Change for everypony else
"Hiss" The changelings architects always were rather proud of the echo in Chrysalis' throne chamber. I personally thought everypony else's hiss sounded more menacing than my own.
Below the Queen had captured that washed out purple unicorn, Starlight. Queen Chrysalis always took her victory speech really seriously. We rehearsed infiltration practice over a hundred times, mostly because she did not feel her victory speech was quite right. I could tell Chrysalis was happy it was Starlight captured. After all, she thought Starlight and Thorax might try something. The blue unicorn was a surprise and who can predict Discord?
I kind of just tuned her out. I was more interested in finding Thorax. If anything I had nothing but respect for Thorax. During Nyph-hood Thorax only wanted a friend. I too wanted a friend, I just knew the best way to get one was to act like everypony else.
I looked back down at the scene, this time Thorax was being held by Chrysalis. Having played him during infiltration practice, I knew the true hate the Queen had for traitors. She once ripped my wings off during practice, because my role as Thorax was too convincing (if I do say so myself). Changelings wins grow back, but it still hurt. The queen never even apologized for it. I knew Thorax was in for a world of hurt.
What happened next I'm not sure anyone understood. Thorax glowed like a light bulb, then transformed into a colorful beast. Then another changelings, then another, then another. Share the love I could hear the changelings repeat.
Like my brothers I unleashed my stores of love, but nothing happened. I did not transform, although it did make me a little hungrier. I tried again only harder this time. Closing my eyes to focus. When I opened my eyes I could see a black hole-filled arm. Furthermore, I was the only nearly the only one. Looking around I took the form of a distant changelings. After-all the only way to make friends is to act like everypony else.
Once again morning has come to the hive. Although today the sun seemed brighter than normal, perhaps it had something to do with the roof being blown off the hive. Either way, it was pleasant to be awoken by something other than hissing. Instead, I received a hearty "Morning" from a small pink pony.
'Good morning, good morning, GGOOOOODDDDD MOOOORRRRNNNNINGGG!!!!!' shouted the little pink pony as bounded around the room.
I put my hooves together. "Very good Fang you are getting better," I said while secretly rolling my eyes.
In a flash, the Pink Pony was replaced with a now white changeling. He grinned at me. Although I found it a little creepy that Fang's signature smile no longer had his signature fangs in it.
"However, you know you probably do not need to practice Pinkie Pie anymore, I don't think we'll be doing many more infiltrations."
"Not until I'm given another assignment I cannot." He smiled he big grin again. "Say have any suggesting for improvement?" he asked, "You always give such tips." I cannot remember the last time I gave him tips, but this was his way I guess.
"Nope, none" I replied. Considering I never actually met Pinkie Pie how was I to know.
Apparently, Thorax wanted to see the entire infiltration 'practice' team. So Fang and I headed off. Luckily Fang abandoned carrying the party cannon every place; it slowed him down to an intolerable pace. According to Fang Pinkie Pie brought the every place all the time. As much as I respect Fang's dedication, there is no way Pinkie Pie could possibly carry around that thing. I think that mis-intelligence lost his place on the real infiltration team and got him regulated to the practice squad albeit the captain.
We gathered up the rest of the team: Cosa, Smoke, Krypt, Void, Occiput, Grave, Deep-Blue, Grimm, Glass and Black Chitin (Who was now covered in white fur). He of course needed to try and convince each drone that he was Pinkie Pie. I put up with it giving him a nice smile, because that what friends do, right?
They all wanted to show off their new form, each of them a different color. It had taken a good hour before we began for the remains of the throne room. That was the moment that I realized the full implications of my problems. Unlike past days there would be no breakfast. While every changeling had experience skipping a meal, there would never again be another meal.
We all gathered up in the new throne room, bowing as always.
"Umm, Well...", said Thorax as he walked out in front of us, "You guys really don't have to do that."
We all got up. Thorax began pacing before us. "Now umm..."
Thorax began to pace in front of us. He cleared his throat.
Thorax spoke, "We, " he nervously rubbed his hoof against his front leg, " in the, I mean,"
"If I may, " another dark green changeling stepped forward from no-drone knows were "what Thorax was trying to say..." Our green friend explained that Thorax was reassigning all the Changelings to new less evil tasks. He spoke very clear and well. Much better than the mumble of Thorax I was so familiar with. Everyone loved Thorax, but some part of me could not help but feel like he just was not qualified to be King.
"Thank you, Shadd." Thorax smiled at him.
"While I was in the Crystal Empire we had these things called theater. Everypony watched them for entertainment. They told stories and history, and I thought maybe you guys could do that too. I mean you're kind of like actors right." He looked across the group, "unless of course, you don't want to."
I looked at the rest of the group, they all shared the same uncertain confusion, except for Smoke who was nodding confidently. Smoke always acted like he knew everything. He though it impressed the Queen.
Once again it fell on me to save everyone "What's an actor?" I asked.
Thorax sighed and began explaining. Clearly he had already spend the entire morning explaining this stuff to his new subordinates. His look of fatigue almost may me regret asking. He began to explain what acting was. It was like infiltrating, but for entertainment, like reading a live history book. It was a job meant for a changeling. Although really, the hive would function just fine without actors. I couldn't help but wonder if Thorax should be focusing else place. It was quickly settled that we would create a performance of the defeat of Chrysalis. Thorax shook all our hooves, gave us a forced smile and dismissed us. Every-drone else began to leave.
"Thorax, may I have a word," I asked.
"Absolutely, not his majesty is very busy" Shadd interjected, "waving me away"
"Shadd, it's just if I learned anything, " Thorax looked right at me, "there is always time to listen to the concerns of a friend or subject." Thorax put his hoof on my shoulder. "At least that's what the princes of Equestria do." He gave that tired smile again. I wonder if he slept last night.
I took a deep breath. I could feel the gnawing of my stomach. If anyone could help me, it was Thorax.
"Perhaps its best that I show you."
I took a few steps back, but before I could disclose my untransformed self, a voice echoed across the remaining chamber wall, "All Hail Queen Chrysalis." We all turned to look. But we saw nothing but the wall of the chamber, the open roof and some rocks.
Shadd took off and began to have just above Thorax.
No drone saw were it came from, but a black and green streak dashed straight across the room. It crashed right into Thorax. A proper black changeling slammed his crooked horn right into Thorax's chest. He continued to fly forward thrusting the horn deep as they both slide across the floor leaving a burning green skid. I did not even know a changling could move so quick. Shadd acted quickly and launched a green blast into the changeling's flank. The proper changeling was knocked off Thorax, but not before getting a few more stabs in. Thorax stumbled to the ground loosing beads of the purple fluid inside him. As more rainbow changelings rushed into the chamber, Shadd escorted our king out of the room. I guess I would not be talking to Thorax today. The other changelings eventually subdued the assassin. Seven of them carried him away one grabbing each limb, each wing and the webbed tail. They did not look like there were having an easy time of it either.
Suddenly the room was empty again. It was a little strange, but I felt no reason to stay. So I went home.
I woke to a slightly more familiar hive. The dried out wall of my small sleeping space, were once again damp, dark and comfortable. The worker-drones did a good job repairing the roof. At least there is proof the hive still knows what it is doing.
Fang had given most of us on the new formed Guild of Changeling Actors the day off. As part of a new decree allowing freedom of travel for changelings. Fang had apparently gone to see one of these theatres we were to be making. I was planning to take the opportunity to see Thorax again.
One would be amazed how confusing tunnels that do not rearrange can become when you are so accustomed to them shifting. It took me at least three tried to find the throne room, the other two I ended up near the abandon feeding chamber twice. Finally, I did manage to find the Throne room, at least fifty changelings hovered in a semi-circle around the room, granted most them were probably guards. I made my way in only having to bump into a few dozen other changelings. Considering the commotion yesterday I had a surprisingly easy time entering the chamber. In the center of the room a lone black changeling was incased in an emerald crystal. Only his head remained above the lattice.
Shadd was there, but Thorax was no place to be seen. "Fellow Changelings," he began. "We have been attacked." He continued give a long winded speech about how he takes this 'very serious' and we should too. In truth Shadd, the captain of the guard, should've had proper security before the attack. However I must give him credit the speech was very well put together.
He then turned to the encased changeling, only to find his eyes shut. Shadd gave him a good buck to the face, knocking the changeling and cocoon flat on to the floor. Shadd turned to him and shouted "be awake as I sentence you."
The cocooned one started yelling all kinds of nonsense. "See how the new administration is cruel" and "Long live Queen Chrysalis" and what not. For a moment I could see the fire in green changelings eyes, but instead he motioned to other guards, which took the changeling away.
"Its is Thorax's wish that all changelings be given a chance." He further explained from now on all unreformed Changelings would be thrown into the dungeon, until they starve or agree to share love. I was already starving I could feel my stomach nibbling at itself.
He eventually began talking about additional security measure he was putting in place. This is when I knew how bad things were really going to get: curfews, zone controls and worst of all love sharing check points. Started to back out of the crowd. I was even considering fleeing from the hive. Not that I would get the chance. I became aware that everything became quiet. The guards parted and even nudged me towards the center.
"Yes, please come down." Shadd hovered in the air he made a motion for me to step come closer.
I did not have a choice. I flew out right in front of every-drone.
"You were there when they attacked isn't that correct?"
"Yes," I replied.
Shadd urged me to speak louder. "I was horrible wasn't it"
I complacently agreed, "I was terrible"
"Now I shall demonstrate how check points will work." He turned to me. "now give me some love," he said making a funny face. Some of the crowd chuckled a bit.
I froze, mind whizzing.
"Well, come on, share the love already," Shadd requests.