Equestria's Conversion

by Lon35hadow

Rating: mature
Tags: Alternate Universe, Anthro, Dark
Length: 12602

During the wedding of Cadence and Shining Armor, we all know what happened. This is if one tiny thing had been different. That thing? Twilight being a changeling agent

The Canterlot wedding. It was meant to be the perfect day for Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. But, well, we all know what happened. The changelings invaded, and were eventually kicked out, and life went on.

But what if that was all a lie?

What if the changelings had won, beaten the Elements, and took over Canterlot and Equestria fully? Well, my friends, that is where this story comes in. Almost everything that happened then was the truth, yes. Queen Chrysalis impersonated Princess Cadenza, Twilight Sparkle was sent to the catacombs under the city and found the real one, whom she then brought back to the city. Chrysalis beat Celestia, who told Twilight and the Elements. They failed, and were brought to Chrysalis. This is where the stories become different. You know the lies. The truth? Well, you'll need to read to find out.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2016-06-17 06:54:49 UTC

Lifted Veil

Cadence felt as if she was made of pure magic. She and the stallion she loved, Shining Armor, had kicked the changelings out of Canterlot, had found each other, and, most importantly, were soon to be wed.

Or, at least, that was what she thought.

She and Shining stood on the altar, the changelings having just been removed, and the two held each other in a loving embrace, and the alicorn of love could hear the shouts of happiness from Twilight and the others. The embrace ended, and Cadence and Shining looked in each other's eyes, which is when Cadence noticed a few things. One was that Shining's eyes were still the green they were while he was being controlled by Chrysalis, and the worry brought on by that was compunded by the other things she noticed.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the Elements cheering, but couldn't hear them. Another thing noticed was that, where the changeling queen had been before her. . .rather quick ejection from Canterlot, there was a shimmer that was colored lime green, the same color as Shining's eyes now.

The alicorn of love focused on this sight, trying to see if it was just her imagination, or a changeling, one rather lousy at invisibility spells left in the city, trying to drain what love it could before it was discovered. That would have been good compared to what she saw, and what it led to.

She had been looking at it for thirty seconds, having expected Shining to tell her it was just nerves, hoping that would happen, but nothing came from the stallion. After those thirty seconds, she began to make something out, and after a full minute, it came into view, as easily as one could look through water.

"Get away from her!" she yelled at the changeling queen, who embraced Twilight. Much to Cadence's shock, the lavender unicorn was not resisting, and, from what she could see, her eyes were not green.

"Looks like she broke through sooner than we thought she would," Chrysalis said.

"Yeah," Twilight said, agreeing with the changeling, which frightened Cadence. "What should we do?"

"No use in recasting the spell now," the queen replied. "Cadenza, just so your mind can know what is going on, you just broke through a spell made to make you see what you wanted to see, which, for you, is your fairy tale ending, which was cast by my daughter, who you've met."

"I haven't met any changelings before," Cadence snarled, seeing out of her peripheral vision that Shining's eyes were indeed still green, Celestia was in the cocoon she had been placed in, and, the five Elements were green eyed as well, but with happy expressions on, the same spell most likely having been put on them. "And if I did, I would have reported them to Aunt Celestia then and there!"

"Oh, Cadence," Twilight said, a hand on her chest. "I'm hurt," she said before bursting into flames, making Cadence gasp in fear, a hand over her mouth.

No, she thought. There's no way Twilight could be one of those monsters. She's too nice, and loves Celestia. Changelings couldn't be nice, and they can't love. If they could, why not just feed off one another. And an Element wouldn't choose a monster to be its bearer. They must have replaced the real one with this one. The last part of the mental sentence came just as the flames around what had once been a lavender unicorn faded, revealing a changeling with purple skin- No, chitin. They are partly insects, after all. Twilight wouldn't forgive me if I got that wrong, Cadence thought- see through gossamer mane and tail with similar color to Twilight's mane and tail. Her eyes were much the same as the pony she pretended to be, albeit with serpentine pupils instead of round ones, blue, insect like wings sprouting from her back. She had longer legs than her pony disguise, making her Luna's height easily. Two other changelings, one black, the other a light green then came into her view, carrying between them a simple but also elegant gown colored lavender with green accents. One thing that the flames also did, aside from burning away a disguise or the actual chitin to reveal the disguise, was also burn away the clothes the changeling was wearing. As such, when Chrysalis had revealed herself, it made the more. . . prudent ponies faint. She was given clothes while Twilight, or the changeling pretending to be Twilight, and the other bearers made their way to the Elements, and wore a gown made for royalty, with a slim gown that had an opening on the right side to reveal a bit of leg when the changeling walked.

In the few seconds where Cadence's brain was still trying to process everything, she was looking in the direction of the two, and would have admitted she was a little envious of the newly revealed changeling's chest, if she wasn't a changeling. She quickly put the dress on, showing it was a differently colored and slightly smaller version of Chrysalis' dress, albeit with the split down the left side. "Like what you see?" the changeling asked Cadence in an insultingly sultry tone.

"What did you do to Twilight?" Cadence nearly screamed in anger at the two, her rage nearly at the point where it would not be a good idea to be in the same city as her, let alone the same room.

"Wow," Chrysalis said as the two changeling attendants left. "You ponies really are dense. Twilight Sparkle the unicorn was never real, just a disguise for my daughter, Metamorpha. Ever heard of something called 'a long con'?"

"Mother, I think we can boast later when the city's ours," Metamorpha said. She then looked at the group of changelings near the door to the room. "Take her and the five bearers to the dungeon, but put the bearers of Generosity and Loyalty in pods. We've waited long enough."

The changelings at the door, a group of twenty, bowed, and moved to take the six to the dungeons. Cadence tried to cast a spell, but was cut off when Chrysalis said, "Don't bother. I put some changeling resin on your horn while you saw what you wanted. You can't do magic."

Cadence's face was one of horror. True, she had been born a pegasus, but, as an alicorn, she was connected to the deepest flows of magic in the world, and without being able to access it, she felt. . . incomplete at best, and only a small, small portion of herself at worst. Still, when two changelings, each black and wearing armor, she tried to fight back, to escape, but she could not even escape their grasp. She looked at the bearers, and saw they were more, for lack of a better term, complacent. The fact they were seeing what they wanted and not the truth probably had a part in that.

Once she and the five bearers had been escorted out of the room, mother and daughter hugged once more, today being the first time since Metamorpha and her mother had been together in years, Metamorpha having been placed in this role when she was but a nymph. One thing most did not know was that nymphs were put in the hive mind as soon as they were born, which is why Twilight knew her heritage, and yet was able to fool all. Metamorpha's personality was the exact same as Twilight Sparkle's. "I missed you, my daughter," Chrysalis said, happiness evident in her voice as tears flowed down her cheeks and a small smile adorned her lips.

"And I you, mother," Metamorpha said, her face much the same, though minus the tears. "I'm just glad we're together again."

"As am I," Chrysalis said. She and her daughter ended the embrace, but mother held daughter's shoulders in her hands. "I assume by the order you gave, that your recommendation still stands?"

"Of course it does," Metamorpha said before turning to face Celestia, still upside down in her cocoon, fully awake and not entranced, with terror in her eyes. "And it looks like you still want her in yours."

"But of course," Chrysalis said with a chuckle. "Any with the power would want the alicorn of the sun in their entourage. And besides, what better way to begin Equestria's conversion then to start with their precious princess of the sun?"

"I guess that's a fair enough point," Metamorpha said. "If that's the case, then I also want Luna."

"As soon as we find her and bring her in," Chrysalis said to her daughter, "we will place her in a pod. You've earned having an alicorn of your own for being able to fool everypony as well as you did." She then turned to face the changeling princess. "Go to your room, Metamorpha. You've earned some rest. After all, those we are not converting will be out of their trance soon, and I am sure they'll ask questions. Who better to answer than the one who fooled them all?"

"If you insist, mom," Metamorpha said before turning to face the door, and leaving with a small escort of guard.

Once she was gone, Chrysalis chuckled, and walked over to the pod holding the once princess. "Oh, don't worry, Celestia. You'll enjoy being a changeling more than you think you will," she said. "But it'll be a few days until the last stage, so you'll be in there until then. And don't worry about your sun. Your former student was looking for a spell to let the sun and moon move on their own during the entire time she was your student here and you weren't watching, and she found one in the non-guarded part of the archives. I'll see you tomorrow, then." With that, she left the room, with her own escort of guards, leaving five behind to watch over Celestia, and ensure she did not escape before the physical changes were complete.

Explanations

Metamorpha was currently in her room. It had been a few hours since Cadence had, quite literally, seen the true world, and the changeling princess was reading a few books her aides had brought from the Hive. More specifically, history books. One could only learn so much from the Hive Mind, after all.

She had been reading for two hours when a knock came from her door. "Enter," she said, and the door opened, revealing a changeling sentinel, which had been the main changeling type the Elements had encountered while Metamorpha was still posing as a pony. He wore dark blue armor, and his helmet was on, a slight blade on the under portion of his horn designating him as a captain. "What is it," she asked, not taking her eyes off the book.

"Princess, the guards for the Elements reports they are with clear sight, though two have tried to fight and are currently restrained."

Ah, yes. Metamorpha had wanted the five Elements back to normal so they would know how they lost. Well, that and changing ponies to changelings, which is what she had planned for Rainbow Dash and Rarity, needed the ponies to be as natural as possible. "Tell the guards I will be along shortly," she told the guard. "I want to finish the chapter on the Hive war, just two more pages."

"Normal, or your page size, Princess?"

"Standard," Metamorpha said, it being a common and friendly joke between her and the guards as to the version of pages there were in circumstances such as this. "And done," she said, gently folding the page corner before closing the book and placing it on her bed. She then got off her bed. "Let's go."

"Follow me, Princess," he guard captain said, and with that, the two left the guest wing of the palace. As they walked, the two began a conversation, Metamorpha and this guard having been friends, much as they could be with just the Hive mind and the off real life visit under Chrysalis' orders.

"So, Mist," Metamorpha said, "how's your family doing?"

"Quite well," Green Mist said. "Amber and little Carapacia(1) are looking forward to moving here once we secure the city."

"Well, let me know when they get here," Metamorpha said with a smile. "I'd be happy to greet the family of my guard captain."

"I will, Princess," he said. "Carapacia will be ecstatic to meet you."

"Mist, how many times do I need to say it," Metamorpha asked, putting on a small frown, though a joking one. "You don't need to call me any title, just my name when it's the two of us."

"Force of habit," Mist said. "So, if I may ask, I heard you were making the bearers of Generosity and Loyalty into changelings for your own entourage. That right?"(2)

"Yep," Metamorpha said. "Only ones out of them I would consider friends, and they have traits that'll help us get new land. The others? I have no idea what to do with them. Applejack would probably try to lead a resistance, Pinkie Pie is so random I'm afraid to do anything with her, and Fluttershy? She'd probably be the only one to go back to Ponyville."

"You know, I don't think the others would like me saying this," Mist said, "personal shit and all, I mean, but i did hear a few guards say that, if the others were put into the food service, they'd help."

"So in basic terms, if we hypnotized them to where they wanted to help feed changelings, the guards under you would be happy to fuck them?"

"Bingo."

Metamorpha sighed as the two entered the cell castle dungeons. "I swear, not even an hour after taking the city, I had to deal with soldiers raping mares. I won't let our people become akin to the Caribou, not after our ancestors wiped them out of existence. If they are ot help feed our people, it will be by their own will."

"You do realize by that logic, we would starve quickly, right?"

"And you do know there are a few towns on Equestria's edges that have non-disguised changelings living there as an equal, right. They're still alive."

"Fair point," Mist said.

"Besides, we can always feed off the residual love of couples until enough time passes." It was with that sentence that the two made it to a heavily guarded cell, twenty sentinels in green armor, designating them being form the elite Shadow Corps, standing at guard. They stood straight to begin with, and became even more so when Metamorpha walked up. "Have the Elements given you any trouble?"

"Nothing we couldn't handle, Your Highness," the lead one said. "The worst we've acquired are dents and bruises."

"And the Elements?"

"Restrained as per your orders."

"Good," Metamorpha said. "Stay out here while I go inside."

"Yes, Highness," the guards said as the changeling princess opened the door, and walked in the cell, closing the door, knowing the guards would rush in if she screamed or sent a signal through the hive mind.

The sight was what Metamorpha was expecting. The five pony bearers were chained, in the case of Rainbow and Fluttershy being fitted with wing binders and a magic inhibitor ring in Rarity's case. Pinkie was the only one not chained, because, well, Pinkie. Even if she were chained, she would just somehow warp away. No use wasting the energy, in Metamorpha's opinion.

"What do you want, bug," Rainbow asked, the sight of the five, except Pinkie though she was looking there too, fixed on the door, and glares came from the others.

"I came to answer what questions you have," Metamorpha asked, her arms crossed. "And before you ask, no, I won't let you go."

"Then how about you tell us what happened to the real Twilight," Rainbow said, venom in her voice.

"'Twilight' doesn't exist, not really," Metamorpha said. "I'd say to settle in, as the story is long, but, well. . ."

"Ah, shut it," Rainbow said.

"You're lucky I'm not a bloodthirsty princess," the changeling princess said.. "So, from the beginning, I was adopted by Twilight Velvet and Night Light here in Canterlot. I knew my heritage because, even as nymphs, the changeling equivalent of fillies and foals, are connected to the Hive mind. I had my disguise put on before I was put in the adoption center, and didn't know of my heritage until I was five, when my mother contacted me through it. I was home in my room, reading, when she did so, and, I'll admit, it did freak me out, but after I calmed down, she told me the basics: what I was, and why I was there."

"But if that's the case," Applejack, her wrists kept to the wall with titanium shackles," said, "why'd y'all betray the princess?"

"I can't betray those I have no loyalty to," Metamorpha said. "But that helps transition to that part of the story. When I told my mother I had become Celestia's student, I also told her a plan I had come up with. I had seen that Shining and Cadence were in love, even before they could see it, and I knew they would get married. Literally everything I've done since then was either helping changelings into different towns, Ponyville included before I got there, and I did free research on spells related to raising and lowering the moon so that we don't need to rely on Celestia and Luna. I'll admit, the only thing that wasn't accounted for was the Elements and Luna, but we were able to adjust the plan and come up with back ups."

"And what do you plan on doing to us," Rarity asked.

"Well, I'll keep that a little secret," Metamorpha said with a sly grin on her face. "But i can say that two of you are going to like it."

Here, a message came for he rover the Hive mind. Metamorpha, her mother said. Would you come to my quarters. Cadence is being difficult. Nothing major, just cast a spell on her to prevent her from moving so the guards can place her in the pod.

Coming. "Sorry, girls, but something came up," she told the Elements in a slight mocking tone. "But so long as you don't do anything stupid, nothing bad will happen." With that, Metamorpha turned to leave the room, and opened the door with her magic. "Take Rainbow Dash and Rarity Belle to the conversion pods tomorrow," she told the guards after leaving the room and closing the door. "As for the others, make sure no one enters, and they are not to be violated in anyway. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Ma'am," the lead guard said

"Good," the changeling princess said. "Come on, Mist. Mother wants me to help with something."

"Shouldn't keep her waiting, then," Mist said, and the two made their way to Chrysalis' personal quarters, leaving the Elements behind, and none the wiser as to what awaited two of them.

Convincing Love

Metamorpha, with Green Mist beside her way, walked to her mother's chambers, where Cadence was, as well as said alicorn's conversion pod. "So, what are you going to say, Metamorpha," Mist asked.

"The truth," the princess replied. "I'm going to tell Cadence all the benefits being a changeling would give her, as well as the negatives. If that doesn't work, well, mother can't very well break her own laws without being called a hypocrite, now can she?"

"Should I point out Celestia?"

"Did you forget the deal she made with grandmother," Metamorpha asked.

"I wasn't even alive then," Mist relied in a deadpan.

"Fair enough. Basically, the deal was that if the changelings took over Canterlot, Celestia would be affected by a temporary version of the conversion spell as a sort of trial to see if she wants to be a changeling."

"Why would she even make that deal," Mist asked.

"Of what I understand, it was a friendly bet between the two of them. Mother just used it to her advantage. Meant to be a joke," Metamorpha replied.

"Still," Mist muttered. "Makes no bucking sense."

"I agree," Metamorpha said. "I'm just telling how it came about, not why."

"Noted," Mist said. "So, want me to be in there with you in case your old sitter goes bat shit murderous insane?"

"No thanks, Mist, but thanks for offering," the changeling princess replied. "You forget I'll be in there with mother, and both of us know how to use spells to protect ourselves."

"Well, I don't know every little spell you and your mother practice, now do I," Mist said in a slight joking tone, making Metamorpha chuckle.

"I guess not," she said as the two made it to Chrysalis' room. "See ya when I'm done."

"See ya," Mist said as Metamorpha entered her mother's room, leaving Mist and Chrysalis' guard detail outside. "So, how bad was she fighting?"

"Mostly just flailing around and yelling," Mist's sister, Thoraxia, and also head of Chrysalis' guard detail, said. "Entertaining, but made it difficult to get her in. How'd things with her old friends go?"

"Well," Mist answered. "No bones broken, and they did listen, at least. Whether they liked it or not, I don't know."

"I guess we'll find out if Generosity and Loyalty decide to become changelings," Thoraxia said. "And I imagine the princess is going to tell them the pros and cons?"

"Yep."

Inside the room, Chrysalis was using her magic to keep Cadence, who was nude as the contents of the pod tended to disintegrate clothing and lengthen the conversion process, still so she couldn't fight, not that it was stopping the pink alicorn. "LET ME GO, YOU BITCH!!"

"When you stop fighting," Chrysalis, still clothed, said. "Really, you'd be better off as a changeling, anyway!"

"Like hell I'd be!"

"Actually, you would be," Metamorpha said as she came into Cadence's view. "And I know you're going to ask how, so here it is: you would retain your abilities as the alicorn of love, and you'd also get a changeling metabolism, which means you'd be able to feed yourself. And, as changelings have families like ponies, as well as familial issues, you would be able to use the Hive mind we have to pin it down, and use your abilities to help fix it. Really, the only downside I can think of for you, Cadence, is that, well, no more private thoughts. Well, to start off with, anyway, you'll learn how to hide your thought with time. And before you ask about Shining, well, changelings are less prudish about sex, so we'd give him to you, free of my mom's mind control, and no, they did not do it, my mom is not a home wrecker, but even so, you two weren't married then, so, technically, no adultery by Equestrian law was made."

". . .I forgot that you're the filly I sat for," Cadence said. "Still, I will not become a changeling just so I can have guaranteed food."

"Even if doing that will stop my kind from starving," Metamorpha asked. "I know ponies like to help however possible, and if you decide to become one, you'll be able to help not just a race, but an old friend. Believe me, me and my mom, along with the others of our hive, for that matter, hold nothing against ponies personally. We're just doing it to survive. Nothing bad would happen to you, Cadence."

"How do I know you aren't just lying," Cadence asked.

"Fair question," Metamorpha conceded. "My answer is that I am still the same individual you foalsat for, my alliance is just different. You know I wouldn't lie with something this important, so how about the same thing as with Celestia: a temporary version of the spell ,as a sort of trial basis. We determine how long it will be, and, at the end of it, you can choose whether you want to remain a changeling queen, your rank of princess gives you that, or go back to pony."

"And what's going to happen to the others?"

"If by 'others', you mean Celestia, Luna, and the other Elements, then, for Celestia the same, but she'll also be a part of my mom's entourage- it's common for a more powerful queen to have a weaker one in their harem while the weaker one retains their rank. For Luna, that will depend on what happens when we find her, as she's missing. For the Elements, more accurately Rarity and Rainbow Dash, the same as you, but they'll be with me for the duration of the trial, and be given the same authority I have, with some obvious security restrictions."

"You planned everything, didn't you, Twilight?"

"A: my name's Metamorpha," the princess replied. "B: look at who you're talking to."

"Fair point," Cadence said. "If I did, how long would it take for Shining to come to me?"

"Uh, mom, you know where he is," Metamorpha said. "Care to answer?"

"At most, a few hours," Chrysalis replied, her magic still holding the pink alicorn. "As for the conversion, that's variable, depending on the pony. For you, I'd say a few days."

"And I swear it'll be a temporary version of the spell," Metamorpha said.

A few seconds of silence passed in the room before Cadence sighed. "As long as it's temporary," she said.

"It will be," the changeling princess said as her mother put Cadence into her conversion pod.

"Next time I have an issue, I'm giving that duty to you, my daughter," Chrysalis said, with a slight joking tone.

"Then I look forward to tomorrow with any Nobles who are willing, however few there will be. Now, mother, if you'll excuse me, I want to see how Celestia's doing."

"It hasn't even been a day, dear," Chrysalis said as her daughter made her way to the door.

"No, bu like you said, the rate is different for different ponies," Metamorpha said. "And we both know that the first thing to change is they gain access to the Hive mind. I want to see if she remembers the bet she made with grandmother."

"I doubt it," Chrysalis said. "She did forget to keep the truth of her sister going, after all. If she couldn't remember family, then it's likely she doesn't remember her."

Metamorpha shrugged. "Still, it's worth checking out," she said before she left the room, and, with Mist in tow, went to see Celestia

Talks of the past

Metamorpha, with Green Mist walking along beside her, made her way to where Celestia was being held, the same room where the wedding was meant to take place.

When they made it to the room entrance, four of the best guards, those called the Shadow Daggers, were standing guard. They each had red armor with navy blue highlights, full face helmets, spears enchanted with various spells, and either one sword or two daggers on their waists, also with various enchantments. "Princess," the lead one said as Metamorpha walked up. "If I may ask, what do you require?"

"I wish to speak with Celestia," Metamorpha said. "Has anything happened since her imprisonment?"

"No, princess," the guard replied. "Though, I'd recommend caution. She may be pretending."

` "I'll keep that in mind," Metamorpha said before she went to and opened the doors to enter the room.

The room was just about the same it had been in earlier when Cadence and the others were taken prisoner, but with other pods clung to the ceiling, though most were empty. The only ones occupied were those with changelings in them who were in critical condition, as most of those in the room were medical pods.

Now, you may be wondering why they were here. The answer is actually simple, and that would be that the medical wing of the castle did not have the requirements for changelings, and, actually, most of the chemicals there would dissolve the pods, and Chrysalis wanted to play it safe.

Regardless, Metamorpha walked over to the pod that held the solar alicorn, who, like Cadence, was nude due to the chemicals in the pod. Now, contrary to what some would think, the conversion was not painful, a few ponies in the settlements Metamorpha mentioned earlier became changelings willingly, often because the one they loved was a changeling, though that didn't always happen. The changeling liking the pony more as a changeling, not the relationship, which resulted in the pony now changeling using their new ability to shift back to their old form. Regardless, none of them ever reported any pain. Another thing to point out is that the first change is to the mind, a slight addition, and only that, that allows them to listen into the Hive mind and always, on average, takes a few hours. Of course, that varied between individual.

"Hello, Celestia," Metamorpha said, both physically and mentally. "Can you hear me?"

In the pod containing the solar alicorn, the occupant opened her eyes. Hello, my former student, Celestia said, and it was obvious, even not with the hive mind, she was bitter. Come to gloat?

Metamorpha chuckled. "No, I just came to see if you remembered my grandmother?"

I've not met a changeling since before Luna's banishment. And just where is my sister?

"Maybe this will help jog your memory," Metamorpha said. "She was a castle aide by the name of Black Ink. Her skin was black, and her hair was white. Also, one of the only castle staff you've let call you by name and not title."

She was a changeling? Celestia asked, shocked.

"Yep," Metamorpha said, grinning with her arms crossed. "And do you remember the bet you made with her?"

Inside the pod, and mentally, Celestia sighed. That if Equestria were to be taken over, I would have to change myself to that race. I thought she was joking because she was drunk, and humored her.

"Changelings can't get drunk," Metamorpha said. It's a part of our anatomy. Sure, we can act drunk, but we don't really become drunk."

Apparently, Celestia said. So, what is it you and your mother are going to do to me?

"What the bet with my grandmother entailed," Metamorpha said. "After that? Well, it'll depend on you."

And of the other Elements?

"For the most part, the same thing," Metamorpha said. "And to answer your earlier question, we do not know where your sister is."

Well, I'm sure she'll be able to get me out of here, and remove you and the other changelings, Celestia said.

"Maybe," Metamorpha said. "Maybe not. I guess we'll find that out when it happens. Until then, I guess you'll just need to wait."

It was here that Chrysalis came on over the link. Dear, stop antagonizing her.

Metamorpha rolled her eyes. Of course, mother, she replied. "Well, goodbye, Celestia," she said before she left the room, not noticing a shadow in the corner of the room. One that seemed to smile.

The frozen north

Two royal guards, both in golden armor with winter jackets over the armor, stood on a crevice. "Why do you think the Princess stationed us here?" one asked.

"I don't know," the other replied. "Honestly, though, I'm just glad to be away from my family."

"Why?"

"They keep trying to make me see my cutie mark the way they do."

"And just what is your cutie mark?"

The first scoffed. "A shield," he said. "Because it's my family's seal, they think it means I'm supposed to be a part of the family business, while I think it means I'm meant to spend my life in the guard, protecting Equestria."

"Well," the second replied, "not everypony sees things the same way."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Still, be nice if something happened."

"Well," a third voice said, making both guards jump, "perhaps I can help with that." With that, a black cloud enveloped both of the guards, the cloud looking as if it was made of black ink.

When it faded, both guards were not as they were as before. They now had on steel gray armor with black plumes from their helmets, and green eye slits with a full faced helmet.

"Now, then both of you are to help me take my throne," the voice said.

"Yes, highness."

Changed generosity and loyalty

A day has passed since Canterlot was taken over, and Metamorpha, Mist, and a contingent of guards were outside the cell for the Elements of Harmony. "Remember," Metamorpha said, "they're case B, meaning the worst you can do is knock them out if they fight."

"Yes, princess," the guard captain said. "Get ready, men!"

The guards nodded. "Then here we go," Metamorpha said before she opened the cell door, and walked.

"Great," Rainbow said sarcastically. "So, what does the almighty changeling princess want?"

"Just to give two of you a gift," Metamorpha said.

"What kind of gift?" Pinkie asked, interested now. After all, it is Pinkie.

"A surprise," Metamorpha said. "And it would be for Rainbow and Rarity."

"What is it, you animal?" Rarity asked, venom clear in her voice and, even though Metamorpha knew it was warranted, did piss her off a little. Not to the point of assaulting Rarity, but pissed.

"Hopefully something to calm you down," Metamorpha said just as the guards began to file in. "Take them and pod 'em, guys," the changeling princess said. "And remember, worst you can do is knock out."

As the guards went to grab Rainbow and Rarity, the former began to fight, with Applejack saying, "Don't take 'em, you damned changeling!"

"Shut it, Applejack," Metamorpha said. "We'd take you, but I figured you're better off as you are now. That's to say, a pony, and not a prisoner. Behave, and we'll let you go home."

"Get your filthy hands off of me!" Rarity yelled, the volume getting attention of all in the room, and even making Rainbow pause a little. The sight made Metamorpha pissed even more so.

She lit her magic, and dragged the changeling guard that had been groping Rarity over to her, nervousness clear in his eyes. "What did I say?"

"Ma'am," the guard replied, his voice quavering. "Y-you said the worst we could do was-"

"What did I say before we came down?" Metamorpha said in a currently calm rage, one the other bearers knew well, well enough to where Applejack even pitied the changeling held in Metamorpha's grasp.

The changeling guard gulped. "T-to not do anything sexual towards the Element bearers."

"I thought so," Metamorpha said. "You and I are going to have a talk when this is over with. Until then, you aren't going to leave my side." The anger was still in her voice, just a little more subdued. She then looked at Rarity who was, honestly, a little dumbstruck. "So, what do you want done to him?"

It took Rarity a while to answer, her mind still processing both what the guard had done, and the fact Metamorpha, an animal and traitor she once thought of as a friend, had decided to punish the one. When she replied, it was with pony morals in mind, but she had to ask, "What would changeling punishment for it be?"

"Same as ponies," Metamorpha said.

"Then I guess I want him discharged," Rarity said.

"I was thinking the same thing," Metamorpha said. "Now, the rest of you, get Loyalty and Generosity to their pods. And if any of you decide to be smart and do what he did," she said, pointing to the guard in her magical grasp, "you will get worse."

This is when Rainbow resumed trying to fight, and Rarity tried to as well, but both failed, and, though still fighting, were taken away, with just Metamorpha, the guard she was detaining, Mist, and the other bearers in the room. "Um, what are you going to do to them?" Fluttershy, the only one not restrained because Fluttershy, asked. "If you don't mind me asking."

"Nothing painful," was what Metamorpha replied with. "And no, it won't happen to you three. The only reason Rainbow and Rarity were taken is because they have abilities useful for changelings, while you guys have abilities better for being ponies. Rainbow's a talented flier, even better than our stunt fliers and scouts, while Rarity would be able to help create clothes, we don't have many tailors, and the clothes we do have are on the level of a poor peasant a thousand years ago." There was a silence before she added, "And yes, Pinkie, if you behave, you can throw a party for Rainbow and Rarity when it's done. No idea why you'd want to, though."

"Simple, silly," Pinkie said with a small, for Pinkie, smile. "They need to know that even though they're different on the outside, they're still the same ponies we're friends with." The smile then went down a little, to where it was an actual, small smile. "Which would mean we should have given you a chance, at least."(1)

"Ah don't see why," Applejack said. "She helped take over Canterlot and betrayed the princess."

"Because our people were starving-if you had actually listened to my mom, you would know that we feed on love- our hive was rundown, and you ponies inherently would have attacked us simply because we're a different species than you. And before you say otherwise, I point out Zecora. You all saw her as some kind of freak simply because she was different, and only accepted her after you falsely accused her of putting a curse on us."

"You did, too," Applejack said.

"Because if I didn't, my spell keeping my disguise going would have eventually worn off, you'd freak out and tell Celestia, who would have taken me away some place, and most likely would have interrogated me until my mom attacked early to free me, ruining the entire plan," Metamorpha said. "Now, if you'll excise me, I need to make sure they don't break anything." With that, Metamorpha, Mist, and the detainee left the room, the latter being dragged, and Mist closed the cell door behind them.

"That could have gone worse," Mist said. "Even considering what happened with Generosity," he added, glaring at the detained guard.

"Yeah, probably," Metamorpha said. "So, do you know when your family's going to get here?"

"End of the week," Mist said. "They're looking forward to coming here."

"Well, if you want, I can give you a few days off then so you can help them get settled in," Metamorpha said.

"Thanks, Meta," Mist said.

Metamorpha chuckled. "No problem, Mist."

A few minutes later, they arrived at in the wedding room, or, at least, where the wedding was meant to take place, where the pods were set up, filling the sides and ceiling of the room. Only a few pods, including Celestia's, were occupied at the moment, each but Celestia's being the few being forcibly, to some degree, changed. Rarity and Rainbow's pods were at the far end, where the altar had been, and Rarity had already been put in there, and, from the fact her eyes were closed, she had been knocked out. Of course, due to the chemicals in the pod for turning skin into chitin, the clothing Rarity had on was being dissolved.

Rainbow, though, was still putting up a fight. How she hadn't been stopped by the entire guard squad was unknown, so Metamorpha rolled her eyes, and used her magic to push Rainbow into the pod, and seal it. "Why couldn't you all get her in there?"

"Because, Ma'am," the captain said, "she pushed back as Generosity was being sealed. She used the opportunity of our focusing on her to get away."

"Well, next time, make sure to not let your guard down,"  Metamorpha said before she looked at the guard in her magic. "Now, then, let's take care of you."

Issues

Near a week has passed since what was to be the royal wedding, and Metamorpha, along with a contingent of guard, with Mist in Canterlot to spend time with his family, were going towards Ponyville. Earlier that day, while Metamorpha was out and about, which included on checking on Celestia, Rarity, and Rainbow-all three of which were three quarters done with conversion, by the way- a guard, over the hive mind, had alerted her and her mother about, and the guard had to swear he wasn't high before he said this, a giant fish bowl over the town. Needless to say, this got the attention of the two, and Metamorpha was going to see what was up.

The reason why she was going in person was because she had planned on coming here, soon enough, to confirm or deny any rumors as to the changelings, as well as tell Applejack's family, which included preparing for a frying pan upside the head, where Applejack was. Even before the whole thing in Canterlot, Metamorpha had been unfortunate enough to wake Granny Smith up from a nap. She still felt that ache from that.

"So, do we have any idea what's going on inside the town?" Metamorpha asked a guard next to her as they flew to their destination.

"No, Highness," the guard replied. "The dome, for lack of a more serious but accurate word, is preventing the agents in the town from contacting us. The last thing the cell commander for the town was able to get through is that the mare you went up against a few months ago reappeared. I think her name was Beatrix."

Metamorpha groaned. "Trixie."

"You mean that show pony?" the guard asked. "Why would she be back?"

"I don't know," Metamorpha replied as she crossed her arms. "Probably wants to show me up or something, if she made the dome. Which, by the way, I don't see how she could have made a fucking fishbowl large enough to cover all of Ponyville!"

"Should I start conversing with the mages?"

"Wouldn't hurt," Metamorpha said. "May help explain just what happened, seeing as how a giant fishbowl is crazy, even for Ponyville."

"So we've heard," the guard said as the edge of Ponyville came into view. "I think we can walk the rest of the way, princess."

"Agreed," Metamorpha said. Soldiers, land, and we proceed on hoof.

Yes, highness, was the reply from each soldier with her, and the group of twenty began to descend before landing. Those that Metamorpha had brought with her were ones talented in magic combat, including spell negation and dispersion to weaken spell effects. More out of protocol than safety. But still, even she admitted it best to play it safe, and had sent an order to the mages to be ready to search for any records if she needed them. So far, she did not have actual need of them, though.

Anyway, she sent the order to the soldiers with her to get in what she called the 'Tank formation', as it had those that can take a hit, in this case, those being the changelings with the best armor to disperse magic, as well as shields in front of the group. It was meant to provide as much protection to any VICs, very important changelings, from an attack. Since Metamorpha knew what it was like in Ponyville, even without Trixie's ego, she figured this would be best. And besides, most, if not all, ponies here had never heard of changelings. Best to make as good an impression as possible.

When they reached the very edge of the town, Metamorpha signaled to changelings in the group most skilled with negation magic and destruction magic, the former to cancel any protection spell on the bowl, and the latter to remove the obstruction and let them into the town. The former wasn't needed in this case, as Metamorpha learned when there wasn't a light show where the beams struck, and the second wave decimated the bowl, and made a clear opening for the group, who then marched in. "Either she is still as arrogant as ever," Metamorpha muttered, "or she doesn't know how to make shielding spells. Proper ones, that is."

"I guess we'll find out soon enough," a guard said. "We have contact again."

Metamorpha nodded. "Who's in charge?"

"A mareling called Yellow Jacket, princess. Part of the same naming pattern as your guard captain, obviously."

"Right," Metamorpha said. Infiltrator Yellow Jacket, reply.

I'm here, Princess, the infiltrator replied. Barely got to a hiding spot to do so. Crazy bitch is making everypony and everyling do either stuff to celebrate her, or just pointless bullcrap. And yes, it's Trixie.

I guessed that. Metamorpha sighed as her group passed the barrier. Is there anything to note with her?

A few things, Ma'am. One is that her magic is red, unlike the light purple from before, and she's wearing something around her neck.

Show me. An image came not even a second later of an amulet of sorts colored steel gray, a triangle as the main part, a red gem in the middle. From the sides came parts designed to look like wings, while the top resembled a pony head with a horn, red eyes present. Thank you. I'll see if the mages know what it is. With that, she sent the mental image to one of the mages and told them to tell her if they knew or found anything.

It was around here that a sight that was odd, one that wouldn't make sense, even with Pinkie Pie, came. That of two ponies, one tall and skinny, the other short and, for lack of a better term, fat pulling a wheel-less cart colored a dull gold, with a familiar blue unicorn mare wearing a magician's cape, if they wanted to look ridiculous, that is, with, as far as Metamorpha could tell, a black one piece that looked like it belonged at a swimming pool more than here.

"Move, you dolts!" Trixie yelled while whipping them. "The grrreat and powerful Trrrixie must see what had dared try to enter her domain!"

"Yep, she finally lost it," Metamorpha muttered.

"We're trying, Trixie-" CRACK "Great and Powerful Trixie," Snips said, correcting himself just as the whip came close to his ear. "It'd be easier if you graced us with the use of wheels!"

"Only Trixie is worthy of easy tasks," Trixie said, crossing her arms, before she was thrust forward by the "chariot" stopping. "What do you two morons think you're doing?!"

"Uh, G-Great and Powerful Trixie," Snails said with a hint of fear in his voice. "Somepony's in the dome."

Trixie scoffed. "Impossible. My spell can't be breached."

"We'd believe that if we hadn't gotten in here," Metamorpha said. "Trixie Lulamoon, you are under arrest for disturbing the peace and unlawful take over." And yes, she was aware of the hypocrisy here. But really, Trixie had already gone off the deep end, and Metamorpha didn't really think she knew what had happened in Canterlot.

Trixie looked at the changelings as guards parted so she could see Metamorpha. "Twilight Sparkle," she growled, only confirming Metamorpha's declaration from earlier. "At last, you've arrived! Now I can have my revenge!"

Metamorpha raised an eyebrow. Mom, can you get a mental cell ready? I think we'll need one.

If what you told me of her is true, I'll have one ready, Chrysalis replied.

Thanks, mom.

Of course, dear.

"Trixie, whatever the fuck it is you're doing, I suggest you stop it," Metamorpha said. "Unless you want to make it worse on yourself."

"Oh, please," Trixie said with an over flamboyant hair twirl. "Nopony, not even the princesses, can beat me. I have the most powerful artifact ever: The alicorn amulet."

Princess, thank her for us, as we haven't found anything yet. Her blabbering just helped.

I'll do that once she's her version of sane. "Trixie, why are you here?"

"Why, is it not obvious?" Trixie asked in only the flamboyant way she knew how. "To humiliate you as you did me!"

"Okay, a few things," Metamorpha said. "A:My mom just took over Equestria, and if you did anything to me, she'd have your plot. B:An entire army of shapeshifters are under my command, with only my mom being higher than me in that regard. C:I didn't humiliate you, you brought it on yourself when you said you single handedly saved a town from an Ursa Minor. Besides, if I wanted to humiliate you, I would have done so the moment you used your magic to, in essence, attack the others. Now, how about you remove that amulet, and we take you to prison?"

"Never," Trixie exclaimed, earning a royal eyeroll. "Trixie is princess of Ponyville, now, and she will not let anypony, no matter how ugly, dethrone her!"

The only thing Metamorpha could do to that was face palm. "I knew I should have let them go after her," she muttered, remembering when she had stopped the others, or Applejack, at least, from going after Trixie. "Maybe then she wouldn't have gone crazy."

"Too late to find that one out, highness," a guard said, which Trixie heard.

"You, a pony nowhere near as powerful as the Great and Powerful Trixie, became royalty?!"

"No," Metamorpha said, slowly but surely losing her calm. "I was born into it. And Trixie, I don't see any wings on your back."

"A petty concern," Trixie said. "Once Trixie has gained the loyalty of this town-" Good luck with that one, Metamorpha thought- "I will go to Canterlot, and have Celestia make me an alicorn!"

"She can't," Metamorpha said in a deadpan, her patience very thin. "She's currently imprisoned so as to not cause any trouble, and when she gets free on a trial basis later this week, a spell will have been cast to limit her magic to limit any danger. And before you say you're going to tray and find princess Luna, she's gone missing."

Princess, trying to reason with this pony is useless right now, a mage said over the hive link. The alicorn amulet she's wearing has made her lose her mind in exchange for the power she has. Only way to remove it is to make her remove it.

"Trixie, you do realize that the amulet isn't the most powerful necklace, right? My friends and I have the Elements, which are much more powerful than that. And before you try to take them, they're in Canterlot. Oh, and they have a spell on them that prevents any artifacts like the amulet from getting close."

"Then I'll just remove this amulet, and grab them for myself!" Trixie proclaimed before she removed the amulet, and the red in her eyes faded, and she collapsed.

"You two," Metamorpha said, looking at two changeling guards, "take her to Canterlot, and out her in a cell. No telling if she'll still be somewhat crazy when she wakes up, and we don't want anything drastic to happen."

"Yes, princess," the two guards said before they walked over to the unconscious Trixie, and teleported to Canterlot, Trixie in tow.

After they had teleported, Metamorpha looked at Snips and Snails, who, upon her looking at them, began to quiver in fear. "D-don't hurt us," Snips said as he quivered in fear.

"I won't, Snips," Metamorpha said. "Is everyone in town okay?"

"Y-yes," Snails said.

"Then can you get everyone in the town square so I can make an announcement?" Metamorpha asked. "It'll be quick."

The two nodded, which was barely noticeable as they quivered, and ran back to town. "Guards, may be best to disguise yourself as Solar guards for now," Metamorpha said before she enveloped herself in fire, after casting a flame retardant spell on her clothes to prevent them from burning, which, upon fading, revealed Twilight Sparkle. The changeling guards followed suite, with them turning into solar guards. "Okay, let's go, guards."

And with that, "Twilight" and her guards made their way to the town square, where there a few ponies already, as well as a caged Mayor, which got an eyebrow raise from the disguised changeling princess. "You two, get her out of the cage," she ordered two changelings to free the mayor.

The two nodded, and went to the cage and used their magic, the changeling green, to cut away parts of the cage. When they were done, they helped her out of the cage, and, at her request, led her to where "Twilight" stood. "Thank you, Twilight," Mayor Mare said. "Trixie wouldn't let me go."

"No problem, Mayor," the lavender unicorn replied. "Do you mind if I make an announcement once most of the town's here?"

"Not at all."

And from there, it was about ten minutes until most of the town, which, Metamorpha noted, included Rarity and Applejack's families. The crowd talked among it self for sometime before Metamorpha used an enhancement spell on her voice and, at a volume on par with the RCV, said, "Everypony, quiet, please." The talking stopped, with only a few murmurs before it stopped entirely. "Thank you," she said before killing the spell.

"Now, you may be wondering why the others haven't gotten back, or why it took me this long to get back," 'Twilight' began. "Simply put, there's been a change of leadership in Canterlot-Celestia and Luna are alright, before you ask- and the others and I are there to make sure it's all going smoothly."

"Well, who's leading, then?" a pony asked.

"I'm glad you asked that," 'Twilight' replied. "You see, a race most ponies haven't heard of showed themselves while we were in Canterlot, and, well, the reason I'm here with guards is because something about me was revealed." With that, she lit herself up, after ensuring her clothes were still flame proof, and, when the flames died down, she was now as Metamorpha. "I'm one of them. My race are called changelings, and, I came here both to announce the leadership change, as well as to see why the town was covered in a large fishbowl. And before you ask, we changelings do not wish ponies harm. As long as you don't harm us, we will not harm you." She paused a bit and said, "And as for Rarity and Applejack's families, they're all right, and wished to come, but were otherwise preoccupied.

"If any of you have a question for me, I'll be in Canterlot for the foreseeable future, and will answer any questions you have. Just ask for Metamorpha. It's the name my mother gave me before we were separated. Until then, I wish you all a good day." From there, she ordered a few of the guards to remain, and for Yellow Jacket, who she was unable to meet in person, to house one of them. Which would be interesting, seeing as how she had a marefriend. An hour after arriving in the town, Metamorpha and the guards not staying behind teleported away, back to Canterlot, not seeing the shadows hidden in the shadow of Town Hall.

Waking love

A day had passed since Trixie was taken to the dungeons, where she was currently being questioned by both a changeling and unicorn as to where she got the amulet and how. The reason was that they wanted to ensure nopony or ling else got something like it. As for Metamorpha? Well, she was currently in her mother's room, along with a squad of guards, as it was now time for Cadence to emerge from her pod.

Now, before you say anything, the reason why she's out first rather than Celestia would be because she hadn't been an alicorn as long as Celestia, wasn't as powerful as the solar alicorn, and her love magic all had a factor in it. Though what made it a day earlier, specifically, none knew.

Anyway, along with the two royals and guards were two ponies-which it was arguable if they were willingly here or not- and two changelings meant to fit a new dress for Cadence as the goo in conversion pods tended to. . . enhance natural physical features with the gender of the pony or whatever was in them.

"So, how do you think she's going to take this, Metamorpha?" Chrysalis asked her daughter.

"Well, considering she was willing," the changeling princess said, "I think she'll just have to adjust to her link in the hive mind, seeing as how most ponies think it's just from the goo. Well, that, and she'll time to find balance again, as well as the fact her skin has chitin over it." She shrugged. "That's all I can guess at, really."

"I guess that'll have to do," Chrysalis said before she lit her horn, causing the front of Cadence's pod to split open, letting the now temporary changeling fall out to be caught by two changeling guards, who, after hearing of what Metamorpha had done to a guard who groped the Element of Generosity when she ordered them not to, made extra sure their hands weren't near her tits or ass.

As the two held her up, her hooves on the ground and after putting a small rope around her to cover her, Chrysalis walked over to her. "Oh, princess? You awake?" she asked in sing song, reveling in the irony of Cadence now looking like a changeling when just over a week ago, Chrysalis looked like an alicorn.

Slowly, Cadence came to, the pod putting the pony to sleep during the final portions of the transformation, as that was the only way for the whole thing to be painless, and, when she looked at Chrysalis, the changeling queen noticed that, though they retained the pre-transformation color, the former alicorn of love's eyes were now like hers. "Not so loud, please. I feel like I'm having a hangover."

"Noted," Chrysalis said. "So, other than that, how is the princess feeling?"

"Surprisingly well," Cadence replied. "Doesn't mean I want to stay like this, though."

Metamorpha shrugged. "You'll have to for a while, Cadence. We can't revert it. It goes away naturally."

"How long?" Cadence asked as she grabbed the edges of the robe herself.

"A week," the changeling queen and her daughter replied at the same time. "And before you ask, it'll be a day before you're well enough to see Shining," Metamorpha added.

"I should warn you, one ruler to another," Chrysalis said, "that of the few side effects you'll have, one will be the need to mate. . .with just about anything possible. We still don't know what causes it, and can't fix it because of that."

"And that will start when?" Cadence asked, hoping it wouldn't be now. She didn't want to have sex with Chrysalis, or really anyone but Shining right now.

"In about two days, average," Metamorpha replied. "And don't worry, we figured you'd want to be with Shining during that time."

Here, Cadence glared at the mother and daughter pair. "And what happened to Shining?"

"He's being held in the cells with a few other guards who were stupid enough to publicly try to remove us," Chrysalis said. "And I don't mean from the throne. Don't worry, the worst of his injuries are bruises from when we removed the perception filter for him and he fought back."

"Figures you wouldn't try a stun spell," Cadence muttered, though Chrysalis heard it through the hive mind, Cadence still not knowing she was now connected to it.

"Who says we didn't," Chrysalis said. "He put a spell on him to prevent that those from affecting him, and we were forced to knock him out after he injured a few of my guards." She then chuckled as Cadence got out of the guard's grasp and stood with her own legs supporting her. "You should be proud that you have a stallion like him as your betrothed, Cadenza. Almost no changeling male is that good."

"If I wanted your congratulations, Chrysalis, I'd ask," Cadence said, glaring. "Now, do I have my own room, or what?"

"The same room I stayed in while disguised as you," Chrysalis said. "I already have a guard ready to show you there. And it isn't a changeling; there are a few pony guards that come from small villages where ponies and changelings live together."

"Then why'd they help you with this!?" Cadence yelled. "Or did you brainwash them like you did Shining?"

"You forget that cities and towns act like their own nations," Metamorpha yelled. "Only thing they can't do is declare war, but the ponies there know they wouldn't be able to help feed every changeling alive, and decided to help us with this, as long as nopony was harmed if it could be avoided, and no deaths whatsoever."

"And of what he told us," Chrysalis said, "you know him. He's waiting outside, for when you want to leave."

"Good," Cadence said as she made her way to the door. "Because right now-wait, what did you mean by I'll be well enough to see Shining!?"

"Another side effect of the transformation," Metamorpha said as she rubbed the base of her horn as she usually would when she wasted to get back to reading. "Any extreme emotions, like those of two lovers reunited after a time apart, may cause you to go into a coma from not knowing how to control your empathy sense. They'll be a changeling coming to see you later to help with that."

Cadence scoffed. "As long as I get to see Shining," she said as she went to the door, and left the room, where, true to Chrysalis' word, a guard she recognized was waiting. "Lone?"(1)

"Hey, Cadence," Lone, a black unicorn stallion with hair and a tail the same color as his body with red and orange accents at the edge, giving both a sort of flame like appearance, with dark blue eyes, said. "I'm a little surprised you decided to become a changeling," he said, making Cadene chuckle. He always did like getting to the point.

"Yeah, well, it was mostly so I could do my job as princess of love better," she replied. "So, you're taking me to my room?"

"Right this way," the unicorn stallion said as he gestured down the hall. "I imagine you want to get there?"

"Please," Cadence said.

"Then if you would follow me," Lone said as he walked down the hallway, Cadence following behind. "I'm guessing you have questions?"

"Mainly how you knew of the invasion happening and didn't try to stop it," Cadence said.

"Who says I didn't?" Lone replied. "There were a few who tried to warn Celestia. Only one was able to, though, and we both know how that ended."

"Then why-"

"Aren't I part of a resistance?" Lone asked. "Simple: I need the money to send home for my mom, and last I checked, you can't get a job in the dungeons, as well the fact that with Shining having to be locked up, Queen Chrysalis needed somepony to trust with the new hybrid guard force, and you know me: if I'm given a responsibility, I work for it."

"Yeah, I remember," Cadence said. "So, how is your mom doing, anyway?"

'Her migraines don't come as often," Lone said. "Fortunately. Same as her back pains. Still, even disregarding those, there are a few things she needs help paying for, each of which are between her and me."

"Well, I'm glad she's doing well," Cadence said. A few minutes of awkward silence passed before she asked, "So, what exactly is your hometown like? You know, now that changelings are known?"

"The same, really," Lone replied. "Small, almost no reason to visit unless it's friends or family. Only thing I hid was that about twenty percent of everyone there is a changeling. Actually, a few of my friends came here after. . .well, you know, and are helping get everything situated. There have been some rioters over the past week, but none have been able to do any real damage, speaking in terms of property. In terms of individual, they understandably attack changelings. No to say we don't arrest who we can, but still." He sighed. "Sad thing is that a few ponies here in Canterlot were actually changeling who didn't even know there was an invasion, most having a good standing with the nobles and other groups, were attacked when they were found out. Not even a month, and the riots have killed twenty changelings and ponies thought to be changelings. May need to bring martial law in."

"But why would ponies try to kill?" Cadence asked. "Even if it was accidental, they would see themselves as monsters for it!"

"True, and a few we captured are genuinely guilty and sorry for killing, but a few think changelings are nothing more than pony sized bugs who can speak," Lone said. "I swear, it's ponies like that I hate. The ones who think ponies are the best race on the planet, I mean."

"You sure, Lone?" Cadence asked. "After all, Twili-I mean, Metamorpha and the other bearers are friends with a zebra."

"Yeah, and what happened before?" Lone asked. "I was on leave and visiting friends there that week, and saw their reactions towards her. Only reason I didn't do anything is because I had gotten sick the day before-just my luck, I know- and couldn't leave the house." Cadence couldn't think of a response to that, and silence descended on the two again until they came to a room that was in one of the castle towers. "Here's your room, Cadence," Lone said. "I'll be here until that empathy sage or whatever they're called comes by, and two others will be posted here until either you don't want them there or you decide to leave the castle. Though, a small squad will follow you if you leave the grounds. Just being safe and all that."

Cadence sighed. "Guess I'll have to live with that for the next week, I guess," she said. "Thanks, by the way, Lone."

"No problem," he said as Cadence opened the door with her magic-which was a mix of changeling green and her old blue-and entered the room, closing the door behind her, leaving Lone to his post outside.

Heartbreak

"You sure you ready?" Lone asked Cadence, who had on the guise of her old form, as the two, along with an escort of guards, made their way to where Shining was held.

Yeah, I am," Cadence replied with a nod. "I want to see him as soon as I can. Even if the disguise fails and he freaks out, I'd rather be glad I tried."

"Fair enough, I guess," Lone replied. "Remember what I told you about those sudden sex urges, or whatever I called them?"

"Yeah, and I'll cast a spell to block out the sounds if it starts so you all don't need to hear it," the princess of love said.

"Just make sure it's on a quick cancel," the black and red unicorn said. "Queen Chrysalis would kill us if anything happened."

"He's not wrong," a changeling said. "She may have a long fuse, but you wouldn't want to be in the same town as her if someone pisses her majesty off enough."

"I'll keep that in mind," Cadence said as the group entered the dungeons. "You know, I never liked coming down here."

"Yeah, same here," Lone said. "Why I never volunteered to come down here before. Only reason I am now is because Queen Chrysalis made me your personal guard."

"Really?" Cadence said. "She didn't tell me."

"She didn't want to risk any of the ponies who were always purists, even before the changeling became public, attacking and killing a guard, so most of us that are with them willingly try to act like we've been mind raped," Lone explained. "Keeps us safe to a degree, and lures out any terrorists. . .well, hopefully, anyway."

"Well, I just hope nopony gets hurt," Cadence said. "So, which cell is Shiny in?"

"Should be the one at the end of the hall," Lone commented as the group passed rusted doors, the only reason they hadn't been replaced being magic cast upon them by Celestia and, more recently, Chrysalis. Eventually, the last cell door for the corridor came into view, with two changeling guards outside. "There it is," he said. Upon reaching it, and the guards crossing spears, Lone brought out a scroll, unrolled it, and presented it to the guards, revealing a symbol of insect like wings spreadout with a changeling horn between them and pointing skyward, with two, emerald, curved points going halfway up the horn from its sides. "She has Her Majesty's permission to see him."

"Sorry, sir," one guard said as they uncrossed their spears.

"Don't apologize," Lone ordered. "It's standard protocol to do what you did."

"Thank you, sir," the guard on the left said as he opened the door with his magic. "I assume you are aware she can not stay longer than an hour?"

"Yeah," the unicorn replied. He then turned to Cadence. "It starts as soon as you enter, Cadence. Make it count. Chrysalis won't let him out until she's certain he won't do anything."

She nodded. "Thanks, Lone."

"Hey, don't thank me," he said. "I'm just a guard. Tell the former captain I say hi."

"I will," she said, and she entered the cell door.

As she entered, the door closed with a loud thud, and the magic torches inside the cell lit, revealing it's surprisingly modern interior, given the castle's age. Only thing missing was a radio, and that only because there were few and they were too expensive for any prison. Cadence did a quick and nervous scan of the room, and saw Shining, a magic nullification ring at the base of his horn and wearing the smae outfit he wanted to wear on the wedding day-only with all the straps across the shoulders gone., sitting on a bunk, his back turned to Cadence. "So, has the bitch finally sent something to kill me?" he asked, not turning to look at Cadence. "And I'm not an idiot, so don't try to pretend to be my wife. Only reason I didn't say anything earlier was because your queen was mind raping me."

Cadence was speechless. Sure, she had expected him to be angry-hostile, even-towards changelings, but to expect them to kill him? Then again, Chrysalis did impersonate his wife. I don't care if I'm in a sex crazed state after this, Cadence mentally growled. I'm going to talk with her to see why she impersonated me specifically. "Shining, it's actually me," she said.

"Yeah, sure," Shining replied, sarcasm evident in his voice. "How about you just do what you wanted to and leave? Tell your queen I'll make her pay once Princess Celestia and my sister get free."

"S-Shining," Cadence said as she felt despair at the prospect of not being able to be with Shining. "It's me, Cadence."

"Didn't you hear me?" Shining said as he finally turned back to look. "Do what you came here to do, and get out." The princess saw his eye scan her. "And your queen did a better job on the disguise. Cadence wasn't that well off up there. Believe me, I would know." A few seconds of silence. "What, did you just come here to make me even angrier?" Shining asked, a growl in his voice now. "It's working. And trust me, I'm already near my breaking point without you here. I just know how to hide it." He then turned around. "And your the only other thing here. So I would suggest you leave. Now."

Cadence had only once seen Shining mad-and she was glad it was after Twilight went to Ponyville-and, well, the memory was enough to make her nod fearfully, and move to leave the room.

Upon exiting it, sealing the door behind her, Lone, leaning on a wall said, "Judging form you face, Cadence, I'm guessing he thought you were just a random changeling trying something?"

"Yeah," Cadence said, distraught, as she went to her new changeling form. "Can you guys take me to Chrysalis? I need to talk to her out. . . something."

Lone raised an eyebrow, but didn't question it. "Yeah. She's got time before court anyways, and she hates having to fill out paperwork."

"That's something she and my aunts have in common," Cadence muttered as they left the cells, and towards the throne room.

Changed sun

A few hours have passed since Cadence had come out of her transformation pod, and Chrysalis, along with a small contingent of guards, were in the room where Celestia, who was now at the end of the transformation process, was about to be released.

"Open the pod," the changeling queen said to the guard captain, who nodded before lighting her horn-yes, female changelings are a part of their guard, much more so than mares in the royal guard-thus opening the pod, letting Celestia, who, like Cadence due to the chemicals within the pods, was naked. Two changelings caught her in their magic while a fourth used his to put a small robe around the solar princess.

Celestia came to slowly, rubbing her head as she groaned from the slight headache. "I assume that you have a slight headache?" Chrysalis asked.

"Chrysalis, the only reason I'm not trying to fight you right now is because of a bet I made with your mother, and I know Metamorpha would try to kill me if I tried to kill you," Celestia said, putting the guards on alert before Chrysalis waved them off.

"I will keep that in mind," the changeling queen said. "And before you ask, my daughter is currently helping Cadenza with the empathetic portions of being a changeling. Again, before you ask, she did so willingly, and with a temporary version of this, the same as you."

"Oh. And what might that be?"

"Strong emotions make you vomit if you don't know how to filter it down," Chrysalis quickly replied. "I'll be the one helping you in that area."

"Oh joy," Celestia sarcastically said. "And hen will that happen?"

"In an hour," Chrysalis said. "And I pinkie promise to not manipulate you at all then."

This got an eyebrow raise from Celestia. "And how do you know that type of promise?"

"You forget my daughter is friends with the mare who came up with that," Chrysalis said before shuddering. "Something about that mare just isn't right. No one should be able to be able to break the laws of physics, especially to the degree she does."

Celestia chuckled a little. "On that, Chrysalis, we agree." She then went back to the non-emotional mask-out of habit-which was useless against changelings. "And what of my sister?"

"She and her night guards are nowhere to be found," Chrysalis replied. "Whatever we do to them will all depend on how much of a pain they are going to be for my forces."

Defensive of her sister, Celestia asked, "And if you need to kill her?"

"Oh, she won't be killed," Chrysalis said. "She will still be alive, but if it gets to that? Well, that is something I reserve only for the most hated and feared criminals."

"And what would that be?" Celestia worriedly asked.

"A mind wipe."