Author's Note

Changeling's POV

A Sense of our Queen: 4

”Oh, Queen; Thy servants are coming!” I spoke, as I could clearly sense her Highness; Queen Chrysalis calling forth her followers.

“If the Queen is calling for us, she needs us on her current location!” Destiny proclaimed.

"Yes! Now, let us be on our way; we can not permit her to wait any longer than she actually has to!" I declared.

“Her Highness will, be done. We are there!” Flame announced.

With that, we started to move in the direction from which the call had originated, and towards the position she had indicated. Even if both the direction and the location was a bit off of our track, and outside of the originally designated area; we move, where our Queen is directing us when she needs us. There is no questioning her orders.

Our High Queen trusts us; and with that, we place our lives in her caring and capable hooves. There is no other way, our cause of action is clear.

Once the call had gone out, we spent only a few minutes; going over it. The direction is fairly clear, even if it feels as if it is taking us dangerously close to a Pony settlement known as Ponyville; which to top it all off is on the border of the Everfree forest, of all places in Equestria. Yet, if it is where she is needing us; this is where we will go.

Thinking back, there are rumours of who lives in the village. Above all, there is a Twilight Sparkle, and her friends; Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash; aside from Pinkie Pie. Together, these Ponies had destroyed our Queen’s plans.

Speaking of Pinkie Pie, she had been taking the time to actually speak to one of us; even knowing full-well that she was a changeling, which feels a bit puzzling.

Other, newer rumours speak of a Changeling invited to a wedding in this very village. These rumours speak of her actually attending the wedding; and leaving the wedding untouched, even if she had been less than warmly greeted. Even if the ceremony had been for Donkeys, but it had been in Ponyville, and the Changeling had been there.

In haste, we are trying our best to follow the main roads, the larger once in particular. If our Queen had called out, she needs us there and as soon as we could manage. At least it is how we interpret her call.

At least; we are a small group, large enough to move with at least a semblance of confidence. I feel a measure of confidence in staying with the group, at least I am not alone. Should we pick up any stray Changelings idly walking aimlessly along the countryside? Well, why not? Safety in numbers, and if it doesn’t slow us down too much; I guess I would have to condone it.

There is of course another thing going for us, we can hide in plain sight; playing the role of a small group of Ponies is no challenge. In the guise of Ponies, we managed to get close to the destination with no problem. Just as had been predicted.

As luck had it, we are approaching the castle where our Queen is currently located from the back, just making a fairly short detour in order to reach the entrance.

As I see the castle, I feel a change in her presence; something odd and peculiar, but I can’t put a hoof on exactly what it is. Yet, there is the sense of her being happy, relieved about us finally coming on her command, even if there had never been a sense of dread on her part. At first I guess we had simply assumed we were too far out of distance to pick up on the nuances, and that she would have been keeping certain items on a need to know basis. Queen Chrysalis is our Queen, and one does not question her openly.

A castle is a castle, as they say. This is not the Royal castle of Canterlot, and it certainly isn’t the Crystal castle of the Crystal Empire; there is no imperial feel to it, just as it isn’t nearly as old as any of the castles I had seen. Had I been to the village of Ponyville before, I guess I may have recognized the semblance of the old library; the Golden Oak library they had before the conflict with Lord Tirek who proved such a menace it had interrupted the flow of magic throughout the entire realm.

What I have before me has the feel of Crystal and a strange, powerful magic I am not particularly familiar with, while there is a living spirit, not too dissimilar to that of a tree. Aside from the Queen, I have a sense of Joy from within the structure. Maybe I should have known? That is the very Element of Laughter herself. The one Pony who actually dared, or chanced to speak to one of us; even during the siege and invasion of the Royal castle of Canterlot, during the wedding of Princess Cadance and Captain Shining Armour. And just for a smile and to see if she could impersonate that one pink mare. Why? As if she had seen other impersonations of herself in the past? Yet, Pinkie Pie had not been scared or impressed. She had laughed and yawned at the effort and accomplishment.

Of course, there are tales about this one pink mare; some of which should never be repeated or spread in public.

There is a slight hint of a sound, just an instant before a pink balloon hit my back squarely; which is what caused the splash of contained contents flowing over my back, spreading outwards as if by volition and not merely following the law of gravity. This thick mass spread out as if alive, and not merely a vial concoction contained within a balloon casually thrown out by an immature prankster.

Before I knew it, the potion and rubber had covered my body and encased me entirely; while it was filling out every last hole in my body and filling me with a strange, new sensation.

Looking back, I may not be the only target for this attack. The challenge of not resenting her; for what originally came out as a mean spirited prank on my person, soon filed me up with a warm sensation. Who ever had heard of a sentient and empathic substance?

Once the process initiated by the balloon hitting my back had been concluded, I look like a Pony with a shiny and glistering coat of rubbery fur; while my head still remain a clean and pure black.

What I failed to notice and realize, is that the change is permanent; due to the fact that the potion is immune to any magic I could produce. At this time, I had already managed to trot up to the front of the castle; finding myself knocking on the door.