Plan B

Chapters

When I Wake Up, In the Morning Light.
Meloncide
Going Batty
A Jolly Good Family Vacation
Food Fight
Meet and Greet
Past Troubles (Part One)
Past Troubles (Part Two)
No Smoking
Hospitality
Resurface

When I Wake Up, In the Morning Light.

“Hey, let us go!”

Reflection snorted at the demands of the Royal guards, the group of five stuck to the castle wall with green goo. The stallions struggled uselessly, their spears lying on the ground well out of reach. She couldn’t believe that she’d been assigned as a simple guard for these fools; surely with her respected bloodline she would have been given a better task by the Queen.

Sitting down on the grass, she sighed to herself and watched her fellow changelings terrorise the city. A Firsthatched like her should be leading them in their attacks, sharing in the glory and the bounty of love. Instead, she was making sure that five insignificant pony soldiers couldn’t escape.

What a terrible day.

“Are you even listening to us?”

She turned, bared her fangs, and hissed. The ponies drew back as far as they could, however thanks to their binding to the wall they could only advert their eyes. It was good enough for her, and Reflection went back to watching the city.

“Stupid Queen,” she mumbled. “First time out of the hive, and I have to sit here and do nothing.”

Chrysalis wasn’t the nicest changeling, spending her time either scheming against Equestria or brooding in her room. If you wanted to go to her and request permission to court another changeling, you had to ensure that you caught her on a good day. Even then, such a simple request usually left Her Majesty in a sour mood. She had heard rumours from the old Scholars that the reason for Chrysalis’ hate for Equestria, or rather Celestia and Luna in general, was because of a long-lost lover that the princesses had apparently killed.

Reflection couldn’t believe that a pony could kill another being, or that anyone could actually love the cranky Chrysalis. She also questioned the suggestion that the reason her lineage was so revered was because her ancestor was a child of said lover, and that was the reason why Chrysalis insisted that the Firsthatched of the ten ancient bloodlines take certain names. Frankly, it sounded like a story meant for nymphs, but she couldn’t argue that it didn’t bring her benefits within the hive.

She glanced back at the trapped soldiers, helpless and unable to defend themselves. Perhaps she’d be able to get some love after all…

A smirk on her face, she got to her hooves and trotted towards a bush, the royal guards watching her all the while. Hidden, she focused and changed her form. Hard chitin changed to soft pink fur, her hairless head now sporting a lush blond mane. Lastly, and most importantly for the task she had in mind, her skinny rump transformed into a booty that would entice even the most oblivious stallion. Her disguise set, she trotted back towards the guards with rump swinging from side to side.

“Hey boys,” she greeted, fluttering her golden eyes at them. The guards returned it with blank stares.

“You didn’t really think that would work, did you?” one began. “We saw you go into that bush.”

She didn’t talk, instead she trotted right up close. Flicking her tail out, she pouted at him. Immediately, five streams of lust began to flow, Reflection drinking deep. It wasn’t nearly as good as the smidgeon of real love she was rationed each month, but it certainly was filling. She giggled, only increasing the flows of emotion.

‘These simpletons are so easy,’ she gloated, grinning. ’Are all ponies this unrestrained with their desires?’

Her enjoyment was interrupted, a pink glow appearing from the castle windows. The air hummed with energy, Reflection looking up as love poured out of the castle. It was pure, wonderful and whole.

“I take back everything, my Queen,” she thanked out loud. “This plan was perfect!”

She ignored the guards, dropping her disguise and just enjoying the buffet on display. It was amazing, and within a second she could absorb no more.

And that was when she began to worry.

It didn’t stop, the growing love appearing to almost burst. Had something gone wrong? Had Chrysalis grown too powerful and made a mistake?

Before she could even move, a pink flash lit up the sky and expelled itself outwards from the castle. Shards of glass rained down, and Reflection could only stare as a solid wall of pink rushed towards her through the castle stone.

It hit her full on, and sent her flying into the air. She couldn’t move her legs, or even buzz her wings in an attempt to resist the wave of love. Soaring into the air, she saw the entire invasion force expelled along with her. Surprisingly, they were all propelled in the same direction along with the screeching Queen.

At least, most of them were.

Reflection, in what must have been the worst case of luck in changeling history, was the lowest in altitude and collided straight into a light pole.

She winced when her left side cracked against the metal object, halting her unplanned flight and shaking the lantern atop the pole. Falling to the cobbled ground, Reflection landed heavily on her injured side. Repressing a scream and turning it into a hiss, she struggled to her hooves and glanced at the stinging pain.

Her eyes widened when she saw her cracked chitin, an unhealthy amount of green blood leaking out. Two large cracks exposed the green flesh beneath, an assortment of smaller breaks running alongside the vertical wounds. Turning her head away, she looked up instead and watched her follows make their speedy exit from the city. Slowly, she realised what was happening.

“No!” she yelled, flinching when she placed weight on her injured side. Ponies were emerging from their homes, staring at her with their accursed wide eyes. Metal hooves galloping on the cobbled stone drew her attention, five guards with the remains of green slime on them stopping to point their spears at her.

“Halt!”

Reflection bolted, ignoring the burning pain shooting through her. The sound of hooves signalled that she was being chased, and she headed towards the closest cover she could see. Dodging ponies on the street, the furry equines drawing back at her approach, she ducked under signs and jumped over benches. Attempting to fly, her wings weren’t able to make a single flap without nearly flooring her with agony.

Cursing her injury and terrible luck, she entered the palace gardens and veered around a hedge in an attempt to lose the guards.

A whistling was the only warning she got, Reflection diving to the left. Rolling, she looked up as the armoured pegasus stood over her and raised a hoof.

“You’ll pay for attacking Equestria!” the mare announced with a growl. “You’re going away for a long time!”

“I don’t think so,” she retorted through clenched teeth, the roll not helping her injury. The guard seemed surprised that she could speak Equestrian, Reflection seizing the opportunity. Lashing out with her foreleg, she nailed the mare straight in the snout.

“Ow!”

The guard staggered away, holding a hoof trying to stop the nosebleed. Refection didn’t waste any time in getting up and escaping, leaving the pegasus behind and diving through a hedge. She squeezed through and landed in on a flowerbed, the thorns from the roses leaving minor scratches on her chitin. Falling onto her front knees, she staggered back up and continued to flee.

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted more pegasi guards flying towards the gardens, and she could hear more pony hooves storming in to corner her. Reflection gritted her teeth and pressed on. She was a Firsthatched of the Reflection Lineage, she would not disgrace the name of her ancestors by getting captured by some incompetent ponies. She was not a simple drone or soldier born to insignificant parents, it was unthinkable.

Reaching the rear of the gardens, she laid eyes on possible salvation.

Pushing her body to its limits, she raced for the run-down shed. Fumbling with the simple wooden handle, she swung open the door and shut it behind her. Pulling down a pile of rakes, she used them to hastily block off the door before retreating into the darkness. In the silence, she could hear dripping coming from her side. Touching the cracks in her chitin, she pulled her hoof away and stared at the green fluid coating it completely.

‘I think… I think I’ve lost a fair amount of blood,’ she realised, continuing to stumble towards the back. Passing rows of shelving filled with gardening supplies, she absentmindedly noticed that it seemed far bigger than she’d assumed it was.

Reflection paused when the door handle shifted, and something outside tried to get in. More thumps followed, the door fighting against the rakes. “Hey, something’s blocking the door!”

“Look at the grass, see the green? It’s in here, break it down!”

“Damn it,” she muttered, increasing her pace. Even for her eyes it was gloomy, however the banging at the door was a great motivator to brave the dark room. It was likely that she wasn’t going to ever make it back to the Hive, and that was if the others even made it back. Her wound had stopped hurting and had become numb, but that was more of a worry than a blessing. There were no options left however, so hiding it had to be.

Straining her eyes to see through the darkness, her snout smacked against a solid surface. Rubbing it after stepping back, she looked up at what she had hit.

Seeing the grotesque monster looming over her, she fell down upon her rump and tried to scramble away. Her back hit a shelf, Reflection squeezing her eyes shut.

“Don’t eat me! Don’t eat me!” she repeated hurriedly, covering her eyes with her hooves. After a moment shivering in fear, she realised that no bipedal monster had eaten her yet. Looking back at it, she realised what it really was. “Oh, it’s just some old statue.” She took a closer look at it, feeling drowsy. “I wonder why the ponies keep a statue in their tool shed?” The banging at the front door increased, jolting her to full wakefulness. Realising that she was out in the open, she got up and trotted towards the statue. It would be a good place to hide, so she squeezed behind its legs and crouched down in the dark.

Just in time, she was hidden before the wooden door smashed inwards with a shower of splinters. A squad of royal guards flooded in, spears glinting in the sunlight. The same light lit up the shed, no doubt the first rays to touch it in centauries. The sunlight was the last thing on her mind at the moment however, the ponies wielding pointy weapons and angry glares a far more pressing matter.

“Find it!” a stallion ordered, his subordinates spreading out and inspecting the shelves. “It has to be in here somewhere.”

Reflection ducked her head and hoped that they would give up, the trotting of hooves growing closer and closer.

“Urrgh, what is that thing?” a mare questioned.

“Don’t you know the story? I thought we were supposed to tell it to every rookie.”

“I’ve been in the guard for two years now, Shield, I’m not a rookie.”

“Well, they say that it was the first monster that the Princesses fought. The fight levelled an entire town, and it was so evil and conniving that they stored it here so there’s no way that it can ever get ou-“

“Guards, I don’t recall ordering you to stare at the statue and chat,” the officer ordered. “Find that changeling, now!”

“Sir…” the same mare replied, silence falling over the shed. Reflection didn’t dare move as hoofsteps approached closer, but she winced when her tail was tugged.

“You’re nicked,” the guard officer told her, before pausing. “Miss.”

Her face heated up, but she had no chance to complain about the breach of privacy. Guards swarmed the statue, and she found herself forced from her hiding place. The ponies dragged her out and held her down at the feet of the statue, the clinking of chains an obvious indicator of what was to come next.

“No!” She tried to kick her way free, but her weakness was showing. One chain cuff was placed around her right foreleg, the ponies soon securing all four limbs. Almost as an added insult, a thin iron ring was placed over her horn. She could feel her magic drain immediately, a cold nothingness replacing it. Her bonds secured, the guards sat her up against one of the statue’s legs. She winced as her injured side rested against the stone, the pain prompting her to hiss at the guards. “Watch it, do you know who I am!?”

Unseen by them all, the green blood on the stone seemed to soak in.

“No,” the officer told her, but he adjusted her position anyway. “We’re asking the questions here, bug.”

A small crack appeared in the statue’s leg.

“I’m a changeling, not a bug!”

Another crack appeared, and a finger twitched.

“That’s not important. Do you have a name, Miss?”

Snarling at the reminder of how he knew her gender, she narrowed her eyes at him. “My name is Reflection, you stupid pony!”

“Stupid?” the officer growled, all of the guards leaning in with glares. “You won’t think I’m stupid when I throw you in the dungeon.” He turned to his subordinates. “Get ready to move it, and make sure that its wound is bandaged.”

“Reflection?”

Everyone, pony and changeling, froze at the low grumble. Slowly, Reflection turned her head around looked behind her. Her eyes widened when she saw the crumbling stone, chunks of masonry falling onto the wooden floorboards. Soon half of the figure was free, and its arms began to move.

“The… the Monster is real!”

“We need to get the Princesses!”

“Retreat!”

Reflection looked back in time to see the royal guards galloping for their lives… and leaving her behind.

“Hey, wait, you have to take me to the dungeon!”

Alone. She was alone with a monster that even a squad of armed royal guards feared. Trying to pull herself away, she merely tripped in her chains and landed on her side in the dust. Coughing, she looked towards the statue and shivered when it moved.

A large forelimb stretched, covered in what seemed like black plate. There was no face except her own in the reflective surface, and Reflection gulped when they turned on her. The digits on the end of its frontal limbs flexed, opening and closing as if it was the first time in ages.

“Reflection.” The monster looked straight at her, its evil blank face staring straight into her own.

‘It knows my name!’

With that information running through her mind, and her blood running out onto the ground, she finally couldn’t hold off the exhaustion.
With her likely doom standing over her, Reflection’s eyes closed and she blacked out.

Nigel M Chalmers stared down at the changeling by his feet, Reflection out cold. She looked so different to the smiling nymph that he had known before his… embarrassing setback.

‘Damn magical laser,’ he thought, taking a second to crick his neck. ‘I must have been out for at least a year.’ Peering closer at her, he noticed that she was leaking green fluid from somewhere. The pieces clicked together, and he quickly bent down to examine her and help.

She sure had grown, having reached the size that Chrysalis had been when he had first met her. He skipped the small scratches that covered her and slowly rolled her over. Reflection didn’t stir, her breathing heavy and slow. Looking down at the two large cracks in her chitin, he winced and stroked her bald head with his armoured hand.

“Oh Reflection, what did you do to yourself?” He muttered and opened a suit compartment, extracting a standard gauze patch. He wasn’t too sure how to treat changeling injuries, only seeing one minor one before. Still, he had to do something about the blood and patching it up was the best option available.

Pressing the wound together, he quickly placed the patch over the cracks in the chitin and sealed it up. He didn’t bother with the minor cracks, from the looks of things they were already closing by themselves. Reflection looked a little pale, but he was confident that she was going to be okay. Looking around at the dimly lit room they were in, he decided that it was no place for a speedy recovery.

“Come on, we better get you back to your mother.”

Placing his hands under her rump and chest, he stood up with her in his arms. She seemed as light as a nymph, then again his powered suit did tend to make most things easy to lift. Making sure that her bandaged injury was facing up, his boots pulverised chunks of stone while he made for the open doorway.

Stepping out into the sun for the first time in… well, he assumed a year and a bit, he was met with the site of a wonderful garden, a pretty extravagant castle, and a hundred pony soldiers in golden armour staring at him with wide eyes.

“I have… returned!” He couldn’t resist, for some reason he had been freed from his stone prison so he was going to milk it for all it was worth. He would have raised his arms to the sky like a vengeful god, but he considered his cargo more precious than taking the moment.
Dismissing the equines frozen with fear, he looked behind him to gaze upon the no-doubt air-tight prison that he had been kept in.

The smile under his helmet dropped.

“Oh come on!” he complained to the guards, turning back around and causing them to flinch. “I was taking over the world, damnit! You go and put my petrified body in a bloody back garden shed!? Who was the genius that thought that up plan? I bet they’re shitting bricks right now!” He scanned the rows of frightened guards, none responding save for the lowering of shaking spears. “Well, aren’t any of you cowards going to say something!? Don’t you know who I am!?”

“Uh…” a single guard started up. “Who are you?”

That was the last straw. He hadn’t spent a year with only his suit’s computer for company to return and be ignored. Celestia and Luna would be in for a rude surprise, but he had a few things to do before even thinking about them.

“I’m Commander Chalmers, I’m sure that you’ve heard about me, you thick simpleton.” He paced back and forth, Reflection still unconscious in her arms. “I was powerful, great! I had your entire planet trembling at my name!” He glared at them, tilting his head towards the shed. “And you have the nerve to store me in a fucking shed!”

The guards flinched at his words, but he noticed movement in his arms. Reflection’s hind leg kicked, tapping against his armour. Thinking of a way out of the mess that would keep his dignity intact and would involve minimum time spent wasting guards, he sent a mental command to his suit.

Ponies, having gotten closer with their weapons as his rant continued, backed off when a square popped out of his back armour and lit up with a hot glow.

“Mark my words, colourful equines!” he informed them, powering his jetpack. “I will return, and I will rule you all!”

With a roar, he lifted off into the sky with his head raised high. It had some minor hiccups, but the plan would proceed.

First things first, however, he had some old friends to find.

Reflection blinked open her eyes, groaning as she shifted on the soft object that she was resting on. She was met with a starry night sky and a dull throbbing at her side. Wincing, she examined her wound with a million thoughts running through her head.

Her confusion was only amplified when she saw the large bandage covering the cracks, a faint green stain showing on it. Moving a hoof, she prodded it and flinched.

‘Ouch.’ That still didn’t answer why she wasn’t in an Equestrian jail cell, and who had dressed the wound. Glancing down on what she was laying on, she saw some sort of grey cloth with four holes in it. It looked like the shirts that some ponies wore, except it seemed far too big for any pony. Beyond that was just grass, and she could hear the wind whistling through the leaves of trees.

Her eyes widened as she recalled the last sight she had bared witness to, a monster lurking in the shed, a monster that had come to life before her. The pain was a certain indicator that she was both alive and awake, so she couldn’t have been eaten. Was the monster nothing but a delusion caused by her blood loss?

Willing to take the bet, and hoping to escape before any ponies could find her, she began to get to her hooves with the intention of finding her way back to the hive.

“Ach!” she stumbled and sank back down, her injuries flaring up when she tried to move. It was then that her worst fear was realised.

“Hey, calm down there or you’ll hurt yourself further.”

She froze up at the harsh, guttural voice, not wanting to look but at the same time she felt compelled to see it. Moving her head to look behind her, the same dead face from the shed was staring back at her maliciously. The figure had a front limb raised, the five digits at the end spread out as if he was going to grab her.

Listening to her natural instinct instead of the fiend’s advice, she once again tried her hoofing and buzzed her wings.

Her vision flashed red, and she quickly gave up on moving at all while she fell back down and gritted her teeth in an attempt to ride it out.
“Oh Reflection,” the monster growled, some kind of sliding sound coming from its direction. “What did I tell you?” She could do nothing as a soft thing was placed on her head.

‘This is it,’ she thought. ‘It was waiting for me to wake up so it could kill me and make me feel every second.’

Then, surprisingly, the soft thing on her head began to move backwards and forwards in a steady pattern. It ran over her ears, the top of her head, then down the back of her neck and then forwards again. Occasionally something would scratch behind an ear, or rub the fin behind her head. She felt… incredibly soothed and relaxed, and soon she wasn’t even aware of the pain. It was so pleasant that she even forgot about the origin of the nice feeling for what felt like hours, until she finally looked behind her again.

That same face hadn’t stopped watching her, and she swallowed her fear to ask the question at the front of her mind.

“How do you know my name?”

“What?” the monster questioned, his hoarse voice filled with obvious puzzlement. “Reflection, I helped raised you, remember? You, Swissy, Keith, Cupid, Holey, Joy, Buzz, Shade, Chatter and Mirror, I even gave you your name. Don’t you remember? I always gave you head rubs, you wouldn’t let me leave without one,” the pieces were slowly falling together, the monster chuckling. “You were quite the daddy’s girl, so what changed? Is it because I’ve been gone for a year?”

It was right at the back of her mind, but she couldn’t figure it out yet. So, she had to tell him the truth. “I’m sorry, whoever you are, but I’ve never seen you before in my life.”

He paused, before raising a digit to the air. “I know!” he exclaimed, the foreleg going for his head. She watched while he removed what turned out to be a helmet, a light covering of stone dust falling away with it.

A short-cut brown mane was on a peach-coloured head, no snout save for a small jut in the middle of the face and a warm smile being sent her way. Reflection was far too focused on his eyes, however, a memory coming to mind of one of the times she had overheard Chrysalis talking to herself.

‘Eyes… solid blue eyes that were both cold and welcoming at the same time. Why’d they leave?’

A cold weight settled in her heart, Reflection realising who he was and who he thought she was. She wracked her mind, trying to think of the words to explain things.

“I… I’m sorry,” she began, straining to sit up and face him. “I’m not the Reflection who you know.” She watched his smile die a little, but she had to press on. “How long do you,” she prepared herself. “Do you think you were… trapped for?”

“About a year or so,” he answered, letting out a light laugh. “As silly as it sounds, the one thing this suit seems to lack is a working clock.” His chuckles began to die out when she didn’t smile, Reflection taking a deep breath.

“Well, as far as I know, Queen Chrysalis said something about, well, a few hundred years.”

He didn’t speak for a second, before he smiled again. “Well, that’s a setback, but at least Chrysalis is alive, right?”

“She is.” Reflection didn’t like the way his grin improved, she hoped he wasn’t about to think that-

“You changelings mustn’t age past a certain point then, it makes sense considering your abilities.” He looked, almost hopefully, at her. “Hundreds of years, you guys must have run out of names if you used Reflection twice.”

Shaking her head, she reached out a hoof and placed it on his forelimb. Looking around, she saw that they were in a quiet meadow away from any civilisation. Facing him again, she sighed.

“Look, I’m sorry, but it’s like this…”

Celestia continued to stare out of the window, her eyes locked at the area of sky where the ‘monster’ according to her guards had flown off. They were correct in that it was indeed a monster, but not in the same way as a hydra or a manticore. The being that had been freed would be back, and she knew that he would return with murder on his mind.

“Commander Chalmers,” she whispered to herself, haven’t heard that name for centuries. The memory of their meeting was still deep in her mind, how could it not be? He was the first creature that had been imprisoned by the power of the Elements, the artefacts she had foolishly thought to be ‘Godstones’ in her teenage centuries. She had been foolish, after the Discord incident she should have remembered about the second prisoner and restrengthened the spell with conventional magic. What had possessed her younger self to store it in a simple shed, she had no idea.

It was too late now, and what was worse was the news that a changeling had both entered the shed and then had been carried out by the creature. Judging from the words that the Queen she had… ‘met’ earlier, it was more than just simple coincidence that the Human spared its life and even helped it.

She struggled in the gooey prison that she was in, the changeling queen having forged the green substance from the vile phlegm that had been coughed up. Changelings, unarmoured ones the Queen referred to as drones, and armoured ones called soldiers were watching over the area. Chrysalis had ordered the nobility and other wedding guests to be escorted to the dining room, apparently not being able to stand their noise.

It was no use, she couldn’t move her hooves and her horn had been covered with the same substance which also seemed to curb her magic. She was trapped, her only hope being the return of the Elements and their subsequent use on the invading creatures. Outside she could hear the pandemonium in the city as the changelings terrorised her subjects, and she hated the fact that she was trapped and useless.

A huff drew her attention, Celestia turning her head to look down upon the steps. The unresponsive Shining Armour was staring blankly at the wall, Chrysalis rolling her eyes at him while Cadence watched from the sidelines.

“I don’t know what you see in him,” the Queen muttered, Cadence not responding with anger, but with her voice dripping spite.

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” Cadence hissed, Celestia noticing the three soldiers nearby watching closely. “You’ve shown that you don’t know anything about true love.”

The throne room went silent, the Queen oddly not sending a reply back. Observing from the position forced upon her, she saw that the changelings were all backing away slowly while adverting their gazes from Chrysalis.

“True love?”

The Queen’s reply was short and sharp. ‘Cadence must have hit a nerve,’ she thought, continuing to watch.

“Did I stutter?” Cadence retorted, long past maintaining civility. “A vile bully like you could never-“

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence, pony.” Chrysalis turned on Cadence, stalking forwards while the frightened Cadence retreated.

Celestia renewed her futile struggle, Chrysalis backing Cadence up against the wall. She had to strain forwards to hear what the Queen was hissing, the changelings all giving Chrysalis a wide berth. “I’ve loved, long before your ancestors were even born. He was kind, funny and loyal, and then…”

Celestia found the stare turned on her, Chrysalis’ glare tinged with what looked like sorrow. The Queen left the startled Cadence pressed up against the wall, Celestia soon face to face with the fuming Chrysalis.

“You stole him from me and our children, forever.” Trying to search her mind for any trace of meeting a changeling before, she could find nothing while Chrysalis continued. “Do you have any idea as to what I had to do to keep them fed with him gone? You, Celestia, living in your glittering palace and throwing weddings. Blessed with spending your days amongst your own children while they are oblivious to what you really are, a murderer. What do you have to say to that, Princess Celestia!?”

The gag was removed, Celestia taking a breath before giving the angry Queen a gaze filled with pity and honesty.

“Chrysalis, I swear to you, I have never killed anything, much less your lo-“

“Enough!” The gag was replaced, Chrysalis shaking her head with disgust. “You’re a terrible liar.” Chrysalis moved closer, her glare still remaining but there was a tinge of anticipation. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to refresh your memory as soon as your country in under my full control.”

She turned away from the window and returned to her throne, sitting down with a sigh. How could she have guessed that Chrysalis and the Human knew each other, let alone in that capacity? Many questions plagued her mind, and she slipped a hoof out of a slipper and rubbed her forehead.

How had the containment spell been broken? Was it a deliberate act or a freak accident? What would the Human do now that he was released? Would he return to Chrysalis and once again attempt to reign over the world? Most importantly, if there was one human, then were there more waiting to join their fellow in his plans?

“Gah, why couldn’t I have been wiser back then?” she muttered, her eyes closed and her head back.

“Um… Princess?”

Looking down, a lone guard officer was standing in front of her throne, his helmet held in his foreleg. Judging from the plume he was a lieutenant, and she made an effort to smile warmly at him.

“I’m sorry, I was lost in my thoughts. I assume that you have a report?”

“I do,” the guard replied, bowing his head before clearing his throat. “I’m sorry, but we’ve lost the Monster.“

“The creature you pursue is called a ‘Human’,” Celestia informed, before making a decision. “I wouldn’t bother with continuing the search, he will return to us soon.”

The guard paused. “Excuse me for asking, Princess, but how can you be so sure that it will return? With the changeling attack, our forces are on full alert and-“

“Alert or not, they will not be enough.”

“P...Princess?”

“The foe that has awakened on this day is not one that will shy away from spears, crossbow bolts or magical bolts.” She shuddered slightly, remembering what happened when one unfortunate unicorn attempted to harm the human with a magical bolt. The memory of the coppery taste of blood and other unmentionable substances was still bright in her mind. “Pull back the guards, leave the search for both the Human and remaining changelings be. We need all available forces to fortify and defend Canterlot, I suspect that when reunited with Queen Chrysalis, he will make a beeline towards us with the goal of conquest.”

“Reunited… Conquest…” the guard was evidently being hit with too much at once, Celestia sighing before nodding.

“Indeed, now please inform the Generals that I require their consul in the war room this evening. In addition, fetch all of the tomes from the restricted section of the royal library and bring them along as well.”

He saluted at her orders, placing his helmet back on his head and ruffling his feathers. “Of course, and do you wish for your sister to be-“
“There is no need for such action.” The guard turned, Luna trotting into the throne room. The two door guards, as well as the two night guards that had escorted Luna in, all left with the Lieutenant taking the hint.

“I understand, your orders will be carried out immediately.” With that, he left them in peace. The doors closed behind him, leaving them both in silence. Celestia waited, Luna gazing out the window towards the early evening sky.

“The Monster that was released…”

“It was him,” Celestia confirmed, before tilting her head. “What do you remember about it, Luna?”

Her sister’s eyes were narrowed when they turned back to her.

“He tried to kill you,” Luna stated bluntly. “He’s a wicked creature that is a threat to our ponies. If what you said was true, about the changelings, then the threat that we now face has been doubled.”

“I doubt that, Luna,” she replied, circling a hoof on her throne’s armrest. “The changelings are trivial compared to the being we both fought. If he attacks, then we must be ready.”

Luna began to pace in front of the window.

“But if we allow him to build up his strength, then we will also be faced with disaster.”

Celestia nodded, it was indeed a conundrum. “True, however right now we need to assist our ponies with recovering from the attack they have just suffered. We need to find a weakness, Luna, something which we can use to force him to surrender or leave.”

“We must,” Luna agreed, pausing her pacing. “I fear what wickedness awaits us, I will organise a squad of my guards to track him and observe.”

“Very well, but only send a few.” She watched Luna trot out of the room, no more needing to be said. The trotting of hooves drew her attention, a line of guards returning into the city from the mountain path. Celestia leaned back and closed her eyes.

They were going to need more than just soldiers, if they wanted to win this upcoming battle.

Chalmers sat while the hoof continued to pat his armoured arm, Reflection silent after explaining it all.

‘Hundreds of years,’ he thought to himself again. It was certainly a shock, learning of the length of time that he’d been out. He couldn’t believe that he had been abandoned for that long by his empire; however the news that everyone but Chrysalis was dead was far more concerning to him at the current time.

Looking at the changeling sitting next to him on his leant shirt, he couldn’t help but continue to rub her head. Aside from the obvious physical resemblance to Reflection, their manner of meeting was strikingly similar. He realised that it could have just been his mind playing tricks on him, but he swore that he could see the resemblance. That, however, brought up a slightly disturbing question.

“Reflection,” he asked, the changeling looking towards him. “You said that you were part of the ‘Reflection’ bloodline, what does that mean?”

“Well, I don’t know for sure how it happened,” she began to explain, glancing up towards the rising moon. “But as far as I know, there are ten family lines that the Queen is adamant about keeping alive. Don’t get me wrong, she controls all the breeding rights and dictates who does who, but not on this level. You already know the names of the lines, and you obviously knew the changelings who started them, but other than the fact that the firstborn of the right gender is always named after the line name I don’t know much else.”

“Do you know how…?”

Reflection shook her head. “There’s rumours that the Queen merged with another, weaker hive after taking it over, but that’s only one of many. I’m sorry that I don’t know more.”

“It’s okay, I can’t expect you to know it all,” he cricked his neck. “I’m just disappointed that I missed them all growing up.”

Reflection tapped her hooves together, and he noticed her looking him over. “So, did you and Chrysalis…”

It took him a second to process her line of questioning. “No,” he answered, smiling slightly. “In fact I only told her that I felt that way in my ‘death video’.” He chuckled, however it was obvious to him that she was lost. “But no, the original ten were rescued from a trader who claimed that he had brought them from the west. No blood relation to us at all.”

“So, we’re not even related to her?” He paused at her question, giving her another ear scratch.

“Well, I’m not sure if she slept with anyone while I was-“

“Please,” Reflection held out a hoof, her face scrunched up. “Don’t talk about the Queen in that way, I’d rather not dwell on her…”

“I understand,” he told her. “To answer your question, she has no relation to your ancestor. She still loved them like her own, though, and I did as well. That should be more than enough, right?”

“I guess, but the Queen is, and excuse me for saying this about her, not very nice.”

“Oh?” He tilted his head. “How so? She was one of the sweetest beings I’ve had the pleasure to meet. Prone to jealousy, extremely protective, and a little naive, but sweet nonetheless,” he smiled at the memories. “The last thing I did was give her a kiss while she was sleeping off a hangover from a dinner we shared. I’d hate for that to have changed.”

The changeling shifted on the spot, lowering her head. “You might be surprised.” He noticed her declining of mood, and aimed to rectify it.

“Hey, I’ve been asking all the questions, don’t you have any?”

She looked back up at him, solid eyes widening with a smile returning to her face. “Really?” He nodded, and she thought for a second before continuing. “So, you were awake in the stone? How did you stop yourself from going insane?”

“Insane?” he questioned back, Reflection shifting a little closer to him. “Who’s to say that I was sane before I was so inconveniently put away?” She laughed at that, and he continued on. Tapping his helmet, he waited until she had given it a good look over. “To keep it short, this helmet contains a machine called a ‘computer’. Thankfully, I still maintained the link with the computer and I managed to find some pastimes that obviously worked very well.”

“Pastimes?”

“Yeah,” he puffed out his chest. “I, Nigel M Chalmers, have achieved what many thought unachievable. After lengthy study, I have gained a most acclaimed award.”

“What?”

He grinned at her. “I am now a Doctor in the field of philosophy, making me an official genius.” There was silence, save for the chirping of crickets. Reflection tilted her head once again. “It’s a very prestigious award, despite what everyone else says.”

“It’s an award that takes hundreds of years to finish?”

He fidgeted, his hand leaving her head. “No, it’s what some would call an ‘easy’ award, and I finished it like nothing, but before I managed to start on molecular physics I got… distracted.”

She nodded for him to go on. He had many choices, but he decided to tell the truth.

“It turns out that, for some reason, there was… ahem, a large porn folder and…”

“Porn?” she interrupted, before her eyes brightened. “Oh, you mean like those magazines that ponies have that show all those mares and stallions-“

“Yes, yes, yes,” he quickly halted her, waving his hands before scratching her behind the ears again to get her to stop talking. “Admittedly, it probably wasn’t the best idea given said imprisonment, but it sure passed the time.”

“Hundreds of years,” Reflection muttered, enjoying the scratching. “That’s a lot of porn.”

He didn’t know what to say to that, so instead he changed the subject. “Hey, you must want to get back to your hive, and I can’t wait to meet Chrysalis and the rest of you. Do you know where it is?”

“Hang on.” She seemed to concentrate with closed eyes, the fin on the back of her neck quivering for a second. Her eyes opened again, and she pointed with a hoof towards the west. “In that direction, I don’t know how far and the link is weak, but it’s in that heading for sure.”

“Link?”

“With the Queen,” Reflection explained. “She can send us simple thoughts, orders, and occasionally she accidently lets her emotions through. We can also find our way home by following it.”

“I recall Chrysalis mentioning something about that, something that only a changeling queen could do.” He smiled, leaning back against the tree. “So, she actually became one. I wonder how she’ll react when she finds out that I’m alive, if she even recognises me.”

“I don’t imagine that she’d ever forget something like you, I’ve never seen or heard about another human around.” He noticed her frown. “Besides, she’s always muttering under her breath and sometimes I overhear things that I used to think were strange until now.”

He took in the information and looked up towards the moon, it was almost in the middle of the sky. Stretching and enjoying the freedom of being able to move, he stopped the ear scratch he was giving her and clapped his hands together. “I actually can’t wait to see her again; I bet we could get there in a few hours, tops. What do you think?”

“Sure,” she grinned, shaking her head. “I can’t wait to get back, and away from this horrible country.”

Chalmers watched her struggle to stand, her injuries still giving her pause. It didn’t take him long to reconsider their plan. It was a warm and clear night, and they were well hidden from any patrols thanks to the shadows and the large tree. Gently, he placed his hand on her back and halted her. “Hey, why don’t you get some sleep? It’s okay, I can wait until tomorrow.”

“No, I don’t want to keep you from seeing Queen Chrysalis again.” Reflection was sincere, but he could see her shaking. Slowly, he pushed her back down onto the shirt serving as the makeshift bedding. He didn’t need to put in much force, she sighed and laid back down while tucking in her legs. “Are you sure? It’s going to be a long way away.”

“I’ve got my ways,” he reassured, patting her back. He was surprised when she rested her head against his side, Reflection looking up at him curiously.

“You don’t mind if I do this?”

“Not at all, you’re something like my great-great-great-great-great granddaughter after all.” Slowly, her eyes closed and her breathing grew slow and heavy.

‘Heh, just like old times,’ he remembered, taking the time to relax and gather his thoughts.

Chrysalis could barely control her rage, her teeth grinding while she skulled into her chambers. Sand dropped from her mane, the desert landing having been a rough one. Still, she was luckier than some of her subjects in that she escaped major injury. There had been many cracked exoskeletons and a few broken horns and wings, but all of it was easily treatable. She had a few minor scuffs on her chitin, but what hurt far more was the shame and embarrassment.

She had promised them all an unlimited supply of love, just like she had tasted once before. More space to grow, better living conditions and increased freedoms. Life in the sun and in grassy fields, far away from dour conditions of the hive and desert that they lived in now, was something that she needed them to have. How could she deny them that, after she herself had lived that life before? Seizing Equestria had been her only chance to secure that dream and get revenge at the same time, but in the moment she’d gotten greedy and had blown it.

‘Why did I completely forget about that pink bitch!?’ she lamented to herself, heading straight to her bed. It was the largest and the only one in the hive to have actual cloth sheets, her subjects having to settle with smoothened bunks due to their numbers. Collapsing down onto the sheets, their colour matching her mane and tail, she rolled onto her back and covered her eyes with her hooves.

“It was all going so well, now I know what Nigel must have felt when Celestia and Luna blindsided him.”

Her muttering stopped, the trotting of hooves approaching. “My Queen?”

“Yes?” she grunted, still not opening her eyes at the female voice. “I wish for rest.”

“I know,” the changeling that she guessed was a nurse replied. “But after your fall-“

“I’m fine.”

“Your Highness, at least allow me to examine you and apply treatment if necessary.”

“I said that I am fine,” she repeated. “Don’t others need more immediate attention, attention that you could be using your time on instead of some light scratches?”

She could hear hooves shuffling awkwardly. “Actually, Ma’am, the casualties are all healing well. It also turns out that not all of the love we gained was lost, and our stores have been filled considerably.”

“Inform General Scuttle to give everyone an extra ration of love,” she requested. Before the nurse could leave, Chrysalis thought of a final thing. “And news of Reflection?”

“As far as I know, she is still missing,” the changeling answered, Chrysalis biting her lower lip with worry. “She’s the only one who has not been found, but I’m sure that she’ll return soon.”

“I’m sure she will,” Chrysalis reassured herself out loud. “That line has always been stubborn. That will be all, please transfer that message.”

“At once, my Queen.” There was a brief brushing sound, no doubt the nurse bowing, before the trotting of hooves sounded and grew faint. Cursing her lack of foresight to have a door installed, she rolled over and wiped the tears from her eyes. She’d come so close, so close to achieving everything, and that sudden… love bursthad crushed her dreams in the most ironical way possible.

“I won’t let you get away with it,” she mumbled to herself, a glare on her face. “Your soft-hearted ponies will pay.”

Reflection yawned when the sun’s rays hit her face, the throb at her side almost unnoticeable now.

“Good morning.” She raised her head from the cool surface it was against, the owner of the voice patting her on the back. “Sleep well?”

“I did,” she answered, surprising herself while she nuzzled his armour. “It’s good to sleep without nearly having a heart attack.”

“That’s pleasant to hear, you okay to head off? I’ll carry you of course.”

She nodded, all of her fear having disappeared since she had realised who her rescuer was. Standing, she allowed him to carefully pick her up by placing an arm under her torso. Chalmers held her close to his chest, much like she imagined he once held her ancestor. It was surprisingly comfortable, and she was grateful that she had someone to carry her home so she didn’t have to wait until her wound was healed.

“Now, you probably won’t remember it, but we’ve done this before. Just focus and concentrate on keeping us on course, and I’ll concentrate on keeping up in the air.”

Furrowing her brow, Reflection looked at him with a raise eye. “I’ve flown before, you know. The wings aren’t just for show.”

“I’m sure you have,” he chuckled, placing his helmet on his head. A small roar started and remained steady, Reflection glancing back to see a small glow coming from behind Chalmers. “But this is probably going to be a bit different to what you’re used to.”

“Hey, Beams.”

High Beams, Sergeant Major in the Royal Night Guard, repressed a sigh and turned to her second-in-command, Sergeant Bites. The last place she wanted to spend her day was in a sound-proofed cell in the dungeons, even if it had been refurbished to serve as a briefing room. She especially didn’t want to spend her precious sleeping time with Bites constantly asking her unanswerable questions.

“What is it, Bites?”

Her reply prompted the bat-pony stallion to lean across further in his chair.

“Do you think this has something to do with the monster that attacked during the changeling invasion?” She snorted, cursing the silly rumour that the Solar guards had started regarding some old statue stored in a garden shed. “I heard from one of the Sunnies that it was this huge, black, two-legged-“

“Really, Sergeant?” One of the four corporals in their squad, Corporal Belfry, spoke up from the left. The mare shook her head, Beams finding it hard to not agree with her. “This again? It was probably just some changeling turning into a minotaur.”

“Ah!” Bites exclaimed, raising a hoof off of the desk in front of him. “But if they could change into minotaurs, then why didn’t they all do that during the invasion?” He paused, as if waiting for applause from them all.

“Ma’am,” Corporal Sweeps requested, directing it at her. “Permission to speak freely?”

Beams grinned, she knew what was going to come. Nodding at the stallion, she gave Sweeps the go ahead.

“Sergeant,” Sweeps turned his head towards Bites. “With all due respect, you’re an idiot.”

As one, every single nocturne in their squad burst out into laugher. That is, everyone save for the Sergeant in question.

“Oh, very imaginative,” Bites growled, his fangs flashing momentarily. Beams sent him a warning look, how the short-tempered stallion had attained the rank of sergeant was a complete mystery to her. Just before she was about to tell her squad to settle down, the highest authority did it for her.

“Ah, what is the source of this merriment?”

The laughter died right out and all six saluted immediately, Princess Luna trotting into the cell with Captain Ultra by her side. The dour senior nocturne gave her his own warning look, before Beams found herself receiving an expecting gaze from the Princess.

“We were just sharing an inside joke,” she quickly explained, Luna nodding her head before trotting to the front of the room.

“I’m afraid that the time for joking is far gone,” Luna explained, glancing down towards the Captain. “We have a new mission for you all, one of upmost importance to Equestria and myself.” The Princess began to pace, possessing a nervousness none of them had even seen. “I know you’re not the most highly-decorated or experienced, but you have all shown a certain aptitude for noticing small details and hence your positions on my favourite recon team.”

Beams couldn’t help but straighten with pride. “Thank you, Ma’am.”

“You will soon withdraw that thanks,” Luna informed, unsettling Beams. “Your assignment is to find, track, and observe the creature that escaped imprisonment yesterday. You are to not interfere , but to record anything you can about him and his interactions with the changelings. You will maintain communications with me and Captain Ultra alone, and you will imminently pass on all information about any weaknesses you find.”

Luna paused and looked at them all, studying their reactions. Hesitantly, Bites raised his hoof and asked his question at her nod.

“Excuse me, Princess, but are you saying that the monster in the tool shed… is really a monster?”

Princess Luna sighed, her horn lighting up with a glow. They watched on, awed, while a small panel of glimmering magic formed on the blackboard sitting at the front. “A monster indeed, but not one that you are likely expecting. Please excuse me, this memory retrieval spell is complex.”

Beams watched and waited while Luna went silent and concentrated. Her understanding of magic was limited, nocturnes of course possessing neither the needs nor want for it, but she could see that it indeed seemed difficult to cast. Slowly, the colours formed into an image, before with a shower of sparks it formed a clear scene.

They collectively winced as the biped punched Princess Celestia right on the snout, blood coming away on the black armour. Their viewpoint, Beams assuming that it was Luna’s, clung desperately to an arm in an attempt to stop the monster strike Celestia again. It was in vain, and the memory wavered and fizzled out right before it made contact. No-one spoke, Luna taking a breath before heading towards the blackboard.

“I remember him telling Celestia to not worry, that he wouldn’t kill me after he killed her.” Beams frowned, seeing the Princess shudder. “Now, it’s been a long time, but this is what we know.” With another burst of magic, the blackboard was flipped over to reveal a side filled with chalk writings. “Captain Ultra, please continue.”

“Yes Princess,” the Captain obeyed. “Now, the creature you are going to be watching is called a ‘human’, that is what is calls itself. As far as we know, no other humans exist but there is strong evidence to suggest that it is… alien, to our planet.”

“Great,” Bites smirked. “So not only is it a monster, but an alien as well. What, is it here to abduct farmponies and-“

“The Human’s goal is world domination,” Luna interrupted.

‘That’s almost as cliché,’ Beams thought, wise enough to keep it to herself while Luna continued.

“However, now there is a different element involved. Princess Celestia and I are of the belief that Queen Chrysalis and the Human know each other, very well, so we can assume that if they meet up then they may be inclined to seek revenge.”

“Excuse me, Princess,” Corporal Dream raised a dainty hoof. “But are you saying that the Changeling Queen is hundreds of years old?”

“I am,” Luna answered. “She is likely almost as longed lived as myself. However, the Queen is a secondary concern. The Human is named ‘Commander Nigel M Chalmers’, and we suspect that he has some form of military experience.” Luna frowned. “Despite this suspicion, he behaves much like a child. He is compulsive, prone to anger, however he is also cold and is not afraid to kill.”

Luna ran her hoof down a list.

“He has shown to be capable of constructing complex machinery and structures, his armour is stronger than steel and possibly your own enchanted armour. He has been seen using weaponry of both explosive and energy in nature, and many of these are stored in his armour.” The Princess fixed them all with a warning look. “By far, it seems that his most dangerous weapon is manipulation. He managed to coerce cooperation from both peasants and kings, so don’t discount anything as it may be an act to obtain your trust or divert your attention.”

She removed her hoof from the board, nodding towards them.

“You are to observe and record, nothing more. If he sees you, do not engage him but escape instead. What we know is just a small amount, hence your mission. The Human is dangerous and unpredictable, I myself can testify to that. Follow your objectives and remain hidden, that is all that we require of you.” Luna gestured to Captain Ultra. “I’ll let the Captain inform you of the rest of the details, I have to assist my sister with a few duties.”

A chorus of ‘Thank you, Ma’am’, followed, Luna giving them a final nod before departing from the cell. Captain Ultra, uniform dark grey with a blue mane of all the Night Guard, cleared his throat and ruffled his wings.

“As you have just heard from Her Majesty, the creature you are pursuing is incredibly dangerous and a threat to us all. Your squad was requested because all of the Solar guard are occupied with fortifying the city and reassuring the population. Hence, a squad of nocturnes from the Night guard was decided upon.”

Beams could understand the reasoning behind the decision. After all, with their bat-like wings and fangs, nocturnes weren’t exactly reassuring to the ordinary equestrian. Still, there were a few questions she had to ask. “Sir, what equipment will we use and when do we begin?”

Ultra seemed to have a small twitch at the corner of his mouth, but he still answered. “You have, and I must stress that this was not my choice but that of Princess Luna, access to the entire armoury and equipment store.

“Even the restricted section?” Ultra shook his head at Bites’ request, Beams sharing his apprehension.

“Yes, Sergeant,” Captain Ultra informed with a frown. “Even the restricted section.”

The grin on the Sergeant’s face was a stark contrast to the solemn looks on the other’s faces. Beams fidgeted in her chair, tapping her forehooves together. “Sir, the time we leave?”

Ultra began to wipe the blackboard clean with a wing. “You have an hour to each write a letter back to your families at home… in case you don’t come back. Then, you are to prepare your equipment and supplies before heading out straight away.”

Once more there was silence, save for the sound of the eraser running over the board.

“Sir, is a letter like that really needed?” Belfry ‘s question was shared, Beams nodding her head as well. Surely the mission wasn’t going to be that dangerous.

“You have an hour,” was all Ultra stated in a flat tone. “Dismissed.”

“Excuse me, Your Highness?”

Chrysalis glanced towards the soldier armoured with blue chitin, drones and scholars rushing around the throne room preforming the usual daily duties. Soldiers mingled around, she had heard rumours that there were some changelings thinking traitorous thoughts and as such she had increased security. She had tried to use the mental link to find out if it was true, but had been unable to gleam anything useful save for a few, understandable, thoughts about whether she had made the right call in invading Canterlot.

Secretly, she was a little thankful that her control over them was that limited.

Tapping a hoof on her foreleg rest, she nodded for him to go on.

“The noble, Reflection, has returned to the hive. She is injured but the wounds have already been dressed.”

That brought a smile to her face, her last subject having returned safe and sound. She’d be a lair if she tried to claim that she didn’t treat her descendants better than the rest of her subjects, always giving them more of her attention. Stretching her legs, she prepared to leave her throne and ensure that Reflection was safe and sound.

The soldier seemed nervous, causing her to halt. Looking around, she caught many of the drones and scholars glancing at her as if they knew something she couldn’t. Seeking answers from the shared link, she detected traces of apprehension, curiosity, and… amazement?

“Soldier,” she addressed, not bothering to check his name. “What else is there?”

He hesitated, so she narrowed her eyes to get the answer out of him. “Well, there is apparently an armoured, two-legged, creature with her. It’s apparently a male, it helped Reflection get home, and it claims that it…”

She felt frozen, but she had to know. “It claims what?”

“It claims that it knows you, my Queen. It said that you’d be very pleased to see him again.”

“Where are they?” she barked, startling him and causing him to flinch.

“The main entrance-“

Chrysalis didn’t wait for him to finish, bolting from her throne and galloping out the room’s entrance.

She didn’t slow as she passed the nursery, the stairs leading down to the food storage, the many changelings that gave her shocked looks while she raced past. Her hooves thundered on the hardened mucus that made up the hive, not flying thanks to the low corridor roof. Space was at a premium, but her mind was far from any thoughts of civil planning at the current time.

‘It can’t be him,’ she tried to convince herself, shaking her head while she galloped. ‘He’s dead, there’s no way that it’s him.’

Despite her words, a spark of hope was kindled in her cold heart. She increased her pace, barely dodging her subjects in her rush to verify the rumour. It became problematic near the entrance, a crowd having gathered in force. Chrysalis had to slow and find a path through them, but they parted as soon as they noticed her. They whispered while she passed, Chrysalis noticing that there were nurses and drones, soldiers and scholars all observing the spectacle.

Eventually, she made her way to the front, the midday sun shining in through the entrance. It framed two forms, one she recognised as Reflection with a bandage wrapped around her torso. The other… the other she hadn’t seen in centuries.

“Nigel?” she asked, stepping forwards towards him. She couldn’t believe it, he didn’t look like he had changed at all since she last saw him. Slowly, she approached and stopped just short, almost able to look him in the eyes thanks to her size. He took his helmet off, Chrysalis staring at the face that was revealed. He truly hadn’t changed at all, but that was impossible. Slowly stretching out a hoof, he made contact first when he ruffled her mane.

“Of course it’s me. My, you’ve certainly grown a lot, and look at that magnificent horn. What’s up with your voice though? It’s certainly different to-“

He was cut off when she jumped up to throw her forelegs around his neck. Hugging him tight, she could barely contain her happiness.
“I’m so glad to see that you’re alive! Where were you? Me and the nymphs were all alone and-“

“Hey, I’m sorry,” he apologised, patting her on the back. “I was blindsided and imprisoned in some sort of magic stone, if I had known that…”
“It’s okay,” she forgave, pulling away and smiling. “I understand that it wasn’t your fault. I’m just glad that you’re alive, were you awake all that time?”

He seemed to hesitate. “It’s a long story.” His attention turned to something behind her, and she glanced behind to see her subjects watching them with confusion. “Look, I know that we’ve got a lot to talk about, and I myself have a lot of questions I need to ask you. But, Reflection was very helpful and she told me that you’ve managed to get a lot of subjects. Why don’t you introduce me first?”

The idea didn’t really appeal to her, she wanted to know everything now. Still, her subjects would no doubt spread rumours, so maybe it was the best thing to do. “Are you sure, what do you want me to say about you being here?”

“I am sure, and you can say whatever you want,” he reassured. “You do remember the words I left you, didn’t you?”

She did, no need to scour her memory for them. Hugging him again, she nodded. “I do. Does that mean…?”

“It only took me a few years,” he joked, pulling out of the embrace to stand up. Holding his helmet in his arm, he tilted his head at her. “That is, if you still want that to be happen.”

“I’ve waited eight hundred years, and yesterday I tried to get revenge for you.” She scuffed a hoof. “I failed, though.”

“Heh, I didn’t exactly achieve my goal of world domination either,” he chuckled, and she couldn’t help but smile with him. She got an idea, and she gestured for him to come closer. He bent down, so she whispered to him the suggestion.

“We could try together,” she pointed out with a smile, earning an eyebrow raise.

“Together, hmm? What a positively evil idea.”

“I learned from one of the best,” she replied, earning a much-missed ear-scratch. Chrysalis enjoyed it for a brief second before it stopped, and once again Chalmers was smiling at her subjects.

“I wouldn’t call me that. Say, why don’t we do the rounds and then we’ll have a good talk?” He shrugged. “Or, since you’re now a Queen, you could decide on what to do.” He stood back up, and she confidently shook her head in reply.

“You know what? I think your plan is a pretty good one.” Turning towards the waiting subjects, she stood next to Chalmers before giving Reflection a thankyou glance. “Changelings, I know you all must be confused, but this new being means no harm to us.” She looked to him again, and he gave her a thumbs up in encouragement. She continued, long-needed happiness flowing through her.

“I also have something I need to announce, and I hope you all will understand what it means…”

“Sergeant-Major, you think we’ll manage to complete this?”

Beams looked towards Belfry, the other mare already dressed in her lacquered purple armour. Pausing her selection of survival knives, Beams shrugged her shoulders. “I honestly don’t know, Corporal. I’m just as clueless as you are; I guess we’ll have to use some of that initiative the Drill Sergeant tried to stomp out of us.”

That earned a laugh from Belfry, and the Corporal reached out a wing to select a short sword. Beams smiled and returned to her task, now confident that their mission wouldn’t go too badly.

“Sweet!”

She turned her head to see Bites, armoured in heavy armour, trot out of the restricted section with a massive crossbow sparking with electricity held in his wings. She was gobsmacked, the bolts looked large enough to stop a minotaur.

“Bites,” Sweeps spoke up, shaking his head. “What in Tartarus are you thinking?”

“Let’s see that monster conquer the world with this baby in my hooves,” Bites cooed, cradling the enchanted weapon like his own child.
Beams reassessed their chances.

Maybe it wouldn’t go as smoothly as she hoped.

Author's Note

Well, the sequel that people wanted is finally here.

Once again, feel free to comment and let me know if I made any mistakes.

Until next chapter.

Meloncide

Chrysalis tried hard to smile at the crowd of her subjects, the news she had just broken would be considered rather… unusual. It didn’t help that Nigel was waving at them all, her mind buzzing with the combined mental chatter of those in attendance. First she had failed in an invasion, and then hit them with this whammy.

She could hear the news spreading throughout the mental link, flashes of surprise and disbelief the primary reactions. A few specific ones caught her attention, causing her to grit her teeth.

‘The Queen’s long-lost love… is that thing?’

‘Urgh, look at it, it doesn’t even have chitin! A pony stallion would have been a better choice!’

‘Wait, what’s this about the Queen’s long-lost love? Something can love that cold-hearted bit-‘

‘Silence!’

Her silent explosion rippled through the link, stopping all of the thoughts and gossip. The changelings gathered in front winced and stepped back, Nigel glancing down at her with a raised eyebrow. “You ah, look a little stressed there.”

Chrysalis stopped and realised that she was hunched low and growling, all of the changelings before them quivering with fear. Slowly she relaxed, standing back up and facing him with an attempt to smile.

“It’s nothing, just a lot on my mind.” Looking back towards her subjects, she narrowed her eyes in warning. “So, as I was saying, from now one Commander Chalmers will be staying as a guest in our hive. You are to all treat him with respect, and all questions about him are to go through me first.”

“Chrysalis, is that really needed?”

“Yes,” was her answer, before she focused back on her subjects. “We’ll be answering questions in my throne chambers in one hour. That will be all.” With that, she nudged the side of Chalmers’ leg and proceeded to lead him through the parting crowd. He followed with the stares of the gathered changelings on his back, Chrysalis ensuring to keep an eye out for any disobedience from them.

Trotting and walking into the low corridor that lead further into the depths of the hive, they passed more and more changelings moving out to take a peek at the new arrival. Thankfully Nigel didn’t react to the mutterings, instead he remained his usual cheery self. His surprising positivity helped relax her, so she managed to restrain herself from lecturing any of the curious bystanders.

Deeper and deeper they went, Chrysalis eventually reaching the throne chamber. Guards on either side of the doors first saluted, and then lowered their armoured horns when Nigel walked in behind her. “He’s with me,” she told them, pausing before heading straight to her throne. The few attendants still in the room stared while she sat, Nigel strolling around the large room.

“Nice,” he complimented, examining a wall torch filled with luminous goo. “I see that you’ve taken some inspiration with your decoration, with all the… black.” He traced a finger down a smooth wall. “I like the gothic style you’ve got going on the outside as well, really evil and all.” Nigel wandered over towards one of the armoured guards, the changeling trying not to shiver when a finger tapped his helmet. “Your armour and weapons could use some more work, though.”

She tapped a hoof on the side of her throne. “Well, we made do without lasers and whatever else you had. Besides, we did almost take over Canterlot.”

“I managed to almost take it over as well, you know I could have if I wanted.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You had robot flying machines that dropped explosives, and flying… ‘missiles’ that also blew things up. How can you compare that to my subjects? They can’t even hold a city for more than ten minutes.”

“Chrysalis,” Nigel lectured with a shake of his head. “How can you say that?”

“H-hey!”

The unprepared guard was lifted up into the air, and Chrysalis tried hard to supress the smile while Nigel brought the stunned guard over towards her.

“Look at this little…”

“Male soldier,” she filled in for him.

“Thank you. Look at this little guy, all dressed up in his little blue armour and helmet. Isn’t he adorable?” The guard was held out towards her, Chrysalis leaning back in her throne away from the frightened changeling. “All black and spiky, and one-hundred present utterly cute. You managed to invade a city, and hold it for ten minutes with nothing except these guys. That’s pretty good, hey, it was better than my attempt.”

With that, Nigel turned the dangling changeling around and much to the surprise of all but Chrysalis, hugged the guard with a grin. “Although, I wouldn’t have minded having a few of these ones running around back them.”

“They’re not nymphs,” she reminded with a sigh, however the entire situation was incredibly amusing. To highlight that thought, the guard being tightly embraced turned his head towards her with a pleading look.

“My Queen, help me.”

She ignored his pleas, as did Chalmers.

“Well, sure they’re a little grown up,” he countered. “But if I’m told correctly, then he’s technically a descendent of mine. Thus, he’s a darling little angel, aren’t you? Come on, what’s your name little fella?”

“S-Swivel.”

“Swivel, what a great name. You know, Swivel, that’s a name that I’d probably have given one of your great-great-great-great-great-great grandfathers.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Nigel gave Swivel a pat on the armoured back before placing him back on the ground. Chrysalis couldn’t help but let out an evil chortle when the guard’s hooves hit the floor, the changeling stumbling around with evident relief at being freed from the embrace. “You seem like a good grandson, Swivel, good work.”

“Thank you, um, sir.” Swivel returned to his post by the door, the other guard not moving a muscle in the likely hope that Nigel wouldn’t take notice of him. All the while, Chrysalis found herself enjoying the entire show. Getting an idea in her head, and still feeling the elation of finding out that he was alive, she gestured down to the side of her throne.

“Come on, stop bothering them and have a seat,” she smiled when he looked down to the small step beside her chair. “That’s right, when you were in charge I sat by your chair, now you sit by mine.”

“Cute,” he smirked, but he sat down anyway. “What next, are you going to-“ She cut him off by placing a hoof on his head, rubbing the brown hair affectionately.

“Pat you on the head?” she finished, crossing her legs and resting back. “Scratch you behind the ears like a good little human? Hmm?”

“At least I took you out for ice-cream,” he grumbled. “And I gave you a cushion to sit on when you were sitting next to me.”

“Stop complaining, do you know how difficult it is to buy and transport cushions back to a hive?” She made a point of looking down at his rear. “Besides, with that metal on you I doubt a cushion would help.”

“It’s the thought that counts,” he muttered, Chrysalis grinning to herself while she continued to pat his head. It was almost like old times again, and she was keen to just enjoy the moment. Unfortunately, the human she was petting had different ideas.

“So, Chrysalis,” he began with slight hesitation. “I couldn’t help but notice that you’ve… changed a lot.”

“Of course I have, dear,” she answered with a hoof wave. “It was a long time since I last saw you after all.” Slowly, her voice gained an edge.
“Things happened, and I had to change as a result of that. I grew up.” She once again looked down towards him, one eyebrow raised. “Why do you ask, what’s so different?”

He squirmed on the spot before replying. “Well, your voice, you’re obviously taller, you’re… acting a little different.”

“Different how?”

“You seem a little a, well, crankier then when I used to know you. I’ve even heard that you’re a little feared by the rest of the changelings and I was wondering what exactly happene-“

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she cut him off sharply. “Those days are over. Instead of ten children, I have thousands. Do you know what it takes to maintain a running civilisation of that many changelings, all needing affection to grow and survive while every other race either is oblivious to your presence or drives you out on sight? I have to be strict to maintain proper control, otherwise there would be chaos.”

“Oh. So, um, regarding the whole ‘have thousands’ thing… we kind of started with ten.”

Chrysalis wondered where this line of questioning was going. “So?”

“So… did you find another hive and, well…”

“There was no other hive.” She peered at him strangely, wondering why this was such a difficult line of conversation for him. “We had ten nymphs, and they were different genders. Now we have more than ten.”

“Right.” He tapped his fingers on his leg. “So they weren’t related then.”

She snorted. “Ha! Like I’d know.” He froze, but Chrysalis paid him no mind. She resumed his head rub, silently lamenting that she had only set aside an hour for them to catch up. It was a shame that he was adamant on asking so many questions, after her day she was hardly in the mood to answer all of these questions that any changeling could.

Leaning back, she smiled at the thought of just how wonderful the coming days would be. Now that Nigel was back, those Princesses and their perfect little country were sitting ducks. Before it was first him against them, and then later it had been her against them. Both times had been met with failure, but now it would be different. Celestia and Luna wouldn’t even know what hit them.

‘Well, okay, they’ve probably figured it out,’ she thought to herself, before smiling evilly. ‘But it won’t help them a single bit.’ She broke out into laughter at the thought of finally besting them, electing a glance from Nigel.

“What’s so funny?”

“Oh, nothing,” she began to calm down, stifling her laughter with her spare foreleg. “I was just thinking about our imminent victory. Imagine, both of us ruling over Equestria like we were supposed to, both changeling and pony bowing to us. We’ll be rich, successful, powerful! We’ll have the respect of all that encounter us!” She sighed happy, shifting over to the left of her throne so she could lean on his head with both forelegs.

“But for now, you’re welcome to stay in the hive and be content to live like a royal. I’ll let you have whatever you want, as long as we can get it. You’ll have the best food, the best wine we can steal or buy…” she flicked one of his ears and licked her lips. “The best bed in the royal chambers, of course.”

“Thanks for the offer,” he replied before shaking his head to get her to move off. “But at the current time, and given the certain circumstances, I think it’ll be best if we take things slowly and-“

“Slowly?” she questioned, almost snarling. “Slowly!? I’ve spent centuries thinking you were dead, blaming myself even though I knew that it wasn’t any way my fault. Then, you walk back in like nothing has happened, and when I subtly suggest that we finally share a bed, just sleeping by the way, you refuse me?”

“Look, it’s not you-“

“Don’t give me that cliché line!” Chrysalis snapped, sitting up tall in her throne. “The least you could do is give me a real reason, instead of that old rubbish!”

“Fine, you want to know why, Chrysalis?” he fired back, his mouth twitching while he stood up. “You’re a completely different creature to the one that I knew. Don’t get me wrong, I can understand why, but I can’t take you up on that offer right now.”

She fumed while he took a breath and sighed, Nigel walking over towards the very uncomfortable guards at the door. “What, you’re just going to walk out now?”

“I think we both need some time to just let this simmer down.”

“Some time to simmer down,” she almost laughed at the absurdity. “I’ve had plenty of time, too much time.”

He turned around, the look on his face giving her pause.

“You’re not the only one that regrets that,” he told her, before he nodded to both guards and walked out. Briefly considering following him, Chrysalis instead sat back down in her throne and tried to think of what to do next.

“Well, someone certainly grew up all right.”

Nigel walked down the smooth-walled corridor while he muttered to himself under his breath. He didn’t like how Chrysalis had changed, and he was considering the actual benefit of staying on the planet. Morning Sparkle was dead, Spyglass was dead, Clover was dead, Platinum was definitely dead, the nymphs he regarded as children were dead. All that was left was thousands of changelings he didn’t know and a vastly-different Chrysalis.

“Maybe I should build my own damn spaceship and just leave.”

Changelings stared at him or backed up when he passed, Nigel not even paying them any attention. He didn’t even know where he was going, but it didn’t matter. All that was needed was some time to think and decide what to do. Briefly, he entertained the thought of placing his helmet back on, finding a nice secluded spot, and then losing his worries in the wonderful world of philosophy and hard-core pornography.
Passing a doorway, he paused and strained his ears. Sound filtered up from the empty corridor, sounds that restarted a few memories from long ago.

He could hear many small hooves running, and a very familiar chirping.

‘Nymphs,’ he guessed, a smile breaking out while he turned to move down the corridor. He idly noticed the brighter illumination of the area as he continued to walk, until he reached a closed door just large enough to let him through. Behind it he could hear the familiar sounds of children at play, and after a few seconds of consideration he gave it three short knocks.

The door was made out of the same material as the rest of the hive, hardened and smooth. It was the same colour as changeling chitin, and had an almost organic look to it. He waited for a few moments before a shuffling on the other side was followed by the door swinging inwards.

“It’s almost feeding time so you’ll have to come back…” The changeling that had poked her head out froze, her eyes going from his thighs to his face. She struggled for words, Nigel attempting what he thought was a disarming smile while he waited for her to recover. “…Later.”

“Hello, Miss,” he greeted warmly. “Excuse me for interrupting feeding time, but I was wondering if I could just spend just one minute meeting the little ones?”

“I… I’m not sure that-“

“I promise to not be a bother, and I have looked after nymphs before.” He chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. “I mean, I was the one feeding your ancestors after all. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything irresponsible… like take over the world.”

“What?”

He coughed into his hand. “Nothing, I just said that I wouldn’t do anything irresponsible,” the smile widened to help the lie. “So, what do you say?”

The changeling shifted on her hooves, glancing back inside the room before fixing him with an unsure look. “Uh, sir, I still don’t think it’s a good idea. They are just about to be fed and nymphs get very energetic during feeding.” She looked around, seeming to struggle with a decision. “You can come back in a few hours though, and visit then?”

‘Oh no,’ he smirked inwardly. ‘That won’t do at all.’ Leaning forwards, his smile gained a mischievous edge.

“Why, but I seem to recall that the Queen herself said that I could go anywhere in the hive, anytime at all.” The changeling’s eyes widened.
“You’re not saying that the Queen is wrong, are you?”

“No, of course not!” she quickly answered, opening the door wider. “Come in, just try and stay out of the way once they begin to swarm.”

‘Swarm?’ he wondered with a hint of worry, ducking under the doorway to enter the room. ‘That sounds… ominous.’ He watched the changeling that had let him in close the door and rush away with her head bowed. His elation cooled off a tad at that, but he soon brightened after making a note to find her later and give her a hug in apology.

Looking around, he observed the large chamber that he had entered. Like the rest of the hive so far, it was plain and lacking decoration apart from the strange, power-less torches. In the far right wall there were a number of neatly lined gouges, all in a simple rectangle shape. A curious glance led him to believe that the carved areas extended far back into the wall, and the rows extended up towards the roof.

However, it was the other corner of the chamber that drew his attention. Twelve changelings were trying to corral a chattering horde of nymphs into a pen, Nigel brightening at the sight of the hundreds of small creatures. Walking over towards them, he watched as the changeling that had let him in informed her fellow workers of his presence. They barely had time to try and move to stop him before he was at the side of the full pen and looking down.

“Hi there, little ones,” he greeted while ignoring the adults. At once, hundreds of eyes looked up at him and the chirping died down to silence.

“Please… please step away from the pen.” He turned his head to find another of the adults looking up at him pleadingly. “They’re about to be fed, and they get-“

“Nonsense,” he waved off, stepping over the side of the pen. “Trust me, I’ve fed nymphs before and they’re harmless.” He crouched down and held his arms open. “Now, who wants to give great-great-great-great-great-times a thousand-grandfather a hug and get lots of yummy and healthy love straight from the source?”

“Is that…?” a nurse whispered, before she gasped. “Sir, you have to get out of there, right now!”

“Why would I do that?” he chuckled without turning around. Meanwhile, the nymphs’ wings began to buzz.

He didn’t notice the nurses stepping away slowly.

“You have to get out, you’re emitting love and they’re about to try and feed off of you, instead of the stores!”

“That’s the plan,” he replied, smiling at one of the larger nymphs in the front. “Isn’t it, little guy?”

That was all he managed to say, before all hell broke loose. The nymphs, tasting the bounty of love that was coming from him, decided to do the first thing that they could think of. As one, some jumping and the older ones flying, they did what Nigel had been warned about.

They swarmed him.

“I feel like this has happened before!” he yelled, reaching a hand upwards as he was buried underneath a chittering and chattering mass of children. The nurses stood and stared as the last bit of him was covered by a final, slightly chubby, nymph.

He was beyond their help now.

‘Where is he? Of all the times to tantrum and be late.’

Chrysalis scowled while she sat, her hoof tapping furiously on the throne’s rest. The sound of talking and buzzing echoed up from the corridor to her left, the meeting chamber already filled to the brim with her subjects if her guards were correct. No doubt they were eagerly awaiting further explanation as to why a menacing biped was suddenly staying amongst them, not to mention the often-correct rumours that had been circling around like mad.

There was no sign of Chalmers, and she couldn’t address the hive without him there to answer the questions that were better directed to him. However, given their current state of disagreement she couldn’t even be sure that he’d turn up at all. He was probably sulking in a corner, or more likely he was menacing some of her unprepared subjects.

“I don’t remember him being this tedious to deal with,” she muttered to herself, sighing while remembering her youth. Things had been much happier then, and to think that she had once thought that the responsibility of looking after just ten nymphs was daunting.

Approaching hoofsteps quickly approached, a single changeling emerging from the corridor leading towards the meeting chambers. Chrysalis turned her head and raised an eyebrow as her favourite advisor, Chatter, quickly moved to stand in front of her throne.

“Yes Chatter, what is it?” Despite her mood and his lack of proper protocol, she couldn’t help smiling at him warmly. She could never find herself getting angry with any of her precious original bloodlines, so she declined to lecture him this time.

“Well, Mother, everyone is very eager to hear about what you have to say.” He shifted on his hoofs, his wings giving a slight buzz. “Personally, I’d also like to ask him some questions myself. Is it true that he was the one who helped you look after my ancestor?”

Chrysalis beamed at him, gesturing for him to come lose so she could give him a pat on the head. Chatter was one of the few that called her ‘Mother’, something which only increased the favour she gave him. His generally bright and chirpy nature also helped in that regard.

“Well, Nigel is not… feeling that well at the moment,” she tried to explain, her smile dropping. “He went off to… get some air. I had expected him to return by now, however.” Chatter remained silent but nodded, Chrysalis wondering at just how much he knew about the prior disagreement. Getting an idea, she struggled to remain cheery. “You could go and find him for me, he went down the main corridor.”

“Sure, I can do that,” Chatter replied, before tilting his head. “Is everything okay though? I thought that you would be happier to see him?”

“So did I,” she sighed, before waving a hoof. “That will be all.”

He took the hint, Chrysalis leaving her throne while watching him depart.

She was not looking forward to the announcement.

Chatter halted, a hoof blocking his path as the doors shut behind him. He traced it to the door guard, the soldier motioning for him to be quiet.

“Hey, you’re looking for that human?”

“Yes, I am,” he replied in an equally muted whisper. “Why?”

The guard shifted in his armour. “I just wanted to warn you, he had a fight with the Queen.” The guard must have noticed his surprise, nodding his head and continuing. “It’s true, there was yelling and then he walked out down the corridor. He didn’t seem nearly as angry as the Queen herself, but you can’t be sure since he’s an alien or something.”

“Really, but I thought that they were…” he paused to double check that the doors behind him were firmly shut. “I mean, aren’t they supposed to be in love with each other? Is that normal?”

The guard tilted his head in confusion. “Is anything about this normal?”

Well, Chatter had to concede that point.

“Not at all,” he answered with a head shake. “Still, if what the Queen says is true then he did look after my ancestors, and likely yours as well. I’ve been asked to find him for the address to the hive, so hopefully I can convince him to fix things between them.”

“Good luck with that,” the guard half-scoffed. “You didn’t hear them before, Chrysalis sounded like she was about to murder him.” Chatter furrowed his eyes.

“I’m sure that The Queen has her reasons, thanks for the warning.” With that, he continued trotting and left the guard behind. Moving down the hallway while the wall-torches cast flickering lights over his chitin, Chatter questioned just what was going on.

The invasion is a failure, causing many to doubt the Queen’s leadership. Then, apparently released from a magical prison during the middle of their expulsion, the Queen’s former lover that had dominated the rumours of generations had reappeared to reunite with her. Then, no more than two hours later, there had been raised voices and said human lover had stormed out of the throne room and left a fuming Queen behind.

‘I remember when things used to be so simple,’ he lamented. ‘No invasions or aliens, just the occasional pony-snatching and replacement.’ Chatter sighed, passing the corridor leading to the nursery he remembered his relative carefree days as a nymph before he had been made an infiltrator.

He paused, the fin on the back of his neck wavering while he picked up small traces of alarm and worry. Turning his head, he began to trot towards the nursery door, his trots quickly turning into a gallop once he heard the racket coming from inside. Bursting through the doors, he was confronted with the massed chattering of the horde of nymphs, the shouts of nurses, and the sight of three said nurses trying to remove bubbly nymphs from a single biped sitting in a pen.

“What the…” Chatter muttered, gazing around at the state of destruction that the room was in. Nymphs bounded around in play with the occasional nurse trying to get them to stay in a group, while the large pen gate was wide open. He looked down to his foreleg, one nymph rubbing its side against it and happily chirping. Pushing it gently away, he hesitantly trotted deeper into the madness.

“There, that’s the last one,” he heard one of the nurses say as she plucked the final nymph off of the armoured human. The nymph had put up a fight and struggled in her hold, disliking the fact that it’s hugging of the new creature had been interrupted. The other two were trying to help the human to his feet, the biped shaky while he held a hand to his head.

“I seem to recall that they were a lot less… ravenous.”

“There’s a large difference between ten nymphs and three hundred,” another nurse informed softly, pushing up from the left while another did so from the right.

“Three hundred? How do you do it?”

The third nurse decided to answer that one. “Well, for one, we don’t enter the nymph pen just as they’re about to be fed. Secondly, we don’t then offer them hugs and leak affection everywhere.”

“Leak affection?” the human murmured. “Lewd.”

The nurses rolled their eyes at the comment and focused on getting him up.

With their assistance, the human was soon standing, and Chatter couldn’t help but be a little impressed with his height and attire. He didn’t have much time to examine his ancestor of sorts, the nurses’ attention turning towards him. “Advisor? Are you here for him?”

“I am,” Chatter answered, brushing away another nymph. “Is he okay to move? He’s a little wobbly.”

“He’s fine,” the first nurse reassured, helping the human out of the nymph pen. “Just make sure he doesn’t try and fed another swarm of changelings.” She paused, the nymphs flocking around to nuzzle the human’s armoured legs. “Even if he did somehow feed them all without losing consciousness… or dying.”

Chatter’s eyes widened, realising that all of the nymphs did seem like they had eaten their fill.

“By the Queen…”

“Urgh, don’t talk about her,” the human winced. “I’d much rather stay here and be mobbed by nymphs than have Crankalis yell at me again.”
Chatter took a moment to process the new Queen’s nickname, before shaking his head and just letting it go. Moving up to the human, he nodded at the nurses before prodding an armoured leg. “I’ll take him from here. Come on, you’ve got to address the Hive and explain why you’re here.”

Undecipherable mumbling was the only reply, so he went ahead and guided the human out of the nursery with the nymphs hounding them all the way.

Chatter looked up, the hand on his back keeping the stumbling mess steady. “So, you seem pretty fond of nymphs. Is it true that you were-“

“The pseudo-father of your likely incestuous ancestors? Yeah, that’s me.” The human staggered. “Yep, Nigel M Chalmers, failed dictator of the world and current unwelcome guest of Queen Chrysalis of the changelings.”

“I wouldn’t say unwelcome…”

Chalmers stopped walking, tired eyes staring down. “Did you hear me and her before? I’m unwelcome.”

“I heard about it,” Chatter admitted. “But Mother is… under a lot of stress.”

“Mother?” Chalmers tilted his head.

“I know, I know,” Chatter sighed. “She’s not really my mother, but it’s respectful and she likes seeing me as her own.” He resumed trotting, prompting Nigel to move forward as well. “Speaking of which, can you please try and be a little nicer to her during the announcement? She’s upset enough as it is.”

Chalmers stopped again. “Nicer to her? All I’ve gotten from her so far has been criticism and cliché attempts at unwanted seduction.” He then muttered under his breath. “I might as well just find a way back home and see how different things are after one-thousand years.”

Chatter frowned, unable to work it out. “Wait, so she tried to seduce you and that’s a bad thing? Do you know what half the hive would give to receive that same offer? It’s a very high honour!”

“Yeah, well, she’s not the changeling I once knew.”

“Of course not!” Chatter couldn’t believe this. “It’s been ages since you last saw her, of course she’s different!”

“It doesn’t change a thing, it’s not going to work.”

That was it. Chatter couldn’t believe that the ancestor he had been looking forward to meeting was such a selfish idiot. His fellow nobles may not have cared for Chrysalis, but he wasn’t going to let this go.

“Hey, Chalmers was it?”

“That’s Nigel M- hey, what are you doing?”

Chatter unleashed another vicious blow, slamming his forehoof into Chalmers’ knee and trying hard not to wince at the impact. “I’m teaching you a lesson! Do you have any idea how upset you’ve made the Queen!”

“No,” Chalmers replied. “All I got from her was red-hot anger.”

“Well I’m a changeling, emotions are something I know,” Chatter countered. “And I can tell that she’s upset!” He hit Chalmers again, repeating it for every word. “So. I. Want. You. To. Apologise. To. Her.” Chatter had to stop, his hoof throbbing thanks to the admittedly terrible plan to hit metal. He looked back up at Chalmers, attempting to stare him down. Confused eyes looked back down at him, before Nigel smiled with a chuckle.

“Aren’t you just adorable?”

“What!?”

There was no more time to complain before he was swept up in metal-clad arms and hugged tight. He tried to struggle but it was useless, Chalmers’ grip unwavering. So, he gave up and accepted his fate, although the small amount of affection was a mild consolation.

“I’m serious,” he tried to continue. “If you don’t apologi- ohhh.” His complaints cut off as soon as the scratching began, and he tilted his head to the left so that the other ear would be scratched as well.

“Don’t worry, I was going to apologise, just not right away. I think it’s best if we give it a day, you know? I just got unfrozen, I’ve got descendants to meet, I still have to take over the world, all that sort of stuff. I don’t need to add ‘Randy Royalty’ into that mix,” the fingers paused. “Lord knows that that already caused me issues in the past, damn Platinum…”

“This is going to look incredibly inappropriate,” Chatter groaned in bliss when the scratching restarted, while Chalmers stumbled down the deserted corridor leading back to the throne room.

“Pfft, Chrysalis obviously didn’t tell you much about me.” Chatter looked up when Chalmers stumbled against the wall, forgetting about the fact that he was being carried like a nymph.

“Are you sure that you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.” Another collision with the wall. “Relax, I’ve had worse.”

“Worse than three-hundred nymphs almost draining you to death?”

“Try having two apparent horse goddesses blasting you with magical glow rocks.”

“Ah.”

Chalmers stumbled into the throne room. The empty throne room.

“Great, we’re late.”

Chalmers furrowed his unfocused eyes. “You also need to be at the meeting?”

“I’m a noble and the Queen’s closest advisor,” Chatter explained, starting to struggle. “Now, let me down before someone sees us.”

Chalmers shook his head. “No time, despite Crankalis I’ve still got some questions to answer. This corridor?”

“Yes,” Chatter nodded, before shaking his head and resuming his struggling. “I mean no! Let me down!”

His pleas fell on deaf ears, Chalmers making it to the doors and managing to push his way through. Chatter could only dangle helplessly and cover his eyes in shame, the almost deafening chattering and buzzing dying out to a complete silence.

‘This isn’t happening, this isn’t happening, this isn’t happening…’

In the midst of repeating his silent mantra, a shrill voice cut through the silence as hoofsteps clacked closer.

“Nigel, put him down!”

Chrysalis glared at Chalmers, the human holding her favourite advisor like a nymph. Chatter seemed incredibly embarrassed, his forelegs held tight over his eyes while his hind legs dangled down uselessly. The assembled hive, numbering at over three-thousand, were all quiet as they observed from their spots on the massive spire descending down into the very bottom depths. Bio-lights lit up the area in a gloomy wash of green, thousands of pairs of blue eyes staring up at Nigel.

Gently, Nigel lowered Chatter to the ground. She peered closer at Nigel, something about him was different. He was pale, unsteady on his feet, and his eyes were unfocused. Still, she continued to glare at him until Chatter was once again safe and on the ground, the four soldiers by her side immediately moving to ensure that he was okay.

Shaking her head, she didn’t even bother checking to see if Nigel was okay, instead she trotted to the end of the dark balcony and looked out towards her gathered subjects.

“Attention,” she demanded, her voice echoing off the surrounding walls. “The time for questions has begun, and will go for two hours. If you wish to ask either myself or… our guest, then fly up to the speaking spot according to the normal process.” She glanced at the small outcropping directly opposite the balcony, barely large enough to seat three drones. “I remind you all that any disorderly conduct will be severely punished.” Her glare ensured that the silence continued, before it was broken by the faint buzzing of wings.

Chrysalis watched as a single changeling, a soldier without armour on, flew up and landed on the ledge. “My Queen,” the female addressed, bowing while her wings settled. “Please permit me a question.”

“Proceed,” she allowed, pleased that the soldier had followed proper conduct. In return, the soldier glanced around at the awaiting masses before looking back towards the balcony.

“My Queen, this new creature is armoured in metal and is larger than any changeling. Is it safe to be around?” Murmurs and thoughts of agreement echoed around both the chamber and the mental link, the soldier who had asked the question examining Nigel once again.

Chrysalis did the same, glancing back and narrowing her eyes. Chalmers seemed… different, his face pale and he was still swaying. His eyes were unfocused, and she realised that he was being unusually quiet.

“He means you and every other changeling no harm, you do not need to fear him or his actions.”

The soldier nodded her head, evidently satisfied with the answer. Chrysalis could pick up widespread feelings of relief, the soldier buzzing her wings and taking flight once again. As she descended back down to the middle of the spire, another changeling passed her and landed on the ledge to glance out hopefully. Chrysalis resisted the urge to frown at the newcomer, reminding herself that while scholars were often annoying there were reasons why they were invaluable.

The scholar, fatter than the soldier before him, hastily bowed and looked back up without waiting for her permission. “Your Highness, exactly what manner of creature is our guest? I have heard many rumours but I’d like to know for sure.”

“He is a human.” The answer was short and sharp. “I wouldn’t expect you to know of them.”

“Oh, in that case, could I arrange a private meeting with him and a few colleagues so we can learn more from the source?”

Any murmuring amongst the assembled group halted, thousands of eyes fixed on the scholar. He’d broken an important protocol, asking more than one question. She glared, her fangs showing as she asked a question of her own. “It depends, can you answer why you decided to ask more than the allowed number of questions?”

At her words the scholar’s eyes widened, his rump banging up against the wall when he took a frightened step back. “I-I apologise, Your M-Majesty. It’s just a rare occasion that we have a new creature in the hive and it’s not being used for sustenance, and I thought that the chance to learn new information was more important than-“

“Following the rules and not potentially depriving another of the opportunity to ask a question?” The scholar trembled on his hooves under her glare, Chrysalis continuing with a snarl. “Why should I let you do as you ask?”

“Chrysalis,” Nigel mumbled from behind. “It’s okay, let him set something up-“

“It’s not fine,” she interrupted with a harsh whisper. “There seems to be a growing lack of respect around here.” Focusing back on the scholar, she pointedly gestured towards the guards next to her. “Name?”

“Transfusion,” the scholar forced out.

“Transfusion,” she repeated. “Do not repeat this mistake again, understand?”

“Yes, My Queen.”

Staring at him while he cowered, she felt a tiny amount of sympathy. As such, she felt the need to somewhat makeup for the massive embarrassment that he would be under. “If you wish for a personal meeting, you are to arrange it outside of a public forum. Now, vacate and allow another to ask a question.”

Transfusion’s eyes lit up, obviously having taken the hint. Buzzing, he hurriedly flew off and vanished into the gloom, no doubt to hide from the irritated stares of his fellows. Chrysalis wasn’t surprised that it took a while for the next changeling to fly up, this time it was a simple drone.

“Sir, are you feeling alright?” Chrysalis heard one of the guards whisper behind her as the drone settled down upon the ledge. “You seem like you’re about to fall over.”

“I’m fine,” Nigel responded groggily.

‘What is he up to this time?’ she wondered, before narrowing her eyes. ‘If this is some way of getting revenge, then he’s even more immature than I thought.’

“My Queen, thank you for allowing me to ask a question.”

The drone’s words drew her attention back, and she actually smiled. Being on the bottom rung of changeling society, the lowly but numerous drones were often looked down upon by the soldiers, scholars, infiltrators and nobles. While she allowed this behaviour, she couldn’t help but admit that she was often softer on the simple workers. After all, they were the ones that went the furthest out of their way to show her absolute respect.

“Proceed,” she nodded towards him.

“Thank you, Your Highness. I apologise, but I was wondering whether I could actually ask the Human my question directly?”

She raised an eye, surprised that it was a drone that first wished to ask Nigel himself. Still she nodded. “Go ahead.” Looking back towards Chalmers, she tilted her head towards the balcony. “Nigel, go on.”

Shaking her head while he staggered forwards, the guards eyeing him with concern, she stepped aside to allow him to take the centre. The muttering started up again when he looked out towards the huge meeting chambers, but Chrysalis neglected to silence them because of the oddity she had noticed. Chalmers was gripping the edge of the balcony like a vice, the metal hands causing cracks to appear in the black balcony surface. Re-examining his face, she noted with a spark of alarm that he did indeed appear to be very sick.

The drone, however, must have missed it.

“Forgive me, Mr Chalmers I believe.”

“Please, just call me Nigel.” Chrysalis winced at the obvious struggle that went into making the sentence coherent. “That goes for all of you.”

The drone smiled slightly and relaxed, while his short tail gave a swish. “Thank you, Nigel. My question is why are you here, exactly? Is it true that you knew the original founders of the hive when they were just nymphs?” The drone tensed and bowed again. “I’m sorry, that’s more than one question and I’m-“

“It’s fine,” Nigel waved off. “It’s pretty much the same question, anyway. Yes… I’m sorry, but what is your name?”

At this, the chambers filled with noise when changelings eagerly discussed the question. Chrysalis herself was even taken aback, before reminding herself that Nigel knew next to nothing about changeling society. A superior did not ask the name of one beneath them unless they were giving a lecture, awarding praise for good work, or seeking a sexual encounter. Apart from that a lower changeling would be addressed by their title, so Nigel should have merely called the questioner ‘drone’.

Understandably to Chrysalis, the drone himself was both shocked and flattered, a certainty given the fact that Nigel had been identified by her as a form of royalty and thus almost on equal standing as her. If one just below the power of a Queen asked a drone its name, it would be seen as a huge honour.

“Scutter, my name is Scutter.”

“Well Scutter, I’m here because I…”

Chrysalis noticed the pause and looked towards Nigel to see what the problem was. In return, she found him staring at her with his face locked in obvious difficulty.

‘He’s probably going to lie,’ she brooded silently while she waited for him to say something stupid. ‘That, or he’s going to try and pass us off as ‘good friends’. The way he’s going, he’ll be lucky if we’re even that by tomorrow.’ She narrowed her eyes, conveying her displeasure at his actions both past and present.

He shook his head and sighed, before refacing the assembled crowd who waited with baited breaths. “I’m here because I love your Queen very dearly, and also I want to spend some time getting to know you all. We’re sort of family, so I want to learn all about how you’ve grown up and prospered without me. I also have a lot of learning to do regarding how everything has changed, something which has already caused me to say and do some… pretty stupid things.”

Chrysalis’ glare disappeared, her ears folding down. The same probably applied for her now that she thought about it. ‘I guess I should have realised that the reverse is also true.’ She looked down at herself, and grimaced when she remembered some of the years after he had been imprisoned. It hadn’t gone smoothly for her, and although she had adapted with time he hadn’t even been aware of any of it. ‘I may have become a little… bitter,’ she silently admitted.

Raising her head back up with a small smile, she planned to forgive him for his previous behaviour. Hopefully they could restart the day as it were and brush the argument off like it hadn’t even happened, even if it meant that she would likely have to give him some time to adjust to the current situation and wait yet again for him to warm up to her once more.

There was just one, tiny problem.

“I… don’t feel so well,” Nigel admitted, barely audible over the excited chattering that had followed his answer. Chrysalis’ eyes widened when he first shuddered, then promptly collapsed backwards without another sound. Her guards immediately sprang into action, one urging the crowd for quiet, two galloping to fetch the nurses and the other three trying to help the collapsed Chalmers. Chrysalis herself rushed up to him, pushing a guard to the side without warning or apology in her haste.

“Nigel!?” she demanded, touching a foreleg to his cheek. It was cold and clammy, only causing her heart to race faster. Whipping her head around, she stared at Chatter while he stood frozen on the balcony. The advisor’s eyes were locked square on Nigel, Chatter mumbling to himself and shifting on his hooves. “Chatter! What did you do to him!?”

At her accusation, Chatter immediately broke out of his trance with a start.

“Nothing, nothing I swear!” Chatter bowed his head with a wince. “When I went to find him, he was in the nursery. He’d climbed into the feeding pen and had been swarmed by the nymphs! But the nurses pulled him out and he seemed fine, he was walking and talking strangely, but he was fine! Then he…” Chatter went pale, almost rivalling Nigel. “Then he… hugged me and I felt some energy but I-“ Chatter collapsed down onto his rump, staring at his forehooves in shock. “Did I drain him accidently?” He looked back up at her, pleadingly. “Please, Mother, I didn’t mean to, I swear!”

Chrysalis felt like her blood had frozen. Sure, some of the symptoms were different to when ponies were fed upon too much, but it explained why Nigel was cold to the touch, woozy, and now unconscious. She refocused back on the object of her fears, her guards looking to her for guidance. Instead of giving them orders, she panicked and hugged him in the hopes that it could somehow give him some energy back.

Unfortunately, in the back of her mind she knew that it didn’t work that way.

“Your Highness, please move aside!”

She looked up with teary eyes to see the group of shocked nurses enter through the corridor door. The eight of them plus the two guards that had fetched them were staring at her, Chrysalis using a foreleg to wipe her eyes before complying and getting to her hooves. They broke out of their surprise and immediately got to work, Chrysalis turning away to be confronted with the deafening noise of the confused masses.

“The time for questions has been postponed!” she announced over the din. “Return to your duties until advised otherwise! Go!” She strained to send an extra reinforcement of the order over the mental link, stopping any complaints dead. Thankfully, all of her subjects understood the urgency of the matter and complied accordingly, the chattering replaced with buzzing when the thousands disbursed.

Turning back in time to see the nurses and guards struggle to lift the weighty human, even with magical assistance, she managed to restrain herself from rushing to his side once again. Instead, she waited for them to steady and followed them once they began to move, hoping desperately that she wasn’t about to lose him for a second time.

“You know what I hate about deserts? The sand. Oh, and the heat. And the sun, and the sand again, did I also mention the hea-“

“I swear to Luna, Bites, I’ll insert sand into every orifice you have if you don’t cut the complaining. That’s a promise.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, Sergeant-Major, but that’s already happened.”

Beams sighed, shaking her head and adjusting the pack on her pack. Occasionally, she would fantasise about making the loudmouth Sergeant…‘disappear’. Unfortunately, that would likely mean the end of her promising military career and her life as a free mare.

‘Ride it out, Beams, just block it and ride it out.’

She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, continuing to trot through the sand while keeping an eye out for their quarry. The rest of her squad followed behind, all dressed in the same tan robes and hoods. The middle of a desert during the day was no place for bat ponies, even if they were Lunar Guard.

Beams had to agree with Bites on one thing, though. The accursed sand was one of the most annoying things that she had ever encountered. It got everywhere, and unlike dirt it chafed and itched. As soon as this mission was down, she was planning to find the coldest, sand-free place on the planet and take a nice holiday.

“This blows, how much stuff do we need to bring anyway?”

That was it.

“Bites,” she began slowly after stopping in her tracks. “We’re searching for a changeling hive in the middle of the Badlands. We do not know where it is, what it looks like, how many changelings there are, or what we’re going to do when we get there. As such, we need to carry not just our armour, weapons, camping gear, and survival rations, but you also have that giant, oversized crossbow with three solid iron bolts! So, either dump it in the sand, or stop whining like a highschool filly and act like the stallion that is apparently my squad Sergeant!”

The desert wind blew through the dunes, ruffling their clothes and blowing up a light smattering of sand. No one else moved or said anything, Beams narrowing her eyes at the dumbstruck Sergeant.

“It’s almost sunset, we’re made good progress on hoof, and we’re well rested. We’ll continue searching for most of the night and then we’ll set up camp and rest. Until then, I don’t want another word from you unless it’s ‘changelings’. Am I understood, Sergeant?”

“Yes Ma’am,” Bites muttered, but it was good enough. Nodding and turning back to the front, she once again resumed trotting and her search for their objective.

How hard could it be to find a gigantic hive of changelings?

Nothing.

Beams sighed in defeat and sat down by the roaring campfire, having just finished setting up her tent for the coming day. The rest of the day and the night had been fruitless, not a single changeling in sight. It was too risky to fly at the moment, and with the amount they were carrying they would have to rest more often than they were now. As such, visibility had been poor, although they had at least managed to find an oasis where they had refilled their water.

She grumbled to herself while removing the simple cloth shoe from her left foreleg, shaking it out and eyeing the falling sand maliciously. At least the night had brought a drop in the temperature with it, and their tiny camp was sheltered behind a dune. Hopefully it would be enough to hide them from their quarry, in addition to whatever predators lurked in the sandy wasteland.

“Hey,” she looked to her left and saw Belfry sitting down beside her. “What’s up, Sergeant-Major?”

“Everything,” Beams replied with a shake of the second shoe. “I hate to admit it, but Bites was right. Why couldn’t the changelings just build their hive in a nice grassy field or somewhere were there isn’t oceans of thrice-cursed sand!”

Belfry ducked as the shoe whistled off into the distance, landing near the top of the dune amidst a puff of sand.

“Hey!” a shout came from one of the tents, Bites’. “Keep it down out there, ponies are trying to sleep!”

“That’s it,” Beams muttered, reaching into the saddlebag sitting beside her and withdrawing a sheathed survival knife with a wing. “Screw the career, this is going to be so worth it.” With that, she slid the blade out of its housing and went to stand up. A wing on her shoulder pushed her gently back down, Belfry shaking her head.

“Forget about him, it’s not worth it.” Beams went to counter the point, but Belfry smiled and got in first. “Besides, if anyone’s going to kill him and lose their job, it’s going to be me.”

Beams couldn’t help it, a short laugh breaking through her irritation. She sheathed the knife and placed it back in her pack, instead grabbing one of her many water canteens. Taking a swig after undoing the cap, she looked back to Belfry and nodded. “Thanks, I wish you’d been promoted to Sergeant instead of him.”

Belfry chuckled. “Yeah, well, unfortunately my father isn’t a highly-commended former General in the City Watch back home.”

“Really?”

“You didn’t know? He’s Limelight’s second-born, how else would he have been promoted?”

Both shared another, hushed laugh, before Beams glanced up towards the sky. The moon had almost fallen, the rest of the squad already asleep. Belfry must have noticed her, the corporal smiling again. “Go ahead, I’ll take the first watch.”

“Lucky,” Beams retorted, but still moved to get up. “That means you’ll have a few more hours of cool weather.”

“I’d rather it be cold than hot.”

Beams nodded, placing her pack on her back and preparing to retire for the day. Remembering her shoe, she sighed and took flight, trusting on the dune to keep her concealed. Leathery wings propelled her up and over towards the resting place of the discarded hoofwear, before she carefully landed with all three shoed hooves on the sand. Using her wings to quickly retrieve and shake out the shoe, she put it back on and prepared to head back.

She took a second to examine their camp, Belfry letting the fire die down while cleaning a short-sword. They had rations for a month and water for two weeks, but they needed to find the hive fast. As soon as they had the general location, they could send it back to Canterlot and set up a supply run. Then, she supposed that they’d be stuck out in the wasteland waiting to see if the human and changelings would make their move. With any luck, they could find a nice cave to set up a long-term camp in, otherwise she would likely go mad.

Flapping her wings and taking off, she headed back to her tent with the hope that at least it would provide some relieve from the baking sun soon to rise.

“Melons, too many… melons…”

“Sir?”

Nigel blinked open his eyes at the soft female voice, before violently sitting upright on what turned out to be a makeshift bed. Immediately he felt a throb in his head, but it was secondary to his other concerns. Looking around, he saw that he was in a simple room unadorned with any decoration, the walls and floor the same black material that made up the rest of the hive. Trotting was the next to hold his attention, a changeling moving from a simple black stool to fetch a solid black jug from a small table next to the bed.

She held it out to him with her mouth, Nigel taking it and thus letting her speak clearly again.

“Sir, are you feeling okay? You’ve been asleep for an entire-“

“Yes, yes,” he dismissed, taking a long gulp of what turned out to be pure water from the jug before hastily continuing. “Hurry though…”

“Nurse,” she provided, guessing correctly.

“Nurse. Tell me, do you keep any solid food in the hive at all?”

“We do,” she nodded. “There’s a large storage in the bottom levels, usually to feed captured creatures.” For some reason unknown to him, she felt the need to bow. “Not that you’re a prisoner of course. I can arrange to have a list brought up if you’re hungry-“

Nigel shook his head urgently. “There’s no time. Quickly nurse, do you store melons?”

“Melons?

“Yes, Melons,” he stressed. “Watermelon, Honey-dews, Rock-melon, Cantaloupes! Do you. Have. Any. Melons?”

“I-I think we may have some,” she looked around hurriedly, before attempting to smile again. “Would you like me to get you some melon if we do?”

He went pale, the nurse’s eyes widening in alarm.

“No!” he rasped. “Chop every melon in half, keep each half at least five meters apart, and then burn them to make sure. That is the only way!”

She stared at him, before her head slowly tilted. “Are you sure that you’re okay, sir?” He didn’t reply, staring back at her with unblinking eyes. Slowly, the nurse backed away towards the door. “I’ll… I’ll go and take care of it right away.” With that, she was gone, leaving him alone with half a jug of water and his sudden, irrational fear of melons.

“I should really start turning up to therapy again,” he muttered to himself, lying back down on the bed while eyeing the door like a hawk.

Chrysalis exited her bed-chambers, heading down the long and desolate corridor towards the room containing Nigel.

It had been almost a day and a night since his collapse, the only sign of any recovery being the grindingly slow restoration of colour to his skin. Her healing magic, and that of the more specialised nurses, had failed to even make a dent in his condition. They hadn’t even figured out how to remove his heavy armour.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to spare the time to watch over him like she had wanted, running the hive had taken a huge toll on her time and energy. Instead his care had been intrusted to the nurses, and to whatever unknown measures lurked within the suit of his. Still, she had insisted on finding the time to embrace him at least twice a day, figuring that it couldn’t hurt to try.

The aftermath in the hive had also been near-disastrous, despite the surprising progress that Nigel had made with her subjects. The news regarding the incident and what caused it had spread around, likely from one or more of the nurses assigned to the hive’s nymphs. Instead of the criticism she had expected, both of Nigel and her choice in picking him, she had been shocked to find that most felt sympathy.

Even more surprising was the fact that a small number had felt sympathy for her as well.

Passing individual rooms meant for nobles as well as individuals that had performed well for the hive, she set her eyes on one doorway to the left. The solid slab of hardened changeling phlegm that served as a door was wide-open, Chrysalis’ ears twitching as she drew closer and overheard voices.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know that I would-“

“Chatter, I’m fine. I’m fairly certain that it was my fault anyway.”

‘Nigel?’

Increasing her pace, Chrysalis couldn’t help but grin at the news. He was awake and alright!

Hurrying through the door, she spotted Chatter standing next to the bed containing Nigel. In truth, the bed was four standard sleeping bunks with cushioning filling in the smoothened grooves in the middle. Cloth bedding was a rarity in the hive, reserved for those of the highest positions, so most changelings slept in bunks with a smoothened recess, almost like a half-pod. Chalmers seemed to be fine with the makeshift arrangement, even if his legs dangled over the edge.

“Hey, Chrysalis,” he greeted, less than enthusiastic to see her. “Checking up on me?”

Her previous urge to just forgive him and hug him fell to the back of her mind, her face morphing into a frown. Advancing on the bed, she sent Chatter a very unsubtle message over the hive mind, the advisor bolting out of the room as fast as he politely could. Nigel sighed, likely having made an accurate guess as to what was coming next.

“You absolute idiot,” she said while shaking her head, stopping just short of the bed. “Do you have any idea as to how much worry you’ve caused? The nurses were sure that you had been drained beyond recovery, and if you were a pony then you would certainly be dead. I need you to help me take over Equestria, not collapse during a public forum discussing your arrival!”

“Well, I’m sorry for inconveniencing you, Your Highness,” he sulked. “Did my unexpected loss of consciousness hinder your plans for expansion?”

Chrysalis stared at him and grinded her teeth, thinking of all the retorts she could dish out. Highlighting the fact that he was acting without immaturity, pointing out his apparent refusal to cooperate, slamming the arrogance that he was constantly admitting. So many choice options, but instead she went for the obvious.

“Just what were you thinking, interrupting the nymph feeding? Not only that, but entering the pen as well, after the nurses had warned you? No wonder you got swarmed.” In response, he crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.

“Look, how was I to know it’d be bad for my health? I’ve fed nymphs before, and you.”

“Ten nymphs and me, not three-hundred and Chatter.” She left out the part that aside from their first moment of being reunited, not a lot of love had been coming her way. “We have a decent store of affection, you don’t need to try and feed them like you used to.”

“I know,” he started to fidget with his hands. “It’s just that…”

She waited for a few moments. “Just what?”

Nigel gave it another few seconds. “It’s just that after our fight, I saw the nursery and wanted to… be reminded of some memories.”
At his words, her glare softened and died when she worked it out.

“I always did have a weakness for the nymphs,” he admitted, continuing on. “And when I saw so many of them, I was, well…” he looked back up at her. “Proud, and glad that you’d managed to hold things together pretty well.” A finger began to tap his side. “Look, I realise now that how you’ve changed is because of what happened, and if it’s any consolation I do still love you despite of it.” He winced. “So… shall we just forgive and forget, and move on away from this petty fighting that I must admit I caused?”

Chrysalis didn’t need any further prompting, moving forwards and giving him a short nuzzle. Withdrawing with a smile, she nodded her head. “That is fine by me, but only if you promise to stop saying and doing stupid things in the future.”

“Chrissy, Chrissy, Chrissy…” Nigel chuckled. “I haven’t changed that much, you know I can’t promise that.”

She tried hard to mock frown, but couldn’t even do that. Instead she laughed along with him, sitting down on her rump and shuffling closer to the side of the bed. Reaching up a hoof, she poked him repeatedly in the side armour.

“You’re terrible!”

His following laughter caused her smile to widen.

The sudden way he cut off, however, only caused alarm.

“Oh, what have I done?”

“Nigel?”

He faced her again, a wince on his face. “Say, Chrissy, you remember how we just joked about me saying stupid things?”

Now that sparked worry. “Y-yes?”

“I really, really hope you don’t like melons…”

“Sergeant Bites, wake up!”

Bites jolted up in his tent, and after fumbling to remove his hood he looked out on who had woken him. The Sergeant-Major was shaking her head at him, Bites firing back with a glare.

“Don’t give me that look,” Beams snarled, evidently having slept very well. “You weren’t even woken up for your watch.” She made a point of gesturing to her mattered fur with a hoof. “As you can tell, I did not have a nice day. So I want you to shut up, not complain, and for once I want you to get along with the rest of the squad.”

He couldn’t believe it, he wakes up to this? It was just further proof that Beams wasn’t cut out for Sergeant-Major, like he’d been telling the Captain for years. The wise thing to do at the time however, was to shut up and not pursue the issue.

Unfortunately, waking up at dusk did not help him become very wise.

“Sergeant-Major,” he replied evenly. “If you can’t take the heat, then why don’t we go back and grab a new squad leader that can?”
She froze, Bites smirking with victory. That is, until he realised fully what he had just done. “Ah, Sergeant-Major,” he chuckled nervously as her eyes narrowed and her left wing went for a sheathed knife. “About that terrible joke that I’ve just said…”

“Bites, shut up.” He complied immediately, Beams taking a deep breath before slowly exhaling. He was relieved when her wing settled back under her clothes, far away from the large knife she seemed to keep on display when around him. “That was insubordination, and to make up for it… I’ll let you know of a punishment later, I’ve got a tent to pack.”

“But Sergeant-Major-“

“No buts, Sergeant. You brought this upon yourself.” She began to back out of his tent, but paused. “And for Luna’s sake, I know you stallions are like that in the mornings, but in the presence of a superior officer I suggest you hide it better.” With that she left with a final shake of her head, Bites wondering what she was talking about.

Then it hit him.

“Oh, oh no,” he mumbled, glancing down at himself before wincing and staring up at the room of his tent. “I can tell that this is going to be a really terrible night.”

‘I really hate being right.’

Bites huffed and puffed, climbing up the sand dune behind the rest of the squad. Beams had decided that he was to carry all of the camping equipment, and lugging six tents and their pegs up constant sand dunes wasn’t easy work.

It was the middle of the night, and while the heat had been mercifully traded for the far more bearable cold, his throat was still parched from all the sand. Checking his canteen, he found that it was empty. Frowning and instead pulling out his second canteen from his pack, he took a swig.

“Damn it,” he muttered after draining the last drops. “I knew I should have refilled at that oasis instead of eyeing Dream’s-“

“Hey, Sergeant!” Looking back up, he stared at Corporal Sweeps. “Can I grab my canteen off you quickly?”

“Your canteen?” Bites frowned and continued up the giant dune, the others already halfway up. “Why would I have your canteen?”

Everyone stopped, enabling to catch up. The fact that they were all staring at him with wide eyes crushed any hope that something had finally gone right. There was one Corporal not focusing on him though, Belfry staring down at the sand while muttering to herself and shaking her head.

“Bites,” Beams began slowly. “Please tell me that you’re carrying the saddlebag of canteens right now.”

“No…” he replied with a tilted head. “Just my own. Why would I be carrying everyone’s canteens? You only told me to take the camping gear.”

“And the canteens,” Beams voice carried a tone of rising desperation.

“Oh, for the love of Luna!” Sweeps shouted. “Did he really leave all of our water back at the campsite!? There’s no way that we’re going to make it back!”

“All of our water…” Dream mumbled, collapsing down onto her rump in the sand. “We’re going to die in this desert.”

“Bites! I’ll kill you!” Sweeps made to charge forward, the rage of a stallion that knew he was done for shining hot in his eyes.

“Wait!” Everyone stopped accusing him and trying to kill him, Belfry trotting forwards before sinking down onto her knees. “It’s not his fault,” she looked sadly at Beams. “I’m sorry, Sergeant-Major, but I forgot to tell him about the canteens.” Her words became rushed, tears running down her face. “I’m so sorry, all of you. I-I put them in the bag and set them down in the sand to pack up my tent, and I…” her head drooped. “I forgot about them, I forgot to tell Bites that you wanted him to carry them and thanks to me, we’re all going to die out here.”

The full weight of the situation settled in, even Bites going quiet.

‘No water,’ he realised. ‘We’re so screwed. I’ll never see home again.’ He sat down next to the rest of his squad, not even caring about the sand getting into his robes.

“No.”

‘Huh?’

Looking up, he spotted Beams continuing up the dune. She’d almost made it to the top, not looking back.

“Beams!” he called out. “Where are you going? It’s no use!”

“Wait there, make camp and try to conserve energy.” She continued upwards while shouting back. “I’ll find water and then come back! There’s got to be an oasis around here somewhere!”

“It’s suicide!” he got up, racing after her. Why he did it he didn’t know, but he couldn’t just let her go out into the desert by herself. “Sergeant-Major!”

Beams turned her head, almost at the top. “Bites, stay with the others, that’s an order!”

“No,” he refused, making it next to her. “Two of us should go, in case something happens to one.”

“Sergeant,” Beams addressed, before continuing to climb. “Stay here and don’t follow, that’s an order!” He watched her make it to the top, he wasn’t about to give up yet.

“Beams, listen to me.” She froze, Bites taking it as a sign to continue. “Look, I know that you and I don’t exactly get along, and there was that whole thing when I tried to convince my father to get you demoted… at your twenty-forth birthday party-“

“Shut up.”

“No, this needs to be said.”

“Bites, shut up!” Beams whispered harshly, dropping onto her belly in the sand. “Get everyone up here, carefully!”

“No need,” a whisper came from behind. Bites looked behind him, the rest of the squad already there. Carefully they all crept up to the top of the dune to join their squad leader, looking out over the top.

The first thing they saw was the massive black castle built into a mountain, a swarm of black shapes buzzing around the top-most spires. A large column of smoke rose up into the night sky from the base of the castle, multiple glows visible from where they were.

“Well…” Dreams muttered. “I don’t know how we missed that.”

“Great, just great,” Sweeps sighed. “We find the changeling hive, but we run out of water.” He shook his head, chuckling softly. “We’ll die, but at least we can say that we completed most of our mission.”

“Maybe not,” Beams told them all. “We need to get closer, I have an idea but you’re not going to like it. I’ll tell you on the way, we can use the dunes for cover.”

“Any idea is better than certain death,” Bites agreed. “Let’s go.”

Beams, Sergeant-Major in the Lunar Guard, couldn’t look away from what she could honestly say was the strangest thing she had seen in her life.

“What. The. Fuck.”

Despite his language, she couldn’t help but agree with Bites. The rest of the squad were speechless, staring out at the mind-destroying scene playing out in front of the changeling hive entrance. Their eyes, made for seeing in the darkness of the night, were able to see every impossible detail.

Changeling soldiers, hundreds of them, were working feverishly beside the raging bonfires. But it was not the sight of the scores of changeling soldiers that boggled their minds, no.

It was what they were doing.

“No, no, no!” an officer shouted, standing on a black platform next to a changeling writing on parchment. The enemy officer’s wings buzzed, the changeling hovering off the platform to yell at his subordinates. “He specifically said to cut the melons in half first, then burn them!” The officer flew over towards a group of soldiers hefting full honey-dews into a blazing fire. “You! Morons! Were you dropped on your heads when you were hatched!? Chop them in half, keep the halves at least five ‘metres’ apart, then burn them!”

A soldier sitting down on his rump, holding a full honey-dew, looked down towards the fruit in his forelegs. Slowly, he placed it on the ground and raised a foreleg. It was brought down with a smack, two pieces of honey-dew falling onto the ground while juice soaked into the harsh desert sand. Working almost as one, another two soldiers carefully picked up a piece each. One threw a half into the closest bonfire, while the other soldier flew away to another. Within moments, the slaughter of the innocent fruit was complete, juicy goodness reduced to nothing but inedible ash.

“There, that’s how it’s supposed to be done!” The officer praised and then returned to his post on the platform, whispering to the changeling recording down the perplexing activities.

Bites looked towards Beams, rubbing his eyes with a wing.

“So, Sergeant-Major,” he began. “I take it back. Your plan is sane. There is no possible way that posing as civilians and attempting to barter for water with the changelings we’re spying on can possibly go wrong at all. Of course they have the capacity for reason, just look at them, galloping around and slicing up fruit before burning it-“

“Bites,” Beams whispered. “Shut up.”

Author's Note

'No melons were harmed in the making of this chapter... well, okay, but who cares about melons, vegetarians?'

So yes, another chapter done. Once again, feel free to point out any errors or provide advice.

Exactly what is Beams' plan? Will it work? How will the changelings react? Is the threat of vampire melons over, or will they rise from the dead because of improper disposal procedures?

All (most) of that, and more, in the next chapter.

Going Batty

“You told her to do what?”

Chrysalis couldn’t believe it, staring at Nigel while he fidgeted with his fingers.

“I told her to… order all of the melons in the stores to be destroyed.”

She sucked in air though her teeth, using a foreleg to rub her eyes. Taking a few moments to regather her thoughts, Chrysalis struggled to remain calm and silently reminded herself that they were starting anew. ‘We’re not fighting anymore, don’t start another. He was probably still suffering the effects, he didn’t mean it.’ Opening her eyes again, she forced a smile and looked back at him.

“It’s… fine, a few melons aren’t a huge loss when we don’t have any prisoners to feed.” Another calming breath out, before she continued. “Speaking of food, do you want me to arrange something to be brought up to you? We have a large amount of different things and although changelings naturally aren’t the best cooks, we can toast bread and heat water.”

“It’s fine,” he brushed away. “Thanks for the offer though.” Both didn’t really know what else to say, Chrysalis starting to get uncomfortable before he spoke again. “Although, and I know this is a big ask considering, but do you happen to have some sort of shower or bathing facilities? Having spent more than a few years in this suit, I’d like to take it off and have a good scrub.” He looked down at himself as he said that, and Chrysalis smiled to herself.

She had a solution in mind.

“There is a communal bath area in the lower regions of the hive,” she replied nonchalantly, taking great amusement in the way his eyes widened slightly. “It’s built upon some natural hot springs, so the water is always warm and fresh. All in the hive have access to it, but I’ll make sure that you can have access to the nobility-only area.” She pressed forwards with the finisher. “It’s semi-private, closing you off from the majority of the hive.”

A second passed before a rushed chuckle was given in response. “Oh, thanks for that offer then. You know, suddenly I think we should focus on finishing that Q and A session I spoiled.”

She continued to smile, he wasn’t getting away that easily.

“Oh, the questions can wait. Besides, I’d hate to be preventing you from enjoying a nice and relaxing bath after all you’ve gone through.” Moving closer, she nodded her head and placed a foreleg over her heart. “I swear, I’ll try my hardest to discourage any of the other nobles from attending at the same time.”

Finally he seemed to give in, pinching the bridge of his nose and glancing at her. “Fine, I’ll take a short, private bath, and then we’ll reorganise the question meeting. Deal?”

“Deal,” she agreed. “I’ll ask Chatter to show you to the bathing area, I have some things I need to do in the upper areas. When you are done, we’ll talk in my chambers regarding what we want to do for the future.” With that, she turned and began to trot out of the room.

“Wait,” he said, giving her pause. “How will I find my way back?”

Her smirk widened, although it was unseen to him.

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” she reassured and resumed her trotting. “I’m sure someone will help you with that.”

Chalmers watched Chrysalis leave, the Queen definitely up to something. Despite being a shape shifter, she was remarkably prone to displaying her emotions. Then again, from what he remembered that wasn’t exactly a rare occurrence among changelings and ponies. Still, he had nothing better to do and she had made the baths sound appealing.

He wasn’t much of a modest man, but he was still concerned about putting the full majesty (at least in his opinion) of his naked body on display in front of so many of his descendants. At least Chrysalis had promised him the relative seclusion of the noble area, but somehow he doubted it was all going to be that simple.

“Come on, get it together,” he muttered to himself, swinging his legs over the side of the makeshift bunk and getting to his feet. “It’s only a bath, and you’ll be under water the entire time.” Looking back, such modesty was ridiculous considering the complete lack of clothing the changelings wore, but at the current time he wasn’t thinking all too logically.

Stepping out of the unremarkable room, he almost bumped into Chatter who was striving to quickly enter the same room. Both halted just before impact, Chatter’s wings giving a brief buzz of alarm before he held a foreleg over his chest and breathed deeply. “Sorry about that.” He relaxed and gestured down the corridor. “Mother told me to show you to the bathing area, are you ready to go?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Nigel responded, wiping his nose and clutching his helmet under his arm. “Into the valley of Death, rode the six hundred.”

Chatter looked up. “What?”

“Nothing,” he answered, moving forwards so as to prompt his guide to move. “I just have a feeling that I’m walking into some kind of trap.”

‘Wonderful, bloody wonderful.’

Unfortunately for Nigel, the bathing area was busy and bustling. Two large pools were full of changelings, the creatures conversing and laughing while they all enjoyed to warn water that bubbled up from the multiple spots around the area. Around the edges sat changelings with their hind legs in the water and even a few lounging on benches formed of the same hardened substance that the rest of the hive was made of.

All in all, it looked to Nigel almost like a resort pool on a vacation world, the air filled with the sound of splashing and joy.

In short, he stood out like a sore thumb.

Chatter did his best to lead him towards the other side of the area as quickly as possible, but it was nigh on impossible for Nigel to escape notice. The laughter and play didn’t die out completely, but a majority paused or slowed to stare at him when he went past, whispers and murmurs dogging his heels before Chatter ushered him through a low door and into a separate room.

This one was smaller but also more ornately decorated, and more importantly it was currently deserted. Nigel uttered a quick thanks under his breath while giving the room a look over, the noise from the main public area mostly cut off.

Light cascaded down from the bio-light torches mounted high on the walls, reflecting off the sparkling water while it made its journey towards a drainage grate at the very end. It was more like a wide stream than a pool, a single bubbling fountain at one end the obvious entry point for the water. The liquid was constantly flowing, the crystal-clearness an obvious indication of its cleanliness.

A towel rack, constructed from what appeared to be a rod of gold, jutted out from the left wall. A number of white, fluffy towels were draped over it, Nigel recalling that the public area had seemed devoid of such a luxury. The only other standout was a number of glass water jugs sitting on a tray, flanked on all sides by fine drinking glasses.

“So there are towels and drinking water if you need them,” Chatter informed, pointing a hoof to the features while he listed them off. “A small toilet over there,” the hoof pointed to an inconspicuous door to the right. “And there’s a nurse stationed in the public area at all times, in case of an emergency.” The last feature, three more plain doors sitting at the far end, caused a moment of hesitation from his guide. “Those three rooms are… well, for ‘private encounters’.”

Chatter appeared to be finished, so Nigel gave him a quick pat on the head. “Ah, good work Chatter. Thanks for showing me around, I guess I’ll settle in.” Thankfully Chatter took the hint without further prompting, bowing slightly before retreating back out of the door.

“It was no problem, have a nice bath.”

“Thanks,” Nigel finished, waiting until Chatter had left completely. There was no door to close the room off from the public area, so he just picked an out-of-sight corner and began to remove his armour.

First he placed his helmet on the ground, then began the procedure to remove the main part. Thankfully it was all automated and simple, most of the armour withdrawing into the breastplate with small bursts of light. The main piece was removed, followed by the gauntlets and then lastly the boots. That left him in his plain grey uniform jumpsuit, a quick sniff under the arm confirming his decision to bath.

“Urgh, Orthodox’s room smells cleaner.”

Now that was a sign that something was wrong.

With a final glance around, he slipped out of the clothing and removed the final piece of protection. The plain white underwear hit the floor, Nigel not daring to test the item and instead he bundled up the clothes for transport. Tossing them into the pool, he watched them group up near the exit grill and he let the water do its job.

With the makeshift laundry done, he neatly stacked his armour in arms reach before sliding into the pool.

‘Actually, this might not have been such a bad idea,’ he smiled, the water the perfect temperature. He slid down to the bottom, the pool deep enough for him to sit with his shoulders and head above the water. Leaning back against the smooth wall, he let his muscles relax and tried to put the faint noise of the public area behind him out of his mind.

The flowing water was amazingly calming, and combined with the warmth of the natural spring it was slowly lulling him to sleep, despite his already lengthy rest. Resisting the temptation, knowing that if he did sleep then it was likely he would miss the meeting, he instead laid his head back and was content in having a nice solitary soak.

He was so relaxed that he didn’t even hear the approaching trots, and it was only when something poked the back of his head that he realised he was no longer alone. Opening his eyes and simultaneously covering himself under the water with his hands, he looked up to find mischievous lime eyes looking back down at him.

“Enjoying the bath I see,” Chrysalis said with a smirk, eyeing him like a cat watching an oblivious and juicy bird.

“My Queen.”

“Yes, yes,” Chrysalis huffed impatiently in response to the drone, before continuing to stalk through the baths towards her target.

The nobles-only section.

Anticipation was building up, Chrysalis pleased that her plan had worked so incredibly well. She would surprise Nigel in the bathhouse, refuse to leave, and then the rest would be incredibly simple. He would have no choice but to stay there with her, and in turn that would mean she would have him all to herself for a decent amount of time.

Unfortunately, upon drawing closer to the doorway, there appeared to be a kink in her plans. Four changelings, female drones from what she was able to tell, were huddled along the sides of the doorway she intended to go through. Chrysalis scowled but restrained herself from rushing over to chase them off, not wishing to dash her plans of surprising Chalmers.

“Is he doing anything now?” one of the drones whispered to another while trying to jostle for a better observational position.

“No,” the one at the front returned. “He’s still just sitting there. You can’t see anything interesting at all.”

“He’s got nice and big shoulders though, that’s got to count for something,” the third drone chimed in quietly with her eyes locked squarely on the sight they were focused on. “It’s not every day that something as different as that comes in and takes a bath.”

“Patience girls, he’ll have to move soon,” the forth advised with a hushed murmur. “Then we’ll see just how he’s managed to snare the Queen.”
Chrysalis had heard enough, moving behind them with a frown while other changelings watched from the pools.

“I don’t think so.”

The four almost jumped out of their chitin at the directed thought, the drones turning around to see her glaring at them. Quickly they dispersed, bowing and uttering hurried apologies which Chrysalis dismissed. She gave a pointed glance around the large area for good measure, the other changelings wisely adverting their gazes and returning to their previous activities. Slowly the laughter and general din of enjoyment returned, but was noticeably more subdued.

It bothered her not, Chrysalis focused on her task. Peeking into the doorway, she grinned when she spotted the sole occupant of the room. Chalmers’ back was towards her, and he seemed to not have noticed the shooing of his previous observers.

‘Good,’ Chrysalis thought with a silent snicker. ‘Time for phase two.’

Carefully she entered the room and approached her target, keeping her hoof falls as silent as she could. The bubbling fountain concealed most of the noise she made, and it didn’t take her long before she was standing over him and looking down. Using the moment to give him a quick appraisal, see came away liking what she saw. There were of course a few oddities, but overall she was confident that she was making a good choice. Finishing her visual examination, she decided that she needed some questions answered. A prod to the back of Nigel’s head provoked a reaction, his eyes widening once they looked into hers.

“Enjoying the bath I see,” she greeted while raising her eyes. Chrysalis held back snickers while he scrambled to cover himself up, the precaution far too late.

“Chrysalis, damn it,” Nigel frowned, evidently annoyed enough to not use her nickname. “I thought you promised me privacy.”

“Not quite,” she returned playfully, trotting down along the left side of the pool. “I promised that I’d try and keep nobles away. As Queen, I am not a noble but a royal so I did fulfil my promise.”

“More like you filled your want for a peepshow,” he muttered, something she dismissed with a laugh.

“Oh, hush. It’s only me.” She poked the clothes at the exit grill with a hoof, wrinkling her nose at the smell. It had been decided to not tell him about his other watches, Chrysalis sparing a glance back towards the doorway to make sure they hadn’t returned. “In case you haven’t noticed, we don’t really care too much about modesty here.”

“They take after their mother in that regard.” Another verbal jab at her, Nigel watching her warily. “I can’t help but assume that you planned this.”

“Why, me?” Chrysalis smiled with mock surprise, a hoof going over her heart. “I never would dare to think of such a scheme. Besides…” trotting to the middle, she stayed far enough away to not panic him too much. Slowly she slipped into the water, eyeing him all the while.
“What could I possibly have to gain?”

His reply didn’t even get a chance to be heard when she dunked her head under the water, before resurfacing to fuss over her mane. He continued to stare at her, although her tactic of keeping a modest distance was paying off. Nigel was slowly relaxing, Chrysalis gloating internally. ‘I knew cornering him here was a good idea.’ Still, going slow was the key, the crux of her strategy. Engaging in small talk was a good idea, and then she could move in for the metaphorical kill.

“So, how are you finding the Hive?” she asked, straightening the strains of hair out. “It’s been standing for hundreds of years, when we started it was just a series of caves.”

He seemed momentarily confused, but recovered to answer.

“Oh, it seems nice enough.” While keeping his eyes on her, he cautiously removed one hand from the water and patted the side of the pool. “I’m interested in this black stuff though, you’ve seem to have constructed almost everything out of it.”

She glanced at him, grinning and awaiting his reaction. “Why, that’s dried phlegm. It’s a waste-product from feeding off emotions, used to build and can also be used to form a very sticky adhesive. It starts off bright green and then hardens after an hour unless more is applied, but it’s perfectly sterile.”

The reaction was fairly muted, Nigel even keeping his hand on the wall. “So it’s pretty much dried changeling spit, cool.” Chrysalis raised an eye at that, most other beings saw the practice as disgusting and vulgar.

“You don’t find it filthy?”

“Please,” he scoffed. “It’s nothing compared to some of the places I’ve had to stay in. You should have seen some of the cheap hotel rooms I’ve had to put up with, dried spit is a step up.” He patted the side again. “Still, I don’t really get how emotions can create a waste.”

“It’s not really known why,” she replied, taking the opportunity to shift a little closer. “The scholars have far more pressing matters to concern themselves with.” The conversation was working, he wasn’t even paying attention to her movements. “Have you talked to any more of my subjects since we last spoke?”

“No, just Chatter.” She took the opportunity to draw closer still, Nigel glancing back out of the doorway. “I did see a lot out there, although I wasn’t exactly in the mood to talk…”He noticed her proximity, Chrysalis smiling innocently. “Chrissy, you’re ah, a little close don’t you think?” He slowly began to return his hand to the water, Chrysalis acting fast.

“Actually, I was going to ask you a favour,” she reassured, although he didn’t seem to relax at all. Shifting in the water so her back was towards him, she nodded her head down towards her tail. “Do you mind getting my tail for me? I always find it so hard to reach.”

She grinned when he paused. “I guess I can do that, but no funny business.”

“I promise to behave,” she lied, but he bought it and continued to reach for the strands. The feeling of victory spread through her when the hand clasped around the teal hairs, it would surely not be long before she could have him doing anything she wanted.

“What exactly am I supposed to do?” he questioned, Chrysalis waving a hoof in dismissal.

“Just run them through and make sure it’s all clean. It shouldn’t be too difficult, I bath daily and the Hive is very clean.”

He did as instructed, Chrysalis relaxing as the hand did its work. To maintain the cover she had built, she continued to focus on her mane while enjoying the pampering.

Over the next few minutes, the tension once again bled away and left them both relaxed. The noise from the public area died out as the night approached, most changelings returning to their duties or preparing for sleep which left only a few in the bathing area. Figuring that the time was just right, Chrysalis pulled her tail away and turned to face him with a warm smile.

It was time to pounce.

“I really did miss you,” she began, running a fore hoof around in the water. Despite her plan, the confession was genuine. “I always remembered the good times that we had, and even though I have taken a number of consorts over the years, it never measured up to the experience of just being near you back then. I’m glad that you’re a little more… subdued this time around, but it’s not really the same.” At this, she made her move. Sliding up next to him, her side made contact with his. He froze when she pressed up against him, although she made sure to hold off on hoof contact for the time being.

“Chrissy-“

“I mean it,” she continued, cutting off his protest. “I know you want to give it time, but I…” she hesitated, preparing for the finisher. Focusing, she widened her eyes and even managed to get a tear going. It was a dirty move, exploiting his concern for her, but she was going all out on this. “I really am relieved that you’re back here with me, and even with our ‘fresh start’ we can’t ignore what we knew about each other before. Please, I just want us to be closer.”

She waited while he stared and thought, subtly putting a foreleg around his shoulders and touching her right hind leg to his left. She threw in a sniffle for good measure, and it proved to be the final nail.

“Okay, okay,” he sighed. “If you want to, fine. I guess I do owe you after that whole incident with Platinum.”

Chrysalis scowled at that particular memory, but it lifted when a hand patted her on the back. Buoyed by his apparent agreement, she went and sealed it. Quickly embracing him, she closed her eyes and smiled to herself.

Victory.

“Well, that was certainly fast,” he commented, prompting her to laugh before drawing back and facing him with a wicked grin.

“I know you love it,” she teased. “I can just taste your lust already.” Glancing down into the water, she looked back up with a smirk. “Although that’s not really needed considering I can feel it instead.”

“Hilarious,” he stated flatly, before a small smile of his own came into life. “Get it? That was about as fake as your crying before.”

“Ouch,” she winced, but his smile still remained. “I’m a really bad crier?”

“It needs improvement,” Nigel suggested, before tapping his fingers on her back. “So, you seem fairly keen.”

“I’ve been waiting for centuries,” she countered. “Of course I am.” To emphasise the point, she leaned in and caught him off-guard with a kiss. “So why bother waiting?”

“Here? Now?”

“Of course,” she pressed. “It’s quiet and romantic, so why don’t we make use of the provided facilities?”

He glanced towards the three doors leading to the private rooms. “Those? I’d rather take my chances being seen.”

“They’re cleaned every hour,” Chrysalis explained with a roll of her eyes, before she shrugged. “But, if you insist then I don’t mind.”

He seemed to wrestle with the idea, before leaning in towards her. Her heart racing, she did likewise and prepared to receive his kiss, no doubt only the beginning of the experience she was most looking forward to.

‘Finally, after all of these years…’

Unfortunately, it was not to be.

“Are you sure we’re allowed in there? We’re only drones.”

“Me and Cupid bring drones and soldiers into here all the time, and I know that Keith does the same almost every day.”

“Holey is right, relax will you? Us two are nobles and no-one will be even using it- oh.”

Chrysalis, her wonderful kiss interrupted, glared at the four changelings that had entered the noble-only bathing area. She recognised two, Cupid and Holey, but the male drones that each were leading were less identifiable. Showing the reactions best suited to the situation, the drones immediately bowed and began hurriedly uttering apologies and excuses, while Cupid and Holey recovered from the shock to glare back.

“Oh, it’s you two,” Chrysalis growled, Cupid and Holey constantly misbehaving no matter what threats she used. Chrysalis shifted in Nigel’s arms, the human grimacing with his eyes closed while she adjusted her position to subconsciously mark him as hers. “Not only are you breaking the rule about ‘nobles-only’, you’re also interrupting my private time with your ancestor.”

Holey recovered first.

“Ew!” she replied with her tongue out. “That’s… urgh!”

“Pfft,” Cupid shrugged off, moving to the far end and submerging in the water. “Whatever. Drone, come on. You might as well have a bath before we get messy again.”

“Such disrespect,” Chrysalis muttered dangerously, while the poor drone addressed was torn between listening to her and listening to Cupid.

“Of course they’re fucking teenagers,” she heard Nigel murmur even softer, before the human put on a smile and faced Cupid. “Now, Cupid I believe it was. As you can probably tell, at the moment Chrysalis and I were kind of hoping for some privacy.”

The reasonable request was met with a blank stare from Cupid; Holey sliding into the water beside her while the two drones remained on the side of the pool.

“Maybe we should go,” Holey whispered to Cupid, Chrysalis still able to hear.

“No,” Cupid refused loudly, continuing to glare. “We have every right to be here, Chrysalis needs to deal with it.”

Chrysalis was not impressed. “That’s Queen Chrysalis to you, Brat.”

“Some Queen,” a smirk accompanied the response. “How’d the invasion go again?”

Leaving Nigel, Chrysalis moved through the water towards Cupid and leaned in close. “I can see why you’re asking, considering you were too cowardly to participate.”

No-one except the drones noticed Nigel carefully leave the pool, the two common changelings politely averting their gazes while he proceeded to wrap a towel around his waist and then headed for his armour.

“Maybe I just knew that you’d mess it up.” Fangs were bared, Holey wisely putting distance between the two. Sitting up, Chrysalis used her height to glare downwards at the offending Cupid.

“Unlikely, you were probably too busy harrying drones like a pony mare in heat to even notice what was going on.” She narrowed her eyes. “In violation of the breeding guidelines I set out for you as well, it’s a miracle that you haven’t already had nymphs. You’re a rotten influence for Holey, and for the rest of the Hive.”

“’Breeding guidelines?’ ‘Rotten influence?’” Cupid laughed without humour. “Coming from the Queen that’s currently trying to screw a non-changeling?” The level of spite increased. “Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised. An old hag like yo-“

An ear-splitting bang echoed out around the area, everyone covering their ears and wincing at the sound. Chrysalis whipped around to find the source, her heart racing from the surprise interruption. Searching, she removed her hooves from her ears and stared at Nigel, the other changelings following suit.

Chalmers was currently standing near the pile of armour, a white towel around his waist the sole covering that he wore. In his hand was a bulky metal object, black in colouration with white markings on either side. What seemed to be the end of it was a barrel, pointing down at a smoking hole in the floor, and Chrysalis realised that it was a form of ranged weapon. Nigel’s face was impassive, and after glancing at all of them he looked towards the two drones.

“Sorry for this, guys, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave while I have a talk with these three.”

“N-no problem, sir,” one hurried out, before he and his fellow gladly vacated the room. Nigel waited until they were well and truly gone, before looking back at Cupid and her.

“Now, Chrissy and Cupid,” he began softly. “We have to work out these family issues of ours, okay? An understanding family is a happy family.” He began to slowly twirl the weapon he held, Cupid’s eyes still locked on the hole the size of a hoof that it had caused. “So, to help us resolve this issue, we’re going to try something I saw on an old Terran show once. We all say what we want out of this situation and then find a way that makes everyone happy, I’ll go first.”

He cleared his throat. “I wish for me and Chrysalis to be able to have some private time to ourselves. I also wish for you, Cupid, to treat her with more respect. She is both your Queen and matriarch, and has worked hard to allow you the privilege of your position. Chrysalis, I also want you to try and patch things up with Cupid, we’re all adults and there is no need for screaming insults at each other regarding the sharing of a bathing room. Holey,” Nigel glanced at the confused changeling. “Find a new role model, for your sake.” Turning back, he raised an eye. “Chrysalis, would you like to go next?”

She didn’t know what to do or say. Out of all the times for him to have one of his brief bursts of ‘seriousness’, now was not ideal. Adding in the fact that he was waving around a loaded weapon, it wasn’t looking good. Deciding that appeasement was the best route, she tried to keep it civil.

Tried.

“I also want us to spend some time in private,” she began. “We were here first. I also want my insolent nobles to learn their place, and to pay proper respect to their Queen.” Cupid glared while Holey continued to stare at the hole in the floor, but they didn’t object.

“That’s good,” Nigel encouraged. “A bit confrontational, but good. Now, Cupid,” he smiled wider, but Chrysalis could tell that it was forced. “Your turn.”

“This is so stupid,” Cupid muttered. “Do you think this will seriously solve anything?”

Nigel chuckled, the barrel of the weapon moving towards to point towards Cupid. All three changelings leaned back, Chrysalis’ eyes widening.
‘Wait, surely he isn’t going to actually…’

“Ah, a good question! To be honest, I don’t really know, but it worked in TV. Still, it can’t hurt to give it a shot, can it sweetie?”

“Sweetie? Why you-“ Cupid paused, her eyes darting over towards the hole in the floor before back to the gun-toting human. “I-I mean, of course not.” Cupid’s smile was almost as forced, but her flimsy efforts were rewarded when Nigel lowered the gun. Chrysalis relaxed, but still decided that returning to her spot at the opposite side of the pool was a good idea. She’d learnt to not trust Chalmers when he had a weapon.

“Great, my usual methods of problem solving are…” he laughed warmly. “Well, ‘homicidal’ doesn’t really work in this situation, but you get the point. So, do you think you could share your problems?”

“Fine,” Cupid finally gave in. “I want to be able to use this bathing area like it’s intended, without Chrysalis kicking out the males I bring in, just so she can hog the room for herself and you. Chrysalis has her own bathing room in her chambers, so I want you two to just go there instead of…” Cupid shuddered. “Staying here and doing all that weird interspecies stuff.”

“Wait,” Nigel’s attention turned onto Chrysalis. “You have your own bathing pool? Why didn’t you say so?”

She gave him a blank stare. “What would you have said if I had sent you there instead of here?”

“Point.” Nigel turned back to Cupid. “And you also raised good points.” His attention switched to Holey. “Your turn.”

Holey gulped, shrinking back under the attention. Tapping her forehooves together, she glanced to Cupid. “I uh… agree with Cupid.”

Chrysalis watched Nigel stare at the nervous noble for a few moments, before he nodded. “Okay, that’s fine. So, to sum up,” he walked over towards her, Chrysalis looking up with confusion when a hand was placed on her shoulder. “The issue of the pool and usage is gone, myself and Chrysalis shall instead retire to her chambers and resume our bath there. You two can then be free to be left to your own business. Chrysalis will attempt to be less controlling, and in return you’ll show her a little bit more respect, deal?”

“Nigel,” she whispered. “Less controlling? Do you have any idea-“

“Just go along with it and we’ll talk about it soon,” he replied back. Chrysalis grudgingly accepted it, frowning while she hushed and allowed him to continue with his strange scheme.

“What makes you think that you can just start running things around here?” Cupid, evidently having recovered some of her notorious temper, glared at the smiling human with her forelegs crossed.

“Well, I was around Chrysalis before she even turned into a Queen, so I know a decent amount about how to deal with young changelings. That, and,” he idly tapped the weapon he held against his towelled waist. “I happen to be the one holding the gun.”

Chrysalis sighed, finally decided that she had to do something to prevent him from doing something rash. Rising up from the pool, she reminded herself that he wouldn’t ever shoot a changeling, no matter how rude.

Probably.

“It’s fine,” she reassured, getting out of the pool and making sure to keep a hoof on the arm holding the gun. “I’m sure everyone will do their best to keep their side of the bargains. Come now, we will resume our conversation in my chambers away from any further… distractions.” With that, she focused on levitating the pieces of his armour up into the air. After a careful moment of thinking she also took him by surprise, snatching the weapon out of his hand and adding it to the pile.

“Hey!”

She brushed off Nigel’s complaints, beginning to trot for the exit with his things in tow and thus forcing him to follow. “No, I won’t have you waving that thing around inside the hive. Now be a good human and stop complaining.”

“… You know I can just make more, right?”

“That’s another thing,” she continued, nearing the exit of the public bathing area. “No building towers of doom unless I say so. That goes the same for death-towers, death-robots, flying things that drop explosions, and certainly no ‘missiles’.”

“Spoilsport,” he muttered under his breath, but that was all he said. Chrysalis couldn’t help but smile at the response, knowing that it was unlikely for him to listen to her. Still, the fact that it was just like old times more than made up for it, and not even finding the two drones from before waiting outside of the bathing area didn’t kill her mood.

“Drones,” she greeted while pausing, the smile drooping slightly. “Waiting for something?”

They immediately bowed, one raising his head. “O-oh, Your Highness, we were just…”

“Cease the excuses,” she instructed, beginning to trot again. “I am no longer concerned with whatever happens within that pool or surrounding rooms. I trust you can make the right choice for yourselves.”

Her grin increased when, after a brief moment of whispering, both drones hurried away from the door and back down the corridor leading to the sleeping areas.

“See?” she glanced back to Nigel with pride. “Most of them obey me without question.”

“Stupid Chrysalis, stupid human.” Holey watched while Cupid splashed a hoof down into the water, her fellow not taking the news well. The two drones they had brought in with the intention of a little responsibility-free fun had disappeared, no doubt shooed off by the Queen or intimidated by her weapon-waving male-friend. There was little she could do but shift on her fore hooves, stand on the side of the pool, and attempt to calm Cupid down.

“We could always find them, or choose two new ones,” she offered meekly, Cupid pausing to stare at her.

“What, and have Her Royal Whine-ess and her pet brute chase them away as well? You heard her, none of that unless it’s with someone preapproved with the right standing. I’d rather spend some more time choosing who I want rather than just getting laden down with some noble’s nymphs for months.” Cupid scowled again. “Hey, at least I’m screwing around with changelings, not some two-legger who thinks he owns the place because Chrysalis tried to jump him decades ago.”

Holey winced at the reminder, but still did what she could. “To be far, she still wants that, and he did try and stop you two from fighting.”

“He waved a weapon at me!” Cupid countered.

“I know,” she replied. “But Cupid…” she stopped herself from saying ‘you kind of deserved it’ in time. “He and Chrysalis did leave, so we’re back to where we started. Let’s just find those drones again, and forget about the Queen and Nigel.”

Cupid huffed and turned her head away, Holey preparing for more objections. None came, however Cupid grinned and moved over towards the very end of the pool.

“Cupid?”

“Looks like they left something behind,” the other noble gloated, lifting up the clothing that had been pressed up against the exit grill. “It sure be a shame if Mr Sheathless didn’t have anything to cover himself with.”

Holey wasn’t a huge fan of that plan. “I don’t think that he’d appreciate-.” It was too late, and she was only able to watch while Cupid stuffed the clothes forcefully through the grill. The articles of clothing were carried into the blackness by the water, no doubt gone for good.

“Tough luck,” Cupid grinned evilly. “Now, that sure helped a lot. Let’s go and find those drones.”

“I really think that you should be a little more careful with that, do you know what would happen if those reactors go off?”

Chrysalis glanced over towards the armour dumped at the foot of her lavish four-poster bed, before focusing back on Nigel. He was standing in the doorway with a displeased look, so she sought to pacify him before moving forwards.

“I put it down gently, you worry far too much.” She smiled, one particular memory coming to the forefront of her mind. “After all, I seem to recall one time where you set yourself on fire and flew into a castle wall.” That elicited a head shake, but she could spot a small grin.

“Of course you remember that incident,” he muttered, Chrysalis sprawling herself across her quilted bed with a laugh.

“Why wouldn’t I? One does not easily forget the image of a flaming space-human smashing into a stone wall before combating a pony princess and setting a city on fire.” Another chuckle. “Ah, I was so worried back then, and I remember that fight we had after.”

He quickly contributed with his own shaky laugh. “Yeah, it seems sort of silly know that we look back at it.”

‘Really? He thinks that I’m just going to let it go?’ It wasn’t really venomous, more mischievous than anything. She could remember the aftereffects of the fight, and the apology he had made after said aftereffects had remained as one of the most enjoyable moments of life that she had experienced. Seeing it as a way to once again guilt-trip Chalmers to do her bidding, she narrowed her eyes at him and feigned hurt.

“Don’t think that I’ve forgotten about your drunken romp with Platinum.”

That got a satisfying reaction, Nigel’s eyes widening and his laughs dying out. Chrysalis kept up with the look, having to hide her smirk at the way he immediately began to form excuses.

“Look, Chrissy, I was drunk, I wasn’t really thinking, and you have to admit that it wasn’t really cheating because we weren’t actually together.” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Okay, what do I have to do to try and stop that particular memory from popping up again?” She could tell that he already knew, and her unsubtle licking of her fangs was a signal that was as plain as day.

“Well,” she smirked. “The first thing is the towel. It needs to go. I somehow get the impression that its transfer to the floor will help to get my mind off of your past transgressions.”

He was slow to react, so she decided to hurry things along. Her horn glowed green and her eyes narrowed, Chrysalis tugging forcefully at the white towel that hide her prize. It was flung over towards the other side of the room once free, her grin increasing while she beckoned with fore hoof.

“My, that is certainly starting to cloud my memory, but we need to take a few more steps. Come, your Queen desires what she is due.” Behind her smirk, her anticipation was reaching its peak. Finally, once the final piece fell into place, he would be powerless to resist her.

There were, however, some issues.

“I’m not too sure I’m into this whole ‘what she is due’ thing,” he protested, but she could tell that it was a mere token resistance. After all, he made no attempt to reclothe himself nor leave, so she pressed on with the play.

“There is a law in my hive that applies to this situation,” she continued, running a hoof through her mane. “It states that any human once known, who enters the hive and takes the Queen by surprise, is required to obey her every wish.” She turned and shifted to rest on her stomach, putting on her best and most genuine seductive charm. “And do you know what that wish is?”

“Let me guess…”

‘Finally, a smile!’ she thought, grinning at the revelation. Her tail swished uncontrollably, her limbs twitching as she patiently resisted the urge to pounce on him and make him hers. While the wordplay was entertainment unto itself, she was more than ready for the main event. Then, her eyes narrowed in realisation, staring at Chalmers accusingly. ‘That bastard, he’s deliberately using this to draw it out and tease me!’

Nigel kept on going, rubbing his chin and muttering to himself. Out of patience, and a little irritated that he had turned her tactic against her, she gave up on waiting. Leaping from the bed with the aid of her wings and pushing him down with her magic at the same time, Chrysalis caught him unawares. Both crashed down onto the smooth floor with a thud, Chrysalis pinning him down and staring deep into his eyes.
“Fool,” she chided, voice dripping with glee. “You’re under my total control now.”

Her eyes widened when a hand shot up and snaked around her side, body quivering when the hand found the soft spot between her wings. ‘Gah, I… I forgot about those fingers…’

“Total control, huh?” he chortled back, miming a tweak of a moustache while he continued to bring her down to her knees with his fingers alone. “You forget, Queen Chrysalis, that I once was the most feared creature in these lands. You may have grown, but I remember all of your weaknesses like it was just yesterday.”

With that, the second hand went to her head, Chrysalis flopping down with a satisfied groan when the scratching behind the ears commenced. “Fiend… you’ll pay for this, ngh!” A chuckle was the only reply, but honestly she was fine with it. Granted, it was a less carnal reaction than she had been hoping for, but it had been so long since she’d felt that wonderful scratching so there were no complaints.

“Oh… e-excuse me.”

The scratching stopped immediately, Chrysalis opening her eyes and glaring at the interrupter. Nigel also looked behind them, his smile wavering but still there.

“Why, Reflection, this… this isn’t what it looks like.”

Chrysalis huffed at his rushed excuse, knowing it was exactly what it looked like. Reflection at least had the common sense to advert her gaze, the noble looking just as uncomfortable as Nigel was. Still, Reflection had trotted in on them and spoiled the moment, so no amount of common politeness would save her from retribution.

“And just why did you enter my chambers without permission?” The opening question was quickly followed up. “Did you not think to at least knock?”

In reply, Reflection gave a pointed glance to the door-less entry way before looking away again. “There is no door, and I bring important news. I was leaving the feeding areas when a soldier-“

“What is more important than letting me enjoy some private time after a long wait?” Chrysalis fumed, although the effect was no doubt lessened thanks to the naked human pinned under her. “I swear, if this is another status report on the melon situation…” The outcome was left to the imagination, Reflection gulping before answering.

“Well, My Queen, there are some… bat-ponies at the front door, wondering if we could spare some water.”

That stumped her.

“…Bat-ponies?” she repeated, before snarling. “Are they some of the accursed Lunar Guard!?”

“Bat-ponies?” Nigel mumbled from underneath her, Chrysalis sure that there was a trace of wonder in his words.

“No, they claim to be a diplomatic party traveling through after a visit to the West. Apparently their guide deserted them and took all of their supplies. They are carrying no weapons apart from some short swords, and they are only six in number.”

“Why should we help them?” Chrysalis snorted. “Their kind is just as bad as those Equestrians.”

Reflection shifted on her hooves. “They did ask nicely and did everything that the soldiers asked them to. We have no shortage of water, and their leader offers what silver they have along with some love that we can drain if absolutely necessary.”

“Ha!” Chrysalis shook with laughter. “They wish to barter? No, order the soldiers to capture them and cocoon them in the storage areas. Six is just too good to pass up.”

“But-“

“No buts, Reflection. Do as I say as I am your Queen!”

Reflection made to leave, but Nigel shifted before she could. “Hang on Reflection, wait one second.” Chrysalis rolled her eyes while Reflection paused, figuring that Nigel would try to mess it up. “I thought you said that you had a decent supply of love?”

“We do,” she almost snapped, eager to resume the prior activities. “But more is always welcome, we have to take it when we can.”

“But Chrysalis,” he whined. “They’re bat-ponies, they sound amazing!”

“They’re not amazing,” she confirmed, harsher than intended.

“But Chrysalis,” Nigel repeated before dropping into a whisper. “Bat-ponies. Bat. Ponies. I bet they have large bat ears, make ‘eek’ sounds, have… bat wings, breath underwater, and-“

“Enough!”

Her shout was so loud that Reflection jolted, Nigel staring up at her with…

‘Is that a smile!? Why that-!’

“Fine,” she seethed, fighting to hold back the torrent of abuse that she was wanting to throw out. “We’ll go and see the bat-ponies. However, I will decide what to do with them, so don’t try and sway me. We will also spend alone time together when we are done, with no further interruptions.”

“I promise,” he nodded. “Although remember our discussion about being nicer?”

“I do, nicer to changelings.” With that, she rose up and hurriedly moved towards Reflection, who once again adverted her gaze.

“Hang on, she heard from behind her. “I’ll get my towel.”

“This is a terrible idea, no offense. They’re changelings, they’ll just imprison us and feed off us for years.”

“Relax Belfry, just remember that you’re my aid and we’ll be fine.” Beams didn’t really believe her own reassurance; the fact that they were surrounded by scowling changelings was not a comforting one. Still, between certainly dying of dehydration or possibly being captured by changelings, she’d take the latter option happily.

“But Beams, you offered them a chance to drain love, what if they… you know, think that means something different?”

Beams didn’t get it. “What?”

“Well,” Belfry continued with an even quieter whisper. “We’re two mares, the other four are back at the dune, everyone knows that changelings are evil…”

It was then that she understood what Belfry was worried about. Quickly she gave the surrounding changelings soldiers a much more panicked look.

If it was true, then death by dehydration no longer seemed to be the worst option.

Standing outside of the hive on the sand, with only the moonlight and fires illuminating the shiny chitin of the creatures surrounding them, it was far too late to back out. The other three watching from the dune would be swarmed if the plan failed.

“S-surely not,” she replied, more to herself than to Belfry. “We’re more than capable of taking them down if they try anything.” Belfry’s stare was not one of confidence, Beams gulping before continuing. “Besides, we said that we’re diplomats and that stopped them from attacking us right away. This Queen Chrysalis will probably know how to properly treat foreign dignitaries, apparently all royalty like that sort of stuff.”

“I doubt she’s like most royalty, I’ve heard that she’s a massive bi-“

Belfry was unable to finish, another surge of changelings exiting the castle-hive. This time the Queen was among them, the tall bug-horse searching around before a changeling soldier by her side whispered and pointed towards them. A glare was sent their way, but Beams and Belfry were too busy staring dumbfounded at the figure following behind Chrysalis.

It must have been the human, but… something just wasn’t right.

Maybe it was the fact that he was a darkish-peach instead of black, the grotesque cutie-mark on his chest, or it may have been the towel wrapped around his waist.

Beams didn’t even risk asking why or what, instead she shut her open mouth and tried to smile. Bowing when Chrysalis approached, Beams had to smack Belfry in the foreleg to get her to follow suite. While it left a bitter taste in her mouth to show respect to the creature that had invaded her beloved Princess’ country, the survival of her squad and the success of the mission hung in the balance.

“So,” the changeling queen began with a sneer. “You think you have something that I want? Me? Wanting something from some bat-pony lost in the desert?”

Beams had to resist going for the knife hidden under her wing and shanking the rude royal right then and there.

Instead, she maintained the forced smile and channelled her hidden diplomat. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry for the interruption, Your Royal Highness, but I have come here with a plea.” Chrysalis’ raised eye prompted her to go on. “We were on our way back from a meeting with the… Zebras, and our guide left us in the desert. He stole all of our supplies, including our water, so we humbly request a small amount of water if you have some to spare.” She winced internally, not wishing to have to say the next part. “If needed, I am willing to offer… I am willing to offer up my love, free for you to drain at ease.”

She remained with her head bowed, hoping that the answer would be favourable. She could feel Chrysalis staring at her, the chattering of the surrounding changelings the only sounds. Then, her risky plan took the worse route possible.

“Why?” Chrysalis’ response was heavy with venom. “Why should I accept your pitiful offer when I can just have you and all of your group hung from the roof and drained when I please?” The sneer grew more vile. “Or, alternatively I can throw you all to the drones. Bat-ponies would go down well with them, I believe.”

Beam’s heart froze at the threats, her head snapping up. She almost began to plead for the safety of her fellows, before Chrysalis jolted and widened her eyes. Looking past the Queen, she could see a skin-covered arm leading towards the royal changelings’ hindquarters.

“Nigel,” Chrysalis stated emotionlessly. “Remove that hand from my rump, now.”

“So now you want it gone?” the human replied, raising his eye. All of a sudden, a small smack sounded out and Chrysalis flushed a shade of green. “How about this? I’ll let go when you lighten up a bit.”

“You expect me to just give them what they ask and let them go?”

“The Queen is right,” a changeling with a large, but sealed, crack on her side spoke up from the other side of the human. “They could be spies, Equestrians sent to watch us.”

The human chuckled. “I doubt it. Look at them, they’re-“

“Yes, they’re bat-ponies,” Chrysalis growled with an eye roll.

“Completely adorable bat-ponies,” he continued, Beams frozen while his gaze turned to her. “Look at them, with those fluffy ears and little fangs. You know, you should at least try and make an effort to be nice to them, they’re diplomats. Maybe we could make a treaty or…” Her confusion only grew when the human hummed in thought, gazing at Chrysalis intently.

“I will do as I please,” the Queen snapped. “And stop talking about them that way.”

“Tsk, someone’s jealous.”

“I’m not jealous! I’m just tired of this incident!”

“Really now?”

Beams was lost, unable to fully process what was happening. This surprisingly jolly and seemingly light-hearted creature was supposed to be one of Equestria’s dangerous enemies? So far the only danger he presented seemed to be towards Chrysalis’ image of a heartless monster, the Queen curiously refraining from forcing him to stop.

“Look,” Chrysalis huffed. “If I give them water and leave them be, you’ll let this entire ‘bat-pony’ nonsense drop?”

“I promise, as long as I can pet one of them before they leave.”

‘…What?’

The Queen sighed, before glancing towards the changeling with the scar. “Reflection, inform the Stores that we require six individual containers of water from the springs.” The addressed changeling quickly bowed before following the command, the human giving it a smile while Chrysalis focused back on them. “As for you, volunteer one of your party to be… petted, while the water is arranged. As soon as it arrives you are to leave and never return.”

“But-“ Beams began, but Chrysalis’ temper flared again.

“No compromises, accept it or leave it!”

Knowing just who was going to be the pony who’d have to suffer at the hands of the human, Beams hung her head. “Okay, we accept. I’ll… I’ll volunteer myself for,” she shuddered. “The petting.”

“Ser- I mean Diplomat Beams,” Belfry said with a whisper. “Surely you’re not-“

“I am,” Beams replied, trotting forwards with the gait of a mare resigned to her fate. She moved in front of the human, sat down, lowered her head, and then closed her eyes to wait. “Please, just make it quick,” she addressed to the creature.

“Not a chance,” he replied with glee, Queen Chrysalis sighing once more and Beams shivering when a warm hand made contact with her head.

“What are they doing to Beams?”

Dream didn’t know what to tell Bites, utterly stumped as well.

Their position on the dune was being watched by the changelings, but the creatures had neglected to send soldiers up to capture them. It afforded a good view of the area and the scene playing out below.

A few minutes ago, the changeling Queen and the human had exited the hive. At first the Queen had been livid, but had seemed to have calmed down once the human had begun to speak to Beams. Now, Beams was sitting with her head bowed, the biped ruffling her mane and flicking her ears like he…

‘He’s never seen a nocturne before,’ Dream realised. Looking more closely, she could see a smile on his face so it was obviously an enjoyable experience for him. Judging from the pleasantly surprised look on Beam’s, the attentions apparently weren’t too brutal. It was undoubtedly a confusing situation, watching her Sergeant-Major being petted by a biped while surrounded by curious changelings, but at least Beams seemed to have a good hold on the situation.

“Don’t worry, Sergeant,” she told Bites while continuing to stare with improved hope. “Beams looks like she’s got everything under control.”

‘Wow, I can tell why the changeling Queen is keeping him around.’ Beams rolled her head, letting the fingers scratch behind her right ear this time. She could feel Belfry’s eyes staring at her, but the humiliation wasn’t as bad as she had thought it would be. Still ,her military mind made a note that the human obviously had a weakness for nocturnes, and that nocturnes were potentially vulnerable to the insidious tactic of ear-scratching.

At the moment, it didn’t really bother her.

“Typical,” Chrysalis muttered. “Just when things are getting interesting, some bat-ponies come along and ruin it.”

Beams didn’t want to think about what Chrysalis meant by ‘getting interesting’.

“Chrissy, relax,” the human named Nigel reassured, before pulling away his hand. Beams was slightly annoyed at the ceasing of the rub and scratch, but it was balanced out by the worry that she was getting too lax around the enemy. “I’ve thought of a great plan, and Ms…”

“Beams,” she answered after a pause, not liking where it was going. “High Beams.”

“Ms Beams here is going to help us.” The human began to pace, nodding to himself as he did so. “You see, Chrysalis, the one thing we don’t need at the current time is more enemies. Thus, when a lost diplomatic party is at our doorstep we should make all efforts to help them out. As such, in return for our assistance with their survival, I’m sure that Ms Beams and her party would be more than happy for me to tag along so I can conduct a diplomatic visit to their homeland. Any legitimate diplomat would leap at the chance. ”

Beams was gobsmacked, her plan back-firing even worse than she had feared. She was positive that the last sentence was loaded with an underlying threat, the human still smiling but there was the glint of a predator eyeing its prey in his eye. To refuse would likely end with their capture and imprisonment, while if she agreed it would mean that she would be bringing a dangerous creature into the heart of her home city.

‘Think Beams, think!’ she panicked. ‘It’s a lose-lose situation, but if you lose now…’

“No,” Chrysalis said while turning to face the human. “You are not going with them.” The Queen didn’t appear to be as confident as before.

“Don’t you remember the last time that you did that? You ended up betrayed and imprisoned, don’t be a fool and repeat those same mistakes.” The cold voice dropped to a barely-audible whisper. “Please?”

Was this it, a chance to avoid the messy situation?

Unfortunately, no it was not.

“I can understand your concern,” he replied, hand going to Chrysalis’ shoulder. “So, would it be better if you came along as well?”

“I don’t think-“

“Come on, some time away from the hive could be good for you. Your advisors and generals can look after it for a few short weeks, surely?”

“I’m more worried about the nobles,” Chrysalis muttered.

“Then bring them along as well, or at least the worst ones.”

‘What? No! This is getting worse all of the time!’

“We can’t,” the Queen protested. “Almost all of them are bad, you remember Cupid and Holey. They’re rebellious, loose, rude, disrespectful…”

“Things that we can fix with a family trip to the city of the bat-ponies. Who knows, maybe they also just need to get out of the hive for a while?”

The human placed his other hand on Chrysalis’ free shoulder, rubbing them around. “Come on, it’ll be a nice trip and we can all catch up.”

Chrysalis still didn’t seem convinced. “It will be romantic,” he said in sing-song, Chrysalis rolling her eyes.

“Doubtful, I get the feeling that you just want to go and see more bat-ponies.”

Beams tried hard not to gallop away in fright, the human placing a hand over is bare chest. “Why, whatever made you think that?”

“Because I know you, and that’s exactly like something you’d do.” Chrysalis narrowed her eyes. “I thought you promised to drop the bat-pony issue if I gave them water, and we still haven’t taken Equestria.”

“I’m a pathological liar,” was his excuse. “But, I’ll make a deal. If you come with me on this trip, when we get back I’ll build a nice new shiny base of operations and prepare to fight Equestria.”

‘Oh no,’ Beams thought with wide eyes. ‘This is bad, this is very bad!’

Chrysalis bit her lip. “Will I get Celestia’s throne?”

“You can have both,” the human promised.

“Fine,” Chrysalis nodded. “But you’ll regret bringing the nobles along.”

“I can handle a few nobles.” The focus of attention was once again turned on the two nocturnes. “So, Ms Beams.”

She didn’t know what to do, her heart racing with panic. “Yes?”

The human grinned merrily. “I assume everything we’ve discussed is fine with you?”

Bites watched with worry as his Sergeant Major climbed back up the dune with Belfry trailing behind. Changelings watched their every move, but judging from the black contains on Belfry’s back the plan had ended with surprising success. His hoof bumped the large crossbow buried in the sand, all of their large weapons and armour buried in case the changelings searched them.

The look on Beams’ face when she crested the dune, however, cast doubt upon the positive outcome.

“What’s wrong?” Dreams questioned while Beams and Belfry sat down. “You got the water, so it worked right?”

“Not quite,” Belfry huffed. “There are… complications.”

Bites tilted his head. “But they were convinced that you were just diplomats, otherwise they wouldn’t have let you go.”

Belfry and Beams shared a look, before Beams tapped her forehooves together and cleared her throat.

“Uh, well, about that… you see, our plan may have worked a little too well…”

“Your plan is stupid, just like the last time you tried to make friends with ponies.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Nigel replied dryly, shifting through his armour pile while Chrysalis stood behind him and complained.

“It’s not like you haven’t been telling me that since we left the bat-ponies. Besides, Sombra was pretty much loyal to the end.” He scowled, not finding what he was after. “Also, have you seen my clothes?”

“Well, I’m saying its stupid because it is, and no,” Chrysalis answered. “They’re probably still in the bathing area.”

“Perfect.” He ran a hand through his hair and stood up. “I’ll be back, I’m just going to duck down and-“

“No.”

A powerful force grabbed his arm, and he found himself pulled towards the large bed. Glancing first at the green magic-covered arm, and then to the rapidly oncoming bed, he tried to resist but had no luck. “Chrysalis, sto-“ He was cut off when he made contact with the side of the mattress, Chrysalis forcing him up and spreadeagling him on his back. Thankfully his towel had managed to stay on, but judging from the look in her eyes he doubted that would last.

‘She’s certainly much more assertive,’ he mused, testing the magic binding his limbs to each corner.

“No,” she repeated, although this time her fangs flashed in a weary smile. “I’ve had a terrible day, with all of these interruptions, so now I’m going to do what I should have done earlier.” Continuing to hold him down, she slowly climbed up onto the bed. The springs squeaked as Chrysalis stood over him, the Queen licking her fangs almost maliciously.

He once again tried his magical binds, with no success. “You’ve certainly gotten stronger.”

“Yes, well,” she lent down to whisper in his ear. “I’ve finally started to be personally fed again, and I intend to get a decent feed tonight. I believe that this helpless morsel should do quite fittingly.” As if to highlight her point, she gave his ear a nibble.

Breaking the bonds didn’t work, so he instead opted for a different route. “Now?” he questioned, Chrysalis ignoring him while continuing to nip his ear. “It’s a little late and I’m fairly tired. How about tomorrow?”

“Tired?” she mocked, moving down to his shoulders. “Your absence has made you weak; I am not tired in the slightest. What next, a headache?” Alternating between nuzzling and playfully nipping, he could tell that she was enjoying this immensely. “Besides, tomorrow is when you promised those bat-ponies that we’d travel with them to their capitol, so I must use all of the time that we have.”

“Ah, but when we get to their city- ouch! Easy with those fangs there.” Looking to the side at the sharp pain, he watched as Chrysalis sheepishly pulled away. Two bleeding holes in his shoulder showed where her fangs had sunk in, Chrysalis staring at them before looking towards him with worry.

“I’m sorry!” she apologised, sinking down onto her knees atop of him. “I didn’t mean to go through the skin, it’s not as hard as chitin.” Carefully she levitated a corner of the green bedsheet over to dab at the wound, Nigel shaking his head.

“It’s fine, mistakes happen in situations like this,” he reassured her. “But do you mind letting one of my arms go?” With a fizzle, the magic holding down his right shoulder disappeared, leaving him free to pat her on the back. “I appreciate the play and all, but maybe be a little more careful.”

“Fine,” she agreed, before glancing towards the marks again. “Are you okay to continue?”

“Give it a minute so I don’t bleed everywhere on your bed,” The pats turned into a rub, and it wasn’t long before he had once again found his way to the middle of her back. Her wings began to buzz and she started to settle down, sprawled out on him with her head resting on the unbitten shoulder.

“That’s,” she let out a yawn. “A fair point, but don’t think this means that you’ve once again won.”

“Perish the thought,” he snorted. “What, and have you lose in this struggle of life and death?” No answer came, Chrysalis having shut her eyes. He poked her with his free hand and got no response, the changeling out like a light. “Not tired, huh?” he muttered, pushing her gently so she rolled off to rest against his left side. Unfortunately for him, even though she slumbered he was still pinned with her horn glowing a steady green. After a final effort in breaking his other limbs free, he gave up and resigned himself to his fate for the night.

“Night Chrissy,” Chalmers sighed, Chrysalis starting to snore in response. He rolled his eyes and tried to block out the sound, before he became aware of an itch on the bottom of his right foot.

“Wonderful,” he muttered. “This is going to be an absolutely smashing night.”

Author's Note

So, another chapter down.

Nigel, Chrysalis, and a certain few ruffians are going to accompany the bat-ponies back to their capitol.
Speaking of that, the plan to masquerade as civilians, specificity diplomats, certainly went well...

Too well.

How will Beams explain the presence of two of Equestria's most dangerous enemies?

Will she think of a plan to deal with the villains before they enact their plans?

Is Nigel going to find his clothes, or will he have to rely on his trusty towel?

All that and more in the next chapter.

Once again, all comments and criticism welcome. More than likely I've missed some obvious errors... as usual.

A Jolly Good Family Vacation

“Nrgh, I will… have my revenge.”

Muttering to herself as she woke up, the remnants of the dream still playing in her mind, Chrysalis stretched out her forelegs and moved her head deeper into soft, warm object it was resting against.

“Good Morning,” a voice tinged with irritation greeted. “Sleep well?”

Recognising the voice of Chalmers, Chrysalis snorted. “No, sleep is not something I enjoy. Now either leave your Queen alone to rest or provide her with breakfast, I demand it.”

“Well, I’d love to Your Majesty, but I am currently tied to your bed and you are occupying my left armpit. When adding in the horn that is dangerously close to poking out my eye, and your snoring, it doesn’t exactly lead to one love-filled breakfast buffet.”

‘Why, the nerve!’

Raising her head with a frown, she glared at him but paused when she realised that he was telling the truth. Well, apart from one complaint.

“I do not snore.” Her horn stopped glowing and Nigel’s magical binds were released. Immediately he sat up and began scratching his foot madly. “I am far too refined for that.”

“Right, I’m sure you are.”

Chrysalis narrowed her eyes, although he paid no attention to her until he was finished. Then, he looked up at her before readjusting his towel. Sighing, Chrysalis figured that she had known what it’d be like having him back.

“So, this trip with the bat-pony ambassadors, I don’t believe it to be a good idea.” Her subject change was, unfortunately, a bad choice. “In fact, it’s stupid.”

“Yeah, I know it is Chrissy.” The admission took her by surprise, but when he laid back down on the bed and put an arm around the back of her neck she really got confused. She had expected him to get mad, or at the very least toss a jab back instead of just agreeing with her. “But it can’t really do any harm, can it? It’ll be like a re-learning trip, connecting back the family while possibly helping you repair the rift between you and the rest of the planet.”

“Except for Equestria,” she muttered. “I’ll tear that rift wide open so that nothing will be left!”

He patted her chest. ”Of course, and when you’re on the throne then we can form one big, giant, super country.”

“It will be the most powerful on the planet,” Chrysalis nodded, her anger fading while a maniacal grin took its place. “A true beacon of changeling might. And I, Queen Chrysalis, will be ruler of it all.”

The patting paused for a brief second, before Nigel coughed into a hand. “Well, let’s not get too hasty. We’ll make some allies this time, reliable ones, and then we can focus on getting you power over all.”

Laughing at his plans, Chrysalis placed her foreleg over his chest and imagined the glorious day. ‘Ah, at least he’s finally returning to normal… for him, anyway.’ Smirking, she rolled over onto her stomach and gazed at him with lidded eyes.

“Are you trying to seduce me with those honeyed words?”

“Not at all,” he replied, sitting up and leaving the bed. “We have no time for that, I’m afraid. Remember, it is not just ourselves that we will be taking along to the bat-pony city.”

Chrysalis gave him an unamused look at his rather tactless rejection of her idea of a morning snack, before her eyes widened when she realised who he meant to bring along. “About that, I’m unsure if you’ve forgotten about the behaviour of the last two nobles you met, but the changelings you see as the nymphs are far from our original ten in behaviour.” Her voice lowered. “Relative comfort has made them… upstarts.”

Chalmers shrugged, moving over to a piece of polished chitin on the wall to examine his reflection. “Well, you of course can’t expect them to be the same, they are different after all.”

‘Different is too kind,’ she thought while grimacing. ‘He has no idea what he’s in for.’

“Well, do you have some kind of dining area?” Chalmers asked, changing the subject. “I could go for a spot of toast right now.”

Chrysalis sat up in the bed, irritated that she didn’t exactly get the meal she had hoped for. “I’ll have to check the stores, and no we don’t have a dining room. The closest you’ll get to a proper sized table is my throne room.”

“Very well.” Clapping his hands together, Nigel made to leave the room. “I’ll just go and fetch my clothes, I’ll meet you there.”

Watching him walk out, Chrysalis sighed with a shake of her head before reluctantly leaving the bed. Trotting after him, she huffed and blew a stray strand of her mane out of her face. “Nigel, you’re just going to get lost again!”

“Psst, what’s this about?”

Sheen glanced over to Buzz at the question, yawning with a shrug. “Beats me. It probably has something to do with that biped guy though.”

“Yo, like, I heard from some of the drones that he’s thinking about taking Big C out in some sort of, like, trip or something.”

Sheen tried hard not to show his irritation at Keith’s manner of speaking. While everyone else had been born to a mix of classes, Keith's parents had both been infiltrators assigned to a far-off Equestrian city for a few years. As such, they had picked up and in turn given him the annoying manner of speaking that the ponies in that city had adopted.

“It’s probably got to do with those bat-ponies they talked with,” Reflection added, her side still bandaged. While she glanced around at the soldiers who had brought them into the throne room, Sheen snuck a look at her wound with a pang of jealousy. The Reflection line had always been one of the Queen’s favourites, and that was surely only going to increase since the current changeling to bear the name had returned not just from the invasion with the Queen’s old flame, but with evidence of her ‘sacrifice’ for the hive as well.

He’d only been stationed with the easy job of coordinating the aerial attack on the barrier, acting as more of an assistant to Commander Exo. He didn’t even step hoof inside the castle, or even see a single royal guard. Almost as if she could feel his eyes, Reflection looked back at him. He in turn diverted his eyes as if nothing had happened, a distraction thankfully trotting in to divert everyone’s attention.

“What now?” The irritated voice of Cupid announced her arrival, Sheen frowning as his least-liked ‘sister’ entered through the main door. The two guards either side of her didn’t appear to be very happy, and neither was Holey who trailed them. “Is this about that stupid human again?”

“You probably shouldn’t say things like that,” one of the soldiers advised Cupid with a whisper. “The Queen is very fond of him.”

“Like I don’t know that already,” she retorted, joining the others in their group. Now that Cupid and her follower Holey had arrived, that completed the group of ten. “Do you know what I walked in on the other night? Those two… together in the bathing area.”

“Really?” Chatter asked with a hushed voice. “They were screwing?”

“Dude works fast,” Keith nodded with approval.

“Well, no. But it’s still gross,” admitted Cupid, before she glared at Keith. “And it’s not a good thing.”

Reflection snorted, Sheen taking a step back when she rolled her eyes. Cupid and Reflection were rarely on good terms, Cupid resenting Chrysalis the most out of all of them and that translated to a distaste of Reflection.

“Right, like you and Holey didn’t go down there for the same thing. I saw you two with those drones when I left the medical area.”

“That’s different, we’re all changelings.”

“So?” Reflection glared. “He’s nice, and from what he told me he thinks Chrysalis is too. Why is it your business to dictate what they can’t do?”

Cupid glared and took a step forwards. “Because I don’t want to see it, so if I’m there they can go somewhere else.”

“And did they?”

Cupid was silent, everyone glancing to Holey for an answer. “Uh… well after he made us all talk to each other, Chrysalis dragged him off to her room.”

“See?” Reflection smiled. “They did listen.” She glanced around at all of them, returning to her spot in the circle. “Queen Chrysalis is not our enemy, and neither is he. You all don’t know anything about him apart from rumours and what Cupid’s told you, so just stop making stuff up and wait to meet him.”

Sheen jerked back when Cupid uttered a low hiss. “Well, looks like someone thinks she’s a human expert just because he carried her home.”

Reflection made to retort, but she stopped when someone approached from behind them. They all turned, the soldiers saluting when the Queen trotted in. Behind her followed the main object of their concern, the human wearing nothing but a towel and a scowl.

“Just put your armour on,” Chrysalis sighed, talking to the human as they approached. “They probably just got picked up by the drones on cleaning duty and put away.”

Sheen caught sight of Cupid grinning, causing him to raise an eye.

“I can’t ‘just put’ my armour on, it’ll chafe.” Chrysalis smirked before leaning up, whispering into his ear. The human rolled his eyes and sighed. “No, Chrysalis, I will not just walk around naked to fit in better. You just want to look at my… hey everyone.” Noticing them all, he didn’t finish his sentence and instead greeted them with a wave of his hand.

“Smooth,” Chrysalis muttered with a smile, before her face hardened when she looked at them. “Nobles. How are you all this morning?”

They answered with standard replies, except for Cupid.

“Tired and annoyed,” the troublemaker answered. “Please tell me that you’re not just here to show off your sex toy?”

The soldiers around the room froze, Chrysalis going a light shade of green.

*Crack*

Cupid flinched back as a black towel stuck her on the muzzle, Sheen wincing while he watched her raise a hoof up to rub her snout. It had looked hard enough to certainly sting, but not hard enough to leave a mark.

“No, bad changeling,” the human told her with a waggle of his finger as he readjusted the towel around his waist. Sheen made a note to not insult Chrysalis while the human was around, he hadn’t even seen the towel come off it was that fast of a strike.

“You… you…” Cupid rubbed her snout, glaring at him. The other had backed away from both, Chrysalis smirking at Cupid. “You stupid-

“Nigel,” Chrysalis interrupted, the human making to take the towel off again at her command. Cupid quickly stopped her sentence, Chrysalis looking around at all of them. “Good. Now, will anyone else like to disrespect me while we’re all here?” There was silence.

“Well then, we can move on,” Nigel continued for her, placing a hand on his chest. “As you all probably know, my name is Nigel M Chalmers, but you can all just call me Nigel. As Cupid as so tastefully pointed out,” a glance was sent towards the mentioned female, Cupid glaring back but holding her tongue. “Myself and Chrysalis are currently trying to restart our old routine.”

“Except this time we’ll expand it,” Chrysalis muttered, mainly to Nigel. “If you get the hint.”

“Hey, you were the one who fell asleep last night.”

“It was your fault for that scratching, you tricked me.”

“I did not ‘trick’ you, you tried to play a game and instead of getting some you fell asleep on me.”

“Lies, if that is true then why did you not fulfil your duties this morning?”

“’Fulfil my duties’? I have plenty of duties, and banging a Queen on demand is not one of them. Furthermore-“

Sheen gulped and raised a hoof. “Excuse me?” He received the attention of the arguing pair, Chrysalis narrowing her eyes at him. “I thought there was something important to tell us?” He rapidly followed it up when Chrysalis began to reply. “I mean, not that your conversation isn’t, but we do all have certain commitments-“

“Hardly,” Chrysalis snorted, before giving him a displeased look. “Unless by ‘commitments’ you mean that drone you’ve been seeing, despite my orders.”

Sheen had to hold back a sharp reply, Chrysalis hitting it spot on. He generally thought himself one of the better nobles, keeping his mouth shut about the Queen and not sleazing around the hive bossing around lower classes. However, his infatuation with a certain drone was still a sore point between him and Chrysalis, the Queen having told him to find a nice high-up soldier or scholar instead. A noble was meant to use drones for one-off occasions, not see one repeatedly and ignore all others.

“Not now Chrissy,” Nigel whispered, thankfully distracting Chrysalis and advoiding an unwanted confrontation.

“Fine.” The Queen looked back at them. “We’re here to inform you that I and Nigel are going to be departing with the bat-pony diplomats back to their Capitol for negotiations.”

That caught Sheen’s attention, the Queen notorious for her dislike of other races and her unwillingness to deal with them. The way Chrysalis said it with some distaste led him to believe that she hadn’t been the one to suggest the idea.

“Negotiate with what?” Swissy inquired with a tilt of her head. “The bat-ponies work for Equestria after all.”

“We have a large store of gems and gold,” Chrysalis reminded. “And silver, which they apparently adore. However, this trip will not be trading, it is for… establishing better relations.” The Queen acted like the words were bitter to say, Nigel stepping up.

“Indeed, for the more friends we have, the less enemies will challenge us in our plans.”

‘Plans?’ Sheen wondered with apprehension. ‘Given what I know of him, that doesn’t sound good…’

“With us away, Commander Exo and his officers will be in charge.” Chrysalis had just finished speaking when Cupid leaned forward growling.

“What? We’re the nobles, so we should be in charge!”

Sheen couldn’t help but agree, he himself about to support Cupid despite his dislike of her. However, the smile from Nigel stopped him, the human stepping forward. ‘Hang on, something’s up.’

“There is a reason Chrysalis is putting your military commanders in charge instead of you,” explained Nigel with a firm look towards Cupid. “Actually, there are many reasons, but this one is the key. You see, you’re not going to be in charge because all ten of you are going to be … going with us!” He waved his hands with a grin, a stunned silence meeting his announcement.

“It was his idea,” Chrysalis grumbled.

“Hey, it’s a good one,” defended Nigel. “Everyone gets out of the hive for a few weeks, you all get to know me, I get to catch up with all of you, we get to meet more bat-ponies…” Nigel trailed off, Chrysalis nudging him in the leg. “Uh… forge bonds of understanding with another race?”

Chrysalis gave Nigel flat look. “You better not go ‘forging bonds’ with any bat-ponies, or I swear-“

“Whoa, settle down!” Chrysalis frowned when a hand was placed on her head. “Relax, I wasn’t thinking like that at all. I just find them adorable.”

The stare remained, until Chrysalis finally let up. “Fine, but just remember what you said.”

“I will,” Nigel reassured before focusing back on them. “So, yeah, you’re all coming on a family trip. Once we get to this city, I want you all to behave and be respectful.”

“Hold on, there’s a few things wrong with that.” Sheen spoke up again, Mirror adding her voice before he could continue.

“Yeah, like why are we even bothering? The bat-ponies follow Princess Luna, and you don’t seem to realise that we attacked her.”

“And we’ll need to drain ponies if we’re gone for that long, not to mention that we and the Queen are the highest ranking changelings in the hive. What happens if we get attacked or captured?”

Nigel raised his hands. “Relax, we’ve got plans. I can protect us all, from what Chrysalis has told me then she’s no slouch in fighting either, you’ve all had some basic training, and we are going to be travelling with a bat-pony diplomatic party. If we turn up to their city and go ‘hey, your diplomats ran out of water in the desert so we helped them get back, care to talk some business while we’re here?’ then they’re not going to just tell us to bugger off.”

‘Well, I guess he’s kind of right on those points.’ Sheen cleared his throat, getting the attention again.

“But that still doesn’t solve the issue of energy. I doubt the bat-ponies will look too kindly upon us grabbing passer-by’s for a snack, and feeding off of them won’t work as there’s too many of us. Plus, that would hardly convince them that we’re not a threat.”

Chrysalis sighed, closing her eyes for a brief period. “We’re got a solution, but you’re not going to like it.”

“What-“

“Hugs!”

His question was cut off as Nigel lunged for him, Sheen’s eyes widening. He barely took a step back before the human was on him, Sheen finding himself lifted up into the air. He froze, arms going around him as he was hugged to bare human chest. What even made it more uncomfortable was the small trickle of affection that accompanied the action, however he still guiltily fed on it. Finally he was released, lowered back to the ground with a snicker from Chrysalis.

“Ha, you should have seen the look on your face!”

At least the Queen was amused, Sheen quickly retreating to hide behind Joy. His pseudo-siblings stared at him, Sheen lowering his head in embarrassment.

Little did they know, the actual embrace had felt rather comforting, not that he’d ever admit it.

“See?” Nigel chuckled with a glance towards Chrysalis. “I told you it’d be hilarious.”

“It was,” she agreed with a fang-filled grin. “But remember not to make the same mistake you did with the nymphs.”

“Urgh, don’t remind me.” The human rubbed his hands together with a glance to all of them. “Now… who’s next?”

“Me!”

Sheen looked up, surprised when Reflection eagerly trotted forwards. He watched while she sat on her rump and eagerly held out her forelegs, Nigel smiling and picking her up.

“Someone’s eager for a hug,” he laughed, taking care to avoid her injury. Reflection put her forelegs over his shoulders and giggled when he embraced her. Cupid snorted and turned away, however Sheen noticed the others watching on intrigued. As soon as Reflection gave the human a friendly nuzzle, he set her back down much to her displeasure. “None of that, Chrysalis might get jealous.” Sheen focused on the Queen, Chrysalis rolling her eyes.

“It was just a nuzzle, we changelings do that all the time.”

“That’s right,” Reflection agreed, demonstrating by trotting over and giving Buzz a quick nuzzle. “Besides, you’re you. I’m not stupid enough to try and start something with you in front of Chrysalis.”

“Well…” they looked at Chatter, who was currently wincing. “Technically, the Queen did say that he was just underneath her when it comes to power, so that does kind of mean that he can have consorts as long as they’re socially beneath him…”

Reflection shuddered. “Ah… no thanks Chatter. I’m quite happy to just get the occasional hug and feeding.”

“You know,” Nigel mumbled to himself. “Under different circumstances, I’d see that way of system as incredibly fun…”

“You are correct, partially.” Shooting a warning look at Nigel for his comment, Chrysalis continued. “While Nigel would well within his rights to bed any one of you, he is not a changeling. So, therefore the normal rules don’t apply for him and if he tries it then he’s one dead human.”

“Ha!” Nige exclaimed. “You are still mad about Platinum.”

Chrysalis flushed a light green. “Of course I am, you slept with her instead of me.”

“To be fair, you weren’t the one who got me drunk then pretty much twisted my arm for it,” he replied, before nodding. “Oh, that’s right, that was pretty much last night except you didn’t even have the politeness to get me tanked first.”

At first Sheen was afraid that it would devolve into another fight considering the volatile subject matter, but thankfully Chrysalis seemed to believe it was all in humour.

“You think that was twisting your arm?” she had a small smile and a evil look in her eyes. “That was just one plan out of many, you have yet to see my true powers.”

“True powers?” Nigel scoffed, before winking towards them. “Let me show you a true power.”

Chrysalis was taken by surprise, two arms grabbing her around the torso. The Queen was lifted up and embraced, Nigel making an exaggerated puffing sound. “Jeez, you’re heavier than I remember.”

“Ha ha,” she stately flatly, shifting in the spot while trying to maintain an angry face. “You haven’t lost a bit of your wit.”

“Ouch, so you want me to let you go then?”

Chrysalis wrapped her hind legs around him, shaking her head. “No, I believe that you should be forced to carry me as payment for your previous crimes.”

“Sap,” he murmured, Sheen sighing at how easily distracted the two were.

“Excuse me, once again. Can we kind of… hurry it up a little?”

An irritated stare was directed to him, Chrysalis rolling her eyes. “Fine. We’re going to the bat-pony city. Be at the front entrance in two hours or you’ll be assigned to scouting duty in desert for a whole month. That fast enough for you?”

Sheen cursed under his breath and made for the exit while the others also scattered. It looked like the foolish plan was going ahead after all.

“I can just tell that this trip will go terribly, terribly wrong.”

“We could always… run away?”

Beams shook her head at Bites’ suggestion, glancing up to the rising sun. “It’s too late, plus they had guards watching us the whole night. The best we can do is make it look like we’re diplomats, take them back to the city, then trap them and imprison them while we’re there. Then it’s just a matter of passing them over to Equestria and letting them deal with it.”

“I doubt the city council will enjoy us bringing in two dangerous enemies,” Belfry added from her spot in the sand. She was keeping a watch on the intimidating castle, her short sword in her hooves.

“Well, technically we were never at war with the changelings, and we never had even heard of this human until the Princess told us.”

“Still,” Bites sighed. “I don’t think this is a good idea at all.”

Belfry didn’t reply, but she found it hard to disagree. Unfortunately they had no other choice, they’d made their bluff and Queen Chrysalis had bought it. If they could keep up the charade, however, then the payoff was huge.

“There’s also the problem that Princess Luna’s orders of ‘just watch them’ have pretty much been broken straight away,” chuckled Sweeps. “’Hey Princess, so remember that dangerous creature we were supposed to be watching? Yeah, well we thought that it’d be a good idea to bring it right into Nocturnia.’”

Dream sniggered, Beams rolling her eyes at the two youngest members.

“Hang on, we’ve got movement.”

At Belfry’s call she looked towards the castle, a procession of changelings and the human leaving the entrance and heading over towards a group of soldiers. Wincing when the group was directed towards their position, Beams quickly ensured that her short sword was securely hidden under her cloak.

“Show time everyone, grab your gear but leave the heavier weapons buried.”

“But, but…” Bites began, glancing towards the spot where he had buried his giant crossbow. “What about-“

“No buts,” Beams cut him off. “Swords and knives we can explain away as personal defence, massive crossbows looking like they were made to kill armoured humans is a little tricker. Capturing the changeling Queen is worth more than a weapon, consider that an order.”

Bites grumbled but didn’t move to dig it up, Beams hefting her pack onto her back before glancing at the others. They were all ready to go, tents packed hours before and weapons carefully sheathed. Their armour was to also remain under the sand; hopefully the Captain would overlook the loss of the equipment.

All other concerns were pushed back when the group they were to escort crested the sand dune. Beams gave them a quick examination, judging the threat they presented.

There were ten changelings and the Queen, none of them looking like they wanted to be there. Strangely they wore no armour aside from rough brown cloaks and bulging saddlebags, an oddity considering they were going into enemy territory. Beams noted the looks of contempt she received from them, but wasn’t surprised in the slightest.

The Queen also stared at her with distaste, but it was noticeably softer than their first meeting. An eyebrow was raised when Chrysalis moved closer towards the human walking alongside her, Beams puzzled as to why the Queen was acting so… possessively. Chrysalis wore no cloak and no saddlebags, only the seemingly never-ending frown.

And then, Beams gave the human an examination.

‘Wow.’

He was wearing a bulky black metal breastplate, armoured boots, and armguards over a lime-green dress. Looking closer, Beams could have sworn that it was almost like a bed sheet. Out of the entire group he was the only one that seemed to be in good spirits, a grin on his face as he waved at them.

“Ah, bat-ponies! Good morning, are we all ready to leave?”

“… We are,” Beams replied after a brief moment of hesitation. “You’re also bringing along…”

“Ten of my finest nobles,” Chrysalis grumbled, before the human flicked one of her ears and earned himself a glare.

“Ten of your treasured subjects,” he reminded her. “And my beloved descendants, none the less.” Ignoring the glares, Beams watched on as he pointed to each one. “That’s Sheen, Swissy, Holey, Buzz-“

“Yo, I’m Keith.”

The human paused. “Sorry, that’s Keith, that’s Buzz, Cupid, Joy, Mirror, Chatter, and Reflection.” Only the last changeling nodded at the introduction, Beams catching a glimpse of a bandage underneath its robes. She had to admit that she was impressed at the human’s ability to remember all of the names and assign them, only getting one wrong. The changelings all looked the same to her.

“Uh, pleased to meet you?” she returned before gesturing to her own party. “That’s Bites, Belfry, Sweeps, Dream, and I’m Beams. We’re all diplomats and we’re-“

“Going to drag us to your capitol,” one of the changelings interrupted with a buzzing voice. Beams couldn’t be sure, but it sounded female. “We know.”

“Cupid,” Chrysalis hissed. “Behave yourself.”

The changeling grumbled under her breath but didn’t retort, Beams waiting for silence before coughing into a hoof. “Well, we were planning on flying back, as it cuts the journey to just two days. However, we’ll probably have to walk because of, well…” A pointed glance was sent to the human, who quickly noticed and waved a hand.

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” he reassured, putting on a helmet. The helm’s reflective black faceplate was oddly unsettling, despite the comical appearance of its wearer.

All of them, including the changelings, jolted back when a small set of metal wings popped out behind the human from his breastplate. Placing his hands on his unarmoured hips, the human looked up proudly.

“No,” Queen Chrysalis uttered dryly. “The last time you used that thing, you set yourself on fire and crashed into a castle.”

“Piffle,” he replied with a huff. “That, dear Chrysalis, was when I teleported mid-flight. Besides, that was a one off thing.”

‘Wait,’ Beams’ eyes widened. ‘He can teleport!?’

“No excuses, the only reason I’m going on this folly is because you’ve promised me some quality time after dealing with this diplomatic nonsense.” Chrysalis narrowed her eyes at the human. “If you set yourself on fire again, I doubt it will be romantic.”

“Oh, I don’t know, I’m sure that would certainly fan the ‘flames’ of love.”

After the joke there was silence, Beams glancing back to her squad. They all looked equally confused, even the changelings shaking their heads at what had just been said.

“We’re leaving,” Chrysalis demanded, turning to Beams. “Go ahead, Diplomat, you know where to go after all.”

Suppressing the urge to gulp, Beams nodded before turning around. Flapping her wings, she tried to ignore the loud roaring sound that sparked to life behind her.

‘Join the Lunar Guard they said. Protect the Princess they said…’

Chrysalis grumbled to herself with forelegs crossed while she flew through the air in the middle of her so-far silent nobles. The leader of the bat-ponies, High Beams, was just in front of her with bat-wings flapping away.

It was surprisingly that it was not the bat-pony that she had issue with, however. No, her current distaste was saved for the two changelings and one human lagging behind.

Another distant laugh from Holey carried on the air, even over the sound of a roaring jetpack.

“Now, see normally I’d do a loop as well,” she heard Nigel explain. “But given my lack of undergarments, I think I’ll spare you that spectacle.”

“I’m sure Chrysalis wouldn’t mind,” Reflection answered with a laugh to accompany Holey. “No, wait, I didn’t mean-“

The brief increase of the roaring was the only warning she got, Chrysalis rolling her eyes as Nigel began to fly in a circle around the group.

“Hey Chrissy,” he asked, pausing while he made another pass. “Did you want me… to show you… a trick?”

“No Nigel, not right now.”

‘Was he always like this?’ she wondered, Nigel falling back again to return to Holey and Reflection. ‘I seem to recall him being more… menacing.’

She looked around, frowning at the bat-ponies flying at the edges of the group. They were up to something, she just knew it. As she was glancing towards the front, she spotted Keith staring straight ahead with an unwavering stare. Following his eye line, she gritted her teeth to avoid immediately berating him.

Of course, directly in front of him was the lead diplomat, the mare oblivious to the lecherous eyes locked firmly on her rump.

Keith however noticed her stare, lazily turning his head to face her. With a dopey grin on his face, he shrugged and returned his attention to the pony rear.

Chrysalis nearly shot him out of the sky then and there.

‘That malformed brat,’ she fumed silently, staring down below her to try and get her mind off of the utter disregard for her guidelines for them. ‘Did his parents repeatedly drop him on his head when he was a nymph? I should make a new rule, classifying the second-hatched as the pure bloodline if the first-hatched is an utter moron.’ What annoyed her was that the Keith line had shown great promise, right up until the current one.

All of a sudden the group banked down, Chrysalis looking up to find the lead bat-pony looking back at them all.

“We’re coming up to the mountains, we’re going to have to land and travel the rest of the way on hoof.”

Chrysalis looked down and studied the tall, jagged peaks with barely-contained disbelief. “Why? Flying over them will be much easier. This seems like a trap to me.”

Glancing up, she caught the bat-pony rolling her eyes.

“It’s not a trap, I promise,” Beams reassured, still diving lower. “It’s dragon territory, and you don’t want to be flying over the peaks in full view of a horde of huge, scaly, firebreathers.”

Gulping, Chrysalis stopped complaining and flew lower. She’d met a dragon once, and had only managed to defeat it after it had burnt four of her guards to unrecognisable crisps and set fire to her tail.

Twice.

She did not wish to repeat the experience.

“Did someone say dragons?” Nigel spoke up, whizzing past to circle around High Beams. “I’d love to fight a dragon, make a lance and a shield and a horse… yeah, go all ‘Saint George’ on that scaly arse.”

High Beams followed Nigel’s flightpath with uneasy eyes. “You, ah… you don’t want to fight these dragons. They get all angry around this time of the year, mating season and all.”

That was a picture Chrysalis didn’t exactly wish to have, but it was too late for further questions or protests. A flat outcropping of rock was visible, a large sign with an arrow pointing towards a tiled road winding down the mountain. Evidently it was their goal, the bat-pony leading them down towards the area.

Chrysalis was the first to touch down, hoof landing on solid rock while her wings ceased buzzing. While the others all landed around her, she took the chance to stretch the tired wings after their four hours of flying. The others followed her example, even the bat-ponies flexing their wings and cricking their necks.

There was one thing missing, however. The sound of whatever Nigel was using to fly.

Glancing around, she could find no trace of him either on the ground or in the sky. Holey and Reflection had landed, Chrysalis totting over to interrogate them.

“Where is Nigel? He was messing around with you two just a moment before.”

Reflection glanced behind her with a puzzled look, while Holey merely lowered her head and adverted her gaze.

“He was right behind us,” muttered Reflection before she turned back around. “I’m sorry, but I could have sworn that he was there.”

“Where has that fool gone now?” she hissed in reply, Reflection and Holey jerking back. Glaring, Chrysalis resumed her search, getting angrier and angrier every moment. Her eyes narrowed to slits when she spotted her quarry, Nigel flying up over the edge of the outcropping and landing safely.

“Sorry all,” he apologised, walking over towards them. “A short pit stop was in order, I miss much?”

“You should have told someone,” Chrysalis lectured. “I thought you’d gone and crashed again.”

Chuckling, much to her irritation, he sauntered over and patted her on the back while smiling. “Aw, you were worried about me? And here I was thinking all of your sweetness had vanished.”

“Remove your hand,” she ordered, but in response he raised an eyebrow and rubbed lower. Chrysalis was torn halfway over whether to yell at him or praise him while the spot between her wings was soothingly massaged. Keeping her mouth shut and enjoying the sore muscles relaxing, she merely ignored the stares of the bat-ponies and her nobles.

“Still want me to remove it?”

“Shut up, I’m still mad at you.”

Not phased in the slightest, he laughed again and used his other hand to ruffle her mane. Turning to look at the confused bat-ponies, he gestured down towards her. “She may a little grouchy now, but once we’re in private she’s a complete sap.” She frowned and narrowed her eyes at him, Nigel shrugging with a troublesome grin. “Well, apart from tying me to the bed and falling asleep on me, that is.”

“You’re a pain,” Chrysalis grunted, regretfully pulling away from the thrice-accursed miracle hands and trotting down the path. “I regret ever agreeing to this folly.”

“Pfft,” he dismissed from behind her while the rest of them began to move. “Just you wait until we reach this city, we’ll see how tough you act when you’re being liquored up in a hotel room. I’ll break you out of that cranky shell.”

She ignored him, although she guilty thought fondly about his ‘threat’ while trotting down the cobbled path.

“I don’t get it,” Belfry whispered. “Is this really the same ‘ultimate evil’ human we’re supposed to be hunting?”

“I know, I know,” Beams replied with an equally soft voice. “It’s stumped me as well. Still, we can’t drop our guard, the Princess did say that he’s good at manipulating ponies after all.” She looked back to the front, the human still annoying Chrysalis at the front while they had been bringing up the very rear to talk in private.

“Really? So far the most danger seems to be of him causing the Queen to snap and murder us all. Did you see him grab her rump before? She looked ready to gore him.”

“She also didn’t really put much effort into stopping him,” Beams reminded her subordinate. “I think all the arguing is a front, just have a look at those nobles they brought along.” Both of them glanced at the mentioned changelings, all ten talking amongst themselves in the middle of the group. The two bat-ponies at the front and the two behind the changelings had their ears raised, no doubt listening in to the discussions. “Besides from them appearing to be just as confused as us about this trip, remember what he called them?”

“His ‘descendants’, right?” She shuddered. “Oh, I just got a picture of what that would look like, ew.”

Beams also got a mental picture, but it was less about human-changeling hybrid abominations but more about the initial steps in creating human-changeling abominations.

It was not a welcome image.

“I really hope he means it in a symbolic way, is… the other way even physically possible?”

“Changelings are weird,” Belfry reminded, before sticking out her tongue and scrunching up her face. “Great, now you’ve got me thinking about it. Thanks a lot, Sarge.”

“Thanks for what?” Both Beams and Belfry looked up, Bites joining them with his head tilted.

“Not you, I was thanking Beams,” Belfry clarified, before lowering her voice further. “We were talking about how Mr Two-Legs called those nobles his descendants.”

“Oh,” Bites nodded, before doing a double take. “Wait, why in Luna’s name would you be talking about that!?”

“Bites, shut it!” Beams hissed, a few of the changelings looking back at them while trotting along. She waited until they returned to their own conversations before glaring at her Sergeant. “You have to be quiet, okay?”

“Fine,” he huffed back. “I’m sorry, okay?”

“It’s fine, just… if we lose this cover, we’re outnumbered two-to-one not even taking the human and Queen into account.” Both Belfry and Bites stopped talking, and she let out a sigh. “Look, I was just a little curious. Let’s all forget about it, focus on the end goal, and get through this in one piece, okay?”

“Yes Ma’am.”

“I guess.”

Taking note of Bites’ reply in contrast to Belfry’s, she left them both to move to the front of the group. Upon passing the changelings she could feel their scowls and stares, and… something else. Whipping her head around, they all gave her a final look before returning to their own business.

Except for one who seemed to be looking in the completely opposite direction.

Dismissing it as nothing, she continued on with her focus being the two beings walking and trotting at the far front. The Queen and human were initially oblivious to her approach while they talked, Beams even catching Chrysalis with a surprising smile.

Coughing into her hoof to announce her presence, Beams trotted up to them while Chrysalis’ smile once again disappeared and morphed into a glare.

“Ms Beams,” the human greeted with a nod of his head. “Joining us at the head of the pack, I see.”

Trying to ignore Chrysalis, Beams cleared her throat. “I’m afraid it’s for different reason than you may think. We’ve made good progress, but it’s nearly going to reach midday and we need to make camp. There’s a spot at the start of a forest just up ahead, it’ll do fine.”

“Lunch?”

She shook her head, although her stomach did grumble at the mention of food. “Not just a rest. That is where we are going to camp for the night so we can reach the city in the morning.”

“Why?” Chrysalis questioned in a hard voice. “Why stop now instead of making it to your city tonight? It seems like a waste of time.”

A nod from the human. “Going to have to agree with Chrissy, I’m sure we’d all prefer to get there sooner.”

“It’s not a waste of time,” Beams tried to explain. “Remember those dragons I mentioned before? They’re active once it warms up in the day, such as now. If we camp in the forest for the night, we avoid those dragons and all emerge burn-free and un-eaten.”

“Oh come on,” Chalmers rolled his eyes. “It’s just a few dragons, I can take the-“

“Actually, camping sounds good,” Queen Chrysalis hurried out with a pause in her trots. “Not that I’m tired or afraid of your… puny dragons, but… my nobles and, well…”

“If you wish to camp, then we will be happy to follow your request.” Beams noticed the human’s hand gently start to rub the back of Chrysalis’ neck. “You are our guides, after all.”

Deciding to not inquire further, Beams nodded and turned to wave a wing at Dream and Sweeps. The two galloped towards them, Beams nodding towards the forest ahead of them. “Can you two please check the usual spot?”

“Of course,” Dream replied with a glance towards the Queen and human, while Sweeps merely nodded. Both rushed off, ears and eyes alert to pick up any signs of the hostile flying lizards. Looking back to the Queen and human, Beams tried her best to give them a warm smile while slowing her trot. “I’ll let you two have some privacy, I’ve got to talk to my colleagues about our camping plans.”

With that, she dropped back and stood beside the path to let the main group pass her. Heading to Belfry and Bites, she ensured that there was ample distance between them and the changelings.

“I’ve learnt a few things that might be of interest,” she whispered. “In particular, something I’ve noticed about the Queen…”

Nigel sat down against the fallen tree stump with a clang, the armour he wore actually heavy when not powered. Glancing around at the forest clearing, he snorted to himself when he looked up towards the cloudy sky above.

“Some spot to hide in a forest,” he muttered, noticing that all of the trees were blackened and bare. “Anything flying overhead could easily spot us.”

Returning his attention back to the group, he shook his head at the obvious divide. Chrysalis was wandering around the clearing, peering around trees nervously with glances towards the sky. The nobles were sitting in a loose circle on the patches of dead grass, their backs towards everyone else.

Meanwhile, the bat ponies were whispering amongst themselves over on the far side. Watching them eat what looked like dried fruit out of cloth bags, he got an idea of how to whittle away the hours and attempt to improve his standing at the same time.

“Hey,” he called out to the nobles, all ten glancing at him. “If anyone wants a feed, I’m available.”

None reacted immediately, but slowly two got up and trotted towards him with the stares of the others on their backs.

Nigel smiled at Reflection, and he took a guess that the second was Holey. Reflection smiled back, sitting down beside him while Holey hesitated.

“Go ahead,” Reflection prompted. “He won’t bite, and you did say that you needed the energy.”

“But… the others,” Holey mumbled, Nigel peering past her to observe the reactions. He only caught one glare, and that was predictably from Cupid, so he turned his attention back to Holey and smiled.

“They’ll all be getting the same sooner or later,” he reassured, holding out an arm. “Just ignore them, it’s not nearly as bad as you seem to think it is.” Turning to Reflection, he gave her a quick hug and pat on the back as a demonstration. She hummed with a smile, Nigel pulling back and raising an eye at Holey. “See? Painless.”

Gulping, Holey resumed her approach but stopped just short of him. “How do I… I mean how does-“

Rolling his eyes, Nigel reached out and grabbed her, pulling her in as he embraced her. Holey froze on all four hooves, but in only a few moments she began to relax. “Oh, that’s sort of nice.” Her hind legs went down and her rump hit the dirt, but she remained leaning in. “This isn’t so bad after all.”

“See?” Reflection grinned. “Nothing to it at all. We get fed and he gets to hug us, win-win.” Holey remained silent, a dozy grin on her face while her neck fin was carefully rubbed. It was only the approaching hooves that broke the moment, Nigel looking up to see Buzz standing behind Holey with a sheepish look.

“Uh, hi,” the changeling greeted with a small wave of a hoof. “So, I heard that you were offering free energy…”

‘Nothing there, or there, or there.’

Chrysalis gave the north side one final examination before glancing up to the darkening sky. A shiver ran down her back, the dark clouds reminding her of the smoke from a dragon’s nostrils. Taking a second to swallow a lump in her throat, she took a deep breath and turned to head back to the main group.

“This forest is hardly suited…”

She trailed off upon seeing Nigel against a tree-trunk, the ten nobles sitting or laying down around him. They were either at rest or talking quietly with each other, save for Cupid who was brooding the furthest away with her head resting on her forelegs. Joy was even on her side in Nigel’s lap, eyes closed while Nigel chatted idly with Sheen.

‘Here he goes again,’ she thought, glancing over at the bat ponies and noting that all appeared to be asleep save for the leader who watched over the opposite direction. ‘Spoiling them with attention, desired or not.’

Trotting over and navigating her way through the slumbering nobles, she stopped to look down at him with a stare.

“Hey Chrissy,” he greeted with a wave, Sheen instantly going quiet. “Come to join us? Sheen here was just telling me about how changeling society works. Do you really regulate who gets to have children with whom? Seems a bit harsh, really”

“Oh, has he now?” She tried to keep her voice steady, looking down at Sheen. “I cannot think for the life of me just why he chose that topic.”

Nigel snorted with a slight chuckle. “It’s probably because of this drone he also mentioned. Cypher I think her name was.”

“Nigel!” Sheen hissed. “Don’t tell Chrysalis about it!”

“Why not? If she tries anything I’ll sort her out, don’t worry.”

“Sort me out?” She had to resist the urge to smack herself in the face with a hoof. Instead, she pointed said hoof at Nigel. “You’re the one wearing armour over my bedsheet that you’ve turned into a dress-“

“Not a dress,” he defended, raising a finger. “It’s a full-length, one-hundred-percent manly battle kilt, thank you very much.”

“It’s my bedsheet,” she repeated, narrowing her eyes. “You couldn’t even sort out a brain-damaged drone, let alone me.” Huffing, she flicked her head away and raised her nose in the air.

“You know what? It sounds like Crankalis is back.” Glaring at him, Chrysalis went to lecture him on the much-despised nickname but was beaten to it. “I suppose we need to pay her a tribute of hugs to encourage her to release our slightly-happier-and-cheerful normal Chrysalis back, hmm?” He patted the sparse patch of grass beside him, with a beckoning gesture from his finger.

Glancing with distain towards the still-sleeping Joy, and after considering the worth of bothering to wake her up and steal the far more appealing spot, she begrudgingly made to sit down in the offered spot on Nigel’s left. Grimacing as her rump rested upon the less-than-ideal grass, the hand that had been patting the ground found its way towards her mane. Settling down, she supposed that the affection received was a decent compromise.

“No dragons around?” Chalmers asked, Chrysalis sighing at what was to come.

“Not that I could see,” she replied.

“Still nervous then?”

“I am not scared!” she growled, sitting back and crossing her forelegs. “I am merely concerned for the safety of my nobles, and that is it.”

He chuckled softly at that, turning to face Sheen. “Did I ever tell you about the first time I found out Chrysalis was a changeling?” Sheen shook her head, Chrysalis searching her own memory for the moment mentioned. To her surprise and sadness, she realised that she couldn’t really remember more than a few snippets. “It was just after we’d taken over a griffon battleship, and had pulled into this small pony port town.”

All around, those awake listened in discreetly. Even Beams had her ears raised, straining to gather more information.

“Chrysalis was this sea-green unicorn who I believed was named ‘Sea Biscuit’.” He paused to let out a small laugh, shaking his head with a smile. “Ah, I can still remember how hilarious it was. Anyway, so she was pretty much this bubbly and curious pony who asked far, far too many questions. So much that the pirate crew assumed she was enamoured with me and so began the scuttlebutt spreading.”

As he recited the story, Chrysalis couldn’t help but also smile at the reminder. She was so naïve back then, a drone running away from her Queen to seek adventure and excitement. There had been no idea of what she was in for. The hand on her head moved down to her neck, relaxing her further while the tale continued.

“Me and Chrissy were walking along the docks when we saw this trade ship. There was this merchant with a cage, and inside were ten chattering nymphs.”

“Wait,” Buzz tilted his head and asked from his spot. “You don’t mean,,,?”

“I do,” Nigel confirmed. “Those ten are exact same ten to bear your names. At the time I didn’t even know where I was, let alone what a changeling was, so I wanted to purchase one as a pet.” Another laugh. “Then, this bossy mayor buys the entire cage off this merchant, causing Chrysalis to argue with them about it.”

Chrysalis’ eyes widened when he pulled her closer against him, the nobles watching intently. “She was actually pretty adorable, and then she changed in this green flash. The Mayor lost her shit at it and ordered her to be killed, but me and Chrissy both fought them off and took over the town.”

“You mean you fought them off,” she reminded, starting to remember. “You shot at them.”

“I conducted a diplomatic action aimed at defusing the situation through the use of energy weapons fire. It worked, didn’t?”

“I suppose.”

Giving her a victorious smirk, he looked back towards the watchers. “Well, after I had a brief chat with her regarding the shapeshifting and all that, we took the ten nymphs and named them all. From then on, Chrysalis treated them like her own children where’s I usually just fed them and caused endless amounts of trouble with them.”

She outright laughed, even surprising herself with her mirth. “Ha! Remember the pancakes?”

“And when they started to fly!” he added with a grin. “How you tried to control them and they just flat out ignored you and crashed into everything?” Nigel pointed at Keith. “You, your ancestor was the worst in that regard. There was this one time he jumped onto the First Mate’s back, and I swear everyone though she was going to murder him on the spot.”

Chrysalis couldn’t help but snort with laughter, resting her head on his shoulder while they both laughed long and hard. Everyone was awake now, all of the changelings and bat ponies staring at them both like they were insane. Even Joy awoke and quickly vacated the lap once she noticed the proximity of her Queen.

Pressing up against him, Chrysalis didn’t even bother changing spots while she sighed wistfully. “I miss those days. Tell me more.”

“Okay then,” he continued, still hugging her from the side. “Remember when we went to visit Morning’s ship, and the nymphs came along…”

Sheen woke up with a start, realising that there was an arm around him. Alarmed by the metal-covered appendage, he pulled back and winced. The sky was dark, night having fallen with even the moon unable to shine fully through the clouds.

Evidently he had ended up falling asleep against the human, Nigel breathing lightly while Chrysalis let out an occasional muffled snore. Looking at the two, Chrysalis leaning up against Chalmers, he recalled how the Queen had been so oddly happy over the last few hours. Even her voice, normally scary and terrifying, had sounded strangely warm when laughing with genuine joy. He had only ever heard her laugh at the misfortune of others, so it was a welcome surprise.

A quick look around revealed that his brethren were all asleep, scattered around a small area surrounding the Queen and human. An occasional leg twitched or a wing buzzed, but that was it. Leaving them all to dream, he glanced towards the bat-pony area. There were three tents set up, none of the guides visible save for one over by the direction they were to head.

He wasn’t very tired, always having been an easy sleeper, but there wasn’t anything he could think off that would help pass the time until another changeling woke up.

Well, there was one thing.

Getting to his hooves quietly as to not disturb anyone, he carefully moved around sleeping forms and headed towards the bat-pony sentry. The air was surprisingly warm on his chitin, and he briefly wondered why the creatures guiding them needed tents.

‘Must be a pony thing,’ he deduced, the sentry noticing him approach and turning to look at him.

He easily identified her as one of the mares, the one named Dream if he remembered correctly, and he ensured to make no threatening motions. His eyes glanced at the short-sword she had in a silver-edged black sheath by her hooves, and he stopped just short of her.

“Something wrong?”

She studied him for a few moments, before turning back around and gesturing forwards with a wing. After a second of examining the bat-wing, making a note to try and imitate a bat-pony sometime, he trotted forwards and looked out.

There was a bright glow on the horizon, the flickering light growing and ebbing steadily while he watched.

“Dragons,” the bat-pony nodded with a hoof pointing towards the sky. “Look, you can see the smoke above us.” Sheen did as instructed, eyes widening when he saw the sky filled with black smog. “They’re burning down the forest, like they did with this section last year.”

“Why?”

“Looking for gems, probably,” she explained. “Dragons are like that, burning down entire forests so they can dig to find a few shiny gems. They’ve been attacking the city since forever, trying to get at our mines.”

Sheen felt a momentary flash of panic, dragons having a bad history with changelings.

“A-are they going to be trouble?”

The mare laughed softly, although he could see her shiver despite the warm night.

“Trouble? That’s where we have to trot through tomorrow. You better hope they find some gems and leave, or we’re going to have some real problems.”

Beams glanced around warily while she trotted along the ash-covered ground, her short sword’s grip held ready in a wing. They were all traveling along in a single-file column, the changelings and human in the middle looking around with similar alertness. They had given her squad a few glances when all of the weapons had been drawn, but hadn’t said a word about it.

Currently, changelings and humans weren’t a threat in her mind compared to what she knew could be out there.

Even the human had been quiet, now fully encased in his black armour. She had no clue where he had gotten the rest of the pieces from, but at the moment she wouldn’t have cared if he had pulled a castle from his rump. Queen Chrysalis was trotting behind him closely, the changeling royal not looking happy at all about their situation.

“Just keep quiet,” she whispered for the hundredth-time while she passed a still-smouldering tree. “Dragons are impatient, and would have left here soon after burning it. They might still be in the surrounding areas, but if you don’t make too much noise then we’ll be fine.”

Her words of reassurance didn’t match her own fear, Beams knowing full well that Dragons were as unpredictable as creatures got. She had been lucky enough to never face one during her time in the city guard, being placed in the Equestrian Lunar Guard fairly quickly as a reward for good service.

“You seem to know a lot about dragons, for diplomats,” the human softly observed, Beams quickly whispering back.

“Trust me, you travel to and from the city a lot, you learn about dragons and how to avoid them.”

It was true, it just didn’t mention that she wasn’t actually a diplomat. Still, the human appeared to buy it, returning to silence once more.

They travelled for another slow hour, forest once again starting to give way to rocky paths. She could see the massive mountain that housed the capitol in the distance, her hopes soaring at the sight of home and release from traveling with her enemies.

Unfortunately, just as she had finished climbing a large rock in their path, those hopes were crushed when Corporal Belfry let out a yell.

“Hey, let go of my tail!”

Beams whipped around, hoping desperately that it was just a changeling getting too bold in his advances. Unfortunately, her mind reminded her that Belfry was acting as the rear-guard, right about the time that her eyes informed her of the two dragons standing on the forest path they had just left. Quickly, she assessed the threat and situation.

The first priority was the bulky grey dragon, one claw holding Belfry’s tail and the second pinning down her forelegs. He was perched over her, grungy yellow eyes gazing greedily at them all. Belfry’s sword was still in its sheath, but it was not designed to pierce dragon scales so it was next to useless anyway.

The second dragon was smirking at them all while standing on his hind legs, taloned arms crossed across a scaly blue chest. He had the same eyes as the first, although instead of red scales his were a dull bronze. Belfry continued to kick, but even her metal shoes did nothing against her captor. Judging from the size of them, the two creatures were likely recent young adults.

The changelings all immediately backed away, leaving the human and the other three squad members to face the dragons. Her fear shoved to the back of her mind, Beams rushed up beside them. Weapons were all drawn, save for the human who calmly removed his helmet from a section on his waist and put it on.

“Ha! Like those puny things will do anything to us!” the blue drake snorted with a laugh, pointing a talon at their swords. Showing off his teeth with a grin, he cricked his neck and made an exaggerated sniffing motion. “I smell gems. Lots of lovely, shiny, tasty, gems. I like gems, if you couldn’t tell. You have gems, I have an empty stomach, and we also have your friend here. And, let’s just say that if I don’t get any gems, I’m sure a tasty bat-pony will do.”

He leaned down and gave Belfry’s face a long sniff, Belfry closing her eyes and scrunching up her mouth while pulling away. The grey dragon laughed deeply, the blue dragon nodding while standing back up straight. “And I have to say, she does smell amazingly tasty.”

“You know Claws, she’s a little too tasty to just eat straight away,” the large drake wheezed.

“You’re scum,” Belfry spat.

“Maybe,” the blue dragon, the apparent leader of the pair, nodded. “I have to admit that robbing bat-ponies, a metal minotaur, and whatever those bug-horses are is not exactly seen as a high art, but it gets me and Bulges here gems.”

He licked his lips. “I’m a nice guy though, so I’ll offer you all a deal. Pass over the gems, and I’ll let the little Miss here go without a single scratch.” He shrugged. “If not, we’ll just pick which ones of you we like, keep them for later, burn the rest of you, and then take your gems anyway.” He chuckled, drawing a claw down Belfry’s face. “That could also work.”

Glancing back at the changelings for an answer, she found them all frozen with fear. Even Chrysalis had gone pale, the Queen backing up continuously with frantic glances from the dragons to the human.

Looking up to the human beside her, she gazed pleadingly into the faceless helmet visor. He didn’t react at first, before he looked back at the dragon holding Belfry and then shrugged. “Sure, pass over the gems.”

“But we need-“

“Reflection, just do what he says.”

Queen Chrysalis didn’t sound nearly as scared as she looked, and Belfry heard the sounds of numerous bags being taken off. Three changelings crept up and threw ten bags at the two dragons, the brown sacks landing on the rocks before them. One tipped over and spilled out two rubies and an emerald, the dragons rushing forward to scoop all of the bags and gems up. Belfry was forgotten, and she immediately bolted for the relative safety of the group.

Beams could see that her eyes were wet, but kept her pity hidden to present a strong face to the drakes.

“Jackpot, there are more here than we’ve found this entire month!” Watching the dragons cackle over their haul, Beams glanced to the rest of her squad. They were trembling under their cloaks, Sweeps’ wing so unsteady that it looked like he was going to drop his sword any moment. Then, she noticed a metal-covered hand waving them back.

“You might want to pull back to the main group,” the human muttered, eyes still on the dragons as they shifted through the gems. “I hate people taking my things.”

“What are you going to do?” Beams still backed up, the other three still bat-ponies with her following her lead.

“Something stupid and dangerous,” was all the human said, before he took a step forward and cleared his throat. “Gentlelizards.”

“You what?” The leader, fist full of gems, glared at him. “Did you just call us lizards?”

The human seemed to hesitate. “…I did.” Ignoring the glares, he continued. “I would have asked the appropriate term of address, but we are in a hurry. So I’ll get straight to the point. I’m going to make you a deal.”

“Ha! Like what?”

“Simple. You and your fat friend give us back our gems, and I won’t have to kill you.”

There was a stunned silence, before the leader burst out into laughter. Bulges, however, didn’t share his mirth at the situation.

“Did you just call me fat?”

Claws wiped his eyes. “I think he did, and I also don’t like his tone.” The yellow eyes narrowed wickedly, Claws raising his gem-filled fist over his head. “You want your gems back?”

The human took another step forwards. “If you eat them, I’ll cut open your stomach and take them back with my bare hands.”

Snorting, Claws opened his mouth and dropped the gems in. Beams’ eyes widened as they disappeared down his gullet, the human’s armoured back glowing a bright blue. Claws didn’t notice, he was too caught up with rubbing his stomach contently.

“Mhmm, those were so good. Now I also get to see what your sort of canned food tastes like for desser-“

Claws was cut off, the human suddenly rushing forwards with a bust of speed. Blue flame exited out of the back of his armour, propelling him towards the completely unprepared dragon as a wicked right hook was unleashed with a metal fist.

Teeth were knocked out as the blow smacked Claws right in the face, the drakes’ head whipping around to the left as his eyes unfocused. He collapsed back, the blue flame dying out as the human fell down with him to land on top.

“I tried to be nice,” Chalmers casually stated, sitting atop of Claws and punching him again. “I tried to give you a chance.” Another punch. “I’ve been quite forgiving lately, all things considered. “The third punch knocked loose another few fangs. “But, holding in all of that anger and those violent thoughts is rather difficult.” Claws yelled out when he lost more teeth. “So when you go ahead and piss me off…”

The flapping of wings turned Beam’s attention from the brutal beating, the second dragon zooming around the side of the occupied human. She froze when Bulges opened his mouth wide, the spark of a glowing flame growing within.

“Nigel!” she heard Chrysalis yell from behind her. “Look out!”

Something kicked in her mind. Despite the chance to have one of their most dangerous enemies roasted alive, the genuine fear in Chrysalis’ voice threw her into action. Everything slowed down as, with a mighty flap from her wings, she flew and barrelled towards the fat dragon with her metal hoof outstretched.

‘Aim for the head, knock it out.’

Focusing, she had just enough time to hear muffled yells from her squad before she made contact.

Bulges had been completely focused on burning the human to ash, and as such she managed to get him right in the side of his head.

“Ah!”

Metal shoe made contact with drake scales, knocking the drake out of the sky and back onto the ground. All did not go according to plan, unfortunately. While the impact certainly achieved the desired result, it also had the unintended consequence of jerking her foreleg violently back. Beams cried out from the sudden pain, her wings momentarily failing her.

“Damnit,” she cursed, collapsing onto a large rock. She tried to move, but her leg continued to send sharp pangs of pain up her body. Gritting her teeth, she laid down and tried to ride out the pain.

“You little worm!”

A shadow covered her, Beams looking up to see a very, very pissed off Bulges rubbing his head with a claw. He stared down at her, his mouth opening to unleash more flame. Looking up into the brightening maw, Beams could only gulp.

‘Mistakes have been made.’

Wincing at the heat that was growing, she could hear the flapping of wings and the shouts of her comrades. Unfortunately, she knew that they wouldn’t make it in time.

A sharp zap and a fizzle sounded from behind her, before the uproar of combined noise fell into silence. Opening her eyes and looking up at her doom, Beams had to blink a few times to double check.

Bulges was swaying from side to side, his eyes unfocused and his face locked into an expression of shock. It was then that she noticed the smoking hole through his chest, right where his heart was supposed to be. The forest was visible through the other side, the surrounding scales of the hole scorched with a light green tinge.

Finally Bulges topped over onto his back, the only sound made being was his lifeless body hitting the rocks with a thud. Shaking, Beams looked behind her for the source of the salvation.

Queen Chrysalis was taking deep breaths, everyone staring at her as she gathered her breath. Her long horn was still smoking, the glow at the tip dying out to nothing. Beams didn’t even notice the Queen trembling, still caught up in her own fear.

“Wow Chrissy…”

Summoning her strength, Beams turned around to look at the voice. The human was still on top of Claws, armoured fist raised in mid-punch over a bloody and beaten face. He was staring a Chrysalis, his current quarrel forgotten.

“That was a bloody nice shot.”

“Two, three, four, five, half-digested rabbit, six…”

Reflection tried very hard to not think about what Nigel was doing, instead focusing on patting the shaken Chrysalis on the back. The Queen was still staring off into space, and who could blame her? They had all been frozen with fear at the very sight of the dragons; Chrysalis had gone so far as to fight one.

And had killed it with a single, well placed burst of magic.

Reflection doubted that any of the changelings present would ever show disrespect to Chrysalis’ face again.

“…Eight, nine, ten, eleven…”

Glancing towards the bat-ponies, she saw that they were still fussing over the two mares that had almost ended up as dragon food. Reflection would never admit it to Chrysalis or the others, but she thought that the bat-pony leader was incredibly brave for actually going up to fight the dragon in close combat.

“There, all gems accounted for!”

She winced when the final bag of gems was tossed down right beside her. There was still a metallic smell about the bag, and that same smell only worsened when Nigel stepped out to look down at them. Everyone stared at his as he rubbed his hands together, the vile fluid coating them making a disgusting squelching sound.

“Hey, you alright Chrissy?”

Reflection watched while Chrysalis raised her head to stare at Nigel, the queen silent for a few minutes.

“Let’s go,” Chrysalis suddenly announced, getting to her hooves. “I’ve had enough of dragons.”

“Can’t argue with that,” one of the bat-ponies, Bites, muttered while he passed them.

Reflection sighed and also stood up, reluctantly picking up the bag of gems that still smelt funny.

‘Why do I get the feeling that this is only the start of a long trip of disasters?’

Author's Note

Dear Princess Celestia, today I learned to never take Nigel's gems.

...Ever.

So, I hope you all had the stomach for that chapter. Get it? Stomac... oh, why bother? Anyway, puns aside, everyone has escaped relatively injury-free apart from Beams. Granted, there's likely a decent amount of mental scarring amongst their group, but such is life.

Oh, and I don't think Cupid's going to talk shit to Chrysalis ever again, either.

The first half may have been a little dull to begin with, but I tried to put a few laughs in there. It's probably obvious that I'm going for 'Irritated Chrysalis\Gibbering Loon' sort of thing here, and so far I think Chrysalis is fairly decently done.

Next chapter is, of course, going to be Nigel and Chrysalis with the brood in the city of the bat-ponies. I'm sure it will all go smoothing, I mean, Chrysalis is good at diplomacy and-

Oh.

Well, at least there's Nigel to help with the politicians-

Wait...

Oh shit.

Once again, feel free to ream me hard over any mistakes.

Food Fight

Chrysalis stared at the mountain ahead of them, her thoughts still on the fight that had happened an hour ago. The burnt forest had given way to rocks once again, the area generally barren save for a few hardy mountain shrubs.

The entire group was sitting down and waiting for Nigel to finish washing his armour and hands, the human smelling of dragon gore right up until they had found a small stream. None of the nobles had even spoken to him during the walk, and the bat-ponies were keeping to themselves more than usual. He didn’t seem to mind, strolling along as usual without seeming to care about the fact that he had nearly become flame-grilled human.

Chrysalis herself didn’t know what to feel. On one hoof she’d faced one of her great fears, and had even defeated it with a shot through the heart, but on the other she was seriously double-guessing Nigel’s behaviour. Granted, she’d seen him be violent before, but this time there was no remorse or even acknowledgement that he’d done something.

She didn’t pretend that she was a good changeling at heart, but she couldn’t help but shudder at the memory of Nigel beating a dragon to death while calmly lecturing the creature.

The enthusiastic gem-retrieval efforts didn’t exactly help ease her fears, either.

The clacking of metal on rocks drew her attention, Chrysalis looking down to her left. It was the bat-pony leader, Beams or something along those lines. The pony was looking up at her awkwardly, and Chrysalis could feel Beams’ eyesight often rest on her horn.

“Your Majesty,” the pony softly greeted with an awkward cough. Chrysalis could see that she had one of her legs raised off of the ground. “I… uh, I’d just like to say thanks for the whole… dragon-thing. I was sure that I was going to be burnt to a crisp.”

Chrysalis stared at her without speaking, the bat-pony leader lowering her ears before beginning to back away.

“I’ll… I’ll give you some time to… yeah.”

With that, the mare turned and limped back to her comrades. Watching her the whole time, Chrysalis caught the looks that all of the wary looks that the foreigners were giving her. Glancing towards her own nobles sitting off to the side, her eye twitched when she saw the exact same looks from them as well.

Focusing back on her own forehooves, she didn’t even notice the sound of splashing water cease until a wet hand placed itself on her withers.

“You okay there, Chrissy? You seem a little out of it.”

Looking up into the blue optic of the black helmet, she sighed. “I suppose I am. I just need some time to gather my thoughts.” Grimacing, she hesitated before asking the next question. “And how are you?”

Nigel took a deep breath, Chrysalis knowing that underneath his helmet was a large smile. “Never better, to be honest. Out in the wild, exploring the world with the grandkids and you, fighting dragons and taking names… it’s glorious.” He paused when she stared at him. “What?”

“I think I just need some time to gather my thoughts,” she repeated, Nigel thankfully taking the hint without apparent issue.

“Sure, I have to check up on the guides anyway. Let me know when you’re good to go again, we both need to be in tip-top form once we get to the city.”

Chrysalis watched him walk away towards the bat-ponies, wondering if she may have bitten off a little more than she could chew.

‘She’s probably just shaky from the fight,’ Nigel reasoned, leaving Chrysalis in peace. ‘She never really was that good at hiding her emotions.’

He stopped thinking about Chrysalis’ behaviour when the bat-ponies saw him and turned. Approaching them, he slowed and sat down on a large rock with a few meters to spare. The five were sitting on their packs in a tight cluster, and he noticed that the mare who’d initially been caught by the dragons was staring down at her rear hooves. The bat-ponies all drew closer when he sat, two in particular putting their wings protectively around the unresponsive one.

“Hi all,” he greeted, not missing the winces at his voice. “How you all holding up?”

There was silence for a few moments, before Diplomat Beams glanced around at her fellows.

“We’re all alive and un-cooked,” she answered, then gestured at the one in the middle of the group. “Belfry’s a bit shaken up, but she’ll be ready to move shortl-“

“I’m fine to go now,” Belfry suddenly spoke up, getting to her hooves and lifting up her pack.

Beams gave her a concerned look. “Are you sure?"

“I’m sure,” came the grumbled reply. “Pretty much all of this is kind of my fault anyway.”

Nigel didn’t comment on that, instead he stood up and made to return to Chrysalis. Obviously he wasn’t needed, and he was sensing some underlying problems within the diplomatic group that were probably best left to them to sort out.

“Okay then, lead the way.”

Walking back, he paused when the trotting of hooves followed him. Glancing to his left, he slowed to allow Beams to speak.

“Thank you for giving those gems to the dragons. I don’t think they were joking when they made all of those threats towards Belfry.” She glanced back to her group. “She didn’t say it, but she’s thankful that you did as well.”

“It’s all good,” he waved a hand in dismissal. “No harm has been done apart to the dragons, and we’ve still got all of our gems and silver. Besides, without you bat-ponies we wouldn’t even have left the hive and even thought to travel to your city. On that note, I should probably also thank you for the opening you gave Chrysalis. You’re braver than me, going in without any armour at all.”

He left out the fact that the dragon’s fire was unlikely to harm him through his armour, happy to let the pony leader have that one.

Beams was looking at him strangely, her eyes narrowed with confusion.

“That’s fine as well,” she mumbled, halting before they reached the Queen. “I better be heading back to lead us on, but we’re nearly at the city.”

Shrugging when she left, he returned to Chrysalis just as she was getting to her hooves.

Nigel once again caught a flash of confusion on Beam’s face, before the diplomat turned on her hooves and trotted off. Shrugging it away, he returned to the still-silent Chrysalis and gave the seated queen a pat on the shoulder. “Good to go?”

“I suppose,” Chrysalis mumbled, getting to her hooves. “It does mean that we can leave this horrible place.” A shuffling to their right caught their attention, the nobles all getting up as well. Nigel frowned when Chrysalis glared at the ten. “Hurry up, we’re leaving!”

“Hey, no need to snap at-“

“Nigel, not now!”

He jerked his hand back at the sudden snarl she directed at him, Chrysalis’ sudden swing in mood far more startling than the fangs she bared. The area was quiet save for the faint chirping of a single bird in the sky above, Chrysalis continuing to glare at him.

Nigel resisted the urge to engage her back, moving his right hand behind his back so Chrysalis couldn’t see him clench it into a fist.

“Someone’s cranky,” he muttered after taking a few seconds to relax, before he turned and ambled off towards the ten nobles. She didn’t say anything as he left, although he could still feel her stare on his back.

He reached the ten changelings just as the bat-ponies, previously having been watching Chrysalis’ outburst, started to clamber over the rocks with the mountain being their apparent goal. Chrysalis followed the bat-ponies without pause, Nigel waiting for the others to move before bringing up the rear.

He walked over the rocks without much difficulty, his helmet attached to his side. The sun was rising in the sky but thankfully the heat had yet to set in, although the bed-sheet toga that he was wearing underneath his armour no longer felt as comfortable as it once did. Pausing in an attempt to resettle it, he looked up when he heard hoofsteps on the rock.

Expecting Reflection given the fact that she had so far been the most welcoming, he was instead surprised to find that it wasn’t her. There was no healing crack in the side of the newcomer’s chitin, and it took him a moment to identify the short female.

Recognising Holey due to the noticeably plumper frame compared to her fellows, he raised an eye when she hesitantly approached and waited for him. Resuming his walking, she moved alongside and matched his pace without a word.

It took her a few minutes to find what she wanted to say, Nigel deliberately lagging behind but still keeping the main group in sight.

“So… how’s things?”

Nigel had to hold in a chuckle at that attempt to start a conversation, Holey immediately folding her ears down while muttering to herself.

“Stupid… what was I thinking?” Clearing her throat, she tried again. “Uh, I mean I heard you and Chrysalis fighting before. Are things not going well?”

“Really?” Nigel replied, not even bothering to correct Holey’s failure to use Chrysalis’ title. “What ever, ever gave it away?” She folded her ears down again, causing him to sigh and elaborate. “Look, Chrysalis is obviously moody, and she kind of has been since I came back. It’s all up and down with her at the moment.”

“Well, it’s a bit better than her just being mean all of the time like she used to be.”

“Yeah, well it’s not like I’m not making an effort to keep her happy and all.” He noticed the stare, and folded his arms across his chest. “What? I have been.”

Holey paused to jump up onto a large boulder in her path, looking at him all the while. “You did just… kill a dragon a few hours ago, and then… cut it open.”

“She also killed one.”

“Well, yes,” Holey shuddered. “But she didn’t seem to, and please don’t be mad, enjoy it. It was very disturbing for all of us.” She kicked a pebble, her head hung low. “Changelings aren’t the nicest creatures by nature, but that was…”

“A bit much?” Holey nodded, Nigel glancing up to look ahead of them. He could just make out Chrysalis sulking at the head of the other nine nobles, all of them currently traversing a slope of loose pebbles. “Well, to be perfectly honest she’s seen me do far worse before.” Despite his excuse, her words did make him think.

‘Maybe it’s not what I did,’ he thought, recalling that Chrysalis had also taken down a scaly attacker. ‘She was pretty nervous about dragons as well.’

Shrugging, he decided to just pass it off for now. After waiting for Holey to scramble over another rock, he tried to put his mind off Chrysalis and move on to a different line of conversation.

“I appreciate the attempts, Holey, but I think that me and her just need to keep on adjusting to all of the changes. I’ll try leaving her alone for the next few hours or so, let her sought it all out with herself.” He kicked a rock, watching as it clattered down. “So I’ll hang back until we reach the city, then I suppose I’ll have to make sure she doesn’t just go and order all of the bat-ponies to be strung up from the roof in… cocoons I think she called them.” He paused, looking down at Holey. “Do you guys really do that, by the way?”

Holey’s hesitation answered that question before she had a chance to speak. “…rarely.”

Nigel shook his head at that, a chuckle escaping him despite his past words with Chrysalis. Normal people would probably find the concept of hanging living creatures from the roof to feed off their emotions appalling, but he honestly found it an amusing way to store one’s food.

Ignoring Holey’s once-again confused look, he wiped his nose before asking her another question.

“Well, it looks like you’re planning on sticking around me for a while. I’d have thought that you would have been following Cupid around, based on what I’ve been told.”

“I’m sure everyone has been telling you everything about the others,” Holey mumbled, before she sighed. “I… I’m the youngest of all of the lines, a year into adulthood, and that’s never a good thing when you’re a changeling. The higher you are means the more changelings you can boss around. I’m a noble and part of the Queen’s favoured bloodlines, but even then I’m the youngest out of the ten.”

She paused speaking in order to swerve around another boulder. “Sure, Cupid’s not the nicest out of everyone and I have to act kind of mean to stay friends with her, but she’s the second-oldest and can protect me from the others.”

“Protect you from the others? Why? So far, only Cupid has really been an issue in my experience.”

“Yeah, well you’re big and scary-looking,” Holey huffed. “Plus, you’re the consort-“

“Please refrain from calling me that.”

“-of the Queen,” she finished after his interruption. “So you’re higher socially than all of us as well. It’s not really an issue for me most of the time, but it can get really bad sometimes. Buzz used to take half of all of my love rations when we were little, as long as the nurses and Chrysalis weren’t watching.” Holey looked down at her forelegs. “I’m probably the shortest because of that, the Queen mentioned that lack of love can stunt growth.”

“Nah,” he counted, the armour of his right hand sliding up so he could give her a pat on the head. “The Holey I knew as a nymph was the smallest as well, and Buzz back then was almost twice the size of her.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

“Huh,” Holey muttered, before shaking her head. “Anyway, he’s pretty nice now and he even apologised for what he used to do, but from time to time there are still issues with the others. So, I stick around Cupid and I usually get left alone.”

Nigel looked her up and down, Holey taking notice but not saying a word. After a few moments, he shrugged and gestured to the group ahead.

“You know, you don’t need Cupid to protect you. You’re a very nice changeling, Holey, and all ten of you are adults now. I suspect that if you stop acting mean and following Cupid around like a…” He refrained from using the word ‘drone’, considering it was an actual changeling social class. “Lackey, then you might find them warming up to you. Look at them now; they’re all happily talking to each other already.”

Holey looked up, before she let out a snort. “When you consider the other choices for conversation partners are the bat-ponies, the angry Queen, or the human who just killed a dragon-”

“Very funny. Besides, you’ve managed to find the courage to speak to the much-feared dragon-slayer.”

His companion went silent for a few moments, before looking up. “Yeah, I guess.”

Nigel smiled slightly as they continued to trudge closer to the mountain, his mind already forgetting the argument with Chrysalis.

Beams swallowed a lump in throat when she climbed up the last slope of the path and set eyes upon the massive cave mouth.

It itself wasn’t imposing, and in actuality the familiar sight would normally be welcoming as it led to home, but the prospect of bringing in changelings and the human into her home city spoiled her joy. She could make out the ten guards posted outside of cave mouth, and highly doubted that convincing them to let in the changelings was going to work without issue.

Turning to nod at the next soldier in line, Belfry, Beams quickened her pace towards the guards in the hopes of avoiding having the cover blown.

‘I don’t even know what to do once they’re in the city,’ she silently cursed, the guards looking towards her with their wings on their sword hilts. ‘Trap them in a hotel? Ambush them in a cave? Gah, why can’t things just be easy?’

“Halt!”

She stopped just in time, two of the guards moving up to examine her. They were both stallions wearing the light silver-plated breastplates and helmets of the City Guard, and Beams insured that her wings and forelegs remained clearly visible.

“Staff-Sergeant High Beams of her Majesty’s Lunar Guard,” she quickly fired off with a whisper. “I apologise for the haste, but we have an urgent matter of great importance to deal with. My squad and I are on a mission from Luna herself, and I must stress that I require entrance to the city immediately to see the council.”

The guards stared at her, Beams sneaking a glance back to see that the last of the changelings crest the edge.

“Ma’am,” the first guard replied with a raised eyebrow. “You must understand that such claims will need proof-“

“There’s not much time,” she cut off, lowering her voice even further. “We had to dump our armour and papers to help with the deception. I have to urge you to refer to me as ‘Diplomat’, not Staff-Sergeant, and to not betray any knowledge of knowing this as a lie.”

“Ma’am-“

She could see the eye-roll from the second guard. ‘Urgh, I don’t have time for this!’

“Look, I’ve got the Queen of the Changelings herself and ten of her nobles behind me right now, along with one of Equestria’s most dangerous enemies! You need to let us in, organise a meeting with the council, and distract the changelings long enough for us to spring a trap and capture them!”

The first guard shook his head, about to open his mouth to protest.

“Something the matter?”

Beams nearly jumped out of her fur at the sound of Chalmers’ voice right behind her. Judging from the way the two guards leapt back with a flutter of their wings, they hadn’t noticed him approach either.

‘How in Luna’s name did he sneak up like that?’ She gulped after the thought while looking up at the fully-armoured and helmeted biped. ‘I hope he didn’t overhear anything, or I’m so dead.’ The human seemed focused on the guards however, the other eight at the cave mouth watching but not approaching. The pair that she had been speaking with shared a look, before glancing back at Chalmers.

“Ah… no?” the first guard hesitantly answered.

“Good,” Chalmers nodded, hands behind his back. “Is there anything I can do to speed up our entrance to the city?” He glanced down to her. “I must admit, Diplomat Beams, disembowelling that dragon really has taken it out of me and I look forward to sampling your city’s hospitality.”

“Dr-dragon?” the second guard whispered, earning another nod in response from the human.

“Oh yes, nasty bugger. Put up a bit of a fight and all that, but we got him sorted out right and proper. I even managed to snag a tooth from him as a trophy.”

Beams had to fight to hold in her stomach contents when he withdrew a long fang from a compartment in his arm armour. It was five times the size of her own fangs, with a brownish-red stain that could only have been blood.

The guards both paled, their yellow eyes shrinking as they took another step back. Glancing once again at each other, the first guard tried his best to smile at her. “Ah, of course. St- Diplomat Beams, please gather your group and… guests to follow us inside. We’ll take you right to the council immediately.”

“Thank you.”

Her voice remained stoic, but inside she gave a relieved sigh. The first hard part was over, now all she needed to do was keep up the façade long enough to form a solid trap for her opponents.

“We’ll be right back with the others then,” Chalmers advised the guards, Beams turning to follow him after a final glance towards the cave mouth.

She desperately hoped that the gambit would pay off, the consequences of failure now would be even more dire than before.

Chrysalis continued to stare straight ahead while trotting forwards, her teeth grinding while the cave continued to echo with the sound of hoofsteps.

As soon as they had reached the cave mouth, the bat-pony leader had rushed ahead to talk with the guards posted. Soon after, Nigel had strolled out towards them, Chrysalis having caught enough of a glimpse to see him startle the guards and leader alike. Then, after a brief exchange of words, they had been permitted entrance into the cave.

Now, she was trotting through the torch-lit tunnel while surrounded by bat-pony guards. Their nervous and confused glances were only half as annoying as the jolly whistling that echoed out from behind her. Nigel seemed to be having the time of his life, the fool oblivious to the danger they were walking into.

Her glare deepened when she went over the likelihood of their shoddy plan actually working. Granted, yes the bat-ponies had historically little-to-no run-ins with the changelings under her rule, but Chrysalis knew that if it came down to supporting Equestria or them then the bat-ponies weren’t likely to pick the side of the changelings. To be honest she still thought the trip was a waste of time, the last few days ruining even the prospect of spending some alone time with Chalmers.

She quickly glanced behind her at the thought, spotting the armoured human walking amongst the group of ten nobles. Admittedly there had been a glimmer of their behaviour improving slowly, but she still held the opinion that he was far too soft on them. However, currently she was of the opinion that Nigel was causing far more trouble for her than any of her nobles had.

“Just a little further,” a female voice called back from the front of the guards leading them. Chrysalis returned her eyes to the front and grinded her teeth.

‘Nigel may be completely naïve in trusting her,’ she thought, resisting the urge to snarl back at the bat-pony leader. 'But I’m not. That bat-pony is up to something, I can feel it.’

Still, at the moment there was nothing to do but trot blindly into whatever trap was awaiting them. Chrysalis tried to focus her thoughts on the rhythmic sound of her hoofsteps and away from her problems. It wasn’t very effective however, and before long her mind drifted back towards the bipedal being behind her.

‘Moron, just what is he thinking?’ Scoffing to herself under her breath, Chrysalis stared down at her hooves. ‘To think that I once looked up to him and thought him amazing, what a foolish drone I once was. It’s obvious now that even he doesn’t know what he’s doing most of the time!’

Despite her sour thoughts, she couldn’t help but feel her heart give a twitch at the memories of the days long gone. Cursing under her breath and smothering the feeling of affection under a blanket of annoyed distaste, her face remained stony and cold.

It had only served as a reminder of how badly her life had gone, leaving her bitter and twisted as a result.

Chrysalis had no more time to reflect on her mood, however. Jerking her head up and stopping her hooves, she managed to avoid colliding with the rump of the armoured bat-pony stallion ahead of her when the group of guards stopped moving. Just before she had the chance to demand an explanation, the Head Diplomat trotted out of the guards with a foreleg and a wing pointing towards the front.

“Everyone,” High Beams addressed, an obviously forced smile on her face. “Welcome to the city of Noctis!”

Giving the bat-pony a harsh glare, Chrysalis grudgingly moved her eyes away from the leader and glanced at the no-doubt cheery and overly-colourful city of the bat-ponies.
Only for her lower-jaw to drop at the sight of the malicious-looking black spires that rose towards the massive cave ceiling.

“Well, that is admittedly quite the sight.”

Beams continued to try and hold her smile while she waited for the ‘guests’ the finish taking in the entire visage of her home city. The human was currently walking up to the edge of the ledge, a low whistle escaping from his expressionless helmet.

“Well, Chrysalis, you can’t say that it doesn’t make you feel right at home,” he continued on while the other changelings looked past him with wonder plain to see in their eyes. Beams turned around to have a good look herself, intrigued by his comment.

Looking over the large spires of obsidian that contained the city council and the great houses, she could see why he had said it. Tall and imposing, the sleek spires certainly shared a similar look with the changeling’s hive-castle thing that she had witnessed herself. Lights shined out from the windows that dotted the surface, and it would definably look unsettling to an outsider.

The spires towered over the rest of the city, houses and businesses made out of dull grey stone sitting next to the occasional marble government building. A single fort sat in the centre of it all, it and the guards patrolling its walls a reminder that changelings weren’t the only threat to the city. Her eyes went for the tallest spire, the council chambers being her next priority after making sure the ‘guests’ were settled in.

Beams turned to first Bites, then thought better and tapped Belfry on the shoulder. After a nod from the mare, Beams nudged the guard captain beside her before clearing her throat.

“I’m afraid that I have to head out ahead to… ensure that everything is ready for your arrival,” she lied, managing to only hesitate slightly. “Captain Lumen and his guards will escort you all to our city’s finest hotel, along with the rest of the diplomatic party. I’m sure everyone is tired after the trip, so we’ll arrange for a meeting with the council first thing tomorrow morning.”

She looked around, bracing herself for the flood of complaints that were sure to come. Surprisingly, all of the changelings were either silent or nodding slightly. The Queen was still scowling, but to be honest that was a given, and even the human didn’t object. A nudge from the guard captain was the only response, Beams leaning in so he could whisper in her ear.

“The fanciest hotel? Do you have any idea of how we’re going to pay for it?”

“Tell them it’s official city business and they’ll be reimbursed fully,” Beams whispered back, not wanting to have to deal with hotel managers at the moment.

“And if they refuse that?”

She rolled her eyes. “Make sure you show them your sword, then restate the order.” Turning away from the wide-eyed captain, she reluctantly gave the changeling Queen a respectful bow. “I will bring news as soon as I have it, and I’ll fly with haste.”

Turning towards the city, she prepared her wings for flight.

“Take your time.”

Ignoring the Queen’s mutter, Beams flapped and took off from the ledge. Soaring up towards the ceiling of the massive cavern, she paused and looked back. Captain Lumen was already leading the visitors down the large stone ramp intended for wagons and carts, Beams silently wishing him luck.

With the way things were going, he’d need it.

“This feels so wrong.”

Nigel glanced down at Joy while she muttered to herself. “What’s wrong?”

“This,” she tried to explain, glancing up and gesturing with her head. He looked out towards the crowd around them, the guards escorting them only partially screening them from the curious stares. “We’re not meant to just be trotting about without disguises on.”

Nigel didn’t know what she was so worried about, after all, he was the one armoured in black and towering over everyone.

“It shows that you’ve got nothing to hide,” he suggested, noticing Chrysalis glare at a small child up ahead of them. A sigh escaped him when the young bat-pony retreated back inside of the fruits store as fast as its hooves could carry it. “Just try to remain nice and polite, and you can even use Chrysalis as an example of what not to do.”

His last few words carried more venom then he expected, Joy quickly looking away and going quiet. Deciding to do the same, he focused forwards and kept his mouth shut.
The escort of guards and diplomats ensured a fast travel time past the crowd, their path taking them through what appeared to be a market district. Bat-ponies paused in their tracks to stop and stare, whispers and wide-eyes common to almost all of them.

In other circumstances he would have been happy to interact with the crowd and attempt to win them over, but for some reason he felt… down. Glancing once again at Chrysalis trotting ahead of him without a single bit of acknowledgement, he figured it was because she was ignoring him.

Nigel hated being ignored.

He went over many different ways to grab her attention. There was the very risky route of literally grabbing her, a likely disastrous plan involving a song and dance routine, and of course his usual backup plan of ‘start a fire’ would not be well-received by their hosts. All in all, save for causing absolute panic and getting slapped with a hoof, he doubted much would be achieved.

As he stared ahead and brooded, he couldn’t help but notice the rather rhythmic way the Queen walked. Chrysalis had gone and grown up on him, far from the adorable young drone that he’d once known.

Eyes going to her hindquarters, he couldn’t help but admit that she did have a pleasing form.

‘Yup, she’s certainly grown up in some ways at least.’

Pulling his gaze away, he decided to stare at the ground instead so that his current sulking couldn’t be overridden by other thoughts. The rather… ‘exotic’ taste he had developed over the years was steadily coming to the forefront, and he wasn’t too sure if it was going to prove to be a blessing or a curse when it came to dealing with the moody queen.

Their group eventually left the market area and turned into what he assumed was the back streets. Without looking around, he could tell that they had picked up some inquisitive followers. Judging by the way the guards occasionally and pointedly cleared their throats, such curiosity was firmly discouraged.

With the sword-armed soldiers around them, they were left alone for the remainder of their walk. Nigel looked up when the trotting slowed, to be met with the sight of what he assumed was the hotel that they were going to be staying in.

Truth be told, it wasn’t half bad judging from the outside. Marble pillars broke up the smooth stone walls, two solid wooden doors were swung open to reveal a warm entrance lobby, and inside a bat-pony couple dressed in fancy clothes veered away from the exit and made a very hasty detour towards a stairwell.

There was no more time for examinations, the guard captain gesturing with his head before trotting into the entrance hall. Nigel looked back and noticed that most of the guards stayed outside, only the captain plus two escorting them in. It was then on immediately to the reception desk, a single young mare in a light blue vest looking up from a magazine. She quickly closed it and patted down her dark-blue mane, her eyes widening once she noticed them.

“Hello Miss,” greeted the guard captain. “We’ve got twelve diplomats here that require rooms, the best ones.”

The receptionist took a few seconds to process the request, before she glanced at them all and slowly shook her head.

“I uh… I don’t think I can do that.” She paused to check a mass of papers before her. “For starters we don’t have enough deluxe single rooms-“

“We’re okay to share if needed,” Reflection spoke up.

“We do have doubles, though,” continued the receptionist with a slight twitch of her eye. “That’s not the main problem. I can’t just let you have all of the best rooms without warning, my boss will kill me.”

The Captain sighed. “The city will pay for it; it’s all on council business.”

Checking another paper taped to the desk, the young mare looked back up with a hopeful look. “Do you have a note signed by a council member?”

Watching the Captain sadly shake his head, Nigel noticed the stallion glance to the sword sheathed at his armour with a hesitant look before the guard smiled awkwardly at the receptionist.

“Look, I get it, but you have to understand that I’ve been given an order to get these guests your best rooms. And please, my bosses are a lot scarier than a hotel manager.”
A shudder. “You haven’t met my boss. He once reduced one of the council members to tears.” The receptionist glanced around, before looking behind her to a small door. “Still, I can go and see my manager about it, but it’ll take a while and all…”

Nigel knew from experience that she was trying to stall to avoid dealing with them, so he decided to act and hurry things along. Having gotten a quick glimpse at the questionable magazine hastily hidden inside of the gardening one she had been reading before their arrival, he’d already formed a plan. Glancing back towards Chrysalis, he also smirked before refacing the desk.

‘Let’s see her ignore me after this.’

The receptionist jolted in her seat and Captain Lumen stumbled back when Nigel moved forwards and leaned across the desk. Staring into the young mare’s wide eyes, he reached a hand up and removed his helmet.

It came away with a hiss of air, Nigel smiling warmly while she stared at his revealed face.

“You’ve got very pretty eyes,” he complimented, stunning her momentarily.

“I… ah, thanks?” Her eyes widened further when the armour slide back on his right hand, her left forehoof soon grasped with fingers. Everyone else had gone dead silent, and Nigel could feel Chrysalis glaring a hole into his back.

“My name’s Nigel, Nigel Chalmers. Excuse me for my forwardness, but it’s not every day that I am treated to meeting such an attractive mare such as yourself.” Her breathing quickened and he began to circle his fingers upon her foreleg, forming trails in the blue-grey fur. “Such physical beauty must surely be accompanied by an equally fitting name, Miss…?”

It took her a few moments to reply, a furious blush already evident on both cheeks. Stammering at first, she managed to provide it. “It’s… Mistletoe.” Gulping, she shifted on her spot and continued to stare into his eyes. “You’ve… you’ve got nice eyes as well.”

Despite his attempt, he couldn’t help but feel a small measure of pride at the compliment.

“Well, thank you for that,” he grinned, straightening slightly. Leaning further forwards, he used his other hand to hold her other foreleg. Almost nose to muzzle, he used his thumbs to rub the bottom of her forehooves absentmindedly. Mistletoe offered no complaint or resistance, her bat-wings standing up taut behind her. Chalmers could hear her heart beat rapidly, and there was equal parts confusion and arousal in her golden cat-like eyes.

“Now, how about we talk about those rooms we need, hmm? I understand that your boss might get angry at you for letting us in on such short notice, but the poor Captain here is telling the truth when he says that he’s been ordered to find us specific accommodation. All we need is two single rooms and five doubles, that’s all, and if we can get them soon them I’ll be ever so grateful.”

Mistletoe’s eyes went for the rack of room keys, and she fidgeted in her chair.

“I’d love to give them to you,” she mumbled. “But I’ll get-“

“If your boss causes a fuss, send him to me,” Nigel reassured, removing one hand to cup her around the face. Mistletoe’s breath hitched. “I’ll set him straight, and make sure that all of the blame is off you. What do you say?”

There was silence for a few seconds, Mistletoe seeming to not want to move, before she finally nodded. “O-okay, I guess if you’re okay with talking to him if he gets mad…”

“I am, trust me.”

She nodded again, Nigel pulling his hands away with a final pat on her head.

“I’ll send for the porters, and the maids will have the rooms ready in a few minutes.”

“Thanks so much, let me know if I can do anything to repay you.”

Turning around with his back to her, he gave everyone a victorious wink and strolled over to the awaiting water cooler. Chrysalis didn’t say anything, her gaze averted so she was scowling at the opposite wall, and the guards made no move to halt him.

Fumbling for one of the plastic cups, he paused and turned when he heard trotting beside him.

“Hey, Reflection,” he smiled, chuckling to himself. “Did you see that receptionist? She was like putty in my hands.”

Instead of a ‘congrats’ or even a laugh, all he got from her was a long, hard stare with silence. Then, she turned away and trotted towards Chrysalis who was brooding in the opposite corner.

‘Was it something I said?’ he wondered, before the approaching Captain Lumen whisked his attention away from her behaviour.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Hopping down from the window, Beams folded her wings back up as her hooves hit the stone floor of the main council chambers. The twenty nobles who effectively ruled the entire city rose from their cushion seats, forehooves banging on expensive wooden tables and demands for an explanation voiced by all. Rolling her eyes at the display, but reminded of the seriousness of the situation when four armed guards moved from the door towards her, Beams used one foreleg to lower her hood.

“Beams?”

Looking to the guards, she noticed one of the three mares staring at her with recognition.

“Lumie?”

It was now that she put a name to the face. Luminescence Splendour, who preferred the name ‘Lumie’ for obvious reasons, was a pony that she hadn’t seen in years.
Evidently her friend was just as surprised, a happy grin on her face soon growing while she continued to approach. Beams found herself smiling as well, the rest of the room going quiet when both trotted forwards to share an embrace. “What are you doing back, I thought you were stationed in Canterlot?”

“I am,” Beams answered, stepping back. “While I’d love to say that I came back to visit my best friend, unfortunately I’m here for work.” Glancing to the remaining guards and puzzled politicians, she winced. “Speaking of…”

Lumie nodded. “Of course, we’ll organise something after.”

Nodding in thanks, Beams turned to the council members, bowed, and cleared her throat. “Hrm, sorry for that and my unusual entrance, your Honours, but I have information and a pressing request to ask of you.”

The murmurs increased amongst the sitting members, Beams frowning when she heard multiple references to ‘respect to your betters’.

“You haven’t made the best impression so far,” one member spoke up, quieting the others. Beams looked up, meeting the gaze of the oldest pony there. With a greying coat that apparently used to be a vibrant purple and a long white mane, Councillor Artibeus was easy to identify. Beams could still remember how he had complimented her when she was accepted into the Lunar Guard, the elderly stallion possessing a presence far belied by his age. “What manner of information, and request, do you have?”

“It’s to do with a matter of great diplomatic importance, and possibly to the security of the entire world.”

That caused a stir, the council chambers once again erupting into chatter and debate. Throughout it all, Artibeus continued to gaze at her.

“Diplomatic importance concerning Equestria, yes?” He spoke, once again ushering in quiet without needing to ask. “Tell me, Corporal Beams of the Lunar Guard, what can we do to help?”

Beams was initially stunned, her next words initially jumbled. “It’s… ah, it’s actually Sergeant-Major now.” He smiled in response, nodding his head. Interpreting it as both a compliment and a que to continue, she straightened. “In regards to your question, my squad and I were tasked with observing the interactions between one of Equestria’s deadliest enemies and the changelings.”

At the word ‘changelings’, hushed murmurs broke out amongst those gathered. Beams could understand the looks of concern, after all, the news of the nearly-disastrous attack on Canterlot had even reached the isolated subterranean city.

“Princess Luna herself requested that we ensure that maintain a constant watch over our target, and report back if any plans of attack were revealed.”

“This… enemy,” one of the council members, a middle-aged mare, spoke up. “It’s in league with the changelings?”

“Yes,” she answered, recalling the interactions between the shapeshifters and the human. “AS far as we know, the Human has known the changeling Queen for a while and is…” Beams struggled to find the right words, considering the recent trouble between the two. “Supportive, of her plans of conquest.”

“Human?” asked another council member.

“The creature that the Princess wants us to observe,” she clarified. “It’s bipedal, possesses magic, apparently uses powerful weapons, and is as least as intelligent as a common pony.” Searching her mind, she decided to fill them in on the details she had learnt herself. “He’s a male, uh… eccentric, prone to violence, and feels very protective towards the changelings as apparently he sees them as some kind of pseudo-descendants.”

“He’s rather jovial,” she continued. “Appears to have never seen bat-ponies before, is possibly insane, and he… he beat a dragon to death…” she paused, the room going quiet. “Then he cut it open to get the jewels out of its stomach.”

It was so quiet she could hear a pencil drop to the stone floor, only a single council member managing to not look completely shocked and horrified.

“You seem to know an awful lot about this… human,” commented Artibeus with an inquisitive look in his eye. “One would think you’ve had first hoof experience with him.”

‘Oh,’ Beams winced. ‘Here we go.’

“Well…” she began, tapping a forehoof on the stone floor. “During our mission, we were observing the changeling hive, and our water supplies… were compromised. After going over our choices for survival, it was decided that we pose as a civilian party and attempted to barter with the changelings for water.”

“Barter with them?” For once during the explanation, Artibeus looked surprised. “With changelings? From what we know, they’re hostile to everything.”

“We knew that, and that’s why… we posed as a diplomatic group and earned their trust.”

Beams forced a smile and looked up at all of the council members. Once again there was silence, but this time there was something… different. Artibeus was muttering softly to himself, before his eyes slowly widened. Taking a step backwards, Beams struggled to maintain her smile.

“Sergeant-Major,” Artibeus slowly began. “When you said that you posed as diplomats, and have a request… what exactly did you mean?”

Sheen touched the tip of his muzzle to the furry white towel, pausing to look behind at the door before guiltily rubbing his face against it.

The hotel bathroom was certainly something, pure white tiles a direct contrast to his grubby black form. The air smelt of soap and unidentifiable floral smells, and the warm light above finished off the pleasant atmosphere. Overall it was prissy, high-class, and occupied by some of the softest towels he’d ever felt.

And currently, Sheen was loving it.

“Ah,” he muttered, pulling away and shutting the door with a hind hoof. Trotting towards the bath, he frowned at the strange pipe-thing that was posed at the top. What was even more puzzling was the lack of a natural spring and the presence of four metal things on the wall. “Okay, so how do I make it work?”

He climbed in and stared at the plug, before cautiously reaching a hoof out towards one of the metal things.

“Sheen.”

Nearly slipping over in the tub, Sheen scrambled for some hoofing as the bathroom door was opened and Joy trotted in. “Hey, privacy!”

“Pfft, it’s nothing I haven’t seen before,” she dismissed, grinning at him. “Come on, there’s no time for baths right now.”

“Yes there is,” he replied, still not too happy about her presence. “Have you seen this place?”

Joy nodded. “Hmm-hmm, and the rest of the room as well. But still, as nice as it is we have to go. Reflection and Holey came up with an idea on how to get Chrysalis and Nigel back together.”

That caught his attention. As if things hadn’t been awkward before, Chalmers’ admittedly impressive work with the receptionist had only served to further sour the relationship between the two. The Queen and the Human had even taken separate rooms, while the rest of them shared doubles.

“How?” He thought for a moment. “And why, exactly? I mean, them being happy is good I suppose, but it’s like getting in between two charging yaks.”

Joy turned back from sniffing the bottles of pony mane-cleaner to roll her eyes at him. “Sheen, look. If Chrysalis is happy then she’s more likely to treat us well, or at least overlook our rule breaking. We all know what happens when she’s furious, and with them currently fighting…”

He shuddered, remembering the time Chrysalis had ordered an entire squad of bumbling soldiers to be ‘de-chitined’. Thankfully she hadn’t gone through with it and instead had been content with yelling at them for an hour, but there had been times when the Queen’s emotional hair-trigger had led to problems for them all. “Fine, what do we need to do?”

‘What now?’

Chrysalis huffed and rolled off of the large four-poster bed at the knocking on the door. Trotting over towards the door, she narrowed her eyes at the wood and growled.

“What?”

“Um… My Queen?”

She recognised the voice of the noble, Sheen. Her scowl relaxed, and she unlocked the door. Opening it, she was greeted with the sight of Sheen standing before her by himself. Able to sense his nervousness, she tilted her head at him and waited for him to speak.

“Hello, Your Highness,” Sheen continued after a few tense moments. “I can see that you’re… um-“

“Upset?” She moved her head closer to him, one eye twitching. “Slightly off-put at the situation?” He visibly gulped under her cold stare, so she took a step back. “You know, my apparent love deciding to go to all lengths to not just annoy, but outright spite me?” Her mood once again souring, she glared at him again and bared her fangs. “So, get to the point. What. Do. You. Want?”

Sheen took a breath, and winced. “Uh… I want you to follow me to a surprise that will hopefully cheer you up?”

In truth, it was certainly not the answer she was expecting from him. It actually stunned her for a moment, although outwardly nothing changed. Sheen was still looking at her hopefully, but Chrysalis wasn’t about to just fall for such an obvious trick.

“You expect me to just follow you?” She laughed, but there was no trace of joy at all. “What is this, some attempt to rub my face in it all? Are you trying to mock me?”
Sheen stepped back hastily, his rump hitting the stone wall behind him. But she wasn’t about to just let him get away that easily, Chrysalis advancing out to pursue him.
“No doubt you think it’s funny, taunting me like this!”

He scrambled back down the corridor at her growl, Chrysalis losing what little cool she had left.

“You nobles are all the same! You have no idea what I put up with every day!”

She chased him down a flight of stairs, her horn starting to glow green.

“But no, things only get worse, and of course you can’t resist throwing more wood onto the fire!”

They both passed two utterly confused bat-pony maids, and Sheen backed up through a set of double doors. Storming after him, she never stopped nor wavered.
“Nothing can ‘cheer me up’, you simpleton! Nothi…”

Her eyes widened and she stopped insulting him, Chrysalis looking up while her trotting paused. Something was off, very off. Glancing around the darkened room they were now in, she then stared at the single table set in the middle of the massive dining room.

Candlelit flickered out, the only source of illumination in the entire room. It was set for two, and already there was a bottle of what looked like wine set up beside two thin glasses. Plush cushions were set upon the two seats, Chrysalis looking back at Sheen.

“What… how…?”

“ItwasReflection’sandHoley’sidea!” spouted Sheen, before he raced off past her as fast as his legs could carry him. Turning to watch him leave through the same doors they had entered through, Chrysalis tried to puzzle it out by herself despite the haze of confusion.

Unfortunately her train of thought was interrupted by the second set of doors opening at the other end of the room.

“So, what was this about a… oh.”

Of course it was Nigel that stepped out from the other side, Chrysalis narrowing her eyes as the sound of the door locking behind her echoed out in the silent room. She watched him closely, Nigel staring at her before making for the doors behind him to leave.

That is, he would have left if it wasn’t for the smiling changeling noble shaking her head at him.

“Nope,” Joy taunted, starting to shut the door. “Now you two sit down and get along. We’ll unlock the doors in a few hours.”

With that, the last escape route was shut off, the click of the lock only hammering in the point. Both of them were locked in, with no way out.

To say things were tense was an understatement.

Neither of them spoke to each other, and Chrysalis certainly wasn’t going to make the first move. Instead she continued to glare, while he just stared back with that stupid, uncaring gaze.

“Well,” he began, breaking the silence. “I haven’t eaten for ages.”

She couldn’t believe it, watching him while he moved and sat down at the table. Absentmindedly flicking away some of the red candlewax, he plucked a slice of bread from a bowl and took a bite.

“Not half bad,” he mumbled.

“Not half-bad, not half-bad?”

He paused chewing, turning to look at her. “Yeah, it’s unusual at the current time, considering everything else tends to be rather… bitter.”

“There, we’ll leave you to split it between yourselves.”

Reflection set down the bag of silver before the group of bat-ponies, each of the twenty hotel workers eyeing it greedily. Maids and cooks rubbed shoulders with each other in the corridor, Reflection and the other nine changelings cautiously waiting for the response.

“It seems like a good amount,” the Head Cook nodded, moving forwards to inspect the sack. With a hoof he opened the top, his eyes lighting up at the pile of coins that lay within. “Yep, this will definably do. Besides, getting a single table ready and arranging a meal for two is pretty simple when every other guest has already high-tailed it out of the hotel.”

“Just take the money,” Reflection snorted. “And remember that our deal is that you make sure they’re happy. You keep them supplied with wine, and we keep you supplied with more silver.”

The Head Cook smiled at her, even going so far as to give her a small bow. “Rest assured, we’ll do our jobs perfectly fine. You’ve paid us all a week’s wages for a single night’s work, after all.”

“Good.”

The workers quickly moved towards the money with obvious greed, Reflection turning around and walking back to the other changelings.

“You sure that locking those two in a room is, like, a good idea?” Keith asked, earning nods from the others.

“I’m sure,” she reassured them all. “After all, what can go wrong when they’re in such a romantic environment?”

“And of course you’re still dressed in my bedsheets!”

Nigel ducked so that the second candle flew over his head, the waxy projectile clattering down against the wall.

“They’re so silky and comfortable!” he fired back, lobbing an apple back at his attacker. It was soon returned with flawless accuracy, and he only barely managed to shield his face with a plate while cursing Chrysalis’ magical abilities.

“You infuriating buffoon!”

A third candle flew at him, soon followed by a fork.

Suffice to say, the surprise dinner that the nobles had set up was not exactly going to plan. In truth, the last thing he had wanted was to be locked in a room with Chrysalis, but here they were.

Exchanging fire and all.

“Grouchy sow!” he insulted back. “Ill-tempered stinkbug!”

“Worthless failure!” Chrysalis returned with new-found ferocity.

Chalmers gritted his teeth and grasped his plate in one hand. Ducking below the cover of the table just in time to avoid a flying vase of flowers, he popped up to fling the plate at her Frisbee-style.

His irritation at Chrysalis’ assault quickly faded when he heard the crunch and the yelp of pain.

“Ow!”

The room went silent, and he slowly looked out over the table to see what had happened.

Chrysalis had evidently been too slow to react, the Queen sitting down on the stone floor with a hoof held over her nose. She was quiet, and he winced when he saw the tears in her eyes.

‘Ah, shit.’

Quickly getting up, he moved past the food-stained table and approached her only for Chrysalis to shy away without a word.

“Crap, I’m sorry.”

Bending down, he frowned when she tried to ignore him. The fact that she couldn’t even summon up the spirit to glare at him was a clear sign that something was really wrong.
Grimacing, he knelt down onto a knee, and as a consequence what used to be a bunch of grapes, to inspect the injury he had caused her. Chrysalis tried to keep her snout hidden, but he could see the lines of green liquid flowing down through a leg-hole.

“A little too far,” he muttered. Moving his hands, he grasped her foreleg and tried to pull it away. “I’m sorry Chrissy, I got carried away. Come on, let me have a look.”
She at first resisted his attempts to remove her foreleg, before she finally gave in and let him move it away.

Nigel sighed at the bloody nose he had given her, the blood still flowing out of the nostrils at a quick pace. He could see the line that that plate had left, a single horizontal mark sitting right on the tip.

“I honestly thought that you’d catch it,” he tried to explain, using a corner of the bed sheet to dab away the blood. “And to, you know, throw it right back at me.”

Chrysalis remained quiet, so he just continued to soak up the dribbled mess. At least the bed sheets were of the same green, but it was hardly the time to thank the fact that any stains weren’t going to be noticeable.

“Are we just going to keep on fighting?” she suddenly asked, breaking her silence along with a sniffle. “All of the time?”

He paused momentarily, before resuming. “I hope not. Despite it all, I’d prefer for us to start getting along a bit better.” The flow of blood was starting to slow, only a few drops remaining.

“You haven’t been helping much, especially with that show earlier.”

Nigel sighed, knowing that she did have quite a good point. “With the receptionist? That was just a ploy to get us our rooms without a huge fuss, that’s all.”

She didn’t seem convinced, so he admitted the rest of it. “Well, it was a ploy… and I may have been trying to make you jealous.”

There was silence once again, and the bed sheet was removed with only two faint green lines left as evidence of what had happened. Nigel carefully sat down, avoiding any mess on the floor from the ill-fated dinner.

“Make me jealous?” He was surprised when a hoof, covered with the remains of an apple, placed itself on his knee. “Why?”

Shifting on the spot, he cleared his throat. “Because you were ignoring me, that’s why.”

Chrysalis stared at him, a glare coming to life on her face.

“You complete and utter imbeci…”

Frowning, Nigel was admittedly confused. “Uh, you didn’t finish insulting me there.”

Yet more silence, before it was Chrysalis this time who sighed. All trace of her glare was gone, and instead she kept her eyes to the ground. “I… I know.” Sniffing, she wiped her mouth with a hoof. “Yes, you’ve been acting like a nymph. You’ve been stupid, silly, annoying, whiny, prudish, moroni-“

“Okay, okay,” he interrupted. “I get it.”

“And I’ve been… cranky, and a little pushy.” She shifted, Nigel reaching out a hand to pat her on the back. “I just want things to be like how they were before. Back when I was happy.”

He could honestly understand that.

“I’d certainly prefer that as well,” he agreed. “But, Chrysalis, I think we both need to realise that it’s not possible. To an extent, I think we’ve both been a little disappointed in the way the other’s changed from what we used to know.” Giving her a pat on the back, he used the other hand to quickly pinch the bridge of his nose. “Shit, I mean, I guess I have been pretty horrible to you.”

“I haven’t done much better,” she admitted. “All I’ve done is insult you or try to seduce you.”

“To be fair, I often deserve the insults.”

That earned a laugh from her, abet a small one. Chrysalis seemed to brighten, a slight smile on her face instead of the previous frown. “And I suppose that calling me ‘Crankalis’ is often deserved as well,” she admitted with another small chuckle. He couldn’t help but smile at that, both of them going quiet again.

“Well, what now?”

“I guess we just finally decide to live with it,” Chrysalis answered with a shrug. “Both of us calm down and stop arguing all the time, and just work together like we used to.” She smiled again. “Well, we still need to argue occasionally.”

“Of course,” he seconded with a nod. “A healthy relationship is filled with insults and debates over how to bring ruin to one’s enemies, after all.”

“Oh stop it,” she laughed, letting out a sigh afterwards. “We both know that my plans are the better ones.”

“Bah.”

“It’s true, you just blow things up or fly into walls.”

Nigel honestly couldn’t argue with that. Rubbing her back, he shrugged and glanced out across the room. It was utterly destroyed, splattered fruit and pieces of bread covering table cloths, the walls, and even the ceiling. Chairs were upturned, plates lay shattered on the stone floor, it was like a miniature warzone.

“Well, all of that work those ten put into this has pretty much been spoiled.”

“Not exactly,” reminded Chrysalis, while she scooted closer and put a foreleg around his back. “We’re talking again, aren’t we?”

“Point.” He felt the foreleg slide lower, and he rolled his eyes. “Chrissy, really?”

“What?” she returned with an incredibly shoddy attempt to sound innocent. “Dinner’s out, so we might as well… have some dessert.”

Nigel snorted. “Well, this went from ‘emotional discussion’ to ‘low-budget porno’ in a matter of seconds. What next, I dress up as a pool boy and offer to clean the leaves from your pool pump while corny music plays in the background?”

He was met with a befuddled gaze.

“Nigel, that made zero sense.”

“You don’t know the background material. Trust me, I did spend years studying this while I was out. Anyone else would have found that hilarious.” He thought for a moment. “Or incredibly stereotypical and uninspired, one or the other.”

Chrysalis rolled her eyes, getting to her hooves. “You talk too much about silly things.” Trotting over towards the closest set of doors, she turned her head to look back at him. “Now come on, help me unlock this door so we can go back to my room.”

“Firstly,” he corrected while getting up to walk over. “It’s going to be our room. Secondly, allow me.”

“Watch it!”

He took her by surprise, bending down and lifting her up in his arms. He flipped her over so she was resting on her back, Chrysalis throwing her forelegs around his neck to steady herself.

“You know, you’re heavier than I-“

“You already did that bit.”

“Fine,” he mumbled, quickly searching his mind for another one. Giving up, he shrugged and looked at the doors baring their way. “Whatever, just watch and learn from the master. Blam!”

With the yell, he lashed out with a leg and kicked both doors open, splintering the lock and eliminating the one last barrier the two had left between them.

Or, at least he would have, had his foot not uselessly bounced off the doors with a pathetic thud.

“Ouch,” he mumbled, shacking it while his toes throbbed. A sigh drew his attention to the left, Chrysalis looking at him unamused. “What? It’s much easier when you’re wearing powered armour, and I left mine in the room.”

“Pathetic. Here, learn from the true master.”

There was a glow and a crackle, before a bolt of green energy shot out from her horn and impacted against the door. A hole was blasted straight through, and the poor lock was annihilated in the blast of magical energy. Slowly the two doors swung open, revealing an empty corridor leading to a set of stairs.

“Show-off,” Nigel mumbled.

“Sore-loser.”

“The things I put up with, I swear…”

“Just shut up and walk.”

He followed the command, murmuring all the while. Stepping out into the corridor while carrying the smug Queen, he didn’t even pause when a single bat-pony mare dressed in a blue waitress uniform rushed out from a side room.

“Is… is something the matter?” the young mare hurriedly asked with a slight stutter. “There was some kind of explosion and-“

“Everything’s fine,” Chrysalis interrupted. “Now be gone, we have no need for your dining room anymore.”

“Chrissy, be nice,” he followed up, having seen the waitress flinch. He turned his attention to the bat-pony. “Actually Miss, if I could request for a small amount of food to be sent up to room sixteen, it’d be appreciated.”

“Fuck the food.” Both he and the waitress stared at Chrysalis after the unexpected bout of swearing, the Queen aiming her half-lidded eyes at him. “Literally.”

Nigel glanced back at the wide-eyed waitress, rolling his eyes.

“I apologise, that’s her idea of dirty talk apparently.”

“Better than your ‘pool pump’ line.”

“I wasn’t…” sighing, he shrugged at the waitress and resumed walking. “You know what, forget it. Sorry about the room.” Leaving the poor, confused mare behind, he made for the stairs. “Really Chrissy, ‘Fuck the food’? You’re supposed to be a Queen.”

“Well, we can’t all be perfect, can we?”

“I guess not.”

“Now hurry up and take me to the room. You promised me a romantic trip and I think it’s high time you start fulfilling that promise.”

‘Could have seen this coming,’ he thought with a shake of his head, before he mentally steeled himself for the night which was sure to prove quite… interesting.

“Still think it was a good idea?”

Reflection winced as there was another rhythmic thump from the wall behind her head. She tried to ignore Holey and instead wrapped her pillow tighter around her ears.
“I mean, it’s been a few hours now and I don’t think it’s going to-“

“It was your idea as well,” she grumbled back, interrupting the other unfortunate changeling that shared the room directly opposite the Queen’s. “Don’t pin all of the blame on me.” Another thump, this one so powerful that it actually nearly knocked off the painting of the moon that was above her bed.

“At least we can say that it worked?” Holey tried, causing Reflection to grumble some more.

‘I sure hope that this will be a short trip,’ she thought, wincing and rolling over onto her stomach. The pillow was crammed tighter, but unfortunately the knocks from the next room sent vibrations through her bed every time. ‘Gah, I’ll have to switch rooms if this keeps up.’

Closing her eyes, Reflection merely tried to block out the sound and movements in an attempt to get some rest.

She didn’t think that she really had that much of a chance.

Author's Note

Well, it's been a long wait but I finally finished a chapter.

The group have reached the city, have their hotel rooms, have already destroyed a hotel room, and the meeting with the bat-pony leaders is right around the corner. Chrysalis and Nigel have (finally) made up for what will hopefully be the last time, and ended the evening with a bang.

Beams has hatched her plan and now it's just a matter of seeing how things will play out. Will it work, and will she manage to trap Chalmers and Chrysalis for the good of Equestria (and the world)?

Or will Nigel and Chrysalis manage to flip the table, and cause untold amounts of chaos and confusion?

Heh, not much of a difficult question, is it?

Anyway, I feel like this chapter isn't the greatest, to be honest. Due to my work, it was 'a short burst of writing here, a short burst of writing there'. Combine that with my habit of getting distracted by such things as the Witcher 3 (curse you!) and the fact that I now have a female that requires the attention of my wallet, writing has been... sporadic.

Still, I didn't want to show back up empty handed, so I hope it suffices.

And besides, if it doesn't (or if I've gone and made an embarrassing spelling fuck-up... or several, like usual) then please leave a comment letting me know.

Till next time, Dropbear out.

Meet and Greet

“Ahhhh…”

A black, chitin-covered foreleg uncurled to flop down upon a midnight-blue bed. Its owner sighed and blew a strand of hair out of her face, lime-green eyes opening to gaze up at the marble ceiling.

Chrysalis licked her fangs and wiggled back further into the comfortable bed, a wide smile on her face while she took some time to unwind.

‘Probably the best sleep I’ve had for months,’ she thought to herself. Letting out a yawn, she rolled over onto her right side and fluttered her eyes at the empty space next to her. ‘Oh,’ Chrysalis realised, an eye lifting as she made to get up. Just as she was about to call out Nigel’s name, she stopped herself and glanced towards the closed bathroom door.

After another smile to herself, she took her time leaving the bed. Chrysalis ensured to minimise the noise of her trots on the marble floor while she snuck towards the oaken door, tongue dancing over her front fangs. Testing the door gently, she found that it was indeed unlocked.

A wicked grin crossed her face, and with one solid slam she burst through the door paying no mind to the thump it made against the wall.

“Good Morning!”

Instead of what she expected, Chrysalis blinked her eyes and glanced around the bathroom. It was completely empty save for the bath, sink, and towels. There was no sign of her suddenly-in-the-good-books-again consort, and it was with a suspicious hum that she noticed the curious absence of his black armour from its previous night’s resting spot in the corner of the room.

“What is he up to this time?” Chrysalis muttered to herself. Experience had taught her to be wary of Chalmers when he was plotting something, the past having shown that he wasn’t really quite right in the head. Still, she also knew that there really wasn’t much she could do to stop him from doing whatever it was at this point, so instead she laid eyes upon the large square bath and shrugged.

‘Might as well use it if its here.’

A trip to the hot springs would have been her first choice, Chrysalis reminiscing about the warm waters back home while she turned the taps to fill the tub, but as much as she hated to admit it she couldn’t deny that equestrian baths came a close second. The time that she had spent impersonating Cadence had included all of the trappings of royal pony life, and as such she had spent much of it enjoying the lavish bathrooms of the palace.

‘They will be mine again shortly in the future,’ she thought with a wide smile. ‘I am on the cusp of victory, I can feel it.’

By this time the bath had quickly filled with warm water, so she turned off the taps and slid in to relax and wait. Neglecting to use any of the provided cleaning products, Chrysalis instead settled back to enjoy the relaxing water. A hind hoof tapped against the side, her smile fading as her mind turned to more unpleasant matters.

‘Gah, I have to meet with the bat-ponies today,’ she realised with a huff. ‘No doubt they will try to sell us out to their Equestrian masters, or swindle us for their own gains instead.’ Another grimace. ‘I really shouldn’t let Nigel take the lead, he’s already shown an accursed weakness for those inferior bat-ponies. He’ll probably end up trading away the hive in return for patting one on the head!’

Chrysalis rubbed her temple with a forehoof, while she took a deep breath and calmed herself down.

“Relax,” she muttered to herself. “Things are going okay again, there’s no need to worry about such things.” Despite her improved mood and opinion of the human in question, she still struggled with the next thing she admitted. “He is at least competent enough to foil the plans of a few night-loving ponies… even if he mostly foils plans by accident.”

With that, she once again fell silent and returned to relaxing… or attempting to. It still niggled at the back of her mind, and it was with no small amount of relief that she heard the bedroom door open. It was followed by the sound of two easily recognisable footsteps, and Chrysalis found herself nearly leaping from the bath in her haste. She gave herself a quick shake, water flying off her chitin to land all over the room, before she quickly trotted up and opened the door.

Smiling out, she was met by Chalmers. The human was fully armoured save for the helmet that was resting under his arm, a bag of large orange fruit held in the other. One of the fruits was grasped in an armoured hand, a large chunk of it already torn off. Chrysalis’ eye twitched just a tad at the juice splatter on the armoured chests’ front.

“Good Morning Chrissy, or rather Good Evening,” Nigel greeted while he chewed. Without waiting for a reply, he glanced down at the fruit he was eating. “Chrissy, you have to try these things. They’re called ‘man-gos’ and I can safely say that I have found the fruit of the gods.” He took another sloppy bite, rubbery mango skin and all. “A little tough to chew on the outside to be honest, but swear on my life the insides are to die for. I wonder if these things exist somewhere back home.”

There was another drip of juice, Chrysalis taking a small step back. “Ah… I do not require solid sustenance,” she replied, however she followed up when he seemed to try and persuade her. “Thank you for the offer, but I just had a bath and would hate to get all messy before such an… important meeting.”

“Suit yourself,” he shrugged, before placing the bag on the bed and devouring the remainder of the mango. There were several loud chewing noises, along with more than a few cracking sounds, before Nigel wiped his mouth with the back of his armoured hand. “Delicious.”

Rolling her eyes, Chrysalis deemed that it was safe to approach thanks to the absence of mango. Deciding against embracing him due to the remainder of the fruit on his armour, she instead gave the mess a pointed glance. “You’ve gotten all that sticky juice on your armour, I suggest that you clean it up.”

“You know,” Nigel walked past her and entered the bathroom. “I could make a very inappropriate comment about yesterday and a certain queen’s fondness for sticky-“

“Shut up and clean yourself off,” she interrupted, Chrysalis raising a hoof to her face and finding a surprising blush. It was unusual as, as one would expect, she wasn’t exactly new to matters of a carnal nature (and in fact was unknowingly responsible for influencing a few techniques in pony culture over the centuries). “Damn human,” she muttered, getting herself under control while the sound of running water shut off.

Nigel reappeared from the bathroom, juice-free, with a warm smile that nearly made her normally cold heart melt. It actually seemed like one of the few genuinely happy expressions she’d seen from him in ages, and it dragged her mind back to those happier times so long ago. Returning it with her own genuine grin, she trotted forwards and wrapped a foreleg around him in an embrace.

“Last night… day was very good, though. It might actually make up for the meeting that we have to go to.”

“Relax,” he chuckled with a pat of his hand on her head. “I’m a trained ISA agent and you’re Queen of the Changelings, I’m sure we can handle some simple negotiations.”

She wasn’t so sure, but kept that opinion quite so as to not spoil the attention being paid to her. Instead she focused on a different, and possibly more pressing, topic.

“So, why did you leave so early?” Her eyes glanced towards the mesh bag of mangos sitting on the bed. “I highly doubt it was just to go fruit shopping.”

“Oh, you know,” Nigel shrugged. “Preparations and stuff.”

“All I know is that ‘Preparations and stuff’ is not an explanation that reassures me. In fact, all that makes me think about is fire and explosions.”

“Chrissy, trust me. Have I ever done wrong?”

Evidently her unwavering stare coerced him into elaborating.

“What I mean is, all I did was take a brisk, late daytime stroll and inspected the place that we’re to have our meeting in. You know, for traps and such.” He smiled and rubbed her head again. “Not that I think our hosts will betray us, I’m just being careful and all.”

She knew what he was trying to do, and pulled her head away from the comforting fingers to stare at him.

“Investigating, is that all?”

There was a brief pause. “…Yes.”

‘It’s obvious that he’s lying,’ she mentally huffed, but couldn’t resist smiling anyway. Silently she wondered just why she was unable to get mad at him currently. Deciding that it was just an after effect of the previous day’s makeup and ‘shake-up’, Chrysalis let it drop and decided to just deal with whatever fool plan he’d concocted up at a later time.

“Fine, but I swear if you set something on fire…”

“No fire, promise.”

Fixing him with a final no-nonsense stare, she gave in and gestured to the doorway. “It will have to do. Shall we attempt to organise the Firstborn?”

“We should find the little ones, yes.”

Rolling her eyes once again, she turned around and made for the door. “You’re far too soft on them, you know.”

“Meh, I don’t mind playing ‘good cop’ occasionally.” Shaking her head at the alien saying, Chrysalis opened the door and prepared to step out into another day of uncertainty and chaos. “But while we’re on the topic, I have a few requests to make.”

‘I have a bad feeling,’ she decided, trotting out into the blue-carpeted corridor with Chalmers trailing behind.

“Wow, so you’re actually related to that big guy in the armour?”

“Well, not exactly. He’s like, our adoptive father, kind of. Him and the Queen were an item way back before Equestria was even, like, existing.”

Reflection stifled a groan while Keith continued to ramble on. Her forehoof was wrapped firmly around an empty coffee mug, the solitary bat-pony waitress having forgotten about the tray of fresh coffee and condiments that was resting on her back. Coffee was no stranger to Reflection, and after a sleepless day there was nothing she was craving more.

Well, aside from her brother to cease attempting to chat up the surprisingly comfortable waitress.

“Oh,” the bat-pony mare whistled, blowing a lock of deep turquoise mane from her golden eye. “That’s ages ago! Are they immortal like Princess Luna?”

“I guess,” Keith shrugged nonchalantly while adjusting his spot on the cushioned stool. “I mean he was locked in stone or whatever, but the Queen certainly is that old.” He chuckled, leaning in with a grin. “Don’t tell her that though, she’ll kill me.”

Another shudder wracked Reflection when the mare giggled along with Keith, her mood rapidly souring at the pair’s annoying interaction.

“I love your accent,” the bat-pony continued on. “How come you don’t sound like the other changelings?”

Keith made a point of looking around at the other nine sitting at the large table in the dining room, a smug grin on his face. “Well, my parents were infiltrators in a pony city before they returned to the Hive to have me. They spoke like I do, so now I talk like this as well.” He ignored the glares from the others, including Reflection. “Totally radical, am I right?”

That prompted another giggle from the waitress, Reflection grinding her teeth and tightening her grip around the mug. ‘I swear, if this goes on for much longer…’

“So why are you here with a Queen?” the bat-pony unfortunately inquired. “You said that the ‘human’ is your sort-of adoptive father who’s with your Queen, but then you said that you had other parents…”

“Babe, my bloodline’s a special one,” Keith explained while leaning back. Meanwhile, the mare’s light blush deepened. “The first born of the line is always adopted by the Queen, and that makes me her kind-of son.”

“Her son…” the bat-pony’s eyes widened. “Wait, are you telling me that you’re a Prince? As in, an actual Prince!?”

Evidently Keith had found a way in, and he flashed a wide grin. “Tartarus-yeah, babe. My line actually goes all the way back to the very first Prince of the changelings.”

“One of the first,” Chatter muttered through a glass of apple juice, but it was unheard by the very interested bat-pony.

“Wow…!” she breathed, her light-purple wings giving a flutter. “That’s really cool!”

“I know it,” Keith nodded, before leaning forwards and grinning. “Say, since I am a Prince and all, would you mind showing me around your city sometime later? I have to go to an important meeting with your leader-dudes soon, but…”

“I finish work in a few hours,” the mare answered with a light smile, while nervously switching her hoofing. “I’d love to-“

“Good Evening all! How are we all doing?”

Reflection’s relief at having Keith and the waitress spin around and shut up was equally dashed by the appearance of her often-loud father figure. Evidently he was feeling just swell, a fact that wasn’t lost on her as she gritted her teeth and forced herself to smile.

‘Isn’t he the bastard that kept me up last night?’ However, upon thinking the thought, a far more devastating concern entered her mind. ‘Oh, no. If he stayed up all night, then how will… Chrysalis be this morning?’

Right on cue, the Queen herself trotted into the fancy dining room. Even Keith fell silent at the entrance of the imposing matriarch, his newly-acquired friend going one step further and bowing her head.

Lime-green eyes swept over them all, examining the huge mahogany table and the assorted drinks resting upon it. No-one dared to speak first and possibly set her off, news having quickly spread regarding the explosive episode that the previous day had wrought. It was a miracle that the two had even made up after it, a miracle that none wanted to jeopardise.

Then, Chrysalis trotted towards them. A few changelings sunk in their seats, while others averted their gaze. Reflection became very focused on her empty mug, a shiver going down her back as the trotting grew closer.

“So, how are you going this morning? You look very tired.”

Wincing before preparing to turn around and answer, Reflection was surprised to find that the question wasn’t directed to her… but to the changeling sitting next to her.

“I… I didn’t sleep very well,” Holey struggled to get out. The smallest of them shrunk in her seat even more, Chrysalis giving her an odd look.

“Oh,” the Queen murmured. “I hope you are up to attending the meeting that we have travelled here for?”

Despite the lack of the usual yelling and cursing, every one of the nobles braced themselves. Often, a calm and collected Chrysalis meant that she even angrier than normal.

“I… I…,” Holey stammered, shifting on her spot. Then, the true danger of her situation hit her, and she slumped in her chair with her gaze lowering to the floor. “I’m sorry… my Queen. I will attend the meeting and I am terribly sorry for not being fully awake.” Holey clamped her eyes shut. “Please, I didn’t mean to be a burden.”

Reflection glanced up only to stare right back at her mug when she spotted Chrysalis leaning in towards the quaking Holey.

‘Oh no,’ she shuddered. ‘Holey’s in for it now…’ Reflection herself quivered, upon further realisation. ‘That means that I’m going to be next…’

Then, a strange sound caused Reflection to look back up.

“A burden, don’t be so foolish.” Despite the words, the Queen’s tone was unexpectedly warm. Reflection nearly had to do a double take when she not only heard the Queen acting nice, but actually saw with her own eyes the monarch nuzzling the equally shocked Holey. “Just please try and pay attention during the meeting, hmm? Or at least don’t visibly start to slumber during it.”

“I’ll- I’ll try,” Holey answered, relaxing when Chrysalis pulled away. A hoof went up to touch the right side of her own face, almost as if Holey didn’t believe what had just happened.

Reflection had no time to ponder the weird occurrence, Chrysalis turning her attention towards her.

“The same goes for you.”

She nearly jolted when the Queen gave her a nuzzle, the first that Reflection could even remember. It was strange, but the one thing she focused on was just how warm and genuine it felt. It was no action designed to deceive or manipulate, but it actually felt like Chrysalis… cared about her.

It was over far too quickly, the Queen pulling back.

“T-thank you,” Reflection said, Chrysalis giving her a final smile before moving onto the next noble.

‘By the Queen…’ Reflection thought, staring at the smiling human who was still standing in the doorway. ‘Just what did that bastard do to get her this happy?’

Somehow she doubted that it was just a standard mood-lifting rut that had affected the Queen so. There was a change in Chrysalis, clearly evident in the way that she ensured to lovingly nuzzle every single noble, even the shocked Cupid. It wasn’t that it was unpleasant, just that it was incredibly unexpected.

‘Maybe the rumours are true. Perhaps Chrysalis does actually have the capacity to be nice?’

It was certainly a hopeful thought, but the true test of the Queen’s new change of heart was just about to come up.

The last changeling that Chrysalis had chosen to grace with the unheard of sign of affection was Keith, and the bat-pony waitress did not escape her attention. The mare was still standing where she had been when Chrysalis had walked in, the pony rooted to the spot with her hooves refusing to move.

“Oh,” Chrysalis said with her smile dropping somewhat. “Hello there… pony.”

It wasn’t on par with the rather venomous way she’d interacted with the lunar guards, but it was still a far-cry from the pleasant surprise the nobles had been greeted with. However, far from fleeing in fright or even flinching back, the waitress instead hesitantly gave a small bow.

“Good Evening, Your Highness.” The mare nervously glanced up towards the still-shell-shocked Keith, before quickly lowering her head back down. “I was just… um, pouring coffee. If you’d just like to take a seat, I will be with you immediately.”

The reply had a visible effect on the Queen, Chrysalis cocking her head before making a quick glance back towards Chalmers. Reflection caught the look the pair shared just in time, Nigel mouthing ‘be nice’ towards the Queen.

“I… thank you for the offer,” Chrysalis answered, and even managed to force through a small smile. “But I do not have the time, I’m afraid. We have an important meeting, after all.”

“Oh, well perhaps tomorrow then?” the waitress looked up hopefully, though still nervous. “I’ve never had the honour of serving royalty before today.”

Reflection saw Chrysalis glance at Keith with a less-than-approving gaze.

“I, uh, might as well ask now,” Keith muttered out without his usual attitude. “I kind of, well, have to do stuff after the meeting. If that’s okay though, uh, Ma’am.”

“Stuff to do,” they all heard Chrysalis mutter under her breath. The smile faded to be replaced with a frown, and it was obvious that she was about to voice her stern rejection.

“Sure,” Nigel suddenly butted in, walking up to rest his hand on Chrysalis’ back. “Providing the meeting goes as planned and all, I don’t see a problem with that. Besides, myself and Chrysalis have some… plans of our own afterwards.”

Reflection frowned, before she realised what he was alluding to. Looking towards him, she noticed Chrysalis’ face light up with a smile again and the pieces fell into face.

‘Bleugh,’ she thought, before a more depressing matter rose its head. ‘Great, guess sleep is something that I’ll be lucky to get.’

“Anyway,” Chalmers continued while Chrysalis continued to smile warmly. “We’ll be in the hotel lobby keeping an eye out for any government toadies sent to escort us, if none are here in five minutes then we’re just going to make our own way over. So, you all have that long to finish your drinks. We can’t make ourselves look bad by being tardy to this meeting, understood?”

“Yes,” Reflection mumbled out alongside the other nine voicing their own affirmatives. She scrunched up her face at the thought of having to sit through the upcoming meeting, but at least there was still time to have one more cup of coffee.

Turning towards the bat-pony waitress while Chrysalis and Chalmers exited the room, Reflection frowned when she spotted the mare leaving for the kitchen doors.

With the all-important coffee jug still on her back.

“Relax, she’s just going to get us a fresh one.”

Reflection’s frown stayed right where it was, except that it was quickly focused on Keith. “I’d already have a fresh cup by now if you weren’t so preoccupied with sampling the local ponies.”

“Hey,” Keith raised his forehooves. “I’m only doing what changelings do. Anyways, it’s not like I’m the only one getting a piece. Like, did you just see the Queen?”

“Yeah,” Swissy spoke up from her spot at the table. “Just how well did our plan work last night?”

“Very well,” Holey and Reflection both groaned in unison, earning uncomfortable looks from the others.

“As long as she stays all nice and that, it will be a-o-kay.” Nodding his head at his own words, Keith smiled to himself. “I mean, that Chalmers dude must be doing some good work. He even managed to stop her from cock-blocking me with that cute waitress. Guy’s a bro.”

Shaking her head at her brother’s predicable one-track mind, Reflection glanced up towards the opening kitchen doors before lowering her voice. “Speaking of waitress…”

They all stopped talking and turned to face the approaching mare, many eyes focusing on the steaming pot of coffee that she carried on her back. The bat-pony paused at the attention, surprised when ten empty coffee cups were extended out towards her.

“It’s going to be a long morning,” Reflection explained, and before long the sweet smell of the much-needed beverage was followed by the sound of pouring.

‘Come on Beams, pull it together.’

The borrowed city-guard armour felt far heavier than it actually was, Beams shifting her weight under the dull metal. The short sword at her side was likewise weighty, and she couldn’t help but touch the grip with a wing-tip from time-to-time.

The large council chambers were filled with guards, she had counted forty-three, all armed and armoured to the teeth. It was an understandable number given the guests that were due to arrive, but even the twenty assembled council members were still fidgeted nervously on their blue cushions. Even the famously-stoic Councillor Artibeus was sitting down with a frown, the elderly stallion locked deep in thought.

‘There’s more than enough guards to handle any trouble that the changelings and human give us, surely.’ She glanced up and around the room, the rest of her squad easy to spot as they were the only ponies constantly trying to adjust their unfamiliar armour. ‘And there’s an entire city worth outside ready to rush in at a moment’s notice.’

Beams took a deep breath and exhaled out, a bad feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. The worst part was that she wasn’t even in charge, the Council having decided that the City Guard would be in command. Considering that hardly any of the guards she’d talked to even knew what a changeling was, it was seemingly adding up into a big disaster.

She looked up when the main doors to the hall opened, and a squad of ten guards escorted in the future prisoners.

The Human walked in with the Queen at the head, the remaining ten changelings trotting in behind them. All of the shapeshifters looked back behind them as the guards shut and locked the heavy wooden doors with concerned glances, but Beams was focused on the main danger of the group.

The biped hadn’t even flinched, his expression hidden behind the imposing helmet he wore. The glowing blue eyes swept over the guards and council members, the previous scattered chatter giving way to hushed murmurs.

“By Luna, he’s huge!” Beams heard a mare whisper out from behind her.

“Is that some kind of metal?”

“So that’s a changeling? They look even more unsettling than I thought they would. Can they really change forms to impersonate ponies?”

Beams looked towards the Queen at the words from the out-of-sight councillor, Chrysalis not appearing too pleased with the way things had been going. First the changeling leader glanced towards the door, then towards the freshly-barred windows, before the eyes settled right onto her.

Beams gulped at the gaze that turned into a glare, the changeling’s dispatching of the dragon not forgotten. Hopefully such a performance wouldn’t be repeated when the trap was sprung.

Then, the meeting truly began.

Metal boots clacked loudly on the black marble floor as the Human stepped forwards. The room died down into silence save for his movements, the harsh and lifeless blue eyes scanning across the councilmembers once more. Everyone held their breath, wondering just what demands the ancient tyrant was about to unleash upon them.

“Hey all,” the Human greeted with a cheerful smile. His helmet’s faceplate seemed to break up and slide into either side of the helm, revealing a warm expression. “Are you all having a good Evening?”

There was a shocked silence, before the Council started to whisper amongst themselves. Beams narrowed her eyes at the biped, while getting her own surprise at his care-free manner under control.

‘What is he up to?’

“I’ll take that as a yes. I must admit, travelling through your fine city has certainly made my evening a remarkable one.” He sauntered closer towards the Council seating area, resting an arm on one of the wooden bench tops. “Such architecture, it really brings the whole ‘underground city’ thing together really well.”

Beams tore her surprised eyes away from the Human and instead focused on the changelings. Going off the equally befuddled expressions of the Queen and her followers, they too were completely unprepared for Chalmers’ open manner.

“Uh… thanks?” one council member who’s name she didn’t know finally replied. The stallion followed up with a question of his own. “Have you seen… much like it before?”

“A few, a few,” Chalmers followed up. “However most of my underground experiences have been with boring things like defence hangers, presidential bunkers, and inter-system ballistic missile launchers.” He gave a dismissive wave of his hand before using it to gesture back to the changelings. “Anyway, as you can see, myself and my amigos here to discuss some important matters.”

“Hmm, yes,” Councillor Artibeus spoke up. “Important matters indeed.”

Beams immediately noticed the Human’s smile widen, the biped’s eyes focusing right on Artibeus while a finger was waggled in the air.

“Ah,” Chalmers nodded. “I see that you’re the one in charge.”

Artibeus didn’t even hesitate. “Every member of this council is equal when it comes to deciding matters that concern the city.”

“Maybe, but it’s obvious that you are the unofficial leader, no?” Not missing a beat, the Human once again moved. He strolled over towards where Artibeus was sitting, the council members around him leaning back to give him a wide berth. “I can tell from the way that they all glance at you for a lead, and how they wait for you to speak before forming their own opinions.” He smirked. “I have to be able to pick up on these things, after all.”

Artibeus’ silence was answer enough, let alone the lack of objection from the other members themselves. Still, the old stallion wasn’t quite done yet.

“Is that so?” He gave Chalmers a long, measured look. “While you certainly appear to be knowledgeable in the way of words, quite disarming in fact, going off your… attire, you are hardly a diplomat.”

The observation was met with a chuckle, the Human raising his hands with a smile.

Meanwhile, the changelings all glanced towards their Queen, whose initial neutral face was quickly morphing into a frown.

“Hah, you got me!” Chalmers brushed off. “No, I’m not a diplomat…” Beams’ heart nearly skipped a beat.

‘Did… did he just glance at me!?’

“I’m just a guy with some special training under his belt. Still, enough back and forth about who we are and what we are, let’s get to business.”

Surprisingly, instead of moving closer, Chalmers ambled back over towards the changeling Queen. Everyone watched in confusion while he rested a hand upon her back, patting it thrice.

“Sorry ‘bout this, Chrissy,” Beams just heard him mutter, before he looked back towards the Council with the Queen staring up at him. “Well, we might as well admit it all, shan’t we? Myself and the Queen here thought we’d bring your, ahem, ‘diplomats’ back safe and sound so we could discuss your place in the future of things.”

With a soft hiss, the helmet’s face-plate slid and reformed back in place. As if noticing a silent signal, all of the changelings grouped up behind the human with jittery glances being sent around the room.

‘They’re probably catching on,’ Beams realised, tightening her hold on her sword. ‘They live off emotion after all, so they can probably sense it.’

“You see, friends,” Chalmers continued. “We were going to offer you a place in the new world order. A place that you would have entered willingly, and where you would have remained as an independent nation while still reaping the benefits. All that was going to be asked was for you to take no action while we tore down the Equestrian Government and replaced it with our own, but sadly is seems as if your loyalties were stronger than we predicted.”

“Nigel!” Chrysalis hissed, but was ignored.

“I can’t believe it,” Artibeus squinted. “This talk of a ‘new world order’, of tearing down Equestria? You’re mad.”

“Oh, amazingly so,” Chalmers shrugged off. “But what I also am is exceedingly competent.”

Despite the situation, Beams saw one of Chrysalis’ eyes twitch.

“You bat-ponies sure missed out, let me tell you. You could have picked the winning side, but instead…”

Artibeus snorted. “Winning side? From what I’ve heard, combined you two have lost to the Princesses twice. That’s two-oh to Equestria, and you expect us to throw away our alliance just because of that?”

“I…” Chalmers had raised a finger, but he quickly brought it down with a mutter under his breath. “Fuck, old bastard’s got me there.”

“Nigel.” All eyes turned to the Queen, Chrysalis glaring up at the human in question. “What are you doing!?”

“It’s simple,” he retorted. Beams jolted when an armoured finger was pointed at her. “Diplomat Beams is not actually a diplomat, she and her squad are working for Equestria. She convinced the bat-pony leaders here to ambush us in the city in an attempt to capture us and hand us over to Celestia and Luna for a supernatural spanking. It’s quite funny though.”

He gestured towards the windows with a laugh.” They could have at least have made our cage a little less cage-like, what with those brand new, ‘just installed-a-few-hours-ago’ window bars. They never intended to talk with us like reasonable beings, just surround us with armed soldiers in a confined place and hope they could lull us into inaction.” Chalmers snorted. “They probably expected us to surrender without a fight and quiver at the ‘might’ of their armed forces.”

Beams frowned and drew her sword, stepping out in front of him. She knew that it wasn’t much of a threat on its own, but figured that such a large number of guards would swing the odds in her favour.

“How?” she demanded, ensuring that he saw the point of her sword. All of the changelings save for the Queen flinched when she made a jabbing motion. “How did you know? You have for a while, haven’t you?”

“Aww, she’s even cuter!” Chalmers dawed, mimicking the sword action with a hand. “Threatening me with her cute little sword! I knew I made the right choice with not just disposing of you earlier.”

“Answer me!” Beams snarled, Chalmers chuckling again.

“Duh, I’m a bloody spy. I kind of have to be good at, you know, spying for my job?” He tapped a finger against his helmet. “Besides, you really shouldn’t whisper important plans and the like when I can hear you from a mile away thanks to this baby. Adding to that, you ponies aren’t exactly subtle creatures, are you?”

Beams maintained a stoic face, but internally she was cursing her own slipup. ‘Of course, Princess Luna warned us that he possessed many strange abilities. I should have realised!’ Grimacing, she mentally kicked herself again. ‘Drat, he’s more cunning than I thought! I was too focused on what a fool he was…’

Luna’s forgotten advice repeatedly played over in her mind, meanwhile Nigel continued on.

“Don’t feel down about it, you were completely unprepared by your superiors,” he reassured. “I mean, really they should have tracked me down themselves when they found out about my return.”

“That may be so,” Artibeus said, standing up from his seat. “But they didn’t and now it falls down to us. I’ve heard many things about you, Nigel M Chalmers, terrible things. This deluded speech has only confirmed it, you are a danger to our society and we cannot allow you to remain free.” The tired golden eyes were turned on the changelings. “Likewise, the changelings are also notorious for acts of wickedness against our closest allies. It’s regrettable that they were even allowed to step hoof in the city.”

“Fool,” Queen Chrysalis spat with a glare. “I will not allow myself to be detained by such simple-minded creatures!”

Artibeus remained tall, matching the Queen’s glare with one of his own.

“You don’t have a choice.”

At the growled words, the guards sprang into action. Spears and swords were pointed and drawn, armour clinked as the sixty guards moved forwards, and the changelings and human were forced into a small circle in the middle of the room.

Despite the obvious power imbalance, it seemed like things weren’t going to just end with a peaceful surrender. While a few of the changelings cowered behind their fellows, a number faced the surrounding guards with lowered horns. Two even began to glow with the tell-tale sign of magic, horns crackling with dangerous energies.

Queen Chrysalis herself was, to put it simply, pissed right off. The monarch was baring her fangs at all who tried to draw near, her impressive height only adding to the intimidation. Her own horn lit up with a sickly green pulse of energy, the noxious glow causing more than one guard to take a step backwards instead of advancing.

However, Beams was far more preoccupied with staring at the still human, her sword trained on him.

So far, Chalmers hadn’t even flinched at the aggressive display of force. In fact, he seemed completely unperturbed with the dangerous turn that the meeting had taken. Frowning, Beams’ ears twitched as a noise from the human grew louder.

‘Is he… laughing!?’

There was no need to strain her ears, Chalmers soon erupting into full-blown laughter. Guard and changeling alike paused to stare at the hunched over human, both parties not quite sure about what was happening. Beams narrowed her eyes after Chalmers straightened back up and wiped an imaginary tear from his glowing eye.

“Surrender,” she demanded, taking over from Artibeus and not giving a crap about who was supposed to be in command. “If you do not, then we’ll have to use force to make you.” To highlight her point, she waved her sword once more. “Then you’ll have to prepare yourself to face the Princesses because of your crimes.”

The laughter died out to a small chuckle, and it wasn’t long before the glowing blue eyes were once again resting on her.

“Oh, adorable bat-pony,” he said with a shake of his head. “I am prepared, just not in the way you intended.”

Beams was left going over his words before it happened. A loud series of beeps suddenly sprang into life, the harsh sounds like an electronic version of a swarm of locusts. Wincing at the sudden noise, she looked all around the room…

And froze at the multitude of objects that were materialising in shimmers of light.

Each one was about the size of her hoof, small black disks that seemed to completely cover the walls and ceiling. Each one possessed a blinking red light that flashed in time to the beeps, bathing all of the occupants of the room with an eerie crimson glow. Guards and council members alike began to panic, many trying to get as far away as they could from the strange yet sinister devices.

“Nigel…” Beams heard Chrysalis ask over the din, the beeps increasing in tempo and pitch. “What are you…”

“Sorry Chrissy!” Nigel shouted over the increased din. “You can smack me for it later!”

He’d barely gotten the last word out of his mouth before it happened.

As one, every beep feel silent for a single second, the blinking lights turning solid at the same time.

And then, the bang.

Beams lost all hearing save for a constant and all-encompassing ringing, and her vison turned a stark white. She tried to shut her eyes but found that the sheer bright light remained. The sword dropped out of her grasp and must have hit the floor, as she could feel the sharp edge nick her in the side as it fell. Attempting to stumble forwards, Beams found her legs disloyal, a misplaced hoofing sending her tumbling down onto the cold marble floor.

She was lucky enough to avoid hitting her head, but all she could do was cover her ears with her forelegs in a vain attempt to block out the disabling sound. A pony tripped over one of her outstretched hind legs, but it was overshadowed by the feeling of something big standing over her.

A short and sharp blow knocked her senseless, and the ringing finally stopped as she was thrust into the arms of unconsciousness.

Chrysalis lost track of the amount of time she’d been on the floor for. Her ringing ears and searing white vison had dominated her thoughts, the Queen finding that clamping her forelegs over her ears brought no relief at all.

Then, she felt a pair or metal-covered hands grasp her under the forelegs, and she was pulled up into what felt like a sitting position. She continued to clamp her eyes shut, shaking her head in an unrewarded attempt to clear her vison and hearing.

More time past before a tiny amount of relief started to pour through. The bright light began to fade into darkness and the ringing started to die down, Chrysalis able to pick up a voice that steadily grew more understandable.

“…ssy. Chrissy, come on. Open your eyes now.”

Chrysalis did as asked, her eyes blinking rapidly to chase the remaining light away. A fuzzy image morphed into a familiar face, and she ignored it for the time being to look around the room.

Evidently, the bat-ponies had severely underestimated the lengths that Nigel would go to.

‘It wasn’t that long, surely?’

Somehow, Nigel had found the time to bind all of the guards and council members, the weird chainless hoofcuffs that she remembered from long ago preventing movement of legs while a strong metal cord held the wings. A few ponies, mostly council members, were groaning where they lay. She noted that most of the guards weren’t moving at all, but going off the lack of viscera and gore it was likely that they had just been knocked out.

The next immediate thing that was noticeable was the walls and ceiling. The devices from before were dormant, not a single sound nor flash of light to be seen. Chrysalis furrowed her brows at that.

‘I could have sworn that they all exploded…’

“Hey, you okay there?”

Looking back at Nigel, his helmet sitting on the floor next to him with him crouched down, her confusion morphed into something dangerous.

“You idiot!” she snarled, raising a hoof and striking him in the face with a furious blow. “What in Tartarus were you thinking! We could have been killed!”

He jolted back when she connected straight with his face, Chrysalis blinking back tears while her hoof lowered down to the ground. She could see a smear of red through the hand that covered his nose, Nigel straitening back up with a grimace.

“Yeah, I guess I deserve that.” It was then that Chrysalis noticed that his nose was crooked, Chalmers grabbing it with his fingers before yanking it back into place. She actually winced at the disgusting cracking sound, Nigel taking a deep breath afterwards. “Motherfu…” he stopped just short, moving his hand away before wiping the blood off on his leg. A red smear was left on his face, and every so often a drop of blood would fall from each nostril. “Chrissy, you weren’t going to die.”

Although her initial anger had been partly abated due to her lashing out and the witnessing of the results, she still managed to reply with a growl.

“You set off explosives, when we were inside with them!”

“They’re non-lethal,” he calmly explained with his hands raised. “The most they do is disorient you for a few minutes, or at worst cause you to injure yourself when falling down. You have to admit that it worked, didn’t it? I’m sorry for what happened, but I couldn’t warn you about them without cluing in the bat-ponies.”

“You could have told me before,” she muttered, before a stirring beside her drew her attention.

“Ah! What happened?”

The largest firstborn, Buzz, was sitting up slowly while shaking his head. Chrysalis moved a forearm around his withers and inspected him for any damage, before looking back at Nigel upon finding non save for a small scratch on his hind leg.

“What now then, genius?” she asked, while the remaining firstborns all began to sit up and mutter out questions of their own while recovering. “Hold these ponies hostage? You saw the amount of guards outside!”

As if on cue, a loud thump shook the heavy wooden doors.

Nigel glanced over towards the council members, most now awake and shouting for help, before he nodded.

“Kind of. I just thought of a great idea…”

He stood up and walked over towards the trussed-up council members, leaving his helmet by her hooves.

Chrysalis watched while he knelt down next to a middle-aged stallion with deep-purple wings, Chalmers fishing around in a suit compartment before he did something completely unexpected.

“What are you… arghh-gurk!”

The panicking pony’s mouth was held open while Nigel forced something in his hand down the stallion’s gullet, the pony immediately going into a coughing fit once the hand was withdraw.

“Wha- ach! What did you just-!”

The question was ignored, the other council members shutting up and trying to escape their constraints when Nigel turned his attention to them. Chrysalis could only watch in befuddlement while the first stallion coughed, Nigel grabbing the next pony and repeating the invasive procedure.

It wasn’t long before all twenty of the leaders had swallowed the unknown objects, jaws unable to resist armoured hands and teeth too weak to bite through metal. A few of the ponies were trying to cough up whatever they had swallowed, but Nigel seemed to pay them no mind as he walked back over.

By this time the rest of the firstborns had recovered from whatever had happened. A few eyes were blinking back tears but apart from that they had all escaped injury-free. For a moment, Chrysalis’ attention dropped Chalmers completely, the Queen instead turning to comfort her children.

“It will all be fine,” she soothed, patting a particularly upset Cupid on the head. “Do not cry. I’m sure that Nigel will… explain everything.”

She looked back up towards the guilty party, and he at least had the decency to look slightly guilty.

“Sorry guys,” he told them all. “But this was the easiest way to deal with all of those ponies. If I’d just fought them, there was a chance that one or more of you would get injured in the fight. I know the stunning wasn’t fun, I’ve been through it myself a few times, but it’s better than getting a spear in the gut.”

“We… we know.” It was Shade that spoke up while using a foreleg to dry a tear from Joy’s eye. He gave a small sniffle himself before speaking again. “It just hurt a bit, and it was kind of scary.”

Nigel was silent for a few moments, before he clapped his hands together all of a sudden.

“I know, I’ll make it up to all of you. How about we finish up here, and then go out and get some icecream as a family? My treat.”

“Icecream?” Swissy murmured, Chrysalis answering her with a mutter.

“A sugary pony food that is frozen dairy with flavouring. It is… admittedly not terrible.”

“Yes, icecream!” chortled Nigel, before he turned towards the council members once more while ignoring the few waking guards and the desperate thumps against the door. “You lot, where is the closest ice creamery?”

“You’re insane!” a young mare shouted back while attempting to struggle out of her bonds. “What did you feed to us!?”

Chrysalis glanced at Nigel, also eager to know.

“Oh, rigghttt,” he nodded, before reaching into a suit compartment once more. “Let’s make this quick, I’ve got some making up to do.” He pulled his hand out, and showed off the tiny silver sphere he had between his fingers. It was smaller than an Equestrian bit, everyone barely able to see it. “Ladies and Gentlemen… or ponies, this is what’s known as a ‘nanobomb’, more specifically a ‘type three nanobomb’.”

Chrysalis did not like where this was going.

“To put it simply, this is constructed out of thousands of tiny machines invisible to the naked eye, all programmed for a specific function.” He flipped the small device into the air, before catching between his fingers once more. “In this case, to make a bomb. It’s got a small yield but can be quite deadly when, say, you have a bunch of bomb-making machines that can fit into a pill. An easy to swallow pill, get my drift?”

As one, the council members started to panic. Their struggles and cries for help increased; only slowing when Nigel spoke again.

“Oh, and don’t bother trying to get them removed or anything. The bombs are currently constructed within one of the arteries in your hearts, and if you step out of line…”

The small bomb that he held was tossed up into the air, before falling back down. Nigel reached out to catch it with his fingers, but then pulled them away at the last second.

With a startling loud bang for its size, the tiny bomb detonated in a small explosion, causing everyone save for Nigel to flinch back.

“Boom.”

“Oh sweet Luna!” A stallion wailed. “We’re all going to die!”

Another young mare. “He can’t be serious!”

“Now, now,” Nigel chuckled. “There’s no need to put any strain on your hearts over this. Just remember this simple saying:

‘If bat-ponies are good, then everything runs as it should.
If bat ponies misbehave, then it’s an early grave.’

Simple, right?”

The wailing continued, Chalmers rubbing his hands together with a smile.

“Jolly good. Now, you can keep in contact with me using this.” He bent down to pick up his helmet, before he tossed a small metal rectangle onto the floor near Artibeus. “Don’t break it now.” Striding over to the main doors, the thumps still continuing, he motioned for them to follow with a hand.

Chrysalis got to her hooves with less of a frown than she had expected.

‘Why do I have to find his accursed way of manipulating those fools so alluring?’ she wondered, glancing back to see that all of the firstborns were cautiously stepping over unconscious guards to follow her.

“We’re all done here,” Nigel called out to the forces on the other side of the doors. At the same time, he put his helmet on and ensured that it clicked.

All around the room, the cables released wings and the high-tech cuffs opened with clinks. The council members flexed their wings and legs but didn’t dare move, Nigel lining up his fist against the heavy metal door lock.

There was a sharp cracking sound before the lock splintered, the force of the armoured blow pushing the two dense doors apart. Immediately the yells and shouts died out, the horde of guards all lowering their spears and glancing inside at the carnage that the room contained.

“Easy fellas, we’re down with the meeting,” Nigel reassured, but still found a mass of spears pointing at his face. Chrysalis herself was met with an equal number of points, and she glared at the ponies that dared to point their weapons at her. She felt a small amount of pride when a few visible waivered under her gaze.

“You’re not going anywhere,” a mare with a large vertical scar across one eye rebutted. The armoured bat-pony gave a pointed glance to the room. “You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”

Chrysalis waited for Chalmers to respond, and even found herself bracing for more explosions, but to the surprise of all he merely looked back towards the Council.

“Why, good leaders of this city, your troops appear to block our way? It almost breaks my heart to see this treatment.” He finished the sentence with what Chrysalis could only assume was a wide grin under the helmet, the new guards awaiting a reply from their superiors.

“Let them through,” Artibeus confirmed through clenched teeth. “They are our… guests, after all.”

“But Councillor Artibeus sir-“

“Captain, let them through,” he repeated. “If you must follow one order in your lifetime, let it be this one.”

“Indeed,” Nigel added. “This is heart-ly the time to question orders.”

Everyone looked at him, the conscious guards with confusion while Chrysalis just shook her head and glared at him.

“Alright, even I admit that one was bad,” Chalmers groaned, before perking back up. “But forwards, dear lover and children, icecream awaits!”

With that, he marched out through the centre of the guards, Chrysalis and the firstborns really having no real alternative but to follow.

“Did you really have to put… well, explosives inside of them?” Reflection whispered when they were out of earshot. “It just seems a little excessive.”

Nigel let out a small chuckle before glancing back. “Oh, the only nanobomb I had was the one that exploded. The rest of them were aniseed-flavoured cough drops.”

“Ach!”

“Sorry Sergeant-Major, I’m almost done.”

Beams opened her eyes and looked down, spotting Sergeant Bites crouching down to her right. Her Sergeant was just about finished wrapping her side with a heavy bandage, a painful throb coming from the wound. They’d obviously put her in a chair, and going off the cushioned seat she guessed that she was still in the council chambers. A look around the room confirmed it, the chambers empty save for the squad and a few jittery guards.

“W-what happened?” she asked, wincing again when Bites put a tiny amount of pressure on the cut.

“The human and changelings triggered some kind of bombs,” Bites explained. “All I know is that I lost my hearing and couldn’t see, before I was knocked out. One of the city guards woke me up a few minutes ago, but we decided to let you sleep until we’d disinfected and dressed your wound.”

She looked down for a closer look, her memory returning to her. Glancing down around them, she spotted her sword resting on a nearby table.

“Was it bad?” she winced.

“Your wound, not too bad,” Bites reassured. “You must have fallen over and hit your sword or something. It’s just a shallow cut, but it was pretty long.” He used his wings to manipulate a bandage clasp. “As for the overall situation, we’re kind of screwed.”

Beams’ eyes widened. “Where’s the human!?”

“Gone,” answered Bites as he finished securing the clasp. “It’s bad, boss. While we and most of the guards were out cold, he apparently put some kind of explosive within the entire Council. Apparently he hinted that he can explode them whenever he wants, and then he just took the changelings and left.” Bites sat back, giving his work a final look-over. “They’ve lost it, Beams. Artibeus ordered that everyone is to do what the human wants, and for the guards to leave him and the changelings alone. Old timer and the rest of the Council are going into full panic mode.”

“Leave them alone?” she repeated, testing the cut and judging it as no barrier to movement. “We can’t just leave them alone, we have to warn Princess Luna and ask for her help!”

“No.”

Both turned towards the source of the objection, Councillor Artibeus moving towards them with a stern face.

“You can’t be serious,” Beams continued, leaving the chair and landing on her hooves. She winced as the cut stung sightly, but pushed it towards the back of her mind. “If what my Sergeant said is true, then that human is a true maniac! Did you hear what he and the Changeling Queen have planned!?”

“You are correct, he is a maniac.” Artibeus stared her down. “I know that fact quite well, Sergeant-Major, I’m currently carrying a bomb inside of my heart after all.”

Beams grimaced at that.

“The same goes for the rest of the Council,” the old stallion continued. “There is nothing we can do.”

“But what of the city?” Beams protested, sweeping her hoof to gesture at the room. “What has happened to you and the others is terrible, but-“

“Sergeant-Major, think for a moment.” Beams stopped talking as he interrupted her. “That bastard put explosives within us to keep us from disobeying him, think of what he could do to the city if he were to become displeased with us. This is a grave matter, not just for use personally, but for our entire community!”

She couldn’t help but agree with him. More and more she was regretting the plan to bring the dangerous creatures into her home city. Had she really put everyone in danger?

“I…” she started to apologise, but then stopped.

‘No, wait. Rolling over and just letting that human win isn’t going to help anyone!’

“We can’t just do nothing,” Beams repeated. “What’s stopping him from devastating our city after he’s defeated Equestria, the rest of the nations, and the Princesses!? We’d be under his complete mercy, without any hope at all! At least let us warn Princess Luna, so that she may be prepared!”

Artibeus frowned. “No, if he catches on… just… no.”

“Please,” Beams pleaded, stepping forwards to lay a wing on his shoulder. “You know that it is what we must do. If their hate against Equestria is true, then imagine what is in store for the ponies there.”

There was a brief moment of silence, Artibeus closing his eyes and rubbing a temple with a wing. Then, they opened again, the golden eyes having lost most of their steely shine. Instead, they just looked… tired.

“You must promise to tell Princess Luna only, and to stress our tenuous position,” he relented. “If she is able to help us in any way, then that is good, but if not…”

Beams nodded her head. “I understand. My squad and I will be as discreet as possible.”

“You better be,” Artibeus muttered while beginning to turn away. “It’s more than just my life on the line.”

Beams and Bites watched him go, the two soldiers glancing towards each other.

“I didn’t sign up for this,” said Bites.

“Same here,” Beams agreed, before looking over towards the three other members of their squad. “Sweeps, Dream, and Belfry, get over here!”

The three immediately began to make their way over, Beams grimacing once more.

‘I doubt our chances, but still we have to try.’]

Celestia sat in her throne, staring out through the large window that overlooked her city. The sun was nearly due to set, and it wouldn’t be long before she’d have to set out onto the balcony and preform the ritual.

The throne room was empty save for her and the two guards down the far end near the main doors, the only sound being the rhythmic tapping of her golden shoe upon the throne’s armrest. As she stared out the window, Celestia replayed the current situation over and over again in her mind.

‘All I can hope is that they give us time to prepare for their plans,’ she thought to herself with a frown. ‘Luna’s idea has merit, but is so risky that it may end up backfiring.’

Celestia had so far resorted to re-reading all of the books in the restricted section, scouring for any solution to the strife that was sure to soon befall upon the nation. Time-travel had been one possibility, but even the most uneducated of unicorns knew that it was far too dangerous to be considered as a solution to all but absolute annihilation.

“Perhaps I should consult with the Zebra soothsayers,” she murmured to herself. “They managed to predict Chrysalis’ attack during the wedding, after all. Some warning is better than none.”

She fell into silence once more, her hoof continuing to tap against the throne for a few minutes before it stopped. Celestia sighed and left her throne, her eyes heavy while she trotted over towards the balcony window. The clasp that held it shut was lifted with her magic, and the cool evening air ruffled her mane when she stepped outside.

‘At least the end of the today is very pleasant,’ she realised with a small smile. Momentarily forgetting her past coming back to haunt her, Celestia focused solely on her second most important task of the day.

Her horn glowed a radiant gold, and with a supernatural grace the sun sank slowly down to hide behind the horizon. Her smile grew when, from high up above on another balcony, she heard the faint tingle o magic.

The moon rose into view from the other side, her sister’s celestial icon shining bright with a light almost as luminous as the sun itself.

‘Luna sure has been intensifying her efforts lately,’ Celestia thought. ‘Although I can understand why.’

She lost herself for a minute in her sister’s wonderful night sky, the beauty of it bleeding away her stress and anxiety.

That is, until she felt it.

“What?” she visible asked when she felt it grow. Slowly, Celestia turned to face the north, her heart freezing when she felt another pulse of the pure, concentrated evil.

‘No,’ she silently pleaded as chills ran down her spine. ‘No. Not now, no this timing! Chalmers was bad enough, but this one…’

Her mind filled with memories of a thick, choking smog.

Of the sight of innocent ponies broken in every way possible.

Of the memory of the wicked tyrant blasting her with his corrupted magic, leaving a permanent scar in her psyche to the very day.

Celestia took a moment to compose herself, steeling her mind for what was to come. As quickly as they had come the memories had been banished to the pits of her mind again, and with a solid face she stepped back inside and closed the balcony doors.

“Guards,” she addressed while trotting over towards the two stallions. “Could you please ask Captain Shining Armour and Princess Cadence to meet with me, now. There is an urgent matter that I need to discuss with them.”

The two guards glanced at each other, before they hurried off without a word or salute. Celestia didn’t mind, now was not the time for pomp and ceremony.

Returning to her throne, she sat back down and let out a huff.

“What did I do to deserve this accursed luck?” she wondered out loud.

While waiting for the pair that she had summoned, she found her eyes drawn to a particular portrait on the opposite wall. It was nestled within the numerous mass of paintings of Equestria’s various ancient nobility, pictures of mares and stallions that had greatly influenced the development and course of the nation’s history.

It was unusual as instead of a noble in fancy dress or glittering jewels, standing or sitting in front of some lavish palace or vibrant garden, the golden-yellow mare that was the focus was dressed rather plainly.

A jewel-encrusted belt with a long cutlass in a scabbard and a large black tricorn hat were the only items of clothing, and the setting of a busy and rowdy pub was a far cry from the opulence of the other paintings.

However, it was the piercing red eyes that held Celestia’s attention, the mare’s stare seeming to bore right into her soul.

“Perhaps it is time that I asked Velvet to inform Twilight of her family lineage,” Celestia debated, while continuing to stare at the portrait. “She may be able to dig something of importance during a trip through her family’s past…”

Past Troubles (Part One)

A long red tongue dragged up the ball of mint ice-cream, Nigel’s own chocolate one starting to melt in his armoured hand while it sat ignored.

Chrysalis paused before going in for another lick, one eyes raising up while she glanced at him. “Something the matter?”

“Not at all,” he quickly replied before taking a lick of his own. “Just… thinking about stuff, is all.”

Chrysalis remained staring for a moment before seeming to dismiss it, returning her attentions to her treat without questioning it further. Nigel glanced around the table to take his mind off of… things, all of the nobles happily enjoying their own ice-creams without any talk happening at all.

The café they were sitting outside was still quite busy despite their presence, although there were plenty of stares and hasty diversions around them. Bat ponies of all ages stopped to stare at the strange group, but none were game enough to ask questions or even whisper to themselves within earshot.

Nigel’s free hand tapped the helmet that was resting upon the wooden tabletop, his mind once again wandering back towards Chrysalis and her ice-cream. He was just quick enough to catch her intercepting a stray line of melted ice-cream that was just about to drip off the bottom of her cone, his own cone noticeably cracking in his clenched hand.

“Um, Nigel,” Chrysalis asked with the drop of green icecream still on her dainty tongue. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He watched while the solitary drop was withdrawn back into her mouth along with her tongue, before glancing down at the shattered remains of his own treat. He smiled at the entire watching group even while chocolate continued to smear down his armour, and he gave a shrug.

“Yeah, I’m fine. It was… a computer malfunction, that’s all.” Before they could question him further, he shook his hand off towards the side and engaged them first. “So, what’s the verdict? Pretty good, huh?”

There were nods all around in reply, Chrysalis finishing hers with a final crunch of her jaws. “It was satisfactory.”

“I like mine,” Reflection answered while still working on strawberry-flavoured one.

“Me too,” admitted Cupid. She was devouring the same flavour as Chrysalis, and surprisingly wasn’t as hostile compared to normal. “Why don’t we have this back at the hive?”

“It requires milk, a method of freezing it, and all the other ingredients,” Chrysalis answered. “As well as a recipe and changelings decimated to food preparation.”

Nigel shrugged again, waving a hand. “Piece of cake. I can easily make some solar generators, a freezer, and even a machine to automatically make it. All we’d need to do is steal some sugar and flavourings, teach a few changelings how to pour the stuff in and press buttons, then abduct some cows. Last part will be easy, I’m an alien after all.”

Buzz tilted his head, his mouth covered with chocolate. “Why cows? We’ll have pony mares that we can use.”

“Pfft, pony milk?” Nigel chuckled, shaking his head at the image. “Would that even work?”

Chrysalis stared at him. “Of course, where do you think the majority of Equestria’s milk comes from?” He was about to counter, but then she looked behind him and pointed a foreleg. “See?”

He turned in his seat, and laid eyes upon the blackboard that was mounted near the café’s entrance.

‘All ice-creams made from 100% local milk!’ it said in large white chalk, a drawing of a smiling bat-pony mare with noticeably large mounds under the barrel right next to it. He turned back around and took a lick of the ice-cream coating his armoured hand, brow furrowing and he moved his tongue around in his mouth.

“You know…” he took another lick. “I’d have thought that bat-pony-hybrid milk would have tasted a bit different…”He noticed Chrysalis roll her eyes, while the others just stared at him.

“Typical…” Still, Nigel didn’t miss the slight smile on her face. “You’re a fool.”

“You know it,” he smirked. Just as he was about to fire back with a very inappropriate quip involving the words ‘hotel room’ and ‘jester’s rod’, the sound of metal-shod hooves clacking on cobblestone came into earshot. Glancing to the left, he noticed two bat-ponies armoured in polished metal approaching their table, and so he opened a suit compartment and retrieved the first rectangular thing he could feel.

“So as I was saying, with the correct combination entered on this detonator,” he stated loudly, showing the black pistol energy clip to his companions. “The bombs explode. So if any of these ponies try any funny business…” He winked at Chrysalis, the Queen glancing at the armoured bat-ponies. Getting the hint, she made a very loud point of clearing her throat and nodding towards the oncoming soldiers.

Nigel put his hand down and turned to face the guards, a wide grin on his face. “Oh, hello there. My apologies, I didn’t see you approach.”
The guards glanced at each other, swords still sheathed at their sides, before facing him again.

“I’m Sergeant Charcoal,” the mare introduced with a stern expression.

“Corporal Lumin,” the stallion added afterwards.

“Supreme Ruler Nigel M Chalmers,” Nigel replied, holding out a chocolate covered hand. The two guards merely stared at it, so he withdrew it with a shrug. Instead, he began to gesture around the table. “The beautiful creature opposite me is Queen Chrysalis, and then it’s Reflection, Cupid, Buzz, Swissy, Holey, Sheen, Joy, Keith, and Chatter.”

No one else said anything in greeting, and it was Chrysalis that broke the silence a few moments afterwards. “What do you want, bat-ponies? Your leaders instructed you all to leave us be.”

At the reminder, Sergeant Charcoal’s mouth twitched. Nigel raised an eye at it, and the mare quickly and visibly got her anger under control.
“The Council ordered us to request something of you. They believe that while you continue to… stay, in the city, that you have an escort of two guards at all times to… minimise any issues.”

“No,” Chrysalis frowned. “We do not require some watchdogs.”

“Yes,” Nigel countered, earning a glare from Chrysalis. He ignored her, and focused on the bat-ponies. “I take it that you’re more for keeping the citizens away from us rather than vice-versa, correct?”

After a moment of hesitation, both guards nodded.

“Good, just one more thing then.” He paid particular attention to the mare, Nigel ensuring that he had Charcoal’s full attention. “You absolutely hate me, don’t you?” At first there was no answer, and so he continued. “Go on, tell it how you really feel. You have permission to speak freely, if you prefer me to put it that way.”

At that, Charcoal’s golden eyes narrowed. “Sir. You’re a evil, black-hearted, twisted creature.”

“Sergeant…” Lumen tried to warn, but was silenced with a metal-clad forehoof.

“You obviously don’t care about threatening multiple lives for your own benefit,” the Sergeant continued. “You’re selfish, your changelings aren’t much better if they’re willing to go along with you, and you’ve brought nothing but misery to this city. So yes, I hate you more than I hate pony-eating dragons and Diamond Dog raiders, you absolute flank-hole.”

Charcoal halted her outburst, breathing deeply as she caught her breath. Nigel merely smiled at her, ignoring that glares that Chrysalis and the firstborns were levelling towards the furious pony mare.

“Oh, this is going to be fun,” he chuckled, Charcoal only deepening her frown. Nigel glanced towards Chrysalis. “I think you’ve got some competition in the ‘insulting me’ contest, Chrissy. I don’t remember you calling me a ‘flank-hole’ either. Returning his gaze to Charcoal, he couldn’t resist a smirk. “Tell me then, Sergeant. Since you hate me so much, what are you possibly going to do about it?”

His words only pissed the mare off more, but she managed to hold in her venomous outburst.

“Nothing,” she admitted through gritted teeth.

“Good girl,” he said with a wave of his hand. Doing a check around the table and finding that all ice-creams had been finished, he lifted his helmet up with a hand and made to stand. “Now with that out of the way, I’d appreciate it if you and your Corporal could kindly escort us back to our hotel room. We’ve had a weary morning, and I’m sure that many of us would appreciate some time to relax.”

They all left their seats, the changelings and bat-ponies sharing distrustful glances while they prepared to leave. Nigel put his helmet on and paused at a tap on his leg, Keith standing next to him. Rubbing the back of his head and looking up, Keith cleared his throat.

“Uh, so yeah. This afternoon…”

It took Nigel a second to remember, but when he did he clapped his hands together. “Ah, yes. Of course, but unfortunately you may have to take one extra bat-pony along with you.”

“What?” Chrysalis inquired while they started to walk.

“I’ll remind you back at the hotel.”

“You know, we’ll probably get *gulp*, in a lot of trouble for breaking those orders of ours.”

Beams glanced over from her short sword towards Bites, the stallion next to her flicking his head to toss the last morsel of his breakfast into the air. The unidentified toasted sandwich corner was snapped up and swallowed mid-sentence, Beams going back to her polishing without even muttering a slight reprimand.

Currently, she was far too caught up with different things.

‘This is all my fault,’ she frowned. Her polishing efforts increased in intensity, Beams putting all of her anger and self-loathing into preparing the weapon. ‘I’ve failed the city, I’ve failed the Princess, and I’ve failed my squad.’

“Yo, Sergeant Major?”

Beams halted and looked up, the squad looking at her with tilted heads. The five of them were alone in the guard tower overlooking the cave entrance, the harsh sun having driven the regular city guards down to the lower levels.

“I think the sword is polished,” Belfry said with a nod. “We should be good to go, Sergeant Major. Me, Sweeps, and Dream packed extra rations and water, so we probably will only need a few rest breaks on the trip.”

Bites gave a flick of his wings. “We should be able to reach the Princess by midnight tonight if we leave in the next five minutes, so do you…”
The sword was sheathed and Beams trotted past him, heading for the window. Giving her wings a few warm-up flaps, she took a moment to glance behind her at the squad. Thankfully they had gotten the hint, bags already strapped shut while wings began to beat. Satisfied that they were all ready, she propelled herself forwards and out of the window. She didn’t need to look back to know that the others were following.

The warm air made climbing a piece of cake, and soon they had a nice speed going thanks to a favourable wind. Still, their good fortune had no effect on Beams’ mood.

“Curse that biped,” she muttered to herself, before she put it out of her mind and tried to concentrate on her flying.

Twilight knocked on the door to her parents’ house while readjusting the saddlebags on her back, the bustling Canterlot street behind her flowing with the late afternoon rush. Patiently waiting, she took the time to give her childhood home a nostalgic examination.

The large double-story home was as pristine as she remembered it, with not even a weed to be seen in the well-kept front garden. The large windows were free of grime, and the white brick walls sparkled in the sunlight. Her eyes drifted onto the large glass dome on top of the house, a smile brightening her face as she recalled the long nights spent with the expensive telescope in her father’s miniature observatory.

Belonging to a family of nobility certainly had its perks.

Her patience was rewarded with the sound of approaching hooves on oak floorboards, and it wasn’t long before a latch was undone and the heavy wooden door swung open inwards.

“Twilight, darling!”

“Mom-“ before she could finish, Twilight found herself embraced tightly.

“It has been far too long, you need to visit more often.” Velvet released her, and Twilight smiled.

“Well, I do live in another town after all.”

“I know dear, it’s just different not seeing you around the house.” Velvet’s smile faulted. “And to make matters worse, Shining’s been sent off to investigate some city to the north. Who knows how long he’ll be gone for.”

That caused her to tilt her head. “Who sent him off?”

Velvet glanced around, before gesturing with her head. “Let’s go into the house, I’ll put some tea on.” Turning, Velvet trotted back inside without another word and waited at the door. Without many other options, Twilight supressed any additional questions and followed her in.

Her mother shut and latched the door behind her, Velvet leaning in close after she had done so. “Princess Celestia ordered it,” she whispered with a knowing look. “And Cadence went along with him. All I know is that whatever Celestia told him made him nervious.”

Twilight leaned in closer.

“Nervous?”

“He came home to pack a few things,” Velvet nodded. “He tried to hide it behind his ‘big strong guard Captain’ look, but a mother always knows. Whatever they’ve gone to face, it must be something terrible.”

A shudder ran down Twilight’s spine, even while they both headed through the family living room towards the kitchen. The numerous smiling portraits of the family and the familiar warm red rug under her hooves did nothing to prevent the sudden chill she could feel.

“Wouldn’t the Princess have sent me and the other Elements? We did defeat Discord.”

Velvet chuckled at that. “You are not the only hero in the family, Twilight. Shining and Cadence did defeat the Changeling Queen, so I wouldn’t count them out yet.”

‘I didn’t think about that,’ Twilight thought while she hummed in agreement. However, her mother’s words did remind her of something. They both entered the well-furnished kitchen, Velvet trotting over towards the stove with her magic levitating a kettle.

“Is it something to do with that bipedal creature?”

“I wouldn’t be able to say. However, between you and me, I doubt it. The Princess has had me looking through the Canterlot records for a time well after that particular menace was locked in stone. In particular, for references to a pony named ‘Sombra’.”

That caused her to glance out into the dining room, Twilight following her gaze and eyeing the huge pile of rolled-up parchment that was sitting on the large mahogany table. Twilight furrowed her brows in thought, but was unable to remember such a name. It was an odd request, after all she was well versed in all of the important ponies of Equestria’s history.

“Anyway,” Velvet continued while reading a set of tea cups on a tray. “You and I are needed elsewhere. Princess Celestia asked me to show you the family home in Manehattan, as there are some things that you need to know. Your father is working on a project for Princess Luna in the Canterlot observatory, which I must admit is a good thing.”

Twilight tilted her head. “We have a family home in Manehattan? You’re glad that Dad isn’t going to be coming with us? Princess Celestia herself asked you to do this? Why? How am I-“

“Twilight, Twilight,” Velvet chuckled while raising a hoof. “Please, calm down. Trust me, there are going to be endless questions during the next few days.” The tray containing the cups, boiled kettle, and all the tea condiments needed was levitated up from the marble bench. “For the first, yes we have a family home in Manehattan. It’s been in the family since the very founding of Equestria, and it’s a very lovely home as well. Come, let’s sit down.”

Both trotted into the dining room and picked their seats, Twilight sitting down on a cushioned stool next to her mother. There was no more talk for a few minutes while they both poured their tea and prepared their beverages with the appropriate amounts of sugar and cream. Finally, after the drinks were made, Velvet continued her explanation.

“The second and third questions actually are answered by the same reason.” Velvet paused, taking a dainty sip of her tea before she set the cup back down on the saucer. “Twilight, what do you know of our family history? Specifically, of the Sparkle family name?”
Twilight’s eyes lit up, and her tail gave a small swish.

“The Sparkle family is an oddity, considering that it is one of the few families that shares a common name among its members. In addition, Sparkles throughout history have always been close to Princess Celestia and the Royal Court.

There was Sea Sparkle, the famous stallion admiral who served under Celestia three centuries ago. Moonsong Sparkle, who was the most favoured court entertainer four hundred years before that. Then there was Princess Celestia’s chief inventor, Sprocket Sparkle, notorious for an incident involving a Griffon diplomat, a hotel room, and a hamster…”

She paused and blushed when she saw the amused smile on Velvet’s face. “Oh, I’m sorry. I went on a tangent didn’t I?”

“It’s alright dear, I know how excited you get.”

Twilight nodded, before continuing. “Right, yes. So we have a line that shares a family name, are often in powerful positions, but we also aren’t really well-known unlike the Blueblood or Rich names.” She held up a hoof, remembering another point. “Oh yes, and the line is mostly comprised of unicorns who possess above-average magical abilities.” She looked up to the ceiling in thought. “There were also a number of Sparkles who were magically powerful enough to be picked as students by Princess Celestia, but I can’t remember their names…”

A chuckle from her mother halted her attempts to retrieve the information from her mind, and Twilight looked back towards her.

“Very good,” praised Velvet while taking another sip of tea. “Now Twilight, what about how our line began?”

“Oh, that’s…”

Twilight frowned, before staring down into her tea. Frowning, she furrowed her brows for a few moments before looking back up. “There was something to do with an abandoned foal that was raised by a noble family, wasn’t there?”

Velvet nodded. “That’s partly true, but it’s far from the full story.” The tea cup was emptied, and placed back on the tray. “There’s more to the story than what they’ve written down in the history books, Twilight. It’s a part known to less ponies than you have hooves, Twilight, and is the reason that you couldn’t even bring Spike along with you.”

Twilight’s interest was well and truly peaked. Spike was like another son to Velvet, and she knew that her mother always adored the company of the young drake. The explanation not only reminded her of the specific request of secrecy that had accompanied her mother’s letter, but also served to draw her deeper into the mystery.

“What is it?”

At the query, Velvet paused. The smile momentarily faltered but quickly recovered, and the older mare left her seat to pack the tea set away.
“That is a question that will be far easier to answer once we reach Manehattan,” Velvet answered softly. “I’ve already packed a bag for you, dear. Our train leaves in a few hours so we better get a move on.”

Twilight stared, a small quiver shaking her body.

“Just one little bit, a hint?”

Velvet’s sad smile took her by surprise, her mother letting out a weary sigh.

“Let’s just say, Twilight, that our family has had a far greater impact on Equestria than you could ever imagine.”

“So, it’s just you and me now…”

Nigel slicked back his hair, left eye winking as he stood completely naked.

“I know what you’re thinking. ‘My, look at the incredible hunk of man just standing there. He is a perfect image of the male virility that deserves to be worshiped by all.” He did a turn, one hand smacking his left arsecheek. “Oh yeah, just like that. You like that don’t you? Yeah you do, you’re nothing but a filthy, lust-driven-“

“Nigel, who are you talking to in there?”

Whirling around from the bathroom mirror, Nigel looked towards the closed door. “Um… no-one at all, Chrissy. It was just all in your head.”
There was a moment of silence.

“If you say so.”

Smirking while wrapping a towel around himself, he opened the door and stepped out. Chrysalis was lying on the bed, and so he slandered towards her with a grin.

“Well, our conquest of this city has gone well. Care to celebrate?”

Instead of the Chrysalis that had almost bounced on her hooves on their way back to the bedroom, he was met with one that seemed to be staring off into space. Bending down, he waved a hand in front of her eyes but still got no response. “Yo.”

He tapped her on the snout, the touch jolting her out of her stupor.

“I…”

She trailed off, Nigel rolling his eyes before he sat down on the bed next to her. Still lying on her side, Chrysalis didn’t even react when he reached out a hand and rubbed her side.

“Chrissy? Come on, don’t tell me you’re not in the mood after this morning? I know how you like the whole melodramatic villainy thing.” He tilted his head. “Was it the explosions?”

“No, I just… hold on for a moment.”

She sat up, and her horn began to glow a sickly green. The magical light caused the candles in the room to flicker, and Nigel didn’t say anything while she did… whatever it was that she was doing.

‘Not what I was expecting,’ he silently grumbled.

After a few moments the glow died out, and Chrysalis stared off towards the left wall of the room.

He couldn’t take it anymore, a tinge of irritation creeping into his voice. “Chrysalis, what is the matter?”

The shudder that ran down the Queen wasn’t missed.

“I can feel it,” she whispered with a frown on her face. “To the north. Such…” Chrysalis turned to look at him, eyes heavy with concern. “It’s as if a sudden burst of sorrowful emotion just appeared. There’s sadness, hate…” she turned away again. “I haven’t felt so much negative emotion for centuries that wasn’t my own, and yet I can’t remember exactly what it was.”

“Huh?”

She turned around again, this time with evident frustration. “Nigel, there’s something evil that’s just appeared to the north. Very evil. We would do best to avoid whatever it is, anything powerful and hateful enough that generates negative emotion that I can feel despite it being that far away is very bad news.” Her frown increased. “As much as I detest admitting it, perhaps it would be good if the Princesses and their precious Elements are preoccupied with such a threat. It will allow us to strike at them when they have exhausted themselves.”

Nigel nodded at the explanation, deciding to skip over all the questions about the ‘emotion sensing’ and other such oddities. Instead, he was solely focused on her assessment of the threat.

“I understand,” he told her. “Don’t worry Chrissy, it’ll be fine.”

She didn’t seem convinced, but it wasn’t long before she let out a sigh. “I suppose.” Shifting closer, a small smile began to replace the frown. “Well, with that out of my mind, what should we do now?”

He leaned in close towards her, the Queen letting out a happy hum when a hand went for and rubbed her right ear. “I think we both know what needs to be done now, hmm?”

“Oh yes,” Chrysalis cooed. “At right now seems like the perfect time to… Nigel?”

Standing up and rubbing his hands together, Nigel walked over towards the bathroom with a confident grin.

“Yes?”

Chrysalis was staring at him. “Where are you going?”

He did a double take. “Why, to put my armour on of course.”

There was a moment of silence, Chrysalis twitching her ears as if she had misheard him. “Why? Wouldn’t that just make things… more difficult?”

“Ha!” he snorted, while walking into the bathroom. “Silly changeling. If we’re going to go and pick a fight with that big scary thing up north, then I’ll need to able to fly or else it would take ages.” She didn’t reply, and when he glanced back she was staring at him with disbelief. “Don’t just sit there, we should leave as soon as possible. Imagine the embarrassment if these ‘Elements’ you were talking about get to this big bad first! Me and you are the top dogs on the evil pile, we can’t have some bloody upstart draw all the notoriety away!”

With that he entered the bathroom and headed over towards where his armour was waiting in a neat pile, completely oblivious to the look of horror in the Queen’s eyes.

“Yeah, so my dad works for the council and that means that we’re not that badly off. I really just work in that hotel because I want to pay my own schooling fees. Still, I guess it’s really not much of an achievement in comparison to you coming all the way out here with your Queen.”

“Uh, I wouldn’t say that…” Keith rubbed the back of his head, not really too keen to describe the circumstances around his trip to the bat-pony opposite him at the cafe. Whisper just took a drink of her smoothie, before nodding.

“But still, thanks for taking me out. It’s been ages since I’ve been on a date with anyone.”

He smiled, his own mango smoothie sitting ignored on the table. “It’s cool. Sorry for the, uh…”

They both glanced towards the third member sitting at the table, the solitary city guard staring straight between them with a blank expression.

“I understand, I won’t hold it against you at all. I guess he’s here to protect you after all.”

Keith looked over towards the guard, the armed stallion giving him a brief glance in return. Returning his eyes towards Whisper, he silently reminded himself that the city’s forces wouldn’t try anything after what Nigel had done.

Surely.

‘I guess now is not the time to point out that he’s here to make sure I don’t do anything.’

“Yeah, that’s right. I mean, not that I really need protecting after all.”

“No,” Whisper giggled. “I guess not. I just love your confidence in yourself.”

Keith didn’t fail to miss the slight hardening of the guard’s frown, but that was forgotten once he noticed the smile that his date was giving him. Whisper did seem to be having quite a good time, and considering the signals he was getting…

Smirking, and deciding to go for broke, Keith leaned back in his chair and pretended to examine his own forehoof.

“Oh, well it helps to be able to do some pretty cool stuff as well.”

A flash of green drew the attention of several onlookers, and the guard beside him jolted in his chair.

Keith looked away from his grey-furred hoof and back towards Whisper, the mare’s eyes wide with wonder. It was no surprise, considering the rather handsome bat-pony stallion that was now sitting opposite her. It was merely another time that he could thank the blessing of having two top-notch infiltrators as parents, the transformation having gone better than expected.

He made a show of spreading his sizable dark-grey wings and blew a strand of midnight-blue hair from his eyes, before flashing his transformed fangs in a smile.

“Oh my…. By Luna…” Whisper gave him a very noticeable look-over, her blush giving away that she liked what she saw. “Now that’s how you catch a mare’s attention during a date.” She was paying particular attention to his wings, Keith noticing that the city-guard was instead warily watching him. Then, Whisper cleared her throat and lowered her voice. “Not that I didn’t like you as you were before that is, but… wow. Can you… what exactly can you, well, change?”

‘Ah, so she’s wondering about that.’

He leaned forwards over the table, his voice almost whisper quiet.

“A form that’s easy like this? For a noble-blooded infiltrator like me, I could change any part I wanted to.” Going all in, he winked at her. “Any part at all.”

Whisper’s smile vanished, and Keith was caught off guard. ‘Was it what I said? It couldn’t be, she was totally asking about that and-‘

In a single moment, his question was easily explained. Keith shot up straight when he felt cold metal envelop his right shoulder, and when he turned around to look one of the last things he wanted to see during his date was standing behind him.

“Sorry for this,” Chalmers apologised, Chrysalis and the others standing behind him. “But we kind of have to go. As in, go pretty much now.” The fact that he was in full armour with his helmet on only caused more concern, Keith still trying to puzzle it out while Whisper managed to get a question out.

“Is… did something go wrong with the Council?”

“Why, far from it,” Chalmers answered. Somehow knowing, Keith figured that underneath the helm was a large smile at the question. “Your Council has been very helpful, and the guards as well.”

Keith looked over towards his guard, finding that the stallion and the armoured mare from the morning were whispering to each other.

“Sergeant, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know, but for some reason they’re just upping and leaving…”

“Anyway, I must apologise for cutting your date with Keith here short,” continued Chalmers without any apparent mind being paid to the guards. “Something important has come up a fair distance from here, and we must attend to it with all due haste.” Keith noticed Nigel glance at him. “Did you two have fun?”

‘Not as much as I was hoping for…’

“Yeah, it was good…” Whisper sighed, her disappointment evident. “I guess that you’re all important though, so this thing is probably more important than one little date.” Her eyes turned to him, and she gave him a slight smile. “Bye Keith, it was certainly interesting to meet you.” Leaving her seat, Whisper nodded towards her finished smoothie. “Thanks for the good time, if you somehow ever come back here…”

“I’ll certainly ask you out for another one,” he reassured. Still, he couldn’t help but feel that it wasn’t exactly likely. “Babe.”

Whisper smiled at that, and with a wave of her wing she went to turn and leave. “Goodbye, then.”

He returned the gesture. “Yeah, bye.”

Watching her trot away, he actually surprised himself when he sighed. Dropping his bat-pony form with a flash of green, he turned and made to follow the rest of the group. Looking up and briefly noticing the apprehensive look that the Queen had about her, he sided up towards Reflection and Cupid.

“So, what’s the rush?”

“We don’t know,” Cupid muttered. “He stormed into my hotel room and pulled me out of the bath, rambling about something to do with the north and ‘pissing in other people’s sandpits’, whatever that means.”

“That’s all I got,” Reflection added, before glancing back behind them. “So, what’s up with you? You obviously like her considering you’ve never actually talked that long to a female without rutting them before.” She gave him a smirk. “Although, I have to admit that the bat-pony disguise was pretty good.”

“Just forget about it,” he brushed off, focusing instead on moving with the group.

“Hey all, just hold up for a sec. I gotta do something.”

Keith paused and sat down on the rocky floor while Chalmers went off to do whatever it was he wanted them to stop for. Resting his head in his forelegs, he stared at the ground and sighed again while his two sisters beside him did the same except without the self-pity.

They all missed that Nigel was heading right for the departing bat-pony behind them.

“Hey, wait up.”

Nigel walked up to the bat-pony while she stopped to look at him, the street that had already been relatively quiet empting even faster once bat-ponies noticed the heavily armoured human. He paid them no attention, although the mare in front of him continued to stare while he knelt down on a knee.

“Now, Miss. Once again I’m sorry that I ruined your afternoon, and I promise that I’ll bring Keith back here once we’re done with our business up north.”

“It’s fine,” she replied with a honest attempt to form a smile. “As I already said, I know that it must be important. It’d hardly be something that you’d stop just for a waitress.”

Sighing, and possibly over-exaggerating just a tidge, Nigel met her eyes through his helmet optics.

“I didn’t really want to bring this up at the table and worry you, Miss, but I must admit that I wasn’t entirely truthful with my promise.” Before she had a chance to question him, he raised a hand. “You see, we aren’t leaving just for a fancy party or a meeting, we’re in fact going to be placing ourselves in great peril.”

The waitress shuddered, and glanced behind him at the group of changelings off in the distance. “Great peril?”

“Indeed,” Nigel nodded solemnly. “We leave to combat a great foe and a villainous threat, and I fear that I understated the danger. You see, I need Keith to accompany the group as he is one of our most skilled fighters.”

She looked at him with wide eyes. “Really?”

“Yes, so good in fact that he sometimes gives even me a run for my money.” Another nod, and he continued the lie. “Quite the changeling, is he. Out of all the nobility, I have to say that he is indeed the one we need the most when it comes to the matters of facing grave danger and perilous evil.”

“I… I didn’t know.”

“However,” he reached out with a hand and gently placed it upon her left shoulder. “That also means that he will be at the forefront of any conflict that breaks out, and… well, there’s always a chance that things will go wrong.”

A forehoof went to her mouth, the mare’s eyes beginning to water.

“What? No, you’re not saying…”

“Miss,” he went to finish. “All I’m saying is that it’s a slim chance, but it’s there. If you wanted to say anything before we interrupted you two, then I’d suggest that you go say it now.”

He took his hand away, and he stood up.

“I… I will,” she nodded, before galloping off towards the group. Nigel watched her go, confident that he had done the right thing.

‘Sure, I may have embellished it a little,’ he admitted to himself. ‘But at the end of the day, not much harm is really done by it, is there? I mean, I’ll be there with Keith and everyone knows that I’ll easily beat the crap out of any poser that tries to start something. Seriously, it’s not even going to be a feasible-‘

“Um, I’m terribly ashamed to ask this, but…”

Nigel was broken out of his thoughts at the query, and he glanced down to see that the waitress had returned. Her face was red, but not enough time had passed for her to have spoken to Keith for her to have actually confessed her feeling for him. When she didn’t finish and refused to make eye contact, he clued in and looked over towards the group of changelings.

“Second to the right, between those two smaller ones.”

“Thank you,” the waitress mumbled before darting back off again. Smiling, Nigel watched while she closed and drew the attention of the group. Then, as soon as she had tackled Keith into a hug and begun to give the noble-blooded infiltrator a very intense goodbye-kiss, he started to walk back towards them with a content sigh.

“Kids these days,” he mused, making a note to certainly return to the bat-pony city in the near future.

Beams barely slowed when she entered through the main doors of Canterlot castle, her squad right behind her as they flew past a pair of their very surprised fellows standing guard. Her shoes clacked down onto the stone floor when she landed, her sights set on the large wooden double-doors that led to the castle throne room. An additional four night guards stared at her warily from their positions beside the doors while they waited for an explanation, Beams able to hear the rest of her squad land behind her as she quickly trotted forwards.

“Let us enter at once!” she ordered, only stopping when she was almost snout-to-snout with the stallion on the left. “We have urgent information for the Princess, and need to deliver it immediately!”

Thankfully, the guards knew better than to refuse her order. Whether they heard the urgency in her voice or recognised her higher rank, it mattered not as they all moved to open the doors to allow entry.

Beams strode forwards as soon as there was a wide-enough gap for her to fit though, and she burst out into the throne room before the doors were even hallway apart.

The sound of her armoured hooves clacking on the stone echoed around the nearly-empty room, the Night Court about as busy as she always remembered it. Still, the complete lack of occupants save for Princess Luna and the six guards around the room certainly made things far easier than if it had been full of civilians.

Beams did not miss the slightly surprised look from the Princess at her approach, but didn’t pause until she was at the base of the throne and bowing before her monarch.

“Forgive me, Princess,” she began. “But I’m afraid that I bring terrible news.”

“Rise,” Luna answered, Beams doing as she was told. Without even glancing back, she was able to tell that her squad had done the same a little ways behind her. “Make your report, Sergeant-Major.”

“Your Highness, I’m afraid that I must report a failure for our mission. Even as we speak, our home city is…” Beams struggled to maintain a straight expression. “Under the sway of the foe you assigned us to observe.”

“What!?” Luna’s reaction sent a shiver down Beams’ spine. This wasn’t going to be easy to explain. “How could that be? Explain this occurrence at once with due haste!”

Beams swallowed the lump in her throat. “I will keep it short, Princess. My Squad and I was following the creature as you asked, and we tracked it to the changeling hive. After a… disastrous incident with our water supplies, we had no choice but to change our plans and attempted a diplomatic interaction while disguised as passing diplomats in the service of the bat-ponies.”

“You made to barter for water,” Luna guessed. Beams gave a short nod, aware of the inquisitive stare. “You were of course aware that they were likely to just imprison you?”

“We were,” she confirmed. “That or worse. Still, my Princess, we had little options left and I decided that it was the best at the time. It was during said negotiations that we met the target face-to-face.”

Luna leaned forwards, eyes glinting with a dangerous light. “And? How did the monster act? Did it try to rip you in twain for your trespass?”

Beams shook her head, her stoic tone faltering somewhat during her explanation. “Not quite, Your Highness. While the Changeling Queen was set on cocooning us for sustenance, the creature seemed to hold sway over her and secured our freedom and water in return for us to act as guides. It was obvious that he had quickly embedded himself in a position of power within the Changelings and he… well, was surprisingly… nice.” Her ears flicked a little out of instinct. “It is a small detail, but he also considers us to be rather cute.”

“I see.”

“We led him. The Queen, and ten of their nobles towards the city. We had little choice as to refuse would break our cover and likely result in our capture, but I must admit that I now doubt that we had ever tricked him. He was talking about gaining favour with the Council over our return, in a bid to buy cooperation against Equestria.”

“Ha!” Luna snorted. “My bat-ponies are far too loyal to give in to such wicked demands.”

Beams nodded. “They were.”

“But, Sergeant Major, that still leaves the question as to how the city has fallen.”

“Our trip was uneventful, save for a pair of dragons that aimed to rob and eat us,” Beams continued on, leaving out the other implied threats that Belfry had faced. “The creature and the Queen dispatched them however, and after a brief… retrieval of the stolen goods, we reached the city.”

She hung her head, heart heavy with guilt. “I must apologise again, Princess. I was foolish enough to think that the forces of the city would be enough to trap and detain the creature and his allies.”

“Do not be sorry,” Luna said, continuing to stare down. “It was a sound plan. The strength of the biped is his magical ability to construct and control automatous mechanical devices. A surprise attack would rob him of that advantage,” she narrowed her eyes. “What went wrong?”

“He…” Beams sighed in defeat. “He found out before the trap was sprung, and reversed it upon us.” She looked up to meet her ruler’s gaze. “The entire council chambers was wired with explosive devices that blinded and deafened all during the meeting. He then used his advantage to subdue the guards and Council.”

“How many are dead?” Luna’s expression was stoic, but the Princess couldn’t help but show a small quiver of her mouth. “That monster has proven quite able to kill before.”

Thankfully, the answer wasn’t so bad. “None,” Beams replied. Luna visibly relaxed, so she continued. “There were some minor injuries, but the worst part is to come. The entire Council has been infected with miniature explosive devices that the biped can detonate on command.”

Luna turned a shade lighter. “They what?”

“I am unable to verify if it is indeed the case, as I was unconscious at the time,” Beams admitted. “But apparently there was a demonstration of the devices, thankfully not involving a council member or any other bat-pony, but we must assume that it is the true. As such, the Council fear for their lives and are unwilling to disobey him, although I was permitted to seek help from you under the condition that it was done without drawing attention.”

Beams had to scramble back all of a sudden when Luna flared her wings, the Princess getting to her hooves and leaving her throne. The guards around the room all glanced at each other, Beams shrinking slightly as the monarch towered over her.

‘Yeah, she’s really, really mad.’ Swallowing another lump in her throat, she looked up at the fuming Princess and tried to think of something intellegent to say in an attempt to defuse the situation.

“Uh…”

“Sergeant Major,” Luna cut her off. “The news you have brought is dire indeed. The threat faced is more pressing than I once thought when assigning this mission to you, and now it is evident that we must make haste in rectifying that mistake in judgement.”

Luna’s horn glowed with a dark blue aura, Beams feeling a tingling feeling run through her. “There,” Princess Luna continued while the tingles died out. “You and your fellows are refreshed and rejuvenated. Replenish your supplies from the kitchen stores and meet with me in my tower in no more than ten minutes!”

Beams shook her hooves with mild surprise, finding that her weariness from the earlier flight was indeed gone. In fact, it was if she had just awoken from one of the best sleeps in her life. She snapped back to attention when Luna hurried past her, the Princess moving towards the back door of the throne room.

“Yes, your Majesty!”

There was no reply, Luna already having left the throne room without another word. Quickly, Beams turned and faced her equally surprised squad.

“You all heard the Princess, get ready to move out.”

“Um, Sergeant Major?” Dreams spoke up while the others darted off towards the kitchens as ordered. “Is the Princess mad at us for failing our mission, or not? I couldn’t really tell.”

Beams paused for a second, not quite sure of the answer herself.

“Whether she is or not doesn’t really matter at this time, Corporal,” she answered, moving past Dream and making her own way towards the kitchens. “Somehow, I think her anger is much more focused on someone else at the moment. Let’s just hope that by the time this is all over, that anger will have been spent.”

Author's Note

Okay, so as the title says, this is just part one of the massive chapter I was working. It got a little big and I probably dedicated too much time into certain parts, so I've split it in two to help make reading easier.

I'm still putting the finishing touches on the second part, but it should be done either by tomorrow evening or early the day after.

Unfortunately there isn't a huge amount of action in this chunk, but the next chapter (not part) will take place in the Crystal Empire.

And the Crystal Empire means a slightly insane ex-King...

Past Troubles (Part Two)

Twilight jolted and nearly lost her grip on the book she had been reading when the carriage came to a stop. Beside her, her mother let out a small chuckle before the door beside them opened, a lean young stallion with a mottled brown mane and pale tan coat awaiting for them to exit.

“We’re here,” he said, before glancing at them both. “Do you, ah, need any help getting down?”

“No thank you, it’s far from my first carriage ride,” Velvet replied lightly as she stepped down effortlessly.

Twilight scrambled to follow, the earth pony stallion stepping back with wide eyes as she exited with a score of levitating books following in her wake. Stacking them up neatly, Twilight used her magic to snatch her single bag from the top of the carriage before surveying the area.

The very first thing she picked up on was the strong smell of salt in the air, a warm ocean breeze ruffling her mane ever so slightly. The source was quickly evident, Twilight’s eyes lighting up when she saw just how close they were to the sea.

Clear blue waves lapped at the golden sands of a beach no more than a five-minute’s trot away to the east, the stretch of coastline completely vacant of activity save for a few sea birds. It was then that Twilight realised just how isolated they were, and when she looked back down the dirt path they had travelled she could only see the city of Manehattan in the very distance.

The next thing that immediately stood out to her was the massive house that stood alone on the hill. It was truly gigantic, and dwarfed the already sizable home in Canterlot. Not even her own treehouse could compare in scale, the mansion more like a country estate than a simple home. It looked like a short trot away, a massive iron gate blocking the cobbled path that connected the road to the house, and silently Twilight wondered why they hadn’t just taken the carriage up.

“Thank you all, we’ll be fine from here on.”

Twilight turned back around in time to see her mother hoof over a sizable coin bag to the carriage puller, the other earth pony stallion still strapped in tilting his head.

“You ladies don’t need a hoof with your bags? That house is mighty far up that hill.”

“We’ll be fine, but thank you for the offer,” Velvet reassured with a smile, while levitating her bag up upon her back. “Not all of us ponies from Canterlot are that precious.”

The comment earned a pair of smiles from the two earth ponies, the one that had been untethering their bags hitching himself back up. “Well, if you say so. Take care.”

With that, the carriage was off and away again, leaving Twilight and Velvet standing alone with their bags.

“Well, come along dear.”

Twilight followed her mother as Velvet headed for the gate, inquisitive eyes taking in every aspect of the family home. Stopping at the iron barrier, Twilight glanced at the heavy lock that kept the gates chained shut.

“We do have a key, right?”

“We’ve got something better,” Velvet smiled, before she reached out with a hoof and pulled a small lever on the side of the gate post.
Nothing happened, save for the faint chime of a bell hidden somewhere behind the house.

“Uh…” Twilight stopped when she saw the smile that her mother had, Velvet sitting down gently on a patch of grass.

“Patience dear, Clodsworth should be down in only a few moments.”

‘Clodsworth?’

Twilight’s silent thought was answered in a few minutes, both her and Velvet glancing up towards the house as the sound of hooves on cobblestone grew louder.

A yellow earth-pony stallion with a greying mane approached the gate from the path, a noticeable limp in his step. Atop of his head was a straw wide-brimmed hat, and across his back was a harness with an assortment of gardening prongs, spades, and even a small watering can hanging off a strap. Faded blue eyes peered out at them, the owner staring at Velvet for a few moments before the stallion’s mouth widened with a toothy grin.

“Why, Miss Velvet!”

Twilight resisted the urge to wince at the croaking voice that uttered the greeting, the owner sounding like he was about to knell over with age.

“Clodsworth,” Velvet smiled back. “It’s so nice to see you again.”

“Can’t argue with that,” the stallion nodded, rummaging around in the bags of the harness before withdrawing a large iron keyring with a hoof. “It’s been a long time, Miss Velvet. I believe you last came round these parts… hmm, would have had to have been Mable’s funeral a few years back.” The largest iron key on the ring was selected, and inserted into the gate lock on Clodworth’s side.

“I believe so. Unfortunately I’ve been rather caught up in Canterlot so I’ve been unable to visit. It’s been a rather unusual two years.”

The gate creaked open, Clodsworth standing aside to allow them entry.

“So I’ve heard. Must admit, not much goes on around these parts nowadays.” He shut the gate behind them, the key locking it with a loud clang. Smiling and putting the key away, he turned his attention to Twilight. “Speaking of which, my, is this beautiful young mare the famous Twilight Sparkle that I’ve heard so much about?”

“Oh no, no,” Twilight quickly said with a shake of her head and a nervous laugh. “I’m not famous at all, really.”

“Nonsense Lass,” Clodsworth grinned. “You’re a Sparkle, and a very gifted one to boot. We in the know just won’t stop talking ‘bout you, let me tell you.” He glanced down at his dirty hooves, Twilight following his eyes. “I’d ask to shake your hoof in greeting, but I’ve been working in the back gardens all morning and would hate to soil you so.” He raised his head and looked towards the midday sun. “Although it was good timing on your parts, it’s nearly time for lunch. You both should join me, I ain’t as good a cook as Ol’ Mable was but I sure learned a thing or two.”

Thankfully for Twilight, who for the one of the few times in her life felt like she was just not getting what was going on, Velvet stepped in.
“Oh, thank you for the offer, but I’m afraid that we’re not just here for a social visit.”

Clodsworth nodded with a knowing look in his eye. “Ah, I see Miss Velvet.” Twilight once again found herself to be his focus. “Well Lass, I can only wish you luck with whatever it is you Sparkles come out her for. After yer done, you should swing round for a spot of tea.” He showed his teeth in the same ‘old stallion’ grin as before. “I sure do remember that your own mother certainly needed a drink after she came outta that house with a shake in her legs, left me tell you. That must have been… why, thirty or so years ago now.”

Twilight glanced to Velvet, her mother indeed looking as if she was remembering those earlier times. “Ah, that’s right,” Velvet smiled. “When I look back on it, that was rather silly of me.”

“Nonsense,” Clodsworth gestured with a hoof. “Now come on, I’ll let you into the house before I have me lunch.”

He began to trot up the path, Velvet and Twilight following close behind. Tearing her eyes away from the large shuttered windows and the creeper-vine covered walls of the house, she found herself drawn to the limp that Clodsworth possessed. Every time the left foreleg came down he stumbled, Twilight glancing over towards Velvet who didn’t seem to pay no mind at all.

Unable to take it any longer, Twilight cleared her throat. “Are… are you sure you want to come all the way up? We could just take the key ourselves.”

“Ha!” Clodsworth didn’t even slow while he chuckled, nor when he looked back. “Trust me, I’m fitter than I look. The sea air is good for the bones, pay no mind to my limp. I was resting on it a bit too much during the garden work, and at my age it takes a while for these old bones to wake up.” He returned his attention to the front, Twilight going quiet now that her question had been answered.

They entered the start of a beautiful garden, roses and tulips in full bloom all around. Twilight smiled when she heard the tweets of numerous songbirds nesting in the surrounding fruit trees, and her mind briefly wandered away from the stressful situation and rested instead on thoughts of what her friends could be doing at the time.

It was snapped back to the present, however, when she noticed that what she had thought were decorative stone sculptures weren’t just sculptures for decoration alone.

They were markers.

A number of headstones sat in two neat rows next to each other, Twilight quickly counting at least twenty of them. All were obviously kept in good order regularly, with the surrounding vegetation given no purchase on the polished white marble. One in particular stood out, a fresh bouquet of flowers resting before it on the carefully kept grass.

“That’s were all the groundskeeper staff are buried,” Velvet whispered to her after evidently taking notice of where her attention was. “It’s been a tradition since the very first. Rather beautiful, isn’t it?”

Twilight shuddered, the fact that her mother could find such a morbid place to be beautiful was slightly unsettling.

“Oh Twilight,” Velvet giggled, having noticed her discomfort. “You haven’t even seen the family mausoleum yet.”

'Maus- mausoleum?’

They rounded a corner and passed through a gap in the thick hedge that surrounded it all, Twilight nearly tripping over herself at what sat to the right of the path.

Surrounded by a polished iron gate, the small stone building was quite lavishly decorated. A heavy iron door sat between two white-marble pillars, the crypt bearing the family coat of arms at its topmost peak. Thankfully a heavy chain along with a large padlock was sealing the doors shut, Twilight never actually having seen a real life tomb before, but from what she had read they tended to be stepped in dark and foreboding superstitions.

But she wasn’t really worried; after all, she was a pony of science.

It still didn’t stop her from quickening her past when they trotted past it.

Twilight didn’t miss the amused smile that her mother had, but she didn’t bring it up. Instead she focused on the cobbled stones of the path they were treading, until at last they exited the hedged-in garden and entered a much less cluttered space.

Looking up, Twilight saw that they were in a well-kept courtyard. A separate and wider road, likely intended for chariots, snaked around a working water fountain that rivalled in size the one present in the centre of Ponyville. One such chariot was even sitting to the side, although the rusting iron fixtures and faded red wood suggested that it wasn’t as diligently attended to as the rest of the estate.

A little ways away to the left, she spotted a smaller house constructed from unpainted wood sitting by itself in a field of grass. Short and squat with a small line of smoke wafting up from the chimney, she guessed that it was where the Caretaker stayed while on the estate.
It was, however, the mansion before her that held her attention.

Seeming to be even larger up close, it was far grander than even the most ornate structures she had seen in Canterlot, save for the royal castle of course. Even though it must have been many centuries old, none of its surface showed any signs of decay. It towered over her, and silently she wondered at just how ponies could live in the massive space without feeling so… small.

The jingling of keys broke her out of thoughts, Clodsworth stepping up to the main doors and unlocking them. He swung the thick doors open with visible effort, before turning back to them.

“There you go. The first three bedrooms on the second floor are all made and ready as always, and you’ll find the kitchen stocked with cans if you feel peckish.” He gave another toothy grin. “But as I said, I’m more than happy to rustle up somethin’ if you want a decent meal.”

“You’re not coming in with us?” Twilight asked, a nervous laugh escaping along with the question. She glanced into the large hallway that had been revealed, her spine tingling at the sheer unnatural quiet within the house.

“Oh, no Lass,” Clodsworth chuckled in reply. “Whenever a Sparkle comes to this house with their parent, no Groundskeeper is to step hoof inside unless it’s an emergency. That there same rule has been around since before my father, and his father before him.” He looked into the hallway, his grin widening. “Have no fear of that house, about the most dangerous thing lurking within it is probably the occasional spider sitting in a web.”

“Thank you, Clodsworth,” Velvet stepped in. “We won’t keep you any longer.”

“Not at all ma’am,” the old stallion chuckled while turning to head to his house. “Always a pleasure.” With that, he trotted off with a noticeable lack of a limp I his step. Still wary of entering the house, Twilight jumped when her mother patted her on the back.

“Come on, Twilight. Clodsworth is right, there’s nothing scary at all within the house. Trust me, when I first came her with your Grandmother I felt exactly the same.” Trotting into the house, Velvet sighed happily. “Ah, this place does bring back memories.”

Hesitantly putting a hoof past the door, Twilight stepped into the hallway after her mother.

The sound of her hoof steps echoed around the entrance lobby, Twilight’s hesitation giving way to a growing sense of wonder. Framed portraits of ponies dotted the walls, some she recognised and some she didn’t, all of them covered under a slight layer of dust. It was a set of portraits that sat next to the huge stone staircase at the back of the room, however, that instantly set her inquisitive nature to overdrive.

“Is that…!?”

Rushing past her mother, Twilight stood in front of two portraits in particular, her hoof brushing the dust from their surfaces. Studying the two pictures with wide eyes, she didn’t even look back when Velvet chuckled from behind her.

“Ah, I’d knew that you’d take a liking to here. Yes Twilight, those are indeed who you think they are.”

Turning her head away from the green mare and grey stallion, Twilight tilted her head at Velvet. “How can you be so calm about it? We have portraits of Starswirl the Bearded and Clover the Clever in the family house… and the backgrounds of the portrait are of the house itself! That means that they were in the very same house that I’m in right now!” Twilight looked down at her hooves in awe, wondering if the great Starswirl himself had been standing in the exact same place.

“They were the ponies that helped found the Equestria that we know today, along with the other leaders of the tribes.” Twilight felt a hunger within her, and she gazed right at her mother with burning intent. “Is this family secret something to do with that? Are we related to…” she took a deep breath. “Starswirl the Bearded?”

“Well,” Velvet began while raising a hoof in preparation. “You’re half right-“

“I’m related to Starswirl the Bearded!” Twilight leapt into the air with joy, before beginning to prance around repeat the phrase. “I’m related to Starswirl the Bearded! I’m related to Starswirl the Bearded!”

“Twilight!”

She stopped mid-prance at her mother’s voice, Velvet shaking her head. “We’re not related to Starswirl.”

Twilight deflated, her smile dropping when her dream of being related to her idol was crushed. “Oh.”

“He was very well known to our family though,” Velvet continued to explain before gesturing to Clover. “Clover the Clever as well, although back in those days she was just known as Clover. You are indeed right that they played a key part in the formation of Equestria, but not in the way that you know.”

Twilight tilted her head.

“What do you mean?”

Velvet walked past her, and instead of the staircase she was heading to a wide hallway to the left. “Come along, it’s easier if I explain on the way.”

Following, Twilight made to levitate a notebook out of her bags.

“No writing this down, dear,” Velvet told her. “And it also goes to say that you are to not repeat this information to anypony, not even your brother or father.”

That gave her pause, Twilight furrowing her brow. “They don’t know already?”

“No dear, Princess Celestia herself ordered that the least amount of ponies to know, the better.” They passed numerous rooms while they trotted, mainly appearing to be small studies or servants’ quarters. “It’s a shame to admit it, but the Hearthswarming story is… less than accurate.”

Twilight frowned. “It’s a lie?”

“Yes. Soon you will understand why it needs to be that way, however.” Velvet’s pace slowed, and they rounded a corner. “The three tribes did unite, and ushered in a new period of peace. Old prejudices die hard, though, and it was only a few years later that they started to war again.” Twilight frowned, but didn’t say anything more as Velvet went to continue. “The Earth ponies were under the hoof of the Unicorns, while the Pegasi launched raids from the clouds.”

Twilight couldn’t even begin to imagine what it was like to have lived back then. Not being friends with Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash, and treating Applejack and Pinkie so terribly just because they weren’t unicorns? “That sounds horrible.”

“It was about to get worse,” Velvet nodded as they continued to trot, the older mare seeming to have no need for a map. “From out of nowhere, a tyrant rose from the shadows in an attempt to rule the entire world. He started with Equestria, seizing a port city and capturing or killing any pony that went near.”

A shudder ran down Twilight’s back.

“He had many minions at his beck and call, coerced either through the threat of violence or by their own greed and lust for power. Pirates, thugs, and thieves. There was even a creature that was described as a shapeshifter, with dark armour instead of fur. Of course we now know that it was a changeling, like the ones that attacked your brother’s wedding.”

Velvet paused, and Twilight furrowed her brow.

‘A changeling?’

“Wait,” Twilight stopped trotting, her mother pausing as well. “There’s something odd about this timing. You mentioned a creature that’s evil, and also that it was known to be working with a changeling.” She frowned. “This has something to do with that ‘human’, doesn’t it? The one who’s causing trouble with that evil changeling queen?”

Velvet resumed her trotting with a nod.

“That makes a lot of sense,” Twilight snorted. “Anything that consorts with those… those wedding-crashers must be at least as evil as Chrysalis was.”

She failed to notice the small smile that Velvet had.

They were nearing the end of the corridor, and Twilight slowed when she realised that they were heading right for a solid wall.

“Uh, Mom?”

Velvet didn’t answer at first, and Twilight watched on while a purple glow went from Velvet’s horn to the wall. A plain door shimmered into sight almost immediately, Velvet reaching back into her bag and withdrawing a small silver key.

‘I have a bad feeling about this,’ Twilight thought while her mother used the key to unlock the door. Velvet pushed it open and trotted through without a word, Twilight hesitantly following afterwards.

At first glance, the room they entered hardly seemed like it warranted magic to magically keep it hidden. A large poster bed sat against a cream-coloured wall, the red sheets coated with a fine layer of dust. A reading desk covered with rolls of old, unused parchment sat in the corner while a bookshelf contained an assortment of corked ink pots and pegasi-feather quills.

It wasn’t until she examined the wall opposite the bed that she started to get some idea as to why the room had such security measures.
A large portrait dominated the wall, the oak frame etched with gold. It was a painting of several ponies all sitting around a table in what seemed to be a tavern, Twilight instantly recognising most of them.

Clover the Clever was nursing a small glass of what seemed to be a deep red wine, the smile she wore oddly out of place for historically stoic unicorn. Starswill the Bearded had a small glass before him filled with a golden liquid that Twilight knew to be his favourite drink of choice, Griffon fire-ale. Her idol was in the process of showing off a magical spell, his horn aglow while a line of golden coins appeared to be moving in sync upon the grog-stained table.

The yellow unicorn mare to the left of Starswirl watched the coins dance with warm crimson eyes, Twilight identifying her as a mare named Radiant Sunflare. She knew little about her, save that she was credited with forming a number of magical combat disciplines that were still used by the Royal Guard. Twilight recalled seeing a picture of the mare in Celestia’s throne room, and that she had started quite a prolific bloodline out in the more eastern parts of the world.

She didn’t even recognise the hooded stallion that had a grey foreleg around Sunflare, save for the fact that he was a unicorn. Still, considering his attire, she doubted that he was a pony that sought out the spotlight all too often.

The last member of the group was by far the oddest. Immediately noticeable was the large tricorn hat with a pony skull and crossbones that sat upon the mare’s head. Like Sunflare, the pirate possessed a golden-yellow coat and a pair of crimson eyes, but it wasn’t the similarity that was the strange thing.

Despite the calibre of famous historical figures seated at the table, it was obvious that the artist had paid the final mare the lion’s share of the effort. Her eyes were piercing, her forelegs crossed on the table while she watched the coins along with her fellows. Despite the focus of attention being the coins, Twilight couldn’t help but feel unease. It seemed as if the pirate mare was staring at her out of the corner of her eye, and while examining closer Twilight realised that she had seen the mare somewhere before.

“The Canterlot throne room,” she muttered to herself. “But why is a portrait of a pirate both here and in there?”

“You won’t find any mention of her in the history books.” Twilight glanced back, Velvet speaking up from where she was standing at the side. “That mare was one of the most notorious pirates to sale the seas, yet she has been edited out of history so well that almost none know of her in modern times.”

Twilight didn’t interrupt, Velvet continuing on.

“With a ship that was said to be able to navigate below the oceans as well as above, she plagued Equestria for over a decade. Every navy sent against her was defeated with many lives lost, towns were plundered of everything of value, entire ships would desert just to join her ever growing fleet. It was one of the darkest times for the newly-formed Equestria, and it only ended when she mysteriously disappeared without a trace.”

Twilight gulped, now aware that the mare she was looking at was a prolific murderer.

“Why? Did she just do it for profit?”

“Perhaps,” Velvet shrugged. “She certainly amassed a great fortune, and was one of the richest beings alive in that time.” There was a slight hesitation. “However, it was noted that she treated crews of Royal vessels particularly cruelly, and many believed it was because of the fate of her original Captain.”

Twilight’s eyes lit up. “Ah, she was one of those ponies working for that human, wasn’t she?”

“That’s right,” Velvet nodded. “After the Princess arrived in Equestria and turned him to stone, they attempted to do the same to the closest of his allies. However, a massive explosion levelled the town that used to lie where Manehattan is today, and they escaped via unknown means. Eventually the princesses deemed them to no longer be a threat, save for the pirate, and many of them went on to build Equestria in one way or another. Clover the Clever and Radiant Sunflare, for example.”

“They were working with the human?”

“They helped create the Equestria we know today.” Velvet sighed, focusing on the pirate once more. “The human caused destruction and woe, but it was through his defeat and the future actions of his previous advisors that Equestria was turned into the great nation it is today. Alas, out of all the figures, the most infamous one is also our family secret.”

Twilight did not like where the explanation was heading.

“It is recorded that our family line started when a noble, by the name of Wanderlust, adopted an abandoned unicorn filly that was barely a month old.” Velvet turned her gaze onto Twilight. “What wasn’t recorded, was the fact that it wasn’t an abandoned foal, but rather an illegitimate child. That filly, Twilight, grew up to be the noblemare known as Moonshine Sparkle.”

“The very first Royal Alchemist.”

“Correct.” Velvet returned her attention to the painting. “Now, back in those days it wasn’t uncommon for the nobility to have affairs, but great lengths were taken to prevent any offspring.” Velvet waved a hoof. “Preserving bloodlines, and all of that. But, Wanderlust was actually an oddity in that he had no known mistresses, and he only married later on in life. So where did the filly come from?”

Twilight looked to the portrait again. “The Pirate?”

“Well dear, he never explicitly said so. Being quite the explorer, he kept quite a detailed set of dairies detailing his daily musings. In the two years before he ‘adopted’ Nightshine, he wrote extensively about a lowborn unicorn that had captured his affections.” Velvet actually seemed to brighten a tad.

“I’ve read the particular diary, and it currently lives in my study back home. It goes on about his tryst with a mare of most ill-repute, an enemy of the state who’s bold manner and unkempt ways swayed him more than any of the noblemares that he had associated with. In particular, he often mentions her deep red eyes that somehow managed to capture the soul. Very poetic and sweet.”

“But that still isn’t enough proof,” Twilight said with a tilt of her head. “That could have been anypony.”

“Ah,” Velvet replied with a raised hoof. “If it weren’t for two additional details that may be the case. It was known that, during an adventure to the Zebrican plains, Wanderlust was captured by a pirate fleet after they had sunken the trade ship he was hitching a ride on. The unusual thing is that he was released a few months later, with no record of a ransom paid at all. The second, and most important detail, was the name of the mare that had apparently held him prisoner.”

Twilight waited with baited breath.

“Her name was Morning Sparkle.”

Twilight one again looked at the picture, this time eyeing her apparent ancestor with a mix of awe and dread.

“We’re…. related to the most bloodthirsty pirate that ever sailed the seas?”

“That’s right,” Velvet nodded. “The mare who terrorised Equestria for more than a decade after her dark master was defeated by the Princesses themselves is your Ancestor, and the very first pony of our family line to bare the Sparkle name.”

Twilight sat down, staring at her hooves while processing the information.

“But… why have we kept that name? If we’re trying to keep it a family secret…”

Velvet placed a hoof upon her shoulder. “Twilight, I know that it isn’t easy coming to terms with the fact that we’re related to such a villain, but the Sparkle name exists because of her. Sparkles throughout history have been inventors, diplomates, leaders, and innovators that have shaped Equestria for the better. The Sparkle name commands incredible respect, Twilight, but it also carries the risk that of our secret being found out. Princess Celestia is aware of everything about our line, and she understands the importance of what needs to be done.”

The silver key was levitated into view, Twilight reaching out a hoof and allowing Velvet to pass it over. “This key opens up a chest hidden in a compartment behind the bookshelf,” her mother informed. “Inside, you’ll find every copy of Wanderlust’s dairies bar the one I have in my study. Princess Celestia wanted me to pass this key on, and ask you to help me read through them all in case we manage to find something we can use against the human.”

Twilight shifted, as a cool breeze ticked the back of her rump.

“It’s a very slim chance,” Velvet continued. “But any bit will help.”

Another chill caused her to shiver, Twilight sniffing the air.

“Dear?”

“Can you smell that?” she sniffed again. “It smells like the sea.”

“You know I can’t that well, but we are by the sea.”

Twilight frowned and turned her head, glancing down at her rump as another chill ran across it. A flutter of movement caught her eye, and she looked over to the bed behind her. A corner of a sheet was twitching slightly, and Twilight got to her hooves to investigate. The silver key was placed in her bag, forgotten for the time being, and while focusing on te bed she powered up her horn.

“Twilight?”

“One… second.”

With a thump, the bed was moved to the side of the wall, revealing a mass of spare sheets laying upon the wooden floor. With a glance towards her mother, Twilight once again used her horn and shifted the pile of dusty linin to the side.

Both mares stared at the locked trapdoor that sat waiting, the glittering silver lock that held it in place completely free of dust.

“Is this another dark and mysterious family secret?” Twilight asked with a unusually dry tone.

“If it is, it’s certainly not one I know of,” Velvet admitted.

Staring at the lock, Twilight felt equal parts of foreboding and curiosity. Her inherent nature quickly won out, and she prodded the lock with her hoof. “Do you have another key?”

“No, that one I gave you is the only one.”

The mentioned key was quickly retrieved and brought into closer view for study. It was certainly five sizes too small to work in the lock, but the way it tingled in her magical hold…

“A pretty cool trick,” Twilight muttered to herself as she moved the key to the lock while Velvet watched on. “But a simple one to work out if you’ve read all of Starswirl’s books.”

AS soon as the key entered the hole of the lock, there was a click and the latch opened. Grinning to herself with success, Twilight returned the key to her bag and nudged the trapdoor with a hoof. It sprung open to reveal a cold stone staircase leading down into pitch black darkness, Twilight glancing back at her mother.

“You said that the Princess wanted us to find something out? I’d bet that down there would be a great place to find… something.” She gulped, glancing back at the staircase. “So… who’s going first?”

Twilight winced when a cold drop of water splashed across her back, the drips of similar drops echoing through the small stone tunnel that they were moving through. The glow from her horn was doing a decent job of lighting up the area, but she still had to pay the utmost attention to her hoofing on the treacherous floor.

The slimy, moss-covered stairs had been a complete nightmare.

“Do you see anything?”

“Not yet,” Twilight replied to Velvet with a wince at how her voice echoed. “Just the same as before.”

They pressed forwards, the smell of salt growing stronger as they did, and it was with a small amount of relief that Twilight finally laid eyes upon something different.

An old wooden door, ravaged by rot, blocked the way forwards. Hesitating only slightly at the thoughts of what could be lurking behind it, Twilight ignored the rusted iron lock and simply gave it a small push with her hoof.

The door fell backwards at her touch, splatting down onto the stone with a few bits slagging off as it did so.

“It obviously hasn’t seen much use in a while,” Velvet said from behind. “I wonder what we’ll find down here?”

Twilight didn’t reply, and instead trotted forwards over the door. Emerging into a new corridor carved out of solid rock, she found with some relief that at least it was now wide enough for two ponies. Velvet didn’t hesitate, and Twilight glanced to the side when her Mother joined her.

Surprisingly, Velvet had so far been holding up rather well considering the circumstances. Twilight had always seen her as a refined and, while infinitely more caring than all of the other Canterlot nobles she had known, sophisticated mare. Such refinement and grace only made her mother’s attitude to exploring the dank tunnel more extraordinary.

They both pressed on without needing any encouragement from the other, Twilight’s horn lighting the way all the while. They travelled for another minute or so, before they emerged into a cave that posed more secrets than it answered.

“Wow…”

Twilight stared at the absolute hoard of valuables that filled the space all around, her eyes darting around while she tried to take stock of all that lay before them.

Chests overflowing with glittering gold and silver coins sat next to piles of jewels heaped on the floor. Crowns rested up against golden statues of creatures that even Twilight didn’t know of, and there were even boxes upon boxes of what appeared to be fine wine. All in all, it was a stash that must have rivalled the Royal Treasury, if not surpassed it.

“So this must be her fortune,” Velvet muttered, trotting around to examine a statue of a griffon king. “But why store it here under the house? Did she come back often to visit him?”

“It’s certainly… odd,” Twilight agreed, far too engrossed in the riches to really put too much thought into it. She bent down, her reflections staring back from a sparkling diamond that was close to the side of her hoof. “Why did she remain a pirate, exactly?”

“No-pony knows,” Velvet answered. “As I said before, she disappeared from all of the dairy entries with the last mention being Wanderlust lamenting her choice to ‘pursue her folly with the past’ over remaining with him to raise her daughter. There was never any mention of either Morning Sparkle nor her magical ship again.”

Twilight glanced around the room, her eyes settling upon a plain door built into the other wall of the cave. Trotting towards it, she took note of its impeccable condition compared to the last, and deduced that It contained a magical enchantment.

The silver key was withdrawn from her bag once more, and this time it fitted right into the lock. It turned without issue and with a glance back towards Velvet, who was currently trying on one of the crowns, Twilight pushed open the door and set eyes upon what lay on the other side.

The first thing she noticed was the underground lake, the large body of water sitting in a cave that was at least five times the size of the one they were standing in. No waves lapped at the sandy shore, but there was the occasional ripple from what Twilight could only assume was fish swimming under the surface.

The second thing that she noticed caused her to stop dead in the door.

“Uh… Mom?” she called out.

“Yes Twilight? Have you found something?”

Twilight continued to stare at the metal beast that sat idle in the water, three heavy ropes securing it to a flimsy wooden dock. A circular dome with what looked like a massive cannon sat on the bow, and the ship itself would have been dwarfed only by the largest of Equestria’s steam liners.

“Actually, do you remember that ‘magical ship’ that you were talking about before…?”

Luna’s silver-clad hooves touched down upon the dirt, the silver engravings etched into her lacquered purple armour glinting in the moonlight. Beside her, Sergeant-Major Beams and the other members of the bat-pony squad landed before folding up their wings. She would have brought more of her loyal soldiers, but Luna knew that against the foe she remembered it would have been a waste.

‘I must hit him hard and fast, and allow him no time to recover,’ she thought while staring ahead at the cave entrance. The guards that had been on watch noticed her, and immediately started to rush over. ‘I am no longer afflicted with the folly of youth, and he will find that my magical prowess has magnified by the thousands.’

With that, she thought about the news of the Council members, and the explosives that lurked inside of them.

‘Still, if it means the salvation of the city and their fellow nocturnes…’

She was no stranger to making tough decisions, and secretly considered herself more capable than her sister when it came to matters of death and war. After all, where’s Celestia would reject any plan that would endanger her subjects, Luna was confident that her bat-ponies would be confident in making the ultimate sacrifice if it stopped the Human’s rampage.

The guards reached her and immediately bowed, Luna striding forwards with no time to waste.

“Cease your bowing. Where is the human?”

One guardsmare bowed her head. “The biped is no longer here, my Princess. It took its changelings and departed in the morning without warning.” The soldier raised her head. “Excuse me for saying so, my Princess, but that’s probably a good thing.”

Luna knew that it certainly wasn’t good at all, a small niggle at the back of her mind turning into full blown concern. ‘Celestia mentioned the return of King Sombra. Given the events of the past…’

“Did you observe the direction in which they departed?”

An armoured stallion, looking to be just older than what one would consider a colt, shakily raised a hoof.

‘It is likely his first time being in my presence.’

“I… I know the answer, Princess.” Luna ushered him along with a gesture of her wing. The guardsmare from before gave him a sharp nudge in the ribs with a foreleg, straightening his speech. “The biped and the big changeling were talking… well, the big changeling was yelling, but I heard them mentioning going towards north somewhere. The changelings didn’t seem very keen on the idea but the human kept on talking about meeting back up with an ‘old friend’. Then his back caught on fire and they all flew off north.”

Luna didn’t even bother to supress the visible wince.

“So, Guard,” she replied through clenched teeth. “The human, and the changeling queen of all creatures, are heading to the north. You overheard this and witnessed them leave in that direction?”

The young stallion nodded. “Yes Princess.” He hesitantly continued. “Is… is there something wrong?”

‘Oh, more than you can ever imagine.’

“No, nothing that you should concern yourself about.” She glanced over all of the guards. “I thank you for your help. Return to your posts, dismissed.”

They all scrambled to follow her order, Luna turning around and beginning to prepare for flight.

“Princess?” the Sergeant-Major inquired while adjusting her purple helm. “Are we pursuing the human and changelings?”

“Nay,” Luna answered while spreading her wings. “While I would like nothing better than to defeat that monster immediately, this new information is troubling to the extreme. I believe that it would be wise to persuade my sister to assist before we seek to engage in combat.”

“The changeling queen?”

“Nay again,” Luna narrowed her eyes. “Queen Chrysalis is a minor charlatan compared to the evil that they are both unknowingly seeking out.”

With that she took flight, no more questions asked while she brooded over the disturbing news.

“Just look at this, how the metal hasn’t even rusted after all of these years! There’s no sail or paddlewheel, so how did it even move? And that cannon! The Griffons didn’t even have cannons until four hundred years ago, and that dwarfs even their biggest! The number of enchantments on this thing must be astronomical!”

Twilight continued to run her hoof over the ship’s metal hull, while she used her magic to levitate a metal boarding ramp into place.

“Twilight, dear,” her mother spoke up from behind her. “I don’t think this is the best idea, if I may say so. This is much more than a few references in dairies, perhaps letting Princess Celestia and the Royal Guard know about this…”

Twilight had already stopped listening and was halfway up the ramp. Any sense of fear or foreboding had been blown away by a rampaging sense of curiosity, and there was even a tiny bounce in her step at the prospect of getting to explore the relic. Such was her excitement that she failed to hear her mother’s sigh, or the hoofsteps that then began to follow.

Stepping hoof onto the deck, she examined the material carefully. It was some kind of really hard plastic, the original creators of the ship likely avoiding metal due to the chance of it heating up in the sun. Still, it was something far more advanced than she expected from a ship of such age.

Glancing around, she set her eyes on the most likely location to find answers.

The bridge.

Settled roughly in the centre of the ship, the rectangular prism of metal had rounded edges and sloped sides. There were no windows to break up the cold grey metal, a single door with a handle recessed into the metal the only irregularity in the smooth surface. With a glance behind her to confirm that Velvet was still following, Twilight’s horn lit up and she grasped the handle with her magical grip.

Upon the handle being pulled down, a loud ku-thunk sounded as whatever latch that had been holding the door shut was withdrawn. Swinging it inwards, Twilight paused before entering the room.

She could have sworn that there had been a brief glow of golden light.

Furrowing her brow but continuing on undaunted, she entered the bridge with Velvet following close behind.

The sight within was certainly a shock.

Rectangles were suspended from the ceiling by metal arms. A chest at the rear of the room contained numerous deadly-looking swords and knives, while a box beside it held a number of what Twilight understood to be Zebrican black-powder weapons. And. a stone statue of a gem-riddled hourglass sat on the floor before the most unsettling item.

A unicorn with a golden coat and a tricorn hat sat slumped over in a large metal chair, not a single twitch of movement. Twilight recoiled, before her amazement as to the preservation of the body overrode her queasiness.

“Oh no,” Velvet murmured, trotting into the bridge to join her. “I suppose this is where she disappeared to.” Twilight watched as her mother turned a noticeable shade paler. “Isn’t there… supposed to be some sort of… decay?”

Now this was a topic Twilight could get into. After all, despite the morbid nature, the breakdown of organic matter as discussed in medical books was a fascinating subject.

“After all these years, it should be just a skeleton,” she answered with the logic helping to keep her voice steady. “I can’t smell any rot, the mane and tail are still in impeccable condition…” Twilight looked around the room. “Perhaps it was sealed in such a way that it kept the body in peak condition. Magically perhaps? After all, if the ship apparently travelled underwater then you’d need some sort of seal to stop-“

“Eek!” Twilight jolted out of her musing when Velvet jumped back with the yell. “Twilight, I saw a hoof move!”

Focusing again on the dead body, Twilight felt a chill run down her spine.

“Do- don’t be silly, Mom,” she stammered while taking a step back. “It was probably just a gust of wind from the door…”

Another leg twitched, causing her to wince.

“A… a trick of the eyes?”

The chest of the unicorn began to move, as if the corpse was breathing. Twilight’s tone grew more pleading.

“Uh… it’s just an aftereffect of the lunar cycle?”

A pair of crimson eyes opened, the orbs focusing on them both as the mare looked up. The mouth twitched into a frown, and the horn atop the unicorn’s head began to glow.

Twilight gulped, while Velvet huddled up next to her.

“I don’t suppose… group hallucination from fungal spoors?”

In a flash, Twilight felt cold steel press against her throat. Wincing, her eyes darted left to see that Velvet also had a wickedly-sharp cutlass a hairs-breadth away from her throat. Both of them were frozen, Twilight not even game enough to ask what was going on for fear of moving her own throat onto the sword.

They could only watch as the pirate mare left her seat, the joints of her limps popping while she moved. All throughout, the swords were held steadily in an unwavering golden glow. Taking her time, the unicorn glanced before glaring at them.

“You’re not the Captain. Where is he?”

Neither of them answered, not out of stubbornness, but rather due to the risk of harming themselves. The Pirate, however, did not see it that way.

“Answer me, or I’ll slit your throats and toss you overboard!”

“Wedon’tknowaboutanyCaptainwejustfoundthisshipandthoughtyouweredeadandsowehadalookandithinkimaybeyourdescendentsopleasedon’tkillus!” Twilight blurted out with teary eyes. The pirate stared at her for a few moments, before withdrawing the cutlass slightly.

“Again. Slower this time.”

Twilight took a few deep breaths, before answering once more.

“We don’t know about this ‘Captain’. This cave is under the family house and we found this ship. You looked like you were dead. We decided to have a look. Also, I think we’re related to you.” Twilight gulped again. “But… but you should be dead…”

“Family house?” The pirate repeated. “Descendent?” She thought for a second, before her frown lessened. “Oh!” The attention was turned to Velvet and the second cutlass was also lowered a notch. “Are you Moonshine’s daughter?”

“N-no,” Velvet stammered.

“Moonshine’s granddaughter?”

“No.”

“Moonshine’s… great-granddaughter?”

“No ma’am.”

The pirate glanced between them, eyes narrowed. “What year is this?”

“Year one, LR,” Twilight stated, before figuring out that ‘Luna’s Return’ would likely mean nothing to the mare. “I mean… it’s about a thousand or so years after you were said to have… died.” She pursed her lips. “If you are Morning Sparkle, that is.”

The pirate didn’t seem to take notice of the last sentence, her gaze looking down at her own hooves. “One-thousand years…?”

Twilight and Velvet shared a glance, before Velvet cleared her throat.

“My name is Velvet, and this here is my daughter, Twilight Sparkle. We’re both members of the Sparkle family line, and If you are the pony known as Morning Sparkle, then that makes you a direct ancestor.” Velvet hesitated. “I hate to sound blunt, but you standing alive before us is probably just as much as a shock to us as it is to you.”

Morning looked back up at them, her frown returning. “A shock to you? I’ve waited in this chair all this time for my Captain to return from wherever it was that those Alicorns imprisoned him, and instead I get two unicorns boarding my ship and claiming to be my descendants?”
The cutlasses were returned to their previous, too close for comfort, positions. “How do I know that you’re not spies from Celestia and Luna?”

Deciding that mentioning her title of ‘Student of Princess Celestia’ in addition to explaining the Sparkle family’s close ties to the obviously distrusted Royal Court would be a bad idea, Twilight instead tried to defuse the situation.

“Captain?” she repeated through a forced smile. “Oh, do you mean the Human?”

Morning Sparkles’ ears picked up while she leaned in closer. “Yes. Tall, black armour, melodramatic?”

“…Yes?”

The pirate’s frown turned into a grin. “He’s alive, even after all this time?”

Velvet nodded. “The spell keeping him as a statue broke a couple of weeks ago and he escaped from the Canterlot gardens.”

“Ah ha!” Morning cheered. “I knew there was something up with that statue Sunflare told me about!” Then, the frown returned. “Blasted Princesses! If they hadn’t moved their accursed castle inland, then I’d have freed him without the need for all the waiting!” Morning glanced down to the hourglass statue, before looking back towards them. “You’re lucky that you brought me good news, and that you’re possibly related to me, otherwise I’d have thrown you in the brig.”

Morning returned to her chair, and sat down upon it. “Instead you’re going to sit down, shut up, and answer my questions. Got it?” They didn’t have a chance to reply, Morning tapping a panel on her chair with a hoof.

At once, the bridge of the boat lit up with a soft light. The door closed of its own accord with a clang, and the lock engaged. A loud hum started up from beneath them, steadily growing louder as it did. Twilight and Velvet both jolted when the walls of the bridge flashed white, before the surrounding cave became visible as though the metal walls no longer existed.

“Greetings, Captain Sparkle.” Twilight glanced around, trying to pinpoint the origin of the soft female voice. “Hibernation complete. Commencing maintenance assessment.”

Twilight looked over the Morning, the mare wearing a wide smile.

“While you are doing that, Sea Biscuit, scan for the Captain’s location. You know, the Human.”

“Scanning.” A screen changed to show what seemed to be a map of Equestria, a red flashing dot appearing up towards the northern snow fields. “Command Unit located. Do you wish to plot a course?”

“Yes I do,” Morning looked at the two of them, Velvet silent in the corner while Twilight was too busy catching flies in her mouth and trying to process all of the amazing things that were happening. “Don’t you two dare try to stop me, or I’ll show you what Sea Biscuit’s propeller looks like up close.”

Twilight merely nodded, eyes fixed on the front while a metal dome started to slide over the top of the bridge and deck of the ship from the rear.

“Good girls,” Morning praised, settling back into her chair with a content sigh. “We’re going to go on a little voyage.”

“And I don’t care, cause I don’t know, and I don’t care, cause watch duty blows…”

Nigel sighed, continuing to poke the fire with a stick. Even he had to admit that his little watch-duty song was pretty terrible, and he regretted not having anyone to talk to so he could pass the time.

He glanced over towards his left, the ten firstborn all sleeping soundly in a huddle on the grass. They’d been quiet happy to get some rest after the long day of flying, and there had been no complaints about roughing it in the small clearing either.

‘It’d be a shame to wake them up,’ he decided, focusing on the fire once more. A loud snore caused him to snort with amusement. ‘Speaking of a high chance of waking someone up…’

Chalmers looked down, his hand patting Chrysalis on the head while she let out another snore. The Queen’s front half was resting across his crossed legs in a pretty uncomfortable position, but he assumed that her chitin allowed her to ignore the cold and hard metal that was serving as her bed.

“I don’t know what you’re so worried about, Chrissy,” he whispered to himself while he continued to stroke her mane. “This whole North trip will be a complete walk in the park, I can feel it in my bones.”

Chrysalis let out a loud snort in her sleep, almost as if she had subconsciously heard him.

Nigel paid it no mind, and just went back to poking the crackling fire with the stick.

Author's Note

So, here's part number two.

Now, admittedly I probably spent far too much time on Velvet and Twilight exploring the family home, but I hope the payoff was worth it.

Next chapter will defiantly contain 80% more Nigel, 40% more humor, and 100% more 'CRYSTALS!'

Oh, and also a pirate in a longboat.

Until next chapter.

No Smoking

“Everyone snug as a bug in a rug?”

Chrysalis decided to not question the strange choice of words, figuring that the effort would be wasted. Trying hard not to scowl at her bare lower legs as she adjusted the almost comically small blue jacket that Nigel had forced upon her, she glanced over towards her nobles.

They all had brightly coloured jackets of their own, abet ones that actually fitted them, and it was difficult to spot any visible signs of dissatisfaction. The rocky ground they all stood upon was already cold and hard without snow that was surely to come, so Chrysalis had to admit that it wasn’t exactly the worst idea that Nigel had come up with.

“Are you sure we’ll be able to fly in these?” Buzz answered, looking behind him as he forced his wings out through two slits in his red jacket’s top. “They’re… noticeable.”

“We’ll be fine,” Nigel dismissed with a wave of his armoured hand. “I highly doubt that anyone will bother us considering the lands we’re going into. There seems to be nothing but snow, snow, and more snow.” He flicked a snowflake from his helmet visor and glanced back towards the small equestrian border town behind them, before looking towards Cupid. “Besides, you said that this town was the last one?”

Cupid stopped fiddling with her saddlebag straps and nodded. “Yes, the pony I bought the jackets off even said that I and my…” Cupid paused to glance over her fellows. “…’Snow research team’ must be mad-ponies for going out this time of year.” Gingerly lifting a hoof, she flicked it to get rid of a light dusting of snow. “I’m starting to think that maybe he had a point.”

“More than you know,” Chrysalis muttered under her breath. Unfortunately, one member of the party caught it.

“What was that, Chrissy?”

Frowning at her mistake, she looked up at Chalmers and prepared for an unwanted argument.

“This is not the best idea,” she answered, struggling to keep it civil. “I know you can’t feel it, but there’s something powerful where you want to go. I don’t know what it is, but it has an immense feeling of…”

“Hatred?” Reflection finished for her.

“You can sense it as well?”

Nodding, Reflection was quickly joined by the other nobles. “I’m pretty sure we all can, it’s quite strong after all.”

Chrysalis stared at her brood, one eye raised at them. “And yet you feel no fear?”

“Well…” Joy winced. “A little. But, and please don’t take this the wrong way, it’s not exactly like we’re not, um, used to it.” Chrysalis’ stare hardened into a glare, and Joy started to shrink down. “You’ve gotten a bit better lately and it’s been a very nice improvement and all, also… oh please don’t be mad.”

The last part was barely loud enough to be a whisper, and predictably it was Chalmers that rushed in to save the besieged changeling.

“That was a very nice compliment Joy, it’s good to see that you all are treating Chrissy with increased respect.” Moving through the group of Firstborn, he paused to pat Joy lightly on the head. Despite the situation she was in, the changeling in question stopped her shivers and recovered her composure with a small smile.

Nigel wasn’t finished however, and Chrysalis quickly found him at her side with the armour of his right hand withdrawn.

“There’s no need to worry, my dear,” he told her as he rubbed the back of her neck. “We both know that we’re more than capable of handling anything that comes our way, hmm?”

His warm hand on her cold neck was more pleasant than she had expected, and Chrysalis had to resist the urge to break out into a relaxed smile. “I very much doubt…” she paused and leaned over to the left as he hit a particularly good spot.

‘Are all members of his race this proficient with their fingers? It is almost maddening how easily he can distract me!’

“Chrissy?”

She opened her eyes and immediately straightened back up, not even bothering to admonish the Firstborn who were looking at her with smiles all around.

“Just… let’s not do anything stupid,” she gave in with a sigh. “I want this little excursion of yours to be over quickly and quietly, so we can actually return to our real goals.”

The hand on her neck moved to her head and gave her a brief (and frankly an amazing) scratch behind the ears, before it was removed and the sound of re-aligning armour could be heard.

“Pfft, come on Chrissy,” Nigel dismissed with a grin that she knew was under his helmet. “Really? When have we ever done anything remotely stupid?”

As he finished his sentence, the back of his armour shifted around and a warm blue glow lit up from a series of nozzles. Taking the cue, the Firstborn started to buzz their wings with Chrysalis reluctantly joining them.

‘No, of course not,’ she thought to herself with a roll of her eyes.

“Come on everyone, northwards we fly!”

Nigel rocketed up into the air with his back brightly glowing, the ten Firstborn giving him and his dangerous means of flight a wide berth before buzzing their own wings to join him in the air.

Chrysalis was the last to lift off from the rocky ground, her frown increasing as she felt another dangerous throb of dark negativity pulse out from their approximate destination.

‘Like we’d ever do something stupid. I’m completely and confidently sure that this entire exercise in futility will in no way go drastically and dangerously wrong.’

With a quiet snort to herself, she brought up the rear of the group and settled back into a nice cruising speed.

‘Ha, right! And earth ponies will fly I suppose…’

“Um… are you completely sure that you should be, well, drinking so much while sailing this… thing?”

Morning Sparkle paused her gulps and lowered the bottle of Zebrican rum, her head swivelling around to gaze upon her two apparent descendants.

It was the young mare that had asked the question, the nosy unicorn named Twilight thankfully going quiet under the steady stare. The older mare had thankfully been far more subdued and wise, a good thing considering.

‘Last thing I need is some haughty noble demanding special treatment or private quarters,’ she reasoned with herself. ‘Ponseidon knows, the one last time was bad enough. I’d better make sure to establish my dominance early.’ Her mind drifted back to the purple one. ‘I suppose that this will be a good way to start.’

Morning took great care to ensure that she was staring right into Twilight’s eyes before she took another drink. This time she didn’t pause, rough Zebrican liquor draining out of the bottle and down her gullet with every gulp. Within seconds the bottle’s bottom was pointing up towards the metal ceiling, the previously half-full container now drained to the last drop.

The bottle dropped from her hoof to the floor, the sturdy brown glass not even cracking slightly as it rolled to a stop beside her chair.

Both of her ‘guests’ watched it spin with wide eyes, Morning never taking her eyes off of them. Even as she wiped her mouth with the back of her foreleg, she still maintained a steady watch until they were both staring at her once more.

Her belch would have put the saltiest of seadogs to shame, the very bridge seeming to rock with the force of her outlet of gas.

“I drink as much as I want,” she answered afterwards. “From the sounds of it, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

Twilight gulped, but wisely didn’t question it further. “O-oh. Okay then… I suppose…”

‘Damn right.’

Nodding, Morning returned her attention to the visual monitor in front of her. The large and flat screen was filled with a map of their current location, a smooth white dot hovering just off Equestria’s east coast. Lines of information such as the current speed and condition were next to it, and a solid white line led from the dot up all the way towards the north landmass.

Most importantly, a bright blue dot was flashing just a little way away from the northern coast.

‘The fact that he is still alive and kicking after all these years is a complete fluke,’ Morning thought to herself as she reached down beside her and hit a button. There was a mechanical whir, before a full bottle of rum ascended from a hatch in the floor. Grasping the neck with a hoof and pulling it up, she levitated out the cork before taking a swig. ‘Especially since he was imprisoned in stone, talk about timing.’

A small beep drew her attention to a second screen to her right, a more focused map of the area lighting up with a red dot. Assessing the lines of information next to it, Morning snorted to herself with a smile.

‘Looks like ships have gotten smaller,’ she figured, the wooden vessel likely a small fishing ship from a nearby city. ‘Still, the time for any piracy is later, first I’ve got to find the Captain.’

Her hoof tightened on the neck of the bottle at the thought, her stare hardening all the while. Frowning, she took another swig of the soothing alcohol and tried to focus on something else.

Unfortunately, that something was the whispering of her prisoners.

Turning back around to glare at them, she caught them leaned in towards each other. Quickly pulling away as soon as they noticed the attention, they adverted their eyes and silenced their tongues.

“Oh no, do share,” Morning pressed, taking another swig. “I do enjoy me some scuttlebutt from time to time.” There was no initial reply, so she continued. “I mean it, I really do…” her hoof moved to hover dangerously over a red button that was built into her armrest. “Then again…”

Either her threat or her stare worked, Twilight’s eyes widening before she waved her hooves.

“Oh, no! We were just wondering what you were…” her hooves lowered and her eyes went towards the cutlass. “What you were going to do to us.” Shifting on her spot, the young unicorn elaborated. “I mean, we promise not to tell on you, and we are family after all.” Twilight attempted what she no doubt assumed was a friendly smile, but to Morning it was nothing but shady. “I mean, it’s not like we know the Princesses or anything important like that.”

As Twilight let out a small and nervous laugh, Morning noticed Velvet slowly turning her head to stare at her daughter.

“Because something like that would be so unfortunate for u- ah!”

Velvet’s foreleg smacked into Twilight’s side, a forehoof going to Velvet’s mouth as she leaned back.

“Oh my, Twilight! I’m so sorry! I just felt the ship roll and I lost my balance. Are you okay?”

“I… I think so mom. I’m fine.” She let out another laugh. “Ha, guess that’s what happens when you take ponies who aren’t used to boats out sailing the ocean.”

Morning was watching the whole exchange with tipsy disbelief. ‘Is this how far ponies have fallen? This is what passes for subterfuge and trickery these days?’ Taking another drink, she continued to stare at them.

This time it was Velvet who shifted on the spot, her words coming out calm despite the circumstances.

“So… Twilight does have an understandable concern, what do you exactly plan on doing with us? As she said, it’s not really to our benefit to report a member of our own family, no matter how distant. You obviously have some goal in mind concerning that human, and it is not exactly a creature that we particularly wish to deal with…” Velvet coughed into a hoof. “It would be far easier for you to just drop us off at the nearest port, and continue on your way without the need for any… rash actions.”

Morning followed Velvet’s eyes as they went to her cutlass, before she let out a snort as she took another swig and drained the rum bottle half-way.

“Ha! Don’t worry about me dumping you over the side to be fish food just yet,” she laughed, though without much humour. “Despite what you’ve probably heard about me, I never killed a creature that didn’t give me a reason.” Seeing them relax, she hardened her glare. “Still, you ain’t out of this yet. Despite your… sincere promises, I can’t just let you run off and ruin things.”

Taking another drink, she grinned at them.

“Besides, you did say that we’re family after all. What sort of Captain would I be If I didn’t show my descendants around the sea?”

Pressing a button on the arm of her chair, Morning and her two guests watched as the cabin flickered with light.

Twilight and Velvet nearly jumped out of their fur when the walls of the bridge seemed to fade away in a flash, the three of them finding themselves seemingly submerged under water on every side. Even Morning shuddered a little as she observed the technological trick.

‘Gah, that still gets me.’

The cold and dark ocean seemed within hoof-touching distance, but Morning knew that the armoured metal hull was still all around them. Indeed, the floor was still the dark grey metal that it normally was, and all of her monitors and screens seemed to hang in mid-air.

“How…?” Twilight, the first to recover, murmured while reaching out a hoof to find cold metal instead of ocean.

“The outside is covered with a lot of these tiny things the Captain called ‘cameras’, and the images they see can be projected on the walls somehow.” Outside, as Twilight and Velvet stared in wonder, a school of brightly-coloured fish swam past. “He said something about it being to do with war, and about how you don’t want to go putting windows everywhere instead of more armour.” The school of fish swung around the front of the boat, Morning watching them absentmindedly. “I don’t know about all of that, but it sure looks prettier than grey all the time.”

“So the stories were true,” Velvet wondered out loud. “You really can sail under the water. No wonder you were able to ambush all of those royal fleets.”

Morning ignored her two descendants and turned back around to the front, bottle in hoof. Sighing quietly, she left them both to their excitement of their new surrounds in the hopes that it would buy her a few hours of peace.

Glancing for a moment at the near-empty bottle in her lap, she shrugged silently to herself.

‘Why not?’

Slowly, she took another swig that firmly reinforced her already-high blood-alcohol levels.

‘I’ve got a lot of catching up to do, after all.’

“Brrr! I’d have, like, never guessed that I would miss the scorching wasteland.”

Chrysalis couldn’t help but silently agree with Keith’s assessment, thick snow coming off of her forehooves as she furiously rubbed them together. Huffing, she could see her own breath in front of her face as she glanced around the rocky hill they had made shelter behind.

Snow, snow, and more snow. The harsh landscape was broken up by the occasional boulder or mountain range, but other than that and their own mini-hill there wasn’t any features of note. Chrysalis couldn’t even see the dead forest that Nigel had flown off towards a while ago, and they had only passed it an hour before. It was starting to darken, and even the infamous Queen of the Changelings wasn’t too keen to face any nocturnal gribblies that called the snowy wastes home.

‘I hope he returns swiftly,’ she thought with a shiver. ‘And with some firewood. This cold is making my chitin harden.’ Shifting on the rough patch of snow-cleared ground that seemed to sap the heat from her body, Chrysalis glanced to her left when a weight settled against her side.

“If it’s this bad, imagine how c-cold it’s going to be at night?”

Normally, Chrysalis would have scolded Cupid for even daring to touch her at all, but at the current time even her least-liked Firstborn was spared any anger.

“Gah! Don’t even mention that,” Shade grimaced while he embraced Swissy to share warmth. “I’m pretty certain my wings will turn to ice if it gets any colder.” He glanced up towards the sun. “We’ve only got a few hours of light left, tops. This… thing that we’re going after-“

“Which we know nothing about save for the fact that it’s not happy,” added Chatter.

“…better be close by,” Shade finished with a gulp.

There was a moment of stark silence as their goal sunk in, a few of the changelings shivering from more than just the cold. No doubt about to regret her decision, Chrysalis cleared her throat.

“Everything… will be fine,” she struggled out, everyone looking up at her with surprise. “Nigel will soon be back with some firewood, we’ll have a fire for warmth, and we will take shelter for the night.”

“But what about this thing that he wants to fight?” Swissy asked with another shiver. “I mean, you’re just going to let him go after it?”

‘Like I have any control whatsoever over him.’

“I have known him for a long, long time,” Chrysalis reminded them while keeping her thoughts silent. “Once he has his sights set on something, it is not easy to persuade him otherwise.” She hesitated, the next part surprisingly difficult to say. “But… I believe that we have no reason to fear whatever he wishes to face. Despite his record, he is quite… adept isn’t really the right word, lucky when it comes to moments of danger.”

Buzz shuffled closer to her. “Oh… so you think he’ll be able to easily beat whatever it is?”

“Ha! No!” she snorted with some amusement mixed in with the mocking tone. “The damn fool will probably go off and get himself hurt or worse, knowing him. I still remember that time he flew head-first into the side of a castle, before setting himself and everything around him on fire.” Quickly supressing the small smile she had allowed herself, Chrysalis shook her head. “So no, it won’t be easy. Still, a word of advice for you all. When it starts to go bad, keep your distance from him. No matter what happens, Nigel will ensure that you are all safely out of harm’s way.”

There was another moment of quiet, although this one was far less awkward.

“Was that… was that a small compliment?” Reflection asked, immediately being answered by a dismissive snort.

“Don’t be so foolish, of course not.”

Even Chrysalis couldn’t convince herself that it was true, but thankfully none of the nobles questioned it further. They all returned to the much more important task of keeping warm, all of them huddling up closer towards her as the wind began to pick up.

Thankfully for them all, it was only another few more minutes until a light whine in the distance grew into a roar, and a black-armoured figure zoomed over to their camp before touching down.

Chrysalis’ eyes lit up at the solid armful of gnarled brown wood that Nigel held in his arms, the quantity seeming quite satisfactory for a simple campfire. The hefty chunk of rock that was strapped to his side with a rope was a bit of an oddity, but the thought of comforting warmth was more than enough to convince her to ignore its presence.

“Huzzah!” Chalmers’ announced proudly while dropping the wood at his feet. “I have returned triumphant! Many a dead tree shall rule this day, for I have taken a heavy toll-“

“Nigel,” Chrysalis interrupted with a blank stare. “Just light the fire.”

“Pfft, fine.”

She watched him bend down, half of the branches quickly being arranged in a crude pyramid. As soon as he was done and leaning back, she charged her horn up and let loose a spark into the dark timber. Despite the dampness of the wood, her magical fire took hold and quickly spread to engulf the sticks with green-tinged flames.

All of the nobles shuffled closer to the warmth, faces relaxing into smiles as they all crowded around with their ice-cold hooves held out towards it. Even Chrysalis herself was enjoying the newfound warmth, but the chill on her back still remained from the occasional gust of wind.

“A shame this accursed place is so barren,” Chrysalis murmured to herself quietly.

Someone sat down beside her. “What was that, Chrissy?” Turning her head, she gave Nigel a stare. He was too busy examining the boulder to notice however, the metal-speckled stone glinting in the firelight.

“I said that this rotten place lacks any kind of decent shelter from this damned cold. Why couldn’t you have chosen to fight something in a warmer spot?”

He paused and put the rock down, before he turned his helmeted head towards her. “Hey, you don’t think that I would have preferred a tropical beach? That’s the thing about monstrous foes, Chrissy, they don’t really tend to pick nice places to be their lairs.”

“I seem to recall that you had a rather nice costal village…”

"Ah!” Nigel replied with a finger in the air. “But I, my dear, am a Gentleman of the highest pedigree and as far from monstrous as one can get!”

Chrysalis wasn’t sure if it was the faux snooty accent he put on or the sheer lie that he had just spouted, but despite the cold she couldn’t help but crack a small smile at the retort. Despite his helmet she could tell that he was smiling as well, and at that moment the wind didn’t seem nearly as chilling as before.

Chalmers returned his attention to the rock he had brought with him, the sizable chunk soon lifted up in his armoured hands.

“I found this asteroid when I was getting the wood, and I think it will be just dandy for what we need.” He turned it over in his hands, the nobles looking over and tilting their heads at it.

“How so?” Shade asked.

“Well, you see this here?” Nigel pointed to one of the glimmering parts. “Space Iron, scientific name Spacious Ironicus Rockus. Hardly metal of the year, but it’s going to be more than suitable for our needs.”

Chrysalis nearly jolted in her spot when the armour on his left arm slid back, revealing a shiny looking nozzle that quickly extended towards the rock.

Even after all of the centuries, she still remembered the metal horrors that the little nozzle had created.

“Nigel…”

“Relax Chrissy,” he returned his attention to the rock with the nobles’ eyes locked on his arm. “Now, what we’re going to do is take this matter…”

All of a sudden, a series of blue lines of light shot out from the muzzle amongst a cold glow. As they danced across the surface of the rock, it seemed to grow smaller and smaller as chunks of it disappeared seeming into thin air. In moments it had vanished completely, and the blue lights shut down.

Nigel held his empty hand out towards the Firstborn, the changelings all oohing and ahhing over the almost magical display.

Chrysalis knew better, and she subtly leaned away from him before he continued on.

“That rock and iron has been broken down into all sorts of lovely atoms and molecules, ready to be reassembled into something else.” He seemed to pre-empt a question from Reflection, the noble’s foreleg not even half-way into the air before Nigel answered. “Don’t even bother, Reflection. I’m not really too big on the ‘science’ side of it.” There was a sly grin. “Chrysalis could probably answer those questions better.”

She smiled despite his jab at her, her mind recalling his original (attempted) ‘scientific’ explanation for his suit back when they had first met.

It had involved the term ‘Thingamigwhatsit’.

“Moving on,” Nigel continued after Reflection had lowered her hoof with a light chuckle. “We have a fire. We have, or rather had, a space rock. I also have a pretty-much magical go-go super-dooper buildy-suit, which may be a bit more of a help as well, but let’s continue.”

He stood up, rubbing his helmeted chin while he looked around their makeshift campsite.

“Now, space rock doesn’t really give us much to work with, and I’ve got nothing saved up… but then again we really don’t need much. Hmm, yes, just a simple shelter will do the trick…”

Chrysalis watched while Nigel walked around, making square shapes in front of him with his fingers as he did so.

‘I hope he doesn’t make another ‘Tower of Doom’ again,’ she thought to herself. ‘Although, admittedly it was quite fitting…’

“Wow, he sure can climb well in that armour of his.”

Her attention was pulled back to Nigel when Joy made the comment, her eyes searching the darkness until she spotted him halfway up the hill next to them. Grasping at the rocks and using his feet to propel himself up to high ledges, it was quite an unusual sight to see him moving like he was. It served as a stark reminder of just how different his physiology was compared to the majority quadruped population of the world.

“Okay,” he called down as he stood precariously on one rocky outcropping. “Everyone stay where you are, and don’t worry about the lasers.”

“L-lasers?”

Buzz’s question was answered by another glow of blue from Nigel, before another set of lines shot out from the device on Nigel’s arm. The six lines initially traced a square in the snow around the group of changelings, the nobles all nervously watching the lines as they began to move around.

Chrysalis understood and shared their concern, after all, they had all seen what the blue lines had done to the rock.

“Relax, I’ve done this before.”

The movement of the lines started to increase in pace as Nigel called out his reassurance, a slight hum emanating from both the makeshift square and the armoured human. Then it started happening, Chrysalis watching on silently while the nobles all gasped and murmured to themselves.

As the lines moved from side-to-side and up-and-down, a solid structure began to take shape in the snow. Wherever a line touched, a small bit of metal was left in its place. Such was the speed of the lines, the simple four-walled room seemed to materialise out of thin air as the faint outline solidified.

They all watched the entire time, wide eyes watching the shelter’s construction with no small amount of awe. Even Chrysalis followed the lines up as it formed a pyramid-shaped roof, the light eventually dying out with only a small hole in the top remaining.

She sat and waited with her Firstborn, the smoke from their fire drifting up to filter out through the hole in the roof. From outside there was no sound, until...

“Fuck!”

A loud series of clangs, shortly followed by a solid thump, broke the relative quiet and caused them all to jolt with surprise.

“Nigel?” Chrysalis called out after a brief hesitation.

“All good, all good!”

The sole exit, a crude door that was barely more than a flap of metal secured to the wall with a single hinge, pushed open to revel Chalmers. He ducked to enter the room, and when he took a seat next to her it wasn’t hard to notice the heavy coating of fresh snow on his back.

“Well then,” he said while removing his helmet. “What do you all think?”

“It’s incredible!” Reflection continued to look around the room as she spoke. “You just made this out of thin air!”

“Ah-ah, not thin air, space rock.”

Reflection seemed to ignore the correction, the noble reaching out a hoof to touch the wall as if to check that it was real.

“I mean it hardly took any time at all!”

“Totally radical,” Keith agreed. “I mean, like, whoa.”

“What else can you make?” added Holey, looking up at Nigel as she sat beside him. “If you had more than just that rock?”

Nigel grinned, and Chrysalis initially jolted when he put an armoured arm around her. However, she soon reconsidered upon feeling the surprising warmth that was emanating from the metal. Guessing that it must have been some sort of side-effect, she didn’t exactly complain as she wriggled closer to press against his side.

“Oh, tons of things, Holey. Generators, ships, towers, ect. Anything that’s loaded onto my suit’s computer, and also anything simple that I can think of,” he gestured around at the newly-built room. “I didn’t exactly use a top-tier military blueprint for this, after all. All of this shelter here originates from the good ol’ noggin’.”

Even though she was currently in a very pleasant cuddle with him, Chrysalis couldn’t help but snort and take a shot.

“My, that certainly explains a lot.”

“Ha, funny,” he retorted while giving her ear a flick with his free hand. “Feel free to take a shot at working with quantum dissident harmonic theory yourself then, your Highness.”

“You just made that up.”

“…No I didn’t.”

‘Liar.’

Still, it was all in good jest, and she was content to let the issue drop. A good thing too, as Chalmers was about to be buffeted by a barrage of curious nobles.

Forelegs were raised in the air from many of Firstborn, Nigel pointing out to Shade. “Yes?”

“You said that your… suit thing breaks stuff down into really tiny parts,” Shade asked while the other nobles listened intently. “Doesn’t that take a whole lot of magic, or I guess energy?”

Nigel nodded. “That it does. That’s why this entire thing is still experimental I suppose, not many officials would really appreciate a guy running around on the same planet as them with four anti-matter reactors strapped to himself.”

Shade tilted his head. “Why not?”

“Well, if they go critical, then they become incredibly volatile.”

Suddenly, Chrysalis didn’t feel as comfortable next to him as before.

“V-volatile?” Reflection repeated.

“Yup. If they go, I’m betting that we’d lose about a third.”

This time it was Buzz. “… A third of what?”

“Hmm? Oh, the planet,” Nigel answered, as if commenting about something simple like the rain. “Yeah, about a third… no wait, given the approximate size… no sorry, not a third.”

Everyone let out a sigh of relief.

“More like half of the planet. Not the largest of planetoids, you know?”

There was a moment of silence, an audible gulp briefly heard, before Shade coughed into a hoof.

“I… oh. Okay.”

“Nigel,” Chrysalis hissed, nudging him in the side.

“What? Oh, I see…” Clapping his hands together, Nigel let out a light chuckle. “No need to worry, all of you. I fully trust our research department, and there’s a huge amount of safety systems built in. The chance of me going full explody is incredibly low.”

Looking around at the nervously shifting nobles, it was obvious that his explanation hadn’t really helped to ease their fears. Nigel must have noticed it as well, as he made one final ditch effort to win them over.

“Besides, if I do happen to just explode and you’re all within half-a-planet of me, then our deaths will be pretty much instantaneous and completely painless.”

There was more silence.

“Idiotic moron,” Chrysalis insulted, as the fire in the centre of the shelter continued to crackle.

It was going to be an interesting night.

“Psst! Twilight.”

Twilight shook her head as she awoke, something lightly shaking her side. Blinking her eyes open to see what it was, she nearly had a heart attack when she saw nothing but dark and foreboding water.

“Twilight?”

Forcing herself to calm down, Twilight took a few gulps of air before she turned to find her mother staring at her.

“I… I’m fine,” she reassured Velvet with a small smile. “I just forgot where I was for a moment.”

“Good to hear, dear,” Velvet answered with her voice lowered. “But try to remain quiet, our captor appears to have fallen asleep.”

Twilight leaned around her mother to get eyes on the pirate, the menacing figure indeed slumped down in her chair. The three loose bottles of rum scattered around the base of the seat were a pretty good indication of how deep the mare’s slumber was, but she could understand her mother’s wish for caution.

Twilight did not want to find out how Morning Sparkle would react if she caught them plotting anything, especially since she could still feel the echo of the cutlass’ edge against her throat.

Getting to her hooves as quietly as she could, Twilight slowly moved towards the high-tech command chair. She could hear Velvet following behind, and together they crept closer and closer until they were in touching distance of their living ancestor.

Neither of them noticed the multitude of tiny cameras that were tracking their every move.

They both stood there for a few seconds in silence, before Twilight blinked.

“What now?”

“I don’t know,” Velvet whispered back. “Isn’t dealing with this sort of thing your area of expertise?”

“We usually just wait for them to start monologing, and then we hit them with the Elements.”

“Really?”

“Well, there’s usually some other steps in-between, but in the end it pretty much ends up the same.”

“Oh, I see.”

Both of them went quiet again for a while.

“So anyway, what do you think?” Twilight asked her mother.

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m not really confident when it comes to sailing an underwater ship with a talking machine in it.” Velvet glanced around at the seemingly see-through walls, a dark shape in the ocean passing by them to the left. “And a speedy escape isn’t exactly going to be too easy, considering.”

Twilight, busy with looking over the numerous controls and screens with a curious longing, gave a nod.

“Right,” she furrowed her brows in thought. “Even if we do escape, how would we get away since we don’t know where we are?” Biting her bottom lip, she suddenly looked up with a smile. “Ah ha. Hold on one second, I’ll just see if this works…”

Creeping back to where they had been sitting, Twilight looked back to double check that Morning was still sound asleep before she focused her magic.

A magenta glow of magic joined the artificial light from the control panels in illuminating the room. Twilight finding her relatively easy goal surprisingly difficult. Gritting her teeth, she redoubled her efforts while Velvet moved over towards her.

“Twilight?”

“I’m try to get through… to Princess Celestia,” she frowned, retrying once more. “It’s just a simple communication spell, I shouldn’t be having… gah!”

Cutting it off, she huffed for a few moments before continuing. “I just can’t get through!”

Velvet made a pointed glance towards the ocean outside. “Maybe it’s the water?”

“Mom, really, water shouldn’t prevent magic like this.”

“Are you sure? When was the last time a unicorn tried to cast a spell while under the ocean?”

Twilight raised a hoof, before pausing. “I… actually I’m not too sure.” Putting it back down, she puffed and glowered. “But I’m Princess Celestia’s personal student! What use is it if I can’t cast any magic?”

“Shh, don’t get so loud,” Velvet warned, both of them glancing back towards the slumbering pirate. “Twilight, we might just have to wait.”

“For what?” Twilight whispered. “You saw how she acted, we’re not exactly safe down here.”

“And we’ll be even less safe if we get caught trying anything.”

‘…Oh, she does have a point there.’

Twilight gritted her teeth, hating the fact that she couldn’t solve the problem presented. “So we have to sit here and do nothing, while this bloodthirsty pirate tries to find one of Equestria’s most dangerous enemies so they can no-doubt do evil things together?”

Her mother gave a sad nod in return.

“Unfortunately Twilight, there aren’t many options open to us now. As soon as we surface we can certainly try to send a warning if possible, but we must bide our time.”

Twilight sighed and nodded. “I guess you’re right. I just hate being trapped here and useless.”

“I know, dear,” Velvet said while taking a seat once more. “But we must make do.”

Sitting down beside her, Twilight resigned herself to inaction while she stared at the foreboding ocean.

Within a few more minutes, she had fallen asleep once more.

“Mhmm…”

Nigel turned his attention away from polishing his helmet visor and looked down beside him at Chrysalis. Her forelegs stretched out as she awoke, her head rising up from the jacket that was serving as her pillow while she yawned.

“Morning,” he greeted, wise enough to wait until she was ready to talk before saying anything else.

“Morning,” Chrysalis replied in turn, her eyes blinking the sleep away as she sat up. “You seem… quite cheerful.”

He gave her a smile. “You’re quite chipper yourself, honestly I wouldn’t have put you down as a morning person.”

“I had a very peaceful sleep, and it’s very nice and warm.” There were multiple cricking sounds as Chrysalis stretched her limbs and rolled her head, her ears flicking all the while. “How about you?”

‘Well, I’ll have to take her out camping more often if it cheers her up this much.’

“I didn’t,” Nigel replied, returning to his helmet while he talked. “I stayed up to keep a watch, while you and the others slept.”

They both glanced towards the other side of the fire at the nobles, the ten all huddled up against each other in continued slumber. Evidently, warmth had triumphed over their own rivalries and differences.

“They’re almost likeable when they’re all sleeping,” Chrysalis mutter to herself, prompting Nigel to raise an eyebrow.

“Oh come on, they’re not that bad. I admit that there have been a few bad apples, but overall I think everyone’s improving and beginning to get along better with each other.” He paused, turning his helmet over in his hands to admire his cleaning. “Sort of reminds me of this other bad apple that’s been steadily getting better and better.”

Chrysalis shot him a long, unwavering stare, a stare that was soundly ignored. Smiling before attaching his helmet to the magnetic clamp on his waist armour, Chalmers got to his feet and stretched his back. Hearing a relaxing pop, he gave Chrysalis a brief pat on the head to sooth her before he bent down and picked up her jacket. “Need some help putting it on?”

A green glow snatched the article of clothing from his hand, Chrysalis putting her snout in the air. “I am perfectly capable of dressing myself, I’m not a nymph.”

Shaking his head with a smile, he turned away and moved over towards the sleeping nobles.

“…Thank you for asking, though.”

“No problem, Chrissy.”

‘Heh, that must have been hard for her.’

Leaving Chrysalis to dress herself like the big girl that she was, Nigel knelt down and tapped the first noble on the shoulder. “Time to wake up, I’m afraid.” The changeling, Nigel recognising her as Holey, yawned as she rolled over onto her back.

“Do we have to get up? Just a little more?”

“No can do, sorry,” Nigel replied. He gave her a quick scratch behind an ear, Holey smiling despite the unwanted wake-up. “We’ve still got some ground to cover, and with any luck we’ll be able to make an even better shelter by the end of the day as well. Come on, do it for me?”

She rolled over onto her front, before she got to her hooves and gave him a sleepy smile.

“I’ll do it for some energising breakfast.”

“Learning already, I see. Okay then, come on.”

Holey jumped up onto her hind legs, giving him an embrace for a few moments. Patting her on the back while she did so, Nigel stood back up and let her drop back down onto all four hooves.

“There. Now, how about you help me get the rest of these snoozers up and moving. There’ll be another hug in it for you if we manage to get moving in under half-an-hour.”

Perking up, Holey nodded with a grin. “Sure thing!”

With that, she roughly prodded Buzz in the side with a forehoof, the heavyset changeling snapping wide awake with a yell that roused the rest of the sleepers.

“Ahh! What the- Holey!”

‘I knew that this trip would be a good idea,’ Nigel silently chuckled to himself as he watched the early-morning chaos unfold.

Princess Cadence was sitting on the edge of a large unmaid bed, a dishevelled white dressing gown over her withers while she rubbed her aching temples with her forehooves.

“Gah!”

She winced once again as, for what felt like the hundredth time that morning alone, the evil tyrant Sombra tried to batter his way through her shield spell.

She could have sworn that he was deliberately picking the worst times to try and break through, with the majority of the attempts seemingly happing in the early morning.

‘I wasn’t a morning pony to begin with,’ Cadence thought to herself with another grimace as her head throbbed once more. ‘The last thing I need is this evil ex-king being a complete c-‘

“Honey?”

Cadence looked over towards the bedroom door before she could finish her very unprincess-like mental insult, her frown abating somewhat at the sight of her Shining Armour. The steaming kettle and tea cups that he bore on a levitating silver tray also increased her mood, and she leaned in to meet his quick kiss as soon as he got close.

“He’s still not giving up,” she groaned after Shining had pulled back. “Day after day, night after night… why can’t he just take the hint that he’s not welcome anywhere near this city after what he did?”

“He’s evil, Cadence,” Shining stated while he poured them both a cup of tea.

‘No, really?’

Cadence frowned and suppressed the mocking retort.

“It’s just taking its toll on me,” she sighed, thankfully accepting the cup of steaming tea that he passed her. “If this keeps up for much longer…”

Shining sat down on the bed next to her, foreleg going around her back. “Hey, there’s no need to worry. Princess Celestia is going to send us some help, likely Twilight and her friends, and together we’ll send Sombra back into exile where he belongs. Until then…”

His horn lit up and touched hers, Cadence relaxing slightly as her aching head died down to a slight throb.

She knew that it would only be a few minutes of relief, but she welcomed it regardless.

“Thanks, Shiny,” she replied with a nuzzle. “I hope that you’re right.”

“It’ll be fine,” he answered with a nuzzle of his own. “No matter what lengths it takes, we’ll keep this city safe and sound.”

“… and so then, the Valarian picks this bomb up with his tentacles to bring it right up to his eye stalks for a good look…”

Chrysalis frowned while Nigel continued to woo the nobles with his stories, his lack of concern for the danger they were facing more than a tad irritating.

‘I know he can’t feel it, but still…’

She examined the snowy ground below them as they all flew ever northwards, her eyes peeled for any sign of danger.

The occasional boulder broke up the stark white landscape as the snowflakes continued to fall, but there was no sign of movement to accompany the foreboding miasma of negative energy that was swirling around them.

‘No sign… yet,’ she reminded herself, horn at the ready all the while. Chrysalis quickly glanced back at the group behind her, all ten nobles flying alongside Chalmers as he continued to obliviously talk to them. Even the Firstborn themselves seemed at ease despite the circumstances, a few even laughing as Nigel told some joke that was lost to the wind between them.

‘How he was in that statue for so long without changing just confounds me,’ she snorted. ‘Then again, it wasn’t as if he was the most stable creature to begin with.’

Cracking a smile at the thought, and the memories of old that it brought with it, Chrysalis felt a small amount of her anxiety flee at the fleeting comfort.

With less malice than before, she returned her focus to scanning the snow below.

Only to stop dead in the air when she spotted a towering spire just ahead of them.

“Hey Chrissy, what’s up? Did you find… oh, look at that.”

Nigel came to a stop beside her, the fire-pack on his back armour emitting only the smallest of glows as he hovered in mid-air. With the nobles moving up to hold their positions behind him, Chrysalis took the chance to scan the city for any hint of what was about to happen.

It looked like the snowy plains around it, dead and lacking all signs of life. The harsh north wind seemed to swirl around the large crystal spire that was in the centre of the city as if it was drawn to it, an eerie whistling traveling through the air as the gusts blew through the four arches that held the tower aloft.

The houses and buildings that surrounded the tower seemed pony-like in their construction, but lacked all of the bright and tacky adornments that Chrysalis expected from a pony settlement. Instead, it was all a dull grey, a perfect match for the overall atmosphere of desolate gloom.

“I don’t have a good feeling about this,” Chrysalis muttered with a frown.

“It’s not the most welcoming place, is it?”

She glanced over towards Nigel when he spoke, the human’s face unreadable thanks to his helmet. Still, she’d bet her royalty that he was secretly grinning with excitement at the discovery.

“It doesn’t, well…” Shade began, moving up beside her with his eyes locked on the city. “It’s doesn’t look that creepy. Sure, it’s a little deserted, but that’s no need to-“

Shade had spoken too soon, the wind around the entire area suddenly kicking up into a strong gale. The freezing gusts buffeted them all with snow and tiny shards of ice, Chrysalis narrowly avoiding an eye injury as a particularly sharp chunk of frozen water bounced off the chitin between her right eye and her snout.

Something cold grabbed her around the foreleg, Chrysalis about to discharge her horn into whatever it was before she realised that it was an armoured hand.

“Everyone, down to the ground! Stay in a group!”

Chrysalis felt Chalmers tug her downwards as he shouted to be heard over the wind, her wings struggling to work under the sudden winter assault. The sky around them seemed to darken, and she managed to catch a final glimpse of the city before the snowstorm obscured it.

There was a brief flash of light as a previously-invisible dome, somewhat similar to the shield that she had encountered in her Canterlot invasion, cracked apart under the onslaught of a shadowy mass in the sky.

Despite the noise of the storm and the barked orders from Chalmers, she still could hear a voice that sent icy shivers down her spine.

“Finally… Mine!”

Her hooves hit the cold snow, the previously-snug jacket she was wearing now feeling as though it wasn’t even there. With her teeth chattering from more than just the snow, she managed to at least glance around to confirm that all ten nobles were present.

Thankfully they were, Buzz being the last one to touch down right behind her. Instantly the ten all huddled up around her, a few having to stumble through the snow to make it to the group. The hand holding her let go, and as she looked up there was a bright flash.

“Follow me and make for the city!” Nigel shouted at them over the storm, his voice amplified by whatever technology allowed him to speak despite his enclosed helm. A white circle that lit up on his right shoulder shined a strong beam of light out into the darkness, and as he turned around it was directed towards the ground in front of them.

With that done, he started to move forwards through the snow. Closing her eyes to ward off a fresh wave of ice shards, Chrysalis had to rely on the moving mass of nobles around her for guidance. Nigel helped with shielding them from the worst of it, being at the front didn’t seem to bother him as sharp ice pelted his armour plating.

Chrysalis supposed that his suit wasn’t just for show, and was built to take more punishment than the ice could dish out.

Gritting her teeth, all she could do was lower her ears against the storm’s howls and press onwards, her horn starting to freeze at the tip as the wind continued to carry the ghostly growls.

‘Crystals… Slaves… Mine once more…’

‘Nigel so owes me after this foolish adventure,’ she grimaced as she tried to divert her attention.

It didn’t help, minutes seemingly turning into hours as they trudged and tromped through the snow in their quest for safety. From time to time she felt cold metal fingers brush her muzzle, and despite her constant self-reminders of her previous objections to the trip, it was comforting to know that at least he was still there.

Then, after what seemed like days, her hooves left the soft snow and instead made contact with smooth and icy cobblestone. The wind and ice lessened as well, and cautiously she opened her eyes to see why.

Small and bleak houses lined either side of the snowy road they were all standing on, the dull crystal structures serving as shields from the worst of the weather. It was hardly the most important thing to dwell on though, as the swirling maelstrom above them could attest to.

Chrysalis took a brief moment to shake the snow off of her while staring at the evil smoke cloud, before questioning Chalmers through her chattering teeth.

“Well, what amazing plan do you have now?”

He looked over her and the shivering nobles, his finger pointing towards an abandoned tailor store across the street from them. “You lot hole up in there for the time being, I’ll conduct some recon and see what we’re dealing with.”

Chrysalis held back a retort regarding their exact reasons for even being in the city, and instead frowned at the wide-open door of the store.

“You’re going out there alone?”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure that you’ll be quite safe all the way back here.”

‘That’s not what I meant…’

Glancing around at the shivering nobles surrounding her, and taking note of the fear she could sense coming from all of them, she ground her teeth a final time before letting out a defeated sigh.

“Fine, we’ll wait inside for you. Just…”

Chrysalis grimaced, Nigel waiting expectantly.

“Just don’t do anything stupid.”

“Ha, come on now,” he bent down, Chrysalis staring into his reflective helmet visor while he brushed the remaining snow from her mane. “You know that I never, ever do stupid things.” He stood back up, rubbing his armoured hands together. “Now go on, my suit’s not picking up any life signs in there. I’ll be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”

‘What does a sheep-’

“Promise.”

Her thought cut off, Chrysalis grumbled out a reply.

“Fine. But after this…” she made sure to stare him right in the visor. “We do something that I want to do for a change. No complaints, no side-tracking, no…chasing after giant monsters, nothing like that.”

He was silent for a few moments, before a loud hiss caused them both to look up towards the smoke-wreathed tower.

“Give me the Cryssstal…”

“Fine,” Nigel shrugged. “Deal.”

Nodding, Chrysalis started to trot towards the store in which they were to take shelter, the nobles following her closely without instruction. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him turn to stroll merrily off down the street without paying any mind to the evil smoke cloud above.

‘Fool.’

With that parting mental insult, she entered the shop and left him to his own devices.

“It is mine, not yoursss…”

Cadence continued to wheeze, her forehoof rubbing her chest as she tried to get her breathing under control. The sheer force that Sombra had used to break through her barrier had nearly killed her, and her heart continued to beat rapidly as the ethereal smoke circled the Crystal Palace relentlessly.

‘I don’t even know where the Heart is.’

“Cadence, are you okay!?”

She looked up from her spot on the bedroom floor, Shining standing out on the balcony with his eyes clenched shut and his horn glowing blue. A small dome of blue magic sealed the balcony and room off from Sombra, the shield crackling every time a smoky black tendril reached out from the main smoke cloud to lash at the last defence.

“You are mine…”

Spluttering, and wincing as her horn continued to burn as if it was on fire, Cadence struggled to get off of the floor and onto her hooves. “I… I’m okay.” Nearly falling back down, she stumbled over to where he was and leaned up against him for support.

“I can’t hold this for much longer!”

Almost as if he could sense their desperation, King Sombra laughed a deep and booming laugh. Two large red-pupiled eyes formed in the smoke before them, sickly strands of purple and green light wisping off from the corners as the crazed pupils narrowed and focused on them both.

Cadence stared right back at them with fierce determination, even as the insane tyrant let out another booming laugh.

“Sssurrender, they all sssurrender. They all will ssurrender. You. Will Sssurrender… to me.”

Cadence, despite her aches and pains, readied herself for one last act of mocking defiance.

“Ssssshut up and ssssstop talking you sssssimple-minded sssssssssssssssssimpleton.”

Sombra’s floating eyes narrowed further at her words, Shining glancing over at her even as he began to sink down to his knees under the strain of his spell.

“You just had to… nrrgh, taunt him as well, didn’t you?”

Cadence didn’t reply, and instead sighed as the last bit of Shining’s shield was battered away by the smoky king. Black tendrils reached for both her and Shining, the smoke coiling over and around as the Crystal Empire once again shook with the maniacal laughter of the feared tyrant.

“I’m sorry, Cadence,” Shining whispered to her as his horn fizzled out and he sank down next to her.

“We tried our best,” she reassured, even as closed her eyes and braced for whatever attack Sombra was about to dish out.

“Ah! Wait.. what the…?”

Cadence opened her eyes at Shining’s yell and following question, her mind briefly ignoring the smoke surrounding them as she focused on the rather unexpected sight. Shining was brushing snow off of his face with a hoof, Cadence not even getting a chance to ask what had happened before a second ball of snow soared straight up through the smoke form of Sombra and impacted against the tower wall behind them.

“Hey!”

The air around them both cleared somewhat as the Sombra-cloud pulled back at the interruption.

“What is thisss?”

The baleful eyes turned to stare down at something, Cadence and Shining leaning out to see who had come to their aid.

Cadence assumed from its shout that it was male, the best she could go off considering its appearance.

Standing atop the roof of a large house, the creature was closest to a minotaur in build. It was covered in what she assumed was black armour of some kind, but most disturbingly of all was its apparent lack of a face.

‘Hopefully it’s just a helmet,’ Cadence thought, right as the creature pulled back his arm and threw another snowball at Sombra.

“Who daressss!?” Sombra hissed at the creature, before something very strange happened.

Sombra actually appeared… shocked.

“Wait a tic… Sombra?”

‘…Huh?’

“Holy shit, I thought you were dead!” The biped gave Sombra a once over. “I have to say, you haven’t seemed to have aged well. Anyway, do you remember me, Chalmers?”

Cadence glanced from the strange new creature towards Sombra, the smoke monster’s eyes furrowed with befuddlement. “Chalmersss?” There was a moment’s pause, before Sombra’s eyes once again narrowed in furious anger. “Bassstard!”

“Huzzah!” ‘Chalmers’ shouted out with glee. “You do remember me!”

Cadence only had a single moment to process the confusing situation, before Sombra bellowed out an earth-shattering roar. A bright bolt of green and purple energy struck out from the smoke to strike the biped, sending him flying back to crash through a row of houses.

“You ssshould be dead!”

Sombra gave chase after his furious hiss, Cadence and Shining forgotten for the time being.

Watching it all unfold from the balcony, Shining coughed before asking her a question.

“Should… should we try to do something?”

Watching as the smoke cloud descended down to hover over the city streets, Cadence struggled to her hooves.

“We must. Our citizens are still down there, after all.” Helping Shining to his own hooves, she winced at the thought of the staircase they’d both have to descend to the ground floor. “Just what we’ll try however, I’m not exactly too sure.”

“Ah!”

Chrysalis dived for cover behind the pony couch with her nobles as the back wall of the shop exploded into shards of crystal. There was a loud thump and a crack as multiple shelves were broken, and something heavy landed barely a body-length away from where she’d been standing not a moment before.

“I’m okay!”

‘Nigel!?’

Chrysalis popped her head up to stare at the sight before her.

Nigel was on the floor, the right shoulder of his suit possessing a smoking dent but otherwise intact. He was quickly getting to his feet, hand going towards the gun attached to his waist armour.

“Nigel?” she questioned, this time out loud. “What happened?”

He finished brushing himself down, before he looked towards her.

“Oh, hi Chrissy,” he started nonchalantly. “Well, you remember Sombra?”

Her mind took a moment to fetch the memories, and when it did it left a sour taste in her mouth. “Unfortunately, yes.”

“Well,” Chalmers continued with a nod. “He remembers me.”

She waited for him to finish, but no further information arrived.

“…And?”

“He remembers me.”

Chrysalis resisted the urge to hit him.

“Oh, wonderful,” she replied with a roll of her eyes. “Great, no really, great. Now, in addition to dragging me out here, you’ve now also managed to somehow bring back the ancient king of Equestria from the dead and then also irritated him for good measure. Splendid.”

“Hey,” Nigel huffed. “I didn’t bring anyone back from the dead. Firstly, that’s more Elijah’s shtick, and secondly he was already awake and pissed off when I threw the first snowball.” While she fumed over the reply, Nigel leaned over to look at the cowering nobles. “You guys all okay? Sorry for this, an old buddy of mine is kind of cranky at the moment and-“

“Nigel.”

Thankfully he had the wisdom to shut up and look straight at her. “Yes, Chrissy?”

“Stop talking to them,” she began, hoof rubbing her temple. Giving it a moment, she sighed. “What are you going to do about it?”

Looking up, she saw him glance at his weapon.

“Well, he’s really pissed.”

“Bassstard!”

She gave him a long, hard stare. “Clearly.”

“I suppose I might have to, you know…” he made a motion with his gun. “Bang bang.”

Something seemed off, Chrysalis frowning as she tried to think of what was bothering her. She didn’t have time to voice her concerns unfortunately, as Nigel seemed to decide that it was a good time to just exit via the human-shaped hole in the wall.

A series of rapid bangs cracked out through the air, before a muffled curse could be heard from outside.

“Well… Fuck.”

Crack.

A second hole in the wall was opened up next to the first as, once again, Nigel was flung through the structure and into the shop. He crashed down onto the floor, this time landing on his front, and it was another few seconds before he started to get up again.

“Yeah, so as it turns out-“

“Shooting at smoke isn’t exactly going to work,” she finished for him, ears flicking with irritation.

“Quite.” Turning to face her, she noticed the second smoking dent on his chest. “But I do have a plan…”

‘Here we go…’

“What now?”

He didn’t answer at first, and instead he walked over to her with his hands out.

“Chrissy, Chrissy, Chrissy.” An armoured hand patted her on the neck. “My number one chum, my favourite queen, love of my life.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere.”

The hand started to rub. “My dear, my babe. My chitin-covered wicked woman.”

Gritting her teeth, she stared into his visor. “What do you want?”

The hand rubbing her neck paused, Nigel clearing his throat.

“A distraction?”

‘Why did I ever, in my right mind, agree to something as stupid as this?’

The roof of the jewellery store in front of her exploded into crystal shards as another purple and green bolt lanced down from the smoke-cloud above her. She scowled and took cover behind a house, her horn sparking off a green energy beam of her own.

‘It’s a good thing Sombra has the aim of a drunken pony foal.’

Her magic shot up to collide with the smoky outline of a rear leg, the shadow being up above letting out a low hiss of pain and anger. He returned fire soon after, Chrysalis racing back out into the street as the house explosively gained a new window.

“Annoying Insssect!”

Another blast followed her, a chunk of cobblestone flying up to strike her in the rump cheek.

“Ah!” she growled, turning her head to fire up another blast that seemed to only inconvenience the tyrant. Racing around a corner, her heart pounding, she was dimly aware of the growing shadow quickly catching up to her.

“Nigel, I swear that if you don’t actually do something useful!”

“Almost… ready!” Chalmers voice called out from further down the street. “Let him get a little closer!”

She glanced back over her shoulder, the King so low in the sky that he was practically on top of her.

“He’s already far too close!” She refocused on the street ahead, driving her legs to go as fast as they could. “Do something already you… you…” A particular word surfaced in her memory from centuries past, a word perfectly suited to the situation.

“You Wanker!”

“That’s not language suitable for a Queen!”

Despite his protest at the insult, she had obviously bought him enough time to enact his plan. Noticing a black shape moving out of an alley from the corner of her eye, Chrysalis skidded to a halt and turned around.

Striding out of the alley with what looked like a large grey cone in his hands, Nigel put himself in-between Sombra and her. Chrysalis barely had time to take note of the large white hose that snaked back into the hidden alley, before Nigel pointed the cone at the oncoming Sombra and pulled a small trigger.

A loud hum was quickly followed by an ear-assailing sound of immense suction, the cone-device immediately beginning to pull the surrounding air into its gaping maw.

Well, air, and something else.

Sombra’s floating eyes almost seemed… surprised, as he found himself slowly being sucked into Nigel’s device.

Chrysalis could only stare as the previously menacing monster rapidly disappeared from sight, the white hose kicking madly as it transported the former king to his unknown destination.

It was all over in a matter of seconds, Nigel switching the machine off as soon as the last bit of smoke was safely removed.

“Well,” he said, more to himself than to her. “That worked out better than expected.”

Then he promptly marched back into the alley way without even checking on her, dragging the hose along with him.

Glaring, and with her heart still rapidly beating from the encounter, Chrysalis stormed after him with an angry question already on the tip of her tongue.

“Hey!” she started as she rounded the corner. “Just what do…”

She couldn’t finish her sentence, her mind blanking as she came face-to-face with Nigel’s solution to Sombra.

The thick hose was delivering the last of the king into a large rectangular box, a box just large enough to fit a regular pony standing up. Through whatever transparent material made up the box, Chrysalis could see the Sombra-smoke swirl and condense. The pair of evil eyes, now far smaller than before, seemed to glance around the new prison with something approaching concern.

“And that’s the last of it.”

Chrysalis returned her focus to Nigel, the human flicking a switch on the top of the transparent box after the final bits of smoke were forced from the hose. There was a clunk, before he pulled the hose free from a cube of metal on one of the long sides.

“There you go, Chrissy,” he announced, walking over to stand by her. “I’ve gotten you a gift: One smoke-monster-slash-former-King.”

Her previous complaints were forgotten, her mouth dropping open before she regained enough composure to answer.

“To do what with, exactly?”

He tapped the top of the box, Sombra yelping as the bolt of energy he had tried to shoot Nigel with pinged off the inside of the prison to fly back into his smoky self.

“Decoration, or perhaps a coffee table? Imagine it’s value as an icebreaker the next time you have another royal over. ‘Oh yeah, that. Well, it’s actually this guy called Sombra. Used to be the King of Equestria, you know.’ Certainly beats a fish tank.”

Chrysalis looked from Sombra to Nigel, her brow furrowing. “I wish you’d stop acting like this was all one big joke. You’ve got Sombra, as in ‘the King we were fighting hundreds of years ago’ Sombra, and you’re just acting like it’s no big deal.”

Chalmers walked over to her, Chrysalis readying herself for what was likely to be more childish excuses.

“Well, to be fair, as soon as you distracted him it was pretty easy. He’s obviously not the brightest bulb around.” A hand placed itself on her back, Nigel chuckling. “Good job on that by the way, I knew that you’d have it handled.”

Chrysalis had a moment of surprise. ‘He knew that I could do it?’

Of course she was able to deal with anything Sombra could have pulled, she was Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings after all. Still, the genuine compliment wasn’t exactly something that was unwelcome, and she found her anger fading as the realisation that they really had actually pulled it off set in.

“Ouch… even if he did get you.”

Turning her head back, she noticed Chalmers’ eyes staring at her rear. Shifting on the spot as he bent down to examine it, Chrysalis murmured out an explanation.

“He didn’t actually hit me, I just think it’s a bit of ston- ah!”

She flinched when a sharp jolt of pain zipped across her right rump, but it was gone quickly after. Nigel returned his hand to view, the human letting out a low whistle as he examined the green-strained shard of stone that was almost as long as his finger.

“Sorry about that, Chrissy. We wouldn’t want you sitting down on this.” He tossed the shard away, before bending down to examine her wound some more.

“It’s fine, just a little warning next time would be appreciated.” She waited a few seconds for him to reply, before she snorted. “So, are you actually going to tell me how bad it is or are you just enjoying the view?”

“It doesn’t look that bad, we’ll pop a medical patch on it and you should be good.” He stood back up and took his helmet off to grin at her. “A shame, really.”

Meeting his eyes, Chrysalis tilted her head. “Oh?”

She nearly took a step back in surprise when both of his hands cupped the sides of her head, Nigel leaning in close to whisper in her ear.

“Well, seeing you dodge all of those attacks really gave me an appreciation for… your form and finesse, shall we say.”

Despite the timing, Chrysalis felt a little bit of blood flow to her cheeks.

“Oh…”

She had to admit, even as her heart was settling down from her exhausting battle with Sombra, there was still something there. A thrill that continued to pump through her veins, exhilaration that they had both overcome their adversary. Her tongue coiled around in her mouth, and she began to salivate at the thought of the delicious and satisfy energy fix that would result from the suggestion. Still, there were some minor concerns.

“You mean right here?” She questioned, glancing around the abandoned alleyway. “Right now? What about the nobles?”

A hand stroked her ear, Chrysalis nearly purring when two fingers massaged the tip between them.

“They’ll be fine for about half-an-hour longer, surely.”

Her rear gave a wiggle as her face continued to heat up at the thoughts racing through her head, but there was still one concern.

“What about Sombra, he’s still watching us.”

Both glanced towards the imprisoned King, the cloud of noxious smoke ramming against the insides of the prison in vain while the pair of eyes stared at them angrily.

“Let him watch,” Nigel muttered while stroking her back. “I’ve got half a mind to just lift you up onto the top of that container and absolutely ravage you.”

With lidded eyes, Chrysalis bit her bottom lip. “Oh my… if it gets you into the mood this much then I might let you take me tyrant-hunting more often…”

Neither of them noticed the way Sombra’s pupils widened in fear as he overheard them.

“I’ll keep that in mind…”

Stepping forwards into an embrace, Chrysalis put a foreleg around him before sighing.

“As tempting as the offer is…” The next part was surprisingly difficult for her to say. “There are more concerning matters that we have to deal with.” She frowned as another pang of pain throbbed out from her injury. “Starting with that ‘medical patch’ you were speaking of. Unfortunately, I doubt that my wounded rump will appreciate being slammed down upon that glass at this time.”

“It’s not glass,” he corrected while continuing to hold the embrace. “It’s a specially formulated plastiod, made by a company named Dues Ex… something or other.” He paused. “…I think the last part started with an M or something and-“

“Nigel,” she stopped him.

“Right, yes.” Letting her go, but with a pat on the head, he stood back up. “Okay, new plan. I patch you up, you head back to the nobles and make sure to tell them that we’re not dead, and while that’s happening I’ll take Ol’ Sombra over here and show him off to the people he was trying to attack before.”

Chrysalis twitched her ears. “People?”

“Yeah,” Nigel nodded. “In that tower in the centre. He was going on about making them slaves or something.” Chrysalis watched as Nigel turned around to wave a finger at the Sombra. “Someone’s been a very naughty pony, haven’t they? Bad pony, I thought we talked about the stance on slavery before.”

Turning back to her, he smiled. “I reckon they’d be pretty grateful for our assistance, we could probably extort some rooms and a good meal from them for our ‘hard work’.”

The thought of a nice room and a soft bed after their nights of camping cheered her up somewhat, and Chrysalis actually managed to smile.

“Now that sounds like a good plan. About time, too.”

“Hey,” he protested, Chrysalis grinning.

“Oh, you know that it’s true.” Starting to trot out of the alley, she looked back. “Now, I expect you to provide me with a room that is fitting of my stature as Queen. I won’t accept anything less.”

“Of course not,” he called back after her. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Leave it to me, I’m sure the owners of this place will be more than happy to provide us with some compensation.”

‘They better’ she thought to herself, before relaxing somewhat. ‘But I’m sure that Nigel’s right. After all, how could they refuse us after we captured Sombra for them?’

Author's Note

Finally, another chapter out.

Surely, nothing will go wrong. Absolutely nothing.

...RIght?

As always, I'm sure there's many errors. Can you spot them all?

Hospitality

Cadence winced as her head throbbed once again, the creaking of the Crystal Palace’s front doors not helping her headache.

Still, even as Shining Armour shouldered open the doors and the cold winter wind blew through the gap, Cadence tried to ignore her fatigue and instead focus on the coming battle up ahead. The thunder of magical bolts and the explosive cracks of their impacts had been audible all throughout the palace even as the fight had progressed further and further into the city itself, and there was no doubt in her mind that the worst wasn’t over yet. She had no clue as to the identity of their bipedal ally, but Cadence didn’t exactly give him her confidence considering the earlier display of Sombra’s sheer ancient power.

“There we are,” Shining grunted from her left, as the first heavy crystal door of the palace finished swinging fully open. Turning to her, he tilted his head. “Are you sure that you’re okay to do this, Cadence?”

Cadence shivered, but it wasn’t because of the chill wind that took the opportunity to rush into the palace entrance hall.

“I’m sure,” she reassured him with a smile, even as she tried to blink the exhaustion from her eyes. Trotting up, Cadence gave Shining a nuzzle that was eagerly reciprocated. “While it wasn’t Twilight and her friends, at the very least we’ve got some sort of aid to distract him. Now that Sombra broke through the shield, we can’t just let him terrorise the Crystal Ponies again. We have to fight.”

Shining nodded, his own tired eyes narrowed with determination. “I know Cadence, but it won’t help anyone if you push yourself too hard. I’m just-“

“Shining, I know,” Cadence sighed. Shaking her head, she straightened up and gave her horn a few experimental sparks. She barely managed to supress the wince that followed. “I hope it doesn’t come to that. I just want this to be over and done with.”

“Can’t argue with that, first the wedding and now this,” Shining muttered. “A break from the crazy would be nice.” Turning around, he poked his head out of the door and tilted his ears forwards. “Huh. Seems like everything’s settled down a little outside. Do you think they left the city?”

Trotting out past him, trying hard to remain standing tall, Cadence hesitantly glanced to the sky and found only the usual falling snow and dark-grey clouds. “Let’s find out, Shining.”

She’d barely finished speaking before he’d hurried out to trot out alongside her, Shining’s horn already glowing blue with a spell as he darted his eyes to every street entrance and doorway. Cadence could only smile warmly to herself at his protectiveness, even though his own magic glow seemed just as weak as hers, and with great effort she powered up her own horn with a crackle of magic.

Their hooves crunched upon the heavy coating of snow, the two of them picking the main street that lead to where the fighting had been last. Neither of them spoke for a while as they trotted past dull scorch-marked houses, only the eerie whistling of the wind greeting them as they glanced around at the shuttered windows and closed doors.

“It’s quiet,” Shining mumbled out to her as he swept his eyes up at the sky above. “Too quiet.”

“I know,” agreed Cadence as she stepped left to avoid a crater of melted snow in her path. She briefly noticed a set of hoofprints in the snow that looked surprisingly fresh, but brushed them off as a remnant of the Crystal Empires banishment from time. The Empire’s formerly-banished occupants had yet to leave their houses since their arrival as far as she knew, Cadence and Shining had only received fearful glances through boarded-up windows in response to their offers of assistance. “I was expecting more… shouting.”

“Maybe it’s a trap?” Shining whispered while still watching the sky.

“Sombra, lay a trap?”

“You’re right,” he admitted with a brief scoff. “Subtlety doesn’t exactly seem to be something he knows the meaning of.”

They stopped talking, and it once again returned to just their hoofsteps and the whistling wind. The number of water-filled craters increased as they continued on, and Cadence furrowed her eyes as the overall silence continued.

‘Surely something should have happened by now? Sombra shouldn’t have just disappeared like that?’

She made to sidestep another puddle, but was halted by an outstretched foreleg.

“Hang on,” Shining whispered to her, one of his ears cocked. “Hear that?”

Cadence concentrated, her ears flicking.

Whistling.

The tune was alien to her ears, but there was no way it was just a product of the wind. It sounded merry and upbeat, and not even the deserted surroundings seemed to dull its chipper tone.

The sound of footsteps and heavy dragging that followed was the second thing Cadence heard, and the pair of them didn’t have to wait long before the maker of the noises rounded around the corner of the house opposite them.

It was the bipedal creature from earlier that reversed out with his back towards them, his strange foreleg-claws clasped around a heavy set of rope that looped around a murky-black rectangle of glass. He had yet to notice them, and Cadence took the opportunity to examine him further now that he was up-close and there was no smoke-monster screaming at them incoherently.

Slightly hunched over as he busied himself with dragging the box, Cadence figured that at full height he would be at least twice as tall as Shining Armour. His entire body, now that she was able to make out the details for certain, was covered with some form of metal armour that left no clue as to the creature within save for the shape. Whoever made it must have been skilled, as she was barely able to pick out the seems that joined it together at the joints.

The biped didn’t have hooves, judging by the elongated shape of its strange metal boots, and it was lacking any trace of wings or a tail. Cadence was quickly running out of possible Equestrian creatures to compare it to, and she fancied herself more informed than most when it came to the intelligent inhabitants of the known world.

‘He must be from far away,’ she concluded while figuring him for a male off of his voice. ‘A traveller from the Eastern continent, perhaps?’

She ran out of time to expand on the thought, Cadence glancing to her right after a nudge from Shining. Her husband looked at her before giving a pointed glance towards the still-reversing newcomer, and Cadence looked back towards the creature before she cleared her throat.

“Excuse me… sir?”

She could feel Shining tense up with her as the biped stopped and turned his head, the creature’s face initially looking like nothing but a smooth and featureless black abyss. Her heart jumped in her chest before her mind reminded her that it was likely just a weird helmet, and she summoned up enough calm to not outwardly show her jolt. The icon of the skull on the armoured chest wasn’t helping things though.

“Yes?”

The rope dropped from his armoured claws, the being turning around fully to face them. He leaned in slightly before a single finger was raised.

“Ah, I know you,” he said with a surprising laugh. “The balcony horses.”

Cadence blinked, initially taken aback by the surprisingly friendly tone that emanated from the fearsome-looking creature, before his choice of words grabbed her attention. “Actually- “

“We’re ponies,” her husband got in before her, the biped shifting his attention to him as Shining let out a nervous chuckle. “But as far as I know there are no balconies in my family history.”

She winced at Shining’s fumbled attempt at an ice-breaker, silence descending over the trio in the aftermath of the wisecrack.

“Ha!” the new creature chuffed after a second. “I like you already.”

The receptive response gave Cadence the encouragement she needed, her quick sigh of relief going unnoticed before she forced her mouth into a slight smile.

“Please excuse my husband’s humour,” she said as the biped’s attention shifted onto her. “It’s been a pretty stressful day, Mister…?”

“Chalmers. Nigel M Chalmers to be exact,” came the response, the creature holding out one of claws towards them. “But you can just call me Nigel. And don’t worry about the joke, I thought it was pretty good.”

There was another awkward moment of inaction as Nigel kept his claw outstretched with no response, before he quickly withdrew it.

“Oh, my apologies.” His claws went to his head, cupping the metal on either side. “Just give me a second…”

Cadence and Shining continued to stare, a hiss of air escaping as the now-confirmed helmet was lifted off and cupped under an arm.

Watching as Nigel shook his revealed head, the short-cut brown mane flapping in the cold breeze, Cadence raised an eye at the rather normal face that he possessed. There was no snout and he was covered with bare skin without fur, but it was far from the monster she was expecting. There was even a friendly welcoming warmth within his small blue eyes, and his mouth formed a smile as he once again held out his claw.

“Sorry about that, I wear this thing so often that I sometimes forget that I’m in it.”

Raising her hoof in response to meet the offered claw, Cadence nodded back with a genuine smile as cool black digits clasped her around her foreleg and the top of her golden shoe. Removing her eyes from studying the intricate gauntlet finger joints shaking her foreleg, she looked up towards his smiling face.

“That’s alright,” she replied, before breaking the shake and touching her hoof to her chest. “My name is Cadence, and this is my husband, Shining Armour.”

She intentionally left their admittedly-impressive titles off the introduction, in the hopes that it would continue to keep the exchange casual. It seemed to have worked, Nigel moving on to shake Shining’s own hoof with a nod and a grin.

“Pleased to meet you both.” Nigel let Shining’s hoof go and appraised them both. “I have to say, it’s welcome to meet some other sane people out here.”

“You’re telling us,” Shining snorted with a shake of his head. “This entire week…”

“Not the best,” added Cadence with her own weary chuckle. “We’re certainly thankful that you came along when you did.”

Nigel waved one of his claws. “Don’t mention it. I was out and about with the family and noticed the smoke, I just had to come out and see if you needed a hand.” He glanced around at the silent houses surrounding them. “Good thing I did too, considering that it was Sombra who was causing all of the ruckus.” The warm smile seemed to increase a tad. “He always was a bit of a odd one.”

A nagging feeling tugged at the back of Cadence’s mind, but another chuckle from their visitor banished the niggle for the time being. Instead, she tilted her head and focused her query on the most immediate thing that came to mind.

“You know him?” She shuffled on the spot, dusting the snow from her hooves. “Surely you can’t be that old?”

Chalmers grinned and gave them a wink. “I’m a man of many surprises, but I can see why you’d ask the question, considering my dashing and youthful looks.”

“Careful…” Shining warned with a smile, putting an exaggerated foreleg over Cadence’s back. “My wife has a weakness for stallions of the young and dashing variety.”

Cadence snorted at the exchange, and returned her husband’s gesture with a loving nudge. Both of them focused back on their visitor, Nigel still grinning as he dusted a light layer of fresh snow from his mane.

“Seriously though, thanks for lending a hoof against Sombra.” Shining nodded his head. “He’s already harmed this city too much, it’s good to see that there’s still some beings of good will out in this wilderness.”

“If there’s anything we can do in thanks,” Cadence added. “Please let us know.”

The two of them waited for an answer, Chalmers sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck with an armoured hand.

“Oh, I hate to impose, really…”

“Don’t be silly,” Cadence laughed softly. “You’ve been a great help.”

“Well… if it’s not too much to ask, a night of shelter in your fair city for me, the missus, and the kids would be quite welcome.” He made a pointed glance up towards the lowering sun and the increasing snow fall. “They’re not really as used to the weather as I am, and a short respite from the snow before we journey on tomorrow would be good. There’s actually a rather deserted shop a bit further down that would do us just fine.”

Cadence and Shining Armour shared a look, before they both shook their heads with chuckles.

“Absolutely not,” replied Cadence with a raised hoof. “You’re more than welcome to come back and stay with us in the Crystal Palace, it would be rude to just have you and your family stay in an abandoned store.”

“It’s the not the liveliest palace in the lands at the moment, understandably,” Shining continued. “We haven’t exactly got an army of staff and the menu’s nothing but whatever canned food you can find, but the rooms are furnished and snow-free.” One of his hooves pointed back towards the palace towering behind them. “It’s not that bad, honest.”

Cadence nodded in agreement. “And we’d love to meet your family, Mister Chalmers.”

He words prompted their visitor to wince.

“Um, yeah. So you see, there might be a bit of an issue there. The other half of mine can be a bit… ah, how should I put it, headstrong at times.”

Smiling, Cadence gave a pointed glance up towards the sky. “I wouldn’t be too concerned about that. After Sombra, anyone not a complete and outright tyrant would be welcome company.”

Metal hands clapped together, all trace of Chalmers’ wince disappeared.

“Whew, that’s good to hear,” he sighed with a laugh. “I’m probably just over-exaggerating things, I’m sure she’ll be grateful for the chance to share some friendly company.” With that, he made to turn around, his helmet being removed from under his arm. “I better go and grab ‘em before it gets too cold again.” He reattached his helmet and clicked it into place, Cadence once again finding herself staring at the black abyss of the faceplate. “Thanks once again for the hospitality.”

“No problem,” Shining waved with a hoof, Chalmers turning around to walk back around the corner. “More than worth it for getting rid of Sombra.”

Nigel stopped before he walked around the corner, one of his armoured fingers snapping in the air as he turned his head back to look at them. “Ah, on that topic before I forget…”

Shining and Cadence followed his finger point towards the box he had been dragging earlier, something within writhing and swirling around inside of a noxious black smoke cloud.

“Keep an eye on ol’ Sombra for me, will you please? Feel free to taunt him and the like, just don’t break open the glass or anything.” Before they could comment, Chalmers waved a hand and disappeared around the corner of the house. “Thanks once again, I’ll be back in a tic.”

With that he was gone, the merry whistling starting up again as Cadence and Shining could only stare at the now-confirmed rectangular prison.

“Wha…” Cadence struggled to ask, as both her and Shining were focused upon by the pair of glowing green eyes that materialised out of the smoke.

“Crrrystalssssss…” Sombra hissed from within, his voice barely audible through the see-through glass. “Slavessssss…”

‘Well, that went well.’

Nigel walked down the street with a brisk pace, a smile under his helmet and a spring in his step. Thankfully, the balcony horses had proved to be quite hospitable.

‘A nice change from the norm,’ he concluded as he made his way back to the tailor store, passing rows and rows of empty houses as he did so. ‘Now, for the hard part…’

Glass shards crunched under his boots as he entered the otherwise silent tailor store.

“Alrighty everyone,” Nigel called out as he stepped into the back room. “Guess who went and got us some rooms in a…”

He paused and looked around the dark and empty room, wind whistling in through the hole in the wall that Sombra had helped him create, with his armoured thumbs still pointing at himself.

“...Palace?”

A light dusting of snow blew into the store, Nigel just now noticing the trail of hoofprints leaving out through the hole.

“Well shit…” he muttered. With a crick of his neck, he prepared to follow the tracks. “Hopefully Chrissy is still in a decent mood.”

“Um, didn’t Nigel want us to stay and wait?”

Chrysalis glanced down to her left as she continued to trot through the abandoned street, and met the eyes of Shade as he looked up at her. Still wearing a small smile and her heart still pounding from the earlier chase, Chrysalis let out a snort from her nostrils.

“I wouldn’t worry about Nigel; he’s probably just prattling on with whoever runs this destitute place.” One smug glance to the houses around them later, and Chrysalis was focused back on the road. Buzz was the only noble confident enough to trot out in front, the rest of them flocking around her legs as if monsters were about to charge out at them from the empty alleyways they passed. “If we had all just waited there, the snow would have blocked us in. Believe me, when he starts talking it can be hard to get him to stop.”

She could feel the gazes of the nobles on her, Chrysalis shaking her head at how easily Chalmers could hold their interest.

Snow crunched to her right, and Holey trotted up to bump against a leg.

“Do you think things went well?”

‘So many questions.’

“I’ve come to realise that hoping for the best is wasted when Nigel is involved,” replied Chrysalis with a flick of her mane. “You’re usually lucky if he manages to not set anything on fire.” She glanced back down at Holey, smiled, and made a show of cocking her ear. “I don’t hear any explosions, so I think everything is going fine.”

Holey stared back at her in return.

“Are… are you feeling alright?”

“Never better, actually.”

“Oh… that’s good.”

Holey slowed her trots to fall back behind with the others, Chrysalis dismissing the last question with a soft shake of her head. A small part of her mind wondered if she was allowing herself to show too much weakness, but it was quickly pushed to the side.

‘They have been rather well behaved,’ she reasoned to herself as they rounded the street corner. Chrysalis snuck a glance back at the nobles behind her, the changelings whispering amongst themselves as they followed behind her. ‘Maybe Nigel was right, a trip out of the Hive has done wonders for their attitude.’ Looking back to the front, Buzz still out ahead by himself, she shifted uncomfortably. ‘And I might have to admit that I’m feeling a little better myself…’

Pausing her first instinct to self-chastise for even daring to question her own manner, she instead focused on her own trots, her smile from before returning as she just enjoyed the peaceful walk. The Crystal Palace drew nearer, and her thoughts drifted towards those of a nice warm room and bed.

“My Queen, look.”

Blinking her eyes, Chrysalis paused trotting to look at Buzz, the other nobles coming to a halt behind her.

Her bulkiest noble was standing a few body lengths ahead of her, his head poking around the corner of a silent house. Trotting up alongside him, Chrysalis angled her head around the corner and focused on where his outstretched foreleg was pointing.

She spotted one end of makeshift Sombra-prison, the smoky-black glass just visible behind another house corner at the far end of the street. The rest was obscured by the house, Chrysalis figuring that Nigel was likely lurking around on the other side.

‘I thought he would have made it to the Palace by now. He’s probably distracted again. Typical.’

With smile still on face, Chrysalis raised a snow covered foreleg and gave Buzz a pat on the shoulder. “Good work, now re-join the others and follow me. We’ve got a human to track down.”

She could feel his surprise even without the mental link.

“I… Yes, My Queen.”

Chrysalis continued to smile as he moved to follow her orders, and with a glance back she confirmed that the nobles were all trotting up to follow her. Her pace quickening without her notice, she hurried down the street with nobles in tow.

Reaching the end and rounding the corner of the house, Chrysalis bounded around the side of Sombra’s prison without even sparing the creature inside a victorious smirk, her wide eyes eagerly searching the surrounding area for Chalmers.

“Chrysalis!?”

Only to stop and meet the stares of the two ponies she wanted to see the least.

“You!”

Wings buzzed furiously as Chrysalis jumped back into the midst of her startled nobles with a shout, her horn sparking into life as she levelled both the pointed tip and her fang-filled snarl at Cadence and Shining Armour.

The Princess and Guard Captain, having leapt up from their previous position of sitting in the snow opposite Sombra, both appeared equally as surprised and unprepared as she was. Still, they wasted no time in powering their own horns, their eyes narrowing as they dug their hooves into the snowy ground and prepared to fight.

“You!” Cadence repeated with her own snarl, wings spreading out wide instinctively as Shining Armour glared from beside her. “Changeling!”

The name was spat out like an insult, a dirty curse word, and Chrysalis found her already-red hot temper burning even hotter.

“Filthy Equestrian!” Her hoof pawed a furrow into the snowy ground, eyes ablaze with fury as she stared her hated enemies down. “The nerve of you, to show your faces to me again!”

Behind her, the nobles started to recover from their shock, Chrysalis sending a pulse through the mental link to accelerate their readiness. “Don’t just stand there you fools! Prepare yourselves!”

The ten quickly snapped into action. Buzz, Chatter and Reflection (the three nobles assigned to the military caste) powered up their own horns with sickly-green glows, while the remainder of the nobles brandished their horns and tried to intimidate the ponies with fangs and snarls. Shining Armour and Cadence both seemed taken aback by the display, however their eyes shone with determination and they quickly intensified their resolve.

“Be careful Chrysalis, we’ve sent you flying once before!” Shining warned with a frown, Cadence nodding alongside him with gritted teeth.

“That’s right, and we’ll gladly do it again! We won’t let you or Sombra harm this city, I swear on it!”

Chrysalis snorted through her nostrils and stamped her hoof, her nobles hissing alongside her in agreement.

“Ha! Go ahead and try again, you worms! You think Sombra is bad, wait until you taste my wrath!” Her heart was pounding again as her tongue lashed her fangs, her mind screaming at her to charge the impudent duo and tear them apart. “Your pitiful excuse for love is no match for my own desire for revenge!”

Her words only gave Cadence encouragement.

“Once again, you try to lecture us on the power of love!” Cadence’s frown turned upwards into a hateful smirk. “Yet what do you know of it, save for the scraps that you steal from others, Changeling?”

No doubt, Cadence was after the reaction that Chrysalis had displayed at the ill-fated wedding invasion.

But far from hurt and anger, she was met with a surprising grin and laugh from Chrysalis instead.

“Nice try, Princess,” she chortled. “But unfortunately for you, I’ve feasted on a love that you and your pitiful husband could only dream of!”

With the announcement, there was a crack of power as her horn’s glow increased tenfold, everyone save Chrysalis being forced to avert their eyes. Sparks flew from the tip, twisting angrily in the air as they hissed and burned in the atmosphere, an audible hum louder and louder as the Queen of the Changelings continued to cackle triumphantly.

“Now you will regret your prior actions, Equestrians! Prepare to feel my wrath, before my children drain you dry!”

The snow around her whipped up into a frenzy, the suddenly less-confident nobles backing away from both their enemies and their Queen with eyes wide open as they were pelted with the cold and wet slurry. Chrysalis paid them no heed, her maniacal stare and fang-filled grin fixed firmly on Cadence and Shining.

To their credit, the two Equestrians stood their ground, Cadence and Shining sharing a quick look into each other’s eyes before they refaced her with their heads held high.

“You shan’t win,” Cadence announced with a suppressed wince as her own horn increased in power. “Not while Shining and I still stand here. You have one chance to back down and leave, Chrysalis…” Cadence’s eyes narrowed once more. “Before we both show you the door. Again!”

Chrysalis’ tongue danced around her fangs again, her muscles tensing as she hunched forwards and prepared to charge.

“Just try it!”

The attack spell was a split-second away from firing, before something cold and wet brushed against her nose.

Chrysalis froze in place as the snowball kissed the tip of her snout, before flying past to smash against the wall of the house beside her in a shower of white. Her spell remained charged and ready, even as a second snowy-projectile landed just shy of Shining Armour’s front hooves. The third snowball was even worse aimed, soaring over their heads to land on top of the house’s roof with a dull thud.

It earned her attention however, Chrysalis grimacing with a grunt as another voice spoke up amongst the traded threats and jabs.

“Hey, break it up, you lot!”

‘Oh come on,’ she mentally winced. ‘Of course he shows up now!’

“How about we all just… chill?”

Despite her anger, despite her hated foes opposite her, and despite her every attempt not to show any weakness, Chrysalis couldn’t help the small and embarrassed laugh that forced its way up. Instead she had to slam her jaws shut to contain it, leading to a muffled grunt that left her standing in the snow awkwardly with her horn still lit.

“I swear, I leave for a few minutes and everything falls apart.”

Snow crunched under metal boots, Chrysalis not taking her eyes off of Cadence and Shining as Chalmers approached from one of the side streets. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a forth snowball sitting in one of his hands, the potential projectile bouncing menacingly in the cup of his fingers.

“Stay out of this,” she growled out from the side of her mouth, horn still alight. “This is not your fight.”

She watched Cadence turn her head to look at Nigel, while Shining continued to focus on her with his horn.

“Watch out, that’s Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings, she’s vicious!”

Chrysalis could feel Nigel’s smirk.

“Oh, I know. Meaner than a pit of vipers on PCP, she is.” His footsteps drew closer, Chrysalis gritting her teeth as she continued to refuse to look at him. “Still though, I’m sure we can all just power down our… magic horns, and talk this through like calm and civil beings.”

“I am far from calm and civil,” Chrysalis growled out in response, her magic not wavering.

Across from her, his horn still alight as well, Shining Armour scoffed. “Isn’t that normal?”

“Hey now,” Nigel said as he walked out to step in-between the two sides, his hands held up. “There’s no need for any more-“

“You ruined our wedding, Chrysalis!” Cadence’s hoof stomped down in the snow, her magic also still strong. “I will never, ever forgive you for that!”

“Wait… wedding?”

The scathing retort that was primed and ready on Chrysalis’ tongue didn’t have its chance to be unleashed, instead she turned her eyes to stare at Chalmers as he tilted his head at Cadence.

“The wedding, you dolt! Remember?”

A blank stare, as she knew that he was doing it even under his helmet, was the only reply.

A short and sharp sigh escaped her, Cadence and Shining temporarily forgotten, as she raised a forehoof to her temple and closed her eyes for a brief second.

“I’ve told you already, about the Canterlot invasion.”

“Oh!” Nigel nodded and raised an armoured finger up into the air. “Yes, I remember that bit.”

“And about the wedding? You know, the royal wedding that I infiltrated?”

The looks of disgust from Shining Armour and Cadence at the memory went unnoticed by Chalmers.

“Hmm, yeah…”

Chrysalis lowered her foreleg to point at the pair and rolled her eyes. “So let’s put two and two together-“

“Four.”

She was not ready for the quick response, her mouth opening and closing as her horn’s glow weakened. A smile threatened to take root, but she banished it with a shake of her head and a snort.

“What? No. I mean, yes, but no!”

‘I swear, if this is his idea of a joke…’

“They are the ones who’s wedding I used to invade Canterlot, Nigel.” She jabbed her pointed foreleg at the pair, the Equestrians’ frowns having turned into looks of abject confusion. “Cadence and Shining Armour!” The names irked her to even pronounce. “They are the ones that defeated me and my army, is that simple enough for you? These two are my hated foes, my enemies, and you’re trying to stop me from destroying them!”

Chrysalis huffed and puffed as she waited for his response, her foreleg settling back to the ground.

Nigel for his part was silent for a moment, before he began to shake on the spot. Watching him, Chrysalis was just starting to wonder if something was legitimately wrong with him, before his hand started slapping an armoured knee and she frowned.

“Hahahaha!” Chalmers laughed, raising his head up to the sky. “I… you’re actually...,” he paused, laughter overwhelming him again before he got it under control. “B-b-balcony horses are the same that… that…”

He broke out into cackles again, a single finger pointing back to Cadence and Shining Armour.

“It’s not funny!” Stamping her hoof down, Chrysalis shouted at Chalmers as he broke out into laughter again. “Stop laughing, it’s serious! Nigel!”

“The sheer fucking coincidence!”

Cadence and Shining had been forgotten, Chrysalis now fully focused on Nigel. Fangs bared and wings buzzing angrily, she stomped up to him and raised a hoof.

“Should we… should we do something?”

Cadence didn’t turn to look at Shining Armour as he spoke, her eyes locked squarely on the two creatures bickering in front of them. Her mouth was still ajar, no words escaping it as the scene before them played out.

“Stop it!” Chrysalis’ yells were punctuated by her hardened hooves striking metal plate as she hammered the still-chuckling Chalmers on the chest. “I order you to stop!”

The other ten changelings were huddled together on the other side of the duelling duo, their previous show of fierceness having given way to nervous confusion. The revelation that she and Shining held a shared opinion of the situation with those on the enemy side was lost to Cadence.

“I… don’t know?” she murmured as the clangs continued. “I mean, they seem to know each other, right?”

The laughter wasn’t stopping anytime soon, and Chrysalis’ ineffective assault seemed to only encourage the biped further.

Shining’s eyes furrowed as he tilted his head. “Yeah, I think they do.” A moment of silence passed between them, though unfortunately the same could not be said for the rest of the group. “But how? I mean, he seems like a nice guy.”

“Maybe too nice,” Cadence murmured, with a silent wish for Chalmers to just beat Chrysalis as he did Sombra. She tore her eyes away and focused on the ten smaller changelings. “Still, they are changelings. We can’t just stand here and do nothing with them in the city.”

Beside her, Shining Armour nodded. “Right.” He waited for a few seconds before lowering his voice. “Have you got any ideas? Sombra took a lot out of me, I’ve kind of been bluffing the entire time.”

Cadence bit her bottom lip, her own aching body not forgotten.

“Nope.”

With that settled, the pair of them just stood and watched.

Eventually the fighting, and laughter, began to die out. Either Chrysalis had come to the realisation that her hooves were doing nothing against the metal, or more likely her hooves had started to hurt enough to force a ceasefire. Turning away from Chalmers, the changeling monarch flicked her mane in an obvious sulk.

“Oh come on,” Nigel addressed Chrysalis while holding his hands in the air. “Don’t be like that. It was only a joke.”

“A bad one,” Chrysalis huffed, still facing in the opposite direction as she shifted on her front hooves.

“My specialty.”

Cadence continued to watch as Chrysalis spun back around to face Chalmers, a foreleg stretching out to point right at them.

“This is not the time, not in front of the Equestrians!” She stepped closer, the same foreleg prodding him in the chest. “You’re embarrassing me!”

“Sorry.”

“You better be,” muttered Chrysalis while Chalmers rubbed the back of his helmet with a hand. Then, the Queen’s attention returned to Cadence and Shining with a glare. “Now, enough with the horrible jokes, destroy these two whelps.”

Cadence frowned, and beside her Shining shifted his legs into a combat position.

However, Chalmers didn’t move.

“Small hitch in the plan, there.”

A slight mouth twinge was the only break in Chrysalis’ pose.

“…What?”

“They’re, uh…” Chalmers leaned down sideways next to Chrysalis. “They’re the ones that are putting us up for the night. You said you expected rooms in the palace, so I asked them.” He looked up, and raised a hand. “Hey, Balcony Horses, we still cool? You know, the whole ‘stay the night’ deal?”

Cadence’s mind was unable to come up with a coherent reply in time, so instead she just stood there and stared blankly. Shining didn’t perform much better. “Uh…”

Nigel gestured down at Chrysalis, the changeling having closed her eyes. “She didn’t really want me to ‘destroy’ you, she’s just being a little dramatic. And I wasn’t going to do it anyway, you two are far too nice.”

“Nigel.” They all glanced at Chrysalis, the monarch having opened her eyes. “A word in private.”

“Sure.”

Turning to follow Chrysalis, who was steadily trotting over towards a house on the other side of the street, Chalmers looked back and gave them a thumbs up.

“I was not ready for this today,” Shining muttered with a sigh.

“Are you insane?”

Under his helmet, Nigel smirked.

“Well, I do have a court mandated psychiatrist, several actually, and-“

“Shut it.” Chrysalis made to raise a hoof to strike him again, but it waived before being set down again. Briefly closing her eyes, she took a few deep breaths before opening them again. “Do you understand the problem here? These two Equestrians… I hate them so much. So much.” Her fangs flashed briefly as she glanced over her shoulder towards the pair. “There is absolutely no way I am going to stay in the same city as them, let alone the same palace, unless they’re thrown in the dungeons!”

Nigel watched as she continued to fume in place, her wings twitching erratically. He also noticed her shifting her weight from forehoof to forehoof with the occasional wince.

‘Probably wasn’t the brightest idea she’s had,’ he thought with a glance down at the snowy hoofprints on his armour. Looking at first towards the two apparent rulers of the city, then towards the huddled nobles, and finally towards the ever-darkening sky, he softly shook his head before letting out a sigh that he ensured Chrysalis would hear. He may have also exaggerated it a tad.

“I… look, Chrissy,” he dropped to a knee and removed the armour from his right hand as he spoke. “I get where you’re coming from, I do.” Reaching out, he grasped her left foreleg and took hold of her hoof. Chrysalis’ didn’t say anything as he massaged the soft underside, but her wings gave a light buzz. “But sometimes you’ve just got to grin and bear it.”

“Do you know what you’re asking?” she muttered, abet with far less venom than before. Her attention shifted down to her hoof as a shiver run down her back. “And don’t think I don’t know what you’re trying to do, either.”

“Let me put it this way,” Nigel replied as he switched to the other hoof and ignored the accusation. “It’s getting late, and we’ve managed to do what we came here to do.” He nodded over towards the nobles, still in a confused bunch and covered in snow. “They look like they could use a warm place to sleep tonight, I know you wouldn’t be too happy having to bed down in the snow, and I’d like to get out of this armour for a bit. A single night’s rest would do us all some good, and we can be gone in the morning.”

He let go of her hoof, Chrysalis frowning at him.

“You expect them to agree with this?”

“They already have,” he chuckled. “Sure, it might take a little convincing on my end, but I don’t see them refusing after what we did.” He glanced back again, this time at the box prison sitting by the street, forgotten.

Chrysalis snorted. “We could just beat them up and take it by force. How is that for convincing?”

She threw another glare over towards Cadence and Shining, the pair still standing silently on the road.

Chalmers sighed, before he stood up and leaned down to whisper in her ear.

“If it makes it more bearable for you, we can always come back and annex them later.” The ear flicked. “After we’ve sorted out our other business, of course.”

The other ear flicked.

“I’m still not happy.”

“I don’t suppose I can bribe you with more massages in a palace guest room?”

“Bah,” Chrysalis snorted again, and flicked her mane. “You’re going to need to do more than that.” Still, she scrunched up her face, before she sighed and shook her head. “Alright, fine. But I’m only doing it for them.” A hoof was flicked towards the ten nobles.

Under his helmet, Nigel rolled his eyes.

“Sure,” he scoffed, before he gestured towards the two equestrians and started walking towards them. “Come on, let’s go and get this over with.”

Chrysalis made to follow. “Don’t expect me to talk to them.”

“All fine with me, I’m counting on it.”

“So, I know that there are some differences between us all…”

Suppressing the snort that threatened to interrupt Nigel’s spiel, Chrysalis instead distracted herself by staring up at the sky as the sun made its sudden descent below the horizon.

“But I’m sure that we, as civilised and rational adults, can set aside our differences for a small amount of time.”

Nigel spread his hands out as he spoke, Cadence and Shining glancing at each other.

“It’s not that simple,” Shining Armour replied. “No offense, to you, but changelings are pure evil.”

She had to resist the urge to laugh at the way he frowned and glared at her at the end, Shining narrowing his eyes at her before looking back up at Nigel with a grimace.

“How do we know that they won’t try and pull anything nasty?”

“Like at our wedding,” Cadence added with a glare over at Chrysalis.

‘Oh, what I would give to stick you back in those cold and dark caves,’ thought Chrysalis as she matched the glare with her own. Both she and Cadence stared off with each other, each getting more and more intense with every moment, until Chrysalis had to break it off when an armoured hand rested itself on the top of her head.

“I have to admit that I don’t know much about this wedding incident, stuff gets by me a lot of the time, but I can tell that it’s a bit of an issue for both sides.” He ignored her unamused glance. “I’ve already spoken to Chrysalis, and she’s assured me that there will be no takeover attempts or other skullduggery at all.” The hand on top of her head gave a light pat. “Besides, I think she’ll be much too tired from helping me defeat Sombra to cause you any trouble.”

Nigel was fixed with two incredulous stares.

“She actually helped defeat Sombra?” Cadence tilted her head, glancing from Nigel to her. “Chrysalis, Queen Chrysalis, did something… good?”

“I asked her very nicely.”

Chrysalis couldn’t hold in the snort at his words, Shining and Cadence glancing at her as she did so, but Nigel didn’t give them a chance to continue to question it.

“Hey, Swissy,” he asked with a look over towards the ten silent nobles standing back on the street. “Can you please come over here for a moment?” The high-born infiltrator in question gave a startled jump, but trotted forwards hesitantly soon after.

“Swissy?” Chrysalis heard Shining Armour murmur softly.

The remaining nobles watched her go with concerned gazes, Chrysalis likewise tilting her head and wondering as to what Nigel had planned.

Moving up to stand beside Nigel, Swissy eyed the two Equestrians warily as they directed their confused frowns at her. The hand on Chrysalis’ head was lifted off, and found itself a new home on Swissy’s shoulder. Snow crunched as Chalmers took a knee, his other hand patting Swissy on the side of her neck.

“Now Swissy,” said Nigel. “You’re not going to do anything bad if we stay here for the night, are you?”

“N-no,” came the reply, Swissy glancing towards the Equestrians and then back again. “You told us not to.”

“That’s right,” Nigel nodded. “So if the nice pony couple here let us stay in their palace for the night, you’ll behave yourself?”

Swissy nodded, before she visibly shivered. “Yes, I won’t bother them at all.” Another glance towards Cadence and Shining. “I’ll just be happy to sleep somewhere warm, Mister Chalmers. I promise I won’t do anything wrong, we all do.”

Nigel patted her on the head, before he looked back and smiled at Shining and Cadence. At least, Chrysalis was sure he was smiling under his helmet.

“Seems sincere to me.” Standing up, he pulled Swissy up against the side of his leg and continued to pat her on the head. “I wouldn’t worry about any incidences happening, I’ll take responsibility of them.” He paused, Chrysalis raising an eye at his words. “You may not trust them, but you’ll give me the benefit of the doubt… won’t you?”

‘Hmph, not bad.’ Looking over at Shining and Cadence, Chrysalis watched as they glanced at each other again. ‘Now let’s see if it works.’

The two Equestrians made numerous facial expressions at each other, before Cadence sighed and faced Nigel again.

“It is getting late,” she admitted with a glance up towards the sky. Shining still wore a slight frown upon his face, but Cadence’s eyes swept over the assembled nobles with just the tiniest twinge of sympathy. Then, her gaze alternated from Nigel to Chrysalis multiple times, with Chrysalis having to restrain the urge to bare her fangs at the upstart alicorn. The purple eyes almost seemed… curious, and it took a few moments of silence before Cadence continued speaking.

“I also can’t deny that your help with Sombra is very appreciated as well.” She focused back on Nigel. “And, you’ve guaranteed that the changelings won’t be an issue…”

“You’ll barely even know that they’re there,” Nigel promised with a hand over his chest.

Cadence glanced at Shining Armour again, before looking back and nodding her head.

“Then, and I stress that this is not out of any forgiveness towards them, we are okay with you and your… companions staying in some of the palace rooms for the night. There is no palace staff at the moment however, so you shouldn’t expect any degree of service.” Cadence’s expression hardened. “And you need to be gone from this city by mid-morning tomorrow, no later.”

Then, Cadence smiled up at Nigel.

“Except for you of course, Mr Chalmers. My husband and I will be more than happy to see you again some time.”

Chrysalis frowned with a retort primed and ready to go, but Nigel’s chuckle prevented her from verbalising it.

“Thanks, I might take you up on that in the future.”

Smirking at the memory of their previous conversation, Chrysalis noticed Shining looking at her. Huffing, she flicked her mane and looked away, Cadence and Nigel both taking notice before Cadence looked up towards the night sky again.

“Well, let me show you to your rooms. I think it will be an early night for all of us.”

With that, Cadence bumped Shining in the flank and turned to trot back to the palace, the two ponies making fast progress in the light snow.

Chrysalis turned around briefly to gesture at the nobles with a hoof, before she began to trot after Cadence and Shining with Nigel and Swissy alongside her.

“Well, that went well,” Nigel observed. Chrysalis letting out a harrumph in agreement. His voice dropped to a murmur, Swissy looking up as a hand patted her on the head again. “Good work back there too, Swissy. The ‘Mister’ was a bit of overkill, though.”

“Wow, like, you guys weren’t kidding about before.”

Reflection rolled her eyes at Keith’s observation, her head digging deeper into her pillow as the rhythmic thumps from the other side of the wall continued. Thankfully it wasn’t as loud as it had been in the bat-pony city, Reflection betting that it was more due to the thicker crystal walls than any lack of enthusiasm from those taking part, but it was still making it rather difficult for her to sleep.

The conversation between her fellows wasn’t helping much either.

All ten of them had ended up sharing a single room, and the single large bed was barely enough to fit them. It was very comfortable though, the bright blue bedsheets augmented by the addition of a ton of assorted pillows and extra linen that had been looted from the nearby wooden cabinets. It was nearly enough to take Reflection’s mind off of the fact that she’d been assigned to the very bottom of the bed.

“I can’t believe that you don’t even seem to care,” Cupid replied from the very centre. “It’s so distracting.”

“Slaves…”

Reflection lifted her head to glare at the sheet-covered box in the corner of the room. “Pipe down, you.”

“Crystals…”

A chuckle from Keith, the annoyingly-accented infiltrator shifting in his spot at the top of the bed, right against the offending wall in question.

“Hey, you’ve got to look on the bright side,” he advised with a shrug of his shoulders. “Whenever they bang, they’re both in a good mood afterwards. It’s, like, he’s dosing the Queen up with extra love and stuff.” He paused, before chuckling softly. “Hehe, ‘dosing’.”

“Eww…” Cupid whispered, Reflection able to feel her shudder from where she was. “It’s still weird to think about.”

“He’s got a point,” Reflection muttered from her pillow, before sighing. “Now can we all just stop talking about it and go to sleep? Some of us actually want to function properly in the morning.”

“Yeah. Okay.” Pausing, Cupid’s voice raised a tad. “As long as Buzz stops touching my rump with his hoof and getting dangerously close to copping a feel.”

“That’s not my hoof.”

Around the bed, every changeling’s ears flicked up.

“Oops, sorry,” Mirror whispered. “That’s my foreleg. My bad.”

Cadence winced and rolled over in bed as sunlight assaulted her face, drowsy sleep vanishing only to be replaced with a dull, aching throb. Her foreleg made contact with a furry shoulder, the body next to her likewise rousing from slumber.

“Urgh… Good Morning,” Shining greeted as he sat up, rubbed his eyes, and yawned.

“Nothing good about it.” Rolling over again, she tried to block out the sun shining through the window by planting her face into her pillow. “Do we have to get up? Everything hurts.”

Shining snorted. “Well, as much as I’d like to stay in bed all day, we sort of have something to deal with this morning, remember?”

Searching her mind, it took Cadence a few seconds to recall what he was talking about.

“Chrysalis!” She rocketed up in the bed, her front hooves scrambling to remove the pink sheet that was covering them both. “Shining… oh Celesta, we let her stay in this very palace!” The sheet was flung off, and Cadence ran her hooves over herself to check for any abnormalities. Finding none, she quickly glanced at every table and wardrobe in the room, her eyes searching for any sign of foul play.

“You let them,” Shining grumbled, before he cricked his neck and slid out of bed. “Come on, let’s go see what damage they’ve caused.”

Hesitantly, Cadence slid out of bed as he ambled over towards the closed wooden door. Her hooves hit the azure blue rug that dominated the majority of their bedroom floor, a pang of pain shooting up through her left foreleg. Brushing it off with a wince, she moved to follow Shining as he opened the door and stepped out into the corridor.

She passed the bathroom door as she did so, not even stopping to properly tidy her frazzled mane and tail.

Following alongside her husband, she yawned.

“Looks like they’re already up,” Shining murmured with a nod towards the open door near the end of the corridor. Slowing their trots, thy both peeked into the room that they had given to the ten ‘normal’ changelings.

“Huh,” Cadence said with a raised eye as she observed the neatly made bed and folded sheets of linin stacked upon it. “That’s unexpected.”

Shining nodded, his head tilting at the sight. “They actually cleaned up after themselves, changelings…”

Cadence glanced to the room next door, its own oak door still shut tight. Softly trotting up, she gently tried the sapphire crystal knob and found it to be locked. Staring at it for a moment, she toyed with the idea of practicing the lock picking spell she had learnt as a teenager.

‘I wonder…’ she pondered, remembering how the two leaders of their guests had shared a room the night before. The situation between them still confused her, and she had yet to tell Shining about the genuine feelings of love that she had picked up between the pair. ‘Should I?’

Her hoof wavered, before it left the knob and returned to the floor.

‘I better not, the last thing I want this morning is another battle.’

“Hey, you smell that?”

Cadence turned back around to face Shining, to find that his nose was raised up into the air. Following his example, she took a few deep sniffs.

A whiff of something crossed her nostrils, Cadence’s eyes widening slightly as she intensified her efforts to narrow it down.

Coffee.

Pepper.

And…

“Eggs?” Shining questioned with a hint of desire. He looked at her. “We had eggs?”

A shake of her head.

“No, only the cans in the storeroom. And that was all fruit, soup and vegetables.” She frowned. “And some thousand year-old, magically preserved bread. We weren’t confident enough to try it, remember?”

Shining’s nostrils flexed and he loudly sniffed again. “No, that’s definably eggs. Cooked eggs.” He glanced back at her. “Changelings cook? Do they even eat?”

She didn’t even have the slightest clue as to the answer, but Cadence did know one thing. “Changelings might not, but I’m betting that somepony else does.”

Both she and Shining shared a look, before they glanced back at the still-locked bedroom door. A growling sound interrupted the silence, and the two of them look down at Shining’s stomach.

“I’m getting myself some of those eggs,” he muttered with a nod to himself. He focused back up on Cadence, and caused her to sigh.

“Fine, let’s go then.”

They turned around and went back the way they had come, Shining trotting quickly with a spring in his step. Cadence smiled, her nose once again giving the air an appreciative sniff.

‘I can’t lie, it does smell very good.’

‘Mhmm…’

Reflection hummed with eyes closed as she took another gulp of coffee out of a crystal mug, her tastebuds picking up a delicious hint of chocolate. She had no idea where or how it had been sourced, but she wasn’t about to ask any questions about it.

‘Why hasn’t anyone thought of this before?’ she wondered, opening her eyes and lowering the now half-full mug to look around the dining table.

Said table was an admittedly impressive piece of furniture, the entire length constructed out of shimmering clear crystal with gold and silver trimmings. It seemed large enough to comfortably seat at least one hundred ponies (and changelings, of course) by her estimate, and it and the many identical clear-crystal stools on either side only added to the large dining room. Glowing crystals in ceiling-mounted chandeliers lit up the area, and the light glinted off of the multiple precious gemstones set into the top edges of the table. They had all congregated down one end, the end closest to the open doorway that released all sorts of wonderful and delightful smells.

Certainly, she couldn’t think of anything in the hive that could even come close to competing with it.

That thought was kept to herself, of course.

Her fellow nobles were also preoccupied with their own mugs, the silence save for the occasional happy murmur or slurp testament to the potent chocolate/coffee mix. Well, except for Buzz and Holey, who were busy having a staring contest with smoky-Sombra while they savoured their drinks. The former King continued to unintelligently mutter from inside his prison on floor.

Reflection took another sip of her own drink, her wings giving a light buzz while she eyed the teapot of fresh coffee that had been brought out only a few minutes earlier.

‘Totally worth the trip alone.’

“Alla belisimo, strigo a-la-marie-e-e-e!”

The slightly-less wonderful and delightful singing drew everyone’s attention to the doorway. Ears flicked and noses twitched as another bout of clangs and whirs heralded the release of yet more food smells. Reflection’s grey tail swished and brushed the back of her stool, a smile firm on her face.

‘Almost makes me wish that we lived off solid food.’

“Something smells good.”

The mood instantly soured, every changeling going silent and lowering their cups.

Twisting her head around, Reflection watched as Shining Armour and Cadence trotted into the room. The two ponies stared back for a moment, before the pair of them moved towards the middle of the table and sat down with five empty stools between them and the nearest changeling. Apart from Shining’s initial observation, there was no more attempts at communication save for uncomfortable glances and whispers between the groups.

“Ah, though I heard someone else.”

Everyone looked over towards the kitchen doorway, Nigel sticking his head out to smile at Cadence and Shining.

“I was expecting Chrissy, but you two are more than welcome to join us for breakfast if you want. Your kitchen, after all.” A bare hand, clutching a large speckled egg, reached out to gesture at the teapot and spare cups. “There’s fresh coffee on the table as well, don’t let them hog it all.”

“Oh, thank you,” Cadence nodded with a smile back, before she pursed her lips. “Chrysalis… isn’t down yet?”

Reflection recognised the particular grin that Chalmers wore at the question, and rolled her eyes when he gave the Equestrians a wink.

“She’s having a bit of a lie-in this morning, didn’t get much sleep last night.”

With that, he returned to the depths of the kitchen, the sounds of banging pans and ominous whirring resuming once more.

While Cadence sat and seemed to process the information with a befuddled look, Reflection noticed that Shining Armour was much more preoccupied with another task. A tinkle of pony magic heralded the levitation of the coffee pot, a blue glow lifting the tea set and two mugs over towards the Equestrian pair.

Glancing down at the dregs of delicious coffee remaining in her own cup, Reflection looked back up with a glare and met Shining’s eyes. Pouring himself a cup, Shining raised his own eyes and made a pointed glance over towards the kitchen door, making sure that she got the hint.

‘You’re lucky that he’s here,’ Reflection silently grumbled as she drank the final few drops. ‘Stupid Equestrian.’

Sitting back in her chair with a sigh, she caught Sheen eying her and giving a flick of his ears. Focusing on him, she smirked when he shifted his eyes towards Shining Armour before making a subtle obscene motion with his forehoof under the table.

A muffled giggle to her right, Holey obviously having caught sight of it as well, was followed up by the clank of metal boots upon crystal floor.

Nigel emerged from out of the kitchen, plates balanced in his arms and a comically small pink apron strapped to his armoured chest. Despite the hated Equestrians sitting with them, not a single changeling could resist at least a smile at the sight.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Chalmers said with a smile as he placed the two plates down in front of Cadence and Shining. “I raided your panty for some canned tomatoes and a loaf of bread. Can’t just have poached eggs without toast and fried tomato, you know?”

“There’s no need for apologies at all,” Cadence replied with a smack of her lips at the mountain of food on her plate. “This looks amazing.”

“Where did you even get these eggs?” asked Shining, already swallowing his first mouthful and licking the yolk off of the side of his mouth.

Chalmers laughed as he stood back up. “Glad you like them, I went for a walk last night and managed to find them.” He turned back towards the kitchen. “Speaking of which, I’ll be back in a tick. Got to finish up my own, then I’ll join you.”

He paused, Reflection perking up when he turned to smile at the rest of them.

“How about you lot, want any eggs?”

“Uh, I think we’re fine,” Buzz replied to various nods of agreement. “Eggs are… kind of a little weird.”

Everyone, even Chalmers, ignored the scoff from Cadence.

“Oh, okay then, I guess.” He took a moment, before he held up a finger. “Oh. Ohhhhh. Right, I remember now. Yeah, probably just a little weird.”

With that, he turned on his heels and headed back into the kitchen, humming as he did so. Silence returned to the table momentarily, save for the two Equestrians nosily devouring their meals.

Reflection raised her nose and sniffed at the strange and spicy smell that wafted out from the kitchen as Nigel’s footfalls reapproached, the scent not an unpleasant one. The sight that she was met with when he walked back out with his own plate, however, was quite the opposite.

“What the…”

Nigel’s plate wasn’t so much a plate, rather it was more like a large silver serving tray. But that wasn’t the issue. No, the issue had more to do with the steaming contents than the sheer serving size.

“Is… is that a cockatrice?”

Chalmers tilted his head at Cadence’s open-mouthed question as he sat down between Reflection and Chatter, his eyebrows furrowing while he wrapped a hand around an exposed leg-bone.

“Cock-a-what?” Cooked flesh ripped apart as he lifted a drumstick up. “It’s just a snake-chicken.” He glanced down at his plate. “Two actually. Found them out on my morning walk, and it turns out they really, really don’t like people taking their eggs.”

He paused and took a bite of the morsel he held, seemingly oblivious to the disturbed looks that everyone was giving him while he chewed.

“Hmm…” he hummed as he rotated the leg around to examine it. “Not half bad, really. Could have used just a tad more pepper.” He finished it off with a lick of his lips, the stripped bone clacking when it hit the plate. Without stopping, and with the eyes of every pony and changeling upon him, he picked up one of the seasoned tails and waggled it around the table. “Anyone want to try it? It’s like chicken, but… well, I guess with a tad, just a tad, of snakey aftertaste.” He held up his free hand and made an ‘o’ shape with his fingers, kissing it with a smile. “I miei occhi sanguinano. Delicious.”

Everyone shook their heads at the offer, Shining even looking a little green, before the tip of the tail made its way around to Reflection. She watched Nigel waggle it just before her snout, the tip a hair’s breadth away from booping her on the nose.

“Uh… no thanks,” she said with a lean back.

Chalmers glanced around the table again, before he shrugged. “Okay, more for me then.”

Quick as a flash, the tail, the entire tail, was lifted up and deposited into his gob at once. Reflection couldn’t supress the shudder that ran down her spine as the sound of crunching and cracking bones filled the dining room, Nigel smiling happily to himself all the while.

Silently, she made a mental note to make herself scarce if he ever declared that he was hungry.

The few dregs of eggs and coffee that were left on the table were forgotten as he continued to absolutely devour the feast before him. Like watching a fully-loaded carriage crash straight into a filly-scout troop, no-one was able to look away as the two cooked cockatrices rapidly became just half of one plus some picked-clean bones. Even Sombra was preoccupied with the spectacle, the imprisoned king pressing his smoky-face up to one corner of his box in order to get a better look.

As Reflection stared at Nigel eating the last chicken-wing whole, she couldn’t help but shake her head.

‘What could have possibly made him that hungry?’

She only caught the flash of teal in the corner of her eye for a split second, before she had to hold onto the table as her seat was buffeted from the side. Regaining her balance, she glared down towards her left before quickly leaning away.

“Oh, Good Morning to you as well!”

“Morning,” Chrysalis murmured in reply to Chalmers as she busied herself with nuzzling his armoured side. Eyes half lidded, she didn’t acknowledge anyone else at the table, including the staring pair of Cadence and Shining Armour. She didn’t even react to the last remaining cockatrice drumstick that was dangled in front of her face.

“Want one?”

The Queen smiled, an ear flicking. “No, I’m still full from last night.”

Reflection stared blankly at the table as Chrysalis giggled.

‘…Ew.’

“Huh, well fortunately I don’t subsist on love,” Nigel snorted in response as he took another bite from the chicken leg. “So I guess that works for me.”

The Queen’s tail flicked as she circled around his back to switch sides, still nuzzling as her voice dropped to a whisper that Reflection barely heard.

“Well, I’m sure I can manage to fit in some breakfast if I have to…”

“Settle down,” chuckled Chalmers as he placed the last bone down upon his plate and wiped his hands on his armour, also seeming oblivious to the stares. “I’ve got to do the dishes, and then we’ve got to make our way back home. Are you ready to go?”

Chrysalis stopped nuzzling and lifted her head, and to the surprise of all she leaned forwards to give him a peck on the cheek.

“I’m going to have a quick bath,” she announced with a lick of her fangs and a quick wave at the rest of them seated at the table, before turning around and merrily trotting back out of the door. “Have fun doing a servant’s work.”

Unseen to Chrysalis, Nigel turned around and raised a middle finger towards her departing hindquarters, before he turned around and finally acknowledged the attention he’d garnered. “What are you all looking at?”

There was a brief moment of hesitation, before Cadence shook her head and leaned in.

“How?” The alicorn demanded. “Just how?”

“How what?”

A pink hoof was trust at the doorway that Chrysalis had departed through.

“Chrsyalis. She was… happy?”

Shining Armour did a double take.

“She didn’t even insult us…” he muttered.

Nigel frowned in thought, before he sat up and brushed it off with a wave. “Oh, yeah. She’s actually a lot like that now, thankfully.” He lowered his voice at the last word, before returning to a normal volume. “Chrissy’s just tense a lot of the time, under a lot of pressure and stuff like that. I just have to provide some stress relief from time to time and she’s like putty.”

“Stress relief.” Cadence repeated blankly.

“Yeah,” Nigel leaned back on his stool with his fingers making quotation marks. “’Stress relief’.”

Another chuckle, but this time it was from Keith, not Nigel.

“Well, like, it seems to work,” the noble smiled with a nod to Chalmers. “Good job, dude. I like Happy Queen, least she isn’t yelling all the time anymore.”

Reflection put her head in her hooves, unable to understand why Keith had just said what he had just said.

“Damn right,” Nigel replied with a click of his fingers, his thumbs pointing back at himself. “One-hundred percent, au naturale stress relief in one handsome package.” There was a pause. “Well, au naturale save for the military genetic enhancements, professional honeypot training, biological adaption experiments, illegal drug regime, and the spell that evil wizard guy cast on me a while ago.” He paused to scratch his chin. “Should probably have reported that.”

There was another moment of silence, before Shining Armour raised a hoof into the air.

“Uh… what job did you say you did again?”

There wasn’t even a single second of hesitation.

“Royal stress-reliever, apparently,” Nigel laughed, before he cricked his shoulders and picked up his plate. “Now, enough joking around. Who wants to give me a hand with the washing up?”

Water dripped off of a metal hull, as waves crashed against the bow of a lone submarine surfaced in the middle of the ocean.

Twilight sat next to her mother and watched her living pirate ancestor swivel around and around in her command chair, Morning Sparkle pausing only occasionally to squint out towards the endless sea and mutter to herself.

“We’re lost, aren’t we?” Twilight asked with a sigh.

“We’re not lost,” Morning snapped with a scowl as she continued to glance around through the transparent bridge walls. “Things have just changed in a bit over the centuries, that’s all.” She paused, scratching her chin with a forehoof. “I could have sworn there used to be a continent over there…

Resurface

Cadence slowly trotted into the palace kitchen, her hooves clicking on the dusty cream tiles. Racks of assorted pots and pans adorned the walls, untouched for centuries, and the lines of wood-fired stoves and food preparation benches stood empty.

It was the sinks down the opposite end of the room that drew her attention however, the sound of running water accompanied by the clinking of pans and whistling.

Rounding a bench covered with a set of bloodstained knives, Cadence nearly jumped out of her fur as something hissed at her.

“Slave…”

Raising a foreleg to her chest, Cadence let out a breath when she realised that it was just Sombra in his box prison. The former Tyrant’s glowing eyes glared out at her from his spot to the side of the main sink, his smoky body filling the entire rectangle box. A few lines of soapy water dripped down one side, a set of plates from breakfast sitting in the metal dish rack that had been unceremoniously popped down on top.

“Ah, Cadence,” Chalmers greeted as he turned around from the sink to look at her with soapy scrubbing brush in hand. “Have you come to help out?” He gave a pointed glance towards the door leading to the dining room. “No one else has, so it’s just been me and Sombra so far.”

As he spoke, he plucked a clean plate up from soap in the sink and rinsed it off under a tap, before placing it in the dishrack atop of the glass-like prison.

“I was actually wanting to talk with you for a moment,” Cadence answered with another glance towards Sombra. The smoke monster still hadn’t taken his eyes off of her, a shiver running down her spine as he licked his fangs. “But I’m happy to give you some assistance as I do.” Her horn glowed and a wet plate was plucked up from the dishrack while a tea towel was levitated over at the same time.

They both commenced their respective tasks, Chalmers washing as Cadence dried. A few moments passed, before Nigel coughed.

“So?”

Slowing her work, a soapy glass held before her, Cadence looked up at him. “I was hoping to talk with you some more about Chrysalis, if you’re okay with that.”

“Sure,” he replied. “I don’t have a problem with talking about Chrissy.” He lowered his voice to an exaggerated whisper. “As long as she doesn’t find out, that is.”

Smiling, Cadence continued. “I was just really curious. I mean, as you’ve heard we really haven’t had the best history together, and I always thought of her to be…” she hesitated. “Well, irredeemably cruel.”

He chuckled at that, his hands resting in the soapy water while he looked at her.

“You know, I can see why you’d probably think that to be quite honest. But I have to say, you wouldn’t believe just how much of a softy she was when I first met her.”

“Really?”

Nigel lifted his hands up from the sink and moved one of them down to his thigh.

“Chrissy was just up to here on me, this slightly annoying blue-green unicorn.” He smiled, a sigh escaping him. “Ah, Seabiscut. Truly a superior name choice. She was masquerading as a first mate on this pirate ship I… accidentally ‘acquired’.”

Cadence raised an eye. “Accidentally?”

“Yeah.” Nigel returned his hands to the sink, one picking up a dirty plate while the other grabbed the brush. “Don’t try and use magic on me, by the way. I like you too much for that.” He started to scrub, Cadence unable to query as to why before he continued. “Yes, Chrysalis. She was just like that lot out there,” the brush flicked a few soap suds onto the tiled floor as it was gestured towards the dining room doorway. “All bald and blue-eyed. Full of fascination at everything, got a little grating sometimes.”

Cadance finished drying her plate and plonked it down on top of Sombra, her head glancing over to the door. “Really? So she was a normal changeling?” Chalmers nodded, so she continued. “Who are those changelings, anyway? They seem to be far fewer in number than...” She grimaced. “Last time I had the pleasure of meeting her.”

Nigel passed her another clean plate, Cadence starting on it with a look towards him.

“Well, they’re what Chrissy calls her ‘nobles’. You see, back when we first met, there was this town we were staying in. Nice town, not as nice as it was when I was in charge though.” Cadence didn’t miss the way his smile grew at the memory. “This trader rocked up with ten baby changelings all in a cage, selling them as exotic pets. Then this prissy mayor goes to buy all ten for ‘decorations’.”

“Oh.” Frowning, Cadence continued to dry. “I take it that Chrysalis didn’t react to well to that.”

Another grin from Chalmers. “No, no she did not. She outright dropped her disguise then and there, turned to me, and begged me to rescue them for her. Keep in mind, up until then I still thought that she was a genuine unicorn.”

“So what happened?”

“Well, I’ll spare you the boring details, but we ended up ‘acquiring’ them.”

“You seem to do a lot of that,” Cadence said with a smile.

“That I do.” Chalmers passed her the last plate needing to be dried, switching to the coffee mugs. “It’s a bit of a long story, but essentially I was breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all of them, Chrissy included. She was pretty much the mother figure for them, and I still don’t really know why, but she started to change during it. Growing hair, taller, stuff like that.”

A few moments passed where they just continued to wash, a pile of dried mugs quickly stacking up on top of Sombra. Cadence was almost about to start asking more questions, the story about Queen Chrysalis’ early days was fascinating to her, but she was stopped at the sound of approaching hoofsteps. Both she and Nigel turned around, one of the changelings trotting up to them.

“Nigel.” The changeling, a female judging from the voice, smiled up at Chalmers before glancing at her. The smile turned into a frown, a quick glare being sent her way before the changeling returned to smiling after refocusing on Nigel. “Do you want some help?”

“Actually, I think that the three of us have already got it covered, Reflection.” Watching Nigel dry one of his hands off on a spare tea towel, Cadence noticed the changeling give her a sideways glance.

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.” Chalmers knelt down before he reached out and patted Reflection on the head. “Thank you for offering though. We’re almost finished here, why don’t you get the others ready for me? We’ll head off as soon as Chrysalis is done with her bath.”

Another glance sent Cadence’s way, but the changeling nodded after a second. “Okay. Just let me know of you do need help with anything, though.”

Standing up and removing his hand, Nigel smiled. “Will do.”

With a final, suspicious look, Reflection turned and trotted back out the way she had come in from. As soon as she was gone Cadence gave Chalmers a look, the human shrugging his shoulders before turning back to the sink.

“They’re just protective, that’s all.”

‘Yeah, sure.’

Cadence finished the last of the dishes, her magic quickly grabbing plates and cups and storing them in the appropriate cupboards.

“So how did you get so many?”

Nigel, in the middle of pulling out the plug, paused to turn his head.

“So many what?”

She glanced back to make sure there weren’t any more intruders. “Changelings. You said that Chrysalis and yourself found those ten.” She lowered her voice. “I mean, I don’t know much about them, but surely those ten didn’t produce the thousands that were at the wedding.”

Nigel stared back at her, before his eyes lit up with understanding. “Oh, no, no.” He pulled the plug out, the water in the drain starting to empty while he talked. “Those ten out there aren’t the original ten. Chrissy has some weird bloodline and naming system going on.” The sink finished draining with a gurgle that echoed around the kitchen. “No, the original ten ones that I helped raise a little are long dead now from age, we’re probably about ten generations in at this point.”

She paused, the last mug halfway into the cupboard. ‘There’s no way that’s possible,’ Cadence realised. ‘Unless changelings only live for a few years at most.’ Then, with mug still in her magical grasp, she glanced down at the box that held Sombra. Looking into the mad King’s narrowed eyes as the smoky mass shifted and swirled, she recalled a rather important detail.

“Hold on,” she said while meeting Nigel’s curious glance. “You and Sombra know each other, but the Crystal Empire’s been in magical exile for at least a thousand years. You also knew Chrysalis when she was still a ‘normal’ changeling, and she only started with ten…” Cadence tilted her head. “Surely you haven’t been around for more than a thousand years?”

He chuckled. “Heh, not quite that, no.”

“Oh,” Cadence said. “Then-“

“I mean, unless you count all the centuries of being magically trapped as a stone statue, that is.”

There was a harsh crash and a crack, as the last mug dropped from Cadence’s magical grasp onto the ground.

Nigel looked over towards the shattered remains of the coffee mug, before he focused back on Cadence.

“Something wrong?” he asked her, Cadence still staring at him. “Let me get it.”

Walking over and crouching down, Nigel allowed himself a small smile as he picked the shards of former mug up. Then a voice called out from the other end of the kitchen.

“Nigel?”

“All good in here, Reflection,” he called back while standing up and glancing at the doorway. The changeling let her gaze linger on him for a moment, before she gave in and left. Turning around, he refaced Cadence and rolled the shards of pottery around in his hand. “So Cadence, questions?”

She continued to stare, but with a shake of her head she managed to regain her composure.

“I…” she began, blinking her eyes. “I have to say, that really wasn’t the explanation I was expecting. I only know of one other who received that punishment, and he’s far worse than you.” She glanced at the door, but didn’t make any attempt to back away. “You’re not lying to me, are you?”

Nigel grinned. “I’m flattered that you think that highly of me,” he chuckled. He dumped the broken mug on the bench, crossing his arms as he leaned back against it. Cadence for her part seemed to relax, her stance loosening. “But no, I’m telling the truth. I really did get locked in stone, an unfortunate mistake on my part.”

He waited, Cadence tilting her head and studying him. Her eyes roamed over his armour, one of her ears flicking.

“If you don’t mind me asking, Nigel, what did you exactly do?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Oh, you know. I ‘acquired’ a ship, a town, some changelings, tried to also acquire the world…” A chuckle. “The usual really.” Chalmers noticed Cadence frown and glance towards Sombra, so he quickly continued. “Keep in mind that this was quite a long time ago, you ponies weren’t exactly getting along well with each other.”

Cadence looked back up at him. “And Celestia and Luna thought that it was bad enough to use the Elements of Harmony on you?”

“Well,” Nigel winced. “I may have also tried to kill Celestia.” He noticed her look, and held up a hand. “But that was only after they both tried to get me the first time, so it was self-defence. Also, I was going to spare Luna afterwards.” Cadence still didn’t drop the judgmental look, Nigel wincing again. “It… it was a long time ago?”

His host maintained her gaze, her frown staying put. Narrowing her eyes, Cadence shifted her hoofing.

“I know that I should be mad,” she stated evenly, her eyes shifting away to quickly check the kitchen door for any spying observers. “I suppose that you’ve at least figured out by now that I’m an Equestrian myself, and connected to the royal family.”

Nigel nodded. “It was pretty obvious from the start really with the whole palace, Canterlot wedding story, and alicorn thing after all.” He smiled, despite her narrowed eyes. “I’m not as ignorant as Chrysalis thinks I am.”

“And yet,” Cadence replied. “You still treated myself and Shining with politeness and respect, even though Chrysalis wanted you to destroy us, and even when you’re obviously enough of a threat to Equestria that the pony I respect the most used the Elements on you.”

She paused for a second, before continuing.

“And I’ve just realised that I’ve heard of you before, from Chrysalis no less. I just didn’t expect you to be… you.” Cadence’s stare wavered, her head once again turning to check the doorway. “She certainly seems to despise how the Princesses, two ponies I look up to, punished you. I would have thought that, considering your history, you would be more than happy to help her get rid of me out of spite for Luna and Celestia alone.” She furrowed her brows. “But you didn’t, instead you managed to get her to calm down and be nice. Why?”

Chalmers shrugged his armoured shoulders. “Eh, basic politeness goes a long way. Besides, I don’t have any grudge with you or your husband.” Chuckling, he bent down to remove the empty dishrack from Sombra’s box, placing it on a nearby bench. “You both weren’t even born back when it happened, for a start.”

He watched Cadence regard his words, one hand brushing the last remaining soap trails off of Sombra.

“You know that I’ll have to tell her about them,” Cadence said slowly after another pause. “How you were here.”

Nigel stood back up and wiped his hands, smile still on his face.

“I hope you will, put in a good word for me, hey?” He winked, causing Cadence to raise an eye. “It hasn’t exactly been the worst stay.”

“No,” Cadence’s eyes glanced to the cupboards where they had stored the clean plates. “No it hasn’t, admittedly.” Pursing her lips, she let the last remainders of her frown drop with a sigh and focused back on him. “Knowing what I am expected to do, as a Princess, I think it would be best if you departed from these lands as soon as you are able. I won’t spoil Shining’s day with this information about you, especially after breakfast, but I will have to inform Celestia and Luna.”

Chalmers nodded. “I understand that, duty to one’s people.” He straightened, one hand looping around the handle attached to the top of Sombra’s prison. The King hissed but didn’t say anything as he was lifted up, Nigel giving him a hiss back before refacing Cadence. “I’ll get everyone moving, including Chrysalis. We’ll be gone in a few minutes. Thank you for the hospitality despite everything, it was very kind.” He turned and started to walk towards the door, but halted when Cadence spoke again.

“Wait.”

Nigel turned, Cadence shifting uncomfortably.

“I know that Chrysalis and you are not going to just leave Equestria alone. Is there…” she folded both of her ears back. “Do you think there’s any way that the two of you could try to talk to Celestia and Luna, to work something out without the need for any hostility?” Cadence took a step towards him. “I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider it, I’d rather have us be on good terms, even friends.” There was an attempt at a smile. “Chrysalis might have to stay as a good acquaintance, though.”

“Heh,” Nigel smiled. “I’d like that too.” Then, still with a smile, he shook his head. “But I’m afraid that it’s likely not to work out like that.” He looked her in the eyes. “I wasn’t the only one punished for what I did that day, Cadence. And compared to them, I got off rather lightly. You yourself have experienced the result of what they went through.” Nodding, he waved his free hand. “Goodbye Cadence. Once again, thanks for putting us up for the night. I’ll remember it.”

With that, leaving Cadence standing still behind him, Nigel resumed walking. Upon exiting the room he was met with ten sets of curious eyes as the nobles broke apart from the whispering circle they had gathered in.

“Alright you lot,” Chalmers announced with a grin. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover before dark, let’s get Chrysalis and go home.”

“Oh you can’t be serious!”

Twilight jolted awake at the yell as it echoed around the bridge, her mother hitting her in the side with a foreleg as she was also rudely awakened.

With a wince, Twilight sat up against the wall before she looked over at the command chair in the centre of the room, Morning Sparkle snarling at a large screen that was suspended down from the metal ceiling.

“That’s even further away from the sea then before!”

While Morning smacked her hoof down on her chair’s arm, Twilight snuck a glance at what was vexing the pirate captain so. An image was lit up on the suspended surface, and she recognised it as an ancient map of Equestria.

‘It must be centuries old,’ Twilight silently thought as she leaned her head forwards to get a better look. ‘Seedtown? Castle Ironhoof? Manehattan isn’t even on there, unless it used to be called Quayble’. Then she noticed the two flashing dots on the map, both a firm red colour. One was out in the east sea, Twilight taking a guess that it represented their submersible ship, and the other was to the north of Equestria, near the snowy wastes. Then, the dot out in the north moved a tiny bit south, Twilight so focused on the map that she didn’t notice Morning turn around and stare at her until the pirate threw a hoof up towards her.

“How are we supposed to get over there!? Just how?”

Twilight felt her mother nudge her in the side, and so she hesitantly cleared her throat.

“You… you could always just travel on land… if you really needed to?”

Morning stared at her, before her hoof swung about in the air again.

“Oh yeah,” the Captain snorted. “Genius idea. I’ll just ram the nearest coastline I see and carve a passage through. Should be simple.”

Twilight bowed her head, Velvet speaking up from beside her.

“I think that Twilight was suggesting that you leave your vessel hidden somewhere, and continue on hoof.” Not flinching even when Morning glared at her, Velvet continued. “Equestria has good roads, and you could even take the train if you landed near a city or large town to get across the country in a few days.”

“Train?”

Perking back up at the question, Twilight joined back in with an answer. “A number of metal carriages that can carry ponies, pulled along by a ‘locomotive’ powered by steam that uses long and flat rails to travel across the country.” She smiled. “It’s named ‘The Friendship Express’.”

Glad to have helped, Twilight sat and waited while Morning glanced towards Velvet and back.

“Friendship Express?” The pirate scoffed. “Ha! You’re even worse at naming things as the Captain was!”

Twilight frowned, while Velvet just rolled her eyes with a sigh.

“Do you have a better name?”

Morning waved a dismissive hoof. “I don’t care about land-things, only ships.” She turned around, Twilight managing to catch a small smile on the pirate before her back was put towards them. “He would have probably called it something melodramatic like ‘The Train of Terror’ or something like that.” Morning paused, Velvet speaking up again in the quiet.

“I take it that you’re against the train and dropping us off at Manehattan on the way, then?”

Glancing back, Morning glared and pointed a hoof at the pair of them. “Yes, I am against taking this ‘train’, and dropping you two softies off just yet.” Another moment of hesitation, Morning’s hoof going to her chin. “Although, I do have the longboat in the back…”

Sharing a puzzled look with her mother, Twilight furrowed her brows. Taking care to try and keep judgement from entering her tone, Twilight turned her head back to look at Morning.

“But… isn’t that just a smaller boat?” She didn’t flinch when Morning’s eyes locked onto her. “You still have the same problem, there’s no water to travel on.”

“Oh,” Morning snorted with a shake of her head. “Don’t underestimate the Captain. A longboat that travels on water makes far too much sense…”

The fire crackled, and Reflection smiled to herself as she held her hooves out to get rid of the last remnants of frost. The ground beneath her rump was starting to lose its chill, and she looked around while the fire’s glow continued to light up the flat walls of the makeshift shelter.

The rest of the nobles had all formed a tight circle around the roaring fire, Reflection’s gaze passing over Buzz. Spying her targets, she watched while Chalmers sat down next to Chrysalis with the armour on his right hand retracted. Her ears gave an envious twitch at the ear scratch that the Queen then received, Chrysalis closing her eyes with a content hum, but Reflection knew better than to try and muscle in on the attention.

‘At least he’s managing to keep her happy,’ she thought with a smile. Chalmers turned his head when he noticed her gaze on him, Chrysalis rolling her own head around under his hand unaware, and Reflection brightened at the grin he gave her. She had to raise a forehoof to her mouth to hold in the giggle at the pointed look and exaggerated eye-roll that was directed at Chrysalis, Nigel not holding in his own chuckle before he cleared his throat.

“Well then,” he spoke up with everyone turning around to face him. Even Chrysalis managed to open her eyes and pay attention with a smile as the ear rub continued. “We’ve managed to make some good progress today, so good job all of you. A bright and early start, and we should be able to reach home before nightfall tomorrow.”

Chrysalis’ grin grew when Nigel glanced down at her, the Queen sitting up straighter and nodding at them all.

“That’s right. It will be busy when we return, but we have much to prepare for.” The smile gained a touch of wicked glee. “With all of the distractions out of the way, we can focus on Canterlot, and Equestria as a whole.”

Reflection shifted on her spot, her smile wavering at the memory of the last attempt they had made against Equestria. The other nobles seemed equally uncomfortable at the reminder of the Queen’s goal, Buzz even going so far as a to share a look with her. Their reactions weren’t ignored, Chrysalis’ grin fading as she made to reply.

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Nigel got in first with an armoured thumb pointing at his chest. “This time you’ve got me on your side, ready to topple regimes and usurp control. All in a day’s work.” He waved a hand. “So don’t worry too much about it. We’ll assemble a devious plot over the next few days, one that Celestia and Luna would never guess, and victory will be ours for the taking.”

“You make It sound so simple,” Chrysalis grumbled, before her mouth twitched into a smirk. “Simple does seem to be your specialty, after all.”

A bare finger flicked her lightly on the nose at the comment, and Chalmers snorted. “I am anything but simple, thank you very much.”

Reflection and the others turned back to the fire as the two leaders started to quietly quarrel between themselves in the corner, the nobles all sharing looks with each other with accompanying eye rolls.

‘I’m sure, no matter the plan,’ Reflection thought as she laid down with her head on her forehooves. ‘That absolutely nothing about this will be simple.’ She thought back to the incident at the bat-pony city, and winced. ‘All I can ask is that I be far away from any more explosions.’

Beams watched with furrowed eyes while the deep blue glow of Princess Luna’s magic surrounded the last wincing councillor. The bat-pony mare in question, greyed hairs hinting that she was far too old for the situation, stood frozen in place in the main council hall until the glow completely died out a few moments later with a faint tinkle of magic. Princess Luna’s frown didn’t change at all, instead her silver-shoed hoof raised up to rub her chin.

“Well?”

Beams turned her head towards the approaching hoofsteps, Head Councillor Artibeus trotting past Corporals Belfry and Dream to gaze up at the Princess with hope in his eyes.

“I cannot tell for sure, I am afraid,” Luna answered with a shake of her head. “I have not managed to detect anything out of the normal.”

Around them, the councillors broke out into frantic whispering. A few gingerly touched forehooves to their chests, wings giving the occasional nervous flap. The unease was seemingly ignored by the Princess, Luna keeping her focus on Artibeus while the councilmare that had just been scanned trotted away with a dejected frown.

“You cannot recall any additional information that the vagabonds let slip? Nothing of their intentions, no boasts of future plans for you?” Luna’s gaze remained resolute. “Possibly anything that you believe would endanger you if you inform me?”

Artibeus stood tall and frowned, a sigh escaping him.

“No, my Princess. Believe me, I wouldn’t withhold anything from you, even if it meant my life.” He glanced towards Beams, before looking back to Luna. “Unfortunately, I’m sure that your guards have told you all that I already know. The Changeling Queen and the Human demanded that we side with them against Equestria, and when we refused they took action. Apart from forcing us to allow them to escape the city, they left us with no extra orders or demands.” He shuffled on his hooves. “However, I cannot rule out that they will not return and change that.”

The three of them glanced towards the main council chamber doors at the creak of them opening, Sergeant Bites and Corporal Sweeps trotting in along with two armoured city guards. Beams didn’t miss the way Artibeus initially flinched, before the stallion relaxed when it was evident that it was just more bat-ponies.

“Princess, Sergeant-Major,” Bites greeted upon trotting up to them, with Sweeps raising up his foreleg in a salute. “Any luck?”

‘I swear…’ Beams ground her teeth and repressed the urge to reprimand her subordinate for being so unthoughtful in front of their monarch. Judging from the small smile that Luna gave the two newly-arrived stallions however, she didn’t think that the Princess was offended by the informality.

“Unfortunately, no,” the Princess answered with a head shake. “I was unable to detect any of the tiny machines with my magic, but that does not rule out their presence.” Luna raised an eye. “Did the pair of you find any important information?”

“Not really, no,” Corporal Sweeps answered for Bites. “We checked out the hotel that was used to house them, and aside from the staff telling us about the…. ‘romantic squabbles’, it was just ‘they seemed okay’ and ‘nothing really out of place’ responses. With the staff believing them to just be strange foreign diplomats, nothing was really out of place.”

“Except for the receptionist,” Bites chimed in with a raised hoof. “She got real strange when I mentioned the human, Chalmers. Started mumbling about eyes, fidgeting in her seat.” Despite the circumstances, he grinned. “Though, that might have just have been because I was talking to her.”

Beams and Sweep shared an eye roll, one that Luna caught with a visible tilt of her head, before Sweeps cleared his throat.

“Actually, Sergeant, I spoke to her as well.” The corporal couldn’t hide the mouth twitch that tried to turn into a smile. “While I don’t dare doubt your mythical skill with the mares, I think that the receptionist was more enamored with a creature of the two-legged variety.” Sweeps quickly turned to address the Princess before Bites could reply. “From what I could gather from her, Princess, the human was very polite and complimenting. He managed to convince her to give them rooms despite hotel management not having given approval.”

Luna nodded at the information. “That sounds accurate given what we have observed. Our foe has various weapons in his armoury to use against us, not just blades and explosives.”

“It’s more the explosives that concern me, personally,” Artibeus spoke up with a raised foreleg. “Given the circumstances.”

“Yes, I can see why,” Luna conceded, her expression hardening. “But alas, I am saddened to admit that I am unable to help you at the moment, Council leader. Without being able to locate the Human’s machines inside of you, I’m afraid that I must instead settle on assuring you that I will do everything in my power to halt the Human and Changeling Queen’s machinations.”

Artibeus bowed his head. “I understand, My Princess. Please, do not take offence at my prior outburst, I appreciate the effort.” He looked back up, a wince crossing his tired face. “But I do have to ask what shall we do if they do return, and try to force us to act against you? I cannot ask my fellow councilmembers to defy such an order considering what it could lead to.”

“Do not defy them,” the answer came quickly. “I also cannot ask you to make such a sacrifice, even it means working against Equestria.” A silver shoe placed itself on Artibeus’ shoulder, the councillor meeting his Princess’ eyes. “I know that none of my bat-ponies would ever harbour such ill-will against me. Do whatever you must, to keep this city safe.”

“I will, Princess. Certainly.”

Luna withdrew her hoof and looked around at all of them, her wings giving a flutter as she adjusted her hoofing.

“We shall make haste back to Equestria. Celestia will be informed of this development, and I will urge her to accelerate our plans to deal with this matter. Guards, with me.” Turning for the door, Luna nodded at Artibeus. “Farewell, I wish you luck.”

“And to you.”

Moving alongside the Princess when she started to trot for the door, Beams looked up at the ruler as her squad moved in to follow behind.

“We shall require more than luck, Sergeant-Major,” Luna murmured softly to her. “Would you believe me when I say that it is likely to get much worse?”

Beams looked forwards as the city guards up ahead made to open the council doors for them, her mind flashing back to when she was overlooking the changeling army disposing of countless melons.

“Oh, I believe it, Princess,” she answered with a whisper, both Luna and her going quiet as they trotted through the doors and left the council chambers behind.

“Well, what do you think? Chrysalis’ choice of aesthetics, not mine.”

The whine of thrusters died down when Chalmers’ armoured boots hit the rocky ground, Chrysalis and the nobles landing a second later closer to the entrance of the Hive up ahead. He glanced down towards the box he held at his side, the glowing eyes within turning from their appraisal of the jagged black spires to glare at him.

“I know, I prefer metal exteriors for my lairs personally,” Nigel shrugged, Sombra not even hissing at him in response. “I like the pointed towers though.”

He looked back at the entrance, a gaggle of twenty changelings moving out from the entrance to greet Chrysalis and the ten nobles. Spotting the Queen turn her head to look at him, Chalmers started to move forwards with Sombra carried by his side.

The non-noble changelings, all clad in purple armour, ceased their bows and stood up straight at his approach. Their eyes settled on him with an air of unease, Nigel not sure if they were just intimidated or if they didn’t completely trust him despite Chrysalis’ orders to the contrary.

‘Not that I can really blame them either way,’ he thought, before giving the soldiers a small wave.

“Hey fellas, how did the homestead hold up? Good to have some time with the Queen away?”

No-one answered, a moment of silence passing with the soldiers all looking towards Chrysalis for direction. It was broken by a small giggle from behind the Queen, the culprit hidden within the bunch of changeling nobles, and with a sigh Chrysalis waved a foreleg at the guards.

“Ignore him,” she ordered with a roll of her eyes. “I am confident that everything was kept under control during my absence.” She paused, her gaze sweeping over the soldiers with none of them correcting her. A nod of approval, before she flicked her mane. “Still, our travel has been long, so I will listen to your reports while on my throne. Go, I will be there in a moment.”

The armoured changelings nodded, the group of five with golden armour trim turning to retreat back into the Hive while the remainder took up positions beside the entranceway.

“Actually, wait.”

They stopped, Chrysalis pointing a hoof towards Sombra. “Take this box with you as well, and place it by my throne. It will make a fine decoration.”

The muffled growl that Sombra let out as he shifted and swirled within the transparent prison was unintelligible, the five changeling officers looking to the glowing eyes and back to the Queen.

“It is adequately contained,” she reassured them. “Now don’t delay.”

Sharing a look, the five simultaneously powered their horns and used them to lift up Sombra, the box floating in the air behind them while they re-entered the hive with it in tow.

Chrysalis took the chance to face the nobles, her expression neutral.

“You’ve all been well-behaved while away, despite the many incidences that plagued us. It was… not entirely unpleasant.” The Queen’s posture softened, the monarch lowing her voice somewhat with a sideways glance towards the awaiting soldiers. The nobles for their part remained quiet, but their chins were raised with pride. “Continue with your good behaviour, and I may see fit to reward you with increased responsibly in the future. Understand?”

She received nods of acknowledgement, Chrysalis straightening back up.

“Good. Now, I’m sure you’re all tired, so I will permit you to retire to your rooms or the baths if you wish.”

Nigel chose that moment to step in, one armoured finger pointing up in the air. “Ah, except for one of you, that is.” He started to circle around the nobles, the changelings all sharing confused looks with one another while Chrysalis just sighed and shook her head. Not paying attention to her, but still preparing for her eventual admonishing, Nigel continued on. “You see, I require an assistant for our upcoming schemes, a position of great importance. Such a position, however, can only go to the toughest, strongest changeling out of you. That’s who I need.”

A loud scoff was the immediate reply, all attention going to Buzz as the bulky noble stepped out from the group and banged a foreleg against his chest with a grin.

“No contest,” Buzz stated with a deep buzz and a smug glance back at the others. “I’m the toughest one here, if not the entire Hive. I’ve fought the most out of all of us.” He turned around on the spot, showing off the numerous nicks and scars that covered his chitin. Flicking his left ear, the top half missing completely, Buzz refaced Nigel. “I even fought the Equestrian’s special Element Bearers at Canterlot, during the invasion.”

“I heard the blue pegasus kicked your rump though,” Cupid interjected, although her tone was more jovial than malicious. It certainly earned a round of snickers from the others, even Nigel raising an eye under his helmet. “Knocked you out cold, too.”

Despite his fellows poking fun at him, Buzz didn’t bat an eye. He didn’t’ even turn around to acknowledge them with his next words.

“You heard about it because you weren’t there to witness it yourselves,” he stated with smile still intact. “I was on the front lines with the main group of the soldiers, while the rest of you save for Reflection and Sheen were back in the hive lounging around in the baths.” Buzz’s tail flicked, and he straightened. “But if you think I’m lying, then why don’t you all ask the Queen what she thinks?”

Nigel followed his advice and looked over towards Chrysalis, as did the rest of the nobility. Chrysalis made the obvious effort to suppress her entertainment with the boasting, her smile quickly hidden behind a thoughtful frown.

“Well…” she murmured with a look over all of them. “Buzz is certainly confident, but I can’t say that he’s wrong.” Her smile made a great effort to return, Chrysalis’ mouth twitching as she clarified her answer. “Perhaps not the most intelligent, cunning, or charismatic out of you, but I would be safe in declaring him the strongest changeling here when it comes to physical matters.” The smile managed to break free, Nigel tilting his head and meeting the grin she aimed at him. “Saying that, he’s probably still above you in the intelligence and cunning contest Nigel. I’ll let you have ‘charisma’ though.”

“Hardy-har,” Nigel snorted, while in front of him Buzz beamed with pride.

“Thank you, Queen Chrysalis,” he bowed before standing back up with a salute. “With that settled by your word, I stand ready to serve as needed.”

Pausing to give a quick finger point at Chrysalis while she smirked at him, Nigel turned back to focus on Buzz.

“Good Lad, at ease.”

Buzz dropped the salute, Nigel taking a knee on the rocky ground to pat the stocky changeling on the soldier.

“So, the toughest you say,” he said as he turned the shoulder pat into an ear scratch, Buzz tilting his head to the side with a happy hum. The other nobles watched on, many jealous ear flicks going around the group. “Glad to hear it. You even had Chrissy back you up too, and you know how she is with praise.”

He ignored the Queen’s frown.

“Tough and strong, splendid,” continued Nigel without pausing the scratch. “I’m going to need a sturdy changeling like you to lend a hand. A changeling quick to not back down in the face of danger, steadfast and without fear. Willing to risk life and limb for victory over our foes, our hated adversaries, the charlatans standing in the way on our path to glor-“

“I see where this is going,” Chrysalis cut in, everyone switching to focus on her hoof stamping down. The Queen’s expression was stern, Nigel looking up at her as she trotted closer to look down at him kneeling in place. “No making or using explosives in the Hive, Nigel. Absolutely no chance.”

His hand stopped the ear scratch, Buzz having frozen in place at the word ‘explosives’, and Nigel unfurled his hands by his sides while still kneeling in place.

“Chrissy, Chrissy, Chrissy, whatever do you mean? I certainly would never even think of such a thing.”

‘How did she know!?’

“Besides, I’ve already done explosives. I was thinking of something new, and entirely non-combustible in nature. Don’t you trust me?”

Chrysalis’ snout booped up against his blank helmet visor, her foreleg pressing up against his armoured chest.

“No. Explosives. In. The. Hive.”

Each word was accompanied by a forceful prod of her hoof, a moment passing between them.

“Okay,” Nigel gave in with his hands raised. “No explosives in the Hive. El comprehendae.”

“Repeat it,” she pressed with another prod, the nobility and watching soldiers all struggling to maintain their composure. “To be sure.”

“Oh come on-“

“Repeat!”

“No explosives in the Hive,” he hurried out, like a child forced to utter a fake apology. “Okay? I get it.”

“You better,” Chrysalis huffed. Turning around, she lowered her voice to a mutter. “Maniac.” Her teal tail teasingly flicked his visor as she made for the Hive entrance, Chrysalis calling out behind her. “Nobles, with me. Buzz, congratulations on the promotion, have fun helping Nigel now.”

Nigel stood back up and watched her go with the other favoured changelings in tow, the soldiers at the entrance falling in behind as the group disappeared into the depths. Buzz, standing beside him, waited for a few moments before shrugging.

“Well, what do you want to do now?” he asked, Nigel still watching Chrysalis leave. “You know, since the Queen said no explosives and all that.”

Under his helmet, Nigel broke out into a grin.

“Ah,” he corrected with a finger going up into the air. “She said ‘no explosives in the Hive’, keywords being ‘in the Hive’. Ergo, any explosive devices constructed and or abused outside of the Hive are fair game.”

Buzz looked up at him, the last tinges of hope having fled from his wide blue eyes.

“Can you at least promise me that I’ll get to keep all of my limbs?”

“No time for promises, assistant!” Nigel announced, spinning around on the spot and strolling away from the entrance. “We have much work ahead of us, much greatness!”

Chalmers ignored the long, drawn out sigh, the steady hoofsteps that followed him enough proof that Buzz was indeed as fearless in the face of death as had been claimed.

No, he was instead far too preoccupied with plans and schemes, the neurons in his brain sparking as possible designs and ideas flashed through his mind at a breakthrough pace.

“Hmm…”

Morning lowered the gold-trimmed spyglass she held and simultaneously used her magic to take a swig of strong rum from a cloudy brown bottle, the occasional wave lapping up against the side of her ship.

She adjusted her hoofing on the damp deck, her eyes still set firmly on the land before her. The perfect beaches and lush green fields behind them didn’t interest her in the slightest, neither did the small villages that dotted along the coast.

“Right in that direction,” she mumbled to herself, swaying slightly. “A week or so on hoof, I really don’t have much of a choice then.”

The empty bottle was flung over the side of the submersible to splash down into the sea as Morning turned back to the doorway leading to the bridge. Trotting forwards, she powered her horn and pulled the handle, the door creaking open on its hinges to allow her entry. Stepping back inside, she eyed her two alleged descendants and drew her cutlass.

“Alrighty then,” she slurred while ignoring how their eyes widened. “I think it’s about time that we made some headway on this journey.” Stepping over towards her command chair, she reached out with a forehoof and pressed a button. Or, at least she tried, Morning having to focus after the first three attempts to get it right. Finally landing the edge of her hoof on it, Twilight and Velvet both jolted in place as a loud whir droned out through the cabin. A one metre by one metre section of the metal floor slid to the side, revealing a short metal stairwell leading down below.

“Nobles and guests first,” Captain Morning grinned, with a pointed jab of her cutlass. “I insist.”

“Ahh…” Twilight stammered out, sharing a look with Velvet. “O-okay.”

Visibly gulping, the young unicorn took the lead and descended the stairs. Morning followed behind Velvet, cutlass still drawn. The trio’s hooves clanked on the cold metal beneath, and within a few moments they were all standing single-file in a small passageway. Thick metal doors covered each wall, Twilight looking back for guidance.

“Head through the end door,” answered Morning with a nod of confirmation. “It’s unlocked.”

The hoofsteps resumed, Twilight hesitantly opening the door upon reaching it and stepping through. Morning shut it behind her after following Velvet through, all three going over the room with curious gazes.

Rows of metal cabinets, covered in symbols and signs that even Morning didn’t recognise, took up most of the room on the walls. Sealed crates marked with yellow warning signs sat tethered to the floor in front, but the most unusual thing was the object situated square in the centre of the room.

“Is that…” Twilight Sparkle questioned, one forehoof raising up to point while she squinted. “Supposed to be a boat?”

Morning couldn’t exactly blame her for doubting.

What used to be a normal, wooden longboat sat in the centre of the room. A thick metal cylinder, one large hole in the end, was firmly secured onto the back of the boat. ‘Firmly secured’ in this case meaning ‘bolted onto the back by a few strips of randomly place metal’. Two thick and rubbery cables snaked out from within the boat to attach to the metal cylinder, seemingly only held in place by a few strips of silvery-grey tape. Numerous rectangles of metal, vents and ducts, adorned the sides and bottom of the boat, alluding that it was no longer meant to be sea-worthy. Finally, a metal ship’s wheel, adorned with numerous buttons and levers, sat in the longboat with five sturdy chairs bolted in place before it in rows of two.

“Some claim that the Captain wasn’t a genius,” Morning said while dragging a forehoof down the side of the boat. Twilight Velvet paused her examination of the crime against engineering, her head tilting.

“And you?”

“I agree with them,” scoffed Morning with a wave over the boat. “Look at this thing! How does It even work?”

At that, Twilight trotted over to the boat and peered in, her eyes furrowing. “There seems to be some instructions here, in Equestrian too.”

A glance at Morning, the Captain nodding to go ahead, Twilight lifted up the single sheet of paper and cleared her throat.

“Step one,” she read out. “Insert nuclear reactor core into boat. Be forceful if needed.”

Morning frowned. “Nu-what?”

“There’s some pictures here, I think… ah ha!”

Without even asking for permission, Twilight lifted her head up and looked across at a certain cabinet with a black and yellow sign on the front. Morning considered waving her cutlass around when Twilight’s horn started to glow, but escaping or fighting back seemed to be the last thing on Twilight’s mind at the moment as the cabinet door was opened and a black metal sphere levitated out.

The door was shut as soon as it was clear, a further ten identical spheres left clumped together inside of locker, before Twilight levitated it over to the three of them.

“Is that it?” Velvet asked, leaning forwards to get a better look.

Morning was about to add her own comment, but Twilight got in first.

“It matches the instructions, and now…” The longboat was set upon by Twilight, her free forehoof probing the wooden deck. “We just need to find where to put it!”

While Twilight busied herself with investigating, Morning gave Velvet a look and eye raise.

“She’s very driven when it comes to learning,” was the whispered explanation. Scoffing, Captain Morning turned back to watch Twilight find and pop open a hatch concealed below the seat directly before the wheel.

‘It’s rather hard to miss that,’ she thought, shaking her head in an attempt to clear her groggy mind.

Meanwhile, Twilight had managed to successfully connect the core, the top of the hatch closing with a solid click. Barely a second passed before she was nose-deep in the instructions once more, her eyes locked on the paper before her.

“Step two: Turn it on.”

Once again, neither Morning’s authority nor cutlass held any sway over the renegade unicorn, Twilight stepping over to press one of the buttons on the boat’s wheel after a mere second of examination.

The result was a soft hum that slowly grew louder and louder until it sounded almost like an angry swarm of bees. The buttons on the ship’s wheel lit up with glows, Twilight bouncing briefly on her hooves with glee as she refocused on the written instructions once more.

“Step Three: Prepare launch platform.” She glanced around the room, before looking at Velvet and Morning. “Could you both step back, please? I think this needs some space around the boat.”

Velvet did as instructed without complaint, however Morning held her ground with a glare.

“This is my ship, I give the orders around here.”

Twilight wiggled her nose, biting her bottom lip while she did so.

“Please, Captain?” The piece of paper was waved about in the air. “The instructions say that we have to. The instructions.”

A second of silence passed, Morning drunkenly glancing at the waving paper, before she grunted and stepped back.

“Stupid instructions,” she mumbled under her breath.

Twilight either didn’t notice, or more likely didn’t care, trotting over towards the far wall with a bounce in her step. A fat, red button sat mounted on a silver section of the wall, right next to the cabinet containing the rest of the nuclear cores. With obvious anticipation, the button was swiftly and firmly pressed by a purple hoof, the effect immediate.

“Launch Platform deploying,” Sea Biscuit’s voice informed through hidden speakers. “Keep clear.”

The trio of ponies watched the centre of the room as, with a metallic groan, the pillar of metal that the bottom of the boat was mounted on started to angle up. A crack of blue became visible up above as the metal roof split in two at the same time, the parts sliding to the sides to reveal more and more of the outside sky. Fresh sea air flooded into the large room, joining the clanking of metal and the droning warnings of the ship’s computer.

The launch pillar stopped at a raised ninety-degree angle at the same time that the sliding roof grinded to a halt, even Sea Biscuit pausing for a moment.

“Longboat ready for launch,” the computer informed after the pause. “Prepare to board. Aye Aye. Shiver Me Timbers.”

The three of them stared at the raised platform, the boat not exactly a shining example of aerodynamics. Morning then glanced up at the hole in the roof, noticing that the launch pillar wasn’t even centred properly.

‘Must be the booze,’ she rationalised, although a part of her mind doubted that greatly. Still, she missed the look that Twilight and velvet shared, the two also looking up to the hole with sneaky glances to each other.

“Oh well,” Morning mumbled out. “It’s either this, or land.”

Turning around, she sheathed her cutlass and focused on her two descendants.

“Okay, you landlubbers,” she announced with a wave of her hoof to the boat. “Get on the boat and strap in. We got a human to hunt down.”

The pair shared a glance, both shifting on their hooves, before Twilight looked at her with a forced smile.

“Actually, while we appreciate the offer, we really don’t want to.” She continued on before Morning could even process the refusal and reply. “Good luck trying to fly that boat though, it was… interesting to meet you, despite the whole ‘evil pirate’ thing. We’ve got to go now,” Twilight’s smile gained a genuine touch. “I’ll tell the Princess that you aren’t all bad though, thank you for not making us walk the plank.”

Morning blinked. “Wha-?”

“Bye.” Twilight waved a hoof in farewell, a second before her horn lit up in a bright flash. With a pop, the two equestrians disappeared, leaving a very confused Pirate Captain blinking away the bright spots from her eyes.

“I…” Morning mumbled, glancing from the spot the unicorns had been standing in to the open roof, then back again. “They…”

She focused back on the longboat, her grog-befuddled mind working overtime trying to process what had happened. Giving up after a few moments, she looked back at the raised boat before shrugging.

“Fine. Be that way.” Stumbling over, she started the arduous process of trying to climb into the seat sitting just before the wheel. “I’ll just go by myself then.”

“Prepare to board,” Sea Biscuit repeated through the speakers, almost as if on cue. “Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.”

“Could do with some more rum,” Morning grunted in agreement, her hooves struggling to connect her seatbelt clasp. “Much more.”

A flash of magic lit up a bright and grassy field, empty save for a few daisy plants happily blooming in the warm coastal sun.

Two unicorns appeared in the middle, the sphere of magic that they had arrived in fading out to nothing in a second. The pair took a second to shake their heads in recovery before looking around, Twilight and Velvet Sparkle taking stock of their surroundings.

“Well, we didn’t get very far,” Velvet commented while examining the nearby coastline, waves crashing against a rocky beach. “At least we’re off of that ship though, that contraption did not look safe at all.”

“I know,” agreed Twilight with a nod of her head. “Especially with how drunk our driver was.” Her eyes frowned. “I hope she’ll be okay, maybe she’ll just take the train like we suggested?”

Velvet moved over and placed a foreleg across Twilight’s back, warm smile on her face.

“With any luck, the Captain will come to her senses soon enough. I’m sure everything will end up fin-“

She was cut off by a distant roar, the two of them looking out towards the ocean to spot a pillar of flame and smoke rapidly rise up into the air. The trail soared high, high up into the previously clear sky with a speed to make even the fastest pegasus jealous. Then, it angled off towards them, Twilight and Velvet tracking the movement as the trail crossed over their heads up above and headed further inland.

“End up fine,” Velvet repeated, shaking her head sadly. “Great.”

Twilight watched the glowing object disappear, shifting on her hooves.

“I suppose we should tell Princess Celestia then,” she said to her mother. “About the ancient pirate, the talking ship, the… flying rowboat.”

Scrunching up her nose, Velvet sighed. “Will she even believe us?”

“Oh, honestly this is pretty believable,” Twilight nodded, still watching the direction that their ancestor had flown off to. “You should see some of the stuff that happens in Ponyville.”

“My Queen?”

The two guards on either side of the throne room doors glanced at Chatter as he trotted in, but they quickly relaxed upon recognising him and his status.

“You asked to see me?”

Queen Chrysalis looked up from her position on her throne, belly down while a young nurse changeling massaged her shoulders with oiled hooves. A box beside her throne swirled with thick darkness, although the imprisoned king inside seemed to either be asleep or otherwise not paying attention. Her Majesty was already smiling slightly with relaxation, and that smile thankfully grew upon noticing him.

“Chatter,” his Queen greeted. “I’m glad that you answered so quickly, I’m glad to be able to rely on you.” She waved a hoof at the nurse behind her, the changeling having paused upon Chatter’s entrance. “Don’t mind him, continue.”

The nurse did as instructed, and Chrysalis sighed happily upon the recommencement of the rub.

“It’s not nearly as good as Nigel with those hands of his, but it’s more than good enough for now.”

Her smile lessened somewhat, Chatter tilting his head.

“Something wrong?”

Chrysalis shrugged her shoulders from her spot. “It’s… nothing really. But your requested presence does have something to do with it.” He waited for her to explain, but while he did so he quickly tried to think of anything related.

‘I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong, and she’s not exactly in a bad mood…’

Chrysalis drew his full attention back to her with another wave of her hoof, her wings giving a light buzz while the nurse continued to work the chitin on her back.

“It’s Chalmers. He’s been quiet.” The Queen’s eyes narrowed. “Too quiet.”

Chatter blinked. “Oh. Okay?”

A snort, Chrysalis rolling her eyes. “Don’t think that I’m just being petty. You don’t know him like I do.” She scoffed. “You’d think he causes the most trouble when he’s prancing about in the middle of it all, jabbering on and making a general fool of himself.” Chatter shifted his hoofing when she pointed a foreleg at him. “No, Chatter. It’s when he goes quiet and tries to act with any semblance of subtly, that’s when you should start to worry.” She settled back down in her throne, the nurse pausing for a moment to re-oil her hooves in a small black pot.

Chatter took the opportunity to step forwards, his head tilting. “So what would you have me do?”

“Find out what he’s up to, snoop around if you have to,” she replied. “Bring me news of what he and Buzz are working on.” Eyes narrowing, Chrysalis paused and dropped to a mutter. “Nigel is such a bad influence, hopefully Buzz has more sense in him…”

Chatter waited for her to continue, but instead the Queen continued to murmur under her breath to herself. Coughing into a hoof, he tried to smile at her.

“As you wish, My Queen.” His ears flicked, Chatter taking a breath. “Ah… do you happen to know where I could find him? I haven’t really seen him around the Hive since we got back.”

“Ha, neither have I,” Chrysalis grumbled, forelegs crossing. “He didn’t even come to bed last night, can you believe it?”

The nurse, having resumed the massage, tutted with a shake of her head at the news. Chatter for his part didn’t really know how to respond to that, having to take a moment to think of something.

“...He must be working on something of utmost importance to the Hive if it’s that dire.”

“Quite.” Chrysalis reply was flat, a brief frown of annoyance crossing her face before she looked square at him and waving a forehoof in dismissal. “Now go, I’d start with the soldiers posted to the entrance, they might have seen something.”

Bowing, Chatter obeyed without complaint, swiftly turning on the spot and heading back out. Passing the soldiers at the door, he headed into the main Hive corridor and trotted in the direction of the entrance. Passing soldiers stopped to salute while drones and nurses moved to the sides to allow him a swift passage, Chatter acknowledging a few of them with nods as he made his way through the Hive. It wasn’t long before he reached the entrance, the bright light of the sun outside shining in through the large hole.

A few soldiers lurking in the shadows to the sides eyed him with suspicious gazes, Chatter deciding to just skip them and head straight out. He hurried past and through the hole, the four guards directly outside turning to examine him.

“The Queen sent me,” he said, the soldiers straightening and saluting once they saw that he was a noble. “She is… inquisitive as to what her Consort is currently doing. Would you have happened to have seen him?”

The four all shared a look between themselves before one of the armoured changelings pointed with a foreleg away and to the left of the Hive, out towards a barren hill less than a minute’s trot away. Chatter followed it and squinted at what he found, the small and squat metal structure sitting upon the rocky and dusty mound looking to be barely larger than the makeshift shelter they had used during the trip.

“One minute there was nothing, then all of a sudden that thing was there,” the pointing soldier buzzed.

Chatter looked back at him. “You didn’t report it?”

“The Consort and Firstborn Buzz were walking around it soon after,” a second soldier answered, Chatter picking up on the irritation his question caused them all. “We’re not to question what the Consort does, unless it’s a direct threat to the Hive. Queen’s orders.”

“Of course,” Chatter nodded. “I remember that. Are they still in there?”

“As far as we know. The night shift didn’t mention seeing them at all, either.” Pausing, the soldier glanced back towards the building. “They said that they could feel movements in the ground, though. Tremors.”

‘Well that’s… reassuring.’

“Okay, well thanks for the help.” Chatter started to trot for the structure, but paused a few seconds in. Looking behind him, he met the stares of the guards. “If I’m not back in an hour, send help.”

They didn’t reply, and Chatter was left to continue trotting onwards alone. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he drew closer until he reached the plain metal door set into the side.

The door, much like the rest of the square block, was unmarked save for a line of black writing in an unknown language and a hastily-scrawled message below it in red ink.

Chatter’s eye raised when he realised that the red message was in badly-drawn equestrian, simply reading ‘No Chrysalis allowed!’ with a small and almost unrecognisable picture of the Queen’s frowning face drawn alongside it.

His focus shifted to the white button set into the left wall beside the door, and he winced in preparation for something painful to happen as he reached out a hoof to press it.

A muffled ding sounded out from within the building, Chatter stepping back and straining his ears as muffled clanging soon followed it. Then, a hiss of air and more clanging, before there was a loud clunk from the door itself.

It opened a tiny crack, Chatter looking up and meeting the lone blue eye that peeked out at him.

“Ah, Chatter.” The door opened further to reveal Nigel, the human’s entire body save for his head covered in heavy black armour. “Come to check up on me?”

“Yes, actually,” he answered, noticing the way Chalmers had worded it. Smiling, he decided to try and quickly dispel the idea that the Queen had sent him to spy, even if it was completely correct. “You see,” he continued, awkwardly rubbing the back of one foreleg with the other. “I was helping Chrysalis out with some things, and… well, let’s just say that I decided to see whether you needed a hoof with anything instead.” He even managed to fake a wince and a shiver, Nigel’s smile widening with a chuckle.

“Ha, I see, I see.”

Chatter snuck a look behind Chalmers while he laughed, the metal room surprisingly empty save for a few plain grey cabinets set up against the walls.

‘I wonder what he’s doing in here?’ Chatter silently questioned. ‘And where’s Buzz?’

He had to look back up at Nigel upon hearing a hum, Chalmers rubbing his chin in thought.

“You know, I might have something for you to do, now that you mention it. I mean, things here are pretty much under control at the moment but-“

A muffled thump, from somewhere beneath them, cut Nigel off mid-sentence. Both he and Chatter looked down at the floor, as the building shook slightly.

“One second,” Nigel told him with a raised finger, before walking over towards the back of the room. Bending down, he moved a hand down and touched the metallic floor, another hiss of air sounding out as a square section retracted into one side. Chatter leaned forwards for a better look, able to spot a sturdy-looking ladder leading down into the hole. Nigel for his part peered down into it, eyes furrowed.

“Buzz!” He called out into the shaft. “Are you okay down there?”

There was a second of silence, before a faint voice called back out from down below.

“Yes… I think so!”

“You’re not maimed?”

Another pause, Chatter giving Chalmers an unsure look before Buzz’s reply echoed out.

“No, everything seems to be there. I… I think I might have blown up the test dummy though.”

Chalmers visibly relaxed at the news. “All good, that’s what they’re for. I’ll be back down in a minute.” He stood back up, Chatter tilting his head while the human focused back on him. “So yeah. As I was saying before, I’ve got some things needing done if you want to get away from Chrissy for a while.”

Chatter, alternating his gaze to the trapdoor and back, cautiously took another step back.

“Actually, now that I think of it, I better get back to the Queen. As much as I would like to help, she might get a little upset with me if I just disappear down underground.” He forced a smile and tried to joke. “I’m not sure which option is safer, really.”

It seemed to work, Nigel showing his teeth with a grin. Stepping forwards out of the building, he rubbed his hands together and nodded.

“Quite right there, Chatter. Probably the better choice.” He closed the door behind him, before looking out at the Hive. “Now that you mention it, I might tag along with you. Pop in and see Ol’ Chrissy for a minute, make sure that she doesn’t think that I’ve forgotten her and all that.”

Metal boots crunched the rocks beneath them, Chatter following alongside as Chalmers started to walk off towards the Hive entrance. Drawing up against his left, Chatter was pleasantly surprised at the short head pat and burst of affection that he received. Hoping that the guards hadn’t noticed it, he smiled at the feeling and continued to trot.

‘Well, that was easy,’ he thought to himself, still grinning. ‘I hope that Chrysalis will be happy, that would be great.’

Chatter was so engrossed in thinking about all the praise he would receive from the Queen for successfully retrieving her consort that he didn’t notice Nigel stop walking, until a hand came down firmly on his back.

“Hang on, hear that?”

Looking up and spying Nigel looking up into the sky, Chatter cocked his ears.

“No, why?”

“You sure? Coming from the east I think.”

Straining, Chatter focused on the direction indicated, a distant roar in the sky slowly growing louder.

“Some kind of dragon?”

“Seeking revenge for earlier?” Chalmers guessed, before his eyes furrowed as the sound continued to increase in volume. “No, hang on…”

It was too late, the source of the roar quickly upon them. The pair looked up to the sky as something streaked overhead with a trail of flame at the rear, before it disappeared behind the Hive’s spires seconds later. Then, the roar died out, and a second later the ground shook to the sound of a small boom.

Chatter and Chalmers watched as a plume of smoke rose up into the sky, the pair quiet for a moment as soldiers started to pour out of the Hive entrance with alarm.

“That looked like a rowboat,” Nigel muttered, Chatter looking up at him just in time to see the human’s eyes widen. “Holy shit, that was a rowboat!”

Nigel broke into a run, Chatter hesitating for a moment before galloping off after him. Nigel however was surprisingly fast for a creature covered in armour, leaving him behind to huff and puff while struggling to keep up.

‘Somehow, someway,’ he thought inbetween his huffs. ‘The Queen’s going to blame me for this…’