Veni, Vidi, Verti

by thesecret1

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Changelings, Rainbow Dash, Adventure
Length: 12124

Crypsis is a changeling infiltrator on her first mission – to replace a pony in Ponyville. The hive is counting on her to finish the mission to the best of her abilities, but is she capable of it? And, more importantly, does she want to?

Crypsis is a changeling infiltrator on her first mission – to replace a pony in Ponyville. The hive is counting on her to finish the mission to the best of her abilities, but is she capable of it? And, more importantly, does she want to?

My entry to The Equestria Daily Outside Insight Summer Fanfic Contest.

Edited by Abcron and InquisitorM.

Published 2014-08-11 00:40:02 UTC
Last updated 2014-08-11 00:40:02 UTC

Story

Veni, Vidi, Verti

Crypsis cursed herself for the twentieth time when a twig cracked under her hoof. This was no time for mistakes! Her head rose out of the bush she was huddled in, she peered ahead, and galloped behind the nearest tree, landing her hooves as softly as possible.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

She winced and took a deep breath. There were no shouts; she heard no hoofsteps. She was safe for the moment. That didn’t stop her heart from trying to break out of her chest, however. Curse this mission! She should’ve chosen something easier.

Looking out from behind the tree, it didn’t seem far. Twenty steps? Twenty five? Soon, she’d be able to see them for the first time.

She shuddered. If only seeing them was all she was supposed to do. But nooo she had to show off. She had to choose the most difficult assignment she could, didn’t she?

She facehoofed and drew a shaky breath. What was done was done. She wasn’t going to turn back now. Not before she at least saw the dreaded weapons of Equestria.

Laughter filled the air as she snuck closer.

Fillies?

She crept behind a thick bush and pulled the leaves apart. Her jaw dropped.

Everyone had heard of ‘The Six’. They were all two to three meters tall, extremely muscular, wise beyond their years, and their gaze alone was said to have sent many an enemy back home in tears. At least, that’s what Crypsis had heard from travellers on the road. What she saw was rather... different.

Equestria’s ‘dreaded weapons,’ or at least the ones she could see, were either playing hoofball or lying around and stuffing themselves with sandwiches and sweets. What’s more, she was pretty sure she could take them all down without too much of a problem. Save for the alicorn princess, perhaps. That horn of hers looked nasty.

Crypsis shook her head and frowned. Appearances could be misleading; she should know that better than anyone. Nevertheless, her mission suddenly seemed a lot more possible.

She sighed. Certainly not probable, though. She had picked her target by the gossip she heard, but she clearly couldn’t rely on it and wasn’t even sure where her victim lived.

Well, they’ve always said stalking is my strong point.

Crypsis smiled and retreated back into the tree line. She still hadn’t seen her target; perhaps she needed a better vantage point? She could fly onto a tree to get a better look through the thick canopy... but that’d also make her more exposed. They looked harmless enough, but so did the other princesses, and Mother needed a whole month to recover after assaulting one of them.

She gritted her teeth, unfurled her wings, and flew onto a nearby branch. If she remembered her training, she would definitely succeed. Well, that’s what they told her during the training, at least. She hadn't an opportunity to test that yet.

Twilight Sparkle, the alicorn princess nobody could shut up about, sat on a checkered blanket, digging her spoon into a slice of chocolate cake while her white unicorn friend stared directly at Crypsis.

Dang.

Crypsis stared back, her muscles as still as that of a statue.

Rule number eight: If they don’t expect to see you somewhere, they won’t unless you make yourself truly obvious.

Rarity scanned the tree for about a half a minute, before the she finally shook her head and poured herself some tea.

Rarity. The unicorn with an eye for detail, and one of the first candidates Crypsis rejected. Not that her behaviour would be that hard to fake, at least from what Crypsis had heard, but there was the matter of skill. She couldn’t imitate a seamstress when she knew nothing about sewing! Not for long, at least.

A bit further away, Pinkie Pie bounced around like a rubber ball. The rumours about her only said that she liked sweets, loved her friends, and that she was probably mentally damaged. There were some infiltrators specialising in such basket cases, but Crypsis wasn’t one of them, and last time she checked the hive mind – meaning about a minute ago – there weren’t any in vicinity. In fact, she was the only member of her hive for miles around.

Where is she? Sitting at home? Doesn’t she know it’s a beautiful day outside, ideal for going somewhere I can see her?

She scowled and climbed higher up, constantly checking where Rarity was looking. Sure, she could probably get the information she needed if she asked someone in town, but doing so would be highly unprofessional. Strangers asking addresses were unusual at best, suspicious at worst. In either case, not something Crypsis was willing to risk if there was an easy way around.

She changed her colour to green, shrank her wings to nothingness so that they didn’t get caught among the branches, and slowly raised her head out of the foliage. The entire meadow laid in front of her like an open map. She could see three fillies chasing each other around, Rarity shouting at them while covered by her spilled tea, some other ponies playing hoofball... More importantly, she finally spotted her target. A cyan pegasus circled overhead, making twists and turns, aileron rolls, and other nonsense.

I should’ve guessed. What else would a Wonderbolt wanna-be do in her spare time?

Rainbow Dash was ideal. Or, well, the least unideal of them. Fluttershy would’ve been the best pick, were it not for the spirit of chaos living with her. Applejack was the second-best candidate, but choosing her would mean toiling on the farm from dawn to twilight, and Crypsis wasn’t going to do that if she could avoid it. Physical work was for drones, not for infiltrators like her.

She smiled and started climbing down. The treetop was a bit too exposed to her liking. Now that she knew where her target was, she could track her from down below. Once Rainbow decided it was time to hit the hay, Crypsis would follow her and learn where she lived without rousing unwanted attention. Not to mention she could observe her friends for a bit and see whether the gossip was at least partially true. She let go of the bottom branch and landed with a thud.

“Whoa there, pardner!” someone behind her said. “You scared me outta my horseshoes.”

Crypsis squeezed her eyes shut and awaited the killing blow.

“Ya hear? And what’s up with your back? It looks more boney than my granny’s hips.”

How is she not...

Her eyes widened. She was still green! When was the last time they saw a changeling? A year ago? No wonder she didn’t recognise one right away.

Crypsis quickly shrank her fangs, added pupils to her eyes, patched up the holes in her legs, elongated her mane, and covered the front of her body with short, green fur. Then she turned around. “Uh... sorry. I was... uh... climbing trees and I... guess I didn’t see you there. Sorry. I’ll just be on my way.”

The mare in front of her was Applejack – even the vague descriptions she’d gotten mentioned her hat. She didn’t look as menacing as Crypsis expected, but that didn’t stop her legs from shaking.

Dropping down before checking what’s underneath. Rookie’s mistake.

She felt like slapping herself.

“How are you climbin’ trees anyway? You ain’t lookin’ nearly strong enough for that and you ain’t got any wings.” Applejack leaned to the side and peered at her back again.

Crypsis leaned in the same direction and gave Applejack the poorest, most obviously forced grin in the history of grins. “I’m very agile. Anyway, I’ll be on my way now. Sorry for scaring you.” She took a few steps back.

“Not so fast.” Applejack furrowed her brow. “You look starved.”

“Thanks, I’m on a diet. But I really got to go.” Crypsis made another few steps back.

Applejack walked forward. “That sounds mighty unhealthy to me. You look ready to drop dead! Come along and I’ll get you something to chow down into.”

“Uh... no.”

“Why not?” Applejack frowned. “It’s free, if that’s what’s got you worried.”

“Uh...” Crypsis concentrated and hid her wings under newly-sprouted fur. “I don’t even know anypony there.”

“It’s just some of my friends.” Applejack smiled at her. “I’ll introduce them to you, eh... Who are you anyway?”

“Oh, I’m a pony.”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “I can see that. But what’s your name?”

“I’m Green Tree,” Crypsis said without a blink. “Pleasure to meet you.”

“Well alright, Green Tree.” Applejack smiled and extended her hoof. “Just come along, and I’ll get you somethin’ to eat real quick.”

“Oh, I’d love to go, but would you look at the time!” Crypsis looked to where the sun would be if there weren’t treetops in the way. “I got carried away... uh... tree climbing, and forgot I was supposed to be somewhere else. Uh... bye!” She turned around and galloped away into the forest.

———

A white pegasus mare with an orange mane that hung over her left eye stood in front of a large cloud villa. The body belonged to some pegasus that had been assimilated years ago, according to the hive mind. Even though it only stored various body forms, changeling positions, titbits of useless trivia, and relayed an occasional order from Mother, it was still one of the greatest tools an infiltrator could have. It was a shame that the biggest part of it was reserved for the military.

She looked up and saw liquid rainbow flowing from several places, and massive stone pillars lining the building’s walls.

Looks like princesses aren’t the only ones living in castles nowadays.

Crypsis rolled her eyes and knocked on the door. She lived in a castle of sorts too! True, it wasn’t hers, and she shared it with hundreds upon hundreds of others, but it looked far prettier. This thing was too smooth, too polished, too cold... The Hive’s beauty laid in its roughness and in the fact that one was never truly alone in there.

She heard a yawn from the other side. “Coming.”

Crypsis smiled and repeated her lines a few more times in her head. She was Burning Ridge, she came from Fillydelphia, and she needed some directions. She’d then act all surprised that she found the famous Rainbow Dash, and things would go from there. A bold tactic, perhaps, but the most effective one – she could spend months observing her from the bushes, trying to figure out everything about her, or she could just go and ask. Since she found her home without asking anyone after all, nobody could prove it wasn’t a chance meeting.

The door opened, revealing a yawning cyan mare, and Crypsis cleared her throat. “Good morning, I’m—”

“Oh my gosh!” Rainbow Dash went from yawn to gasp and pulled her into a tight hug. “Summer! I haven’t seen you since the end of high school!”

“Uh...” Crypsis leaned back and furrowed her brow.

“I thought you lived in Hoofington. What brought you here?” Rainbow grinned. “Thought about visiting an old friend, eh? What were you doing all this time?” She dragged her inside.

And there goes my made-up past.

“I was...” Crypsis smiled and looked around. “You have it very nice in here.”

Rainbow waved her hoof. “It’s nothing; clouds are cheap. Did you make it to a nurse like you wanted to?” She smirked and leaned closer. “Or are you already a doctor, eh?”

No, but your dear ‘Summer’ made it to a changeling. That’s a step up right there.

It was still best to be born changeling naturally. Crypsis had yet to meet a ‘transformed’ one, but she heard they acted weird, and that their memories sometimes seeped back into their heads.

“Sure thi– I mean I almost became a nurse.” Crypsis frowned.

Rule fourteen: Never claim to have skills or knowledge that you do not posses.

“Almost? Almost?” Rainbow scowled. “How could you not make it? You aced every class! I only passed History because you helped me during tests.”

Crypsis motioned towards a nearby table. “Let’s sit down first, I’m exhausted.”

And I need a few seconds to form up a new background.

“Oh, right!” Rainbow turned a chair towards her and put a small cloud onto it before flying behind the corner. “I have some orange juice here, if you want.”

Crypsis sat down. “Do you have tea?”

She heard a loud snort from the next room. “You too? Tea – blegh! You’re lucky I don’t throw away gifts. Rarity gave me enough tea to last a lifetime.”

Crypsis smiled. Tea – the surest way to occupy someone for several precious minutes. “Take your time. Who’s Rarity, by the way?”

“Just a friend.”

Crypsis sat in what appeared to be a dining room. It was to the right of the front door – a strange choice, perhaps, but there were far stranger things. For example, the large, open space that encompassed the entire left side of the house. The right side had everything it should – floors, walls, rooms... But no stairs. Made sense in a pegasi home, she supposed. Interestingly, there were also no interior doors.

“Which kind do you want?” Rainbow asked from what appeared to be the kitchen. “Green, black... alright, I can’t pronounce this one, but it starts with ‘R.’”

Crypsis massaged her temples. Why would she be unable to make it to a nurse? “It doesn’t matter, just pick one.”

The inside of the cloudy palace was much like its exterior in style. Massive pillars, simple ornaments, marble-like colours... someone liked old Pegasia. Apparently not that much, though, considering the History bit. Other than that, the surroundings were rather bare. As if someone built an enormous house and later figured they only needed two or three rooms of it.

“Got it.” Rainbow walked in from the kitchen, holding a large mug in her left hoof. “There.” She laid it in front of Crypsis. “I still got no idea why everypony’s all crazy about the stuff. Anyway, you said you didn’t make it to a nurse?”

“Yes. It was terrible – everypony kept asking me out to parties, wanted to hang out, have lunches... dates.” She blushed and cleared her throat. “I thought I had it all under control, but then the exams came, and I just didn’t make it.”

Rainbow bowed her head. “I’m sorry. You of all the ponies...” She looked up. “But why are you here? Just to visit me?”

“Oh, I was just travelling, looking for a job...” She took a sip of the tea. “I figured I might as well look here, where I have a friend.”

Rainbow nodded. “Totally! Do you have a place to stay over?”

Crypsis shook her head.

“Great! You can stay with me, if you want – just like the sleepovers we had, right?” Rainbow grinned.

This is too easy.

“Are you sure I won’t be a bother?”

“A bother?” She laughed. “I’ll finally have some company. Oh, this is awesome! You can pick any room you want – I’ve got too many of them anyway.”

“You also seem to have a shortage of doors.”

“Pffft.” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “What’s the use of them inside? They just slowed me down when I flew around, so I removed them.” She pointed somewhere towards the roof. “I’ve got my room hidden up there. Awesome view and everything. If you want, there’s another one right next to it, but it’s kinda small. Want a tour?”

“Thanks.” Crypsis smiled. “Right now, though, I’d rather hear a bit about what you’ve been up to. I’ve heard a lot of gossip...”

———

“...and that’s pretty much all that’s happened.” Rainbow said, stepping into the Ponyville town square.

It was a few days later. They were having a stroll through Ponyville, and Rainbow had just finished telling Crypsis, or ‘Summer,’ about how she and her unrivalled skills helped defeat Tirek and save all of Equestria. For about the fifth time. Strangely, Rainbow’s role in the events seemed to increase with every new version of the story.

“So, you say that Twilight had only won because you taught her everything there is about flying?”

“And about being cool.” Rainbow winked. “Don’t forget that part.”

“Right.” Crypsis put on a smile. “And what is she doing now?”

“Now?” Rainbow scowled. “Now she’s cooped inside her new, princess-y castle and keeps hanging out with this strange guy she refuses to talk about.”

“A strange new guy?” Crypsis leaned closer. “Who’s that?”

“Beats me.Only thing I know is she’s been with us a lot less since he came, and that she never says anything important about him.” Rainbow cleared her throat and spoke in high pitch: “Oh, he’s just a stallion that helps me out with my studies. Let’s talk about something else.” She harrumphed. “If she’s dating him, she can just say so. Geez.”

This was, as opposed to Rainbow’s boasting, actually valuable information. With ties to her mission, even.

Crypsis wasn’t stupid. The only reason Mother would be sending an operative into Ponyville was to spy on the new princess. Of course, that was none of her business – she was just there to do the replacing, transfer the necessary personality information to the changeling that would come to relieve her, and go back for a new mission. Actual spy work was for other agents, like spies, and a good thing it was. She couldn’t imagine staying in the same form for months to get the necessary information. Why, it was downright unnatural, in her opinion – not to mention boring. Day to day mindless routines, the same body and same face every morning, same places... She pitied ponies in a way.

Crypsis nodded. “Yeah, she should at least introduce him. But why do you think it’s about dating?”

On the other hoof, even though it was none of her business, there was nothing quite like doing a bit ‘extra’ to impress her superiors, which was why she chose Rainbow Dash in the first place. The mission’s parameters permitted her to replace literally any pony in Ponyville, no matter which. If her gamble paid off, a promotion to head infiltrator could be just behind the corner!

“Well, what else?” Rainbow scratched her head. “If it wasn’t, why would she keep it all quiet? It’s got to be all that romantic lovey-dovey stuff.” She rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue. “Guy came out of nowhere, and I bet she just started swooning all over him. Eggheads are like that. Remember how you got all crazy about that one unicorn from the lower year?” She nudged her in her ribs.

“Uh... sure.” Crypsis furrowed her brow. “He was... special.”

Rainbow cocked her brow. “What?”

Crypsis’s eyes widened. “I mean not special! Completely ordinary. That’s what was best about him.”

“You’ve got to be joking.” Rainbow frowned. “You really had a thing for him? I’ve been teasing you about it the entire year, thinking it was a good joke, him and you, and you never told me?”

“Uh...” Crypsis gulped. “I guess I was... err... too shy?” She looked away.

“Too shy?” Rainbow shot her a glare. “Never in front of me! You even told me about the pudding incident, and that was far more embarrassing than liking a guy.” She groaned. “Why is everypony so fussy about this stuff? Be more like I am! I could talk about stallions the whole day no problem.” She froze and slowly turned her head left and right. “Okay, that came out wrong. Hope nopony heard that.”

Crypsis looked behind them. With how loud Rainbow kept talking, and with them standing at the edge of the town square, it was practically impossible for ponies not to hear. “I’m sure they didn’t.”

“Okay, good. Change of topic.” Rainbow’s face turned redder than a tomato.

“Did you really have so many stallions?” Knowledge of all the previous partners was crucial for maintaining a good disguise.

“No!” Rainbow whispered. “And keep your voice down.” She looked left and right again. “I haven’t really had a... ‘special somepony’ yet.” She blushed and her voice returned to its previous volume. “Anyway, change of topic, I said! We aren’t going to talk about this stuff all day, are we?”

“But you just said—”

“Nope.” Rainbow looked away. “Not talking about it.”

Crypsis giggled, soon joined by her ‘friend.’ “Well alright then. Wanna go grab something to eat?”

Rainbow nodded and licked her lips. “I know a great place nearby.”

“Great, let’s g—”

Crypsis staggered.

Rainbow’s entire body pulsed with a faint, pink-ish light that extended in Crypsis’s direction. She had never seen anything like that, but the feeling it gave off was all too familiar – she’d felt it many times in the hive, standing next to the cocoons. She was being fed.

Rainbow raised her brow. “What’s the matter?”

“N–nothing. Let’s... let’s go.” Crypsis took a deep breath.

So this was what it was like. She had heard that being fed like this – willingly rather than draining the love out of ponies using a cocoon – felt better than the alternatives. And it was true. She didn’t just feel energised afterwards, she felt soothed and nurtured, like when she was in Mother’s presence. Her disguise must’ve been perfect to earn this kind of reaction.

Crypsis trotted to Rainbow’s side, closer than usual, and basked in the sensations. “Lead on.”

———

Crypsis paced from corner to corner, biting her lip. She was in her room, high up in Rainbow Dash’s ‘palace,’ and could hear the owner yawning through the doorway. It’d been two weeks. Two weeks of doing nothing but following Rainbow’s every step, soaking in the way she spoke, the way she moved, asking about every little detail in Rainbow’s life, about her friends, memorising her mane to the last strand, and, admittedly, having fun.

It’d been two weeks, and it was time to act. Regular changelings might’ve needed months to make a perfect copy, but Crypsis went through possibly the most valuable, most demanding, and certainly the most brutal training the hive could provide. Infiltrators were the cream of the crop; they weren’t expected to need more than those fourteen days.

She gulped and looked towards Rainbow’s room. There was no reason to wait anymore. She had everything necessary to do the replacement.

Replacing one of The Six.

Crypsis gulped again and drew a shaky breath. She knew this was going to be tough ever since she’d decided to do it. Knowing and actually doing it were, unfortunately, two completely different things. How could she succeed where the spirit of chaos itself and countless others had failed? Not to mention the fact that Rainbow was fast. If Crypsis made a mistake and she got away, then it would be a chance forever lost, as she’d never chase her down in time before she alarmed the entire town. And then there was how the thought of putting her in a cocoon actually made Crypsis shudder.

They hammered it into her head even as she’d been leaving the hive. ‘Remember rule number three. It’s crucial, especially on your first mission!’ And what did she do? Of course, she broke it. ‘Never allow yourself to become attached to your target.’

What was done was done, however. It might hurt a bit, but the mission allowed no other solution. She couldn’t have her running around after she took her form. She had to remember that Dash was a target, nothing more, and that if she saw who Crypsis really is, she wouldn’t hesitate to attack her. Dash was Sumer’s friend, not hers. Besides, it wasn’t like she was getting rid of RD forever. She’d only cocoon her; nothing wrong with that.

Crypsis took a deep breath and walked into Rainbow’s room. Time to get it over with.

“Hey, Summer.” Rainbow stretched her hooves and yawned, still lying under the covers. “I think I’ll lie here for a while longer. Think you could make breakfast today?”

Crypsis smiled and, with her brows frowning, shook her head.

“Oh.” Rainbow cocked her brow. “Okay. If you really don’t want to, I guess I’ll do it. Later.” She sighed and rubbed her head against the pillow.

Crypsis walked around the bed and towered above Rainbow. What she wanted to do needed to be done in close proximity.

“Uh... Summer?” Rainbow frowned and shuffled deeper under the blanket. “You’re acting kinda we—”

Crypsis shed her disguise and tackled Rainbow, rolling down onto the floor with her.

“Sweet Celestia!” Rainbow squirmed on her back and got halfway out of through the bottom of the blanket, but Crypsis’s magic caught her legs before she could get any further than that.

Crypsis dug through the fluffy mass of cloth and feather and grabbed Rainbow’s head in her hooves, forcing it to look at her. “I’m sorry, Rainbow.”

“Go to Tartarus!” Rainbow’s eyes welled up and her teeth clenched. “What did you do with Summer, you monster?”

Crypsis sighed. “There is no Summer. There hasn’t been for years.” Her horn lit up and she lowered it to Rainbow’s forehead.

At first, nothing had happened. Rainbow blinked and started opening her mouth, no doubt to shout some obscenities at Crypsis. Then she blinked again. And again. Every time she opened her eyes, her pupils looked more glazed over, foggier, until finally, a distinct green ‘mist’ settled over them, and Rainbow’s body went limp.

Crypsis wiped her brow, rolled over, and stared at the ceiling. It really was like they told her during training – take them by surprise and they don’t stand a chance. Although this time, it was the blanket that saved the day rather than anything else. Rainbow’s speed was truly exceptional.

She chuckled. A pony that defeated Nightmare Moon, Discord, Tirek, and others, brought down by lone changeling fresh out of training. The laugh turned bitter in her throat as she stood up and looked at Rainbow again. She was breathing, but that was about everything she was capable of. Mind paralysis. Rather than trying to stop each and every muscle in her body, this spell went straight for the command centre. Infiltrator’s favourite.

Time to finish what she had started, before the spell wore off. Crypsis sighed again and spat on the floor. She smiled – the spit stayed where it was. It seemed like this cloud material behaved like regular stone.

She hunched and then leaned forward, like a cat coughing out a ball of fur. Then again. The third time, bits of green liquid left her mouth and splattered on the ground. She bowed her head down, and more and more of the substance began streaming out, forming a puddle on the floor. It wasn’t in any way unpleasant – changelings were naturally equipped for this. In fact, it smelled quite nice and reminded Crypsis of the hive. Ponies would probably find it disgusting, as they did many other things.

After a few minutes, she stopped and wiped her mouth. The sticky material covered most of the room, even splashing Rainbow’s hind legs.

She patted Rainbow on the head and lit up her horn. The vomit floated up in the air and started rotating, taking an oval shape. Crypsis narrowed her eyes and sped the rotation up. The liquid pressed itself against her levitation field, and she pushed it back, steadily increasing the rotation speed.

She levitated the swirling mass towards herself and dipped her hoof into it. Just as it should be – the heaviest parts had pressed themselves to the edges while the lighter, less dense ones stayed in the centre. She readjusted the field and pressed some of the thickest clumps to the top and bottom and then kept them there, prodding the thing with her hoof while increasing the rotation even further. After about ten minutes, she nodded and laid the newly made cocoon down.

“Come on now, before the shell hardens too much.” She took Rainbow’s forelegs into hers and, supporting her head with magic, dragged her towards it. “This might be a bit uncomfortable.” She lifted Rainbow’s body and rammed her head first into the cocoon’s top.

“Oh, dang.” Crypis frowned. Rainbow got stuck mid way. “I’m sorry again.” She positioned herself behind Rainbow’s behind and pressed against it.

“Just... get in!” With a mighty push and a loud ‘plop,’ the rest of Rainbow Dash entered the cocoon.

Crypsis secured the hole with her magic and waited until it solidified again. She then drew the curtains and levitated the cocoon high above, sticking the still moist top to the ceiling.

Rainbow floated inside upside down, her eyes still open and unmoving. The cocoon absorbed oxygen from its surroundings, and the liquid inside provided enough nutrients for months. After all, it was made from the food Crypsis had eaten throughout her life. Being fed by love, she had no other use for it.

Crypsis sighed one last time and ran her hoof across the gooey surface. “Sleep tight.” She pressed Rainbow’s eyes shut with her magic and walked out of the room. There was no reason to be sad. She’d be fine inside the cocoon, and Crypsis doubted Mother would want to do anything bad to her. She was too valuable a bargaining chip to be sucked dry of love and assimilated. No. Crypsis didn’t doom her. She’d just earned herself a promotion. Provided she could somehow get that cocoon back to the hive without being spotted, of course.

Why do I feel so bad about it then?

She shook her head and concentrated on Dash’s image in her mind. Green fire washed over her body and soon, the house had one more Rainbow.

———

The town was nearly empty that day. Or at least that’s how it looked like to Crypsis as she flew overhead. Everyone was staying at home due to the gray sky above, no doubt.

Her heart fluttered for about the tenth time. Was it certain that Rainbow... that she didn’t have a shift that day? Rainbow never went to work on Thursdays, but what if she’d gotten a message to come just before Crypsis had cocooned her? She could see many pegasi breaking the cloud crust; didn’t they need some extra help? Getting a citation was not how she’d like to start off her disguise.

I’m just being paranoid. Hopefully.

She shook her head and descended towards the entrance to the new Ponyville palace. Rainbow’s home might’ve had it flaws, but it was still infinitely better looking than this abomination. Where she disliked the cloud palace’s smoothness, here she hated the crystals’ roughness. It didn’t look natural, more like someone smashed at a crystal mountain with a sledgehammer until he got the shape he wanted, and then never bothered to remove all the jagged and jutting parts. Why, the bottom of the ‘tree’ looked like one could impale herself on it. Not to mention that while Crypsis had little to no knowledge of design or style, even she could see that it didn’t fit the village setting at all.

She pushed the door open and walked inside. She knew the way, more or less, as Rainbow had already taken her there a few times to introduce ‘Summer’ to her friends. Fortunately, the introduction only consisted of greetings and similar basic stuff.

Crypsis cleared her throat and opened the door to the castle’s library. “Twilight?” She marched inside.

“Hello, Rainbow.” Twilight sat in a large cushioned armchair in the middle of the room, surrounded by dozens of books and various papers. “What do you need?”

“I was just wondering what you’re doing here all the time, cooped inside like a total egghead.” She moved closer and peered at the papers.

Twilight covered some with her hooves and levitated the others into one stack. “Oh, nothing that’d interest you. But I’ll be finished soon; I promise.”

Crypsis crossed her forelegs, keeping herself up with her wings. “I still want to know. You’ve been at this for weeks.”

Twilight smiled and shook her head. “Some experimenting. You wouldn’t understand; it’s for ‘eggheads’ like me.” She chuckled.

“Oh yeah?” Crypsis smirked. “Try me.”

Twilight sighed. “I’m sorry, Rainbow, but I’m busy and don’t have time to explain it to you without all the biology terminology. I promise it’ll be finished soon, though, and that I’ll head outside right afterwards.”

“If you say so...” Crypsis cocked her brow. “At least tell me about the stallion you keep hanging out with. Is he... special? Huh?” She grinned and waggled her eyebrows.

Twilight giggled. “He is, but not in the way you think. He’s just helping me with the research; don’t worry about him. You won’t see him around once it’s finished, and as I’ve said – it’ll be soon.”

“Well alright...” Crypsis scratched her head. “I... guess I’ll go and wait until you decide to be cool again then.”

“Bye, Rainbow.”

“Bye.” Crypsis flew out of the room.

Interesting. Seeing how Twilight didn’t say anything useful even to her close friend, the research was either too important, or too embarrassing.

Or she saw through my disguise.

Crypsis shuddered. It was highly unlikely – the replacement was perfect so far, without the smallest of problems – but who knew with a magic-specialised alicorn? Good thing her mission was almost over. The spy was supposed to check up on her in three days, disguised as a traveller passing through. Should he, for some reason, deem the replacement not finished or her information incomplete, he’d let her continue her work here and arrange a later date. If he saw she’s ready, they’d switch forms, and then she’d have to figure out a way to transport the cocoon back to the hive. Maybe if she, as the traveller, bought a wagon? She could cover that with some cloth and be on her way.

Three days was a lot of time, though. Why waste it by doing nothing but gaping at Rainbow floating around? If she spied a bit on Twilight herself, she might just earn enough points with her superiors to secure that promotion right away.

Crypsis flew out of the building, circled it, and latched herself to the library window. She peeked inside.

Twilight was still sitting in her armchair, peering into her books and writing on her papers. Crypsis frowned. There had to be a way to distract her somehow and get a look.

She let go of the window and flew to the one next to it. Maybe if she made some racket there, Twilight would...

Crypsis’s face stretched into a wide grin. Sitting there, back towards her, among yet more books, but also various vials and concoctions, was the mysterious stallion. Who else could it be? Crypsis was sure she hadn’t seen him around Ponyville.

He had a gray coat and a white mane, as well as a long horn. The potions around him swirled and bubbled, and he recorded every reaction into the scrolls that lay both at his desk and under it.

Crypsis rubbed her hooves together and allowed her horn to break through her disguise. One of the flasks behind the stallion glowed green, leapt into the air, and flew out of the window. She brought it towards herself, hid below the window frame, and undid the cork.

Nothing happened. It was like she opened a bottle with water – no stench, no colour, nothing. She poured a little out.

Yep. It’s water. She inwardly groaned.

The door opened. “Mantis, do you think I could borrow a bit of the saliva sample?” Twilight asked. “I’m going downstairs and would like to try something.”

Crypsis peeked inside again.

The stallion nodded. “Sure, it’s right over...” He reached for where the flask had been. Then he looked under the table and at the vials around him. He nearly spotted Crypsis when his eyes wandered towards the window, but she put it down in time. Finally, he sighed. “I must’ve used it up already. Sorry.”

“Can’t you just... you know...” Twilight pointed to her mouth.

He rolled his eyes. “As long as it helps...”

Crypsis’s eyes grew the size of platters and the flask slipped out of her gasp as green flames enveloped the stallion’s body, and a changeling stood in his place, spitting inside a vial. The flask she was holding clattered against the ‘tree’s’ wall and fell somewhere below. By the time it must’ve smashed, however, Crypsis was already halfway to Rainbow’s house.

———

Crypsis was, once again, pacing back and forth at her house.

A changeling.

Not only did he transform in front of Twilight without her as much as raising an eyebrow, but Crypsis couldn’t feel him inside the hive mind. Since masking one’s presence there was impossible, it could only mean two things. Either he was a member of a different hive, which, considering the circumstances, Crypsis heavily doubted, or...

He’s a filthy rogue!

It only happened to ponies-turned-changelings. Flaws during the transformation process, too strong a personality, bad cocoon consistency... there were several different possible causes, but only a few results. The pony either ended up as a weird, half-transformed monstrosity that often died right once it got out of the cocoon, or he transformed wholly, but his mind was flawed. Sometimes, it was memories returning or not being wiped at all. Sometimes it was insanity. And sometimes, usually combined with the memories, it was hate for all things changeling and especially for Mother. Cutting themselves from the hive mind was usually the first thing they did.

The will of the hive knew no mercy for those. Every changeling, regardless of rank or mission, was required to do everything in his or her power to get rid of such trouble makers, and Crypsis was no exception.

She tapped her hoof on Rainbow’s cocoon and took a deep breath. Her mission had changed altogether. Whatever they were researching, it couldn’t be anything good... but he was in the company of Twilight Sparkle herself! Crypsis wasn’t trained for this. Killing was the military’s job, not hers! But the military wasn’t here, was it? She wondered if the mind paralysis spell worked on changelings as well. That way, she could bring him along to the hive and let them deal with him there.

Someone knocked at the door. Loudly enough for her to hear it all the way upstairs.

Curses!

She flew down and looked through the peep hole. Twilight. She bit her lip.

Twilight knocked again. She must’ve figured out it was her who stole that flask. Why else would she come here? The important question was, however: did she also know Rainbow Dash had been replaced?

Crypsis took a deep breath. If she was quick, she might be able to paralyse her like Rainbow. It’d be risky, however, and her mission would be a failure on all fronts.

Twilight knocked again, this time louder.

What if she simply didn’t open the door? Pretend she didn’t hear? Twilight wouldn’t blast the door down, right?

Then again, it’d only be putting off the inevitable. If the disguise was to hold, she had to confront Twilight and see what she wanted, no matter the danger.

She reached for the handle and pressed it down with a wince. “Hi, Twilight.”

“Rainbow!” Twilight scowled. “I’ve been knocking for over five minutes now! If you want to have such a big house, you need to install some sort of bell.”

“Sorry.” Crypsis furrowed her brow. “Hey, how did you know I was home?”

Twilight pointed at Tank, who flew in circles around the building. “You always take him with you when you go somewhere.”

Truth to be told, Crypsis had all but forgotten about that turtle. Rainbow paid it hardly any attention when ‘Summer’ was around.

“Oh. Riiight.” Crypsis laughed and scratched her head. “Anyway what do you need?”

“I was thinking about what you’ve said, and realised you were right. A picnic with my friends once a week just isn’t enough.” Twilight’s lips drooped for a second. “So I decided to invite you and the others to lunch. And, I think you’ll be most excited to hear that I’ll introduce the friend you keep asking about!” She grinned. “Will you come?”

“Uh... sure. Sure, I wouldn’t miss that for the world.” Crypsis smiled and locked the door.

———

“I’d like to introduce Creamy Quartz, everypony,” Twilight said motioning towards the gray stallion. “Quartz, these are my friends: Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.” She pointed at each of them. “Please, take a seat.”

They sat at a large, round table in the garden of the local restaurant. For reasons unknown, they sat Crypsis directly facing ‘Creamy Quartz.’ Not that she minded. This could be just what she needed to fulfil the new mission parameters. She was a trained infiltrator; he was lowly scum. It shouldn’t take too much effort to find holes in his backstory, expose them, and force him to reveal himself. If Twilight defended him, good – she’d have to explain what he’d been helping her with, and vague ‘research’ would hardly be enough. If, for some reason, she didn’t defend him... well, then there could soon be one less rogue to worry about. Either way, it was a win-win situation.

“So...” Rarity said and leaned forward. “Tell me, darling. Why keep him secret for so long? There were many rumours floating about.”

“I... guess I thought it unimportant?” Twilight smiled. “After all, he was just helping me with my research.”

“What research?” Crypsis leaned back in her chair and crossed her hooves. “You keep talking about it, but you never really told us anything important.”

The stallion opened his mouth, but Twilight covered it before he could say anything. “Let’s just say there are reasons I don’t want to talk about it until it’s finished. Which will be very, very soon. Right, Quartz?”

He nodded.

“Anyway, I’ll let you introduce yourselves.” Twilight motioned for the waiter and ordered them each a sandwich and a glass of raspberry lemonade.

“So, Creamy Quartz, huh?” Crypsis said with a smirk. This was going to be amusing. “That’s a funny name. Did your parent’s work at a rock farm like Pinkie’s?” Everyone always fell short on parent history. Always.

“Ooh.” Pinkie perked up. “Mom’s name is Cloudy Quartz. Are you related?”

He shook his head. “No. My parents work in a quarry south of Manehattan. Father is a foreman and mother does the paperwork.” He looked at Crypsis. “Say, you have a very peculiar mane. Do you dye it?”

Not everyone and not always, it seemed. Crypsis smiled, but her gut was icy cold. “It’s natural. My dad had the same.”

He nodded and turned to Rarity. “I think I’ve heard about you, but I’m not sure. Are you, by chance, a correspondent of the Mare fashion magazine? I read it regularly to make sure my formalwear is up to current standards.”

“Then you should read anything but Mare.” Rarity scrunched her muzzle. “I’d never submit my designs to a... a tabloid like that! I’d advise the magazine Fabric instead. They’re a bit behind the newest trends, but at least their advice is well-tested and true.”

“I see.” He chuckled. “Now, Fluttershy, I heard you managed to tame Discord. How did you manage that? I was always curious.”

Crypsis’s eyes widened. He was trying to expose her... but he had no idea which one of them she was! Well, he’d need a lot bigger calibre than questions about Rainbow’s mane. It was one of the first things Crypsis had wormed out of her.

She waited until Fluttershy finished her tale about Discord – Rainbow had a significantly smaller role in it than when it was her retelling the events – and cleared her throat. “How did a quarry guy like you become an egghead?”

“Rainbow!” Twilight glared at her.

“Oh, it’s alright.” He chuckled. “It’s simple, really. One day, my father was invited to an excursion into a gold mine. He accepted and, seeing how he could bring a guest and mother had too much bureaucracy to deal with, he took me along. It was pretty boring for the most part, but then they showed me how they extracted gold from the ore. All the bubbling, all the sizzling... the moment I saw it, I knew I was in love with chemistry.” He exhaled and looked somewhere above Rainbow with a dreamy smile. “It was wonderful.”

Crypsis’s mouth nearly fell agape. He had a life story prepared just for this one specific question. That was... that was ridiculous!

“I heard you are the fastest flier in Equestria, and that you can even do something called a ‘sonic rainboom.’” He leaned forward and looked her in the eyes. “Can I see one?”

“Sure, but not now.” Crypsis took the sandwich in her hooves and bit down. “I’m eatin’.”

He shrugged and turned to Applejack. “I heard you try to be honest no matter the circumstances. How does one do that? I’d think somepony’s bound to get insulted if you’re completely truthful to him.”

Applejack scratched her head and straightened her hat. “Not that much. But I reckon it happens from time to time. Like at the picnic two weeks ago. There was this completely green, skinny pony...”

Crypsis started choking on her sandwich.

Applejack cocked her brow while Pinkie thumped ‘Rainbow’ in back, and shook her head. “You’ve gotta stop gobblin’ food up and chew for a bit. I’ve been tellin’ you for years. Anyway, the pony was really, really skinny, and I compared her to Granny’s hips. I think she didn’t like it, because she galloped outta there like she had a bison stampede runnin’ after her. I even offered her some food.” She furrowed her brow. “There was also somethin’ wrong with her back. Like there was somethin’ hard on top of it... I don’t know. I didn’t get much of a look and I ain’t seen her since.”

Twilight and the stallion exchanged long glances.

“I just hope she ain’t feelin’ too bad about it.”

“That’s... strange.” He furrowed his brow.

“What about you? Did anythin’ interestin’ happen in your past?”

“Oh, definitely.” He nodded. “After I finished my chemistry studies, I started working in a shampoo company. Improving their recipes, finding flaws in the product... that sort of thing. Sadly, one of the more... daring pieces I made found its way to distribution by mistake, and somepony bought it.”

“What happened?” Pinkie asked, shuffling to the edge of her seat.

“Let’s just say that the disaster inspired the comic book villain Mane-iac.” He laughed. “The company didn’t want me after that, so I sought some place where I could do my experiments without having to worry about getting fired. Mostly around Canterlot, seeing how it’s the capital. When I heard about the new princess that has scientific inclinations and lives nearby, I naturally headed here.”

Crypsis maintained a smile, like everyone else. She had little doubt that he was lying through his teeth, but there might’ve been a grain of truth in it. If he wanted to hurt Mother, like all rogues, the best way to do that would be to help her enemies. He must’ve been drawn to Twilight like a moth to a flame. No wonder Mother wanted an operative here.

“Now, Pinkie Pie, was it?”

“Mmm-hmm.” Pinkie had her mouth full of sandwich.

“I’ve heard you have this special ability... Pinkie sense, I think. Could you tell me how it works?”

She giggled. “Sure. It’s easy. Like when I feel my left hoofsie is all stiff, it means there will be many butterflies flying around today. Or, or when my left ear twitch-a-twitches and left leg gets cramped and my tail gets all puffy, it means something super exciting is going to happen! Like this morning. I was making breakfast cupcakes, when all of a sudden my ear was like pfffrt – that’s how fast it was twitching – my leg was all stiffy, and my tail poofed to at least double the size!”

“What happened?”

“Nothing.” She giggled. “It means something super exciting has happened to somepony else this morning! I hope he or she had fun.”

His brow wrinkled and he turned to Twilight.

Twilight shrugged.

“Okay. That was... uh... informative, and... uh... yeah.” Everyone except him, Pinkie, and Crypsis rolled their eyes.

“Hey, chump.” Crypsis tapped on the table until he turned towards her. “Can I see your cutie mark? I wanna know how a chemistry one looks like. Maybe an exploding jar? That’d be cool.”

He stood up and showed her his flank. It was adorned by a simple vial with red liquid.

“How did you get it? Your school’s lab project?”

“In fact, yes.” He smiled. “And my brew indeed did explode, as I’m sure you’re happy to hear. How did you get yours?”

She puffed her chest. “By defending Fluttershy’s honour, winning a race, and, last but not least, making a sonic rainboom!” His questions were easy, but he seemed to have little difficulty with hers as well. There had to be something he forgot to cover! “You said your shampoo thing caused a disaster, right? How come I’ve never heard of it?

“Well, it was all the way in Manehattan.” He smirked. “I’m sure you can find all about it if you check their old newspaper.”

Like she had the means of doing that. He was good! “What was the company’s name?”

“Mane and shoulders. Say, you sound pretty ambitious from what I’ve heard. What do you want to be one day?”

“A member of the Wonderbolts.”

“Oh?” He furrowed his brow. “Forgive my ignorance, but I think I forgot who their captain is. Firespit?”

Trick question. “It’s Fleetfoot. Spitfire is her right hoof, though.” They measured each other with their gazes. “I wonder... did anything interesting other than the shampoo thing happen before you met Twilight, or was it just a long bore?”

“Pretty much a bore, I’m afraid. My travels were rather uneventful.”

Crypsis grinned. First mistake. “Oh. I thought being sucked dry by Tirek, like pretty much everypony in and around Canterlot, would excite you a bit.”

He winced. She got him. “Well... as you’ve said, it happened to everypony. It was hardly anything special, and I don’t think being grabbed and drained while walking down the street would make much of a story.”

“Uh...” They turned to Applejack. “Sorry to interrupt, sugarcubes, but we’re here too.”

“Indeed we are.” Rarity frowned. “And I must say that it’s rather rude to ignore us like this. Not to mention the arguing... or whatever it is you two are displaying here.”

“I’m sorry.” He lifted his hooves before himself and gave each of them a small smile. “I only have one last question, Rainbow, as it has always interested me a lot. Ever since I met you, at least. You keep calling me and Twilight eggheads. Do you never read?”

This one was better, but Crypsis did her digging. “I read a Daring Do book from time to time. So what?” She smirked. “Reading doesn’t make you an egghead. Being closed in a stinking lab all day does.”

“From time to time? I heard you were a lot more… excited about them.”

Crypsis scratched her head. “I guess I read them a bit more often than others do. Your point?”

“I’ve even heard you’d go to insane lengths to get them. Some would even say fanatical. Like you’d even sacrifice some of your friendships to get a first edition book.” He chuckled. “Is that true?”

Uh… what?

“Just who do you think I am? Some stupid fangirl that’d be head over hooves to get the author’s used hoofkerchief?” She laughed. “I’m totally for getting a book or having adventures with Daring Do and all, but I’d never even consider putting something like that above my friends. Right, girls?”

“Um... Darling.” Rarity leaned over. “I’m sorry to bring it up, but I think you’re forgetting on the Rainbow Falls Traders Exchange incident.”

A what?

“Uh... Come again?”

“You nearly sold Fluttershy for a book,” Applejack said, cocking her brow. “Me and Twilight gave you a proper scoldin’ afterwards. Remember?”

Fluttershy slumped in her chair.

“Uh... sure. Yeah. Totally slipped my mind. Heh, heh, heh...” She turned back to ‘Quartz.’ “But that was just that one time.”

“Could you describe what happened for me? I’d love to know.” There he was with his annoying smile again.

Sweat started forming on Crypsis’s forehead. “I... don’t really remember it so well. I’m sure Fluttershy could tell it better.”

“Um…” Fluttershy blushed and sagged even lower. “I’d really rather not. If you don’t mind.”

“No, no.” He shook his head. “That’s more than alright. I’m curious about your perspective.” He turned to Crypsis. “I don’t need details, just the bare basics.”

Her perspective? That wretch knew what happened already and wanted her to make a mistake! Yet what could she do but guess? “It was... nothing important. I was just being silly. That’s all.”

“Nothing important?” Twilight cocked her brow. “Rainbow, we had to interrupt the fair.”

“I guess I… forgot?” Crypsis’s eyes darted from face to face, finding only frowns and cocked brows.

“Darling, you refused to talk about it for months afterwards, getting angry whenever anypony mentioned it; I’m sure you remember.” Rarity put her hoof around Crypsis’s back. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I just... I...”

Twilight and ‘Quartz’ nodded at each other.

“I just gotta go!” She shot up from the table and flew back to Rainbow’s home as fast as her wings could carry her.

———

No time, no time!

Crypsis threw a blanket on the cocoon and reached for another one. The mission was a bust! He knew, and thanks to him, Twilight knew as well. All the planning, useless. Weeks spent memorising everything about Rainbow, useless. Crypsis, useless.

She punched the mattress, sobbed, and threw yet another piece of cloth on the cocoon. If she could haul that back home, maybe they’d show some mercy and not demote her to a lowly grunt or a drone.

She started wrapping the cocoon, but the goo soaked through.

“Why, why, why, why me?” She hit the mattress several more times. “I just needed to wait!”

She put a second layer of blankets on the cocoon. It was better, yet it still soaked through.

“Three days! Just three more days! All I was supposed to do was sit on my flank!” She tore the bed sheets into large stripes. “But nooo, I had to go spying, didn’t I? It wasn’t enough to get the promotion, I had to show off, right?” She kicked the bed frame and hissed, rubbing her hoof. “I’m such an idiot.” She tackled the mattress and landed a few more blows. “Stupid! Useless! Cocky idiot!”

She collapsed on the bed and stared at the ceiling, taking deep breaths. Then she remembered Twilight probably sent a whole squadron of guards after her and sprung back up. The cocoon looked like... a cocoon.

Maybe they won’t notice from far away.

She levitated it up and, with clenched teeth, floated it down to the bottom floor. Levitating it the entire way apparently wasn’t an option. She needed a different solution, maybe...

Something barged through the front door, hit her square in the chest, and smashed her against the wall.

“Ugh...” The disguise dissolved in an instant, and she felt like someone had cracked her chitin open and prodded the inside with a hammer.

She drew a raspy breath and lifted her head up. Something put it back down, pressing against her horn.

“Hello there.”

Not him again.

‘Quartz,’ or rather ‘Mantis’ stared at her from above in all his changeling glory, his face adorned with his ever-present dumb smile. “Feeling okay?”

Crypsis coughed. “Shove it.”

The pressure on her horn intensified. “I assume not. That’s good.” His smile vanished. “You have two options right now. You can either keep your mouth shut and listen to what I have to say, or you can die. Speak, and I’ll assume the latter.”

She glared at him and stayed silent.

“Wonderful. We’re getting somewhere.” He smiled again and lifted his hoof a little bit. “My name’s Mantis, and I seek the death of ‘Queen’ Chrysalis.” He looked her in the eyes.

She looked back in his.

“Not trying to kill me in a fit of suicidal rage? Good. Very good.” His smile stretched into a grin. “Now, I’m going to tell you something. It might come as a shock, so prepare yourself.” He took a deep breath. “Your ‘Mother’ didn’t tell you everything.”

He stared at her.

Crypsis cocked her brow.

He frowned. “I phrased that wrong. She lied to you about some very important things. She lied to every single changeling in the hive.” He raised his voice. “She lied to us about the most important thing she could!” He cleared his throat and smiled at her again. “I will allow you to speak now, but you can only answer my questions. No snide remarks. No vulgarisms. Nothing else.”

Crypsis licked her lips. “Ask then.”

“Have you ever spoken with a drone or with a regular member of the military? A lowly grunt?”

“Of course.”

“How did he sound to you? Describe him.” He leaned a bit towards her.

“Uh...” Crypsis furrowed her brow. What kind of question was that? “I don’t know. Normal. Maybe a bit stupid.”

“And do you know why they were stupid?”

“Because everyone who isn’t gets a better job that a drone, and because only dim-witted brutes stay grunts instead of getting promoted?”

His smile faded as he shook his head. “No, that’s not the reason. Next question: why do you refer to yourself as a ‘she’ when all changelings but Chrysalis are, in their natural form, genderless?”

Crypsis furrowed her brow. There was no real reason, she just preferred it. “Because I don’t like being called ‘it’ like some sort of beast? Some changelings prefer taking male forms and others female, that’s just how it is!”

Again, his lips drooped and he sighed. “Those are the consequences, but not the causes. Final question: What is the first thing you can remember? Your very earliest memory?”

Her childhood, naturally. “That was back when I was still little. I remember stumbling through the tunnels, my wings too little to carry me, and being scared, because I got lost. There weren’t any other changelings around, and... Why do you ask this?”

He clicked his tongue and put his hoof back on her horn. “No questions, remember? Only answers. Please continue.”

Crypsis shrugged, or at least came as close to it as possible in her position. This memory filled her with warmth every time she thought about it. “I was walking around for very long, sobbing, when I came to a large, well-lit room. Naturally, I walked in. It was a nice change from the endless tunnels. And then I saw a throne and Mother sitting on it. I was little, but even I knew who she was, and that no one was allowed in the throne room without permission. But I was scared, so I went ahead anyway. Mother saw me, and I thought she was going to be angry because I didn’t have any permission, but—”

“But instead she lifted you up, nuzzled you, and cradled you to sleep. And that’s where the memory ends, am I right?” He smirked.

“Well... yeah.” She frowned. “How do you know?”

“I know because everyone in the hive, save for the military and drones, has one of ten different ‘childhood’ memories that are same every time, no matter who you ask. Always one of the ten. No deviation. The exact same amount of detail.” He scowled. “I won’t tax your brain by asking ‘why.’ It’s because they’re fake!” He stomped, fortunately not with the leg on Crypsis’s head.

“There is something your ‘Mother’ doesn’t want anyone to realise. Something that she knows could utterly destroy everything she has built.” He paused. “The only, and I mean only places you can find changelings she herself had birthed are the military and drones. No other. I checked, I spied, I infiltrated the hive itself!” He lowered his head to hers. “The only changelings Chrysalis can birth are the dumb, obedient slaves of her hive mind. Have you never wondered why you can only use only the barest minimum of it? It’s because it was never meant to be used by someone like you or me. We aren’t compatible.”

Crypsis winced. It all, in a way, sounded like it could be possible. Really, how would he know about her memory? “You mean I’m...”

“Yes. You used to be a pony. Just like every infiltrator, every spy, everyone with a spot that required some creativity and independence!” He stomped again. “Why do you think you never met any ‘assimilated’ changeling? Because they’re never told they are ones!” He started breathing heavily, like he’d run a race, and his voice lowered to its original tone. “She kidnapped us from our friends and families. She stole from us everything we have ever valued. And then she stole even our bodies and memories from us. All that remains are little scraps of personality. The lucky ones get an occasional dream or two, but that’s it. She killed us, filled our bodies with the ideas she needed, and then ordered us around like dumb animals – like tools.” His eyes welled up. “Somewhere out there, there is a parent, a real parent, that is missing his daughter. Or a child that had its mother violently taken away. And not just one. Hundreds or maybe even thousands of families were broken to pieces just so she could have a few more soldiers to do her dirty work.” He spat on the floor.

“But it doesn’t have to be like that forever. There is a solution that can end this, and even give us back those we loved.”

Crypsis could feel her eyes flooding with tears as well. It was true. She could feel it deep down, even as her brain listed through all the possible ways she could deny this, and discarded one after another. Assimilating ponies wasn’t as common as he made it sound, but enough that it should be impossible for her not to meet at least one or two. Not to mention the drones and grunts really were rather... bland. Usually only stating what they were supposed to do, occasionally asking for a bit of help, but they were nigh-incapable of small talk. “What do you mean?”

He smiled, but it was a smile that was made by the muscles, not by the heart. “I’ve been working. Ever since I realised it, I’ve been doing my best to end it. And I’m finished. It’s a horn salve. You spread it across your horn and, if you get close enough to Chrysalis, you’ll get full access to the hive mind. The truth, distributed through one of her greatest tools.”

“And then?”

“Then she’ll be powerless. All but the dumbest of her underlings, rebelling. She’d get slain in her own home.” He gave out a short, raspy laugh. “And then freedom. I’ve been talking with Princess Twilight. Plotting. Making preparations. If we free ourselves, she will help us find the families from which we were taken. We will get back what was stolen from us, and nopony will ever go through the same abuse!”

Crypsis swallowed, feeling a bitter ball forming in the back of her throat. “And the other hives?”

He shook his head. “What about them? They don’t do this... I know. I travelled. It’s just the queen and her slaves. Only Chrysalis found out what the cocoons are capable of, if created in a certain, special way and if the right spells are used later on.”

“Why are you telling me this?” The voice coming out of her constricted throat was high pitch and squeaky.

He took a deep breath and wiped his tears, removing the hoof from her horn completely. “Because we need your help. I can’t do it. I cut myself from the hive mind; I no longer have access. But you do. You can free us all. You just need to stand in front of the Queen and send the correct thought.” He extended his hoof towards her. “Will you help us? Will you free us all?”

Her hoof, shaking, touched his, and she pulled herself up. Then she took a deep breath and smiled.

“No.”

Her horn lit up, and before Mantis had time to do anything but open his mouth, she touched his forehead. A few seconds was all it took for his limp body to hit the floor.

She sighed, grabbed his forelegs, and dragged him across the room and towards the entrance, each step feeling like someone put a nail through her hooves. Finally, she stood at the edge of the cloud.

This was probably the time to say something either profound or tough, but they were alone up there, he couldn’t hear her, and she had nothing particular in mind. So she simply kicked him over the edge and watched as he plummeted to the ground.

When he became but a black dot on the landscape, she sighed and put on Summer’s form. It was time to go home.

———

It’d been two days since she had returned, and Crypsis was still sitting in her cell. It was bare, like every other place in the hive save for the throne room. But it was also home. The green light of the semi-living walls, the constant rustling of changeling wings in the halls, the feeling of being surrounded by hundreds of her kin... It all had a soothing quality the cloudy or crystal walls of pony palaces could never achieve. Crypsis had only wished that they told her something. Anything.

Ever since she made her report, detailing her failure and the subsequent combat with the rogue, all she did was sit around. She was truthful in her report, telling them why she chose one of the Six when any pony would do, or why she started spying on Twilight even though it wasn’t a part of her mission at all. The only thing she didn’t tell them was what Mantis had discovered. It wasn’t for their ears. In turn, they told her that Rainbow Dash had been freed the following day, that Ponyville was now in a changeling-searching frenzy, making any sort of infiltration practically impossible, and that was all. They didn’t tell her if she did good, considering the circumstances, or bad. They didn’t promote her, they didn’t demote her. It was as if she didn’t exist to them anymore. And so she waited.

Mantis’s words echoed throughout her mind many times, along with his half-crazed smile and badly contained anger whenever he detailed those things. She doubted the rightness of her actions over and over, but always came to the same result – she did good.

She yawned. She was, frankly, getting bored. Normally, she’d be training or listening to a lecture. Perhaps feeding off one of the cocoons, or having a practice spar with other infiltrators. Those were fun. The orders were clear, however: wait in your room until further notice. She discovered the command was meant literally when she tried stepping outside, only to have her path blocked by a guard. Maybe she should try talking to him. He was one of the dumb ones, but even that was better than nothing.

A changeling clad in rough, metal armour stepped into her alcove. “Mother has requested your presence. Immediately.”

Crypsis nodded and followed him into the dim, green-lit tunnels without a word.

He led the way, but he didn’t have to. Mother was such an important, elementary part of the hive mind that everyone knew where she was at any given moment. Plus, she had her memories. They might’ve been fake, but the tunnels were depicted accurately.

The changeling stopped and pointed forward, towards a well-lit room. “Mother wants to be with you alone.”

Crypsis cocked her brow. “Really?”

“Yes. Go.” He pointed ahead again.

That was unusual, to say the least. Normally, she was surrounded by a squadron of guards at all times, ever since the Canterlot incident. She wasn’t really hurt, but they, her children, couldn’t bear the thought of her being endangered like that again, and she sensed their concerns.

Crypsis took a few small steps inside. It looked exactly like in her ‘memory’ down to the last detail. The light, the tapestries, the carpet... and of course, the throne. It was made from obsidian and lined by the finest satin cushions they could find. Everything for their queen’s comfort.

Mother sat on it and watched as Crypsis shuffled closer. She smiled. “Welcome, Crypsis. I suspect this is the second time you’re here?”

Crypsis bowed her head and shook it. “No, Mother. I’ve never been here before.”

Chrysalis nodded. “Indeed. I could sense something has been troubling you. Come closer, please.”

Crypsis trudged to the stairs leading towards the throne.

“Closer than that.”

Her head shot up and looked at her queen. Mother smiled at her again, and Crypsis’s legs climbed the stairs on their own, moving closer until she was kneeling right in front of Chrysalis’s hooves.

“Now, Crypsis, I need you to do something for me.” Mother patted her on her head. “I need you to hold very, very still, as this is going to hurt.”

Chrysalis’s horn lit up and Crypsis’s eyes widened. She couldn’t mean—

The horn touched her head and searing pain spread throughout her entire body. She tried holding back the screams, but it was of no use. The entire hive must’ve heard it. She did, however, stay relatively still. And then, as quickly as it came, the pain went away.

Crypsis shook her head and looked up to see Mother’s frowning face.

“Yes, it is as I’ve feared. Those things you heard... Those weren’t meant for your ears.” She sighed. “But you did good. You did exactly what you were supposed to do.” She smiled. “I’m proud.”

Those two words set such a fire ablaze inside Crypsis’s heart that all the pain was instantly forgotten. It was like all her wishes, dreams, and ambitions were fulfilled, and she couldn’t help but grin at her queen.

“I have a reward for you.” Chrysalis kept smiling, but something about her tone dashed Crypsis’s excitement. “You can ask anything you want. Anything that comes to mind. If I know the answer, I’ll answer it truthfully, no matter what it was.”

Crypsis’s breathing quickened. She could ask anything in the world! Anything at all! She could ask about all the things Mantis had told her and have them explained in detail. She could...

She looked in Mother’s eyes and took a deep breath. “I don’t have any questions.”

Chrysalis’s brow shot up. “You don’t? Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Chrysalis frowned. “That is... new. Everyone has a question. Don’t you want to know who you were? Who I ‘kidnapped’ you from, as he put it? All those possible children you might’ve had, all those friends that have long since mourned you, your parents? I know all of this; are you sure you really don’t want to ask? Remember that I’ll feel it if you lie to me.”

Crypsis shook her head. “No. No, I had time to think about these things and realised that... that they aren’t important. They are long since gone, and no matter what I do, I’ll never get them back.” She took another deep breath. “Why should I try to pretend I’m a pony, hang on to that like Mantis did, when I’m not? Maybe I was. Maybe I wasn’t and he was wrong after all. What difference does it make in the end?” She looked Chrysalis in the eyes. “All I care about is that I’m a changeling, and that I only have one parent.” She leapt onto the throne and hugged Mother like a little filly would.

Chrysalis smiled and nuzzled her. “Everyone who has heard what you’ve heard has either turned on me or began disturbing the hive mind with his doubts. In either case, they had to be disposed of.” She wrapped her hooves around Crypsis. “This time, I will ask you a question, and I want an honest answer.”

Crypsis’s heart fluttered. “Yes, Mother?”

“Would you like to be promoted?”

THE END