Brother of Loyalty

When all of us arrived in Canterlot, we saw that the Princesses had put us in a private room that was normally reserved as a war room, so it got very little use. The room itself was massive with charts and filing cabinets along the walls and on the large table in the center of the room. It also had a private balcony that overlooked the garden but the real bonus was that no matter what time of the day it was, it was always in direct sunlight so I made a beeline for the balcony and once I got on it I layed there soaking in the rays of Celestia's sun. "Oh I will never take sunlight for granted ever again.." I said with a small smile on my face as my wings hummed in content.

"Guess you will be switching from the Lunar Republic to the Solar Empire then?" Luna asked with a twinge of sadness in her tone.

"No, I will remain sided to the Lunar Republic as I always have. Now to avoid a fight breaking out between you sisters over my choice, can we please discuss the matter at hoof?" I said in an authoritive tone but much to my, and everypony else's surprise, both sisters bowed to me.

"As you wish Queen Dasher.." They both said in perfect unison as I stood there dumbstruck. Since I was unable to formulate a sentence, Celestia kindly explained. "You are a Queen and me, Lulu, and Twi are princesses therefore both you and Queen Chrysalis are our superiors. IF Chrysalis had gone through the proper channels she would not have had to invade the wedding for the love, I would have invited her as a "diplomatic guest" to get the nessessary love and this whole mess would have been avoided."

"I don't negotiate with weaker beings....." Chrysalis hissed. "Anywho, the main reason I came was to teach Cloud the proper magic needed to cast her disguises. Celestia, Luna, and even you Twilight could learn a thing or two in the process since changeling transformation magic is very similar to unicorn/alicorn disguise magic. However, instead of just looking like the being they want, they actually become it. Now Cloud, I want you to think of your old pegasus self down to the last detail and focus that image to the forefront of your brain while channeling the magic into your horn and over your body. I should not have to explain how to channel because once you start focusing on the actual transformation itself it will come by instinct." I nodded and did as she said, and as I focused on what I had looked like as a pegasus, I felt what it was like to channel magic for the first time. My whole body felt tingly and after a few seconds I felt the fire surround me, shortly after is when I heard everyone gasp and when I opened my eyes and looked in the mirror I looked like my old self.

"Holy crap....I got it right on the first try..." I said more amazed than anything but when I looked at Queen Chrysalis her jaw was slack and her face was frozen in shock. "Is something wrong Chryssy?" I said using Pinkie's nickname for her, which seemed to snap her out of her stupor.

"I...I am sorry...but you cannot be my heir...." Her tone was of humility, which helped curbed my anger but Rainbow and Phoenix had to be restrained by Celestia and Luna, and her next act caught all of us off guard and diffused all aggression. She trotted over to me and bowed, but not the kind of bow you give out of courtesy, it was the kind of bow you give a superior. "Queen Cloud Dasher, I hereby beg of you to show mercy towards my hive, all of them are innocent and were just following my orders. As for myself, I ask that you forgive me for all past transgressions that I have done towards my fellow changelings, the ponies of Canterlot and the Chrystal Empire, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance, and Prince Shining Armour and any punishment you give I will serve without a fight."

"At ease Queen Chrysalis, before this discussion goes any further I have to ask why you are acting the way you are..." I said more as an order than a statement, which considering how Chrysalis was acting, I knew it was the only way I was going to get any answers.

"Of course Queen Dasher," Chrysalis replied as she stood back up straight. "as you know, when a changeling changes forms the fire that surrounds them is emerald green. Your fire on the other hoof is different, not only is it green, it is also an earthen-brown, something only one other Queen has had. That Queen, you may be wondering, was none other than the First Mother of the Changeling race herself. Since you have that characteristic, you are a special changeling, you can use the First Mother's magic and therefore are now the True Queen of our species Cloud. At our next Council of Queens meeting, which is tomorrow, you will be sworn in, every changeling will answer to you and come to you if they have an issue. Do you think you are capable of that responsibility?"

I could feel all the eyes on the room fall on me while anticipating an answer, so I spent the next several minutes thinking of the weight that carried as well as the pros and cons of each choice I could make; the answer, to me anyway, seemed like the most logical. "Queen Chrysalis...I do believe I can handle myself quite well in that role considering how respected I am, not only in Equestria, but also with other countries as well. As far as what you said earlier, no harm will come to your hive and your punishment is simple, you are to spend the next year as Princess Cadance's personal assistant and have a pubic appearance in which you will apologize to everypony effected by your wedding raid and explain why you did it. Do it and I will forgive you, but if you don't then I will have...an alternative punishment made and trust me when I say I don't want to do it. I do want to give you a task, do you think you can teach me changeling spells?"

"It would be an honor Queen Cloud Dasher." Chrysalis said while bowing again. "I say we spend the rest of the day teaching you the fundamentals such as defensive and healing spells, I also thank you for such a lenient punishment, I will do as you ask to the best of my abilities."

"Not a problem, I am actually fairly lenient unless you really mess up to the point that I have no choice but to use an iron hoof." I replied as we all headed to the gardens to start my training for the day.