Rarity sighed in satisfaction as she flipped the Open sign in her Boutique’s front window to close. The sun was setting in the distance and her home and workspace was quiet.
“Closing time already?” Rarity turned to face the chattering, nasally voice behind her, the small smile growing as she turned. Standing at the bottom of the stair was a greenish black Pegasus mare with a short greenish blue mane that swept to the right of their face. The Pegasus looked around nervously. “This one thought you would still be working.”
“Oh you are quite right to assume so. Normally I would still be hard at work, but today I thought would be a good day to close up shop early. I do have a guest, it would be wrong of me to ignore them.” Rarity teased, closing the shades with her magic as she trotted over to the Pegasus. The Pegasus fidgeted, rubbing her forelegs together and scanning the room. Rarity gently placed a hoof on her chest. “Relax darling. Everything will be fine. Come with me and I will get dinner started. While I do so we can go over our plans for tomorrow.”
“Yes. Ok.” The Pegasus stumbled over their words as Rarity led them to the kitchen.
The Pegasus took a seat at the kitchen table while Rarity slowly and methodically moved about the room. She pulled down a large frying pan, some pots, a cutting board and produce, and started cooking.
“Before we begin why don’t you make yourself more comfortable? I assure you no pony will come charging in at this time.” Rarity said, the Pegasus stiffened and twitched a little. When no reply came to her offer Rarity turned from her cooking to face her guest. She sighed softly and walked over to the pegasus mare, her magic still working on dinner. “Ebele, I promise nothing will happen. Make yourself comfortable.”
The Pegasus, Ebele, turned their head to face Rarity and for a few seconds stared straight at her. Rarity felt like she was going to blush under the intensity of Ebele’s stare. Ebele looked away, sucked in a breath and in a flash of greenish blue light, shifted from a Pegasus to a Changeling. Ebele looked much like the Changeling drones Rarity had faced during Cadence’s wedding. Black chitin, legs peppered with holes, insect like wings, and small fangs. Unlike those drones Ebele looked very nervous, they shook almost constantly and they were very small about half Rarity’s size.
Rarity gently wrapped her forelegs around the shaking Changeling, offering a little comfort.
“There, just relax darling. By this time tomorrow everything will be sorted out and you can rest easy.” Ebele suddenly grabbed Rarity, wrapping the unicorn mare in a hug.
“What if your friends don’t believe this one? What if they don’t listen and say that you have been brainwashed? This one doesn’t want to die!” Ebele squeaked. Rarity pulled back from the embrace and looked Ebele in the eyes, offering a small smile.
“Darling I promise, my friends will listen and they will come to the same conclusion I have. Everything will be alright.” Ebele gave a shaky smile as Rarity returned to her cooking. “Even so I am sure Twilight will have many questions for you. It might be beneficial to go over some possible questions she may have.”
“Ok. Like what?”
“Well, for starters, how Changelings feed. Chrysalis’ methods of feeding cannot be the only means of acquiring love.”
“No, not at all! What she did is sacrilege! It is an affront to not only our beliefs but the Changeling’s very existence!” Ebele insisted, Rarity nodded as she assembled her dinner, Pesto pasta with sautéed vegetables. Rarity brought the dish to the table and sat across from Ebele.
“Then what is the proper way to feed?” Rarity asked. Ebele started to rub her forelegs together once more, this time it created a sound similar to that of a cricket, however it was deeper and scratchier.
“We make our own identities as a race of our choice and join a culture. We live much like they do. From there it gets complicated… Depending on the Hive and how they understand our beliefs and ways anything can happen. We may reveal our nature to those we connect with, or we keep it hidden. Some Hives simply exist near a place and feed off of the excess love, happiness, and other emotions that appear there. It all depends on how the Hive understands the Beginning.”
Rarity nodded and sighed.
“You have been living with me for months Ebele. I know you do not like to share much, I would not normally pry but Twilight will be sure to ask this. What is The Beginning?” Ebele turned her gaze from Rarity to her hooves as she rubbed them together faster, her wings began to buzz irritably. “I’m terribly sorry dear, we can-“
“That Hive had no understanding of The Beginning! They forgot all that it teaches us! They… This one is sorry. This one did not mean to shout.” Ebele looked back to Rarity. Rarity was still smiling kindly to Ebele.
“That is quite alright dear. You do not have to worry about upsetting me.” Ebele smiled, her little fangs flashing in the dim light of the kitchen.
“This one will tell you about the Beginning.”
We know the tale of the First creation, when Ice and Storm brought life to Dust. And how Death battles Snow. Let this one make clear, we acknowledge these tales, but they do not define us as they do the Dragons. We know them, but do not dare claim them. We do not have the right to do so.
The Beginning began long after the First creation. Dragons had claimed the Western Lands, and the races were beginning to divide and grow. The Three Pony Tribes had yet to truly have conflict, and little was written down.
It began with two Earth pony sisters, the names of whom change from Hive to Hive. To this one's own they are Nectar and Ambrosia. The two sisters were inseparable and very alike. Gentle and curious, the sisters only wished to help where they could.
Nectar and Ambrosia lived in a small village to the north, where they worked together on their family farm in their younger years. Nectar made many friends around the village for she typically brought food to market to sell. Ambrosia knew the land better, for she stayed behind and worked the farm. Together the two had a prosperous farm, the best land in the Village and lived quiet comfortably.
As time moved on the two sisters grew up into fine young mares. They had many friends, and were quite happy. Then one day a noble from the budding Unicorn nation moved into town. Nectar met him first in Market, and was quite impressed.
“Welcome sir. What may I do for you today?”
“You are doing more than enough merely gracing my lowly self with your presence.”
“Truly? I need not assist you in your shopping to please you?”
“If it will bring forth more of your enrapturing voice I would be glad for the help.”
Nectar fell in love with the sweet talking Stallion, and when she returned home Nectar told Ambrosia all about the stallion. Ambrosia was pleased that her sister was so happy, but very curious about the Stallion she had fallen for.
Ambrosia did not meet the stallion for a few months. It was during this time that Nectar returned from Market with a new story of how the Stallion had swept her away, and Ambrosia’s curiosity burned like a forest fire. Nectar had fallen ill that Market day, so Ambrosia was left with the task of selling the wares. However it was not a stallion that approached but a unicorn mare. Ambrosia was captivated by her appearance.
“Hello Miss, may I help you?”
“Indeed, where is the mare who usually runs this stall? My brother told me of her.”
“My sister has fallen ill miss, so I am selling today.”
“Quite a shame that your sister has fallen ill, yet still it is most fortuitous.”
“How is that?”
“Had she been here today, I would have never heard such a melodious and enrapturing voice from such a gorgeous mare.”
And so Ambrosia fell for the mare, sister to the Noble stallion. When she returned home from Market Ambrosia made no attempt to hide her love for the mare and told Nectar of the encounter. Nectar was greatly pleased her sister had found love, and the two agreed to help each other court their respective loves.
The two sisters worked out a system. Every other Market day Ambrosia would take over the stall, Nectar announced this in Market, to ensure their loves would hear. The two helped the other prepare for the Stallion or Mare’s coming. Nectar would learn what the Mare liked and would help Ambrosia ensure she was prepared, Ambrosia did the same for Nectar. For some time the two sisters were in bliss, their love for the Mare and Stallion grew fiercer and deeper as months rolled by and they spent time with their loves.
Soon their love and bliss turned to neglect. They forgot to tend to the farm, their wares grew lack luster and they had fewer to sell. Their home fell into disrepair and they cut off ties to their friends and relatives in favor of spending time with the Mare and Stallion outside the Market. The sisters grew irritable without their loves nearby and lashed out at much of the town. Soon the sisters were alienated, sickly and poor, but they felt they could ask their loves to marry.
Nectar and Ambrosia scraped together what little they had left and each purchased a modest ring for their love. That evening they went to the manor unannounced, as the sisters approached they heard laughter coming from a nearby window. In the midst of the laughter the two slipped in unseen. They found their loves sitting together in a room, wine out before them, and talking.
“How much longer before those two fools lose all they have?” The mare asked.
“I would say before the season is out they will be sickly with no help coming. Their land will be ours, and soon the rest of this village will become our own.” The stallion laughed.
“They were fools truly. Falling for a few choice words so easily. It is a wonder they haven’t been swindled before!”
“To think they actually believe we are siblings. They must be the stupidest Mud Ponies I have ever met. Wouldn’t you agree my love?” The stallion said embracing the mare.
“I couldn’t agree more. They are stupid, disgusting and now they have no friends.”
Ambrosia and Nectar ran out of the manor as the Mare and Stallion they loved kissed before them. Upon returning to their broken home Nectar ran to her room in tears, the ring left discarded on the floor. Ambrosia ran to the fields her sadness coming out in aggression as she furiously tried to rework the long lost fields. The two sisters kept on like this for three days before Nectar approached Ambrosia.
“What do we do sister? Those fiends are right. We are ruined. No friends to turn to, our land is too neglected to work. We have no food and this despair is filling me with holes of emptiness.” Ambrosia picked at the dirt and weeds beneath her hooves. The land spoke to her clearly to her in the past, but now its voice was muddled and distant. The land rejected her, as the Village had rejected Nectar.
“We must find a new way to return to what we once were. The land will never again accept me, but the Village can be won over. We must find a new way.”
“But what? If you cannot work the land then we will grow nothing!”
Ambrosia plucked a weed and held it before Nectar.
“The land rejects me, but the magic in our blood does not. I will craft potions, cures for ails, ways to keep pests away, medicine for sleep. The magic of our people will guide me in this craft, and you will sell them and win back the town. We will succeed, those villains who tried to ruin us, who used us, will not win.”
So Ambrosia began to craft potions. She let the magic she once focused on growing lead her in her crafting. Nectar helped, though she was less in tuned with her own Magic she could still help in the brewing. The two worked on their first potions for the rest of the season until finally Nectar brought the first batch to Market.
At first no pony approached, for they were unsure of the strange liquids and salves Nectar sold. Soon Nectar won them over, talking to the Villagers and explaining to them what she sold. By the end of the day Nectar had made a profit, but still the Villagers did not truly accept her. As Nectar wept over this Ambrosia offered consolation.
“It will take time sister. They will love you again and those holes you feel will fill.”
The sisters continued their Potion business for years, and though they made a profit, the Village still rejected them. Worse yet the Noble Mare and Stallion had spread lies, saying that the sisters had forced them into a relationship despite the two knowing they were married. Despite the sister’s protests, the villagers did not believe them, and soon not even their most potent potions were selling.
Nectar locked herself in her room once more and began to fade away. Ambrosia threw herself into her brewing, desperate to find a way to help her sister, to win back the Village. Ambrosia grew reckless in her brewing and soon her experiments brought for fruits.
“Sister! Come down! I have the answer to our problems!”
Nectar came to her sister, who stood before a large bath of bubbling green and black brew. Ambrosia looked tired and disheveled, her mane was shaven off and burns littered her dirt and gunk covered coat. But she smiled still.
“I have the solution to our problem.”
“How so sister? The town hates the sight of us, we have no food, no love but our own. How can a potion help us?”
“I have found a potion that will change our appearance forever! We can start new! Move elsewhere, or even stay in the village as new ponies! All we have to do is bathe in the potion.”
Nectar wasted no time, her wish for friends and love was too great, and she dove into the potion. Ambrosia followed closely behind and the two bathed together, chatting about what they would do with their new forms. But after a few hours of soaking nothing happened. Nectar was ready to give up.
“Do not fret sister. It may take a while to work, but it will work!” And so the sisters went to sleep hoping for success.
And it worked. When the sisters awoke the next day they were changed, but not as they had planned. They were insect like, with chitin and wings, fangs sat in their mouths and their eyes glowed greenish blue. Their bodies were covered in holes, their manes, tails, legs, and barrel all had holes that whistled in the slightest wind.
Nectar panicked and wept, convinced she was doomed to a life of emptiness. Ambrosia was furious with herself and berated herself unendingly.
“It is my fault this happened! Had I not fallen for that Wretched mare, you would still be happy! Everything would be ok. I would not have made us into monsters! I have failed you sister. I have failed!”
In her anger Ambrosia did not notice her changing, but Nectar did. No more did an insect like creature stand before her, but an elegant unicorn mare paced and spat at herself. Unable to speak Nectar tried to change as well, and she succeeded, changing into a gentle earth pony mare. Nectar looked down at her hooves, and felt her muzzle and mane. In joy Nectar shrieked and hugged her sister. She looked nothing like her old self.
“You have not failed! Look at us! We change our forms! You did it!”
Nectar did not give Ambrosia much time to understand her success. Nectar dragged Ambrosia from their home towards the village to start their new life. And they did so, very easily. With new names the sisters opened a shop in the village. Ambrosia continued to brew potions, and Nectar worked the front of the store. Soon the two were loved by the village once more. Soon the two noticed something. They could not eat as they once did.
The change had occurred gradually. At first they ate food like everypony else, but soon it began to taste dry, and it did not satisfy, then it turned to dust in their mouths and they felt hunger grip them. It was Nectar who discovered that they fed upon emotions. Nectar worked the front of the shop, and when a family entered and they browsed and simply existed happily in the space Nectar felt her hunger fall away. She tasted the sweetness of their love and felt full, the holes in her barrel began to vanish and she soon brought this to her sister’s attention. The two agreed they needed to tell the Village.
“We cannot tell them who we once were, but we must tell them who we are now.” Nectar said.
“And what are we?” Ambrosia asked.
“We are Changelings. And we thrive where there is love and happiness.”
Though one would think this would bring trouble, it did not. The Village still loved the two, if only for who they were now. It left Ambrosia feeling empty, and Nectar uneasy. Time passed and the two changed forms daily. It was years after their transformation that three weeping ponies entered their shop. A Pegasus mare, and an Earth pony stallion and mare.
“Friends, what makes you so sad?”
“We have lost everything. The Noble’s swindled us, told us they loves us. So lost in what we thought was love, we lost our land, money, food, and friends. We brought all we have left, we only wish to be free of this nagging emptiness.” The Pegasus said, tossing a meager two coins onto the counter. Nectar could taste their desperation and death wish, it pained her to see others hurt as she and her sister had been.
“Friends, please join me with my sister for some food, as we eat we may discuss your wish.” Nectar, who had been a Pegasus that day, dropped her form and led the weeping ponies back to her sister.
“Ambrosia, could you come here?” Nectar called to the surprise of the three ponies. “We have guests in need of our help.”
“Very well Nectar.” Ambrosia returned.
“Ambrosia? Nectar? You are those ponies who vanished those years ago! The ones the Village hated!” The stallion exclaimed.
“Yes. My sister changed our forms to help us. Much like yourselves the Nobles told us they loved us, only to leave us empty and alone. My sister found a way out of it. She made a potion that turned us into Changelings. With it we can be whoever we want, and we are never short on love.”
“You lied to the village!” The Earth pony mare shouted.
“Would you have accepted us had we told the truth? Or would we be burned as monsters?” Ambrosia asked.
“You were like us then? The nobles lied to you to?” The Pegasus asked.
“Yes, and we can give you the same escape we took. You would become a Changeling, but you can be whoever you wish.” Nectar said.
“No! You are liars and cheats! Why would I accept help from you?” The Earth pony mare shouted running out of the shop.
“She’s going to tell the village.” The Pegasus said. “Won’t you stop her?”
“No. We have lied. We don’t like it, but we ran out of options.” Ambrosia said.
“Will you help us still?” The stallion asked.
“Of course.” Nectar said, and led the two over to Ambrosia’s cauldron. They bathed, and by the next day the two were Changelings as well.
Time passed and the village grew suspicious of the shop. Not just from the telling of the earthpony mare, but also because more Changelings appeared in the shop each week. More ponies vanished replaced with Changelings, and the first two were changing. They were taller now, with jagged horns on their heads and magic much like a unicorns at their hooftips. Where one Changeling went all others knew where they were, what they were thinking.
Ambrosia and Nectar noticed the changes to. Ambrosia worked with her new magic to make new potions and tap into new forms of magic. The magic she discovered came from plants and her own body, sticky spit, green blood and more. Nectar, took the new Changelings under her wing, and watched them like a mother. She helped them through their troubles and ensured they were safe. She noticed the telepathic links forming between them all, and she learned how to use it. Ambrosia and Nectar were happy, as were their growing family.
But it did not last long…
“From here The Beginning is over. Afterwards comes The Exile. The village turned on Nectar and Ambrosia and their new family and the first Changelings were forced to wander. Anytime they entered a new town they were run out for their appearance.”
“So infiltration became the norm. But not like Chrysalis’ invasion right? That’s against the Creation?” Twilight asked Ebele. Ebele nodded, looking around at the five ponies before her. Rarity sat beside her, gently petting her shaking foreleg.
“Yes. Ambrosia and Nectar dealt no harm, even when wronged, even when they craved love and affection. For a Changeling to try and force feed or do harm, it is taboo.” Ebele said.
“Ok, so you have a no fighting policy. Big deal. That still doesn’t tell us why you are here in the first place!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed hovering a few feet from Ebele.
“This one is here on behalf of my Hive.”
“Why?” Twilight asked.
“We wish to make a truce with Equestria. One that will benefit both Hive and nation.” Ebele said. "We lack resources ones that Equestria has in ample supply."
“I’ll contact the Princess. I’m sure they will be happy to speak to your Queen.” Twilight said, pulling out a quill and paper.
“I told you Darling, nothing to worry about.” Rarity said soothingly. “Everything worked out fine.”
Ebele smiled at Rarity as the sound of Dragon burp pulled them from their talk.
“The Princesses say they would like to meet with your Queen as soon as possible. When can she make it to Canterlot?” Twilight asked. Ebele’s eyes twitched and Ebele nodded.
“They are already on their way to the Palace. They both assure this one they will not be in disguise.” Twilight jumped, looking a bit panicked.
“How close is your Queen?”
“They are ten minutes from the city.” Ebele said.
“Oh dear!” Twilight exclaimed suddenly teleporting from the Castle library, leaving Rarity and Ebele alone as the others had dispersed.
“Now darling. I know it has been a rough few hours, but I must ask.” Ebele turned back to Rarity, and the two smiled. “You said, ‘Both’ do you have more than one Queen?”
“Oh yes! This one’s Queens are most kind, though sadly this one has never seen them, or met them. This one’s Hive is very large, and the Queens work hard to keep it alive and well.”
“Oh my. Well then you must be very lucky!” Ebele’s smile quickly became nostalgic as feelings of remorse, joy, and relief washed through her. Ebele knew these were her own emotions, the feelings she felt as she took the plunge in that Potion shop, so long ago.
“Yes, we are.”