Author's Note

Rate, comment, critique, if you wish, enjoy! If you wish to continue reading some of my mumbling, then do so, otherwise you can skip down to the story.

This chapter is also going to be split into two so as to make reading a chapter a bit easier. Small spoiler ahead, hover if you wish. I left it off where I did because I am still developing the dialog between the two Queens and their past dealings. Especially with a bit of gore and emotional trauma that has set them the way they are, especially Queen Sozo. Though I feel like I have not fully given her the identity I want yet. I am going to be doing this in the next part.

Any time a chapter contains gore or such explicit topics that could possibly trigger an emotional state, I will label it in the Author notes or directly in the chapter; in example - Chapter ??? - (Trig.Rape, Gore, etc.) Whichever it may contain. Although I feel the Tags should incline reader(s) to understand that it is going to pop-in at some point.

This Chapter jumps around a bit... but I made sure that it would be easy to follow-ish? If something you're reading here does not make sense, then by all means... point it out, or maybe I just did a poor job at writing it so it was pretty much in-decipherable. XD

Either way I hope you enjoy the journey. ^_^

Chapter 1 - A Changeling Life (Part 1)

The buzz of the hive could be heard for miles, the thrum of everyone working in tangent with one another. Orders being made, suggestions, idle banter mixed in with the schools. This was what every changeling in the Western Hive experienced. It was just the way of life, Changelings could come and go as they pleased to the hive mind. Normally this was frowned upon by other Hives as it was thought to be to much of a security risk. Although the Queen of the Western Hive thought of that a lot, she could not help but feel the wonderful love that flowed amongst her subjects so freely. Thoughts and ideas would crash into one another at times... and instead of being lost, would just create more ideas and suggestions... to her it was the most beautiful means of creation she could bear witness to at times. Often those ideas lead to the creation of something tiny and wondrous, a spark of life. Some may call her a pervert or creep if they knew she watched them do their courting and mating, although she tended to avoid the ladder when possible... but everyone has needs. Plus she felt it was perfectly fine to do so, after-all, if she wanted to mate there was no way that NO ling would NOT know about it. One of those luxuries of privacy you give up when you become Queen.

Queen Sozo sighed deeply to herself. Her thoughts were tired with worry as she browsed the hive mind for the thousandth time. She mumbled to herself gently as she thought aloud, a voice filled with a rough silken tone. "Hmm... What such beauty I see every day... and yet, none of it seems to compare to you.. my child. I can't help but wonder what kind of Ling you will be... or become." With another sigh the Queen's hoof ran across her swollen belly gently as she lightly laughed to herself.

"I do hope you'll be a loving and kind Ling... we all know we could use more of those in life... so many hate their lives. Pony and Ling alike. I pray that you will do all you can to find love in yours, after-all, we need love, my little daughter." Queen Sozo sat in her throne, seemingly alone, blushing, talking and humming to her unborn child. Had one not known she was pregnant they would think her crazy for talking to what seemed like herself.

The throne room stood with a thirty foot high ceiling, the width being sixty feet and length extending to over two-hundred feet. It stood crafted out of enchanted obsidian and white marble pillars. They were all crafted with the representation of former Hive Queens that had moved on. Yet, to the untrained eye of anyone visiting or seeking an audience with her Majesty there were three hidden pathways on each side of the throne. With two more behind the throne as well as two servant entrances, one on each side of the throne. These hidden compartments always had troops stationed inside them with a minimal of ten to a maximum of thirty Changeling Guards per nook, as they were commonly called.

Ascending to the throne, there sat with velvet cushions that were a beautiful royal purple with a black iron wood throne adorned with gold and silver trim that seemed to interlace at the edges of it. The backing of the throne stood around ten feet with a broken changeling horn engraved into the backing with a silver outline. There was enough room for the Queen to lay sprawled out comfortably in her seat.

A voice calls out from the darkness in the throne room. "My Queen, the Ambassador from the Northern Hive has arrived, your orders?"

Sozo looked up from her belly with a dream like state that seemed to shift back to reality as she responded calmly, yet motherly. "Oh, they are quite early... I was not expecting them for another day or two, at least... well, ensure they are comfortable Captain. I shall hold court with them after I return."

"Understood my Queen." The Captain replied and the sounds of hoof steps left the room followed by the sound of a large ornately designed double brass door closing upon his exit.

Queen Sozo gently removed herself from her throne and began walking out the right servant's entrance, slightly grumbling. "Ugh, even though I love you daughter... I truly wish you'd stop kicking my bladder..."

Queen Sozo sat in her throne, head forward, yet looking down on the Ambassador as he gave her the monotonous greeting of bowing. "Thank you for seeing me Queen Sozo, apologies for appearing before our scheduled time."

Sozo was all to bored with politics, she often wore a facade when dealing with any foreign or local dignitaries, in anger or joy. "It is quite alright, usually best to be early than late one would say, correct?" In truth, Sozo was feeling a bit mischievous with having her day of rest interrupted by an early arrival of business. She could easily just hold court tomorrow but then she'd have more business to attend to. Although having some fun from her daily routine seemed a bit more appealing with the prankster that she is.

"Of course your excellence."

"Now, onto the main order of business."

"Yes your highness. My Queen, Tempist Shadow, wished to discuss the next terms of the peace treaty in person, but sends her regards. She has bestowed to me this scroll with her requests and hopes you find them acceptable." The Ambassador brought out the document with his hooves and displayed it to Queen Sozo.

The parchment displayed in both hooves and his head cast to the side and down, a display of complete trust and non-aggression. Sozo was not always one for sticking to scripts in politics, unless she was dealing with outsiders or another hive. She also enjoyed seeing them be slightly scared or uncomfortable as they would have to sit there, awaiting her acceptance of whatever the bearer wanted to offer. Though, her and Queen Tempist often used these such obligations to, almost to a degree, torture the poor ling that was chosen to bear these contracts between their nations. With being siblings they felt they could be more personal with one another after all. So, she did what was fun to her in this instance, she waited, with a smile beneath her calm exterior, not saying a word.

Five minutes later...

I wonder, how long can he hold that position... it is very difficult to do with just two hooves planted... gah, I really should be nicer to the ambassadors she sends me, but I just can't help but watch them squirm for some reason. I guess this is the highlight of my day? Well, I don't have any other audiences this day... I could just sit here and eat some pie.. or cake? MMmmm... wait, why am I trying to chose which one I want? I can have both! Sozo cleared her throat gently with a couple soft, 'erhrms', and waited for the request to make it.

"My Queen, what do you require?" A gentle mare voice chimed in as a Changeling appeared almost out of thin air to her left. Her mane a mixture of blue with a single pink stripe, her tail matching, eyes were a gentle blue as most changelings were.

Chime, oh she always likes accenting herself, to look different... I quite like that. "A slice of marble cake and a whole apple pie with a large glass of milk, cooled, and please be sure the pie is warm..." Sozo brought her right hoof up to her chin in thought. "That should be fine... and thank you Chime Hoof."

"Understood, I shall get these right away my Queen." The mare stated with a slight blush from being acknowledged by her Queen as she quickly bowed and departed.

You know... I wonder if this Ambassador can hold that stance for a whole day... hmmm, but then that means I cannot leave this throne... I suppose after I have my fun here I'll just read the letter and agree, then to sleep! Sozo thought this all while keeping her well-trained mask up, not once letting her tone give any hint of how this humored her.

Forty-five Minutes later Queen Sozo sat proudly as always on her throne, only now with a slightly larger belly from her improve supper. Normally her actions of eating solids while in court could be seen as a lack of interest and lead to possible wars between two hives. This thought though was from from her mind as she sipped her milk with as much lady-like effort she could muster. She slowly raised her hoof that gestured for the parchment. At this, three Changelings came into view from behind the pillars to the left side of her throne. Two guard lings and one servant ling came forth. The servant ling calmly and respectfully took the parchment from the Ambassador's upturned hooves, who he noticed was trembling slightly from his continued stance. As the letter left his hooves he almost fell on his face from holding the position for so long, but had enough grace to make it look as if he had deepened his bow.

After the parchment reached her hooves she opened it with an almost complete disregard for etiquette and began reading.

To Queen Sozo,
my lovely and probably cruel Sister, oh, wait... that's me!

How have you been? I hear you are with child once more, I am glad. After I heard about your last daughter going off on her own and... well, we'll save that for another time I suppose? I know how you enjoy getting down to business, right?

Peace Treaty Between Queen Sozo and Queen Tempist Shadow
1.) Lets not fight one another?
2.) Dinner, I know of a great little restaurant in Equestria. It is always filled with customers swooning over one-another. *wink-wink* Also, they have such great pasta, oh, and they serve meat! *Insert my drooling face here... chickeen...*

IF THESE ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE
Well, I'll just come and drag you there then. Hope to hear from you soon little sis!
Oh, I almost forgot to list the date for our dinner and where... 03-18-900 at 5:00 P.M. in Manehattan at 1133 Crossing Roads, I'll save the name for later... Kekeke!

Queen of the North and all those below - Queen Tempist Shadow

P.S. Do you still have my dress? You know which one, right? I think... ugh! I'll just talk about it when I see you.

Sozo looked up from the parchment to the Ambassador that was all to happy with four hooves on the floor. "Tell Queen Tempist that her terms are agreeable, you are dismissed." With that, court was over and the Ambassador left with a slight limp in his gate and a relieved expression on his face.

"Captain, please prepare Cognito squad for my departure to the following address and date." As the Queen levitated the paper to her Captain she used her magic to wisp away any and all text except for the dinner location and date.

"Yes, right away my Queen." With a quick salute he left just as quick as he came.

"Well, looks like we get to visit your auntie little one! Oh, what fun this shall be." Sozo smiled happily to herself as she exited the throne room and walked the long corridors to her royal bed chamber. It was late and she needed sleep, so unless it was an emergency she was not going to be deterred from her bed.

The door to her chambers was like most early architecture from the Changeling's tribal periods. It stood roughly eight feet high and eight feet wide, a partial circle made from a special detritus that was bound by a special gland in their mouths. This substance is as hard as stone once it sets, yet while wet it is malleable.

Without turning on any lights she made her way to her bed, propped her fore-hooves up and did the best she could to shimmy into the over-sized bed. "Ugh, remind me why I made this thing so high..." She grumbled out as she skidded herself into the bed. As she positioned herself more comfortably, ready for sleep, she did one more sweep of the hive mind. Getting snagged on some foals having trouble sleeping. She gently touched their minds to ease them back to peaceful slumber, as she did for every one of her lings when possible. After-all, if the hive slept well so did the Queen... although, if the Queen didn't... the hive did not.

A whole month away, I hope you can hold out a bit longer little one, at least until after we have dinner with your Auntie. With that, she drifted into sleep with a giddiness for her sisterly reunion.

The room was dimly lit, floors were carpeted in a royal red with a silver outline. On the walls hung elegant tapestries depicting her majesties great rule, Queen Sozo. Behind the depictions, the walls were a stone grey, cold and uninviting. Although contrary to belief, the room was very much alive with bickering nobles, politicians and militants. In the center of the room was a horseshoe shaped table, made of rare tree called blood-wood. The table was essentially bare, only rounded edges and a chitin smooth finish and polish allowing the grains to show through in what looked like blue veins with the tinge of red surrounding them. The creator of this table felt that anything added to it would take away from the simple beauty of it's nature.

At the head of the table sat Queen Sozo, silently listening to her subjects... bicker about tedious decrees and laws, all while she casually sipped on her coffee. Though the day seemed to drag on for her royal majesty. With each and every noble pestering her about such little issues, all of them bickering in the council hall that 'she' had set up. She found having a council helped greatly, even if it were slow at bringing forth a verdict at times. She could easily of erased it away but, she enjoyed the new ideas that came forth from it. Alas her subjects had grown fond of the idea as well. Although, today was just painstakingly dreadful for her, cramps and stress over the last ten to eleven months had been building up. She was so happy though that tomorrow she would not be in the hive for at least a day, far away from the nobles and their pestering. She would of kept on with her day-dreaming of older days where she had no need or concerns for the others around her. Unfortunately she would not get that as her military adviser seemed hard up on revisiting a decree she placed over a hundred years ago.

"We should revisit the mandatory Called-To-Arms Act." Said a gravelly voice, belonging to a Male-ling who wore full-plate that shimmered silver with intricate decorations of the moon eclipsing the sun with a large Changeling eye in the center. His features bore a scar that ran from the center of his chest over his left shoulder and to his missing left wing. He had one fang and a face that only a mother could love, as some would say. The attitude he brought with him told the story that he was a no-nonsense ling and liked to have things in order.

A sing-song voice came from another of the Changelings sitting at the table. "Oh? And what reason would you have to revisit the CTAA for? A new budget I suppose, a raise?" The mare's reply getting an angry reply and more bickering between as they attempted to hash out the new law. Sozo was really not listening anymore after hearing about the revisiting of the law she decreed. After-all, no changeling was going to go against what she had issued. It just wasn't in them, she knew this and always played it to her advantage. At least that was how it always went when it was concerning ideas of defending the hive, although she preferred to call it a city.

"My Queen, please tell us what you think!"

The voice snapped her from her idle thoughts. "Hmm, oh, I'm terribly sorry... I got lost somewhere between not giving a..." She stopped herself as she looked upon her shocked appearance of her subjects for a split second. "full report of what you wished to visit of in my royal decree." She smiled while she wreathed of anger. Today was not the day she wanted to visit the council halls, not on the day she was to make her way to visit her sister in Manehattan.

"Your highness." Came the gravely voice of her General. "I wish to merely extend the time of their service from four years to five, I feel that the hive would benefit greatly from this." General Letter stated in an assertive yet calm voice.

"And the argument against?"

"My Queen, five years would be far to much. Four years supplements our defenses perfectly already. Doing this would require all your subjects to serve another year unless we re-write the decree you issued. Which does require your authority to do so, my Queen." Stated a chirpy changeling, his voice was a bit nerving on her ears.

"Very well, re-write the law and present it to me. We shall hold the discussion of the CTAA at next weeks meeting. If it is satisfactorily written... then I shall decree the new law. Objections?" Queen Sozo's head appeared to calmly peruse the table, as if giving that, 'don't you dare oppose me feeling. Once she reached the other side of the table not one of her subjects objected. "Very well, moving forward. Any new business... that requires my attention?" She stated sharply and in a cold tone, which is fairly rare for her to do.

Her subjects looked at one another then back at her majesty as the appointed speaker replied. "No your excellency, there are no other dealings that require your presence, my Queen."

"Good." Sozo gently rose and walked calmly out of the council chambers and straight to the restroom. Gah, I know I should not be drinking coffee but, ugh, if I didn't have that I'd probably want to strangle them!

If her majesty would of stayed longer, she could have heard the gentle whispering of her subjects. "She is almost due, right? I mean... she does not act like this normally..." The whispers were no more as the door shut.

The carriage trudged on, in a steady pace as Sozo sat inside, alone with her unborn just watching the scenery gently flow by. As she hummed to her child she couldn't help but visit old memories of her old life.

My, how I have changed since then... the times sure are different. The things I did to survive... I will not have my daughter do. I, I... I wonder where my eldest is now? I have not heard from her for some time... thirty years? Has it really been thirty years since I last spoke to her?

The throne chamber was anything but silent, with a voice slicing through the walls. "Mother, I do not see why you show empathy to these lesser beings, these Ponies! They have done nothing for us but persecute us! Tartarus sakes they even burned us by the thousands at one point! And, and, you wish to just, what? LET IT GO, MOVE ON!?" Was the statement of an overly zealous Changeling Princess. Her appearance was that of grace and beauty, a perfect Ling in changeling society; her eyes a beautiful dark green, mane and tail flowed like the river in a beautiful teal, her saddle-plate was a unique teal fading to green.

Her double toned-voice she was using was clearly upsetting her mother though.

"First, daughter, silence your royal voice when you address me!" Sozo's own double-tone echoing through the halls, a far stronger version than what her daughter could recreate. Yet it was commanding and calming in all the same sense to her subjects, as well as an item of fear. Sozo stood firmly facing her boisterous daughter. Her body glistened in the light of the chandelier above them. Standing easily twice the size of the small Princess. Her eyes a shining yellow against her dark navy blue mane that flowed over her dark blue saddle plate that faded gently to a white before meeting her tail which matched her mane. Sozo's body was the perfect changeling ideal, taking a look at Sozo and her Daughter you wouldn't be able to tell them apart if it were not for their color schemes.

"Mother, you are going to try and broker peace and trade agreements with beings that regard us as, as demons! Why!? Why must we suffer more, to be seen as lesser or even, by the Elders, equal!? IS IT not they that should be serving us? After all the torment they have wrought to our kind!" The Princess' voice all to well laced with anger and pain as it's venom for the past injustices that had been done.

"Daughter of mine, listen closely to. What. I. Say." Sozo's tone had seemed to take a dark twist, one that had the sound of pain and suffering that it had long endured as she enunciated each word at the end as she narrowed her eyes at her daughter. "The pain and suffering you have gone through is not your weapon, but your shield. IF. You wield it as such, you shall only know that same suffering we had in the past. It is BEST to move forward and promote peace between Pony-kind and Changelings." Sozo reigned in her composure as she sat back down on her throne with watchful eyes on her daughter. "So long as I rule and you stay in. My. Hive. I shall not have any aggression towards the pony race. Secrecy is the way of our kind and it shall stay as such. If Changelings are known to pony kind it will just be that much harder to feed ourselves, best to stick to the shadows like the moon-mother said long ago."

"Well, then I see my choice is made for me. Mother." her voice full of emotion yet cold, and calculating.

Sozo's eyes widened at what next words were about to leave her Daughter's mouth. "Chrysalis, don't you dar-."

"I am leaving, Mother." A sound of almost utter remorse could be gently heard at her statement. It made it apparent that this was difficult for her.

"Chrysalis, no, you are not leaving, I will not have it!" A fluttering sense of horror at losing her daughter filled her thoughts. "You will stay, we can talk this out daughter."

"What is there to talk about mother? You wish to hide and rule from the shadows where I want the opposite. I can not stand in your shadow any longer!"

One last desperate plead to keep her daughter. "Chrysalis!" Was all that made it out as her daughter surrounded herself with her magic and vanished in an instant.

Sozo sat alone in her throne, with disbelief and shock on her face as she could only helplessly stare at the spot where her daughter was. Lost for words, she frantically scanned the Link for her daughter's presence, only to come up empty-hooved. She then made her way, trudging with a tired expression towards her chambers; where she locked her doors and collapsed on her bed, shaking and crying at the loss of her daughter. "Why..." Was her only weak sorrow filled reply to the dark.

"My Queen, we have arrived at Manehattan." Came an all-too-familiar voice of her guard. "Shall we commence referring to you as Lady Sozo, my Queen?"

Snapping herself out of her reminiscing of her mind she looked to her appointed Guard Captain. "Yes, we shall not want to gain too many strange looks if I am to be referred to as Queen, right?" Sozo smiled gently at her Captain with a measure of assurance that it was indeed okay to call her Lady instead of Queen for the moment.

"Of course my Lady." Was the respectful reply.

Queen Sozo then made sure her camouflage had been crafted properly, after all being pregnant made it difficult to keep a disguise from shifting or looking just all to suspicious. With the training and years of dedication to sticking to the shadows, she had made her shape-shifting abilities legendary amongst her kind. As the cart moved along down some twisting roadways and an alley here and there it finally came to rest outside her destination, Fior D' Italia.

As the light green mare stepped off the carriage and made her way to the entrance of the Fior D' Italia, some spectators couldn't help but gawk at the lovely lady as she entered, being escorted by four ponies. Her mane a lovely soft blue with a bright red stripe coming over her face and covering her yellow wolf like eyes and her stride evenly paced even though her belly bulged with another life-form. Every pony that stared at her couldn't help but think, 'damn, what lucky mare to be able to make pregnant look sexy.' Granted they didn't understand why they were full-on-staring anyways, less they knew about the pheromones a Queen Changeling emitted. As Sozo made her way to the registry she took note that she could sense her sister's Brood-lings at a few tables, blending in perfectly with their pony counterparts.

A smile graced her face as she came to the host of the establishment and was met with a warm smile of her host. "Good evening mam', your name?" Was an all well trained calm and caring voice, although his accent was thick with his Italian heritage. He stood as an average sized pony with a black combed back mane and tail that was braided, his face a solid grey with light blue eyes, wearing a typical gentle-colt's attire...