I return to Canterlot.”

At Twilight’s earlier command, a drone arrived carrying three wine glasses and a bottle of Domane Leroy Chambertin from Prance. He poured the beverage and brought a glass to each royal before placing the bottle on the battlement and taking his leave. Celestia rose her glass, prompting the others to gently tink against it. “Here’s to Equestria and Phoenix’s Roost. May our two nations be united forever.”

“Hear, hear,” Luna and Twilight replied happily.

The instant Twilight started drinking from the glass, she just remembered she was currently producing eggs. In a panic she spat the rather expensive red wine out as fast as possible, only to discover Luna had been directly in her path. Twilight’s ears fell along with her jaw at the sight of a frozen Luna. The lunar diach was just standing there, with her glass still raised to her lips, which had partially shielded her face. Her mane and front were dripping with wine.

“I’m so sorry, I forgot I was ovipositing!”

Celestia had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing uproariously when it was obvious Twilight was in no danger. Twilight’s brain was misfiring in her frantic attempts at summoning a drone with a towel. Luna gathered her wits first, and simply lowered the glass. “You know, Twilight, if you dislike Domane that much, how about you leave the rest of the bottle with me?”

“Wha - huh?”

“Twilight, I thought you spat salve, not wine,” Celestia snickered behind her hoof.

“I know Blueblood would think it an improvement,” Luna jested as a drone finally arrived with a towel, only for her to dry herself off with a spell.

The drone looked to her queen only for Twilight to wave her away. She knew Luna would still need to bathe, drying spell or not. “Why don’t I show you to my personal baths. It’s the least I can do.” Luna nodded in agreement. Before she took to the air, Twilight gave a harmless scowl and levitated the wine bottle over to Luna. “It’s too expensive for my tastes anyway.”

Author's Note

Epilogue is next.

Epilogue

A few months later…

By the tradition of earning her crown, Twilight Sparkle was the very last royal to enter the Summit theater, save for any heir she had. So it was, that the gossiping and/or bickering between the gathered royals to came to a dead silence when Rainbow Dash stepped in right behind Twilight.

With the weather being hot and humid even this far above the tree canopy, the burning sun above only added to the intensity of the royals’ scrutiny. At least it would have, but this kind of weather was extremely comfortable to changelings.

After her unusual introduction at her first Summit, the other queens dissected Twilight Sparkle’s life and put everything under a microscope. Everything from who her friends were, family, eating habits, fashion sense (found to be quite lacking), they examined all they could to learn about the new potential rival.

As a result, everyone present knew who Rainbow Dash was at a glance. However, her status as a royal, let alone a queen, shocked all present, except one. As Twilight Sparkle approached the center of the Summit floor, Rainbow Dash proudly strutted over to sit next to Cadista with a bit of sass in her step. The cyan queen was practically drinking in the stunned atmosphere. Heh, I bet some of them might be pissing themselves. She actually started looking for such reactions as Twilight studied Silandrus.

Of all the other queens, Twilight saw no flash of surprise quickly covered up. No, instead she saw the grin of an old crone who loved to see others getting flustered. Not that the ancient queen tried to hide her smug grin at her rivals giving furious glances between themselves. Twilight Sparkle stood at the center of the Summit, awaiting Silandrus to officially recognize her. The old changeling left her waiting for at least a minute or so. The second part of the crowning ceremony was beyond sacred. No one was allowed to speak, not even the supplicant, until Silandrus willed it.

For her part, Twilight mostly ignored the other queens. Thankfully, Rainbow Dash kept a stoic posture, but all it took was a single whiff of her aura on the Link to know Rainbow was inches from taunting Chrysalis. I hope she keeps herself under control, the last thing we need is her making a scene. Twilight shifted her attention towards Silandrus, who was studying Rainbow with amusement. Why didn’t she show any surprise at RD? I thought we had been careful about hiding her queenly status.

After receiving a dozen boiling stares from the other queens, Silandrus finally allowed the proceedings to move forward. “You simply can’t help but to cause a stir wherever you go, can you, Queen Twilight Sparkle.” The old queen let off a dusty old laugh. “I half expected you to try and hide her for at least a little longer.”

Twilight didn’t need to turn around to feel Rainbow basking in her sudden infamy. By the First Mother, I think she might be getting heated by this. “In my defense, Queen Silandrus,” she said politely, if only to ignore her sister’s antics. Much to her dismay, Rainbow Dash had the uncanny ability to look like a model parade soldier, while also exuding smugness. “I abide the Summit accords, and would never hide an heir from the Summit. However, we have decided upon being co-rulers as sisters instead of her forming a separate hive later on.” That lessened the look of worry from many of the queens. Even though Twilight and Rainbow Dash knew co-rulership was seen by many as a sign of weakness on Rainbow’s part, they were obligated to inform the Summit. “In any event, I was within my rights to conceal the matter until now.”

“A fair point,” Silandrus conceded easily. If only because of how much drama it was causing the other queens. “The matter of Rainbow Dash’s status can be settled later. For now,” she cleared her throat to focus the rest of the royals’ attention away Rainbow Dash who outwardly looked as stoic as any other hardened soldier. Yet Rainbow was not quite able to hide her snarky emotions. “I suggest we move on to the reason you’ve called for the Summit to gather.” Before someone tries to dive too deeply into that cyan mare’s emotions and gets insulted. It’d be amusing, but it would waste too much of my time.

Several queens grumbled at not being able to voice their outrage, but the sooner Twilight finished speaking, the sooner they could.

“I agree.” Twilight kept herself from looking at Rainbow Dash while speaking to her.

Rainbow Dash casually slid a condescending eye at Chrysalis and her sisters. She made no overt movement, aside from sitting properly.

Ignoring her sister’s Rarity-level subtle insults, Twilight pulled out several scrolls from a satchel she had brought. “It took me a few months to get everything prepared, and I have my full report on our species’ history should any of you desire it.” Not likely, but you won’t see me skimp on academic thoroughness. The disinterested look on the faces of many of the queens confirmed Twilight’s musings. “For the purposes of this summit I've also brought the short version for all of you."

Twilight squared herself as she slipped fully into lecture mode, complete with red framed glasses. Not that she needed them, but they completed the look. “We as a species were created not by choice, but through an act of willful sabotage.” Despite their genetic predisposition for disinterest in the past, drama was always an attention grabber. “In the events leading up the creation of the first mother, who was actually named Feec'tul'ea, the thestral royal family ruled a desert empire. In an attempt to bring life to the desert sands, they worked for roughly fifty years to build a country wide arcanum array, what we now call alchemy. The Family used the ley lines as the array itself to make sure neither weather nor malcontents could disrupt their work. However, a member of the old thestral pantheon, a being named Gethar the Justicar, despised alchemy quite venomously. From what I gathered from the living thestrals I rescued, and journal entries from Rookhaven, I discovered that Gethar damaged the array in an attempt to nullify it completely.”

Twilight looked up from her scroll to glance over the crowd. Although silent, the gathered royals’ reactions thus far spanned a range from disinterest, to intrigue, and in a few cases, outright rage. Polybia’s probably going to raise a fit at me later. “Because of Gethar’s hatred for alchemy, he didn’t know how it worked, so his sabotage ended up making the array go wild. Most citizens of Rookhaven were corrupted in both mind and body, along with all but two of the thestral pantheon.”

Twilight flipped her scroll over, if only to ignore Polybia’s burning gaze. Chrysalis remained overtly neutral, and waited for Twilight to finish before rendering judgment. “As you might have already guessed from my previous reports, the royal family became roughly what we are today.”

One of the more lackadaisical queens could sense Twilight slipping into lecture mode and groaned loudly. “Spare us the minutia and just stick to the important bits.”

Twilight’s ears twitched, and saw Rainbow shooting the vocal queen a dirty look. Twilight expected such disinterest and skipped a few paragraphs. Apparently I didn’t make it short enough, she tsked at such disregard for knowledge. “I suppose I can for time’s sake. The bottom line is that I believe Feec’tul’ea is the first mother, or at least I would consider her to be.

“The thing is, yes, Tia’vil’yet was Feec’tul’ea’s mother. However, numerous journal entries from both individuals tells me that Tia’vil’yet was driven insane from her transformation into a changeling. Most of the other royal family was trying to adapt to their new situation where she only saw madness and evil.” She suppressed a shudder at the memory. “Some of the translations were… disturbing.”

Twilight shrugged her ill at ease away. “Not everypony can come back from such traumatic events. At any rate, Tia’vil’yet later laid Feec’tul’ea’s egg. By the time Feec’tul’ea was an adult, Tia’vil’yet had almost entirely lost her mind and started planning to kill off the rest of the royal family. I won’t bore you with the details, save to say that she used surprise to win. Barely three days after her first murder, only she and Feec’tul’ea remained. She was planning on killing her daughter and then herself, but Feec’tul’ea managed to overpower her.”

“Not wanting to kill her own mother, Feec’tul’ea interred Tia’vil’yet’s mind in the Chamber of Chitin to act as a guardian. It was around that time that Tia’vil’yet had gone completely mad. Desiring to give her mother at least some purpose, Feec’tul’ea stabilized her mother’s mind, within the crystal, enough to focus entirely on defending what records Feec’tul’ea felt she would need later in the Chamber. In addition, she also felt that the other members of the royal family weren’t exactly sane either, so she believed the events leading to our creation was too dangerous to remember.”

Twilight could see some of the queens’ attention was already starting to wander. Such disregard for history is so sad. Leaving her personal feeling aside, Twilight wrapped up her conclusion. “All told, there is no way to tell if Feec’tul’ea was the first royal to hatch, but she is our only ancestor to survive Tia’vil’yet’s purge. Therefore, I believe that she qualifies as our true First Mother.”

Of all the queens she expected to take questions from first, her least desired option was Chrysalis. So naturally, Chrysalis voiced the next question, now that tradition allowed as such. “I for one, will decide who I view as the First Mother on my own terms. However…” She briefly skimmed the scroll Twilight had given to every queen upon starting her lecture. “I would like to know more of this Feec’tul’ea.”

“I have my full report and copies of every translation onboard my ship. My crew is unloading them onto the docks as we speak. You can see the evidence for yourself.”

“Humor me,” Chrysalis replied with teasing contempt.

“Yes,” called a second queen, one of the younger queens, Twilight recalled. “You never brought up Feec’tul’ea in your previous findings. Why do so now?”

“I didn’t have the whole picture at the time,” Twilight replied calmly. “I originally thought she was a minor figure until I cross referenced enough information to discover her true role. She was the one who ultimately gave rise to the rest of us, and tried to erase much of our pre-changeling history. Thankfully she was too busy bringing us into prosperity to finish the job, or else I would have never found my way to Rookhaven.”

“Or secured the rights to your crown,” Kreesus commented with a carefully crafted grin. “So what of the artifacts we were promised?”

Much to Rainbow’s mild displeasure, the topic of artifacts drew all attention away from her. Ah well, my time to shine will come soon enough.

“We were lucky,” Twilight replied with a slight smile. “Due to Rookhaven being in a time-lock, all of the artifacts I was able to recover from the palace were in one piece… more or less. The destructive force of the grand array's mana detonation was absorbed into the structure of the palace itself. A consequence of the palace being structurally reinforced by magic in the first place. I have the first shipment of artifacts already unloading and the Home Guard is now taking it in for processing. Once everything is sorted, I’m sure Captain Thoran would be more than happy to distribute them as he sees fit.

“As for the artifacts themselves, they may not look it, thanks to the time-lock, but all of them predate our existence as a species. I believe that will suffice for my payment.”

Silandrus tapped her chin in contemplation. “I will have one of my escort drones go down and investigate them, and I suggest the rest of you to do the same.” She looked out at the crowd. It was rare for there to be a quick consensus between the royals, and Silandrus waited for the others to nod their compliance. “I noticed you had a second vessel along with… what was it called, the Deception?” Twilight nodded. Through the eyes of Silandrus’ drone, the vessel that the Deception was escorting was twice the size of the frigate, and as ponderous looking as Fluffy. “How many deliveries can we expect?”

“All told? Four. The old imperial family had a penchant for collecting artwork.” Twilight noticed a few queens took note of the implication that the warship was under her command, rather than Cadista’s. I hope mothers’ spies can give her enough warning before an attack. Or at least her new flagship can be completed and launched first.

Silandrus liked what she saw and heard from her puppet drone at the docks. The relics were not at all what she expected, but most of them brought a materialistic glint to her eye. “Excellent. Well then,” she shouted a bit louder, “I call for a vote. Since we can all see the scale of what Twilight Sparkle has delivered to us, and assuming we find no fault in the validity of her research.” Also assuming the lot of you bother to read it. “I move that the matter of Twilight Sparkle’s crown be closed in her favor.”

To no one’s surprise, and Twilight’s lament, almost none of the gathered royals wanted to dive any deeper into her research. Not even Chrysalis wanted to go beyond the cliff notes. Ugh, I swear that mare is painfully long winded in her writing. I might be forced to make an intelligent drone or two just to see if Twilight failed in her research. She stroked her chin at the thought. No… I’ll let her have this one. This is not the battlefield I want to fight on. Her eyes drifted over to Rainbow Dash. Now that the matter of Twilight’s crown was resolved, the floor was open to any other discussion. She faced Polybia, fully expecting her to lash out, and yet the tan colored queen was nose deep in the scroll Twilight had given out. Chrysalis’ slight sneer started to falter the longer it took Polybia to voice the righteous indignation that was surely coming.

Chrysalis was hardly the only one expecting a reaction out of Polybia. Twilight was observing her as well while Polybia read her notes. The more Polybia dove into the document, the more unstable the mix of hate and confusion spread over her face.

In the end, if Polybia had any objection, it was thrown to the wayside when Yeelindrus, Chrysalis’ youngest sister, tossed the scroll away with complete indifference and jabbed a hoof in Rainbow Dash’s direction. In hindsight, Chrysalis was rather proud of her for not speaking during the finalization of Twilight’s right to her crown, lest she commit a crime against Summit Law. “Fine, you have your stupid crown, but what is she all about?”

Sensing the perfect time to have some amusement, Silandrus answered for both former ponies. “Yeelindrus, surely you know of Rainbow Dash. Former Element of Loyalty.” She leaned to the side of her chair with a smirk. “That cloud and lightning… what are they called again, plot mark?”

Twilight and Rainbow’s expressions fell a little, with Twilight giving a tactful reply. “Cutie mark.”

“Right, that,” she replied dismissively, “the mark is a dead giveaway.”

“And for the record,” Rainbow barked hastily, only to calm a little at Twilight’s silent insistence for respect. “I’m still the Element of Loyalty. Even if I don’t have the necklace anymore.”

“I don’t care about your stupid element,” Yeelindrus raged. She glanced accusingly between Cadista and Twilight, neither of which gave anything away in their carefully constructed neutral expressions. Gaining nothing, Yeelindrus refocused on Rainbow. “Why are you a queen?!”

A mottled green and grey queen sitting on the other side of the room stood up to be seen. “Despite Yeelindrus’ tactless blustering, she voices a sound concern. It is my understanding that you have barely started building your hive, Twilight Sparkle. We,” she swept a hoof at the other queens, fully inviting anyone to refute her, “have seen no evidence of you sending out love collectors. Not only that, but I find it hard to believe that Cadista could support both hives, and rebirthing another equestrian into a royal.”

The speaker left out the obvious question as to why Twilight would do so. The royals of the jungle were not blind to the world outside. Rainbow’s partial rebirth was old news due to loose lips and prying eyes. Only her royal status came as a shock to all, save Silandrus who was enjoying every moment Twilight squirmed. For all her years under Celestia’s tutelage, Twilight still found such heavy scrutiny cringe worthy.

Rainbow Dash’s military bearing faltered a little under her sister’s nervousness.

Cadista remained outwardly emotionless, but her inner tone of voice was remorseful.

Twilight took a long calming breath. “The reason you’ve never seen me send out any love collectors is because we don’t need them.” She looked up towards Silandrus with a hint of a smirk to match the old queen’s own. Let’s see if the spymistress herself knows about this. “Nearly every changeling, both royal and drone alike, who belongs to my bloodline is capable of producing love.”

Ancient beings often times think they can no longer feel surprise. Not something shallow like being startled, but deep profound shock was supposedly beyond Silandrus, or so she had thought. For a race so devoted to the shadows and concealment, everyone’s first thought was that she was lying. She had to be. Had Twilight said those words anywhere else, no one would have believed her.

Yet the Summit was as close to a holy place the changelings possessed. Only here within its walls were the lies and deceit forbidden.

Silandrus respected Twilight enough to know the young queen would never dare to bend such sacred laws, let alone break them. Yet despite that, she couldn’t help but to lean forward in her chair and ask the question that had already been answered. “You truly produce love?”

“Yes, we do,” Twilight confirmed. A rise in Rainbow’s humor over the hive mind drew Twilight’s attention. Allowing her to know Rainbow’s question before she voiced it.

Rainbow tossed back after her ego deflated a little.

Once the initial shock wore off, the whole chamber erupted in chaos. Twilight could hear some queens accusing her of lying before the Summit. Others were demanding proof, while more suddenly found many of their schemes were worthless against her. Only two queens remained silent. Silandrus was still in the throes of shock, and was quite enjoying the novel feeling. Cadista would have been silent, but she was busy trying to pull a couple of queens from Chrysalis’ camp and onto her side. As for Chrysalis herself, she was caught on one question: how?

She looked to the one person who would have the clearest answer. “Cadista!” she shouted loud enough to silence the room. “There have been hundreds if not thousands of ponies who have been converted into changelings.” All eyes bounced between Chrysalis and the smug Cadista who sat there with a superior grin. This was one of the moments that gave Cadista reason to continue drawing breath. “Tell us, how did you create a changeling, let alone royal that can produce love!? I demand to know!”

A cruel and vile scowl, the likes of which Twilight had never seen on her mother’s face before, marred Cadista’s face as she addressed the object of her old hatred. “You can ask Yumia how I did it when I send you to the afterlife. Assuming you’re worthy of even looking upon the Silver City that day.”

“You have to tell us!”

“We deserve the truth!”

“The Summit demands it!”

Silandrus jolted out of her enjoyable stupor to take to the air and caused a mini thunderclap with her magic to silence the chamber. “No, it does not!” she roared, having missed who spoke last. She glared at each of the gathered royals, making sure not to skip the few scattered princesses either. “We each have our secrets. There are some that must be shared, such as a new heir, and there are those that do not. Or else we would have to share all of our alchemical knowledge with one another.”

“This is more than just creating a better drone,” Jstrul, Chrysalis’ middle sister challenged. “If we could all produce love, then we wouldn’t have the same restrictions we have now! We could finally spread as far as the might of our armies could take us.”

“Is that all you can think about?” Twilight spat with contempt. “Conquest? It’s no wonder none of you could ever produce a loving royal daughter.” Well, that and genetics, I’m sure. The comment had the desired effect. Many of Chrysalis’ allies had brief looks of contemplation before quickly hiding them as Twilight continued with steel in her voice. “Have all of you truly forgotten what love actually is?” Twilight glared at the assembled queens with borderline disgust. “It is something that living beings share and give to one another!”

The vast majority of the royals scoffed or silently dismissed Twilight’s accusations, save Silandrus. The old spymistress rolled the young queen’s words around in her head. Is there more to that than Equestrian self-righteousness, or is she just pratilling her beliefs?

As Twilight took a breath to continue, one of the more neutral queens huffed disdainfully at her. “If you’re so high and mighty about giving, why don’t you give us the secret to love production?”

Chuckles rang out from a few princesses who saw the sarcasm. Twilight simply resumed her neutral posture. “It is not an ability that I can simply give. Nor is it possible to reproduce via alchemy. However, I will say this. Retaining this ability limits what I can do to alchemically alter my drones. I’ve had a few clutches who lack the ability, so even I do not fully know the extent as to what I can and cannot do.”

A slow clap from a single pair of hooves resounded through the hot and humid room. Chrysalis stopped after the sixth one when she had everyone attention. Even the other queens retook their seats. “I must say. Bravo, Cadista, bravo. Despite, or maybe in spite of your failings, you’ve managed to produce the single most important evolution in the history of our species, outside of the hive mind perhaps.” She stared at Silandrus.

It took a moment for the old queen to understand the unvoiced request. What? Oh, now someone actually cares enough to ask for the floor properly? With a lethargic sigh, Silandrus heaved herself into an upright position. “The Summit recognizes Queen Chrysalis.”

Twilight gave a troubled look between Chrysalis and Cadista before taking her seat to Rainbow’s left. Chrysalis didn’t bother walking to the center, and opted to hover above it. “I say we let them keep their little secret. Not that it will remain one for long,” she added with a lethal glare towards Twilight and her family. “Now that we all know it’s possible, we can start our own research anew.” At least now I know what that little project Cadista and Yumia were so focused on for so long. “Not only that…”

Chrysalis contemplated the matter for a few seconds. Each moment saw a slow grin cleave her muzzle. “This will be an excellent test for the future of our kind, don’t you all agree?” She scanned the crowd, looking for anyone who came to the same realization she did. A few caught her meaning, but the majority didn’t. I suppose I will have to be blunt. She looked at Twilight and Rainbow Dash with fire in her eyes. “You two have changed the rules of the game. Let us see who among us are capable of adapting,” she turned to a number of queens who Chrysalis deemed were one step above from failures, “and who will be left behind.” Chrysalis glided back to her seat. “I have nothing further to say,” she added with eerie cheer.

The rest of the Summit revolved around more questions about Twilight’s bloodline and her love production. Predominantly questions crafted to try and tease out details about how to replicate it, but the other queens ultimately gained little. It was around early evening as Silandrus stewed in her chair while the other queens started pursuing the artifacts Thoran had brought up.

Bah, this is no longer a Summit, it’s a damn flea market. She slammed her gavel several times before everyone stopped bickering over who got what. “If we have nothing further to add to the day’s Summit, I call this session to a close.” She received no objections. “Very well, Captain Thoran. I suggest we move all of this to one of the large halls. It is insulting what you’ve turned this chamber into by bringing the artifacts up.”

The drone in question dipped his head in submission. “My apologies, Chairmare.” He whistled loudly and waved a hoof at his subordinates who quickly picked up the goods and started moving out. Several queens snatched choice bits as the drones left.

Cadista saw her opportunity.

Twilight replied and quickly chased after her mother as she took the north exit.

Rainbow Dash frowned deeply at the whole situation as nearly every royal followed, tactfully of course, after Thoran and the artifacts. Maybe Twilight’s first show and the whole love thing stole my thunder.

With the Summit over, Rainbow let her military bearing fall away completely and sprinted off to join her kin.

She caught to them as Cadista was talking with her daughter. “Now we must be more cautious than ever before. Your drones especially, will be targeted for foalnapping so the others can learn the secret of love production. It doesn’t mean they will from such actions, but they don’t know that.”

The group rounded a corner as Twilight replied with a worried look. “We can’t barricade ourselves in Phoenix’s Roost. The others would just see it as a sign of weakness and fear on our part.”

Rainbow Dash spied one of Chrysalis’ drones trying to conceal itself as the trio marched towards the docks.

Without looking behind towards Rainbow, Cadista hissed reply.

“So ah, how about them Colts?”

Twilight and Cadista actually came to a dead stop to give Rainbow a bemused and sour face respectively. Rainbow nudged Twilight with her side. “Okay, fine, I know you don’t like sports, but come on granny. You can’t tell me you don’t watch hoofball through a proxy.”

Twilight chuckled softly. “Come on, RD, you know she’s too busy for that sort of thing.” She turned to Cadista for confirmation, only to find her mother wearing a mask of slight embarrassment. “Wait…” Twilight’s eyes widened at the realization. “You do?”

Rainbow started snickering, only causing Cadista to give up the ghost. “Pah, okay so I do. I have to admit equestrian sports are rather entertaining. I’ve been thinking of making a team or two from my soldiers.”

“But a… wha…” Twilight had to shake herself just to speak properly, yet she never got the chance when Rainbow interrupted her.

“Sweet! We should totally make teams of our own, Twi. One for each of us!” Something finally registered in her brain, making her enthusiasm diminish slightly. “Why only the soldiers?”

Clearing her throat to regain her sense of regal bearing, Cadista started walking again. “Two fold. First to see if it improves the quality of life for my children.”

“You can bet it will, Granny.”

“Grr, stop calling me that!” Cadista rolled her eyes and forced her tone back to normal. “The second as a test bed for different strains. There are many aspects a hoofball player has that would also benefit a soldier. Endurance, mental agility, toughness, the list goes on.”

Worded as such, Twilight’s bafflement melted away to intrigue. “Yes, yes, I see what you mean. I’m sure it would be a popular addition to the hive.”

“Ha ha! Oh yes!” Rainbow pumped a hoof and started flying above her kin. “We should totally send them to compete with Equestrian teams too!”

The group stepped out onto the castle’s docks, which had been built by the Home Guard specifically to cater to Yumia and Cadista, only to find Polybia waiting for them.

All sense of joviality evaporated at the sight of her. Grinding her teeth at the expected challenge, Twilight stepped forward, with Rainbow staying by her side.

Saying nothing, but giving her support nonetheless, Cadista allowed her daughter to stand on her own. She’s done well so far. She needs to be able to stand on her own.

Twilight scanned Polybia’s neutral expression. She’s masking herself better than last time. “I assume you’ve taken offense to my findings.”

Heavy wind blasted past the royals as the engines of the airships started spooling up for launch. Polybia had to shout to be heard over the chopping turbines. “I don’t know what to think about you, Twilight Sparkle. On one hoof, your findings are heretical to the extreme, and on the other, I cannot see you lying to the Summit. For what it’s worth, I believe you hold true to the Honor of Queens.”

“So you agree to disagree or something?” Rainbow queried with thinly veiled dismissal.

“You can not simply pull a new queen out of a hat, and expect anyone to accept her as the true First Mother.” Polybia’s control over her indignation was starting to crack.

“Maybe I wasn’t clear,” Twilight started with a touch of exasperation. The crews picked a bad time to start take off procedures. She ignored the growing backwash and cast a spell to make conversation easier to manage. “I was lucky to get Feec’tul’ea’s name at all. She was extremely thorough in expunging old records.”

“Honestly, I thought you’d be more pissed off to find out Tia’vil’yet wasn’t the pure soul you keep making her out to be.”

Polybia growled at Rainbow’s flippant comment, yet it was lost in the wind. “There are no saints in the jungle, Rainbow Dash.” She glanced in Cadista’s direction. “Never have been, and never will be. But that does not give either of you the right to mock Tia’vil’yet, nor take away her status as First Mother!”

Fuming all the while, Twilight tried to maintain a diplomatic air. “I never said Tia’vil’yet was out and out removed from her status as First Mother of us all, only that my interpretation of the facts leads me to the conclusion that her daughter, Feec’tul’ea, better fits the role. If you read what I’ve given you, and you still see Tia’vil’yet as the proper First Mother, then so be it.”

Polybia stamped the wooden dock with enough force to smash through the planks. “Don’t you get it! You’ve split us up! Now there will be queens honoring one or the other! You’ve divided us in the worst way possible, Twilight Sparkle.” She spat her name out as if it were poison. “You have made an enemy for life.”

“I only offered the facts in the most unbiased way possible. I only added my opinion in my speech, not my report.”

Polybia spat on the ground as she yanked her hoof out of the floor. “So I’ve seen. Despite the damage you’ve caused this day, you did deliver factual knowledge of the First Mother’s life, no matter how grim it might have been. And for that gift of knowledge, I present one of my own, from one enemy to another.”

Rainbow Dash shared a quizzical glance with her sister. “I’m not sure we can trust your word if you're declaring yourself as an enemy.”

“I wouldn’t expect an outsider like you to understand.” Polybia faced Twilight and brought up one of her scrolls. “If what Twilight Sparkle’s rather heavily redacted report on your transformation says is true, you didn’t undergo a true rebirth. As much as I despise you, Twilight Sparkle, I will at least acknowledge you as a true changeling, but you, Rainbow Dash, are but a pony in changeling chitin. You will always be an outsider.”

Twilight brushed a hoof against Rainbow’s chest. “Let her speak, RD. We still stand on the grounds of the Ebony Castle. Polybia won’t lie to us here.”

Polybia gave a slight nod and snort of shared respect. “You should know, Twilight Sparkle, that your first foray into our jungle was hardly a secret, no matter how much your dear mother wished it to be.”

Upon hearing her name, Cadista flew over, but did not interrupt just yet. Polybia eyed her carefully before continuing. “I always have a scout watching the trade caravans Cadista sends between Stripped Gear and her little outpost by the chasm. I know I’m not the only one either, because it was Silandrus who made the attempt on your life that day.”

“Damn, I knew it had to be her!” In her anger, Cadista grappled a wooden crate off the dock and flung it at her airship with enough force to shatter the box. “I thought it was too convenient that none of the attacking drones were there when I arrived.”

“So Silandrus tried to kill me…” Twilight mulled over the news. “Yes, she was the one in charge of information control about our race, and it sounds like something she would do. What about the big shape or beast that I can never remember properly?”

Polybia tilted her head with an amused smile. “That would probably be the Silence Behemoth she prodded over to clean up the mess her drones left behind.”

Cadista and Twilight gasped at the audacity of it, while Rainbow was left in the dark. “Umm, anypony mind telling me what a Silence Thing is?”

“A Silence Behemoth,” Cadista replied with fear trembling her voice. “The worst kind of monstrosity the Jungle has ever seen, even more so to us changelings.”

Twilight was rubbing her forelegs as the memory resurfaced. “Those building sized monsters have the ability to numb everypony within half a kilometer around them from the hive mind.” She gave her sister a troubled look. “No changeling can recover quick enough to defend themselves from it before being eaten. If it wasn’t for our airships, the Silence Behemoth would be the apex predator here, not us.”

“By Celestia’s sunburnt plot, are you serious?!” Having been fully integrated into the hive mind for months, the mere thought of being numbed to it sent chills down Rainbow’s spine. “I bet you five bits Silandrus made sure you were poisoned before sending that monster at you.”

“You’re more astute than I give you credit for,” Polybia rolled the compliment off her tongue as if it was an insult. Rainbow Dash wasn’t sure how to take it, not that Polybia gave her a chance to respond. “I doubt the Ghast Spider venom was the only thing you were poisoned with. But even if that was the only toxin running through your veins, The Silence Behemoth's overwhelming strength is sufficient to overpower anyone alive, Discord notwithstanding... perhaps. What I find unnerving was Silandrus being able to command one, even indirectly.”

Without elaborating, Polybia cast a ring of fire around herself. “I have said my piece and have nothing more to say to you.” With contempt replacing her scowl, Polybia sank into the portal.

Rainbow Dash huffed dismissively and rolled her head over to her sister. “So what do we do about Silandrus?”

“We do nothing, Rainbow Dash.” Cadista flew over to land in front of the younger queens. “The last thing we need is to make an enemy of Silandrus. Just be glad she no longer requires your life, my daughter.”

There was a war going on in Twilight’s mind. All that her transformation had taken from her, the loss of Velvet as a loving mother, her simpler life in Ponyville, all the pain she had suffered to establish herself as a queen quarried with all she had gained. Her beloved children, the fulfillment of being queen, wrestled for control of her emotions.

“I… I think I need to sleep on this.”

As Twilight brooded her way onto her airship, Chrysalis, Jstrul, and Yeelindrus picked through the pile of choice artifacts they absconded with. The trio was in one of the lower chambers, waiting for their small army of drones to fly in to carry the items away.

Chrysalis was fascinated by a massive four meter tall, and ten meter wide oil painting that depicted a panoramic Rookhaven in its pristine glory. The frame was made from a golden wood from a long extinct tree, more than sufficient to satisfy her with its glory alone. The rest of the artifacts were simply icing on the cake. I wonder if Twilight had to teleport this beauty inside herself.

Jstrul had her own favorites, but she was only half focused on appraising it while the rest of her mind was centered on the love issue. She briefly looked at Yeelindrus who was primping herself in a silver inlaid mirror. The item had been cracked badly from the incidents at Rookhaven, but Twilight’s drones had repaired it so it was impossible to tell. “Chrssy, what are we going to do about Twilight and Rainbow Dash? They could amass a limitless army if left to their own devices.”

“Very true, Dear One. But attacking them now would be problematic. Every other queen will be dedicated to unlocking their secret of love production.” She narrowed her gaze at one of the streets in the painting, and noticed that the artist had actually drawn in little figures. “They’ll be stumbling over each other to try and snatch a drone to test on. But they will fail, all of them.”

Yeelindrus overheard her and carelessly dropped the mirror. Luckily it landed on a pile of cushions. “Why? We know it’s possible, we should just take a drone, rip out the secret and then breed an army of drones that can feed themselves.”

“Because that won’t work,” Chrysalis replied at length. Maybe I’ll have to expand my personal chambers to accommodate this exquisite art. Satisfied with her acquisition, she moved on to a grand, meter long string instrument she had never seen before. “If we could have teased love production out of alchemy before, we would have done so already. Not to mention Twilight is no fool. She knows we’ll be hunting her drones now. It would be folly to try and take them on multiple levels.”

Jstrul pondered the issue, realizing her elder sister’s wisdom as truth. “What if we took one of her consorts?”

“Consorts?” Yeelindrus queried. “Why would they be any different than a simple drone? Especially when we can simply activate them into consorts?”

“Tsk, tsk, Young One,” Chrysalis kindly scolded. “You should already know only a drone’s egg mother, or that mother’s direct royal daughter, can convert a drone into a consort.”

“But if we kidnap one, our pheromones would be enough to keep the consort fertile.” Jstrul put her prizes down to look at her sisters. “Assuming they can be taken before self-destructing.”

It was common practice for a consort’s body chemistry to have a potentially unstable element. All it took was a simple command from the queen, or by the drone himself for his body to necrotize itself, starting with the reproductive system.

Yeelindrus tittered behind a hoof. “That weakling, Twilight, is too soft to give such an order. Even if she wasn’t, a simple charm with a follow up Link sever could easily net us a love consort.”

“She’s soft, that much is not in question,” Jstrul commented with a contemplative hum. “But even she would at least keep the destruction of the gonads part intact in the event of a consort being severed from her.”

“That is my assessment as well,” Chrysalis agreed. Several dozen drones burst into the room and immediately started taking the artifacts without a word. With silent direction, the queens sorted their prizes so the drones knew which hive to take them too. “Besides, it is not a matter we can risk revealing to her before securing our prize. Therefore, we’ll need to try a different approach.”

Yeelindrus hissed at a pair of drones who were about to take an ornate porcelain doll. They cowed away, and she snatched the miniature thestral to inspect it. “Why don’t we trick them into mating with one of us? We’re bound to get at least one egg out of the clutch that can produce love.”

Both Jstrul and Chrysalis were taken aback by the idea. Not only because it was sickening, but by the brilliance of it. The source of such an idea didn’t help much either. “Even the village idiot has flashes of wisdom,” Jstrul muttered to her older sister.

Yeelindrus overheard part of the remark, but Chrysalis walked over and draped a loving hoof over her younger sister before she could speak out. “Well done, Yeelindrus. It may be disgusting to mate with another queen’s consort, but considering the prize, it will be worth it.”

Jstrul was far less enthusiastic. “Disgusting is right. Love production would be a game-changer, but isn’t that a step too far?”

“Sacrifices must be made, Dear One.” Chrysalis gently stroked Yeelindrus’ cheek, showering her with affection. The youngest sister leaned into the touch. “To gain, one must be willing to pay for it.”

Jstrul flushed at the attention Yeelindrus was getting. “And what of Equestria and the invasion plans?”

Much to Yeelindrus’ instant dissatisfaction, Chrysalis stopped petting her and walked over to a globe. Or at least the closest analog one could obtain to a globe with the assumtion that the planet was flat. It was woefully out of date, showing only the Moonlit Empire with mountains surrounding it. “We no longer need to bother with them. As soon as we secure a breed of drones capable of love production, our kind’s greatest limitation will be gone. Once that happens…” She hummed teasingly as she slowly spun the globe. On opposite sides of Rookhaven sat a glorified moon, and a simplistic sun. Chrysalis could feel the craftsman had begrudgingly added the incandescent orb only because he had to. “I say we finally claim the entirety of the Jungle for ourselves.”

“What do you mean?” Yeelindrus queried with a furrowed brow and a tremble of excitement.

Ever the drama queen to rival Rarity, Chrysalis glanced about conspiratorially while ordering her drones to make sure there were no eavesdroppers. “Tia’vil’yet’s reasoning for killing all of her kin was foolish, but it does give me an idea.”

Chrysalis jumped up on top of a large silver colored chaise lounge. “We are obsolete, sisters. There is no getting around that.”

Being called obsolete was a grave insult, but coming from their older sister made it worse. In addition to the evidence, the truth finally drove the proverbial blade into their hearts. “You don’t really expect us to just lay down and die, do you?” Jstrul challenged with growing disgust. “I refuse to let those Equestrians be the new face of our species!”

“Yeah, what she said! We gotta take that power from her!”

Chrysalis tsked at her middle sister while waving a condescending hoof. “Yeelindrus is exactly right. We take that ability, refine it, produce a princess with that ability, and then we enact a culling.”

The younger sisters were stunned. Jstrul couldn’t help but to stutter her next words. “A-a culling? W-what of our allies?”

“They must all die. Once our love producing daughters have stabilized hives of their own, we must never again lay a royal egg. This is our purpose, dear sisters. It has always been our purpose, only this time, the jump in evolution is too monumental to allow the other queens to live. Even our allies.”

“What of Twilight and Rainbow Dash?” Yeelindrus queried with concern. “Neither of them is obsolete, and it will take forever and a day before our daughters could compete with them.”

“A good point,” Chrysalis conceded smoothly. She took to the air and started slowly orbiting her sisters. “The war to conquer Equestria will have to be put on hold. This is far too important for the future of our race, and knowing Celestia, she’ll probably start downsizing her army if her fears of a changeling invasion prove unfounded for too long.”

She didn’t like it, but Jstrul could see it was the best course of action. “The two queens of Phoenix’s Roost will probably do the same. Allies or not, those ponies would never trust an arms buildup right in the middle of their territory.”

“Sooo… That means we’ll be left alone to clean house here? I like it.” Yeelindrus squashed the doll with her magic, only to find that the porcelain encompassed the entire doll, rather than just the face. She caused a few cracks before stopping. What I don’t like is breaking my toys!

“Precisely right.” Jstrul snatched the doll away to try and mend it with her magic. “And those two will only have the Everfree Forest, which isn’t even half the size of the jungle,” Jstrul replied absently as the cracks started to close. “Not to mention those two are so peace-minded they’ll never think to take advantage of our daughters.”

“Just so long as we raise them correctly,” Chrysalis cautioned. “We’ll still have to make sure Phoenix's Roost doesn’t become too powerful. For now, we should focus acquiring the services of one of Twilight Sparkle’s consorts. After that, Cadista needs to be dealt with before we can move on the rest of the hives.”

With the last of the artifacts cleared out by the drones, the Chrysalis sisters departed the Ebony Castle. Visions of the future danced in their thoughts. The idea of ushering in the next incarnation of their species burned in their hearts, giving them a sense of purpose far stronger than ever before.

No matter how much she saw it, Arya still possessed a profound sense of wonder whenever she explored every facet of Phoenix’s Roost. Sadly, it was not a sentiment shared by most of her fellow Tea’la.

The entirety of the plant pony tribe was gathering at the south gate of Phoenix’s Roost. Arya and barely a dozen other Tea’la were standing within walls' boundaries, while the hundred or so others stood outside the threshold. He’la, chief farseer, and the elders stood with the majority. “You cannot convince us, sapling. The visions have come. If all stay here, we bring calamity and despair. Is better we tend to the forest.”

“But what if vision wrong?” Arya challenged with a searching gaze at her kin. The handful of changeling guards on top of the walls watched on, but did not interfere. “You no can say visions always right!”

“Maybe yes, maybe no,” Vel’it, eldest of the elders replied with a raspy brittle tone. “But we do not belong here.” He feebly tried to wave a hoof at the hive, only to nearly tumble to the ground had an aide not caught him. “Imperials did great service to us. They save us from the cursed wood, but we are not one with that tech-no-gee. We only get in way.”

“We learn!” Arya barked back. “We are Tea’la! We are strong and wise. Twilight and colorery sister help make us strong, and then we make them strong. Just like with the flowers and the bees.”

“Nay, Seedling,” He’la said wistfully. She cantered forward and placed an honoring hoof upon the young druid. “It is not our way. Maybe someday, but not today, and not tomorrow.” She could see Arya had started to tear up and her lower lip quivered despite her efforts to stop it. “We are of the woods, but you must walk a different path than the tribe.”

Arya’s brow furrowed and her wings rattled in confusion. “What you mean? Am I banished?”

He’la hugged her junior, making sure her tears never reached the ground. “Nay, never. Do not trouble yourself with Gethar’s flight. You are my best student, and bravest of all. The spirits spoke of these things as you help save our people from Gethar’s fury.”

Arya sniffled and tightened her hug on her mentor. “What would they ask of me?”

He’la separated from Arya, but kept a wooden wing under her student’s face to ensure any more tears did not touch the ground. “This tech-no-gee is powerful, massive, dangerous. The forest is just as powerful, and massive, and dangerous. But imperials prove the stronger. So the spirits desire you to keep the tech-no from being too black and dirty. Help the imperials be green like the oak, and flowing like the river.”

Arya looked around at those who decided to stay with the hive as well. All of them were saying their goodbyes as well. “How will I do that? I know nothing of tech-no-gee. Why they listen to me?”

“Not be easy, I know.” He’la looked to the various trees that lined the streets of the hive with a warm smile. “But methinks they listen, you need only to tell them.”

“Try I will.” Arya sniffed to hold her tears back. “Where will all you go?”

He’la turned south, trying to see past the cleared patches of forest. “There are calm woods Queen told us of. We go there. When we find it, I send messenger to you so you can find us.”

With one wing crossed in front of her, the other pointing towards the sky, Arya bowed deeply to her mentor. “Proud, I will make you. No fear in that.”

“Know this, I do.” He’la returned the honored gesture, prompting both to rise a moment later. “Is why the elders and I name you Chief Druid of those who stay.”

Arya stood a little straighter at the praise, her branches rattled in satisfaction. “Lead well, I will.”

The two groups waved their final goodbyes before He’la walked over to the front of her group and started the long trek to more peaceful woods. Arya remained at the threshold of the gate with the others, not wanting to lose sight of them. The road the changelings had been working on went northwest towards Ponyville, but not the straight westward path the Tea’la needed to go to reach White Tail Wood. As such, it was not long before He’la’s group disappeared into the vegetation.

Aegis flittered down from the wall to hover next to her Arya. “Are you guys sure you couldn’t take an airship to White Tail? We’d have been more than happy to take them.”

The druid shook her head. “Nay, visions say they must walk this path. It is our way.” She turned to look at Aegis. “Many thanks to the bright and dark princesses for letting us stay in their land.”

“There’s barely any of you at all. They’d have taken you in anyway.”

An alert across the hive mind made Aegis look up towards the southern skies. “See ya later Stick Wings.” She shot up high above the trees to find the Deception and the Column of Spring entering the hive’s airspace. Mother’s presence on the Link is pretty chipper at the moment, I think now’s the best time to ask before she gets too busy with hive business again.

Sprinting off, Aegis reached the descending warship within minutes, and smoothly slid right onto the bridge after a sibling preemptively opened the side hatch for her. “Thanks, brother.”

“No problem, Captain.”

The recently promoted shipmaster, Rourke, swiveled on her captain’s chair. She bore the same naval hat Veselov wore before her. Unlike her predecessor, the cigar in her mouth wasn’t lit. “What brings you here in such a hurry?”

“Nothing critical, but I wanted to speak with mother face to face before she swamped herself with work.”

“Hmm?” Rourke rolled the cigar in her mouth. The flavor was quite enjoyable, yet that was set aside for Aegis’ odd request. “She’s in her quarters. No doubt getting ready to leave them.”

“Right, thanks,” Aegis almost left immediately, but stopped at the exit to face the shipmaster again. “You’re still on for that poker game tomorrow night right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” Rourke with a smirk before spinning her chair back towards the bow. “And try not to cheat this time.” Before Aegis could protest, she made a shipwide announcement, effectively dismissing her.

“I never cheat, you loon!” After being thoroughly ignored, Aegis bolted for Twilight’s cabin. Fortunately, it was fairly close to the bridge. For changelings, there was no knocking on one’s door, so Aegis pinged Twilight and was allowed entry shortly thereafter.

The queen was in the middle of brushing her tail while she was closing a large tome. She was also passively overseeing a construction crew begin groundbreaking on a second domicile for the fifty thestrals who opted to remain with the hive. It was barely taxing her multitasking abilities, so this time ended up being a sort of break before the true work began anew. She smiled at Aegis’ entry. “Good afternoon, Aegy, I was just finished talking to a far away friend of mine.” She sniffed out Aegis’ inner giddiness was mixed with apprehension. “I take it you want some quality time?” she added with a motherly smile.

Grinning ear to ear, Aegis raced over to glomp Twilight. Between the warmth of a mother’s love and her fur, Aegis felt a few precious seconds of bliss. Twilight sighed contently. She had been so preoccupied, that Twilight had let her love reserves slip to just under healthy levels. My egg production isn’t exactly helping preserve love. Aegis’ timing was quite good.

“So how was the Summit?” Aegis asked after a few minutes.

Twilight separated from her daughter with a mild grumble. “As well as could be expected, I guess. I had to give out our secret of love production to explain Rainbow Dash’s royal blood. The others would have discovered why eventually. At least now we know that they know.”

“And your crown?” Aegis looked at the silver crown with amethyst studs perched on Twilight’s brow. She had it recolored to reflect the moon rather than the pitch black it had been before.

“All rights reserved.” Twilight eyed her daughter carefully. “As often as you try to sneak in momma time with me, I get the feeling there’s something else you want to talk about.”

Damn, caught red—hoofed. Aegis bounced away and into a low hover, and facing away from Twilight. “Well, I have been thinking about something for a long time. Since around the time I hatched from my chrysalis.” She slowly rotated to look at her mother. “You know how you’ve got these plans to have future royal daughters claim the chaos lands for their hives? That’s still a go right?”

“Ah, well, yes it is. RD, Ratchet, and I were talking about that on the way back from the Summit.” Twilight resumed brushing her tail. A quick ping from Rourke informed her they would be docking soon. “Why, do you have any ideas on that?”

“I – ahhh, I do, actually.” Leveraging her military professionalism, Aegis kept from rubbing her forelegs nervously. I only have one chance to pitch this right, or she’ll veto it for sure. “I’ve been thinking that we can’t just let random chance determine who the next royal will be.” She glanced between Twilight’s face and her crown. “Each queen is too critically important to risk them having a bit too much crazy in them.”

A dour pale fell over Twilight as she considered the problem. “That’s true enough. That’s why royal daughters are genetically tailored to such a degree, but the mind is less cooperative in that regard.” She laughed at herself before giving her daughter a sardonic eye. “I only have to look at how different all of my children are from me. Even among those who were not altered by alchemy, such as yourself, have such a vast array of different personalities. Sure, there are common themes, but not that many.”

“Exactly!” Aegis half cheered as she landed on the bed, mucking up the carefully made sheets. “So I was thinking that maybe you should rebirth somepony into a royal daughter, sort of like what Granny did.”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Twilight refusal caused Aegis’ whole body to slump. “If there’s one thing you should take away from Equestrian society it’s the three strike rule. My rebirth was a matter of life and death. Even if Rainbow didn’t undergo a rebirth per say, everyone thinks she might as well have.” Twilight shook her head at Aegis. “Even if I publicly announce a… I don’t know, contest or something, to find somepony who fit the right criteria, it would only ruin what rapport we’ve built with the public.”

Aegis took a slow deep breath. It’s now or never. Sweating bullets all the while, Aegis turned towards the window to hide her tremor. “I was thinking more along the lines of rebirthing a… drone, perhaps?”

Twilight’s brush halted mid-stroke. She turned to Aegis with puzzlement on her lips. “A drone?”

“Ah well, yeah, I mean, we’d be perfect for it.” Aegis hoped her sweat wasn’t too noticeable as she faced her mother. “There’s no risk that any of us would have hidden allegiances, like a pony might. You already know us well enough to make a judgment call. Not to mention a drone, like me for example, wouldn’t have to adapt from a pony life to a changeling one.”

“A drone into a royal…” Twilight mulled over the idea and finished her brush stroke so she could think more. It was a favored pastime of hers after all. “That could work. First Mother knows Rainbow and I had far too much family drama to work through after our change in species. And it would eliminate the unknown element of the royal’s personality to an extent.”

Aegis remained quiet throughout Twilight’s internal debate. Twilight’s eyes may have been looking through the window, but her gaze went far beyond it. Okay, Aegis, you seeded the idea. Let’s hope it takes root.

“The only real problem I see is that such a rebirth could cause many to see such a rebirth as favoritism.” There’s already enough of that going around as it is. It’s not my fault some of my children never work up the nerve to come spend quality time. The thought troubled her. And here I thought I was approachable to everypony. I guess I’ll have to make the time to visit some of my… less-social drones. Twilight’s lament didn’t have much of a chance to sour the idea when Aegis spoke.

“I don’t think it would, mother.” Twilight arched an expectant eyebrow. Aegis couldn’t stop her wings from vibrating nervously. “I’ve talked to a bunch of my siblings, and none of them so far even want to be a queen.”

“I’ve noticed that as well.” Twilight shrugged at the dead end idea. “Mostly catching conversations in passing.”

Crap! If I let her keep thinking along these lines, she’ll just dismiss it. She’d never force this on any of us. “I’d like to though.”

There it was. The desire had been aired to the one person who could make it happen. If Aegis had been sweating bullets before, she could have sworn watery cannon balls were rolling down her neck. The damp clingy fur wasn’t helping either. Twilight became unreadable, even to Aegis. The mare was in such deep thought for the longest ten seconds of Aegis’ life, that she thought she’d die from anxiety, or dehydration from sweating, whichever came first.

“I think…” Twilight said slowly before stopping again. Aegis had to suppress a groan of nervous energy, not that she could really hide it from Twilight at this close range. “That might not be a bad idea.” Aegis’ heart started to soar, and a massive ‘yes’ was forming on her lips. “However, I need to plan this carefully.”

The ‘yes’ fell flat and morphed into a, “you mean plan the alchemy?”

“Oh that’s the trivial part. Gentle Touch has already hammered out much of what I wanted in a royal daughter’s genetics. No, I need to screen my hive for candidates.” She caught Aegis’ patented Sorrowful Frown of a Million Crushed Hopes and Dreams, and her heart went out to her. “If it makes you feel any better, yes I consider you in the running. Just remember, even if you want it more than anypony else, it’s my job to make sure my future royal daughter is the best possible for our species.”

Aegis’ ears and smile flew straight up. It wasn’t a no, it wasn’t even a ‘I’ll think about it’, it wasn’t even a maybe. Aegis had a chance. No, it was a sure thing, in her mind. I have to win this. I swear, if somepony like Intel who doesn’t even want it wins, I’m going to explode. “That sounds fair, mother. Would you like me to help you screen for candidates?”

Twilight arched a knowing eyebrow and leaned forward to give her daughter the stink eye. “That sounds like a conflict of interests. You wouldn’t want to sabotage others, now would you?”

“O-f course not,” Aegis replied a little too quickly. Twilight’s knowing eyebrow never fell. “I just want to make sure they actually want to be a royal. If you’re the one who asks them, they might say yes out of queen pressure.” Confusion danced over Twilight. “You know, like peer pressure, only from you.”

“Hmm… I guess you have a point. I’ll have Gentle Touch handle it then.”

That’s the best I could have hoped for.

A slight rumble and several loud clacking sounds of metal on metal rattled through the ship. “All hooves, this is the captain. Docking procedures complete, we have forty eight hours until the next escort mission back to the Ebony Castle.”

Aegis laughed at Rourke repeating the announcement over the hive mind. “Why does she even bother with the PA system?”

Twilight was up and gathering her things into a large duffel saddlebag. She didn’t need to make every delivery herself, so she made ready to leave. “Because I told her to. We have both Tea’la and now thestrals trying to adapt to hive life, and there’s no way to link them into the hive mind.”

“You mean besides the circlet?” Aegis commented with faux innocence.

Twilight scowled so heavily at Aegis a black hole almost formed. “That causes way more trouble than its worth, and it’s staying in the Canterlot vault.”

Aegis waved her hooves in surrender. “Just checking. Not suggesting.”

Twilight narrowed her eyes at Aegis before dropping the issue. “Anyway, we have to make it a habit to accommodate those outside the Link, even if none of them are here.” With her bags precision packed to perfection, Twilight cantered to the door. “Come along, if we’re going to make this selection process happen, we should start immediately.”

“I’m all for that!”

As the Deception cooled down in its berth in front of the Ashes of the Phoenix’s bow, a small group of thestrals had gathered. Every last one of them wore a black bandana with a red phoenix on various parts of their body. Twilight trotted off the gangplank trying not to focus too much on the clothing, and instead noticed Rainbow Dash buzzing over from the bridge.

Rainbow slid into a pacing hover next to Aegis and Twilight as the group reached the first of the thestrals. Aegis noticed the lead stallion was the priest she named Clown back in Rookhaven.

Clown looked up from his bow as soon as Twilight stepped off the gangplank. His bandana was draped over his head with the fiery bird proudly displayed on top. With a carefully crafted diplomatic smile, he spoke in fluent Vespid. “Your Imperial Majesties, how may the Loyalists serve you this day?” The changelings around him balked a little in surprise.

Rainbow stepped forward to eye Clown carefully. “That’s pretty good. Since when were you guys learning our language?”

Pleased that he had spoken correctly, Clown lamented briefly that he had to slip back into Thestrian. He touched the small gem on his necklace to speak again. “While we are eternally grateful for your enchanted gems that allow us to speak to you, my people and I feel it is best to learn your tongue if we plan on staying with the rightful imperial family.”

He looked to his brethren for confirmation. Every last one of them flourished a bow towards Twilight and Rainbow, causing the latter to groan. Blaugh, not even the drones bow this much, and they’re the only ones to have a reason to.

Sensing her sister was at the very short limits of her diplomatic skills, Twilight fluttered over to give the ponies a gentle smile. “We appreciate your efforts in helping to unify our two peoples. However, there’s no need to greet us every time we return to the hive.” Rainbow Dash was more than happy to step back and let her sister do the talking.

Clown dipped his head in repentance, while trying to keep the word ‘hive’ from ranking him too much. “My apologies, Your Graces, but we didn’t actually come for the sole purpose of greeting you back home. But rather to request the opening of a school.” He hesitated for a moment. “That is to say, one that could accommodate our foals. The education system you have in place for your young is a little… fast for us.”

Twilight eyed the group of thirty ponies all crowding the docks, much to the dockworkers’ dissatisfaction. All told, only fifty thestrals remained with the hive, the ten not currently in attendance were teens or younger. “Education is the highest pursuit, but I think that school would need to be for all of you. Not just the foals.”

The priest was not the only pony to give her strange looks. When confusion was the only response Twilight received, Rainbow decided to throw in some blunt clarity. “Basically, you guys are in bad shape. We need to bring you up to speed if you you’re going to make it here as anything but menial laborers."

Aegis could just see the mounting ill-at-ease in Clown’s face. It was an expression that was shared by most of the ponies.

Twilight tapped a hoof, waiting for an answer.

Eventually Clown nodded. “I feared as much. I will do all that I am able to learn your ways.” He turned to address his following. “As will we all?”

“As will we all!” the imperials cried back.

Rainbow Dash snorted approvingly. “Well there you have it, Sis.”

“Indeed.” Twilight looked off into the clear blue sky, and breathed deep as Aegis and Rainbow Dash drew the ponies off to begin planning for the school. With their request being granted, the ponies departed with gratitude.

The mention of school brought Rainbow’s mind towards Scootaloo, eliciting a happy chuckle. “Why not send a few nymphs and adults off to Cheerilee’s classroom? That way the kids can learn how to make a proper school for these guys.”

“That’s not such a bad idea. I fear anything I try to model after myself or the university’s curriculum might be too far advanced for them right now.”

“I second that motion.” Before Twilight could glower at her sister, Rainbow sprinted off.

Glad she’s willing to try civic duties for a change, even if it’s only to get under my skin. Leaving Rainbow to figure it out, Twilight gazed out across her hive, relishing in its constant growth. Nearly all of the drone domiciles were complete so only a scant few were still housed within the Phoenix. Off in the distance, the last section of a wall expansion was nearing competition. This would give the hive enough room to begin construction of its first airshipyard.

Twilight couldn’t help but to giggle at herself and took her crown off to inspect it. “To think. All those years ago when I first set hoof in the jungle, and now look at me.” Polybia’s declaration of hostility skirted the edge of her thoughts, but they were not enough to scare away Twilight’s good humor. I have the rights to my crown. For that at least, I will forget that zealot and Silandrus for the day.

A warm yet slightly concerned grin crossed her lips as Ratchet finally disembarked the warship and was flying off. Twilight replaced her crown and buzzed over to intercept him. With a diabolical giggle, she playfully tackled him in mid air before squashing him into a tight hug. “How’s my Love Bug?”

*Erk* “A bit short of breath.” Twilight loosened up her grip with a sheepish smile. The same smile she had back on the shield tower all those years ago. He couldn’t help but to give her a squash in return. “But otherwise fine. The crew can manage turnaround duties for the rest of the day.” He nuzzled her cheek rather awkwardly given her side grip on him. “How about we go ‘play’ around for the rest of the day?”

After planting a longing kiss planted on his lips, Twilight purred while teasingly rubbing his chest. “I’ve been waiting to hear those words all week.”

With a shared sultry laugh, the pair flew off to enjoy each other’s company, content in the knowledge that for the time being, life was quite good in Phoenix's Roost.

Author's Note

Editor's Note:

"Now remember to comment on things like character development, story plot, and fun stuff like that. No, not Twilight's plot, or Rainbow Dash's plot, or Chrysalis' plot, Celestia's plot, or any other pony's (or ling's) plots. The story's plot, kiddos."

Bonus Chapter: Shameless Sequel Hook

Between the Everfree Forest, Froggy Bottom Bog, and other dangerous wild lands, much of Equestria’s wooden territory remained untouched and largely unexplored. With their evolutionary roots in prey animals, it took a brave and perhaps foolhardy pony indeed to explore such potentially dangerous areas.

The unicorn mare Spinning Compass, and her earth pony husband Trail Mix, fit such a description almost to a tee. The difference being that they at least made sure they got paid for their exploration. They were a week’s hike south from Vanhoover where the trees took on a disconcerting shade of crimson as the pair trudged on in the blistering summer heat.

Compass walked behind Trail with a crude map floating in front of her with a piece of charcoal also held in her magical grip attempting to draw the landscape as she glanced about. While she carried all of the cartography equipment, Trail carried the food and a specially crafted weapon given to him from Princess Luna herself. However, it was not a weapon of pony make. It was a musket straight from the burgeoning industrial complex in Phoenix’s Roost, and ever since leaving Vanhoover, it was always kept ready to fire.

The pair found a shady tree on top of a rocky hill overlooking the coast to rest underneath. The ocean gently crashed upon the cliff side below, giving the couple some enjoyable symphony of nature to relax with. “If you keep that weapon of yours any closer I might think you’re cheating on me.”

Trail set his weapon down to lean against the tree, and stared up at the red leaves above. “After how well it took care of that manticore? I’m surprised you don’t want one of your own. We could double date,” he added with an eyebrow wiggle.

“Right, sure,” she shot back with an ever so subtle touch of sarcasm. She huffed in relief after sitting down to give her poor hooves a chance to relax. It wasn’t long before her charcoal started scribbling away again as she started adding the present coastline onto the map.

“So why do you think the princess was so keen on us mapping out the coastline before we could finish our survey of White Tail Woods?” Trail asked between gulps of amazingly delicious water from his canteen.

“You were in the same meeting I was, she’s had some reports of unidentified ships along the coast, and she wants us to check it out.”

He gave her a disbelieving smirk, but Compass was too focused on her work to notice. “Uh huh. Do you really believe the whole thing with ghost ships and a new big bad evil out here like some of the castle servants were blabbering on about?”

“No, I don’t.” Compass pulled out a spyglass to look out over the distant waters. “But those so called ‘ghost ships’ could be a new sea critter. That alone is worth coming all the way out here.” The massive ocean before her tugged at her romantic side, which was promptly dashed by her husband’s teasing.

“Sea critter? Maybe we should just call it that, and skip the scientific name all together.” Trail’s smirk grew as Compass scowled at him.

Seeing that he was in mood to play with her, Compass snubbed her nose at him. “Why did I marry Gooficus Maximus?”

“Maybe because you mistook me for Studicus Supremiumus.” He started flexing his rather large earth pony muscles at her. As much as Compass tried to hide it, Trail could see she was flustering at his display. “How about we do another test to see which classification I fall under, hmmm?”

Why can he switch me on so damned easily? She was about to cave in when Trail’s face switched from suave mare-killer to one of confusion.

He pointed a hoof out to sea. “That doesn’t look like a sea critter at all.”

Following his gaze and hoof, Spinning Compass saw two shapes floating on the water. Angling her spyglass, she smiled at the sight of sailboats. They had large white sails with an unidentifiable flag flying above a rather large crow’s nest. She could also see that several sailors were airborne while working on a deck with no sails, but as to what they were, it was too difficult to tell from such a distance. “We found our ghost ships. It looks like they’re headed towards shore further south.”

She handed the spyglass over so that Trail could take a long look. As with his wife, the sailors were too far away to identify, as was the vaguely blue flag. “I haven’t heard of any pony expeditions along the Endless Sea. You think they might be griffins?”

Spinning Compass started repacking her equipment and shoveling down a premade hay sandwich. “I don’t think their globe spanning expedition ever received any sponsors so I doubt it’s them, and the minotaurs are not explorers.”

Grabbing his musket, Trail Mix had an unsettling thought. “Think they might be changelings? If Queen Twilight and Cadista’s group have such crazy tech, there could be others out there.”

“That’s a scary thought.” Compass turned her spyglass towards land and saw very distant black smoke coming from behind a large tree covered ridge. “Whoever they are, the princesses will want to know who they’re dealing with.”

Knowing that the mystery beings were airborne, the two ground bound ponies started snaking their way through the densest parts of the coastal trees to reach the ridge. Trail was more careful of his steps than ever before, avoiding several fallen branches along the way. “So do we go up to them and say hello?” he whispered behind him.

“We’re explorers, not diplomats. We just get a figure on what they are and how many there are before we double time it back to Vanhoover. Let the princesses handle it from there.” The sounds of distant chatter and the commotion common to light industries started reaching their ears before the explorers reached the summit.

At this point, the married couple were crawling on their bellies to use the barbed shrubs as cover. Compass had to keep from crying out as a few too many stickers buried themselves under her skin. Stupid short summer coat.

Her irritation gave way to an explorer’s dream upon seeing a completely new civilization. This was no small collection of houses, but a full on harbor town that was taking up residence in a natural deep water harbor built into the steep hills surrounding the docks. The architecture was entirely alien, with the wooden houses sporting flamboyant rooftops of gargoyles and other sculptures of various important figures lining the docks.

Yet all of that took a backseat to the inhabitants themselves. The first, and more readily visible were large winged felines that the ponies first mistook for griffins. Every last one of them wore tight fitting and lightly colored clothing, over their barrels and withers, but the visible heads removed all illusions that these beings were griffins. One of the beings was sun bathing on a house no less than ten meters away from the spying ponies. Using her spyglass, Compass could tell the differences in an instant. Instead of the head and forelegs of a bird, the forelegs matched their feline hind leg counterparts. The head however looked like some sort of nearly hairless monkey who had long flowing hair draped over the lounge chair it was sleeping on.

With the shirt it was wearing, it was impossible to tell where the line between cat and ape began. Perhaps along the lines of where bird and cat meet with griffins? Compass gave her husband the spyglass as quietly as possible. With so many of these creatures in the skies, neither pony wanted to let a slip of the tongue give them away.

Trail studied the sleeping cat-monkey thing in detail, trying to burn it into his memory so he could draw it up later. A few minutes later, a hatch noisily opened up, disturbing the creature from its slumber. Both ponies and awakened creature witnessed a very large lion sized cat-thing step onto the roof. Where the winged one was roughly twice the size of Trail Mix, the newcomer was both larger and wingless. Its girth and stride exuded confidence. Aside from its rather ornate clothing, which would fit right in with Canterlot high society, it carried a large horn tied to its back.

“Rasua, are you going to work, or laze about all day? Your father will not abide such behavior for much longer.”

While its voice was definitively masculine, the ponies couldn’t understand the language. "And what can a blacksmith do without metal to shape, Thaddaeus? The ships will be in port within the hour, and only then will I cease my communion with the sun.” Rasua attempted to nestle back into her cushioned chair, but Thaddaeus had other plans.

Communion my ass. He turned towards the direction of the ponies, only missing them because the explorers were lying prone and completely motionless. With a practiced slicing motion of his fore claw, a chunk of earth was ripped off the hill, carrying Spinning Compass along with it.

Shoving her hooves into her mouth to keep from crying out, Compass tucked her tail in close to keep it from spilling over the side. Trail Mix watched in horror as his wife and the shrub she was hiding under were brought to a standstill just a couple of meters above Rasua’s head. Trail readied his musket and pulled out a long rope now that he was sure the strange beings were distracted.

Thaddaeus waited a few seconds for Rasua to respond. When she was clearly not going to budge on her own initiative, Thaddaeus jostled the clump of earth, making dirt rain down.

Rasua sputtered as clumps of dirt landed in her mouth. She sat up to take stock of the situation before glaring at the tomcat. “I will end your existence if you do that again!”

“Only if you end it down on the docks. Someone has to make Ferlason send the ingots to the smith. You know he won’t do it himself.”

When Rasua didn’t respond, Thaddaeus broke the floating clump of dirt a little more to press his point, only for Spinning Compass’s weight to snap through the weakened roots of the bush and fall on top of Rasua.

Compass sputtered the dirt from her mouth while Rasua flailed to rid herself of earth and pony. “Hey, nice to meet you, sorry, gotta go!” Thaddaeus was stunned by the unicorn’s appearance long enough for her to leap towards the edge of the roof. “Trail, help!”

“Grab the rope!” Gripping the other end in his jaws, Trail threw the rope over the edge. Compass leapt forward and grabbed the lifeline with her magic to bring it within range of her legs and mouth. The mare was a fast climber, but not quick enough. Thaddaeus reared up on his hindlegs and used both fore claws to make graceful sweeping gestures, causing the whole hill to rumble and begin breaking apart. The shaking dropped Trail Mix off his hooves, and nearly caused Compass to slip off the rope and plummet three stories down.

Thinking quickly, Trail fumbled to grab his nearby musket which had nearly fallen over the side. A shift in the earth bounced the weapon towards him, and Trail barely managed to wrap his hooves around it. With no real hope of hitting his target, he aimed and fired in Thaddaeus’ direction. Whether it was luck, or the musket’s own natural inaccuracy, Trail managed to hit Thaddaeus in the gut, ceasing his attempts to bring down the hill. Thaddaeus roared in pain and fell to the floor in a heap.

Rasua bristled at her stricken oath-brother, and pulled a dagger from under her chair and charged through the air to cut the rope. Compass tightened her grip on the rope, and kicked the hill to spin around and fired off a mana bolt. The shot slammed into Rasua’s chest, and knocked the wind out of her. She would have fallen off the building, but she had enough of her wits to glide to the bottom.

Trail regained his footing and heaved Compass to the top. “We have to get out here!”

Compass was already thundering down the other side of the hill as Trail collected his firearm. “Don’t you think I know that!?”

Trail was a bit slower to get started down, but he caught up with his wife within a minute in the uneven terrain. “That’s some gratitude for you. Save your neck and not even a howdy do.”

Thaddaeus howled in pain at the foreign injury and reached for his horn. Thank the stars whatever that thing did, didn’t get my lungs. Beating the pain down, he took a deep breath and blared his horn as loud as possible for five seconds before giving four short notes. Within moments, a well armored flier descended to his aid. “Majordomo,” the soldier took one fearful look at the gunshot wound and removed her small first aid kit from her flank. “What happened? Where is Madam Rasua?”

Grunting in pain, Thaddaeus waved at the slightly broken hill. “Forget me, Chevalier, I’ll live. There are two… things, out there. Bring them back, I care not how!”

“As you order!” Leaving her first aid kit with Thaddaeus, the chevalier took to the air once more. Blasting through the trees, it didn’t take her predator’s eyes long to find the fleeing ponies along the sandy beach. Leaving her curiosity secondary to her duty, the chevalier charged forth with the wind at her back.

Focusing on her fore-paws, the chevalier reshaped the legs into furless arms and hands, allowing her to unsheathe the long curved sword secured across her barrel. She readied her weapon directly overhead to keep it away from her wings and roared at the unicorn who was barely trailing behind the stallion. “By the will of the Majordomo, and the Sphinx Federation, I claim your lives in retribution!”

Trail glanced backward only to see the blade slice clean through Compass, dropping her to the sands. “No!” Out of grief and rage, he turned to face his wife’s killer only to have the chevalier perform a follow-up swing and end his life within a second’s breadth.

Satisfied that both strikes had been lethal, the chevalier moved into a hover before grabbing a cloth to clean her blade and then sheathing it. With her blade no longer needed, her arms reformed into paws and legs. Off in the direction of town, she saw more of her winged brethren flying over. “Good, then I won’t have to carry these…” She studied the corpses briefly. They looked for all the world to be prey, but she had never expected to see another intelligent species. “Things back myself.”

Shortly thereafter, in the governor’s manor, the chevalier and a few others of her rank brought the dead ponies and their belongings to the imposing figure of Lord Ventras. He was a wingless sphinx with flowing gold and green robes. His carefully groomed hair was done up in a chonmage. Thaddaeus laid in on a cot with a surgeon examining the musket ball she had just extracted from his wound. Rasua was massaging her chest where the kinetic magic bolt had left a sizable welt.

The manor’s receiving hall was adorned with no artwork, save for statuary of various sizes. Each one depicting either an ideal sphinx, or historic figures Ventras wished to honor.

Thaddaeus snarled at the corpses. The servants had the presence of mind to bring forth several heavy rugs to keep the blood from staining the light brown wooden floor. “I thought I told you to bring them back!”

The chevalier bowed low to the majordomo, a meticulously crafted neutral expression never leaving her face. “And so I have, honorable one. You neglected to mention in what state you desired them.”

“Were my innards not in tatters I would punish you myself!” Thaddaeus failed to keep a spike of agony from making him double over. His wound reopened, causing the surgeon to force him back down.

“You must not break the stitching, unless you want infection to set in.”

“Calm yourself, Thaddaeus,” Ventras stated wisely, if only to keep him from arguing with his doctor. “Our warrior was simply performing her duty.” He gave a dismissive nod, prompting the chevaliers to salute with their right wings before departing. He spoke once the warriors departed. “You should have expected the warrior caste to strike first and leave civil grace to others more suited.”

“…Yes, ma’lord.” Thaddaeus hissed in pain as the doctor closed his wound.

With curiosity written all over her face, Rasua bounded forward to inspect the dead ponies. She did not shy from the gore, as it only allowed her to see some of their internal anatomy. One point of great interest was the compass on the mare. With its owner dead, the cutie mark was beginning to fade right before Rasua‘s eyes. She turned to Trail Mix to discover his mark of a collection of nuts was nearly gone as well. What sort of mad sorcery is this? “What exactly are these things, father? Could we really have found an intelligent species beyond our own?”

With a slight gesture of his paw, the four servants around the room swarmed the ponies and started laying out each of their belongings for Ventras' inspection, but largely left the corpses alone as Rasua was not done with them yet. Seeing that the surgeon was done for the moment, Ventras waved at his majordomo forward. Two servants lifted Thaddaeus’ cot and carried him over so that the three sphinxes encircled the equestrians. “That, is an excellent question, my Little Huntress. For all intents and purposes, they appear to be simple prey animals.”

“If you ignore these items of theirs.” Rasua started picking through Compass’ cartography equipment. The objects’ intent were easily decipherable, but the high quality of their craftsmanship troubled her. “I think it was this one who struck me with some sort of attack, but I was too focused on its companion to see what it was.”

Thaddaeus centered on the musket and reshaped a claw into a hand before picking it up. Now that he could inspect it more closely, he saw the weapon was as alien as he expected. The metal tube had been decorated in exquisite silver lined engravings that had been meticulously cared for. The wooden parts were decorated with a crescent moon in such a way that it would not detract from its utilitarian nature. In his ignorance, he didn’t notice the short inscription on the butt was of Vespid and a different language of the Equestrian script on the maps. I’ve seen all manner of swords and crossbows, but nothing like this. “Well it was most certainly not with one of these.” He struggled to prop himself up on three legs, so he could examine the weapon more closely. He batted away at the hovering surgeon, who grumbled but stayed nearby. “If it pleases you, ma’lord, I would like to discover the secrets of this device.”

“That is the weapon which has left you in such miserable shape?”

Blushing in profound shame, Thaddaeus averted his gaze. His oath-bound sister, Rasua looked on with concern, but held her peace. “You know of my prowess in combat, ma’lord. It would take far more than a dozen arrows to bring me low. Even more so had I been wearing my armor. This weapon must be studied.”

“Very well.” Ventras studied the other tools carefully. Each one fascinated him more than the last. “We are quite fortunate. The resupply ships are pulling into the harbor as we speak. Rasua, send a message to the flotilla commander. Tell him I will be writing a letter for the Council informing them we have made contact with an intelligent species.”

The hairs on Rasua’s neck stood up. “Father. This is the first intelligent life we’ve ever seen besides ourselves. The Council will think us mad, and the cults will call us unfit to lead this colony.”

“Then send the bodies and belongings as proof.” He replied as if it was the obvious choice. “We must have the council’s authority to act any further with these barbarians.”

“These, barbarians planted a lead ball in my stomach, ma’lord,” Thaddaeus warned as he waved his new musket. “I have seen much in my years, as you full well know, and not even our best forge-smiths or chemists could concoct such a device. Even prey will turn and fight if you give them enough reason to. And with weapons like these…”

Ventras held a paw up for silence. “We have dangerous prey back on the home continent. Here will be no different, except perhaps…” Ventras started rubbing his thin beard in contemplation. “Well, we shall see what the Council decides. For now, if anyone sees another one of these things, capture it alive at all costs.”

“As you say, father.”

As Rasua left to obey her orders, Ventras placed a paw over the musket before Thaddaeus could put it down. “Hold onto that. I want to know its secrets.”

“As wise a hunter as you are ruler. By your will, ma’lord.” Bowing as much as he was able, Thaddaeus barked to the servants to carry him to his chambers. Thoughts of a civilization capable of constructing such an implement of the hunt darkened his thoughts.

Author's Note

What? You didn't think I left it marked as incomplete by mistake did you? The sequel is right here.

Side note about the fading marks. Since Tirek stealing magic also made cutie marks disappear, I would imagine death would make them fade away as well.

Major props for A Bitter Pill for putting up with my grueling writing pace. I look forward to seeing all you awesome readers at the next... Hive.

1: Long Live the Queen

If there was one thing the changeling jungle was known for, it was hot, sweltering rain. It fell so heavily that Twilight Sparkle was half convinced that there was an ocean above the Summit’s amphitheater. The rain slid towards the sheer drop offs at the far sides of the room, which would make keeping one’s footing rather difficult on the slippery waxed floors, were it not for the changelings’ wall walking ability.

The gathered royals sat impatiently as Cadista addressed them with Twilight standing slightly behind her. Despite being the center of attention, Twilight couldn’t help but to scan those in attendance. Of the original twelve queens that were present in her first Summit, three were gone. Only one of the other proto-queens from the first summit had obtained the mantle of queen.

Speaking of which, I’d better pay attention.

The storm raging above them was near deathly silent thanks to Silandrus’ enchantments. This allowed Cadista to be heard with ease. Twilight was partially glad that she had missed her mother’s opening statement, it was long and tedious, and she’d heard it in rehearsal so much that she was sick of it.

“I, Queen Cadista of the hive Stripped Gear, deem my daughter and heir, Twilight Sparkle, fit to assume the mantle of queen. My tribute to the Home Guard has been paid, and thus I request of this Summit that my heir be given the title she so rightly deserves.”

Twilight suffered it all with poise and grace. This is what…the fifth time she’s had to readdress herself like that in the past twenty minutes? Cadista’s words were not her own, she would have been more flattering given the choice, but tradition demanded it. Oddly enough, it was one of a scant few Silandrus did not cut corners off for the sake of time.

The gathered royals turned to the lone Home Guard drone who approached the speaking floor with his head lowered in reverence. “I attest that Queen Cadista’s tribute of eggs and supplies is satisfactory.”

Twilight glanced at Chrysalis, who had a mocking grin on her face. It went unsaid, but Twilight knew why Chrysalis and several others scoffed at Cadista’s tribute. I’ll probably hear the same nonsense about egg failure rates myself. Why do you think we use incubators?

Silandrus remained impassive to the other queens. “Very well, the floor recognizes Twilight Sparkle.” Cadista reclaimed her seat as Twilight took her mother’s place at the center of the chamber. Silandrus studied the purple changeling intently, seeking for doubt, apprehension, and fear. She found a mixture of the three, as was expected. “It feels as if it was only a week ago that you first darkened these halls, Twilight Sparkle,” she stated evenly, as if the rain wasn’t bothering her in the slightest.

“Four years doesn’t seem so long anymore.”

Silandrus grunted amusingly at the former unicorn. “No, I’d imagine it wouldn’t.” She could see some of the royals grumble about Silandrus’ hypocrisy for wasting time with small talk. I’m old and weathered, I’m entitled to it. Nevertheless, she had no desire to compound the matter. “The mantle of queendom is not to be taken lightly. You must always act to advance the changeling race, no matter what previous loyalties you once held. Do you swear to this?”

Twilight nodded slowly. “I am a changeling first and foremost, as is my allegiance.”

“Good. Now, what have you to offer in payment for this elevation in status?”

Unlike Cadista, Twilight had to offer something to the changeling queendoms as a whole, rather than just the Home Guard. “I offer the gift of knowledge,” Twilight answered flatly as she prepared herself for backlash, “I have evidence pointing to distinct possibility that the Cresnox Jungle is not the birthplace of our race.”

Stunned silence, gasps of astonishment, and a few scornful barbs was the Summit’s immediate response. Changelings cared little about the past, save for one thing.

“Blasphemy!”

“What evidence?!”

“What kind of tribute is that?”

“You can’t be serious.”

Twilight weathered a half dozen other insults before Silandrus slammed her gavel for silence. She glowered at the lavender changeling, who was doing an admirable job at hiding her anxiety. “The Ebony Castle has stood for eons as the birthplace of our race. Your evidence better be convincing indeed if you wish to ever see your crown.”

Had tradition not dictated silence from the other queens at this moment, Twilight would have been shouted out of the room by the more zealous royals. “It is.” Twilight summoned a satchel full of water resistant scrolls. “I discovered ancient records in the lower levels of Stripped Gear, Kreesus’ palace, and eight hive ruins which indicate that our kind migrated here before the Ebony Castle was built. I made copies for everypony, should you want them.”

Silandrus glanced at Kreesus, who nodded in affirmation of Twilight’s claim. She liked to think of herself as a sensible individual, but even then, Twilight’s theory was hard to accept. “When it comes to the past, there is little we queens concern ourselves with. Why should we accept your evidence or your theory?”

Half of the other royals muttered their agreement. Chrysalis shared the others' displeasure, but kept quiet about it. Twilight Sparkle is not to be underestimated, she had to know this would be our reaction.

True to form, Twilight did have a follow up. “Because I plan on locating artifacts of our birthplace, and then donate them to the Home Guard. If I find enough, I can give some to every queen present here today. That should meet your satisfaction.”

The grumbling in the chamber returned. Only this time, it was out of intrigue, rather than outrage. Silandrus listened to it all, noticing the shift, but her gaze never left the purple supplicant. Having a genuine artifact of the real homeland would be necessary, should her theory be correct. “Those artifacts would have served as a better tribute for your crown than a promise would.” She caught herself right as the words left her mouth. “…You mean to search the Ebony Castle for an archive… assuming it has one.”

Twilight waited for the other royals to quiet down. “Correct. As you all know, I’m barred from entering the castle, outside of attending Summits, until I am crowned queen. While the castle may not be our birthplace, it is the oldest hive in the jungle. I’m sure to find a clue to our place of origin.”

I’ve seen supplicants gift knowledge of alchemy, new farming techniques, and knowledge of better love feeding grounds; but that wasn’t enough for her, now was it? This must be her way of affirming her dedication to her new species. Silandrus eyed the bound scroll still held aloft in Twilight’s lavender-orange magic. The younger mare carried herself with something in between fear of rejection and a firm belief that she was right. “Given the nature of your request, I call for a recess. If the Summit finds your evidence and proposal adequate, you will be granted what you seek.”

“I will trust in your collective wisdom.” Twilight levitated her collection of scrolls to each queen present. Some took the offered literature with curiosity, while did so others with begrudging reluctance. One queen snarled at it and smacked the scroll away from her. “I don’t need a recess to come to my decision! This is nothing but blasphemy and an insult! I demand this—this outsider be killed immediately!”

Yeelindrus and a couple others followed suit. “Well said! We cannot forget she’s an Equestrian.” Cadista and her supporters shot Yeelindrus scathing glares, not that she noticed, or cared. “We’re all practically in a love famine thanks to her helping the ponies retrieve their prisoners. There aren’t enough feeding grounds for love collection alone!”

Silandrus slammed her gavel five times just to silence the insufferable nag. “You all know tradition! The mother is held accountable for the actions of the daughter until she becomes a queen herself. But we are not here to discuss the love famine in some of the hives.”

The elder queen allowed herself to sneer at Chrysalis’ merry band before continuing. “We are here to judge if Twilight Sparkle is ready for the weight of her crown.”

Chrysalis had to forcibly restrain Yeelindrus from speaking again. “Hold your tongue, or I’ll have it removed. Equestrian or not, I will NOT be without artifacts of the homeland!”

With the rain laying claim over the awkward silence, Kreesus took to the air. “Going back to the matter at hoof, I for one want to know if we’ve been paying homage to the right queen. We owe it to the First. Whomever that might be.”

“That is all assuming Twilight’s claim is true,” called a more neutral queen. “I propose a different approach.”

She turned to Silandrus, who was still a little miffed about her motion for a recess not getting seconded. This had better be good. “Let’s hear it, Daubera.”

“I propose we grant her the mantle of queen now.” Several voices of complaint and shock threatened to derail her, but Daubera was not so easily cowed. “Twilight Sparkle is to carry out her investigation, and if she finds solid proof that the jungle is not our birthplace, she will carry out her original offer of retrieving artifacts from the real First Mother’s hive.”

“And if she isn’t?” growled a tan-colored queen named Polybia. “I won’t have a blaspheming outsider survive one week with her crown!”

“Then she had better have more than just a token to take its place, or else she will be declared rogue.”

Twilight stiffened at the terms, but said nothing aloud.

Cadista never got a chance to answer, as one of Twilight’s opponents replied by with a snide grin. “I can agree to that. Let the heretic just try to dishonor the First Queen. She protects her own.”

A few of the less superstitious royals cast Polybia a condescending eye, but none of them bothered to speak out, if only to get out of the rain that much faster. Silandrus shared the sentiment. “All in favor of the motion?”

Cadista asked worriedly.

Twilight noticed those in Chrysalis’ camp had already voted to the affirmative. I know what I’m doing.

It took great effort for Cadista to push aside her misgivings and voice her agreement.

Silandrus hummed in curiosity as Cadista and her few supporters voted, thus causing the sideliners to join in. “Then it is unanimous. Twilight Sparkle,” she shouted in a commanding voice refined over many centuries, “by the will of the Summit, you are hereby granted the right to your crown, and any land you can claim as your own. We welcome you into our ranks as an equal, Queen Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight bowed as Cadista levitated an ebony and lavender changeling crown upon her daughter’s head. “Thank you, gathered royals of the changeling nation. I live to advance our race.”

“As do we all!” shouted the Summit in unison.

With no desire for a reception, the royals scattered. Most went home, caring little for Twilight’s research, only the results. Jstrul chased after Chrysalis in a less direct path to the northern docks.

“She could become a serious problem, sister. Her words mean nothing, she is still an Equestrian at heart. Even the blind could see that.”

“You’ve never converted a pony into a drone, have you Jstrul?”

The younger sister hesitated a step before continuing. “No, they’re too individualistic unless their memories are completely wiped clean. Mother demonstrated that to us a dozen times. What of it?”

“The point is, yes, she is an Equestrian at heart. But I’ve watched her carefully every time she’s visited Equestria. I have no doubt she has the mind of a changeling. While she cares about our heritage, Twilight doesn’t have the gall to lie to the Summit, nor to make an effective queen. She is still a scholar, and wouldn’t falsify research like this,” Chrysalis waved the damp scroll for emphasis.

“I see,” Jstrul muttered at length. “So what do we do? How is this going to affect our plans?”

“We’ve waited four years. We can at least wait to see if Twilight’s theory is correct.”

“Fine, I’ll start making contingencies for both outcomes.”

“Good. In the meantime, I have a pot to stir.”

Twilight and Cadista galloped into a side room absolutely drenched, and panting from the jungle heat. Twilight was more than happy to weave a drying spell. Eight drones awaited her, an even split between grey and purple. Twilight’s progeny shared her coat and mane colors exactly, save for the lack of cutie marks. Cadista’s brood had been more or less standing at ease for the past hour, while Twilight’s drones had been caught in the middle of a discussion before all eight snapped to attention at the queens’ arrival.

One of the lavender drones bowed her head to speak after seeing Twilight’s crown. “Congratulations, my Queen. I knew you wouldn’t fail.”

“That still remains to be seen, Riposte.” Twilight admitted with more concern than she intended.

If the purple drones heard her concern, they didn’t show it as they knelt in front of her. “Long live Queen Twilight Sparkle!”

Twilight gave them all a flat look. The four tried to hide their mirth, but Twilight was too close to hide it effectively.

Cadista placed a reassuring hoof on Twilight’s withers, snapping her back to the present. “I have faith in you, Queen Twilight Sparkle.” Cadista’s pride was almost oppressive over the Link. “I can’t tell you how proud I am to say those words.”

Twilight nuzzled her mother, taking comfort in her touch. “If only I didn’t need to be a queen, in title, to inspect the castle though. I’d have preferred to wait until I had those artifacts first.”

Cadista’s eyes misted over at seeing the crown on her daughter’s brow. “I know, my dear. I would have conducted the search myself were it not for the Home Guard constantly refusing my requests. I forgot how long of a grudge Captain Cadiz can carry, even from beyond the grave it seems.”

“Its fine, mother. I trust my work, and that of my children.” The four lavender drones beamed with shared pride, Aegis most of all. “All of the old hives have archives, the Ebony Castle shouldn’t be any different. I’m still wondering why keeping them fell out of practice.”

“I have complete faith you’ll find out why,” Cadista encouraged while teasing Twilight’s mane. “Just remember that you can always count on me to be your hive’s lifeline until you can found your colony.”

Twilight locked Cadista into a sidelong hug. “Thank you, mother.” Cadista had never been able to rid herself of being ill at ease at public physical displays of affection, but Twilight always managed to tear through that reservation like wet paper. “…I guess this is where we abide by the tradition of The Divided Path?”

They separated, with the drones splitting up to stand behind their respective queens. “Until next time, mother.”

“May your reign last four thousand years, Queen Twilight Sparkle.”

It wasn’t a goodbye. Of course it wasn’t a goodbye, their minds were still linked. Twilight remained motionless as Cadista departed down a southern passage to the docks. So why did it still feel like one? With tears dampening her fur, Twilight summoned as much emotional strength as possible to address her four escorts as she turned to leave along a different path to the docks.

Twilight’s right-hoof drone quickly conversed with a distant sibling.

Twilight felt her emotions start restabilizing as she worked.

The male drone behind Aegis already had the answer.

her request was derailed by Polybia and her escorts barring the way.

“There you are!” she growled hatefully.

Aegis’ squad stood protectively in front of Twilight as the irate queen tried to shove her muzzle in Twilight’s face. She stopped short at the four drones drawing strange cylindrical weapons she had never seen before. “What do you want, Polybia? You can’t touch me here.”

“I come bearing the word of the First Mother. She holds total dominion over the past, and it is not our place to poke our noses where it doesn’t belong, least of all yours. You would do well to respect that, lest you incite her wrath.”

Twilight arched a disbelieving eyebrow. “You wouldn’t happen to be the avatar of that wrath would you?”

Seeing she was in no immediate threat, Twilight silently ordered her escorts’ weapons to be holstered. Some of Polybia’s irritation faded at the correct usage of the phrase. Perhaps she has the heart of a changeling after all. “If necessary, but I would never spill blood on this holy site.” Polybia eyed the hostile drones with contempt, but their weapons brought cold fear into her heart. It was no secret that Stripped Gear fielded exotic weaponry far beyond what anyone else was capable of.

Polybia hid her fear behind a mask of righteousness. “Something I’m surprised an outsider like you would respect. No, the First Queen herself will stop you, one way or another.”

Twilight’s drones pulsed with derisive disbelief at the declaration, a sentiment she shared. “I’m sure if she truly disagrees with my search, she’ll let me know.”

“I have no doubt she will,” Polybia attested. “I have served her in warning you of this sacrilege, I pray whatever part of your mind is truly changeling will make you heed it before the First Mother demands blood.”

Without another word, Polybia and her escorts turned back and departed. She cast a warning eye over her shoulder before turning a corner.

Twilight sighed tiredly, “I could be a thousand years old, and changelings like her would still harp on my old life.”

Her escorts scanned the three other entrances before deeming the area safe, for the moment. Aegis offered.

“A fair point,” Twilight agreed as her mood improved a bit. “Come on, let’s get out of here before somepony else starts nagging me.”

Twilight managed to evade a couple other queens trying to find her. I really don’t want to talk if I can help it. Room after room, and a half dozen flight shafts later, Twilight’s entourage was within spitting distance of the docks when her least favorite individual of all time was waiting for her, Chrysalis.

“There’s the mare of the hour. It's been too long since we’ve last spoken, Twilight,” she feigned misspeaking. “So sorry, I mean Queen Twilight Sparkle.”

Tempered anger boiled up within the lavender queen, and her escorts shot Chrysalis and her four drones hate-filled glares. Ferrum was barely keeping his weapon holstered, but he was silently begging for Chrysalis to give him a reason. “What do you want, Chrysalis?”

The ebony queen slithered closer to rub a hoof along Twilight’s jaw, only to have it smacked away by Aegis. Instead of getting angry, Chrysalis only laughed at the display. “Why to congratulate you, of course. It's been difficult to accept that the weak pathetic creature who failed to use the Elements of Harmony against me is now my social equal.”

Twilight snorted in disgust. “And yet you were still defeated without them. Don’t try and shove that superiority complex on me, Chrysalis. I still owe you for trying to kill me all those years ago.”

Chrysalis feigned insult. “I had no plans on killing anypony in Canterlot… Oh, you mean that little scuffle that ended with you becoming one of us? I had nothing to do with that,” she replied dismissively.

“Lies!”

“And what proof do you have?” Chrysalis challenged, causing Twilight’s glare to falter. “Last I recall, you still don’t remember what happened that day.”

Twilight became a mask of dangerous energy. “How would you know that?”

“You don’t honestly believe those little trips of yours to Ponyville are in total secret, do you? Ponies talk, tidbits slip, ears listen, and all I have to do is put the pieces together.”

“I still know it was you,” Twilight insisted heatedly. “Nopony else would have reason to try and kill me that day.”

“Really? No one else could have possibly wanted you, the star protégé of the solar diarch, dead? As I recall, Silandrus’ brood was under orders to kill all outsiders in the jungle until after your first Summit.” A dash of confusion washed over the purple changelings. “Sure, I had motive, almost everyone did. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to suck you dry of every scrap of love, before tossing your withered husk to the jungle rats, but it wasn’t me.” A savage sneer crossed her face. “You would have been dead if it was.”

“Can I kill her now, Mother?” Aegis growled. “I can make it look self-inflicted.”

“Not here, Aegis,” Twilight commanded begrudgingly.

Chrysalis scoffed at Aegis’ impotent fury. “I don’t see why you’re so mad, smart drone. Were it not for me, you wouldn’t exist.”

Aegis spat on the floor, a scant inch from Chrysalis’ hoof. “Kiss my flank, Sticky Spit.”

Chrysalis scowled at the drone, and her hoof flashed to break Aegis’ jaw, but it was stopped short a sliver from her face. Aegis didn’t flinch from the near impact, and only smirked at Chrysalis. The irate queen spied the purple and orange aura encasing her hoof before shooting Twilight a withering glare. “How dare you stop me! I am within my rights.”

Twilight forcibly pushed Chrysalis’ hoof away from her daughter. “You will not harm my drones, Chrysalis.”

The ebony queen cast Twilight a look of disappointment and disapproval. “I should have expected you to maintain that Equestrian over-protectiveness of your spawn. It must pain you to know you’ll outlive hundreds if not millions of them over your lifetime.”

“I’ll live. Is there a reason why you’re pestering me?”

With no discernible reaction coming out of Twilight, outside of contempt, Chrysalis switched topics. “There is, actually. I read your literature.” She produced Twilight’s scroll off one of the side tables. “I wanted to give my guarantee of non-interference. Provided you’re right about the First Mother.”

That earned the ebony queen five looks of disbelief. “I’m surprised you care.”

“Of course I care. Any true queen should! So, the stipulation of my non-interference is this: you bring back enough artifacts to fill my personal chambers, or I’ll announce my lack of satisfaction in your coronation tribute. I would be fully within my rights to… engage in aggressive negotiations with you.” A ring of fire encircled Chrysalis. “Good luck, Queen Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight glowered as the ebony queen sank into the floor. “Now that, children, is the textbook example of a bitch.”

“Hear, hear,” they replied in unison.

Twilight slouched in her shuttle’s cabin as it took to the air. In the privacy and safety of the shuttle, her drones dropped most of their hard edge and started gossiping with each other like brothers and sisters Twilight would find in any Equestrian home. Twilight’s disposition strongly advised giving her some quiet time to think. Despite her run-in with Polybia and Chrysalis, Twilight’s mood was uplifted at the sight of her destination. A masterpiece of changeling engineering hung in the air two kilometers from the Ebony Castle.

The S.G.C.S. Ashes of the Phoenix. I couldn’t ask for a better ‘leaving the nest’ present.

The Phoenix was truly a work of art wrapped in steel and steam, stretching just under half a kilometer from bow to stern, and close to a hundred meters at its tallest point. Its steel hull carried twin stripes of orange and lavender across its central axis. Spires, sensor masts, and smoke stacks covered the upper deck like a city in its own right, while numerous armored blisters dotted the hull.

No fewer than thirty steam driven mana conversion engines hung on the Phoenix’s belly. Each one’s propellers glowed majestic lavender and lazily churned the air as they wreathed the ship in artificial pegasus magic. Faint motes of magic danced off the propellers, creating the illusion of a blanketing purple aura under the Phoenix.

Yet for all of its majesty, the Phoenix was not the only source of Twilight’s good spirits. Two thousand changelings, nearly all of them her own, crewed the steel behemoth. There, in the shuttle, with only the dwindling thunderstorm and the tranquilizing vibrations of the shuttle’s engines as her companions, Twilight immersed herself in the hive mind.

The organized chaos of her thousands of children going about their daily lives, plus the seven hundredish in the nursery, including the quiet ones in their chrysalises and eggs, was intoxicating. The ebb and flow of voices, the whirlwind of emotions dancing through the Link, the constant brushes upon her mind from drones seeking a freely given mother’s warmth; all of it was utter heaven for Twilight Sparkle.

To think I used to be alone with my thoughts all those years ago, Twilight sighed contently. Were it not for her obligations, she could spend weeks just listening to and directing the hive mind in utter bliss. I promise to be the best mother and queen possible. Her thoughts drifted to the comically small crown perched on her brow. Too bad I had to give my element up to the Tree of Harmony. I’d prefer wearing that over this thing.

Luckily, the hole in her soul that the element left behind had been rapidly filled by the hive mind. Rarity would have a fit saying it doesn’t look good on me. Speaking of which…

The shuttle slid into one of the Phoenix’s many hangars, allowing Twilight to disembark, only to find a huge gathering of purple drones cheering wildly, with two particular ponies standing at the forefront of the celebration.

At the same time, the hive mind exploded in congratulatory praise, sending Twilight reeling at the suddenness of it. Everywhere she looked, her drones filled the hangar while singing her praises both vocally and in the Link. <“I knew you guys were planning a celebration, but right here in the hangar?”> She said both vocally to her pony friends, and over the Link so all could hear.

Rarity cantered over, with Rainbow Dash hovering nearby. Both were adorned with party hats and confetti. “Well, Darling, I wanted to hold it in the reception hall like you requested, but—”

“But,” Rainbow brashly interrupted, “that place is way too small! You’d be lucky to get thirty ponies in there, max!”

Twilight was bombarded with congratulations, both mentally and in the physical world. Everywhere she looked, Twilight found her children beaming smiles back at her. The sheer volume of them over the Link was trivial to handle, but the vocalized accolades threw her off balance. “A fair point.”

<“Well then, as my first act as an official queen, I decree everypony to have fun during the celebration!”>

The crowd redoubled its manic cheering and parted for Twilight, allowing her to trot over to the party buffet with her pony friends in tow. This was more than just a once and a lifetime event, this was their mother returning a fully recognized queen, and they were officially a new hive. To say they were ecstatic was a gross understatement.

“You know I don’t care for formal events.”

“I can’t imagine why, Twilight, you’re a queen now! Sure your king-er-hive may be limited to an airship for the moment, a rather smashing one I might add, give my gratitude to the interior designer,” Rarity rattled off topic.

Both Rainbow and Twilight gave Rarity an incredulous look. “Um Rares, the whole place is pretty bare bones on the interior decoration department. I’m surprised you didn’t faint when you came onboard.”

Rarity accepted a generously offered cup of punch from a drone. “Queen Twilight informed me of the issue ahead of time, so I was able to prepare myself. Besides, it's not what the ship’s lacking that’s got me all aflutter, but the potential it has! The walls are just begging for the artistic touch!” She almost fainted at the sheer number of possibilities.

Twilight took her crown off and gave it a forlorn inspection. “You know you can drop the titles around me, Rarity. It doesn’t feel right having my friends address me as such,” or my children outside of serious situations, for that matter. “I only wish the others could have made it.”

“I suppose, though it’s a serious travesty not to, if you ask me. But I guess I can allow it, what with us not being your subjects after all, but honestly, Darling, Queen Twilight Sparkle has such a lovely ring to it, don’t you think? It has an air of power and mysticism about it.”

“Pah, Twi or Twilight for me, ain’t no way this egghead’s ever going to want anypony calling her queen. Not in our lifetimes anyway.”

Rainbow Dash’s offhanded comment soured Twilight' good cheer a little. No, Twilight, don’t spoil the mood. You’ve known about this for years! Just enjoy the time you have. Acceptance of her prolonged lifespan, compared to her friends and drones, was slow to come by over the years, but it was there.

Rarity watched Twilight’s internal struggle, but didn’t comment when the lavender queen’s smile remained genuine, albeit a little weaker. “It is a pity the others couldn’t come as well. Pinkie’s foal’s a hooffull. I dare say the little rascal almost tops my sister in that category.” Both other mares could hear the fondness in Rarity’s tone.

“Did she ever find out who the father is?” Rainbow asked between bites of an orange.

“Rainbow, show some tact! A lady doesn’t spread that sort of gossip.”

“Sure you don’t.” Rainbow Dash muttered tersely. “Well, given the Cake twins, she can handle it. Not like Twi here,” she jabbed, both physically and verbally. “I think you took the whole ‘settle down and have a family’ a step or twenty too far, eh?”

A flat look and an impressive eye roll was Twilight’s only response due to Ratchet coming into her field of view as he trotted over in grease-stained overalls. He was easily the tallest drone in the room, almost as tall as Twilight herself. It was a natural side effect of being consort to the queen. “Hey, honey, how’s my favorite chief engineer?”

He tilted his head. “I’m your only chief engineer.”

“Doesn’t mean you’re not my favorite,” she teased back with a coy grin. “But I have to ask, why did you come like that?” she asked, pointing at his filthy work clothes.

“Sorry I'm so late. I was caught up in fixing the transmission shaft between engines B12 and C6. I thought I'd pop my head in before going back to wash up.”

she purred while leering at him. Twilight wrapped her hooves around him, and planted a long hungry kiss on him.

Several nearby drones hooped and hollered at the display, Rainbow Dash included, making Ratchet blush furiously. The lone grey drone didn’t know why, but Twilight seemed to lose her social reservations around him at the oddest times.

Twilight erupted in laughter so hard she had to cover her mouth.

The coronation celebration ended all too soon. There was an investigation to get underway, after all. Not to mention several queens salivating at the prospect of her being declared rouge. Twilight cantered towards the bridge with Rainbow and Rarity tagging along. “I’m glad you decided to come, Rarity, sneaking visits to Ponyville’s been tough with getting the Phoenix prepared. But now that it’s airborne, I can bring the whole family to visit once I deal with this expedition.”

“Oh posh, think nothing of it, Darling. Truth be told, I’m glad I accepted, really I am, the functional artistry of it all is simply dazzling. I’ve already got a whole line with your high technology motif all planned out. But I must say, I’m not exactly sure what kind of vessel this is. It doesn’t feel like warship, yet I saw several… ordnance on my way in a few days ago.”

“The Phoenix was originally a last ditch evacuation vessel Cadista kept around in case she ever needed to evacuate the hive, hence the name. She gave it to me and I’ve had it refitted to be a colony ship,” Twilight answered with a proud smile. “I’ve made it out to be a fully functional city in the air. The armament’s only meant for self-defense. I wouldn’t dream of taking her into battle.”

Rainbow glanced at Rarity in shared confusion. “Are you kidding? Those guns could bring down any Equestrian airship in one second flat, let alone a griffin destroyer. Besides, what’s a colony ship?”

Twilight decided to ignore the weapon comment. It really wasn’t designed for combat, at least, not anymore. “Well, I’m not exactly sure where to settle my hive, and it's not feasible to remain airborne forever. When I find a suitable location, the ship can land where I need it. The plus side is that it's carrying all kinds of construction equipment and can provide every service a growing hive needs to expand.”

“So do you have any land in mind? I hope you’re not planning on trying to take over some of that horrid jungle down there.”

Twilight tittered at Rarity’s dramatic upturned snout at a landscape below. “I’m not sure yet. I actually wanted to ask the Princesses about that.”

“Why would—” Rainbow Dash started before jumping into the air to hover in front of Twilight. “You want to colonize Equestria?!”

“I haven’t told anypony outside of Cadista and my children, but yes, actually. I wanted my hive to be Equestrian citizens.” And for me to be one again.

Rainbow cringed while letting out a nervous laugh. “Um, you may want to definitely check with the Princesses then. Not everypony’s going to welcome changelings.”

“I feel for Princess Celestia,” Rarity started with a sigh. “She’s been trying so hard to smooth things out between changelings and ponykind, but some places have gotten even worse with fear and distrust.”

“Her letters told me she’s had all kinds of success though,” Twilight insisted. “It’s been well over four years since the wedding invasion.” I mean sure she said some places still need work, but…

“Well, I can vouch for Ponyville at least,” Rainbow Dash declared with pride. “’Lings like Rose, Junebug, and a few others have really showed the town how great changeling neighbors can be. But… the entire time I was on tour with the Wonderbolts in Manehattan and the entirety of Prance, we had to go through daily screenings to make sure we weren’t ‘Ling infiltrators. As if anypony could ever hope to replace me, of all ponies!”

Twilight grimaced at the Wonderbolt lieutenant’s words. “Was it really that bad?”

Rainbow landed with a huff. “I got shafted on promotion to captain because I wouldn’t say you were only a passing acquaintance. Ponies forget about the Elements real quick now that we don’t have them anymore. So, yeah, it's that bad out there.”

“Oh my gosh, Dash! Why didn’t you tell me you were passed up because of me!”

“Because it wasn’t important to tell you until now,” she replied while brushing off any more sympathy. Although she didn’t stop her friends from giving her a short hug.

“Heavens, Darling, didn’t the Princesses say anything about that?” Rarity asked once Rainbow pushed them off of her.

“Oh, believe me, Luna had some serious words with a whole bunch of ponies, and I think one or two noble houses were stripped from their titles.” Rainbow replied with a vindictive sneer. “Spitfire was being pressured to keep me from replacing her, she’s near retirement age for the Bolts, after all. ‘Course, that didn’t stop her from pointing out those that leaned on her to do it. Then again, I only told the Princess there were some serious bigots in the higher ranks, not that it cost me a promotion, it would have felt dirty to take it that way.”

Twilight wiped a few tears away. “I’m so sorry, Rainbow, I know how much it means to you.”

Rainbow Dash shot the lavender queen a stern glare. “Don’t apologize for who you are, Twi. You haven’t done anything wrong, and your hive’s chill in my book. But…” Her anger lost its edge. “I was this close to being just like them. If it had been somepony else who had been turned into a ‘Ling, I might have been in their shoes, ya know? It sickens me.”

Twilight smothered her cyan friend in an even tighter hug, which was quite the easy feat given her size. She couldn’t stop the river of tears, nor did she want to. “T-thank you, Rainbow, for everything.”

She was about to wiggle free of the emotional queen, before Rarity silently shook her head. The things I endure for friendship. Even with Rarity’s prodding, there was only so much hugging Rainbow could take before gently pulling away from Twilight. “You mope around anymore and you’ll end up stuck that way. Don’t we have a castle to invade?”

“If only you could,” Twilight replied while trying to compose herself. “But I can’t take you with me. Queens only. I was able to talk the Home Guard captain into allowing me to take a couple dozen ‘escorts’, rather than the usual four.”

“Ah, nuts!” Rainbow groaned while kicking the wall. “Are you sure? Maybe I could go disguised as drone.”

“I’m actually surprised you want to go at all. The whole trip’s going to be me searching for a records archive and doing weeks’ worth of research. I mean, it sounds exhilarating to me, but…” she trailed off so she wouldn’t insult her friend.

She needn’t have worried, as any insult didn’t register. “Sure, you could do all the boring stuff with the books, but how cool would it be to be the first pony to ever step hoof inside an ancient changeling castle! I could be the next Daring Do!”

“Rainbow, are you forgetting Twilight is a pony?”

Rainbow’s manic grin faltered, but Twilight only giggled in response. “It's quite alright, girls, I’m comfortable with what I am. You don’t have to tiphoof around the subject.”

Rarity shot Twilight a searching gaze. I know she was about to call it an issue, but perhaps it's just me. “I suppose not, Twilight. In any case, you’re at least allowed to take pictures, right?”

Twilight tapped her chin in thought. “As much as the captain objected, I convinced him that I would have to take books or artifacts out of the castle, so yes.”

“Wonderful, Darling, please take some of any artwork you find, if it's not too much trouble of course, clothing preferably.” Rarity batted her best pleading eyelashes.

“I’ll see what I can smuggle back for you.”

“Oh you’re too kind, Darling.” Twilight’s warm smile caused her fangs to catch a glint of light. “Twilight.”

“Yes?”

“I just remembered a question Fluttershy wanted me to ask you, but I’ve been so wrapped up in this lovely flying castle of yours and I got distracted.”

Twilight chuckled, feeling a swell of pride from the compliment. “Thank you, she’s a beauty, isn’t she?”

“Very. Anyway,” Rarity paused to tap her chin. “Fluttershy was wondering why changelings have fangs.”

That got a couple of puzzled looks from Rainbow and Twilight. “Why would them having fangs mean anything special? Oh! Do you guys have poison? Or is it called venom?”

“W-what?! No, we don’t have poisonous fangs!” Twilight blanched before actually dwelling on the question. “Well… I don’t have venom, and as far as I know, none of the other hives do. I’m sure mother would have told me when she taught me about the other hives.”

“Well, Fluttershy found it odd when you said you’re the only hive that eats meat…what was the word she used again?”

“Omnivore,” Rainbow Dash answered instantly, receiving a couple of bemused looks. “What? I hung around Stripped Gear for like a year.” She stuck her tongue out. “I pick up on things too, ya know.”

“Fair enough, Rainbow. As for her question… it doesn’t make sense for herbivores to have fangs.” Twilight sent a query to Cadista, only to be disappointed by the answer. “Mother doesn’t know either. As far as she knows, we’ve always had them.”

Rarity huffed. “Oh well, just another mystery of life, I suppose. So, who’s up for afternoon tea?”

“Pass, I’ve got a training session with Throttle and the gang, see you later!”

“Sorry, Rarity, but I have a lot of prep work to do if I want to get this expedition off the ground first thing in the morning.”

“Oh, that’s quite alright, dear, I—” the pair passed into a small shopping area, complete with summer festive decorations. One extolling a flower laden hat caught Rarity’s eye. “Inspiration!!! I guess that tea will have to wait, good luck on your trip, Twilight! Bring back lots of picturrrrres!”

Rarity’s idle chatter faded to inaudible ramblings as the fashionista wandered into the store and promptly unloaded all kinds of questions on the unwitting clerk. Twilight remained outside to watch for a few seconds before happily shaking her head and continuing on. Rough spots or not, I know Celestia and Luna will welcome my hive, and we’ll all be stronger for it.

Her thoughts drifted to her study. But first, I have to know who the real First Mother is, or at the very least, where she used to live. If not for the hives, than at least for myself.

Her path brought her over to a large window granting a sweeping view of the Ebony Castle now that the rain was letting up. Hidden somewhere in its walls were the answers she sought. “After all, she’s my First Mother now too, and she deserves proper recognition.”

Author's Note

Twilight's hive theme

Future proof: the hive theme song is Radiant Historia - "Mechanical Kingdom

Official poster brought to you by Lady GryphonInia

5: The Second Invasion of Canterlot

Princess Celestia liked to think she had an air of regal majesty that exuded confidence. She was right. Standing on the western airship docks, alone with her sister, Celestia watched a distant arrow shaped thing suspended in the air several kilometers away. Unfortunately, her confidence was slipping at the sight of the metal monster.

“Sister,” Luna inquired discreetly, “I know the aristocracy have a thing for… airships, I believe they’re called, but what is that?”

“That, dear sister, is Twilight’s hive ship.” Celestia stole a glance at the huge crowd of ponies waiting behind them. News of a giant airship coming from south of the Appleloosian Mountains spread so fast that Celestia barely had time to give a public address before panic set in. I’m not going to make Twilight feel unwelcome by telling her to wait outside of Canterlot, let alone Equestria’s borders.

Luna witnessed a small dot break away from the airship and start moving closer. “That thing dwarfs even the largest griffin airship I’ve ever seen!” she hissed to keep from appearing worried. “I knew Twilight was renovating a vessel for herself, but this is ridiculous.”

“Not to mention frightening to the civilians.”

A thought crossed Luna’s mind, an idea she had not entertained for nearly a millennium. “Sister, if Twilight could build another one of those vessels, we could finally destroy the chaos spawn to the north. Changeling technology could be the key to bringing peace to those lands.”

A frown creased Celestia’s face. “Is peace won at the point of a spear truly peace, or simply delaying war for another time?”

“We’re not talking about a rival civilization, or things even capable of building one,” Luna rebuked with a slight condescending scowl of her own. “The chaos spawn are a collection of freaks that need to be put down for good. If they ever possessed the capacity for civility, they lost it long ago. They do not acknowledge honor or peace, only blood.”

Silence fell over the royal sisters as Celestia mulled over Luna’s words. I’ve come this far to escape my bloodied past. Is she really so eager to return to it? ...Or perhaps I’ve been too aloof to the northern troubles.

The shuttle’s droning engine could be heard well in advance of its arrival, sounding much like the train engines most ponies were used to, only with far more clanking and whooshing, and with less chugging. As the shuttle closed in, paparazzi started filling rolls of film to catch the gasbag-less airship settle down and the hatch open with a large exhale of steam.

The Royal Guard standing behind the Sisters redoubled their vigilance over the crowd as Twilight and four drones emerged from the shuttle. She calmly walked over to the alicorns where she dipped her head in formal greeting. Her horn lit up to carry her voice to everyone present. “Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, the S.G.C.S Ashes of the Phoenix requests permission to enter Canterlot airspace for matters of state and shore leave.”

“Permission granted,” Celestia replied warmly.

“Welcome back to Canterlot,” Luna added.

“Thank you,” Twilight nodded a second time before sending a silent command to the ship. A few seconds later, the Phoenix’s guns fired off a twenty one gun salute to Canterlot. While the Royal Guards and aristocracy were familiar with the traditional greeting, many of the other ponies were a bit spooked by the distant thunderclaps.

As the guns fired off, Twilight inwardly sighed at the presentation. I know that’s usually done with spells, but it served the same purpose. Still, to think I had almost escaped all the pomp and ceremony when I moved to Ponyville all those years ago.

Once the salute finished, Twilight sent her captain a message. After hearing a reply, she briefly glanced at her personal guards, and noticed Aegis’ squad was out of rotation. I hope she behaves herself.

Aegis stood near the front of a long line near the port hangar deck. Her usual squad of four bodyguards was with her as the line moved efficiently along. Ferrum buzzed in the air with a grin that kept widening with every inch he moved closer to the banker. “Can you believe the other hives don’t have currency?”

Intel leaned over Aegis. “You mean outside of SG right?”

“Obviously,” he countered. “Could you imagine living a life like that? All work, and you sleep for fun? Baugh, that’s terrible.”

Aegis pushed her brother off of her. “You forget that they don’t care about that kind of thing. Be glad Mom’s the kind of queen to give us a vacation.”

“Did granny Caddy give vacations to her drones?” Ferrum asked.

Intel shrugged. “I don’t know. She probably thinks the downtime our aunts and uncles get is good enough. Besides, don’t go thinking this is going to be a common occurrence. We’re also doing this to show the ‘civil’ side of changelings to the locals.”

Aegis flicked Intel’s snout with a wing. “Don’t be such a downer about it. All that means is we have to behave. Easy as pie.”

“That’ll be the day,” Ferrum replied derisively before turning to the banker and grabbed his allotted coin purse and promptly buried it in his mane. “Get your flanks in gear and let’s go!”

Aegis smirked and grabbed her allowance before chasing after him. “It’s a shame Riposte’s stuck in the infirmary. We should get him something nice while we’re down there.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Intel replied with a nod. Ferrum voiced his agreement as well.

By the time Aegis reached the crowded hangar, the Phoenix was less than a kilometer from the dock. One of the officers at the front was making an announcement.

With cheering and whistling heralding the way, Aegis joined the gathered drones in swarming out of the hangar in a mad dash for the docks. With Ferrum and Intel right alongside, the trio followed their brethren to the surface and galloped through the docks and into Canterlot proper. Never before in her short life had Aegis seen so many non-changelings, let alone so many different colored ponies. However, she noticed quite a few hostile faces amongst the crowd.

Intel’s cheer faded a little at Aegis’ frosty tone.

Ferrum scanned the crowd. They were still close to the docks, so quite a few drones were still flowing into the city, but his attention was on the ponies. Most stood between fascination and fearfulness, while others pushed their foals away from the drones or outright refused to say a kind word.

Intel warned.

Aegis countered, drawing her brothers’ attention.

Intel gazed upon the ivory towers of Canterlot Castle.

Aegis groaned with an eye roll.

The two stallions shared a puzzled look while Aegis checked her map before zipping off, leaving her brothers to chase after her. “Why?”

Intel caught whiff of Aegis’s reasoning and ran close enough to speak. “You really think we’ll find an artifact of our ancestors in some random curio store?”

“Probably not,” she replied with a wing shrug, “but you never know what might be there.”

“We’d get some serious brownie points if we did,” Ferrum added with a greedy glint in his eye.

“Exactly!” Aegis agreed as she poured on extra speed.

Twilight Sparkle’s laughter danced around the small castle lounge. Celestia snickered behind a hoof while Luna chuckled. “So, then I tell Count Da’monaa exactly where he can stick his ridiculously self-centered tax reform. Tactfully, of course.”

Twilight barely managed to carefully drop her wine glass between her laughter-shaken magic. “How did he think he could get away with raising the price of bananas by three bits a bushel?”

“Perhaps he believes he’s the only one who pays attention to market fluctuations,” Luna added mockingly before sighing contently with another sip of wine. “It’s been good catching up on you Twilight. I think you carry your new title rather well.”

“Thanks, although it was really little more than a formality at this point.”

“And I must say, I love what you did with your mane,” Celestia commented with a grin.

“It is rather fetching,” Luna agreed playfully. “Did you change it for yourself, or for your stallion?”

Twilight teased a lock of vanilla blonde hair. “A little from column A, a little from column B. Rarity wanted to make a dress for the occasion, but she couldn’t finish it in time.”

“I’ll have to host a ball later, so you have a chance to flaunt,” Celestia replied. “If your hive’s going to be joining Equestria, you’ll need to get the nobility used to the idea of having changelings residing in court.”

“I don’t see why,” Luna retorted with a huff. “Those windbags are quickly becoming obsolete.”

“Either way,” Twilight tactfully interjected, “I can suffer a few high society events for the good of the nation.” At least until I can con some of my drones into doing it for me.

"Your findings from the Ebony Castle were an incredible read. To think there might have been changelings living under Canterlot for centuries. Right under our very noses.”

“That would explain how they kept infiltrating our cities before my… episode.”

The royal sisters shared a brief, almost imperceivable glance. “The only question I have,” Twilight said to break up the mood, “is whether or not my ancestors left a long time ago, or the miners drove them to leave out of fear of discovery.”

Celestia nibble a bit of cake. “When I got your letter, I had my aides dig through the archives to find any records we still have on them. Luckily nopony bothers with the caves anymore, so you shouldn't receive any interference.”

“Perfect, th—” Twilight’s response was cut short by a royal guard knocking on the heavy oak door before poking his head through.

“Begging your pardon, your highnesses, but the heads of House Sparkle are here.”

Twilight was instantly filled with equal parts joy and dread as she addressed the quartet of drones behind her.

The drones dropped the books the princesses had given them to comply. Luckily, the lounge was furnished for minotaur dignitaries, so there was plenty of tall furniture to tactfully hide behind as Night Light and Twilight Velvet entered the room. The three rulers stood up, with the alicorns stepping towards the rear exit. “We’ll discuss your findings later,” said Luna as she and her sister bid farewell.

Velvet stood back while Night Light bowed to the princesses before bounding over to Twilight. “Holy Toledo Twily, your letters said you had grown, but don’t think you're too big to give your old stallion a hug.”

Twilight’s heart soared at her father’s warm welcome, and they wrapped each other up in a crushing hug. “Maybe an inch or two.”

Night Light pulled out of the hug to take stock of his daughter. “Well, you’ve certainly filled out at least. You’re as big as the Princess now.”

“Part of the package, I’m afraid.”

“You still look as lovely as ever.” He moved to the side to give his wife a pleading look. “Well, honey, are you going to say hello? It’s been years since you talked to each other.”

“That depends,” Velvet replied coldly as she slowly walked over to inspect Twilight, “on whether or not there’s anything left of my little filly in that thing.”

Twilight bristled, along with her drones. Night Light bore a look of conflicted pain with a dose of impatience mixed in. It was the drones’ presence that worked a wiry smirk on Twilight’s face. “That’s rather rude of you, mother, especially since I brought some grandchildren with me this time.”

Night Light was more than happy to entertain a distraction. Both of them had received letters about Twilight's brood. Well, Night Light had, at least; Velvet never received any letters from Twilight.

With Twilight dominating their attention, neither unicorn noticed the four drones slip out from behind the lounge’s tall furniture until they surrounded their queen.

The drones obeyed with mixed results, but Night Light didn’t mind. All he saw was four young drones looking nearly identical to Twilight did four years ago. “Bless my soul, I’ve heard of a child looking like the spitting image, but you four take it to the next level. I—” He presented a hoof. “I guess that makes me your grandfather, I’m Night Light.”

The drones nudged one of their number forward who shakily shook his hoof. “Powder Charge, but... most ponies just... call me Powder.” When Night Light’s smile only grew, Powder’s nervousness began eroding away. “I’ve – eh – we’ve heard a lot about you from momma.” Powder briefly cringed at referring to Twilight so informally, but all it took was a gentle touch upon her mind to soothe any worries.

“Only good things, I hope,” Night teased. Velvet tsked dismissively, only for it to go unnoticed.

Powder nodded hastily. “Of course, she—I mean ahh—” She looked to Twilight for help, who only gave her a raised eyebrow of amusement. Buck it! Throwing caution to the wind, Powder tackled Night Light with a hug. “I’ve always wanted to meet you, granddaddy!”

Night quickly found himself under a giggling changeling dog pile. Twilight was about to call them off when Velvet walked around the drones to approach her daughter. “Twilight, honey, may we talk privately?”

The lavender queen’s eyes bounced between her drones talking to her father, and her fretful mother before nodding slightly. “…Sure.”

Velvet led Twilight over to a distant chaise lounge and sat down. “Twilight, honey, I’m very scared for you.”

Gee, I wonder why. Twilight hid her snide remark behind a threadbare smile in an attempt to remain pleasant. “Whatever for, mother?”

Velvet swallowed her bile and cradled Twilight's hole-riddled hoof. “This whole changeling business has gone on long enough. You’ve had your way. There is peace between Equestria and the Queendoms, there are even rumors flying around that Cadista’s hive might be granted dual citizenship soon. You’ve done what you wanted to do. Now please, I beg of you, come home.”

Twilight sighed heavily. “I already have a home, mother, it’s currently floating above Canterlot.”

Velvet grappled Twilight in a desperate hug. “Don’t do this, Twilight! You were supposed to be the next archmage, the princesses’ right hoof, a unicorn! Come back to Equestria, Twilight! Come back to me!”

It took all of Twilight’s self-control to keep her voice civil. “We’ve had this argument for the past four years, and I’m sick of it! I am a changeling queen. That is what I am now, and it is what I always shall be. Nothing you or anypony else says will change that.”

Tears started running into Velvet’s fur. “P-please, Twily, my little foal. Don’t do this. Don’t let whatever Cadista did to your mind control you. If you just let me cure you, you’ll see reason, I only—”

“No!” Twilight growled while inadvertently flashing her fangs. “How can you justify your ‘fixing’ would be any different than whatever fantasies you believe Cadista did to my mind?! It's always 'unicorn' this, 'change you back that'. Well, I’ve had it!” She slammed her hoof down with enough force to rattle a few pieces of pottery, drawing Night Light's and the drones’ attention. “I am staying a changeling, period!”

Velvet was on the edge of breaking down as she watched Twilight storm off towards her father. Night Light was at a total loss for words. Velvet bolted out of the room’s other exit before anyone could hear her sobs. She looked back at her daughter as the doors closed behind her. I will save you Twilight, even if you hate me for it.

Twilight scowled at Velvet’s departure, even as a pit of guilt burrowed into her stomach. Damn it all. Why can’t she let me live my own life? “Dad, I thought you said she would be civil.”

Night rubbed the back of head and heaved the tired sigh of a worn out soul. “I’m sorry, Twily.” He flopped on his rear, true fatigue showing through his formerly jovial face. “She promised.”

Concern and guilt fully replaced indignation as Twilight cantered over to sit beside her father with the drones still nestled around their grandfather. “What’s going on, daddy?”

Night fell silent as he stared absently at the floor. “Your mother is very troubled, Twilight. She worries about you night and day.”

“I understand daddy, but she keeps worrying over the wrong reasons. Why can’t she see I’m not the monster Chrysalis tried to make us out to be?”

Night Light shook himself to bleed out of some of his fatigue. “You know your mother, she’s more stubborn than a mule, and she may never agree with your choices in life, but I doubt she’d do anything regrettable.”

Twilight glanced her drones, who were either sitting quietly or shrugged at her. “Maybe, but if I was anypony else, she’d have caused a diplomatic incident by now.”

“If you were anypony else,” Night replied reproachfully. “Velvet wouldn’t be fighting so hard.” Much of Twilight’s ire deflated, along her father’s. “She won’t cause a public scene, I promise you.” I won’t let her.

Twilight tentatively nuzzled her father. “If you need anything, anything at all, you let me know right away, okay?”

Pride cut through his dower expression. “No, no, that’s quite alright. You already have a ton on your plate, and distracting you won’t help. Now,” he swept a hoof towards the door. “I don’t know about you, but I haven’t eaten yet, and I haven’t sampled the palace cuisine in ages.”

“Nor have I,” Twilight giggled, grateful to have some mirth return to the room. “Come along kids, I won’t have my guards going hungry.”

*Ding a’ling*

Aegis nosed the door open of an out of the way curiosity shop to find a strangely darkened room, given the late afternoon daylight. The heavily shuttered windows and scattered candlelight gave the room a mysterious, yet strangely alluring atmosphere. The air carried a faint whiff of incense that dragged Aegis inside, her curiosity getting the better of her.

“Hello?” she called out experimentally as her brothers followed her in.

No one answered as the door closed behind Ferrum and the trio began snooping about. “Are you sure this place is open?”

“The sign said it was,” Intel pointed out, “and the door was unlocked.”

“I don’t know guys. The last thing we need is somepony thinking we’re breaking and entering.”

Aegis turned to chide her brothers when a grey stallion’s face appeared in front of her. “My, my, what do we have here?”

“AH!!” Aegis buzzed into the air, while instinctively groping for her missing pistol.

The other two drones took up defensive positions, but the stallion merely leaned against a shelf and snickered. “Somethings strange have wandered into my shop. Are you strange-things seeking strange things, perhaps?”

The male drones let go of their tension as Aegis landed next to them. “You’re not exactly normal yourself, Wrinkles.”

“Ha! Strange knows strange, it seems. You may call me Curio,” he said with a flourishing bow.

“…Aegis,” she said while gesturing first to herself then the others. “My brothers, Ferrum and Intel.”

“A pleasure,” Curio replied while adjusting his half-moon glasses, only to hum in bemusement. “I must say, hearing about fur covered changelings was one thing, but to see not one, but three enter my humble shop is something else. Pray tell, what brings you here?”

Intel remarked.

Ferrum nosed his way past Aegis. “We were exploring the city. You saw our ship come in didn’t you?”

“Aye, that I did. Tis a shame the vessel is so big, I’d love to have it in my coll—” A greedy glint caught his eye. “Say, why don’t the three of you take a look around. I’m sure you might find whatever it is that truly guided your hooves my way.”

“What do you mean by that?” Intel called after him as Curio meandered over to the register.

“You’ll know when you see it.”

Left with questions they were not inclined enough to seek answers for, the changelings glanced around the store. After Curio lit several more lanterns, the group could see the plethora of trinkets, book, and baubles that occupied the shelves.

“You don’t mind us looking around?” Ferrum called out.

“Not at all, your bits are as good as any other.” Curio glanced up from his ledger. “You do use bits, right?”

Aegis removed her coin purse and telekinetically tossed a bit onto Curio’s desk. “That we do.”

The grey pony flashed a toothy grin and swept a foreleg at his shop. “Then by all means, let your curiosity, be sated.”

The trio of changelings shrugged before splitting up. Ferrum saw a collection of enticing books, while Intel was drawn to an unusual set of armor made for a minotaur, and Aegis sniffed her way around a few odd rings and amulets.

Most the objects Aegis looked at held her interest for a minute or so before the next items drew her away from the first. Items ranging from gold to lead, wood, bone, iron, and everything in between laid before her. Many were almost too enticing to go home without, but her coin purse was too light for much more than window shopping.

There’s so many treasures here… if only my allowance was bigger, she whined to herself as her eyes fell upon an iron circlet. It bore a simple filigree along its band with two small diamonds set above the wearer’s eyes. She was about to continue her search, but stopped when she felt the object tug on her mana.

Aegis picked it up to inspect it more closely. There’s something about this thing. Feels like its sucking on my mana a little. Aegis tried to probe the object with her magic, but the circlet refused to give itself up.

She continued to scan the object with both her mundane and magical senses until a voice spoke right in her ear. “Find something you like?”

“Ahhh!!” Aegis shrieked as Curio watched her bounce back into a solid wall. Ferrum flew over with a dozen small objects in his magic. Intel remained on the other side of the store looking over from an ancient sword. When he saw no one was in danger he returned his attention to the blade.

“You’re really jumpy today, sis. Hey Curio, what is all this stuff?” He levitated his loot over to the shopkeeper.

The grey stallion was more than happy to answer. “Ahh, my lad, what you have here are the shattered fragments of none other than Swift Fire the Red’s battlemage staff. He served the Diamond Kingdom for an age before being felled in the War of the Ring when a pegasus Legionnaire cut him down.”

Aegis grumbled to herself as Ferrum studied the fragments in a new light. “So why didn’t you fix them yet?”

“I haven’t the skill, nor do I know of anyone who would, save for maybe the princesses. I can let you have it for say… fifteen bits.”

“Sold!”

Aegis shook her head in mild disgust at Ferrum’s antics, and returned her attention to the circlet. It stopped draining my mana… or at least it's so faint I can’t tell anymore. Could it have been a mana battery? She waited for her brother to finish paying for his broken staff before presenting her circlet. “What’s this thing?”

Curio furrowed his brow as he took the iron circlet from her. “Ah, yes, of course, this is Fleet Wing’s Boon. An old little piece of iron enchanted to make anypony faster in the air…provided you have wings, which—” he spied the long gossamer wings on Aegis’ back. “Shouldn’t be a problem for you. I could let this little performance enhancer go for… eighty bits.”

Aegis eyed the circlet as Curio gave it back to her with a little enticing shake. “I doubt it would work for me. Sounds like something meant for feathers,” she added while buzzing her wings.

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Curio rebuked with a smile. “But I might be inclined to drop the price to sixty bits, surely you have somepony you could gift this to.”

I do actually, Aegis thought while maintaining an increasingly disinterested expression. “All the friends I know have wings like mine… but it looks pretty, barely. I could give twenty bits for it.”

“Fifty bits.”

“Twenty-five,” she countered flatly.

“Thirty.”

“Deal.”

Intel flew over, with a sheathed sword in hoof. “I’ll give you the extra ten, but only if you can give me this sword for fifteen.”

Curio removed the blade from its scabbard, only to scoff in amusement. “Sorry my colt, but this is skysteel from the pre-Equestria era. I couldn’t possibly let it go for anything less than thirty five hundred.”

Ferrum did the math, and didn’t like what he came up with. “Hey, why are you using my bits now?”

Intel replied, earning quick acceptance from Ferrum and Aegis.

Aegis pointed out.

Intel stared at the blade for a few seconds before making up his mind and pulled his watch out. “What if I throw this in? An authentic timepiece of the Jevruun Vrunningee. Only twenty have ever been made, and it keeps accurate time without magic.”

A sly grin crossed over Curio’s features. “You’re a member of the Queen’s Guard?! …Very well, I accept.”

Intel gathered his siblings’ coin into a single pouch. “How do you know Vespid, shopkeeper?”

“Just a few phrases, really. When somepony travels as much as I do, you pick up a thing or two. I hope you three enjoy yourselves now.”

Intel tested his latest acquisition’s edge, and found it to be a little dull. That can be fixed. “I’m sure we will.”

As soon as he had his bits and new watch, Curio squirreled away to his register to count it out. That gave Intel an excuse to nudge his kin out the door. Ferrum deposited his prize in his saddle bags.

Aegis bounded into the city street with her eyes to the sky.

Intel was itching to return to the Phoenix to sharpen his blade.

Aegis queried the hive mind and it pointed her towards the western half of the city.

Understanding danced over Ferrum’s features as Aegis bolted off towards Rainbow’s location, with her brothers running to catch up.

Intel challenged.

Ferrum growled.

Aegis shot a happy grin towards her brothers.

Long hours in front of a desk, a candle burning down to its base, and yellowing old pages from the palace’s reliquary ledgers brought such a strong sense of nostalgia to Twilight Sparkle that she barely managed to break away from her studies long enough to look up and sigh contently.

The window to the left of her yawned open to reveal the day had long since given way to nightfall. Has it really been half a decade since I lived in this tower? Her gaze fell upon one of her personal guards.

Despite the Night Guard patrolling the skies and hallways of the Royal Palace, Twilight’s last visit in Canterlot still left a bad taste in her mouth, and she had brought her guard with her. Twilight’s eyes shifted to Aegis. She quietly admired her child’s dedication, but sensed Aegis was more chipper than usual.

Aegis glanced at her mother for a moment before returning her gaze at the sky.

“Is that so?” she replied tersely. “Like what?”

Aegis’ ears drooped and her wings flickered nervously. “Well, they’re not nearly as technologically advanced as us.”

Nice save. “Then that means we have something to offer them, and they might just surprise you in turn.”

I better get her back in a good mood. “I found that out today, actually,” Aegis commented, succeeding in derailing some of Twilight’s irritation.

The lavender queen returned much of her focus back to the ledgers. “And?”

Aegis silently ordered Intel to take her place by the window so she could canter over to Twilight. “And I found out a valuable lesson in bartering.”

Twilight’s eyes dilated a bit, and she put her ledger down again. “Bartering?”

A knock on the door interrupted Aegis’s reply. A Night Guard thestral poked his head in. “Announcing her highness, Princess Luna.”

Twilight’s drones scurried to stand at attention while their queen stood up to greet the lunar diarch. “Princess Luna, I thought you’d be busy dreamwalking.”

Luna gave the drones a nod of acknowledgement before gliding over to their queen. “Normally, but the dreamscape is why I’m here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your hive made a strong impression today.” The collected changelings gave their undivided attention at that. “The dreamscape has seen a sharp decline in nightmares about a second changeling invasion, but I don’t know how much of that is due to fear of the chaos spawn to the north.”

“Well, it's not like one day would fix everything,” Twilight replied, “but I thought Equestria has the spawn under control.”

“We do, but some of the nobility’s been fear mongering the public with the Canterlot Times,” Luna commented with a shadow of worry as she walked over to window Aegis had recently vacated. “Since the modern world believes in free press, and they aren’t exactly lying, I can do nothing about it.”

Twilight abandoned her old desk to join the lunar princess. She wordlessly told her guards to give them some space. “I get the feeling something else is bothering you.”

Luna’s gaze turned south towards the noble district. “…Not me so much. The last dream I walked was that of your mother, Velvet.”

The lavender queen groaned while rubbing her temple. “Let me guess, she has nightmares about the horrible monster I’ve become.”

“Indeed, and I fear this one was not the first. I did what I could to try and alleviate her troubles, but once she knew I was there, she rejected my help out of hoof.” Luna heaved a heavy sigh. “I fear she may do something everypony will regret.”

Twilight recalled what she knew of her first mother. I better give word to the ship to triple security, just to be on the safe side. “Princess, I won’t act preemptively against her. As…” she had to fight to keep her voice from breaking, “much as Velvet hates what I am, I won’t make the first move.” Twilight gave Luna a stern glare. “But I will defend my hive.”

I was honestly expecting more. “Reminds me of my sister’s reasoning before I fell to nightmare. I trust you remember how close I came to drowning the world in shadow.”

I thought I’d never get the taste of potion out of my mouth. “To be fair, Luna, you’re an alicorn princess and Velvet’s a unicorn.” The lunar diarch gave her a flat look that needed no words to convey her message. “…But I’ll take your warning to heart.”

“That is all I ask. I needn’t remind you that we are at a critical juncture, and I wouldn’t want an incident to taint your future proclamation to join Equestria.”

“Nor would I.”

“I thought as much. Now, I’d prefer to move on to a lighter topic. I’d like to join your little venture into the caverns tomorrow; not only as a friend, but as a show of cooperation to the public.”

Twilight beamed a fang filled smile. “We haven’t had a chance to spend time together in too long. I think it’ll be fun and relaxing.”

“Glad to hear it, I’ll see you then.” Without any further ado, Luna headed for the door before pausing. “Hopefully we won’t run into a second unliving queen.”

“Don’t jinx it,” Twilight tittered.

“Until then, Twilight, I will watch over your dreams,” Luna replied before spying the bat signal and departing into the night.

Author's Note

Sorry, no 50 Twilings in Ponyville chanting "books." That will have to be a bonus chapter. So, I can either do that bonus chapter next, or work on the next real chapter.

My editor's swamped with work, so a secondary editor (who has an eye for detail) would help him out when life tosses lemons at him.