Gaige/Joel’s POV: *Present time*

‘She seems to be taking it pretty well.’ Gaige thought to me and I sighed a bit in relief mentally. I was a little worried Fluttershy wouldn’t be able to handle such big news or at least not believe it at all. The only one left in the room was us and Fluttershy while the others went with the princesses to leave us in privacy so we could explain what happened to Shy.

“So how did you escape?” Fluttershy asked and our attention was brought back to her, a glass of water in her hooves and a bowl of finished off soup that the nurse brought in for her to eat.

“Well that’s where it gets a little more interesting. See since I’m not Krieg that means that part of their transformation thingy they used on us got about half-way done. At least that’s what Zed said.” Gaige said to her and I sighed mentally. “So right now we’re about half changeling, but it doesn’t really explain why I’m here though…” Gaige said as she began to think of a lot of reasons why that could be and only managed to annoy me. “Anyways, since I’m part changeling I’m still fit to be their ruler apparently, that and the fact no one wanted to challenge me for the title after what Krieg did to our predecessor. So in other words you are privileged to be in the good graces of the new queen changeling.” Gaige finished off as she gave a bow and I chuckled. "So i simply ordered them to stand down and they obeyed their queens wishes so we were able to get out without any trouble at all."

“But um, you don’t look like a changeling at all, you kind of look like Selene.” Fluttershy said and Gaige smiled at her.

“Well like I said we’re only part changeling so far as we know all that’s changed is that we can shape shift like changelings but to be honest we haven’t a clue how to do that.” Gaige explained as Shy set her glass of water down.

“I suppose that makes sense, can I talk to Joel now?” She asked and we both frowned and I sighed.

‘Just tell her as it is.’ I thought and Gaige perked up to me thoughts to her.

‘Are you sure? She’ll be really sad.’

‘Better to be sad now than be devastated later.’ With that said Gaige nodded and sighed as she looked to Shy.

“Well, the thing is… Unlike Krieg, Joel can’t control me like he did with him. All Joel is right now is just a little voice in my head.” She said and Fluttershy’s eye widened for a couple seconds before she closed them and took in a deep breath.

“I...see…” She mumbled as she took a deep breaths before finally looking back to us with a smile that seemed true but we both knew better. “Well, I guess you’ll be like our new medium like they have with ghosts.” She said cheerfully and I smiled a little.

‘Hey Gaige, can you give her a hug for me and tell to not get herself hurt over me again please?’ I asked and Gaige nodded as she bent down and hugged Shy in a warm embrace.

“This is from Joel. He says not to go off and get yourself hurt over him again, okay?” Gaige said to flutter’s who was now returning that hug.

“Okay Joel, I promise, so long as you promise not to go off and put yourself into trouble.” She said softly and Gaige nodded for me and I smiled a little. Gaige held Shy in a warm hug until she was ready to pull away on her own. “Thank you for being honest with. It means a lot.”

“You can thank Joel, it was his idea to be straight forward with how things are now.” Gaige said and Shy smiled at us.

“Well then thank you Joel.” She said smiling and we smiled back before the nurse came in and got our attention.

“I’m sorry but visiting hours are now over, I’m afraid I have to ask you to leave.” She said.

“Alright, I’ll leave in a minute then.” Gaige told her and she nodded before closing the door and we turned to Fluttershy who was also frowning. “We’ll come back tomorrow with the others to check up on you, promise.” Gaige said smiling at the timid yellow pony, extending her metal hand out for fist-bump.

“I look forward to it.” Shy said as she brohoofed Gaige before we got up and left the room. To our surprise Stellar was waiting outside for us.

“Took your time didn’t cha?” He said and Gaige chuckled at him.

“Well there was a lot to explain. Anyways, where’s everyone else?” Gaige asked as we began walking down the hallway.

“Back at de palace making plans for what to do next. De city is still a mess from de invasion and wit you being de new queen of de changeling’s dings are a little less dan desirable.” He said with a sigh.

“I don’t see what the big deal about me being their new queen is. If anything it’s one less enemy you have to worry about so long as they follow my orders.” Gaige said and the stallion sighed.

“Even so not many of us ponies are too keen on de thought of having your kind around after dat invasion the former queen pulled.” He said and Gaige and I both sighed, he did have a point there. Stellar continued to lead us out of the hospital and back into the castle and to where the others had all gathered which appeared to be the throne room. Celestia and Luna were both sitting on their thrones with the others gathered before them Zed included who had taken the form of a earth pony. True to what he had told us he was completely covered in scares that made him look like he had been badly burned. Dash was the first to notice us and quickly rushed over.

“Well how is Fluttershy? Is she okay? Did something happen that they had to make you leave?” She questioned as she hovered in the air to look us at eye level, Gaige smiled and petted her head.

“She’s fine, visiting hours are over, that’s all.” She told Dash who let out a sigh of relief before she landed on the ground. “So what’s new? Did we miss anything?” Gaige asked aloud as she looked over everyone.

“Currently we have calmed most of the frightened masses of the city and have put out all the fires. Reconstruction is our next step and hopefully all should go back to normal with in the week.” Celestia said as she looked to her sister as she spoke, a frown on her face.

“But as for you, queen of the changelings, Gaige, we have yet decided on what we should do with you.” Luna said.

“After this attack I doubt ponies will simply sit quietly and let this blow over without some form of justice being served.” Twilight said. “And they certainly wouldn’t like the idea of the new leader of the changelings roaming about equastria as she pleases.” She finished and Gaige sighed.

“I was afraid of that…” She said scratching the back of her head.

“Fear not, Thou are a friend of equastria and we shall do everything in our power as the princesses of equastria to insure you are both safe and able to roam as you please.” Luna stated which caused me to smile a bit, as much as I could smile like this.

“As my Luna and I were discussing with Twilight and her friends, we believe keeping the truth of you being half changeling a secret for as long as possible while informing that we shall increase our search efforts for the changelings hive. This should keep the masses calm and tempered with their need for justice, but I do not know when the truth about your position as the new queen would be able to come to light if ever.” Celestia explained and Gaige nodded before putting her hands behind her head.

“Works for me.” She chirped and both Luna and Celestia looked a bit surprised by her quick response.

“You don’t seem to be all that… worried, about the position you’re in.” Celestia said but Gaige only smiled.

“What’s the point of worrying? Worrying about stuff only causes stress and the last time I got stressed out I ended up locking myself in my work shed for three weeks.” Gaige said before her stomach growled loudly, causing her to blush a little. “Um, on another subject, you guys have any food I could I eat, I’m starving.” She said with a weak smile as she rubbed her stomach.

“Well I suppose it is about dinner time.” Celestia said as she rose from her throne. “Let us all go to the dining hall and see if the castle chef has anything prepared for this evening.” She said as the ponies along with Jack and Selene followed after her. We were about to follow with but Zed stopped us from continuing out the door.

“We need to talk…”

Jack’s POV:

“So Stellar, how’d you end up with Joel during the invasion?” I asked the guard pony as we walked with the princesses to the dining hall to get some chow.

“Well I was running de new trainees for de royal guard through some basic drills when de invasion started. As part of drills we are put through in training we formed defensive lines to protect important buildings such as de castle or city library were we hold all of de guards records. I was there fighting off the swarm until I was KIA’d, or at least I would have been if he didn’t show up to save my sorry flank. I had taken a slash to de throat and was bleeding pretty heavily until I passed out. The next ding I know is dere’s dis monster looking down at me on de ground, my wound completely gone somehow but I was still covered in blood from it. He said he healed my wound and that he was on my side and wanted to help fight of de changelings. After some introductions he informed me dat he was working with de princesses and de elements of harmony and what you were all trying to do. So since he saved my life I told him I would help him in any way I could.” He explained to us as we reached the dining hall which simply consisted of a large room with a long table with more than enough seats for everyone.

“So in other words you owe him your life since he saved it?” Selene said and the stallion nodded his head as we all took our seats.

“Speaking of which we is de devil? Wasn’t he right behind us?” Stellar asked as we all began looking around for Joel and I noticed that Zed wasn’t present either.

“I’m right here.” Gaige’s voice came from the doorway as she walked in with Zed following behind before taking seats at the table. I was about to ask what took them so long to get here but another pony came into the room wearing a chef’s hat.

“Ah your majesties and honored guests what would you have me prepare for you all this afternoon?” He asked and Celestia smiled at him.

“As happy to serve as ever Bonne Nourriture. I believe fruit bowls will be more than enough for us this evening. Any objections?” Celestia said smiling as she looked around the table for anyone to say something. When no one said anything she gave a nod to the chef who bowed before leaving for the kitchen to make our lunch. “So miss Gaige, Stellar was recalling the tale of how he and Joel first met, I would very much like to hear Joel’s point of view of the story if you wouldn’t mind telling it for him.” She said and Gaige nodded as she closed her eyes, more than likely thinking to Joel.

“He says that he was planning on bring this up anyways but he guesses it doesn’t matter now. According to him this is what happened…”

Joel/Krieg’s POV: *During the invasion*

“COVER EVERYTHING IN THE CRIMSON GOLD OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS AND BATHE ME IN ITS GREATNESS SO THAT ALL MAY SEE THE GLORY THAT IS I!!!” Krieg roared as he cut through the swarm of changelings down the street from the train station we started at. The street and buildings that lined it were now painted in a thick red coating of changeling blood from the absolute slaughter feast Krieg brought on them.

‘He does have a way with words doesn’t he?’ I thought to the other Krieg who chuckled.

‘We used to read poetry before we were this, I think.’ He thought back and I gave mental sad smile.

‘Well I guess that makes sense, but I suppose I should step in now. No more enemies means I take over now.’ I thought as Krieg relinquished control of our body and allowed me to take over once again. I was about to start making my way to the castle when I picked up the faintest of coughing and wheezing from the building next to me. Turning quickly and searching the area I saw a member of the royal guard laying on the ground, gasping for air, a nasty cut at his throat.

‘He’s alive? Damn, he’s one lucky son of a bitch.’ The old Krieg thought to me as I quickly rushed over to the stallion to see if I could do anything. The cut was just barely enough to cut anything important, but it was still enough to make him start losing blood. I gently applied pressure to the wound without crushing the stallion’s wind pipe to slow the bleeding.

“Hang in there buddy, I’m gonna fix you up.” I said as my mind started racing on how I could try and save him.

‘And exactly how do you plan to do that? You’ve got no medicine and we’re certainly not a pair of doctors here.' Krieg thought to me.

“How indeed.” A male voice came from behind me that nearly made me jump out of my skin. I couldn’t turn my head far enough without having to take my hands off the stallions throat, keeping me from seeing the source of the voice. But I could defiantly see a shadow, or rather a pair of shadows, and they were defiantly human in shape one male and one female.

“To heal a wound such as that would take extensive surgery and trained professionals.” The female spoke up.

“Or one of these.” The male voice spoke up again as the shadow tossed a tube filled with red liquid and a needle on one end which landed right beside me.

‘An insta-health?! Kid we can use that to save him!’ Krieg thought loudly to me as I quickly grabbed the red vial and he instructed me to push the needle end of the tube just below the cut. As I did the red liquid drained from the tube and the cut one the pony’s neck slowly sealed shut. With my hands free I finally turned to face where the voices came from, only to find no one standing there and a golden bit on the ground.

“What the hell…” I mumbled aloud as I picked up the bit before I heard the pony cough and I turned my attention back to him as he slowly came to.

Selene’s POV: *present time*

The dining hall remained silent and all eyes were fixed on Gaige as she finished explaining what Joel had told her had happened when he met Stellar. Our bowls of fruit arrived a little while ago but they had mostly gone completely untouched as we were entranced by what Gaige had told us. Just about all of us had mixed looks of confusion, disbelief, and questioning.

“So you mean to tell us that some of your kind appeared here in Canterlot, gave you something out of the world you and Krieg both come from, and then vanished without a trace?” Celestia questioned and Gaige nodded.

“That’s about right. The insta-health vile is a healing agent that the Hyperion Corporation on Pandora made for its workers to instantly heal any and all injuries they might have.” Gaige explained and Luna spoke up.

“So there is someone who has been to your world and they are somewhere here in equastria.” She said looking to her sister. “It is a possibility that they may be connected to why you are all here and how you end up as you are.” She said and Celestia nod.

“I agree, but we have so little to go on, but it is at least a place to start.” Celestia said as she looked over the three of us. “After Canterlot is rebuilt we shall divert our efforts to finding this pair. If they are hiding anywhere in equastria we will find them.” She said smiling before a cup of tea was placed before her… by a hand.

“Why waste precious time to search…”

“…When what you seek is already in front of you.” The two voices echoed loudly through the dining hall like thunder cracking through a silent night. All eye were quickly drawn to the source of the two voices, one man and one woman dressed in tan outfits that matched each other with identical blue eyes and hair color. The man stood pouring another cup of tea while the woman held a tray with empty tea cup along with honey and other things to add to one’s tea.

“Robert.” The man introduced himself as he placed the tea pot back on the tray.

“And Rosalind Lutece” The woman introduced herself as she poured some honey into the tea cup.

“At your service.” They spoke in unison as Robert placed the now filled cup of tea in front of Luna.

Author's Note

This chapter took me much longer then i thought it would i apologize greatly for that. I would have been done a long time ago but registration for the fall at my college opened up and it's been nothing but crazy since. Add in the fact I'm trying hard to get a job and that i went to a convention my life has been more then crazy for me. But regardless i hope you enjoyed this chapter, and hopefully surprised you with the surprise visit from my favorite twins. ;)