Difficult Decisions Dissapointingly Dealt
Something was clearly wrong. Before Illusion had even stepped a foot in the castle, before he had even uttered a syllable, Celestia knew something was wrong. The lack of smug confidence the prince normally radiated as he shuffled through the city, the curt and straightforward letter he had sent home without any fanfare or ceremony, the very decision to take the train back home instead of magically appearing beside his wife's side and surprising her with a kiss on the neck, all were signs that things were not well.
Perhaps it was a mother's intuition, but Princess Celestia had stocked the kitchen full of Illusion's favorite ice cream flavors a week earlier. Her sister and husband had teased her endlessly, referring to her weight and her admittedly well proportioned flanks, when the only explanation she could provide was that she "had a feeling". She felt much less silly after watching her son lock himself in his personal study but had little desire to rub that victory in Luna or Discord's face.
"So, how badly do you think it went?" the spirit of chaos asked as the patchwork of animal parts led a parade of bouncing ice cream cartons in front of the twin oak doors.
"His letter didn't explain much," Celestia said, shaking her head. "Whatever happened couldn't have been good." She approached the locked study and knocked on the doors. "Illusion, dear? Are you alright?"
A few seconds of silence passed before there was click from inside, and the door slowly creaked open. A golden eye peeked through the crack. "I'm fine," he said, blinking slowly. "I've just, it's been a long trip, and I could use some time alone."
"Alone?" Discord raised an eyebrow. "It's been, what is it?" The draconequus reaching into his chest and removed a clock carried by a plush yellow pegasus doll. "A month and a half? Come on, the first thing that should be on your mind is Claire, or are all those rumors actually true, and you're into--"
Like paper, Discord folded over, clutching his stomach where Celestia had kicked him. Ignoring the glares her husband tried to shoot at her, Celestia said, "Illusion, please, tell us what's wrong. I understand, this was a difficult mission. You did what you could, and that's all we asked of you, all Equestria asked of you." She smiled warmly and stepped forward, gently pushing against the door so she would enter. "You did well."
The door stood unyielding, the crack no wider than it had been before. Illusion's gaze fell to the floor. "I'll write up an official report as soon as I can," he said, turning away. The door shut behind him.
"Well, that went well," Discord declared sarcastically. "Guess it's time for some good ole father-son time." He stretched his arms and rolled his shoulders before taking a huge breath.
"Please don't huff and puff and blow his study in," Celestia pleaded tiredly, kneading her forehead.
"Hmph, no respect for the classics," Discord grumbled. With a sigh, he instead pointed his talons at the doorknob and snapped. Celestia took a step back and winced, waiting for the doors to explode open or be washed away by a wave of fruit punch. When seemingly nothing happened, she opened her eyes. Discord appeared just as surprised, staring at his claws with his brow furrowed. He snapped his avian fingers again at the locked doors, then snapped his tail.
"Did he, he locked me out!" Discord exclaimed, suddenly growing multiple limbs and snapping their fingers until the hall was filled with the sound of firecrackers. "How is that, why, how dare he!" he growled, walking up to the door and pounding his fist on it. "Young man, I'm going to give you to the count of three, and this door had better be open! One! Two! Two and a half! Two and two thirds!"
"Discord, enough," Celestia said sternly as she dragged Discord away with her magic. "Illusion's a grown stallion, he'll tell us what's going on when he's ready."
Discord's shoulders sunk. "This isn't like him," he muttered, rubbing his arm awkwardly. "He's never just, you know, locked us out. He doesn't keep secrets from us."
"What about that time when he pinned all those pranks on you?"
"That doesn't count," Discord responded, smiling at the memory. The grin didn't last long, however, as he said, "Just, I don't know, what are we going to do?"
"Nothing we can do now but wait," Celestia answered, pressing a hoof into Discord's paw. Slowly, the paw closed gently over her hoof. "Illusion," she said, raising her voice so that their son could hear from behind closed doors, "please eat your ice cream before it melts. I'll be in my room, and your father'll be in the parlor if you need us."
"Wait, why am I in the parlor?"
"Because you're sleeping on the couch tonight," Celestia said, brushing past the frowning draconequus.
"Still? Oh come on, it's been a week, you can't still be angry."
"I can, and I am. I don't appreciate my body being compared to, and I quote, fat filled marshmallows."
"It was a compliment!" Discord protested. "Come on, you know I love your body."
"You have a funny way of showing it," the princess said, rolling her eyes.
"Well, I suppose I could afford to be a little more conventional..."
A sharp smack rang through the corridor, followed by a yelp. "Discord!" Celestia screamed as she chased her giggling husband. As laughter filled the castle, the study creaked open, and an arm reached forward, grabbing one of the many cartons scattered near the doorway before withdrawing back inside.
"They forgot to leave me a spoon," Illusion said, smirking at the caricature of a cow that decorated the lid. He returned to the large polished desk illuminated by a lamp and set the ice cream beside a pile of documents. On the edge stood a row of framed photographs, each one an image of the prince, a lavender mare with a pair of horns sticking out from behind her ears, and a third pony between them. In each photo, the pony in the middle was different, from a royal pegasus guard to a mare pretty enough to be a model to an old nag with her gray mane tied in a bun to a series of different colored and shaped fillies. As the pictures continued down the row, the mare grew more and more frustrated while Illusion's struggle to contain his laughter became more apparent.
He took a seat behind the desk, behind the wall of photographs, and stared at the parchment laying in the center. He shut his eyes and sighed, the paper bringing forth recent memories.
*
Loud chattery clicks echoed out of the black walls that stood around Illusion in all directions, the source of the noise only hinted by pairs of slitted blue eyes that followed him as he walked by. The only light, safe for the eyes, came from orbs glowing sickly green that hung from the ceiling by some long sticky and stringy material, like melted cheese Illusion observed. Despite the lack of breeze, a passing chill seemed to drifted about, and Illusion fought to keep himself from tightening the scarf around his neck.
"So this is a changeling hive," Illusion said, waving at the the narrowing eyes that glared in his direction. "Should have brought a camera."
"Impressed?" hissed the black creature walking beside him. Its paper thin wings buzzed against its chitin covered body as it grinned, revealing a set of pointed teeth.
"Very," Illusion answered with a smirk of his own. "It's absolutely adorable how much effort your race puts in to make something so cliché. Reminds me of a comic I once read when I was a colt."
The changeling's grin turned into a sour scowl. The creature opened its mouth, but Illusion was quicker. "Let's not keep your queen waiting," he said, walking ahead of his guide. The changeling muttered something under its breath and hurried to catch up.
The two stopped before a large portal sealed by a lime green jelly. Two large changelings decorated with blue plates over their shoulders and backs and silver blades extending from all four legs stood in front of the portal. The guards arched their backs, spreading out their wings and hissing as Illusion and his guide approached.
Illusion simply rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. "Afternoon, ladies," he said. "I have an appointment with your queen, the twelve oh clock?"
The guards snarled in reply, but as the green jelly shrunk away, they stepped to the side and let the prince and his guide through. "Okay, I'll admit that door's pretty cool," Illusion whispered, jerking a thumb behind him as the jelly reformed and grew over the passage. The changeling next to him kept silent, but it motioned Illusion forward with its head, and the two made their way down the long hall.
At the end was a domed room. Small indentations in the walls and the ceiling housed dozens of changeling, all glaring and baring their teeth at the intruder. Four long poles, each with a fluorescent green orb at the top, stood around a massive throne carved out of a thick black material in the center of the room. Illusion's attention turned to the changeling queen sitting on the throne, taking in her slender appearance, the disturbing craters that riddled her legs, and the gnarled horn growing from her forehead. She was large, as large as his own mother, but in that giant chair Illusion couldn't help but think her as tiny, and he suppressed a snicker as he approached.
Half a minute passed in silence as the queen and the prince stared at each other, appraising with cold calculating eyes. The watching changelings buzzed uncomfortable as time passed and tension built up upon itself. At last, Illusion made the first move, dipping his head without taking his eyes off the queen.
"Queen Chrysalis the..." Illusion bit his lip and frowned. "What number are we on again?" he asked. "Third, fourth?"
Angry hisses and chirps and even spit filled the air. Illusion ignored the noise around him, focusing instead on the queen, watching as her frown grew.
"This will be the fourth Queen Chrysalis your ilk will have encountered," the queen said coolly. "But a thousand Queen Chrysalises rose and fell before your little nation even came to power."
"Queen Chrysalis the One Thousand and First, then--"
"Queen Chrysalis will do," the queen said, her slitted eyes narrowing further.
Illusion nodded and smiled. "Of course, Queen Chrysalis," he said smoothly, folding an arm over his chest and leaning forward into a half-bow. "I am Prince Illusion. I represent Equestria on the behalf of Princess Celestia and the Equestrian citizens."
"Rest assured, we all know who you are, Discordant Sun, and we know why you're here."
"Oh, please, not that nickname," Illusion groaned.
"There are worse names for you," Queen Chrysalis declared. She looked over the young draconquus once again before noting, "You come here unarmed and without guards. You are either recklessly confident or an utter fool."
"Oh, most certainly confident," Illusion replied, his lips twisted into a sneer. "I'm sure in your infinite wisdom you recognize the political consequences of attacking a diplomat."
"Hilarious," the queen said without smiling. "Is it Equestrian policy to send jesters to broker treaties?"
"But of course," answered Illusion as he removed a sealed scroll from his coat. "Who else would be so suited for such a task?" He set the rolled up parchment on the floor before the throne and watched a changeling slip out of the shadows and bring the scroll to the queen. The wax seal melted away, consumed by green flames that flared from Chrysalis's horn.
"This is the final draft?" she asked as she scanned through the lines.
"Unless there are any pressing concerns," Illusion replied, "which there shouldn't be. Your representative was extremely clear about the hive's position."
"I see the Crystal Empire has yet to sign their approval," Queen Chrysalis said, pointing at a noticeablely blank spot near the bottom of the document. "Surely Equestria will forgive us for feeling suspicious, especially when this treaty leaves us virtually defenseless against the crystal ponies. Much of my hive still remains in splinters from our last engagement."
"No need to open old wounds," Illusion chuckled, absently tracing a paw along a faded scar behind his left ear. He quickly pulled the arm back against his side, and his expression became serious as the last traces of his laughter tapered along the walls. "The Crystal Empire has always supported Equestria," he assured firmly. "The crystal ponies will understand the necessity of this alliance, and they will, without a doubt, fall in line."
A smile broke across the queen's emotionless face. "So Equestria's dark side emerges at last, how sinister. I'm curious, just how will you arrange that?"
Levity returned to Illusion's features. "Why, the same methods I'm using here, charm and charisma. The crystal ponies love me."
"Yes, they would," Chrysalis muttered, just loud enough for Illusion to hear the bitterness in her voice. She turned back to the treaty and frowned. "You will require us to register and reveal our presence before admitting entry through Equestria's borders. Understand that this goes against changeling nature and every instinct we have; we do not reveal our disguises so readily. My people will not be comfortable with this."
"It's hardly different from what we require from our own citizens and other visitors," Illusion countered. "We can't have peace without trust, and it'll be much harder to build trust when ponies have no idea whether they're talking to a changeling or to a pony. Being able to track changeling visitors also allows us to better suit their needs, as well as provide the various benefits we promised in paragraph four, sentence twelve," he added, folding his paws together. "Queen Chrysalis, your changelings will no longer have to starve. Your people will no longer have to scavenge and kidnap ponies for sustenance. We can finally have peace."
"Provided that we follow the guidelines you've penned."
"We've penned, together."
Chrysalis rolled up the scroll and placed it neatly on the armrest of the throne before getting up. Slowly, she descended toward Illusion, the sound of her footsteps echoing through the entire arena. "I will admit, your proposal is tempting," she said. "Peace between changeling and ponies, living together in harmony, it's a sickeningly sweet image." The slender queen stopped in front of Equestrian prince. "I too desire peace between our peoples. I will admit, these constant pointless skirmishes tire me. I want what's best for my race, so yes, I desire peace, but true peace, not this illusion you're presenting."
"Illusion?"
"Yes, nothing more than an impression of the real deal." Chrysalis continued her march, circling around Illusion like a beast cornering its prey.
"Well, I defer to the expert," Illusion said, gesturing. "Please, explain this illusion."
"Very well, and listen carefully. You will have us stripped of our greatest asset, removing what makes us changelings," the queen replied.
"You must be remembering things differently. I certainly don't recall ever saying we'd take away your ability to transform."
"Secrecy," Chrysalis snapped, "is a changeling's most valuable weapon, and you'll have us relinquish it without offering anything in return."
"We provide love--" Illusion began. He took a hesitant step back as Chrysalis drew closer.
"In exchange for tricks and tasks," she said. "You'll strip away our identity as infiltrators and saboteurs, take away our most relied upon line of defense, and have us work as clowns and whores living off your generosity." Chrysalis turned and met her green eyes with Illusion's yellow ones. The coldness in those silts was replaced by a passionate flame that seemed to flare out and threatened to consume him. "Peace is between equals, and in the illusion you've created, the changelings are little more than beggars. Let me be clear, unless Equestria sees the changeling hive as an equal, there can be no peace between us."
Illusion met Chrysalis's glare with his own. Even the surrounding audience ceased clicking and buzzing, becoming silent as they waiting for the first leader to turn away or at least blink. As the seconds passed away, the tension grew thicker and heavier. "How exactly, then, do you propose we go about becoming equals?" Prince Illusion finally said lowly, almost growled.
"An appropriate choice of words," Chrysalis said, allowing herself a small smile. "Have you ever considered why the Crystal Empire maintains such a healthy alliance with Equestria?"
"There are numerous reasons," Illusion said, crossing his arms. He hid his confusion with a frown as he wondered what Chrysalis's point was. "The crystal ponies happen to be good neighbors, we really like crystal berries, the whole Sombra incident, they've got petting zoos with tiny ewes, the current ruler is one of my favorite great-grand cousins..." Illusion curled his fingers back into a fist. "Need I go on?"
"Relations," the queen said loudly, prowling around the draconequus once again. "Blood is thicker than water, after all, and there are fewer loyalties stronger than that of a family. Changelings know that better than anyone else." Shooting one last glance at the prince, Chrysalis turned and made her way back to her throne. "Hundreds of years ago, a princess descending from a line of crystal pony nobles wedded a captain of Equestria's royal guard, creating a bond between the nations even before the Crystal Empire's return. I propose we do same."
"You, wish to wed a captain of our guard?" Illusion said slowly. His shoulders relaxed slightly, and he allowed his arms to fall against his side. "If it means peace between us, I suppose something could be arranged."
"So readily you accept," Chrysalis sniffed. "I will not settle for an ordinary guard or some member of your inane nobility. I am offering myself as settlement for peace, it is only fair that Equestria matches my price."
Illusion's paws balled into fists. "What do you want?" he said, forcing his gritting teeth apart. As if she had noticed Illusion's efforts to control himself, Chrysalis smiled.
"Do you know who's quite popular among changelings these days? The young ones have even given her an affectionate nickname, the Little Changeling Princess, though I will admit they may have stolen the name from your people," Chrysalis chuckled. "Your daughter, I hear she's quite the shapeshifter."
"Identity? What does--" Illusion's eyes widened, and the white fur of his face paled further. His frown became a snarl. "You can't possibly be suggesting--"
"Give me your daughter's hoof in marriage, and I will happily sign this treaty," Chrysalis said, smiling triumphantly. She swept her forelegs to the sides, resting them on the throne's armrest. "Those are my conditions."
"This is ridiculous," Illusion growled. Angry hisses and buzzes flew from the walls as he stepped forward. Several changelings leapt out of the shadows and bared their teeth as the prince approached their queen, creating a wall between him and the throne with their bodies. Illusion ignored them. "I can't agree to something like that. That's not going to happen."
Chrysalis smirked. "Then there will be no peace, and when this damned truce finally comes to a close and the Crystal Empire is in ruins, they will know who's to blame."
"We've stopped you before, we'll do it again," Illusion declared fiercely. He took another step toward the throne, and suddenly five armored changelings surrounded him, the curved blades extending from their forelegs pointed at him.
Queen Chrysalis raised a hoof, and the guards lowered their weapons. "Perhaps you will," she said coldly, "but no matter what you do, there will be casualties. And what will the rest of the world think of Equestria when they learn of how you could have prevented the bloodshed but chose not to?"
Illusion's fists shook as they clenched painfully tight. The changelings standing between him and their queen began to give each other nervous looks as they stood in the way of his glare. His teeth, as they grounded together, cutting into his mouth, and the taste of copper washed over his tongue. Then, like a fire after consuming the last of its fuel, Illusion's rage died away suddenly, and his entire body sagged with a sigh. Slowly, he lifted his heavy head and stared up at the queen with exhausted eyes, the previous burning within them spent and gone.
"What do you want?" he asked, barely louder than a whisper.
"I told you, your daughter as my bride."
"No, what's your motive," Illusion tried again. "Why are you doing this? Didn't you say you wanted peace?"
"That is true," Chrysalis said with a nod. "I do desire peace, but there is something I want more." She began to scowl. "Revenge."
"Revenge?" Illusion repeated.
"I was there when the former Queen Chrysalis, my dear old mother, fell during her campaign against the Crystal Empire," Chrysalis said. Ice and venom seemed to coat every spoken word. "She, and dozens of her loyal sons and daughters, were tricked by a simple parlor trick and fell into an ambush organized by Equestrian forces. Sound familiar?"
Illusion grabbed his wrist as he felt an urge to trace the old scar behind his ear. "We offered her a chance to surrender, you can't--"
"Every ounce within me screams for your blood," Chrysalis cutted in, "but I must ignore my desires and let you stand here unharmed. If, for the sake of my people, I must give up my personal vendetta and ambitions of revenge, then at the very least I will have the satisfaction of depriving you of the one you cherish most, just as you did to me. Oh, don't worry, she won't be harmed," she added, seeing the horror in Illusion's eyes. "That would simply undo everything we've managed to accomplished these months." The queen smiled. "But she'll be mine and the hive's, through sickness and poverty, till death do us part."
"S-she, Princess Identity is still very young," Illusion protested. "You can't possibly expect her to marry at her age."
"Why not? Ponies have accomplished much greater things in riper years."
"H-how will you produce an heir, then?" Illusion said, struggling for excuses. "Yes, an heir to maintain the peace into the next generation! Surely we can figure out an alternative, somepony who can give you a child."
"We're all shape-shifters here, we'll figure something out," Chrysalis answered curtly. Illusion's face greened slightly. "Any further excuses?" the queen asked as he coughed, forcing the rising vomit back down.
Illusion lifted his head, but shut his mouth as disturbing images of his daughter with the changeling queen intruded into his mind, derailing his previous train of thought. "I, we, uh, this is a matter I must discuss with the others," he stumbled through. "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna should be consulted before any final decision can be made."
"Of course, discuss it with the princesses all you wish, I'm sure the Crystal Empire will wish to be heard as well. Such an important decision shouldn't be rushed." Chrysalis agreed, tossing the scroll toward Illusion. It struck him in the center of the chest and fell at his feet. "Even if the correct choice is obvious." The queen clapped her hooves together, and her guards vanished into the shadows, save for a pair of changelings that stood on either side of him.
"See that our guest leaves here without incident," she ordered before turning back to Illusion. "We expect to hear from Equestria again within the next four months, that should give you ample time to come to a decision. That or prepare your defenses," she added with a single nod. The guards around Illusion suddenly started to march, forcing him to follow.
As he approached the throne room's exit, Illusion hesitated. The changelings at his sides scowled, but they halted with the draconequus as he looked over his shoulder. Queen Chrysalis's uneven mane had drooped over her face as she lowered her head and sighed. Seeing that her visitor had not yet left, she quickly straightened her back and brushed aside the hair from her face.
"Is there something else you wish say?" she asked. "Quickly, I have other business to attend to."
Illusion opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. With a weary nod, he turned around and continued his way out of the hive, as taciturn as the guards, leaving nothing but the echoes of footsteps.
*
Illusion lifted the carton to his stained lips, tilting both his head and the container. Once his tongue licked up the last residues of the sweet dairy treat, he tossed the carton against the wall, where it fell into a pile of other empty ice cream containers and lids next to a waste basket full of crumbled up pieces of parchment, empty ink wells, and broken quills.
Slumped against the front of his desk, Illusion reached lazily for another ice cream carton. He popped off the lid and ran his tongue over the screen of ice screen clinging to it before tossing it aside. He dug his paw into the ice cream and removed a handful out, not caring about the sticky drips staining the fluff of fur covering his chest as he scarfed the ice cream down, burrowing his snout into the cold treat.
He let the carton fall at his side with a groan. "What am I doing?" he muttered to himself, wiping drops of ice cream from his nose. Illusion reached for the half-finished letter at his side and read through it as he licked his paw clean. Shaking his head in disgust, Illusion crushed the parchment into a ball and threw it into one of the discarded ice cream cartons.
"What am I doing?" he said again, pounding a fist on the floor. Slowly, Illusion pushed against the floor, trying to force himself up off the ground. His arms gave way like jelly and he collapsed. In a slumped over heap, Illusion tossed his head back and laughed harshly. "Even if the correct choice is obvious," he mimicked mockingly. "What am I doing?"
There was a knock at the door, but Illusion made no attempt to answer it; he hardly reacted to the sound, as if he hadn't noticed. The knocking persisted, growing louder, and Illusion began to glare menacingly at the door. Grumbling, the messy prince grabbed the edge of his desk and pulled himself up. He grabbed a box of tissues and tried to clean his hands and his face as best as he could, then walked toward the entrance of the study and opened the door just a crack so he could peek through.
Standing outside was a helmeted pegasus, a corporal Illusion noticed, based on the insignia carved into his golden armor. "Yes soldier?" Illusion said, fighting to restrain his impatience. "Do you need something?"
The guard was silent, simply standing there watching him. Illusion's grip on the door handle tightened in his growing frustration, and he struggled to keep his tone civil. "If there is no pressing emergency, I'd like to be alone right now. Keep up the good work," he said, moving to close the door. The guard jumped forward, keeping it open and surprising him. Illusion frowned. "What are you--"
A glow blanketed guard, and slowly, he began to shrink. When the light faded away, the armored stallion vanished, leaving behind a young lanky filly with a pale coat, a rather messy blue mane, and a pair of crooked horns growing from behind her ears, just like the one behind Illusion's own left ear. Claws sprouted from the rounded bottoms of her feet, and her tail was long and serpent like, unlike the tails of typical ponies.
"Identity?" Illusion exclaimed. He flung open the door and looked down both ends of the hall. Seeing no one, he turned back to the filly. "What are you doing here, Idie?" he asked. "Does Mom know you're here?"
The filly nodded. She leaned forward and placed a claw gently against Illusion's cheek. She stepped back and showed her father the remains of ice cream she had wiped off.
"Yeah, I had a little snack," Illusion said with a light chuckle. "I know, I know, Mom doesn't let us have sweets before dinner because it'll spoil our appetites, guilty as charged." He smiled and placed his paw on Identity's head, ruffling her mane. "You know, I still have a lot more, I'll let you have some if you don't tell Mom."
Identity ducked away from Illusion and frowned. Again, she reached for his face.
"What?" he said jokingly as he rested his cheek in the filly's claw. "Did you miss a spot?"
"You're crying, Daddy. Why?"
His shoulders started to shake. Illusion wrapped his paw over Identity's claw, holding it tightly as he squeezed his eyes shut. He pulled his daughter closer, throwing his arms over her. Identity returned the embrace, resting her head against her father's sticky chest.
Slowly, Illusion took a shaky breath and loosened his hold. He brushed aside her filly's mane and grazed his lips softly against her forehead. "Come on," he whispered, "let's go home. There's something I need to tell you and your mother."
Author's Note
Fun fact used: Illusion, despite being quite the goofball, takes his duties incredibly seriously. Even more serious than Starburst.
