"What does Mother want now?" Peridot grumbled to Jade and Emerald as they walked to the royal Changeling Hive nursery. Their hoofsteps tapped on the polished corridor floor.

"It's obviously a hatching," said Jade, who was fluttering her wings to hover above the others. "But why would Mother want us to attend an ordinary hatching? She normally doesn't even attend them herself."

"Unless. . ." Emerald's wings buzzed excitedly. "Unless it's a royal hatching!" she exclaimed. "What if we're going to have a little sister?"

"Bah. Little sisters." Princess Jade, the oldest of the Changeling princesses, rolled her eyes. "Why would we need another? There are three of us already. And I'm the eldest, which means I'm the most likely to win when we fight each other to the death after Mother dies."

"If she ever dies," Peridot, the youngest of the three, muttered. "Anyway, let's just hurry up so we can get this over with."

When the three princesses entered the Hive nursery, their mother, Queen Thysanura of the Changelings, was already there. "Good, you're finally here," the queen said without looking up. "You're just in time to see your newest sister hatch." She pointed at a large green egg with a shimmery shine to it and a crack down the middle.

Emerald raised her eyebrow at Jade and Peridot. I told you so! she thought triumphantly, turning to the egg.

The green Changeling egg rocked back and forth, its smooth surface becoming webbed with cracks. While Emerald leaned forward with interest, Peridot and Queen Thysanura watched idly, and Jade hovered above them carelessly. Suddenly, the egg shattered, revealing a tiny Changeling inside.

"She's beautiful," breathed Emerald. She used her magic to levitate the last bits of eggshell off the newborn princess. Welcome to the world, my precious sister.

The young Changeling squeaked, unfurling her transparent, aqua-blue, insect-like wings. Her horn was short but crooked and still sharp. Her shining green eyes were large and innocent, and her blue mane was still damp. Emerald tenderly picked her up and set her sister on her back. "What are you going to name her, Mother?" she asked, glancing at Queen Thysanura.

"Chrysalis," the queen decided. "She will be Princess Chrysalis. Emerald, since you're so obsessed with her, you will take your sister to your room and she will sleep there."

"Gladly, Mother." Emerald bowed to Queen Thysanura and watched as her family left the nursery. When they were all gone, leaving Emerald and little Chrysalis alone, the older Changeling princess turned back to the remains of her sister's egg. Her horn glowed green, surrounding the largest piece of eggshell with a magical aura. I'll keep this for sentimentality's sake. I don't care what you'll say about that, Mother.

"Come on, Chrysa," Emerald said to her new little sister. "Let's go and meet the world."

Author's Note

This story is my favorite out of the ones I've written. Hope you like it, and please comment!