Change: The New Kingdom

by tom117z

Rating: teen
Tags: Death, Alternate Universe, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Luna, Changelings, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Adventure, Violence, Princess Celestia
Length: 101100

It has been forty-three years since Queen Twilight Sparkle first discovered her lineage and claimed her birthright. And never has it been harder on her than when The New Kingdom is unveiled to the world.

It has been forty-five years since Queen Twilight Sparkle first discovered her lineage and claimed her birthright, forty-three years since she became Queen of the Hive. And never has it been harder on her than when a new power in the Undiscovered West makes itself known to the world.

The New Kingdom, another land of ponies. Unicorns dominate The New Kingdom, left behind during the founding of Equestria and ruled by their ruthless monarch. Their threats soon come, and ponies and changelings alike are left in a difficult position. One that may drive the Queen to the brink and destroy the fragile peace between Equestria and the changeling hives forever...

Edited by RC2101_Copey.
Cover Art was designed by Jesuka.
Featured on 05/05/2019.

Published 2019-05-05 18:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2023-03-07 22:41:47 UTC

2 - News

Avia hummed a little tune to herself as she walked down one of the hallways of the Equestrian Hive. For all the years that passed them by, the mixture of stone and chitin around the Princess would never change. Always the same home she had known since she was a nymph, sitting hidden in the middle of a luscious green Equestrian field.

Sometimes she still had to wonder how it compared to the Badlands Hive, the home of her grandmother, Queen Chrysalis. That hive was but a heavily caved-in ruin in the middle of the Badlands, one to which Avia had never been allowed to visit. The young Changeling Queen had always been curious to see the hive where her mother had been born, but every time she had broached the subject Twilight gained a rather… pained look her eyes. That had usually caused the Princess to switch subjects before it could progress.

For all her curiosity, she had no desire to see her mother in pain.

And the pain she still felt towards Chrysalis’ death was deep. Enough so that it could reach any changeling’s empathic senses from a mile away. For all the stories of Crudelis and Immortalis, and the longing to have known her late grandmother, Avia couldn’t deny that she had been lucky to be born in a time of peace and harmony. Things before her birth had clearly been… troubled.

But that was decades past the world by this point. A whole generation had grown up knowing nothing but peace, at least on a major scale. No wars. No conflict beyond the occasional incident with various beasts from the Everfree Forest and other such places. The Council of the Changelings and the Equestrian Triumvirate were allies and had been for as long as Avia had drawn breath.

And it was all of this that Avia was due to take charge of in a short while during her mother’s absence. ‘Nervous’ would be an understatement as to how she was feeling. Queen Twilight Sparkle’s legacy and influence was strong, Princess Avia knew she had a lot to live up to.

Avia was struck from her musings when the corridor she was in came to an end, the world suddenly getting a whole lot bigger as the Princess of the Equestrian Hive emerged into the hive’s main atrium. The large open space spread out before her, filled with countless changelings walking and flying from one locale to the next. Ponies too, and even some other species, walked the various floors that made up the shopping mall-like place.

Avia smiled, trotting over to the railing directly ahead and propping herself up onto it. She looked down into the depths of the hive, seeing the statues at its centre. Queens Avia, the Princess’ namesake, and Chrysalis. Her great grandmother and grandmother respectively. Together they supported the crystal that protected the hive from the world above, covering the open crevice to the surface above the Princess’ head with both a shield and perception filter, as well as a glamour disguising the landscape. Everything one would need to hide something that large.

Avia then heard a sharp, excited gasp from behind her. “Princess!”

Avia turned to see a child rushing towards her, an excited look at the filly’s face. A glance past her saw the sheepish expression of the child’s mother, Puellula, as well as the amused looks of both Soronis and Iuvenes. These changelings Avia had known since she had been born, each now with nymphs of their own. Except for Soronis who, in her own words, “Had enough of mothering after Puellula”.

“Hello, Rose,” Avia greeted the filly in a friendly manner. The child had a very pony name, but such things were hardly uncommon anymore. “And what are up to?”

“We’re gonna go pick up Tutela and then go for a picnic up top!” the filly gushed. “Oh! Do you want to come with us!?”

“Rose…” Puellula addressed her daughter. “I’m sure the Princess is very business.”

“Awww, but-”

“Listen to your mother, Rose,” Soronis cautioned. “Honestly, Pue, she one hundred percent takes after you in the excitable department.”

“Isn’t that just being a child?” Iuvenes questioned.

“Pue was friends with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Now that was a nightmare.”

Avia raised a hoof. “Um, I am a Cutie Mark Crusader.”

“Yeah, but the originals were far more destructive.”

Avia considered that a challenge for another time.

The three middle-aged changelings chuckled, particularly at the Princess’ clear indignation. Their jubilation died down after a few moments, Iuvenes moving to speak again.

“Heh, but yeah, Tutela is with her grandparents. She always loves sticking around, and they’re being particularly loving as of late since her thirteenth birthday is coming soon.”

“Mine too!” Rose peeped up excitedly.

“Teenagers, hives help you,” Avia joked lightly. “How is your mother anyway, Iuvenes? I spoke to Carduus just a few minutes ago over the link, but I haven’t seen her in a while.”

“She’s doing alright. Though she has another appointment with the doc in a few days,” the mare responded. “They say doctors make the worst patients, and they’re right.”

Avia frowned. “Is everything okay?”

“Just some check-ups, don’t worry, Princess. But my parents are past their primes, even if they won’t admit it. She’s trucking on, but I worry. She still has to look after Dad given his condition, but someone really needs to look after her more often…”

Avia hummed. She would look into getting someone to regularly check in on the two elderly changelings when their daughter wasn’t able. Given all they had done for the hive over their lifetime, they deserved that much.

Speaking of grandparents… Avia hadn’t seen her pony ones in some time. When was the last time…? What, six months ago? Near enough that? Avia couldn’t help but inwardly cringe at the amount of time, not since Twilight Velvet’s birthday…

After her mother returned from the expedition, she’d talk with her about it.

Of course, it would also give her a chance to see Celestia. She’d always acted like something of a grandmother to Avia as well, particularly in the gifts department, much to Luna’s oft irritation. All round, a trip to Canterlot seemed like a good plan in the coming days.

“Anyway, we really need to get moving. Rose,” Puellula called out to her daughter. “Come on, those sandwiches aren’t going to eat themselves.”

“Daisy, chicken… Oh, I think I’ll eat the lot,” Soronis teased the young changeling.

Rose gasped in offence at the audacity of the claim. “No, you won’t! Race you!”

And then she was off, racing down towards the home of Carduus and Panacea.

All the adults shared a laugh at her antics, before the filly’s relatives also moved to depart.

“See you around, Princess,” Soronis said in farewell. “Good luck with everything.”

“Thanks…” Avia replied as they departed, watching them vanish into one of the corridors.

Avia turned back around, glancing once again down at the statue of the two Changeling Queens. She had to wonder; would she be worthy of joining them there someday…?

With that in mind, she turned and left the atrium as well. She had left her mother waiting long enough.

Twilight Sparkle hummed a happy tune as she made notes on one of the many texts she had arrayed around her, every single one an account, legend or some other tome related to the three tribes and the land now known as the Undiscovered West. A well-known studious glint sparkled in the depths of the Queen’s eyes, a hunger and thirst for knowledge that would only be quenched when the deed was done.

It was also times like this that she missed Spike. Both for his company, insight and exceptional organisational ability befitting of her former number one assistant. If only the dragon hadn’t grown so damned big since she had taken rulership over the changelings.

She wondered how he was doing over in the Dragon Lands…

Not that she would besmirch the efforts of the elderly stallion assisting her now, he always acted as dutifully as his body would allow.

“That’s another one,” Carduus said, his magic passing another book to the ‘completed’ pile. “Though I may have to depart soon, your Majesty. I would rather like to be there when Iuvenes arrives to pick up my granddaughter.”

“That’s fine, Avia should be here soon,” Twilight replied with a nod. “We can go through this together while discussing her coming rulership in my stead.”

“Speaking of… How are things going with that?” he asked. “This is a big step. You must be worried.”

“Worried? Ha heh…” Twilight tried to dismiss with a not so convincing smile. “Why would I be worried? I mean, I was ruling a hive before I hit her age!”

“You didn’t exactly have much of a choice…”

“Pish, come on! I’m only leaving my only daughter in charge of a whole hive by herself for the first time and I’m scared she might not be able to handle it and oh gosh I’m cancelling the trip!”

Carduus rolled his eye, just waiting for the Queen to finish her little moment and calm herself. It only took a few moments of applying the age-old breathing technique, but Twilight recomposed herself with a sheepish grin.

“Or that might be a bit hasty…” she admitted with a chuckle.

“Just a bit.”

“I am worried, though,” Twilight admitted with a sigh. “I know she can handle it; I really do. But there’s always the things that could go wrong in the back of my mind. I don’t want this to go wrong and hurt her confidence…”

“She’s come a long way from the filly who ran off into the Everfree Forest by herself,” Carduus disputed. “And your best advisor, if I am to toot my own horn, will be here to make sure she knows which checklist goes on which day.”

Twilight hummed. “Yes, I suppose you will. It’s just daunting, and I can only imagine how she is feeling. This needs to go right for her.”

“It will. I’m sure of it.”

Twilight and Carduus both felt a brief brush against their minds that caused their eyes to divert to the throne room doors. The guard outside had spotted Avia approaching from down the hall.

“And on that note, I should take my leave,” Carduus said with as low a bow as his crippled limbs could manage. “I should return to my family.”

“Please do. One of the guards outside can help you-”

“Twilight, I’ll be fine,” the former Captain of the Royal Guard assured the Changeling Queen. “There’s still life in these old bones yet.”

Twilight looked at him with concern. “All the same, I don’t think that wife of yours would be all too happy if I let you stumble back on your own.”

He groaned. “Right… Alright, fine. I’ll grab one of them on my way out.”

“I will be checking over the hive.”

He chuckled. “Don’t worry, I won’t duck out of this.”

At that moment, the doors behind Carduus opened to admit the very Princess that had been the centre of their discussion. She entered with barely hidden nerves, though her face brightened on seeing the both of them.

“Mother! Carduus,” Avia greeted the both of them, specifically looking towards the latter. “I ran into your daughter.”

“They’re heading to our place?”

“Yeah, all ready for a picnic according to little Rose.”

“Then I really should be going,” Carduus said with finality. “My Queen. Princess.”

Both royal changelings watched the stallion turn and go to depart the throne room. He vanished through the doorway, the pair just catching him address one of the guards outside before the entranceway was sealed up once more, cutting off the rest of the ensuing conversation.

This left the mother and daughter alone.

“Avia. Sleep well?” Twilight asked. “Your father pinged me over something about a nightmare?”

“Oh, he did, huh…?”

Twilight frowned. “Is something bothering you?”

“No no! Just nervous, I guess. I mean…” Avia gestured to all of the gathered tomes. “There’s a lot going on lately. I’m not sure I’m ready…”

Twilight smiled at her daughter’s honesty, standing from her throne and approaching her. She stood proudly over the smaller Changeling Queen for a moment, before leaning in to share a loving muzzle with her child. After a moment of these prideful affections, Twilight turned to return to her throne while gesturing Avia to sit in her own. A second obsidian seat nestled closely next to the Queen’s own.

Avia obliged, following on and settling herself within the seat. She glanced around the throne room, her eyes going over all that her mother had been working on. She spotted a few other reports nestled among the historical tomes and maps, likely the kind of work she’d soon be neck deep in…

“So, where do we begin?” Avia enquired.

“And you’re sure you are okay with this, sweetie?” Twilight asked. “You ARE more than ready. But if you really don’t want to do this…”

“Mum, I’m fine. Just nervous,” Avia replied. There wasn’t much point in delaying the inevitable. “If I want my own hive someday, I have to start somewhere…”

Twilight nodded. “Alright then. If that’s the case, then we’ll start with the schedule of my departure.”

Twilight’s horn lit up, the lavender changelings bringing forth a sizable but neatly stacked pile of paper. She carefully passed the stack into Avia’s own magical aura, letting her daughter begin to study their contents.

“There you will find our current plans for the expedition. Our timetable, it includes our plans for the Undiscovered West and when we predict our return. Feel free to make any further suggestions.”

“I’ve been helping you plan this for months,” Avia said with a titter. “I think I know the gist of it.”

“I just want to be sure,” Twilight responded. “There’s still another week to go, so some adjustments can be made. Have you been going over hive procedures and what your daily tasks will be?”

“I’ve been going over them since I was born,” Avia joked. “Though going over, them again wouldn’t hurt. And any last-minute pointers…”

“It’s what I’m here for,” Twilight agreed. “And, I suppose, you can always contact me over the hive mind if you ever need advice that Carduus cannot give.”

“Assuming you’re not busy.”

“It’s going to be a lot of travelling. I’m sure there will be a few spare moments.”

Avia hummed, leaning back in her throne. “I still wish I was coming along. I mean, I know why I’m not. This is a test. A big deal. But… You get to go to the Undiscovered West! Unicornia! Pegasopolis! The earth pony tribe!”

“Well, only one of those still exists in Equestria today,” Twilight pointed out. “It’s called Cloudsdale now.”

Avia snorted. Of course, the pegasi had just moved their whole city from one continent to the next…

“But I know you’re disappointed about not coming with us. So… how about I bring you something back? A piece of the old unicorn city-state?”

“You think it’s still there?” Avia asked.

“Something should be, even if it's at the bottom of the mountain,” Twilight responded. “There was still plenty left of that earth pony village on an island bordering the Undiscovered West. And if you want to see the longevity of unicorn architecture, you just need to visit the abandoned home of the great Mistmane!”

“I know,” Avia conceded. “It was just such a long time ago…”

“Hey, the Council Hive is even older,” Twilight noted. “There has to be something. And once we come back, the entire planet will be fully mapped out again. I know all our current outlines are woefully out of date, and barely pieced together from scraps, so we need to change that.”

“A thousand years out of date….”

“More than,” Twilight said with a nod. “It’s honestly a little silly it has gone this long in that state. As a scholarly minded changeling, I can’t let it continue.”

“Again, I wish I could come along,” Avia stated. “Though I do wonder what happened to those previous expeditions…”

“They didn’t have an army of guards at their backs,” Twilight mused. “Who knows what has moved into the area in the absence of civilisation. Wendigos could still exist. Other beasts that Grogar would have just loved to have designed… Or even just pirates and smugglers. It could be anything.”

“Maybe Discord knows?”

“Undoubtedly,” Twilight deadpanned. “But do you really think he’d tell us anything?”

“Good point.”

“But that’s what the escort is for. We’re better prepared than any private venture ever was,” the Queen declared. “Plus, a Changeling Queen with a penchant for organisation. I have tried to account for every outcome whether it be the old demons of Hearth’s Warming or anything else. Of course, I doubt I can account for every possibility.”

“Oh, come on! You’re the most efficient person in all of Equus!”

“High praise from my own daughter,” Twilight said with a chuckle. “But there’s always something.”

“Well, let’s go over the plans one more time,” Avia suggested. “Maybe I can try to spot something.”

“Feel free,” Twilight agreed. “Though we should finish recapping your coming duties first.”

“Ah. Alrighty then…”

Twilight gave Avia an amused grin, shaking her head as she moved on to the next pile. She brought up a rather new set of documents, ones marked with the seal of the Princess of the Moon. A separate one was by it, likewise, marked with the Princess of the Sun’s own official seal. She levitated them towards her daughter, who took them with a confused glance.

“What’s this? This is new.”

“We got them a short time ago,” Twilight informed her. “Celestia and Luna want you to go to Canterlot during your reign alongside your father. As acting Queen of the Hive and Captain of the Royal Guard respectively, they want you to meet with both them and Captains Vladimir Vespertillio and Valiant Snow.”

“Oh, Valiant!” Avia exclaimed in recognition, remembering the pony she’d met as a relatively new guard so long ago… “I haven’t heard much about him since his father retired and he ascended to Captain of the Solar Guard.”

“Well, here’s your chance. But I hear he has settled in quite well in Broad Sword’s absence. His father must be quite proud.”

“Heh. I’m surprised Vladimir hasn’t followed suit.”

“In short while, I imagine he will. His age is rapidly catching up with him,” Twilight agreed. “I believe he has a successor already in mind.”

“Well, that’s good. What is this meeting about, anyway?”

“Since our hive is both an ally of Equestria and technically beneath its sovereign soil, they wish to discuss a matter of mutual defence,” the Queen explained. “Particularly in regards to the increasing rollout of new firearms. Most pony units are having their old crossbows replaced with this new gear. I would quite like our own force to make the upgrade.”

Avia let out a breath. “That’s… daunting.”

“And a lot for us to consider,” Twilight continued. “We’re entering a technological renaissance, excitingly and terrifyingly. The Friendship Express and other public services are faster than ever. New aircraft, television sets…”

“How can they get colour from boring old projectors but not those boxes?”

Twilight laughed. “It’s a new technology. There are always kinks to work out. But anyway, enough of that. Returning to this meeting, the Princesses have-”

“My Queen!” came the shout of a flustered changeling as the doors were unexpectedly throw open, a guard rushing in rather frantically. “I’m sorry I- What I mean to say it-”

“Calm down,” Twilight commanded, sitting up in a regal manner and staring down at the flustered changeling. “Guard, explain yourself.”

And it was then that, much to the bewilderment of the two royals, that they suddenly felt a strange sensation from within the hive mind. It was a sense of unease and dread that was spreading like wildfire from changeling to changeling, whatever it was causing such distress being passed on by one changeling to the next.

And all of it was directed to the two of them.

“Twilight…” Façade’s voice suddenly came in over the link, sounding despondent and saddened. “Avia…”

Now Avia was scared. “Dad…?”

“What is happening?” Twilight demanded to know, only to have his regretful silence answer her.

“We just got word from our embassy in Canterlot,” the guard eventually managed to report. “The news just came in over hive link for the Captain. It was passed to us to give to you.”

“And apparently to the whole hive,” Twilight said disapprovingly. “What is bothering you so and why has it not been relayed to us via hive link?”

“I-it seemed inappropriate,” the guard stammered. “This… The Captain wished you to hear it face-to-face.”

“What’s going on…?” Avia asked worriedly. “What has happened?”

“Your Highness…”

“Answer her!” Queen Twilight ordered him dangerously.

The guard was silent for several moments, seemingly collecting his thoughts and attempting to figure out how he was going to relay whatever news he had received. All the while, the mournful feeling of dread persisted throughout the entirety of the hive mind, greatly degrading the Queen of the Equestrian Hive’s patience.

But, finally, he found his courage to deliver bad news to the Queen.

“It’s your parents, Night Light and Twilight Velvet,” the guard said apologetically. “Our embassy, just a short while ago, received word from Princess Celestia herself that they have passed away.”

The world stopped.

Both Twilight and Avia sat there, motionless. They each stared at the guard disbelievingly, unable to comprehend the words he had just relayed to them. Twilight Sparkle, in particular, started to shake, barely holding in a sudden surge of anguish.

This… this had to be a mistake! This couldn’t be… They…

They couldn’t be…

“How…?” Twilight whispered quietly.

“Little is known, but apparently they both slipped away during the night. We’re all so very sorry…”

The hive’s fears came to pass, the Queen’s pain being transmitted to all changelings within her reach. The Princess too shared in this dreaded revelation and all the horrors it brought, a simple truth coming to mind all the while…

She had just been wanting to see them again…

And now they never would.

4 - The Ponies

It was good to see the rain finally come to a stop.

The clouds were parting as the weather teams willed them, allowing the sun to return to the grounds of Canterlot Castle. More than a few guards who had been running drills in the training field seemed to visibly brighten along with the day’s sky, glad to see an end to the water droplets running down their armour.

They were promptly called back into attention by an aged thestral with a glare in his eyes and a twitching metallic wing.

“Come on, foals! This isn’t a picnic, get marching!”

“Yes, sir! Sorry, sir!”

Vladimir rolled his eyes, before then secretly allowing himself a smirk. In truth, he too was glad to see the downpour cease. Mud and gathering puddles made putting the recruits through their paces an even more tedious job than it usually was. And he would be seeing a whole lot more of them, as Princess Luna had requested…

Trust the younger generation to get all the fun assignments.

“You’re pouting,” a male voice said, the thestral turning to see an alabaster pegasus with a crimson mane trotting over to him, said younger generation’s golden armour being noticeably drier than Vladimir’s. “Doesn’t look good on you, old stallion.”

The Captain of the Lunar Guard raised an eyebrow. “Mind out, Valiant. Just because you’re Captain now doesn’t mean I can’t outpace you. And I don’t hide in the castle when it gets a bit wet.”

“Still old, though,” Valiant Snow joked, getting a deadpan look for his troubles. “Sorry, but Dad gave me the go-ahead to give you as much shit as I please.”

“Language.”

“Hypocrite.”

Vladimir laughed, conceding the point. He had indulged in that little taboo every now and then, hadn’t he?

The two stallions turned back towards the marching recruits. By and large, they seemed to be keeping in formation with one another, though each could note a few small imperfections that they would iron out in the days to come. But these ponies had a long way to go if they wanted to progress through the ranks of the Equestrian Royal Guard.

“How is the weapons training going with your lot?” Vladimir asked his counterpart.

“Well… With the classic equipment. Swords. Spears. Crossbows…” he recounted. “The new stuff? Those rifles? Bah, training is a nightmare.”

“We’re still working out the bugs,” Vlad pointed out. “Happens when the landscape of modern combat changes.”

“Sure, but these things sure pack more recoil than any crossbow I’ve ever seen,” Valiant mused. “Can’t deny the results, though.”

“I’m not so sure,” the thestral stated, flexing out the hidden blades in his limb actuator. “Call me old fashioned all you want, but I still prefer these beauties. They might be phasing out crossbows, but a good blade isn’t out of the running just yet.”

“I don’t know, the guys running the armoury think melee skirmishes are going to become secondary to ranged fights given time.”

“Yeah, and we’ll see how these new weapons fare in some actual actions. War and magic can always screw over what ponies think will happen,” the Captain of the Lunar Guard said. “Not that there’s been much of that since you have been in the Royal Guard, Valiant. Three and a half decades of harmony has been pretty good going.”

“Well, there was that time we were involved in rescuing the Princess of the Equestrian Hive from a timberwolf king,” Valiant noted.

“That was in Ponyville. Ponyville is always the exception.”

Valiant laughed. “True enough.”

The stallions returned to silence, each keeping an eye on the ponies gathered before them. A separate drill instructor switched up exercises; several recruits were clearly nearing their present limits, but still some boundaries to prod and poke.

The sound of blades slicing the air caused their ears to twitch, the two Captains of the Royal Guard glancing up in time to see the unmistakable profile of an EUP helicopter passing overhead. The side doors were closed, shielding the occupants from view. Neither was certain where it was going, though it appeared to be heading eastwards. Manehatten, perhaps?

Though, seeing the flying machine caused Vladimir to turn back to Valiant with a knowing look.

“You’ll be on a journey of your own soon enough,” the bat pony commented. “First time out of Equestria?”

“Yeah, and to a place nopony has returned from no less,” he dryly remarked. “Well, it’s a good thing we’re going prepared. The HMS Clover the Clever is going to ferry us across from Vanhoover.”

“Apt name.”

“I think it was the Princess’ idea of being poetic.”

“What kind of ship is this ride of yours then?”

“Standard cruiser. Single helicopter parked on deck, main gun located at the fore, a few smaller batteries located along the starboard and port,” Valiant recalled. “We were thinking of a zeppelin early, quicker travel time and just as many guns.”

“Yes, either would be a good option,” Vladimir mused. “Though, we lost plenty of each back during the war with Immortalis.”

“Then it’s good we’ve upgraded,” Valiant commented back. “It was Queen Twilight Sparkle who suggested a sea vessel instead of going by air. A zeppelin would need to return to Equestria before long, but a naval ship can remain by the coast for a longer period.”

“Providing both a home base for the expedition and quick transport if need be,” Vladimir surmised. “Makes sense. I’d expect nothing less.”

“It’s been a hectic time getting all of this ready, even with but a week left,” the pegasus recollected. “But hopefully, if all is to plan, the drones from the Equestria Hive should meet us here before we depart for Vanhoover. Our supplies should have been loaded up onto the Clover by the time we arrive.”

“Knowing the Queen’s fondness for organisation, I imagine things will be fine,” Valiant’s counterpart noted. “So long as you keep your wits about you.”

“Dad would kick my flank if I didn’t.”

“Broad Sword always did like to lead by example.”

Valiant chuckled. “True. But being a hard ass never worked on Mum.”

“Because your mother is also a hard ass, so no pressure on living up to their legacy or anything.”

“Thanks, Vlad. Greatly appreciate the confidence,” Valiant uttered in bemusement. “Well, I suppose I had better leave you to these greenhorns. I’ve got reports to write and there is still a lot of work to do in the final week.”

“No rest, hm?”

“I have to finalise the supply manifest with the Queen,” Valiant informed him. “…Or a delegate, if she’s distracted.”

Vladimir hummed. Who hadn’t heard about the recent passing of a certain two ponies of infamous connection to the Changeling Queen? A tragic state of affairs, and one that led more than a few to worry about the mindset of the royal changeling.

And for Vladimir, for the same reasons so too did he worry about an old friend…

The Crystal Empire

The crystalline city amidst the Frozen North shimmered and shined beneath Celestia’s sun, the crystal ponies and other such inhabitants going about their lives business as usual. The love of the Crystal Heart could be felt in the air by each of them, the artefact in question idly spinning beneath the breathtaking palace at the centre of the ancient city.

There too did life continue as normal. Staff and guardsponies alike roamed the halls of the palace, doing their duties with the promise of pay, loved ones and a warm bed waiting for them at the end of a hard day’s work.

And yet, almost all of them were unaware of a certain dourness roaming the halls of the castle. A feeling of despair and loss caused by a simple message so recently received.

It was one that Prince Shining Armor knew, though. After all, he was the primary source. He had been the first to know the news about his parents, the middle-aged stallion then being forced to inform the rest of his family about the tragedy. Even after all the conflicts and family drama he had suffered in the past, from discovering his adopted sister’s background all the way to the Battle of Canterlot, telling his daughter that her grandparents were dead was easily one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do.

She was an adult. She’d kept herself remarkably composed and understanding for the sake of her father and mother at the time, even though he could see the pain in her eyes as clear as day.

But even at her age, she was still his daughter. Not a minor Princess of Equestria through birth. Not an all-powerful alicorn.

Just his little filly.

Said filly was now nuzzling the side of his head gently, offering comfort as he paused in his attempts to pack a simple suitcase.

“We’ll be there soon, Father,” Flurry Heart said. “Don’t worry, it’ll be okay.”

Despite the sense of loss, he gave a small laugh. “I’m meant to tell you that, you know.”

She smiled. “That’s okay, I can say it for the both of us.”

“Don’t forget me,” Princess Cadance interjected, levitating out a plethora of items for the case. “We all loved them. We need to remember them together.”

“We know,” Shining responded softly. “but right now, I just want my little sister to be here with us.”

“Auntie Twilight will meet us in Canterlot, no doubt about it,” Flurry Heart pointed out. “It will be good to see her before she leaves on this huge expedition everypony is talking about.”

“Yeah, it will. I’d pictured it with our parents being there waiting for a home cooked meal, though…”

Shining Armor saw Cadance give him a sad smile from the corner of his vision, his wife coming to sit by him on the opposite side to their daughter. She very quickly joined in the embrace, also having the effect of essentially wrapping Shining in the comfort of their ethereal manes. He had to admit to feeling more than a little better for it, but it didn’t entirely wipe away the void he was feeling the wake of his parents’ deaths.

But soon they would be in Canterlot for the funeral. He would see his sister again; he would see his friends from the guard there too. He could imagine a subdued worry from Broad Sword and Vladimir Vespertillio, and even from the likes of Scarlet and Valiant. He had no doubt that the news had spread to them by now, and it was the nature of friends to worry for one another during such troubling times.

Meeting up with those old fools, hitting up a bar… It would be a little like old times, even with the unfortunate undertone of it all. He hadn’t seen Broad Sword since his retirement, nor any of the others now that he considered it.

Returning to Canterlot was going to be a whirlwind of emotions, that much he could feel.

“Alright…” he finally said, reluctantly, pulling away from his wife and daughter. “We really need to get everything ready. If I know Twilight, and I do, she’ll be leaving before dark. So you need to finish packing, I want to be on the Crystal Express as soon as we can.”

“Hey, slow down,” Cadance said. “There’s no rush.”

He sighed. “I know. But we need to be there, not here.”

“I do kinda agree with Dad,” Flurry Heart supported. “I couldn’t stand another minute being here with all that is going on.”

Cadance bit her lip, but she seemed to nevertheless relent. “Okay, you have a point. I’ll need to find somepony to delegate our tasks too…”

“And on short notice…” Flurry mused with a wince.

“All of this was too sudden,” Cadance lamented. “I’m… not sure it’s truly sunk in yet. Not for me, at least. I don’t think it will until we’re there.”

Shining’s eyes fell, though he received one last nuzzle from his wife. He gave her a grateful look as she returned with one of sympathy, though she soon had to diverge as she started for the doorway leading out of their chambers.

“I’ll try to return as quickly as possible,” she promised. “If not, meet me at the station.

“Do you want some help arranging everything?” Flurry asked, before shooting her father a look of worry. “If you don’t need help here, that is.”

The Prince of the Crystal Empire gave her a nod of encouragement. “You old dad will be alright, sweetie. I can handle the packing; it’ll give me some time to clear my head. You two go on ahead, okay?”

Flurry Heart bit her lip, but she then gave a relenting nod.

With that, both alicorns departed from the room side by side. The elder draped a wing over her daughter as they went, comforting her for Flurry’s own barely hidden grief. Shining Armor watched them go with sad eyes, sighing once they were gone and returning to the open suitcase. His stress levels were through the roof, his advancing age certainly not helping matters.

But he needed to be in Canterlot yesterday. Not just because of his parents, but because he was still a big brother who knew just her temperamental his younger sibling could be. Especially with so much being placed on her shoulders with present events.

He pulled in a deep breath, letting it out in a manner replicating his wife’s famous calming technique.

He had to keep to together. Right now, his family all needed him to be strong, and he refused to let them down.

5 - Resentment

The light of the dawn washed over Canterlot, slowly stowing away the night in its eagerness to usher in the brand-new day. It truly was a beautiful sight, the elegance of the early morning rays peaking through the clouds and illuminating the large mountain upon which the city stood. The rocks were almost reflective, sparkling from their contact with the light as the first birds, rabbits and other forms of wildlife started to poke their heads out and awaken for the new day.

It was far too beautiful than it had any right to be, given the reason for the changelings’ visit. Even Ponyville, far off in the distance, looked nice and peaceful in such early hours.

Twilight sighed, glancing back from the carriage window and back into the interior of the magically flying transport. Several changelings surrounded it while four others pulled from out front, the Queen’s family pensively sitting around the interior. Façade was sat closely next to his wife, while Avia sat opposite with her head resting against the drawn back curtain. Her subtle snores indicated that, somewhere during the lengthy trip, she had drifted off to sleep’s embrace.

Twilight was somewhat glad for that; she herself certainly hadn’t been able to gain even a moment’s respite.

And then, soon enough, she found herself looking out of the window again. Canterlot was close now, and memories played in her mind of a previous visit in such a carriage. It had been just after she had reunited with Chrysalis for the first time, returning to Canterlot to face Celestia with the knowledge of her heritage. Only that one hadn’t been enchanted to fly, a long trip over various terrains had ensued. Such a long time ago…

A different time. A different Twilight.

“Are you alright?” Façade asked her, placing a hoof on her shoulder. “You look distant. Even more than you were, at any rate.”

“Just thinking of things long past,” she replied. “But it always seems that, every time I come back to this city, it’s because something big has happened.”

“I can recall plenty of small visits over the years,” her husband pointed out in turn. “Just remember how peaceful recent times have been. I know the big things can seem daunting, but they don’t make up the majority.”

“I suppose you’re right,” she conceded. “I’m just trapped in the past. I remember growing up in Canterlot, my parents were always so supportive of me. Even if I was always shut in, refusing to make friends… I’m pretty sure I worried them for a time with that behaviour.”

“You proved them wrong, Miss Element of Magic.”

“Yes… I miss those years sometimes. It was all so simple then. I’d write a friendship report here and there, learn a lesson…”

“Save the world…”

“Only on Saturdays.”

“Still, not completely different than today, hm?”

“Not entirely. But… I was more innocent, more like our daughter is now. My friends could always save everyone, leave the carnage to a minimum. Those lessons, that friendship, has always guided me all through my life… But I suppose, at some point, the simplicity of it faded away.”

“Tell you what, after this trip west is all said and done with, I think you need a break.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “A break?”

“Yeah. When was the last time you took a day off? And I mean a serious holiday, not just a quick visit while you’re still micromanaging things through the hive mind.”

“Well…”

“Can’t think of one, hm?”

She blushed. “I guess I’ve always put being ‘Queen of the Hive’ first…”

“Exactly. I’m thinking getting your friends together and going to wherever is fun. Las Pegasus? Saddle Arabia? I’ll even make sure Carduus can countermand you any time you try to do work through the hive.”

Twilight gasped. “You wouldn’t be so devious!”

“Wouldn’t I?”

Twilight faked pouted, but she then relented. “I guess it might be high time to relax a little… After the expedition. That’s also fun!”

“It would be for you… Nerd.”

Twilight playfully narrowed her eyes. “Oh, you are so going to pay for that.”

“Oh? I’m intrigued to hear how.”

“I can think of a few things…”

“Oh, shut up…” Avia mumbled groggily from the corner. “If you two wanna get a room, wait until I’m not in it.”

Both of her parents blushed, somewhat having forgotten that the Princess was present. Never mind the fact that she had supposedly been soundly asleep.

Fortunately for them both, any further embarrassment from the incident was halted by a tremendous roar that caused the entire carriage to shake, the sunlight streaming through the windows being blocked by a humongous shadow that cast them all into darkness. There was a shout from the guards outside as the carriage gave a sharp bank… But Twilight sensed no true alarm from her guards.

And then the shadow passed, the giant purple dragon who had produced it gliding by with a smirk on his face. Twilight’s heart soared at the sight of the best assistant in the world, Spike adjusting his course and starting to circle the descending carriage almost protectively.

And she swore she could just about see a few figures on his back of various pastel colours…

They were now on their final descent to the city, avoiding the usual entrance most civilians would use and were instead coming into a pre-prepared space in the grounds of Canterlot Castle just off from the landing pads set aside from EUP transports. One could see chariots of gold and blue set aside there as well, the personal ones belonging to the Princesses of Equestria. They stood in quite the contrast to the more technologically advanced helicopters also landed nearby, but nevertheless shimmered in their ceremonial glory.

There was a bump as the carriage hit the ground, several members of the Royal Guard and stationed army personnel clearing the area and preparing to welcome the semi-foreign royals. Ponies in gold and silver armours all lined up and stood to attention in greeting, though the Captains of the Royal Guard were noticeably absent.

The shadow returned as Spike perched himself on a nearby wall, his ginormous form looming quite dauntingly over the comparingly tiny equines.

“Well, quite the welcome,” Façade mused. “You girls ready?”

Avia stretched and legs and wings, ridding herself of any stiffness gained during her nap. “Yeah, I’m good. Could really go for a bite, actually.”

“Food or love?” he asked back.

“Yes.”

“I’m sure we can figure something our after we meet with the Princesses,” Twilight said with a chuckle.

There was a click as one of the changeling guards opened up the door, the green drone bowing as his blue armour glinted in the sun. They accepted the changeling’s invitation to disembark, giving the royal guard a nod as they stepped out into the ground of Canterlot Castle.

Twilight instantly met Spike’s gaze, smiling up at him.

“Spike, it’s good to see you,” Twilight greeted happily, her wings buzzing as she flew up to nuzzle the top of the giant drake’s head. “I swear you get bigger every time I see you.”

“I came the moment I heard,” he replied sympathetically, returning the affection gladly. “Are you okay? I was worried that-”

“I’m alright, Spike,” she assured him. “Drained, but we’re fine.”

He sighed. “Alright. But we’re here, we weren’t going to be caught dead anywhere else.”

“We?”

He smirked again, lowering his tail and using it as something of an impromptu ramp to allow his passengers to reach the safety of the dirt. Eight ponies, five of advanced age and three relatively young, all carefully hopped down to the ground and stood before the family.

“Girls!” Avia shouted, shooting forward with glee.

Awesome Blitz, Sapphire and Apple Surprise were all ready to receive the tackle hug from their fellow Cutie Mark Crusader, all simply glad to see one another again.

“Oh my gosh, what are you doing here!?” she asked amidst the glomp. “I had no idea!”

“Neither did we until this morning,” Awesome Blitz remarked. “But when a really big dragon comes along and tells you to hop aboard, you can’t really say no.”

“What she means to say is that we wanted to come see ya’ll,” Apple Surprise said with a clip around the pegasus’ ear, much to her protest. “Especially given what’s happened.”

“Yeah…” Avia muttered sadly.

“But hey, we’re here now!” Awesome Blitz then stated.

“Uh-huh,” Sapphire agreed. “We had to be here. Cutie Mark Crusaders stick together, right?”

Twilight looked on with a smile at the group of friends, still sticking to their childhood-born creed even well into their twenties and long having earned their individual marks. And speaking of such good friends…

“Hey Sugarcube,” Applejack was the first to greet, the aged mare still looking as strong as ever even through her increasing wrinkles. Though the growing resemblance to the late Granny Smith could certainly not be denied…

“Girls,” Twilight greeted back with no small amount of relief. “You really know the best times to drop in.”

“You kidding?” Rainbow asked incredulously. “Come on, Egghead. We’re always here when you need, right?”

Loyal to the end.

“When Spike arrived early last night with the news from Princess Celestia, we just had to come straight here,” Fluttershy agreed. “And when we told Avia’s friends, they were really wanting to come too.”

“My gal’ hopped straight into action,” Applejack said proudly with a glance at Apple Surprise. “Good head on her shoulders, that one.”

“They all do!” Pinkie Pie stated. “They’d all be here, but it was a little bit sudden. Plus, the original CMC are out of town.”

“Yes, Sweetie is in Manehatten on a ‘gig’ as she so roughly puts it,” Rarity noted. “But as it is, I suppose it was best we didn’t swamp you.”

“I’m glad it’s you who are here,” Twilight told them. “I… suppose I should have figured.”

“Duh,” Spike remarked with a rumbling chuckle. “You’d think you’d have learnt that by now.”

“As Façade was just telling me, I really need a holiday when all this is done.”

“Oh! I volunteer a party!” Pinkie instantly stated.

“Maybe we can work on that later,” Façade interjected. “We still have a lot to do.”

“I guess. Can you help the girls get some quarters set up?” she asked her husband.

He nodded. “Can do.”

“Don’t take too long now, you hear?” Applejack demanded. “We have a lot to talk about.”

“I won’t,” Twilight promised, lighting her horn and gently dragging her friends into a group hug. “Thank you… For being here.”

“Anytime, Twilight,” Spike answered for them all, happily watching the exchange from above.

And as the two groups of friends all gratefully encountered one another, unknown to them, another set of orb-like eyes watched from nearby. At the very end of the field, in a doorway leading into the castle, a blue drone watched on with curiosity. She watched the groups part, continuing to say a few more words to one another before splitting off. Some went with the Queen’s mate, moving in one direction while the Queen and Princess themselves moved off elsewhere with a small escort of drones.

Curious.

“Hey!”

The mare squeaked, almost falling over at the harsh shout. She turned in alarm to see a pony in Solar Guard armour approaching while looking more than a little cross. It was… more than a little intimidating if the drone had to be honest.

“What are you doing here?” the guard demanded to know. “This area is off limit to civilians, and that includes changeling dignitaries.”

“Oh, I-I’m not a dignitary,” she quickly explained, rushing to retrieve a pass that identified herself as a changeling love collector. “I’m new to the city, and I was told to look for Captain Valiant Snow to get myself recorded.”

The guard peered at the pass, finding the drone to be a member of Queen Vulgaris’ hive. He hummed, shaking his head.

“And what made you think it would be a good idea to wander out here?”

“Well… there are guards, and I’m looking for a guard,” she replied honestly.

He rolled his eyes. “I’ll take you to the Captain’s office, let you run through the paperwork. If it were up to me, I’d have some rookie deal with it. But the Princess insists that all new love collectors need to meet with either Captain Valiant or Captain Vladimir first.”

“I’m aware, that’s why I’m here…” she muttered. “Something about security, right?”

He shrugged. “Eh, not that you lot could do much harm with all the enchantments we have running every hour of every day. You turn into a pony right now and you’d light up like a Hearth’s Warming tree.”

“Right…” Maybe she should have just asked a servant for directions. “So, the office…?”

“Right. This way, Miss. And please keep to areas authorised to civilians next time.”

She would have to remember that. She couldn’t wait to get back into the normal city, where she could change and be free to take any form at will. So long as it didn’t cause a public disturbance at least, or it otherwise wasn’t used for malicious purposes. She’s heard of a few changelings breaking those laws for their own selfish reasons, usually ending with their arrest by pony authorities and harsh punishments from their individual Changeling Queens. It was rare, but it happened.

Still… the drone couldn’t help but bite her lip when she thought on what she had inadvertently seen. And a secret order her Queen had given all would-be love collectors while in Equestria.

It made her uneasy, but it was still a royal command.

“My Queen?”

Far from Equestria, in a jungle boarding the lands of the griffons and zebras, the Council Hive was almost entirely empty. There was a mostly crew of drones from various hives keeping it in order, as per usual, but that was almost the extent of it.

Almost.

On this occasion, the hive was host to two of its many Changeling Queens. Both were red in colouration, one deeper and significantly older than the other, standing close by to one another in the council chamber itself. It was here, surrounded by the various thrones, that their conversation had been interrupted by the ping of a drone over the hive mind.

“My Queen.”

“What?” Queen Vulgaris curtly responded.

“Um…” came the nervous answer. “Queen Twilight Sparkle just arrived in Canterlot. You said you wanted to know if we saw anything about her…”

“And? Why is she there?”

“I… don’t know.”

Vulgaris rolled her eyes with contempt. “Don’t bother me unless you have something more substantial to report, understood?”

“Yes… my Queen.”

“What was that?” Imperious, Vulgaris’ daughter and now a Queen in her own right, asked at her mother’s dismissive snort. “Anything good?”

“Just another useless incompetent drone doing nothing helpful,” Vulgaris remarked. “I swear that the quality of infiltrators has gone down ever since ‘Queen Twilight’ set the example of our species.”

“Love collectors, not infiltrators,” Imperious pointed out. “We don’t do that anymore.”

Vulgaris gave her daughter a withering glare. “I recall, when you were a mere princess with no hive of your own, you were rather indifferent about that pony lover. Now you grovel at her hooves like all the rest.”

“It’s not grovelling, it’s agreement,” Imperious retorted. “It’s hard to argue with the results of her bringing us into the larger world. Love comes in a constant stream, we have allies, and we might actually be growing in hives for a change rather than diminishing. I still don’t understand why you cling on to the old ways.”

“We were better as we were,” Vulgaris stated, looking in disdain at her own hole-less red hoof. “Before we changed. Crudelis had the right of it, we could have ruled over them all. Now we rely on Equestria, we might as well as be their vassal.”

“It’s a symbiotic relationship. You’re exaggerating,” her daughter replied. “We trade with them; they don’t have any say in how we run our hives.”

“They might as well, with how the others all try so hard to emulate Sparkle,” the elder Queen dismissed.

“Again, you’re exaggerating.”

“Am I? They’re all so happy with this little ‘relationship’ we have with ponies when, but a few years ago, they would have stood with us in taking what was ours.”

“Twilight Sparkle saved us from Immortalis,” Imperious stressed. “We were at her mercy, and now we have allies we can be damn well sure it never happens-”

“I remember well what happened!” Vulgaris snapped. “I do not forget the humiliation I suffered in that abomination’s thrall! And what that lunar alicorn did to me…”

“They saved you, you stubborn old mule!” the young Queen shouted indignantly. “I can see it! The other hives can see it! Why can’t you?”

“Because we don’t need ‘friends’, daughter!” Vulgaris snarled. “We are predators, they are prey. I no longer see the need to play nice with them.”

“Aside from the fact that we haven’t been this prosperous in thousands of years?” Imperious rhetorically asked with an annoyed sigh and growing headache. “One day you’re doing to have to see how much better off we are joining the rest of the world rather than either hiding in caves or trying to eat so much love we leave withered corpses in our wake.”

“And one day, when the novelty wears off, you will remember how much more we could have been.”

“But what would it have cost? I’d say Crudelis and Immortalis both found out the hard way,” Imperious retorted, before finally having had enough. “I’m returning to my hive. We’re currently trying to negotiate an expanded trade with the Princesses of Equestria. If you ever get tired with the barest minimum our council dictated, let me know.”

Vulgaris deflated as Imperious turned her back on her mother, starting to walk towards the exit. She was briefly halted, however, when Vulgaris spoke again.

“You will visit soon, won’t you?”

Imperious sighed. “You’re an idiot, but you’re my mother. I’ll see you in a month or so.”

And with that, the younger Queen departed.

Queen Vulgaris was silent for a few moments, but she then gave a snarl as she turned to glare at the throne at the head of the rest. The throne Twilight Sparkle had an infuriating habit of inhabiting during the latest meetings of the council.

She hated her. Hated the ponies of Equestria who had humiliated her and the hives. Why couldn’t the other changelings see it? Soon enough they would surely have Equestria’s whole culture forced onto them. How long until the hives no longer existed? Until they all identified as ‘Equestrians’? The other Queens thought she was crazy, but she just knew. It was only a matter of time before the ponies stabbed them in the back, ripped apart what was left of who they were. Either by time or by military force, she was certain they would do it.

No more Changeling Queens. They’d destroy them all.

And Vulgaris was alone in this conclusion. No allies, not even her own drones. They all thought her crazy. But she was the only one sane, she could see that this ‘friendship’ and ‘harmony’ was all a trick. One day, much as the changeling once would have done, the ponies would destroy them from within.

But maybe, one day, she would find an ally. Maybe she would find one who saw the ponies for what they really were, ready to take the appropriate action.

One day, she would see Equestria burning beneath changeling hooves.

6 - Rest

The walk through the castle was far cheerier than it would have been, thanks to the timely arrival of the ones whom the Queen and Princess of the Equestrian Hive each held dear. But despite the rise in their respective moods, there was still no denying the sombre edge to their mannerisms. A tenseness that was clearly visible to all that saw them, most of all the changelings dutifully acting as their escort.

The loss of Night Light and Twilight Velvet was weighing heavily down upon them, no matter who or what came their way to try and lift their spirits. Not that the attempt wasn’t appreciated by the empaths, but little could rid them of the profound loss they had both suffered.

But if anyone understood loss, it was the ageless alicorns they were now going to see.

Twilight, in particular, desired nothing more than Celestia’s comfort at that moment. Not that she showed it outwardly, not in the hallway. Others needed her to be the stoic and refined Changeling Queen - she was not blind to her own reputation as something of a world shaker and significant authority in the modern world. The changeling who revealed her kind, an Element of Harmony and defender of two nations. A burden long-held, it would help nothing for the common pony or changeling to see her true state and thus shatter the illusion they had cast upon her.

Such things made her yearn for that little library in Ponyville, back to days when she was seldom known despite already being a bearer.

And with each day gone by, she understood Celestia a little more.

“Are you alright?” Avia asked worriedly, her young age making her far less concerned about silly things like public image.

Lucky.

“You don’t need to worry,” Twilight assured her daughter. “I have a great many things on my mind, Avia. As you well know. But I believe the worst has passed.”

“You itch your scar when you lie.”

Twilight shot her a sideways glance, now very aware of her hoof hovering over the blemish in her otherwise pristine chitin. She couldn’t help but inwardly curse the changeling who put it there as she made a conscious effort to stop herself from scratching.

“Not here,” Twilight gently scolded Avia. “But on the note of such things, I am glad to see your friends came here with my own. I know how much they mean to you.”

“My first and only pony friends,” the Princess recounted. “I… didn’t expect them, not yet. I suppose I should have guessed my aunties would tell them what happened.”

“They know better than to discount such things,” the Queen mused. “And you will learn your friends always turn up when your life hits its low points, whether you realised it then or not.”

“You’re the friendship expert.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“Come on, ‘Element of Magic’ and all that.”

“True. But long has it been since I’ve so much as laid eyes on the Element or its power. I fear their days of being able to withstand grand adventures and threats to Equestria are behind them. The curse of such a long life, they can no longer keep up.”

“Good thing Equestria has been peaceful since… forever,” Avia stated, though her ‘forever’ only spanned a couple of decades. Still, Twilight got her point. “Besides, you think a couple of grey hairs would ever stop those mares? Come on, Mum.”

“I don’t,” she responded. “But I can still worry. Hives know I worry about them…”

“You are such a grandmother.”

“Not yet…” Twilight said with a teasing smirk. “But I can act my age, even if my body hasn’t quite reached it for another few thousand years or so.”

“Please, you’re not that old.”

“You’re my daughter, you’re biased,” Twilight pointed out. “I’m gone sixty, I dread the three digits.”

“And the Princesses are in the fours…”

“Don’t remind them. But speaking of…”

They had arrived.

Twilight wasted no time, with nopony making any attempt to bar her entrance, in moving through the hallway and into a nearby doorway leading to the royal lounge. The lounge was spacious, designed for far more comfort and entertainment than any of the usual studies made use of by the Princesses of Equestria. There were several lavish couches decorated with Saddle Arabian silks, cabinets filled with drinks both generic and alcoholic from all across the known world and other such amenities. Twilight could spot Luna’s favourite moonshine anywhere.

But they were hardly there for the selection of beverages. Rather, they were there for the ponies waiting within.

There were a few more than the Queen of the Hive had been expecting.

“Aunt Twilight!” Flurry Heart was the first to shout, moving to wrap her hooves around the Changeling Queen in an emotional embrace. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Hey Flurry,” Twilight responded warmly, if solemnly. Her gaze then went up to the other occupants. Celestia and Luna were there, but so were Cadance and Shining Armor. “Hey there, everypony. I… hadn’t realised you arrived so soon.”

“We arrived shortly before you did,” Shining Armor explained, the aged stallion moving forward to also greet the arriving changeling. “Heya, sis. How’re you holding up?”

Twilight sighed. “We’re doing okay. Just… processing the news.”

“I’m so sorry, Twilight,” Cadance said sympathetically.

“Not that you have anything to be sorry for,” Celestia said as she stepped forward, her eyes focused solely on the elder of the two changelings. “Such things happen, but we are all here for support.”

“Grandma Celestia…” Avia greeted sadly.

Celestia felt an odd feeling of warmness and despair at the younger royal’s words. Warm at her given title, and sadness at her tired and utterly helpless tone. She could tell at a glance just how mentally exhausted both mother and daughter were, worry pinging in her mind that she tried to keep off of her facial features.

“And you, little one,” Celestia said to Avia. “How are you, Avia?”

“Not little anymore…” Avia said with a huff. “But… yeah, okay. I hadn’t really expected this to… to happen.”

“You seldom can,” Luna mused from beside her sister. “For all it’s worth, you have my sympathies for your loss.”

“Thanks, Aunt Luna,” Cadance said sincerely. “From us all.”

“If you wish to talk…” Celestia trailed off after taking another step towards Twilight.

“Not just yet,” Twilight replied with the raise of her hoof. “We’re both a little drained from the trip. For the moment, I think we’d just like to settle in for our stay here.”

“I know what you mean,” Shining Armor concurred. “Hearing about our parents…”

“Not to mention the chaos getting here so quickly,” Flurry added in. “I’ve never had to pack so quickly in my life.”

“I did most of it. But… yeah, things aren’t great.”

“Understandable,” Luna agreed with a nod. “And I think we can accommodate you.”

Celestia glanced between them, clearly wanting to speak with Twilight some more on the matter. But she kept that desire hidden well enough, keeping her usual grace for the moment as she nodded in concurrence.

“Very well. If you want to relax, feel free to do so until you wish to talk. Just don’t keep it in, these days will be… trying, I feel.”

“We all know, don’t worry about it,” Cadance assured the Princess of the Sun. “We’ve all just arrived, there’s plenty of time for it later.”

“I am here to worry. I suppose this is me acting my age.”

“Hey, that’s like what Mum and I were saying,” Avia joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Just something about us ‘elder mares’ acting like ‘grandmothers’. That’s what she thinks, anyway,” Twilight remarked.

The Princess of Equestria frowned. “And what’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing!” Avia defended quickly. “She was saying she was old, I was saying she worried too much and… that kinda thing. It’s nothing, really!”

Celestia’s eyebrow raised further. “Are you calling me, the Princess of the Sun, old?”

Avia’s eyes had a brief moment of widening before they went deadpan. “Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“That. All of that. I don’t like where this conversation is going.”

There was a round of chuckles at Avia’s expense, the Princess of the Hive suddenly regretting her clearly successful attempt at levity. Sometimes being the youngest immortal/near-immortal in the room really worked against her. The never-ending trials of a young Changeling Queen…

“I nearly had her,” Celestia said, letting the regality drop in favour of a small amount of smugness. “But it seems she’s learnt. If it were you, even at that age, you would have been an apologetic mess, Twilight.”

“Don’t bring this around on me,” Twilight shot back. “It’s Avia’s turn.”

“I object,” Avia protested.

“You don’t get a vote.”

“Anyway, being the good uncle that I am and coming in to save my niece…” Shining Armor cut in. “I think we can continue this later. We’re all tired, and it’s not going to get better. We should follow the example of the others and find our rooms.”

“Very well,” Luna said. “I assume you all recall where they would be, or do you wish a servant to lead the way?”

“I’m sure we can manage,” Cadance denied before she then turned to Twilight and gave her a light hug. “We’ll be nearby if you need us, alright?”

Twilight returned the hug with a grateful smile. “I know.”

The two parted, Cadance giving similar treatment to Avia as they all said a final few words between the two families. And then, eager to mentally prepare themselves for what was to come, the three left to go and find their suites.

Once Cadance, Shining Armor and Flurry Heart had departed, Princess Luna cleared her throat to gain the attention of those left in the lounge.

“I too shall depart, duties await my attention,” she declared. “Twilight Sparkle. Young Avia. Be well.”

Avia watched Luna leave, the alicorn vanishing through the doorway before the changeling turned back to face her mother. She received a nod that said “Go on”, and the Princess got the message. Assuming that the Queen would be right behind her, she too turned from the lounge and started to make her exit.

Twilight sighed.

“Twilight…” Celestia said softly, coming up alongside the Queen and using a hoof to turn her head until their eyes were locked. “I am here, now and always.”

“I’ve never forgotten,” Twilight responded with a nuzzle. “But not now, please. It’s… still processing, I guess. One was enough, but now…”

“I know. Please, take the time you need.”

“I will. Just… stand with me in a couple of days, yeah?”

Celestia nodded. “On that, I promise.”

The Princess of the Sun kept her word.

For the most part, the next few days in Canterlot Castle passed by quickly and with emotions held in check. Well, not completely; the air of loss was one that didn’t fade away quite so easily. But with the whole family now gathered, with friends there to also provide their support, it was enough to keep the despair at bay.

But nothing could hide the service on the horizon, a funeral for Night Light and Twilight Velvet intent on delivering them to their final rest.

And so, when that day came, Celestia ensured her attendance. Her daughter needed her, even more so than her spiritual granddaughter that was Avia. She was strong, much like her mother. But Celestia knew Twilight, her eyes betrayed the weight she now felt crushing down on her shoulders. Avia had lost her grandparents, but Twilight had lost her parents. And for all she had already suffered, she knew the pain to be both searing and buried deep in her heart.

And so, even as the rain predictably fell around them, the two rulers stood side by side. They stood, waiting for the caskets to fill the empty graves before them. The service had been… beautiful, for lack of a better term. Each had taken their turn to memorialise the lives of those lost, speaking before all the mourners about all the couple had been.

Friends

Parents.

Grandparents.

More.

And through it all, Twilight somehow managed to keep herself in check. The tears wouldn’t come, not like they had back at the hive. But everything ran through her head. Every moment, each day they had spent. The story she now knew, two ponies finding a small bundle with what seemed to be a small unicorn filly abandoned on their step deep into the night. The day of the interrupted wedding, her father’s relentless teasing…

They accepted her without question.

Her father…

“D-daddy?”

“Twilight? It is you, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s me… look if this is a bad time-”

“Don’t you even think about it, young lady!” Night Light blurted while pulling Twilight into a warm hug, a tear rolling down his cheek.

Her mother…

“Honestly young lady, I have half a mind to ground you!”

“But, I’m an adult.”

“And I’m your mother!” Velvet finally shouted, running up to Twilight and crushing her into yet another embrace. This was becoming a theme.

Her voice came out at a near whisper. “Please don’t scare me like that again…”

That day, she had known everything was going to be alright. They never left her side for a second. Even when the Empress took all she was…

“Twilight!” Twilight Velvet called out, running up to and embracing her adoptive daughter. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“You too,” Twilight replied, hugging back. “And you, Dad.”

Night Light joined in on the hug, holding his daughter tightly. “Welcome home, Twily.”

Each moment. Each memory. Every single one examined and re-examined again as if she were studying some ancient text. The memories seemed ancient enough to be another lifetime for another Twilight Sparkle.

And as she recalled what was, something began to bubble in her chest.

Once the initial services were done, the group were moved outside and into the graveyard itself sitting within Canterlot. Celestia stayed close, Avia hanging a little back alongside Shining Armor, Cadance and Flurry Heart. More than a few friends also accompanied the grieving family, the individual friends of both royal changeling among them. Even Broad Sword and Scarlet Snow were there, the two elderly alabaster ponies standing towards the back.

And now they were there, waiting for the caskets as the silence threatened to crush them beneath its oppression.

A couple of ponies meandered by, two clearly not of the group. Perhaps they were visiting another already present grave? Either way, both stopped dead at the sight of the funeral service, looking like two jackalopes caught in front of an incoming wagon.

“What’s going on, Moonlight Shadow…?” one asked the other.

Moonlight Shadow himself, a darker grey pegasus with a blue mane, bit his lip. “Let’s just say that the royal group has had some troubles recently…”

“Hey,” Twilight heard Broad Sword gruffly warn behind her, though she kept her focus on the empty graves.

Still, the glare of the former Captain of the Solar Guard seemed to get the message across.

“Come on, let us leave them to it…”

As the two bystanders left, Broad Sword returned to the side of his wife. They quietly shared a few words amongst themselves, before they too returned into silence.

The waiting commenced, and the first tear started to slide down the Queen’s cheek.

“Hey…” Celestia quietly comforted as she draped a wing across the changeling’s back. “It will be over soon…”

“I never wanted it to be over…” Twilight muttered. “They’re gone, Celestia. I can’t… It’ll be my friends next, and then…”

“Don’t think about that. Not now,” she advised gently in turn. “Just remember all that was good about them.”

“It hurts more… Heh, I’m so selfish.”

Celestia blinked. “What?”

Twilight’s eyes drifted down towards the dirt, bitterness running through both orbs. “Three mother mare… That’s what my Mother, Chrysalis, once called me. It was true. I’ve lost two, and both fathers, but I have you still, right? M-most ponies, changelings, they all only get one chance. I-I got t-three, so I should be happy. I should be feeling lucky. I should be…”

Twilight scrunched her eyes, a subdued noise of pain rose from the pits of her stomach and gurgled in her throat. The wing around her tightened, a white muzzle resting against her chitinous neck.

“You have as much right to feel this as anyone else…” Celestia cooed. “It’s okay, Twilight. You do still have me, but it’s okay. Oh, my student. Let the Changeling Queen go for the moment, please. You can let it out. Shout at me if you must, as you did before. But do as you need, and I will bear it all…”

As Celestia allowed herself to be a mother for a moment, holding the trembling Changeling Queen in her grasp, Avia slowly nudged her way closer to Twilight and rested herself against her. Twilight felt her presence, both in the real world and within the confines of the hive mind, consequently reaching out her own lavender gossamer wing and bringing her child into the fold.

And then the caskets appeared.

The three generations of family watched as the Queen of the Hive’s adoptive parents were carried out. Their caskets were crafted with the finest of woods, polished and decorated and yet not overdone. They watched as they came closer yet, until they were finally suspended above the graves dug out for them.

Twilight’s horn subtly lit with a lavender light, mixing with the unicorn magic already lowering the two deceased ponies down to the place of their rest. They were gently laid down at the bottom, the dirt quickly following as the graves were filled until it was as if the holes had never even been there at all. What was left was a joint gravestone with their names and cutie marks.

Night Light and Twilight Velvet. Parents of Princes and Queens. Friends to all of Canterlot. Forever shall they rest in peace.

And just like that, it was done. They were gone, and they weren’t coming back. Twilight would never see their faces again, hear the senior Twilight’s gushing of her children’s’ achievements or Night’s pestering and teasing.

Just as she would never again hear Chrysalis’ encouragement or bear witness to her stern protectiveness over her child.

Chrysalis was benevolent and loving, but she could be angry and vicious. Twilight Velvet was excitable and daring, but kind and thoughtful.

Twilight loved them both equally, as she loved the alicorn beside her now.

Two were gone. Two-thirds of what had seemed a whole.

But even as the other started to depart, Twilight forced resolve back into her heart. She had her own child to protect, in that she had to follow in the example of Chrysalis herself. Her hive needed her. And all those to face the days to come needed her.

So, stuffing the tears back down, she brought back the Changeling Queen once again.

The hole could never be filled, the pain to be carried forever. But, wherever they all were, she could still do them proud.

The West would not wait on her pain.

Author's Note

Moonlight Shadow is the OC of my patron Darkness Productions.

And on that note, for those who have not seen it yet.

NEW PATREON!

There are various reward tiers for helping me eat in the coming days. Updates shall still occur on FIMfiction as they always have, but any and all support would be appreciated!

Further note:
Updates may continue to be a bit sporadic for the next few weeks or so, life has been... unfortunate as of late. Hopefully, things will go back to normal soon.

8 - Expedition

Today was the day.

Queen Twilight Sparkle was stood outside Canterlot, watching as her drones ran a few checks on the last couple of carriages about to make the flight to Vanhoover. The morning was still cool and early, the birds living around Mount Canterhorn making their first chirps of a new day, much to Fluttershy’s inevitable delight.

Most had already departed, of course. Those Equestrians not already aboard the HMS Clover the Clever in Vanhoover had departed via helicopter with Captain Valiant but an hour ago. Her changelings were not far behind, carrying all Twilight would need for her research as well as other odds and ends the hive was bringing along. All that was left was for the Queen and her Captain of the Guard to depart with their entourage, after which Avia herself would be returning to the hive to take over as regent for the time being.

So too would Twilight’s friends be returning to their lives in Ponyville, and the rest of her family to their own seat of power in the Crystal Empire. As excited as she was for such a long-overdue scholarly exercise, the parting of ways between them and her was coming a bit too soon for her tastes.

Still, it had to happen. Long gone were their adventuring days, and the hive needed its Queen giving her undivided attention in its endeavour.

“That’s the last of everything” Façade informed his wife. “Anytime you want we can be on our way to Vanhoover, though I wouldn’t wait too long. I think we’re all eager to set off.”

“Then I suppose ya’ll should be moving,” Applejack commented, trotting up alongside the Changeling Queen. “Don’t feel right for ya to wait around on our account.”

“I’m sure she can spare a few moments for farewells,” Rarity added. “We absolutely must see you off properly. Especially on a task of such importance.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “If you say so, I’m just jealous she’ll be kicking Wendigo flank without us.”

“I doubt that,” Twilight replied with a chuckle. “If any Wendigos did not follow ponies to Equestria, thus avoiding being wiped out by the Fires of Friendship, chances are that they moved on a long time ago.”

“Come on, Twi. When have we ever been that lucky?”

“We do run into a lot of ancient bad things!” Pinkie chirped unhelpfully.

“Oh dear, you don’t think it’ll be that dangerous, do you?” Fluttershy asked worriedly.

“I wouldn’t worry, Mum is waaay scarier than anything the West can throw at her,” Avia pointed out.

Twilight raised a metaphorical eyebrow. “Scary, huh?”

“Well, I know you’re not really scary, but they don’t know that!”

“I don’t know…” Façade inferred. “Sometimes she can channel her mother pretty well.”

“Not helping,” Twilight deadpanned as the others giggled at her expense.

“Well, either way, you clearly have everything in hoof,” Princess Cadance said as she took a step forward. “All I ask is that you stop off at the Crystal Empire when all is said and done. It’s been too long.”

“Hey, any chance to admire my statue,” the voice of Spike sounded above them, the enormous dragon latched onto the mountainside above.

Twilight gave him a smirk. “Yes, any chance to admire the statue that, by this point, counts as a baby photo.”

“It is cute to imagine Uncle Spike so tiny and adorable,” Flurry Heart interjected.

“Please, Spikey-Wikey is still cute and adorable. Have you seen the collection of bow ties I made the dear for special occasions? They make him look quite handsome,” Rarity added in.

Spike, for many conflicting reasons, became a giant tomato.

“Alright, leave the guy alone,” Shining interrupted despite his own amusement. “Come on, Twily. Spike might be adorable, but you’ve still got a continent to explore.”

“Hey!”

“You brought it on yourself, Spike.”

The dragon gave an indignant puff of steam, but he otherwise didn’t press the issue further.

Twilight tittered behind a hoof, but she otherwise conceded her brother’s point. “Alright, yes. I suppose that’s enough fun for the time being. Are you all going to be alright?”

“Are you?” her brother shot back at her.

The Queen sighed, almost going to itch the scar on her chest before catching herself and resisting the act. “I… Yes, I think so. I’ll have plenty to distract me, though it is hard to not think about… Mum and Dad. But yeah, I will be okay, Shining.”

“Just remember that your brother is just a scroll away,” he reminded her, placing an empathetic hoof on her shoulder. The affection and brotherly love radiating from him was very comforting for the empath. “You might be the Queen, but I’m still the older sibling.”

“Doesn’t mean you are any less able to contact me, don’t forget,” she gently reminded him. “But I know, Shiny. Thank you.”

Shining Armor gave his younger adoptive sibling a small smile, leaving the matter at that.

“And you girls, have a safe trip home, alright?” Twilight next spoke to her friends.

“Shucks, Twi. You don’t need to worry none about us,” Applejack denied.

“Just have lots and lots of fun for us, okay!” Pinkie Pie stated, Fluttershy glancing at the mare and nodding along supportively.

“I will,” the Changeling Queen assured, finally turning to the last of those she needed to speak with. Avia, on her part, stood a short distance away with her Ponyville friends flanking her. She seemed… apprehensive, something Twilight didn’t need to be sensitive towards emotions to figure out. “And you, Avia. I expect a call the moment you find yourself somewhere that Carduus cannot help with.”

“Come on, I’ll be fine,” Avia tried to brush her mother off, but her subsequent chuckle was strained. “I’m just running the hive, what could go wrong?”

“Dude, never ask that. Ever,” Awesome Blitz deadpanned. “You’re just asking for it.”

“Oh, so that’s where we went wrong for all those years?” Sapphire enquired.

Apple Surprise scoffed. “Then it’s definitely your fault, Blitz.”

“Is not!”

“Girls!” Avia interrupted. “Knock it off!”

Façade laughed. “I suppose she could always take them on as her ‘royal advisors’.”

Avia took a step back. “What? No!”

“Hey, great idea!” Awesome Blitz supported. “Cutie Mark Crusaders: Royal Advisors! I don’t think we ever did that one.”

“Not happening.”

“Yeah, I don’t think we know the first thing about that,” Apple agreed.

“It’s not like we can just leave our lives in Ponyville,” Sapphire noted.

Apple Surprise then gave a hum of agreement. “Ma would have my hide if I up and left the farm.”

“Darn tootin’ I would!” Applejack shouted irritably from nearby.

The pegasus shrugged. “Eh, fine. Guess Avia will just have to manage without us.”

“I can manage!” the Princess protested. “Come on, guys. It has to happen sometime…”

Twilight shook her head, her eyes nevertheless twinkling with pride as she stepped forward and embraced her daughter in a warm hug. The encounter lasted several precious moments, but soon they had to break apart.

“I know you will do a wonderful job,” Twilight assured Avia. “As much as I worry, you are more than capable. You’re smart, level-headed and have the hive’s support. And mine.”

Avia glanced away, grateful but slightly embarrassed. “Thanks, Mum. I appreciate it.”

“Okay then. Now…” Twilight reluctantly stepped away from them all, turning to face her husband. “Shall we go?”

“Now would be a perfect time.”

“I’ll meet you there!” Spike called out, giving a nod and smile to the others before starting to beat his massive wings and kick off from the mountainside.

As the dragon circled a few times before getting his bearings and heading towards Vanhoover, the changelings all started to get into position for their own foray into the skies. Façade opened up the door into their own carriage, the Queen turning towards her gathered friends and family one last time.

“I’ll see you all when I get back, plenty of stories to tell. Give Celestia my love, I know she would have liked to see us off if royal life wasn’t so busy.”

“Don’t worry,” Cadance replied confidently. “We will. Have a safe trip.”

Twilight gave them all a smile, then turning her back and stepping up and into the carriage. Façade followed her in, shutting the door behind them and pinging the drones to begin their ascent.

And so the changelings made their departure from Canterlot, watched by those below and the alicorns in the castle in passing out of one of its many windows. For all the pain suffered recently, all the uncertainty, it could now be laid to one side. The prospect of rediscovering a lost land was at the front of all their minds, the idea now feeling quite real, leaving them all eager to be underway.

Whatever awaited, it would soon be known.

Vanhoover

The docks on Vanhoover were quite busy on a regular day, but on this one, it was especially so. Many ponies grew curious and looked onwards at the influx of changelings both armoured and not, alongside more than a few of their Equestrian Royal Guard counterparts assisting the crew of the HMS Clover the Clever prepare for departure.

This had been something of a sight for the past few days, supplies being brought en masse onto the great metal vessel. But now more than ever was the dock upon which their ship was moored a hub of activity, and it became a particularly curious sight when one last convoy of carriages descended down from the sky, pulled by the changeling guards up front. It was out from these carriages that a Changeling Queen emerged, recognisable as Twilight Sparkle, before she quickly moved up from the dock and onto the deck of the Clover.

Oh, and there was also the gigantic purple dragon circling overhead. Yes, it was fair to say there was a lot of gossip throughout the city because of it.

Twilight herself mused as such as she stood by the railings at the bow of the ship, looking into the cityscape with a thoughtful expression. They were departing soon, so she also took the moment to get a good long look at Equestria before she left it for Celestia knows how long. She’d never even travelled in a ship like the Clover the Clever before, so that was sure to be an interesting experience.

“This just in, Twiggles the Bookbug is seasick!”

“I was wondering if the visit in the war room was all we’d be seeing of you, Discord,” Twilight said calmly, though inwardly bemused, turning around to see Discord lounging in mid-air wearing a sailor’s outfit. “Did you come to see us off?”

“I suppose you could say that,” he replied, floating back down onto the deck. “Off on another adventure, daring as always, with such a capacity for… interesting times.”

“You mean ‘chaos’.”

“Your words, not mine!” he smugly defended. “But it’s nothing you cannot handle in your usual merry little way; I’d just spoil the show if I tagged along. I doubt I would be welcome.”

“You haven’t annoyed whatever is over there, have you?” she asked knowingly.

“Actually, I have done so such thing!” he retorted. “Just mere looking from afar, I’ve never touched the ponies’ old house. No, poking is your job this time around. But really, how this will go is so predictable.”

“We’re heading into a place that we have no idea about beyond your irritatingly cryptic comments, and you’re saying it’s ‘predictable’?”

“It’s a weekly thing, you go in do a friendship and then return in time for tea,” he commented. “Aside from the times where you blew up Ponyville and then Canterlot after that, but those were special occasions.”

“Which you missed.”

“I rebuilt you a library, my sins are paid for.”

“Uh-huh…”

Discord rolled his eyes. “Now don’t be coy, that’s my job! Point is, I have every confidence that you can solve any issues without my help, and the outcome will likely be better for it. When it comes to friendship and being all diplomatic, Twilight…”

There was a flash, and suddenly Twilight found herself right at the frontmost part of the boat. She was looking over the ocean while standing on her hind legs, forehooves stretched out wide with Discord holding her in that position from behind the Queen.

“You’re the Queen of the World!”

“Discord!”

A purple flash of a teleportation spell and then Twilight was safely back on all four hooves behind the Lord of Chaos, the trickster himself chuckling joyfully as he turned to regard the changeling.

Still, Twilight latched onto his wording

“So, I’m going to have to be ‘diplomatic’, then?” she enquired. “Is there a civilisation over there? Did someone move in after the ponies left?”

“Oh dear, I do believe I’ve said too much as it is,” Discord dismissed. “I’ll leave you guessing. But I will be around, count on that. I do find your shenanigans to be of interest, especially when they’re intercontinental!”

“I don’t do ‘shenanigans’.”

“Oh, but you do, Twilight. You really do,” he responded with a grin. “See you soon, your Majesty.”

Discord took that moment to depart, laughing all the while in a way that Twilight knew enough to make her bristle. Whatever he was predicting, she couldn’t help but get the mental image of him sitting in the ethereal plane, lounging on a huge sofa while holding a tub of popcorn.

At least the trip wasn’t going to be boring.

“Worried?” a voice from behind her asked, the Queen turning to see her husband. “I saw your guest; he have much to say?”

“Only what is typical for him,” she answered as he joined her back by the railing overlooking the city. “I hope I’ve brought enough parchment.”

“You’re kidding, right?” he deadpanned. “It’s filled up half the hold.”

She blushed. “You know I like to be thorough…”

“That you do,” Façade confirmed, shuffling up closer to his other half. “So, are you worried?”

Twilight hummed in thought, glancing up at the city’s few skyscrapers. Diplomatic, Discord’s exact wording… She could do that. Diplomacy was, at its core, forging a friendship between two separate entities. And she knew friendship very well. She was the Element of Magic, after all, even to that very day. All the lessons she’d learned with her friends before and after her revelation, the problems they’d encountered and solved together both far-reaching and small scale.

She’d forged a relationship between the changeling hives and Equestria. She’d mediated between the latter and the griffons, dragons, as well as many others. When they needed someone to conduct talks for a matter of interest to both changeling and pony kinds, they came to her. When the changelings wanted something from the world, they came to her. Even during a time where her faith in friendship had diminished, it was friendship that broke the Empress’ hold over her and ended her dominion.

She might not always get it right, but yes, she knew how to be diplomatic. And for her flaws, that’s what the ones at her side were for. Whatever it was Discord was challenging her to, she was more than ready to accept.

“Only a little,” she finally responded after her thoughts. “But I have you, Spike, and all the others. Whatever the case, we face it together.”

“That’s the spirit, your Majesty,” Valiant Snow remarked as he entered the scene. “The Captain also wishes me to convey his greetings and wishes to see you at your earliest convenience. You should also be aware that we will be leaving port soon.”

“Thank you, Captain,” Twilight thanked. “I’ll go right away.”

“You’d better make sure your people are all aboard,” Valiant then said to his changeling counterpart. “I’ll do the same with my ponies. These sailors won’t wait while a stray hits up the seaside bar.”

“Already done,” he replied, a twitch of his head indicating his ping over the hive mind.

“Oh, now that is cheating.”

Façade laughed, shaking his head. “I’ll help you gather yours and find any who missed the memo.”

“I would hope the Royal Guard could keep an eye on the time,” Twilight dryly remarked.

“Never hurts to check,” the pegasus said. “If you don’t mind me commandeering your husband for a while.”

“I’ll try not to dwell on the obviously unintended innuendo there,” Façade joked.

“I… would rather you didn’t. Yes.”

“You can take him,” Twilight said with a small smile. “You might want to make it snappy; I don’t want to keep the West waiting.”

The two Captains gave the Queen a nod, trotting off to do just that. As they departed, the changeling gave another glance at the city before then turning her head to stare out into the depths of the ocean.

Whatever was out there, she was ready for it.

And then she too turned to head inside the ship, and soon enough she had met with the Captain, and both Valiant and Façade had corralled any stragglers onto the vessel. And with Spike marking the start, giving his great wings a beat and shooting off ahead, the ship would be freed from its moorings and drift out into the sea. Engines engaging, the Clover the Clever and the expedition team aboard her were soon making good time across the waves towards the Undiscovered West.

9 - Kingdom

The sea was relatively calm today, thankfully. The HMS Clover the Clever rolled along the waves of the Western Ocean like an agile pegasus would through the skies. The lack of rough weather and, Celestia forbid, any incoming storms allowed the ships’ passengers and crew to make good time in their journey towards the Undiscovered West. The great naval vessel was more than up to the task, the crew hard at work to keep her on course as the days rapidly rolled on by.

It was an interesting experience for all the changelings involved, and some of the ponies too. Most had never been on a boat like this one, never mind travelling across the ocean itself. While some had found their sea legs after the first day or so, others…

Twilight felt a little guilty at her inner amusement and just how many of her hive she would catch with their heads held over the railings to hurl into the ocean, but her sympathy for their plight far outweighed the humour of the situation.

Mostly.

Of course, it wasn’t like she had been completely immune. Though her queasiness had passed on by quicker than some of the others, at least.

The Queen herself was presently on the ship’s bridge. The pony in the fancy hat and sitting in the central chair, clearly the Captain, was giving orders towards the other Equestrians manning the varying stations sitting before the outer windows that spanned the bridge’s exterior and afforded them a view of the deck and the sea itself. There was a decent amount of traffic outside too, whether it was the ship’s passengers simply passing the time away or the crew performing their jobs to their maximum ability. So too could Twilight occasionally spot a flier circling back down towards the ship, some pegasi and changelings keeping an eye on the sea around the vessel with a bird’s eye view.

Spike was not among them, the drake almost certainly being long at the coastline of the Undiscovered West by now. That would have been the advantage of a zeppelin, if it wasn’t for such a vessel’s need to return to Equestria before the expedition’s completion. But alas, they needed the Clover to Clever to stay for the whole duration, so Spike would just have to wait for their arrival.

Maybe he’d even carry out a flight over the landmass, at least part of it, to get a lay of the land. Yet, part of Twilight hoped he would stave off on the initiative this time, not being entirely comfortable with her oldest friend being alone in that place with Discord’s cryptic descriptions, dragon or not.

Still, she was probably worrying too much. He knew not to poke a metaphorical bee’s nest, if such a thing was even a possibility, and could look after himself. For now, all the Queen of the Hive could do was observe the working of ship and crew with great curiosity and interest until the day that they found a nice beach to come up alongside.

“Captain,” Twilight bid the pony farewell as she turned from the bridge and stepped through the door and out into the corridor beyond, needing to lower herself to accommodate her greater height.

The biggest discomfort was definitely how cramped the ship was, especially given the natural superiority Changeling Queens held in terms of stature. Her horn threatened to dent the ceiling if she so much as glanced upwards.

Tink.

Case in point.

“Bah, forget it.”

The lavender changeling was surrounded by a burst of flame, her form shrinking down into something more akin to her height back when she was but a ‘regular old unicorn’.

“Much better.”

She continued her journey, descending into the ship and in the general direction of the vessel’s quarters. She’d been offered the Captain’s ever so courteously, though she had declined. She had ended up finding herself falling asleep up on deck most nights, beneath the comfort of Luna’s stars.

Besides, the corridors were cramped enough for her, no need to get started with the living accommodations.

Just short of the ships regiment of bunk beds, Twilight turned off into another sizable chamber that seemed to be quite lively at that moment. The room was dominated by rows of metal tables and chairs, a cafeteria, or galley, sat at one end where a few ponies were serving up food straight from the kitchens to the various hungry ponies and changelings. There was a blue changeling stallion behind it too, serving up a few more carnivorous menu items the shapeshifters had brought aboard with their supplies.

Twilight pinged that changeling to bring her over a rather more simple daisy sandwich, ever the fillyhood favourite, before easily locating the one non-ascended changeling in that mess hall.

It was very hard not to notice the holes.

She approached, seeing him conversing with the present Captain of the Solar Guard over a spot of lunch. They seemed to be alone aside from that, a few spaces seemingly left respectfully open between them and the next nearest pony or changeling.

“Twilight,” Façade greeted his wife, shuffling up to let her hop up next to him while he took in her current form. “Trouble?”

“These corridors are too small,” Twilight sheepishly admitted. “It’s easier to shrink myself down than keep scratching every other doorframe.”

“I don’t think these ships were ever designed with royalty in mind. Pony or changeling,” Valiant noted apologetically. “Funny how said royalty always turn out so big.”

“Nothing funny about it, equine shaped or not, we are an insect hive at the end of the day,” Twilight said jokingly. “And it’s not our fault Equestria happens to be ruled by the only known modern alicorns.”

“I don’t know, there was that hippogriff ruler, Novo…” he then added.

“She wasn’t that much bigger than most of her species. Besides, Queen Skystar is a lot shorter than her mother was.”

“The current ruler of the Griffon Empire is a short fellow,” Façade pointed out.

“Sure, he is. I’m just saying a lot of royalty seems to end up being taller than their subjects for some reason.”

“Come on, Valiant. Unless you’re a changeling, where it’s a biological certainty, it’s circumstance and coincidence.”

“Alright, how about a bet?”

“A bet?”

Twilight could only groan inwardly as all this started to transpire.

“How about this…” Valiant started. “When we get to the Undiscovered West, if we find there’s some kind of civilisation there…”

“Civilisation?”

“Who knows? Discord was rather evasive, maybe the wendigos evolved into something more than monstrous ice ghosts? Point is, whatever it might be, their leader will be at least double the height of the others. A bottle of Abyssian Whiskey says so.”

“Done.”

“And if there isn’t anything there but flora and fauna…?” Twilight deadpanned as she leant on the table with a bemused expression.

“We get one anyway?” Valiant suggested with a shrug.

Façade nodded. “Also done.”

“If I knew drawing attention to my height would cause you two to pull an Applejack and Rainbow Dash and be all competitive, I would have just dealt with the roof scratching.”

“Sorry, honey,” Façade apologised. “Just some friendly rivalry between two leaders of their respective Royal Guard. Nothing new there.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, nevertheless managing a smile. “Alright, just go easy. And you’d better win that bottle, consider it a command.”

“As you wish, my Queen,” her husband relied rather flirtatiously.

The changeling ruler’s sandwich was brought out, and the conversation turned from idle bets and competition to other matters from the wellbeing of one another’s family to topics relating to the guard and rulership of their two kingdoms. And for the most part, the Queen did find herself enjoying just talking in a moderately ordinary environment such as a cafeteria for a change, even if that cafeteria happened to be aboard a sizable naval vessel.

And amongst this feeling of normalcy away from the responsibility of overseeing an entire hive of thousands, Twilight couldn’t help but peer into the hive mind as she wondered just how her daughter was doing…

“I’m fine!” a rather frazzled Avia insisted to a knowing Carduus, the young Changeling Queen pacing the throne room as she seemed to re-read a comically long checklist thrice. “I’m compartmentalising it all, sorting through it… FINE!”

A hair seemed to pop out of place.

“I’m old, not senile,” Carduus deadpanned. “And I knew your mother when she was just the same. I know when a bout of Twilighting is occurring.”

“I’m not- Wait, that’s a thing?”

“I believe it was her friends who first coined the phrase a long time ago. But yes, even if seldom used. Especially nowadays.”

Somehow, Avia doubted her mother had been particularly thrilled about that revelation when it first popped up.

“Whatever the case, that’s not what I’m doing!” she adamantly lied. “I have everything handled, I promised Mum I would! It’s just an… adjustment to have potentially dozens if not more drones at a time all calling you over the hive asking for advice, permission or even just so you can come and bless their new-born because that’s a thing we’re apparently expected to do!”

“Not ‘expected’, but it’s an honour. Iuvenes was blessed by Queen Chrysalis, you know.”

“Well, it’s news to me!” she proclaimed, a flash indicating her teleport as she reappeared and slumped down into her mother’s throne. “And now I have a headache.”

Carduus chuckled, shaking his head as he gathered up the discarded checklist and levitated it back over to the Princess. She took it begrudgingly, rolling it up neatly and placing it aside.

“I think I just need five minutes. A small break…” she admitted, rubbing her eyes with a hoof.

“Well, that’s one difference between your mother and you. Back when she was you, she didn’t know the meaning of the word ‘break’,” Carduus regaled the royal changeling.

“I find it hard to imagine. She’s always so… on point with everything.”

“She has had decades to get used to the job, even if her transition into the role was under… sad circumstances.”

“I know. Grandmother…”

“But even before then, she had practice and times when she had to adjust to having so many voices clambering for your undivided attention,” he continued. “It’s why Panacea and I never had more than one nymph. She was a hoofful as it was.”

“I’m getting the general idea…” she muttered in turn. “I don’t know whether I pity or envy the Princesses of Equestria for having to attend to their subjects needs face-to-face. It’s vastly more inefficient, but I imagine the inner peace and quiet is nice.”

“At least you can block out the annoying ones,” Carduus said with barely hidden mirth. “You will get used to it, Avia. You’re biologically designed for it, after all. As you said, it’s an adjustment. But do it enough and managing those voices becomes second nature.”

“Was it like this for you, when you were Captain of the Royal Guard? All those soldiers you needed to direct?”

“In some moments. But nothing like what you’re going through,” he conceded. “Even with their increased numbers since my time in the role, the guard is a minute segment of our population to have an active connection with. As Queen, you have to deal with all-”

“Over a hundred thousand of them. I noticed,” she said with a light chuckle. “That’s a lot of kids.”

Carduus gave a hearty laugh back. “As you say, my Queen.”

“Avia…?”

“Speaking of, Mum’s on the line,” Avia informed the elderly changeling, turning her attention to the hive link.

“Heya. How’s the cruise?”

“The height of luxury,” Twilight replied with blatant sarcasm. “Any troubles?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Carduus?”

“She’s managing,” the changeling in question informed her. “With the expected bumps, but she’s fine.”

Avia grumbled irritably. “Hey! Is my word not enough!?”

“It is, sweetie,” Twilight replied apologetically. “But I also know you don’t want to worry me, and I do.”

“Well, don’t. I will get used to the traffic in the hive’s egregore, I just need to flex the hive centres in my brain, that’s all. No Twilighting at all.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Uh, nothing!”

“Right…” Avia groaned wearily as she could just feel her mother file that comment under the ‘interrogate later’ section. “Well, okay then. We’re still a few days out from the coast.”

“Um, okay then… So… any seasickness?”

“I’m fine, though this mode of transport is an interesting experience. I’m in the mess right now with your father.”

“Hi, Dad!”

“And there it is. Being a good girl?” Façade asked.

“Aren’t I a bit old for you to be asking that?”

“Never.”

“Anyway…” Twilight continued. “Once we do arrive, we’ll make sure to keep you updated on what’s happening when it does. Spike should already be on the shore.”

“Sounds good to me.” If she couldn’t be there, she might as well get a live retelling, right? “Tell me if you find whatever it was Discord was being cryptic about.”

“I will. On that, I promise.”

“Thanks. Well, I suppose I should get back to trying to be the Queen for a little while longer.”

“Good to hear. I love you, Avia.”

“Love you too, Mum. And you, Dad.”

“You look in a better mood,” Carduus noted as Avia returned her focus to the then and there.

“Yeah. It’s nice to hear what’s going on over at the Clover.” Despite some poor choices of words on her part. “Alright, I suppose there are nymphs that need blessing. Checklist?”

“Right here,” Carduus said as he passed it over to the Princess.

It was going to be a busy day. And yet she could only imagine that, soon enough, her mother was going to be even busier.

Several days later…

“Land ahoy!”

Ignoring that rather enthusiastic call from a younger member of the Solar Guard, Twilight too held onto her excitement as she examined the beach before them.

The HMS Clover the Clever had gained a view of the Undiscovered West a short time ago, adjusting its heading as they grew closer to the shallows and dropping anchor as close as they could get to land without running her aground. Already there was a flurry of activity as pegasi and changelings flew from the ship and towards land, ferrying supplies as they went.

There was a good amount of activity at the back of the ship as well, the helicopter being prepared for take-off in order to carry across those who were lacking in the wing department.

But for all this activity, strangely, Spike was nowhere to be seen.

“I thought he was meant to meet as at the shore…?” Façade enquired. “Where is he?”

Twilight bit her lip, trying not to worry. “I’m sure he will be fine. He might be further along the coast, or inland. He will find us.”

“Well, I guess you’re right. Either way, we have leave to go ashore. Want to get this thing started?”

She smiled at him. “Gladly.”

Her gossamer wings buzzing excitedly, the Queen kicked off the deck of the ship with both Façade and a group of her guard flanking her sides. She immediately started to head towards the beach alongside the rest of her hive and the ponies accompanying them, finding a nice clear spot amidst the activity where she and her escort could safely set down into the sand and cease their flight.

And there they were, there she was, her hooves pressing into the beach. The homeland of the ponies, their cradle, where their civilisation had first dawned while the changelings still served under Immortalis far across the globe.

And she also realised that they were the very first changelings to ever visit this continent. Ever.

They made history with each step they took.

“You okay?” Façade asked his wife, nudging her gently.

“Very,” she said with a large smile. “Come on, let’s help set up camp.”

They did just that, lending their hooves to unpacking and ensuring they had everything they needed to make their initial outpost from the Clover the Clever. This would be their first step, from here they would need to survey the area and decide on a plan of action on how they would tack mapping the landscape.

Perhaps it would be prudent to go in the general direction of Unicornia, the old home of the unicorns. She had a general idea of where to look from the old tales of Hearth’s Warming, the mountains towards the centre of the continent. But that would be quite the trip, and a lot of ground to cover and explore in the meantime.

Would they find intact ruins? Artefacts left behind? Art? Tomes? Spells?

Who knew what they could uncover? Part of her dreamt of finding alicorn lore, considering others aside from those she knew could only be seen depicted in old ruins the likes of which Daring Do would raid. Temples built by the original settlers of Equestria, or by the odd mysterious few who left may have departed the west before.

The Three Tribes was an era of pony history still bathed in mystery, the scraps they had being generally few and unreliable. Especially when you looked back past the evacuation to Equestria. The return of the Empress had shed so much light on the history of her native species, maybe their efforts here would do the same for her adoptive one.

They moved their equipment and pitched their tents in a wooded canopy just beyond the beach, setting up in the cover of the foliage and using the trees as supports. Soon enough they had everything they would need set up as they had planned it, from sleeping accommodations to tents filled with supplies.

And throughout it all, there was still no sign of Spike.

“Careful with that, there is fragile equipment in there,” Valiant warned some of his ponies as Twilight watched, the Equestrians levitating the create into a tent as they laid the finishing touches. “Alright, that’s all from the Clover for now. They still have a good compliment in their hold if we need anything else, though.”

“I think that’s good for now,” the Queen announced. “Have the guard set a perimeter watch, and the rest can take a break. We’ll start a proper survey tomorrow morning.”

“As you wish,” the Captain confirmed. “Alright, ponies! The roster is by the command tent, right over there! If your name is on there, report to me for your patrol routes. Anypony else, enjoy your homecoming!”

There were a few cheers from the gathered ponies, Twilight smiling at their jubilation. She could already see some of the professors and selected students from Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns making notes and doing small tests like taking soil samples. There seemed to be genuine enthusiasm for returning to their ancestral home.

She supposed it was the same for any changeling travelling to the Council Hive.

Twilight gave a satisfied sigh as she made her way into the command tent, taking in the table filled with empty parchments and maps waiting to be filled in. She made sure to send a mental note to Avia about their progress, walking around the table as she did so.

Where to first…

“Already planning the colonisation efforts?” Façade asked as he walked in behind her.

She tittered. “I think it’s a bit early for that. Still, the weather doesn’t seem cold and icy. A good sign for there being no wendigos.”

“Thank the hives for that.” He walked beside her, picking up one of the blank maps. “Think it’s time to fill in the first edge?”

“How about naming this beach ‘Clover’s Landing’? Do you think he would have liked that?”

“What? The actual pony?” he asked. “He already has a ship named after him.”

“Among other things. Still, this was his birthplace.”

“True. Well, it couldn’t hurt.”

“Glad you agree,” she responded as she took hold of the parchment from him. “Still, I’ll talk it over with Cele-”

A mighty draconic roar sounded from somewhere distant, echoing across the landscape and undoubtedly disturbing the local wildlife. Twilight heard the whole camp go silent at the roar, the Queen groaning as she trained her ears.

There is was again. Closer.

Spike?

Façade looked up at his wife. “He sounds…”

“Panicked!”

There was a pop as Twilight teleported both herself and her husband back outside, just beyond the camp and on the beach to afford them a good look at the sky. And there, flying towards them from a high altitude and all eyes moved skyward, was Spike himself. He rocketed towards them, his wings beating hard as if his life depended on it.

And then something shot through the clouds, spinning towards the drake and wrapping itself around his wings and binding! Great colossal chains stopped his flight, Spike giving one final roar of alarm as he floundered above the trees towards the ground!

“Spike!”

Twilight kicked into the air, her horn lighting as she channelled all she could into a levitation spell. Her magic wrapped around her faithful assistant, compelling the dragon’s fall to slow down until he impacted the beach with a much-reduced impact. He rolled as sand was kicked up in droves, coming to a stop in Twilight’s magical grasp just short of the water. Bruised, but otherwise intact.

“Twilight! Above!”

Twilight looked up at Spike’s warning, her eyes widening as the clouds high above them started to part. And then, at a steady pace, an object started to make itself know. A vessel, a zeppelin, not unlike the ones used by the EUP in Equestria. A reinforced airbag supported by several small ones, alongside some interior ones too if she were to hazard a guess. The main hull was underslung, bristling with guns, though there didn’t seem to be any on top of the main balloon as with Equestrian designs. The hull also seemed to support a more jagged design, as if its aesthetics were meant to bread intimidation and fear. And whereas Equestrian designs would hold whites and blues with the Equestrian flag displayed prominently, this thing was predominantly a dark grey colour with a flag depicting an orange unicorn with a red mane surrounded by little yellow diamonds.

Almost like the ancient flag of Unicornia, yet modified…

It started to descend, its shadow being accompanied by two others that soon moved in to join the first…

“Shit!” Façade swore, sending an urgent ping over the hive mind for all present changelings to mobilise.

“Mum?” Avia called worriedly over the hive.

“Avia, not now!”

The Queen heard alarms from behind her originating from the Clover, the vessel training its guns on the incoming zeppelins as they moved to surround the beach.

“Wait!” Twilight commanded as she projected her voice, as much to the unknown individuals aboard those vessels as to her own people.

Oh, she was going to kill Discord!

“Spike!” Twilight urgently addressed. “What happened!?”

“I scouted the coastline first, there was nothing. No signs of settlement,” he informed her as he ripped away the chains trapping his wings. “But then I went inland and… there was a town! They were waiting. Twilight, they’re…

The sound of chopping blades caught Twilight’s ears, her eyes once again going skyward as a helicopter of unknown design started to approach them from just above the treeline. It was larger and clunkier than their own, which was rolling out its magical weaponry at the incoming transport, the unknown design also sporting two sets of rotors to keep it aloft over their single.

“Steady…” Twilight commanded as ponies and changelings all surrounded her protectively. “Hold unless they fire the first shot.”

The unknown helicopter started to hover up above them, turning and then beginning its descent as a large bay door started to open at the back.

Two zeppelins with their guns trained on them and the third with its signs on the Clover, not to mention however many people were aboard that transport. That was versus them, caught on the ground, albeit with plenty of fliers ready to get up into the sky. Plus herself, a Changeling Queen of great magical power, Spike and his torrents of fire, and whatever support the Clover could provide.

If it came to it, it would be a devastating fight for both sides. One Twilight couldn’t be sure of the outcome. If she could get off the ground without getting blown up, she could probably tear those ships apart, but what of everyone else?

She really didn’t want that. Whoever these people were, she had to defuse whatever misunderstanding had transpired before something terrible happened.

And then the transport came to a stop a short way away on the beach, finally affording the Changeling Queen of view of Spike’s attackers. What emerged were equine shaped adorned in full brownish-grey armour, including a fully masked helmet not unlike the suits of armour you might find in the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters. Their design seemed archaic, but she had no doubt the metal was as strong as their own.

And then there were the horns poking out just above their faceplates…

“…they’re ponies,” Spike finally finished.

Twilight held herself high, giving the approaching unicorns a cool expression as she stepped forward. Their leader, who she judged as such due to the fancier-looking helmet, stopped a short distance from them alongside his cohorts. They studied each other a moment, Twilight deciding that she needed to be the one to make the first move.

“My name is Queen Twilight Sparkle,” Twilight greeted cordially. “I don’t know why you attacked my friend, but we mean no harm to you. We come from a land across the sea, Equestria. These ponies are descended from those who came from these lands, we only wished to see what had become of it. We would like nothing more than to be friends.”

The lead unicorn seemed to examine her for a moment. Finally, however, his horn lit up as he removed his helmet to reveal a yellow unicorn stallion with a brown buzz cut for a mane.

“I am Stout Guardian, Captain of the Royal Guard of his Majesty King Ignis.” Royal Guard? King Ignis? Quite the welcome wagon, it’d put Pinkie Pie to shame. “You trespass on the sovereign territories of The New Kingdom, rightfully earned by ponykind. Other outsiders have come before, they weren’t allowed to leave and reveal us to outsiders such as yourself. But never have you come in force such as now.”

That wasn’t promising… At least this explained what happened to those explorers, pony and otherwise, who never returned from the Undiscovered West.

“We recognised your approach some time ago,” he continued. “After the dragon. We were sent to hunt him down before he could raze our towns before making contact with you. It seems our goals have aligned together.”

“I wasn’t going to raze anything, thank you,” Spike said indignantly.

“Beasts should not speak when not addressed,” Stout Guardian said sternly.

“Huh?”

“He’s with us,” Twilight said with a deep frown.

“And your word is not much better, whatever it is you are.”

This was going to be a challenge, alright…

“She is the royal one here, and she speaks for us all,” Captain Valiant said as he stepped forward. “Pony and otherwise.”

“Says the pegasus,” he sneered back. “But fine, you seem to be in charge, so it is you we shall converse with.”

“And what is it you want?” Twilight asked cautiously.

“Coming here with a military vessel states your intention as a war declaration.”

“No, not at all,” she denied earnestly. “We had no idea of your existence until now. We simply wished to explore what we believed to be an empty land, we had no idea ponies still lived here.”

“As was intended, so that is good news. If you were a simple group of travellers, dealing with you would be simple. But a group as large as your own would be missed, so our King wishes to speak with you personally before any action is taken. You and a small group will come with us, the rest will remain by your ship until it is said otherwise.”

“And where is this ‘King Ignis’?”

“Our capital city and ancestral home, Unicornia.”

Unicornia! So… These were the same ponies who lived here well over a thousand years ago!? Does that mean… some didn’t follow Queen Platinum to Equestria? How could they not have known this!? Their understanding of the west and that time was flawed, but to this extent?

At least she was getting to scratch that scholarly itch after all.

“Twilight…?” Façade addressed covertly. “I don’t trust them. But…”

“This Ignis would be the person to speak with to broker something of a peace out of this.”

“This is what Discord spoke of.”

“Yes. Reuniting Equestria with their long-lost kin by negotiating with this unicorn king.”

“My Captain will remain here,” Twilight announced. “You will all take orders directly from him, listen well.”

“I know what you’re doing. We can link and converse directly, which they don’t know about,” Façade noted. “I don’t like leaving you with them, though.”

“It’ll be alright. I know what I’m doing.”

“If there was ever a day I wished you didn’t have to pave the way for every friendship…”

Twilight gave him a small smirk, then turning her sight to Captain Valiant. “Select a few ponies and changelings, an equal but reasonable number each, to accompany us. We will take our own helicopter, so we don’t need exclusively fliers for this.”

He nodded. “Understood.”

“Your own…?” the Captain of The New Kingdom questioned with a hint of impatience.

“All due respect, we’ll feel safer in our own transport,” Valiant responded for the Queen. “I’m sure you understand, captain to captain, how seriously the safety of my people us to me. Besides, it’s that or we run amok on your ships.”

“…Point taken. Proceed.”

“And we can take you word that no one here will be harmed in the meantime?” Twilight asked him as Valiant got to work.

“King Ignis has given me orders, despite your outside nature. Be honoured by that uncommon gesture,” he said gruffly. “Unless he says otherwise, you are safe.”

She would just have to not give him a reason to say otherwise, then.

Captain Valiant had soon enough gathered a small group of guards, loading them up onto the transport for transit to Unicornia. Stout Guardian gave strict instructions to the pilot to remain close to them for the duration of the flight, stressing that any deviation would be met as an act of hostility. With that in mind, they all started to load up as Twilight made one last look at the camp.

Of all things, she had not expected this to come of it so quickly. A whole country of ponies outside of Equestria, isolated for a millennia and yet developing in ways so familiar. She could see Façade and Spike both watching on with worry, both for her own safety and theirs as the three zeppelins continued to loom above. But she had to try, if Discord believed she could meet the challenge of introducing these unicorns to the world in friendship, then she would give it all she had.

This wasn’t what she expected. But it was now simply what she had to do.

“Avia…?”

“Mum! Finally! What’s going on?”

“We’re a bit busy right now, so I need you to send a message to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.”

“What? Why can’t Spike do it?”

“I don’t want to risk further misunderstanding by having him breathe fire. Please, Avia.”

“Alright… What do you want me to tell them?”

“Tell them…” Twilight paused, the enormity of the situation finally hitting her in full. “Tell them that we have met the ponies of Unicornia. And tell them that we are now the guests of The New Kingdom.”

10 - King

Unicornia was like Canterlot in so many ways. Unicorn architecture was extremely recognisable, timeless even. Something that they had taken over to Equestria with them, transplanting itself into the current capital city. A mountainside city, each district holding its own layer. The higher up the mountain you got, the higher the status of those living there. And there, at the peak of Unicornia, was the castle. The very same castle once host to a younger Princess Platinum and the unicorn monarchs of old.

Now the seat of power for this ‘New Kingdom’.

There were obvious differences to Canterlot, however. While the unicorn design style was as recognisable as it was, it was also… older. Whereas Canterlot was created with extravagant whites, golds and blues, Unicornia was largely constructed with cold stone that gave the city an overall drearier medieval feel. It was a testament to the city’s extreme age, making it all the more remarkable that it still existed as it had for multiple millennia. They seemed to have taken great pains to keep to the city’s ancient aesthetic, preserving it as best they could. Though a few modern innovations could be spotted if you looked hard enough, the houses were far less likely to fall over than they had been a thousand years ago.

Still, despite the modern elements visible in the lives of its inhabitants, it was almost like Queen Twilight Sparkle was walking through history itself.

She’d be even giddier about it if it wasn’t for the spiteful glares that they were receiving from the ponies around them.

“That’s a lot of unicorns,” Valiant noted as they were practically paraded through the streets, the guards accompanying the Changeling Queen staying at a safely close distance to her. “Not a pegasus or earth pony in sight.”

“I doubt you will find many. If any at all,” Twilight noted. “The unicorns of the Three Tribes were renowned for being isolationist, even more so than the aggressive pegasi or the stubborn earth ponies. Too proud of their heritage and accomplishments.”

“That left little mixing, then.”

“You’re catching on. Most ponies in Equestria have some kind of DNA from one of the other sub-species. These unicorns won’t.”

“I’d know, my mother is a unicorn,” he mused, getting a distasteful side glance from Stout Guardian for his troubles. “I guess these ones never took the Hearth’s Warming tales to heart.”

“I doubt they are even told it. They might not even be aware.”

If they were, she doubted they’d hold it in much regard. It wasn’t they who were chased to Equestria by the wendigoes, after all. They never learned that lesson, the power the Magic of Friendship holds. The isolationist policies of the past was still very much an active thing in this land.

A challenge indeed.

And it was made incredibly obvious at just how little these ponies trusted or even abided the existence of outsiders within their borders by those continuing stares. The civilians displayed incredible amounts of distrust, ushering their foals back into their houses and keeping a sizable distance from the party. The guards escorting them also showed little patience ever since their transports had landed lower down the mountain, even if they were more adept at keeping their features a little more neutral beyond the occasional glance.

The Queen couldn’t help but feel like a bit of a sideshow as they continued to walk, but she kept her head high and tried to seem less threatening. She was tempted to shapeshift herself into a more ‘acceptable’ form, but such deceptions would probably only make the ponies more suspicious. It was best she avoided that outcome.

It was best to be transparent, let them see changelings as they are. If she could show them that they, despite their differences, meant them no harm. That they could coexist.

That was the plan, anyway.

Travel through the city continued mostly in silence, with Twilight’s guards clearly on edge as they watched the local ponies for any hostile action. None came, however, and soon enough they were passing through an area recognisable as the seat of the nobility. The streets cleared out, next to no ponies now watching them from the side-lines. To be expected, the nobles had little reason to leave their homes, and most other ponies wouldn’t come this far up without rhyme or reason.

And this gave the group a clear shot of the castle.

“Know your place when we arrive,” Captain Stout Guardian commanded. “Speak only when spoken to, keep in your group and don’t wander off. Any deviance will be met as-”

“Hostile action, we understand,” Valiant stated.

“-and don’t talk back or otherwise interrupt the Captain of the Royal Guard,” he finished with another glare. “Behave. Or else.”

“We… understand…” he replied again, his voice clearly indignant.

“Do you know? Good. Make sure the others show the same level of intelligence. This is our home, outsiders. And we will protect it from outside interference.”

“There is nothing to fear from us,” Twilight spoke up. “We merely wish to coexist.”

“Coexist. Right…” he said doubtfully. “Either way, only the one you’ve identified as your leader will be meeting with the King directly. The rest of you will be forced to wait outside of the throne room.”

“Now hold on,” Valiant protested. “We’re charged with Queen Twilight’s safety; you can’t expect us to leave her entirely undefended.”

“And we won’t have armed strangers approach our ruler. It would be best for you to comply if you wish to go any further.”

“It’s okay, Captain,” Twilight assured him. “You know I can look after myself. But I don’t think it will come to that.”

Valiant seemed hesitant, but he did not argue with her. “Very well. If you really think it’s for the best.”

“I do. This is their home. For now, we play by their rules.”

“Huh. That is… gratifying to hear,” Stout commented. “But quieten yourselves, the castle is just ahead.”

Indeed it was, the road coming up to a giant portcullis that seemed to serve as the entryway to the castle. There were guards on the wall above, all staring down at the arriving ponies and changelings with their rifles held at the ready within their magic grasps. The Captain called for the gate to be opened, a deafening screech filling the air as heavy chains pulled the gate out of their immediate path. They didn’t stop during the process, moving straight on through before the gate was shut back up behind them.

Next was a set of giant wooden doors, rather plain and brown in nature. They too were opened up to allow them entry, revealing the stone entrance hall decorated with several of The New Kingdom’s flags. A couple of servants had been passing through, freezing on seeing the changelings and quickly scurrying back the way they came.

So much fear for what they didn’t understand…

“The courtyard in question is just through here,” Stout Guardian directed, trotting up a single flight of stairs and towards a subsequent corridor. “Once it is secured, your ‘Queen’ will be led to the throne room for her meeting with King Ignis.”

“Thank you,” Twilight responded. “Lead the way.”

He nodded, continuing to lead the way until they came upon a segment where the corridor opened up into a square courtyard sitting beneath the bare sky. It was bordered by a stone barrier decorated with ornate grey pillars, the courtyard itself containing several bushes filled with flowers and a single decorative well at its centre. A few birds were chirping as they hopped along the ground, only to be disturbed and take flight by the rapid approach of so many sets of hooves.

“Alright, file in,” the Captain demanded. “Gather around the well. No funny business.”

“Do as he asks,” Twilight asked of the others, gesturing with a gossamer wing for them to enter the courtyard before following on.

She then gathered with them, glancing around her as she saw the unicorns take defensive stances all around the exterior edges of the courtyard. They were all looking inwards, weapons drawn and standing vigilantly in a manner that suggested they truly expected the visiting party to start some kind of trouble.

“Remain calm no matter what they do or say,” Twilight commanded her changelings over the hive, each of them standing up straighter and more confidently in response to her voice.

“Unicorns of the Royal Guard, you will stand your ground and watch these ‘people’ like the seasoned warriors you are,” Stout ordered the helmeted guards. “You two, accompany me as we take their leader to the throne room. Flank her from behind, I will lead on from the front.”

“I am ready to cooperate,” Twilight said placatingly. “Please, honour me with an audience with King Ignis. I do look forward to making his acquaintance.”

“Do not underestimate our king. His magic is powerful, I wouldn’t advise believing yourself in a position of strength here,” the Captain warned.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she answered. “This is your castle. Your territory. I am but a guest here, I await your directions.”

No need to tell them about the sheer magical power she also was able to produce.

“Good. Leave your associates behind and follow on, the King will not be kept waiting.”

With that, once again, Twilight was left to follow the Captain’s movements. Valiant offered her a look of worry as she was led away from the courtyard, but he quickly fell out of view as they headed deeper into the castle. She remained silent for the moment, content to let Stout Guardian to believe her defenceless and pacified. His sense of superiority over her clearly made him more comfortable in her presence, she would let him have it for the time being.

Such mistrust wouldn’t go away immediately, after all.

Still, she was heading towards what was hopefully the start of changing that. King Ignis, whoever this pony was. Would he see reason? What kind of a ruler was he? Benevolent? Tyrannical? She had to hope for the former, it would be much easier to work with. Either way, if she could just make him understand their peaceful intentions, then they could begin a rapport.

It would also be interesting to see, in their isolation, just how much they actually know about the state of the rest of Equus.

They turned again, moving past a fantastic view of the lower sections of the city. But then, up ahead, a smartly bearded pony in a tuxedo came into view. He seemed to study Twilight before turning his attention questioningly to the Captain of the Royal Guard.

“Captain, I assume this is their leader? She is different than what I would expect.”

“Yes. Some strange insectoid pony hybrid.”

“Fascinating.”

“Not the word I would use.”

“I have many words I would use over your definition, guardspony,” he snarked. “But alas, that is not for the here and now. I shall accompany you.”

“And… you are?”

“Assisting Hoof, assistant to our fair King Ignis,” he replied with a courteous bow. “And you, my lady?”

“Twilight Sparkle. Queen of the Equestrian Hive.”

“Queen? Well well, a royal visitor is a rare sight to behold.”

“Don’t fraternise with the outside, Hoof,” Stout moaned.

“It is a rare opportunity you people don’t seem to comprehend. I understand our natural concerns, I share them. But it is still no reason not to see the opportunities as well, nor to lose our decorum.”

Stout Guardian grumbled under his breath, the Queen finding herself growing to like this pony. He was the first, despite his own suspicious glint she could detect in his emotional state, to show any degree of actual respect or courtesy.

“I appreciate your opinion,” Twilight said to him. “I understand that The New Kingdom isn’t usually welcoming to those outside of this land.”

“The cold of the wendigos is taught to us all from a young age. The disastrous outcome of outsiders coming to our land,” he recalled. “I do hope you intend no such devilry, but it is cautious optimism. I hope you realise how unusual you are to be in this place.”

“I appreciate the reality of it,” she confirmed. “But we are not the wendigos, and we have a close relationship with the ponies of Equestria.”

“Yes, we have heard some of this ‘Equestria’. Platinum’s experiment. Until now, we have been content to let it sit on the other side of the ocean.”

Stout scoffed. “That land of misguided idealism brought those ice spirits with it. It is better we leave them to their chaos.”

“Quite true. But still… One does wonder.”

“Equestria hasn’t had contact with wendigos since just before its official founding,” Twilight explained. “I think you misunderstand a lot of how things are in this day and age.”

“Should you speak true, I look forward to hearing it.”

“Don’t humour the insect,” Stout chided. “We are safe away from their world. Not that they appreciate that.”

“What of your ruler?” Twilight inquired.

Assisting Hoof raised an eyebrow. “What of the King?”

“What is his position? And what kind of a pony is he?”

“His position is as it ever was, we are safe united as all unicorns should be against the dangers of all that is alien,” he responded. “But he is a reasonable pony who has guided us for many years. Healthcare for the sick and elderly has blossomed under his tender hoof, our ponies have food in their bellies and warm homes over their heads. He has given his life to serve his people, not the other way around.”

That sounded familiar.

“He was a blessing to this country. Some of his predecessors prioritised their pockets over the safety of their subjects, cutting corners and creating ridiculous tax rates,” the pony admitted. “King Ignis has funded many projects from the royal vault. Built new towns. Schools. Orphanages. Every action he takes is because he loves us like his foals.”

If that was true, and he was something of a Celestia to these unicorns, then that definitely boded well for the task ahead.

“Then I wish to meet him all the more. Take me to this unicorn.”

Assisting Hoof chuckled. “Unicorn? You haven’t informed her?”

The Captain shrugged. “It isn’t important.”

Huh? What were they on about? Twilight had to wonder…

“Well, she will find out soon. Come, the King awaits,” Ignis’ assistant finally decided, turning and gesturing for the others to follow.

And so they did, making the last leg of the trip through the corridors of Unicornia’s royal abode until they came across a large guarded pair of doors that just screamed ‘here be the throne room’. The door, much like the rest of the castle, was quite bare compared to the likes of Canterlot Castle’s. But nevertheless, the guards saluted the Captain as the group approached and moved to open the door to allow their entry.

The throne room beyond was easily as long as Celestia and Luna’s throne room in Equestria. A purple velvet carpet led to the lush throne, the sides of the room decorated in more of their flag between plain windows letting in the sun’s rays.

And there, at the end…

Twilight stopped, her eyes going wide as what she saw before her caused her brain to do a backflip. The pony matched the one on the banners, orange with a mane resembling the colouration of a red flame. The effect was increased due to the fact that this notably tall individual’s hair was flowing. It wasn’t like that of Celestia, Luna or Cadance. No, it was far shorter and more masculine in style. But it was definitely ethereal, flickering almost like a small fire around his long and slender horn. His cutie mark was that of a golden crown backed by a red sun.

Ignis stood from his throne, two appendages either side of his barrel extending outwards in a display of dominance as he laid eyes the Changeling Queen.

Wings.

This pony was an alicorn.

“Welcome, I am King Ignis,” the alicorn announced, standing triumphantly over the shocked form of Twilight Sparkle. “Now, tell me, why are you in my kingdom?”

Author's Note

And so we have Ignis, whose name was helpfully suggested by Skijaramaz.

I wonder how his arrival will change the political situation...

11 - Divergence

The alicorn glowered at Twilight, giving her flashbacks of any time in her childhood when she had done something to earn a chiding from Celestia. Trying to change the official guard rotation for her own organised schedule, doing unauthorised spell testing…

Any time the filly her of the distant past had done something wrong, however, it usually ended in a few shed tears followed by make-up hugs and lessons learned.

Whoever this alicorn, though, she doubted there was going to be any hugging involved.

His glare deepened. “I asked you a question. It would be a kindness to answer, your silence does you little credit.”

Twilight shook her head, chastising herself inwardly for being caught off guard like that. He was right, alicorn or not, she had to stay focused and answer his address.

“I apologise,” Twilight said sincerely. “I was simply expecting a unicorn on the throne, I was unaware of another alicorn’s existence.”

“Another alicorn? I would assume you speak of the fabled Celestia, ruler of Equestria.”

“Not just Celestia. Her sister, Luna. My sister-in-law, Cadance. My niece, Flurry Heart.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Four alicorns? And related to you? It appears our information on Equestria is woefully out of date.”

“I do understand you have something of a… isolationist policy.”

“We haven’t had an outsider come to these lands in many years. Those that did come before you provided information on the outside world, but events have naturally transpired in their absence.”

“Your Captain mentioned those who ‘came before’. I understand they were not to be allowed back home for the sake of your security. Pardon my directness, but might I know what exactly you did to them?”

Ignis glanced at Stout Guardian. “Captain, your words do us little credit. You make it sound like we committed murder.”

“Apologies, your Majesty. I didn’t wish to say more than I had to.”

“They live, then?”

“Time takes us all,” he responded. “It was a long time ago. But they lived their lives, albeit imprisoned. Our laws forbade trespass, they were sentenced accordingly.”

At least they weren’t murdered as Twilight had feared. Still, they were citizens of other lands, they had no right to take their freedom simply because they hadn’t known about The New Kingdom before arriving there. But that was an issue for another time. For now, she had to keep smiling.

“I see my answer bothers you.”

He apparently shared Celestia’s aptitude for observation as well.

“It is not a concern for the time at present,” Queen Twilight answered diplomatically. “But I do wonder what you intend to do with the changelings and ponies with me.”

“Changeling? Your species, I presume?”

Twilight nodded affirmatively.

“I see. Well then, er…”

“Queen Twilight Sparkle.”

“Queen Twilight, that wholly depends on this meeting. And answering my question.”

What they were doing in his country, back to his original query. All Twilight could really do was answer as honestly as possible, try to make him see their peaceful intent. If he truly was as benevolent as his assistant made him out to be, surely he would understand.

“We were unaware as to The New Kingdom’s existence. Your isolationism has worked well up until this point,” the Changeling Queen began. “I’ve expressed my relation to some of Equestria’s royalty.”

“Of which I have questions. But do continue.”

“As you say. But the ponies there wished to know what had become of their homeland, it’s been over a thousand years since they left. And this continent remains the only one the scholars of Equus have yet to map, or at least map to any kind of modern accuracy. Your imprisonment of prior expeditions made it a seldom entertained concept.”

“Showing we were right to implement it,” the Captain commented.

“Quiet, Captain,” King Ignis said. “But I suppose you had other ideas, Queen Twilight?”

“My people were willing to help, and I have always had an interest in history. With the help of the Princesses of Equestria, we prepared the largest expedition yet. I’m sure you’ve been told of our ship.”

“Indeed. A curious vessel. Your pet dragon, as well.”

“Spike. He’s my friend, not a pet.”

“Friends with a dragon? A risky endeavour, given their greed.”

“Not at all! Spike isn’t like that, nor are most dragons. Their greed is something of a shortcut, one that comes with a great cost.”

“I’m sure…” he said, clearly not convinced. “But the armaments at your disposal are most interesting for a mere scholarly expedition.”

“I’m Queen of the Equestrian Hive, my changelings like to take my safety seriously. As does Princess Celestia,” she explained. “Beyond that, we didn’t know why the other expeditions never returned. One theory was the wendigos never departed.”

“According to our own history, those beasts followed Queen Platinum and her… accomplices. For a time, we believed them all dead for their foolishness,” he recalled. “Later we learned they somehow vanquished all of their pursuers. I can only assume the fabled Starswirl the Bearded was responsible, or perhaps some other unicorn.”

“Actually, it was the coming together of all three races.”

“I find that unlikely. Only the magic of a horned pony could hope to achieve feats as great as the defeat of the wendigos.”

“There is a lot of history you’ve missed,” Twilight insisted despite his dismissal. “But the point is that we came prepared. But not to do war, only to prepare for the unknown. A lesson I’ve learnt the hard way.”

Ignis glanced her way, his eyes drawn to the scar she wore on her chest. “So I see. I must admit to holding something of a curiosity to you, you are definitely an unknown. So perhaps you can understand my hesitation at facing your expedition.”

“We are also an unknown.”

“Indeed. Might I make it clear in no uncertain terms that I do not trust you, and I will not have you threatening my little ponies.”

“I hold no intention. You care for your people, I sympathise, I care deeply for mine.”

“Is that so? Well, I still have questions. As do you. Let us speak in a more private setting, this might take some time.”

“Your Majesty?” Stout Guardian questioned with some alarm.

“Calm yourself, Stout Guardian. I can manage one outsider should she prove a bother. I am an alicorn, nothing matches the strength of our kind.”

She chose not to correct him for the moment.

“Do you mind a teleport? It is more direct than a stroll.”

“Not at all.”

He nodded, lighting his horn a deep crimson as a teleportation spell took hold. And then, in a flash and a pop, the throne room and all its guards were replaced with a simple and entirely empty study. It was decorated largely with royal reds and purples, a chamber fit for a king.

“Ah, much better,” Ignis commented. “Now… I am intrigued by your mention of a relation to other alicorns. Explain.”

And so, Twilight did. She told him about her life as condensed as she could, leaving out small details like the location of the Tree of Harmony and other such things in the interest of security for Equestria and her hive. But she told him of her life as a ‘unicorn’, her tutelage under Princess Celestia and all that followed. She told him of Equestria’s alliance with the hives and how it came to be, the Magic of Friendship that bound them all together in harmony.

All the while, King Ignis’ features remained completely neutral. He just listened, not saying a word.

And then, when she finally caught up to modern-day, he just hummed.

“This ‘Magic of Friendship’ you mentioned…” he finally said. “It seems unwise. Look at the wars you have faced. The death of your mother. Of your original ‘hive’. We have faced no such troubles.”

“It hasn’t always been easy,” Twilight admitted. “But excuse me for saying that you’re missing the point. We faced those troubles together and came out better for it. The world has known overall peace for decades now, all kinds of creatures working together for a better tomorrow. That’s what I believe.”

“Excuse me for remaining sceptical. And not entirely trusting the word of a changeling,” he retorted. “It would be better heard from Celestia and the other alicorns. But from you? I remain guarded.”

Because she wasn’t a pony.

“Then maybe you could,” Twilight suggested, not challenging his views while alone in his domain. “If you let us go, I can inform your fellow alicorns all about your existence. They can verify everything I’ve told you. That what we have works.”

“That would break our isolation.”

“All due respect, that’s happened anyway.”

“Excuse me?”

“Even if you try to keep us here, others will come searching. Even if they too vanish, there is at least one individual I know for a fact is aware of you. And that individual will almost certainly make it known if he has to.”

“Alright. Who is this person?”

“Someone far beyond any of our reaches. He hinted that something existed out here, and here you are,” she informed him. “The world is a large place. Keeping us here will only make the situation worse.”

“And Princess Celestia would not take kindly,” Ignis noted. “You make a good case. I would not wish to place my ponies in her sights due to unnecessary detention. Truth be told, I had no intention of doing so.”

“Oh?”

“You are a Queen, holding you here would be unwise to a creature of your stature. We merely wish to remain alone; our historical purity needs to be maintained.”

“Purity?”

“Our bloodline, our isolation, protected us while the wendigos chased after all who abandoned the way of Unicornia,” the King declared. “Our way of life has kept us safe. I would be curious to hear from these alicorns, but I do not desire much beyond that. You will leave The New Kingdom, you will tell others like yourself we are not to be trifled with, and then you will never return.”

“Not without an invitation.”

“I wouldn’t be expecting one,” he shot back. “Do I have your word on that?”

“You would trust it?” Twilight questioned.

“No. But for the safety of my ponies, I have little choice but to gamble.”

“Then you have my word,” Twilight promised. “So long as you can answer a few questions of my own.”

“You have earned that right, if nothing else,” he agreed. “Very well. Ask.”

“You were born here?”

“I was.”

“When? I mean, if it’s not too much prying, how old are you? Celestia and Luna are over a thousand now. Cadance is only slightly older than me, Flurry Heart is twenty years younger. And I must surmise you are younger than at least the former two, there is no record of an alicorn in the three tribes except for the princesses when they were foals. And their mother, from their own accounts, but she vanished during that time.”

Ignis gave her a curious look, leaning forward to study her.

“You take a great interest in even the most trivial of details, don’t you?”

“I have always been something of a scholar myself.”

“I see. Well, to answer your questions, I’m a little over two hundred years of age. I won’t go more specific than that, it makes me feel my age.”

“Two centuries?”

“Yes, I still remember when the moon had a mare etched on its surface,” he recounted. “Born to a ‘common’ family, actually. My alicorn status pinned me as something of a celebrity from the moment I took a breath.”

“I can imagine, it’s so rare,” Twilight mused. “But… how did you come to rule? If you were of common birth?”

Ignis sighed, standing up and trotting towards the window. He looked almost… haunted. Like he had seen some terrible things, things he would rather forget. At that moment, Twilight was able to see something about this person. Not the King who loved his people. Not the alicorn who saw horned ponies as superior beings needing separation from anything different. Neither of those two sides of his coin.

No, here she was seeing a normal pony who had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“The King before me, my predecessor. He was a stain on what we should be,” he said in a low voice. “He raised taxes to extreme heights. Gutted institutions meant to help the sick and needy. The royal treasury was overflowing while The New Kingdom floundered and threatened to topple beneath his wealth. The ponies here saw me as a sign. A symbol of change.”

“So, you rebelled?”

“Yes. Though it wasn’t my choice. Not really,” the King muttered sadly. “Others started first, many perished to the guard. I was twenty when I finally got dragged in, listened to the pleas of the dying. They quickly propped me up as the symbol they wanted. That they needed. And I became more than that, I led the charge on this very castle to topple King Righteous. And then they gave me the crown, sat me in that throne and expected me to make things better.”

Twilight tilted her head. “Well, it looks like you did. They appear to love you. From what admittedly little I’ve seen, at least.”

“I do my best to serve them.” He then turned, glaring daggers at the Changeling Queen as if she was that very unicorn king who he had toppled all those years prior. “And that is why I must protect them against any and all threats. And that particularly includes outsiders, others not of our bloodlines. I will not tolerate nefarious influences threatening to revert the good I have done here, to plunge us back into another eternal winter!”

He took in a breath, letting it out slowly as he turned back to the window.

“And that, Twilight Sparkle, is why you have to leave this place.”

“You really believe that, don’t you?” Twilight noted sympathetically. “And you really do love them.”

“With each breath since that first.”

Twilight hummed, studying the stallion for a few moments longer. He had some very dark views on the world, an ideology subverted by a thousand years of isolation and values long out of date. These ponies never had a Hearth’s Warming event. Never had any Elements of Harmony. They never learned to accept friendship, at least not from anything other than themselves.

And yet they had Ignis. They had their own Celestia to protect and love them like they were his own foals.

She couldn’t agree with his viewpoints on ‘outsiders’. It was tragic, really. His mistrust and fear of the outside world. She might even consider his lifelong imprisonment of outsiders to be monstrous… if it wasn’t for the fact that he could have just as easily had them killed yet didn’t. She believed his word on that.

In a way, he was like so many of the Changeling Queens Twilight now considered allies and friends. The ones who were repulsed by the likes of Crudelis and yet were too fearful of the outside world to reach out for help. Queen Cocoon, for example.

The New Kingdom was what Equestria would have been with a changeling ideology.

“I think I understand you,” Twilight announced, standing up from her seated position and nodding her head respectfully. “More than you know. Your ponies are safe, we will leave immediately. This expedition is over.”

“Good.”

“There is still so much I would like to know. Historical gaps to fill in, information lost to us about the tribes you might have. But… I won’t impose on you. I will let Princess Celestia give you that olive branch.”

“I will await her word. But I wouldn’t get your hopes up for a prolonged dialogue,” he warned. “Have one of the guards outside take you back to your people. Then leave. We will ensure you do.”

There he goes with that mistrust again. Still, Twilight saw this as a good first step. She felt that she had left an impression about herself that Ignis wasn’t expecting. He had probably been imaging something like Crudelis or Immortalis. But maybe, just maybe, her approachable nature had pleasantly surprised him.

And he was willing to hear from Celestia, clearly curious about other alicorns even existing.

Twilight decided she had done enough to lay the initial groundwork, the Princesses of Equestria would be the ones to continue to build upon at. If anypony could help Ignis open up further, it was Celestia.

“Thank you for your time, King Ignis,” Twilight concluded. “Have a pleasant day.”

Twilight turned, her magic wrapping on the door handle when the King called out to her.

“One moment.”

She turned. “Yes?”

“These alicorns of Equestria… Are there any more beyond that land? More of us?”

“No. I’m sorry. All other alicorns we’ve seen are on ancient pieces of artwork. Nowhere else that we know.”

“I see. Thank you, you may go.”

Twilight nodded, turning and leaving the alicorn to his thoughts. He undoubtedly had many.

True to his word, the guards were happy to see the Queen back to the courtyard. Likely eager to see them gone, but their promptness was appreciated, nonetheless. As the courtyard came into sight, she saw her changelings and ponies still in something of a standoff against the Royal Guard, each side eying the other with suspicion.

“Queen Twilight!” Valiant addressed when she appeared. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Captain. I’d say the meeting went well.”

“Well? That’s good news. So… what does that mean for us?”

“I’m afraid the expedition is to be cut short. I’ll explain more on our way back to the Clover.”

Valiant frowned, yet the pegasus nodded nevertheless. “Okay. We shall follow your lead on the matter. What of the King? What was your read on him?”

“He is… complicated. But not a bad pony, I think. Quite the opposite.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” he decided. “Alright, ponies. You all heard Queen Twilight! Get up, we’re going.”

Twilight pinged her changelings to do the same, taking another look at the guards around them as they moved to escort the group back to their transport.

And then she looked up, her eyes scanning the sky above them. And there, knowingly lounging on the edge of the roof above them, was a familiar Spirit of Chaos. He gave Twilight a wink, giving her an approving thumbs-up before vanishing in a flash to prevent the Royal Guard from spotting him.

A good sign indeed.

If The New Kingdom was a hybrid of Equestria and the Queens’ Council before their joining, then Twilight knew what to do. She understood Ignis and his fears all too well. So too would he, hopefully, come to understand them.

And it all started here.

12 - Xenophobia

The ponies and changelings were packing up.

Queen Twilight Sparkle had sent word ahead of their arrival back at their camp on the beach by the HMS Clover the Clever, informing her changelings to grab their pony counterparts and begin taking down their encampment and load everything back onto the ship. She could hear the grumbles of disappointment and discontent as she did so from her various drones, and undoubtedly even more had come from the ponies with them, but they had complied nevertheless.

The continued presence of The New Kingdom’s military had probably expedited things.

The rest of the journey back had been without a major incident. Their transport had been escorted the entire way there, those aboard remaining tense at the arrangement, but nothing bad had come of it. It had been quiet, peaceful even, the landscape that had once been the home of the Three Tribes and the cradle of pony civilisation passing them by at a rapid pace.

The Queen had been able to appreciate the view a little more the second time around, travelling back from the city of Unicornia rather than towards. The first time she had been filled with questions and doubt, worried for the safety of all those around her and what she might face on their arrival in the country’s enigmatic capital. But those were gone, or at least they were lessened to a considerable degree, on the return trip.

She examined the clouds around them, imagining back to a time when it was home to what was now known as Cloudsdale, but was back then called Pegasopalis. At one point in their flight, she even peered out of the window to see a valley that she could easily imagine as having once contained the farming community the earth ponies had arisen from. She had no proof it was the valley, but from her bird’s eye positioning the soil seemed to be nice and fertile.

But then again, she wasn’t a farmer. Though she had studied at least twenty-seven books on the subject in her over sixty years of life, but still, who was she to say?

There were other towns too, towns all bearing the banner of The New Kingdom. Smaller towns not unlike Ponyville, though their construction was a little more stone based. A few were larger and, in the distance, Twilight thought she could make out another mountainside city at one point.

Who knew just how many villages, towns and cities they had? They didn’t exactly have earth ponies to trade them food anymore, so they’d have had to set up farms for themselves. That would probably have been an adjustment back in the day. Neither did they have pegasi, so did they deal with nature’s chaotic conditions or nudge it to some degree using their magic? The latter seemed a likely option, though she wondered to what extent they had achieved. Twilight herself knew more than a few spells with such effects, though the pegasi were always a more effective choice given their own evolutionary advantages in that field.

Maybe she would have that question, and so many others, answered someday in the near future.

She just had to get back to Equestria first.

When they finally arrived back at camp, most of it was already gone. There were still plenty of changelings and ponies on the beach, fliers moving materials over while the others coordinated and catalogued everything. They didn’t want to leave anything behind, after all.

Spike seemed to be guarding over them, eying the zeppelins up above suspiciously and with a bit of wounded pride. His eyes seemed to shimmer in the fading light, and most were likely eager to cast off before darkness fully set in.

The helicopter landed back down by the beach, the Queen and her entourage stepping off safe and sound, much to the relief of all those who had been awaiting them. Twilight directed the others to help with the effort, taking Valiant with her as she moved to meet with her husband and Spike.

“So, any big developments we need to worry about?” Façade asked. “You were a little vague over the hive link.”

“Only one of particular note,” Captain Valiant said while shooting a smirk at his counterpart. “You owe me precisely one bottle of Abyssinian Whiskey.”

The changeling’s glowing blue eyes narrowed. “Wait, what? What do you mean?”

“The King was an alicorn,” Twilight said apologetically. “You lost big time.”

“W-what? I have… so many questions…”

“You still lost,” Valiant said smugly. “Guy is as tall as alicorns come.”

“So… you saw him?”

“Well, not exactly.”

“I did, though,” Twilight confirmed. “Very tall. My height, if slightly taller.”

“I hate you all,” the changeling complained.

“No, you don’t.”

Façade groaned. “Well… forget the whiskey! An alicorn!? That’s… a lot to take in.”

“Twilight, that has a lot of big implications,” Spike said worriedly. “Another alicorn after all this time? Do you think he’s as powerful as ours?”

“He’s younger than Celestia and Luna, but I don’t see why not.”

“It’s like us finding a Changeling Queen we never knew existed. Which I suppose there is a precedent for, but not a good one,” Façade pointed out.

“Especially given how ‘alien unfriendly’ these ponies seemed to be,” the dragon added, stretching his wings where the chains had wrapped around them earlier. “Seriously, those things hurt.”

She sighed. “I know. I’ll explain what was said back when we’re on the ship. How are things progressing here?”

Façade hummed. “Well, tempers are running high. The lot from Celestia’s school do not like being denied their long-anticipated research trip mere hours after setting it all up.”

“I know the feeling,” the Queen said sympathetically.

“But the ship is nearly loaded. We can leave soon,” Spike continued. “And I think the quicker the better. These guys give me the creeps.”

“Well, load up everyone who doesn’t have a job and finish carrying over the supplies,” Twilight commanded. “And Spike, once we’re clear I want you to send a letter to Princess Celestia. I’ll write it once we’re aboard.”

“You can count on me! I’ll circle until you’re done, then head for Equestria ahead of you.”

“What will you tell them?” Valiant enquired.

“The basics. The New Kingdom, King Ignis, that there is hope for relations but it’s a bit complicated. I’ll give them the specifics when I see them, it will be easier in person.”

“Very well. I’ll see to my ponies,” he replied. “Gah, not how I saw this trip going…”

“Maybe we should have done,” Spike said to Twilight as we watched the Captain of the Solar Guard trot away with a purpose. “Whenever Discord is involved there’s bound to be trouble.”

“I never could have imagined something like Ignis,” Twilight mused. “But I do suppose that’s Discord all over. He likes his surprises.”

“And being unhelpful.”

“It’s not all bad, I was more prepared to face them because of his warning. It counts for something, and it did earn his approval,” Twilight informed him. “I saw him at the castle. They didn’t, thankfully.”

“So… you really think you can get these ponies to open up after a thousand years of xenophobic isolation?”

“I did it to my people, didn’t I?” Twilight pointed out hopefully. “If nothing else, I’ve laid the foundations. But we should help finish loading the ship up, whatever happens next is not for the here and now.”

“Yeah, okay. I’m just glad you all came back safe.”

“So am I, Spike. So am I.”

Unicornia

King Ignis was restless, pacing back and forth in his throne room with an uncertain grimace on his muzzle. He had been like this ever since he had returned from his meeting with Queen Twilight Sparkle, something that had somewhat gotten the guards around him a little concerned. His mind was lodged firmly on lands far from his own, lands he hadn’t given much of a second thought to in such a long time.

Why should he? The New Kingdom and its ponies where perfect the way they were, why take such risks? Outsiders promised disease and death, history had proved it! How could he trust the word of these ‘changelings’ or their cousins across the ocean who had so quickly thrown off their own traditions and allowed in foreign influences? What corruptions had infested their minds?

But it was too late. The New Kingdom would now be known to the world, where would that knowledge lead?

And what of his fellow alicorns? Ones older than even he. Should he take a leap of faith and follow their example, come to believe that they had been wrong about the world? Or should he trust in his experience and gut, knowing full well that those beyond their borders invited only chaos and death?

What was he meant to do?

What was best for his people?

The King was knocked out of his ruminations as the door to the throne room opened, the alicorn seeing both Captain Stout Guardian and his adviser, Assisting Hoof, enter quickly though. The former had something of a scowl on his features, the latter seemed more studious with a stack of scrolls held in his magical aura.

“Leave us,” Ignis commanded of the other guards, each giving a salute and piling out of the throne room until it was only he and those two specific ponies left. “Gentleponies, thank you for coming.”

“It is only natural to hear your summons, given what has transpired within these fabled halls,” Assisting Hoof noted. “We have much to advise you on.”

“Indeed, you do,” he confirmed with a nod. “Any insight you have would be-”

“Letting them go was a mistake,” Stout Guardian interrupted.

Ignis blinked. “Excuse me, Captain?”

“Excuse me for speaking my mind, but letting them go was a mistake,” the stallion reiterated. “If we dealt with them here, followed protocol, word about us would never go on to reach the rest of Equus. With them going home, our land is open to an invasion!”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” Assisting Hoof dismissed. “I will admit to feeling somewhat nervous as to the implications, and the dangers, but our borders are still our own. This day was inevitable, and even if we kept them there was no way that more wouldn’t come looking for their Queen. Letting them go has probably ‘saved’ us from the invasion, Guardian.”

“Despite my own reservation, I would be inclined to agree with my assistant,” Ignis stated. “This course of action, while not without risk, was our best bet to protect our people. Mercy will, Faust willing, keep Equestria and the hives from our borders entirely.”

“Mercy? Do you think mercy was on the minds of the wendigos?” the Captain asked. “Or will be on theirs? You just know their pegasi will leap on the chance for conquest.”

“That was the way of old Pegasopalis, true,” the King conceded. “What do we know of modern Equestria?”

“That the three species are supposedly coexisting as one entity,” Assisting Hoof recounted. “Led by their alicorn. Multiple now, if the Queen is to be believed.”

“And they have experienced combat in the decades past, if she is to be believed,” Ignis added.

“Exactly,” Stout Guardian remarked. “They know war. They will not hesitate to set their sights on us. Why should they let anypony be separate from them?”

“Yet the Queen’s words would also indicate the contrary,” Assisting Hoof refuted. “That they merely defended themselves and are otherwise a peaceful people.”

“Lies to lure us in. The unicorns of their lands have already corrupted their moral integrity by allowing the pegasi and earth ponies in, now these changelings? The very name just spits deceit and espionage.”

“So, what would you have me do now, Captain?”

The stallion sighed. “Now that the deed is done? Put our forces on alert, just in case. Review detection protocols. And don’t interact any further, lest they try to influence us further.”

“I would advise humouring them for the time being, try to ascertain the truth,” Assisting Hoof suggested. “Long have we been taught to fear that which is not our own, words that may yet still hold the same wisdom as a thousand years ago. But a thousand years is a long time, things may have changed without us.”

“You invite destruction if you let them in.”

“And if they are being truthful?”

“And if you’re wrong, Assisting Hoof?”

“Enough!” Ignis declared with a stamp of his hoof. “Do not let us be divided in this crucial hour, we must remain strong in our unity.”

“Of course, your Majesty. I apologise,” the Captain said with a humbled bow of his head.

“Thank you. Now, here is the way I see it. Captain, you will do as you suggested in regards to our defences. But Assisting Hoof is also correct, we need more information now that we are revealed. I will speak to these alicorns, and only these alicorns, to determine the truth. I do not trust the outside world, I fully expect opportunists and devils in these outside creatures and our brethren who have been potentially corrupted and consumed by their ways.”

“But…?” his assistant pressed.

The King sighed. “But, if we’re wrong and Queen Platinum managed to leave an effective legacy in her wake, then I must know. So, I will converse with these alicorns and decide for myself. Should I find them wanting, we will defend ourselves from these ‘aliens’. But on the off chance that we do find ourselves… outdated in our expectations, then we shall just have to see how things go from there.”

“I appreciate your open-mindedness and wisdom, King Ignis,” Assisting Hoof said with a bow.

“I just hope we can prepare, I do not trust for a second that they won’t prove to be the next wendigos,” Stout Guardian said fearfully. “But I will do my utmost to prepare us for that eventuality. In the meantime, I will trust you to lead us, King Ignis. As I have always done.”

“Thank you both,” the King declared with finality. “And rest assured, I won’t let my curiosity place my ponies in danger. I will protect them from all threats to the unicorn way of life, that I vow.”

And, even with his mind remaining on those alicorns across the sea, he meant every single word he said.

Author's Note

There won't be a chapter next week as a heads up, mostly due to prior obligations and a lack of time. The Perfect Rose and Little Changes will go on as usual, however.

These obligations may or may not include alcohol and socialisation.

14 - Rumours

Home was a welcome sight indeed.

The zeppelins of The New Kingdom had escorted the HMS Clover the Clever a good way from their coastline before they’d finally turned back and left them to their journey. And even then, Twilight wasn’t so sure it was because they were far enough away that they felt safe more so than they feared going any further out towards Equestria. Or perhaps they weren’t fuelled for such a journey, who was to say?

Either way, once everything had been packed onto the ship and all ponies and changelings were accounted for, they had set off back to Vanhoover and made it to the friendly shore without further incident. It may have been far sooner than any of them had expected, but given recent events, most of the ponies and changelings on board could breathe a sigh of relief upon stepping onto those familiar docks. Lingering disappointment from those scholarly few looking to make their next great discoveries in the land of their ancestors, perhaps. But ultimately the initial contact with The New Kingdom, while tense, hadn’t been a complete disaster.

Given how much worse a misunderstanding between them could have been, that was a victory.

And that only served to make the high towers of Canterlot an ever so much sweeter sight. A heavy contrast to the muted colours of Unicornia, however comparable the alicorns at the top were, the familiar hustle and bustle of ponies of all kinds, not to mention those of a decidedly less equine nature, all intermingling as the norm.

If only King Ignis could see it, or so Twilight idly thought to herself. To show the long-lost cousins of the Equestrians that they didn’t need to be fearful of what lay beyond their own walls. That the reign of the wendigos was long past. Sure, there were always troubles to combat to keep such a peace, Twilight knew that better than most, but it was worth it for those colourful streets and happy faces she could see down below.

“Are you alright?” Façade asked his wife, banking to be in flight next to her as they approached the castle. “Your emotions are flaring a tad on the anxious side.”

“Sorry to let that show,” she apologised. “But I hope you see the relief in there too.”

“Oh yeah, I do. But it’s not my wife’s relief that worries me,” he responded before frowning to himself. “Did that come out wrong? I feel like that came out wrong.”

“It depends on what kind of relief you want to give me,” Twilight cheekily said with a purr.

“Okay. Stop that.”

Twilight laughed to herself, her mind briefly wandering to another she once knew who had a similar reaction. But she shook those ancient thoughts from her mind, focusing her mind on the present rather than the long past.

“I’m just trying to figure out what to tell Celestia and Luna,” she said. “A ‘Hey there, you have a cousin across the ocean who is a benevolent xenophobe’ isn’t the greatest ice breaker.”

“To be fair, they know the premise of why we’re back so early. Spike saw to that,” he replied, nodding to the nearby dragon flying with them. “It’ll be fine.”

“As fine as it always is,” the Queen replied as she came in for a landing in the castle grounds, her hooves gently touching down alongside her changelings’ while Spike carefully latched onto a tower. “Right. Let’s get this ridiculous misadventure over with before something explodes. Whether that’s because of Discord, The New Kingdom or Avia trying to research the heck out of this discovery.”

“The hive will be fine, and Carduus is keeping a close eye on our daughter. Now hurry up, we’re alarming the castle’s staff.”

“Yes, sir,” Twilight sarked. “Spike, are you okay sticking around for a little while longer.”

“Hey, I’m here for the long haul,” the dragon assured her. “You would be hopeless without me.”

“Right. Entirely,” the Queen said with a roll of her eyes. “Guards, remain here for the time being. I will return once I have discussed the present situation with the Princesses of Equestria.”

“Yes, my Queen!” came the typical universal reply.

Twilight nodded, letting out a breath as the lavender Changeling Queen quickly set forth and ducked into the nearest doorway leading into the depths of the castle. Her mind automatically drew up more parallels as she went, everything from the structural differences to the general demeanours of the ponies around her.

‘I remember when the looks a changeling would receive here were not so different than what I witnessed across the sea,” she mused to herself, a distant twinge occurring on her chest. “Back when there were ponies like the one who gave me this scar. But I meant what I said to him back there. We ourselves were much the same, if not worse. That doesn’t mean we can’t change for the better.”

And she was hopeful of such an event. After all, from her admittedly brief view, it looked like he was genuinely loved by his subjects. A hero of a distant rebellion, giving to the poor and rebuilding a dying society… The parallels to the alicorn sisters were staggering if you thought about it. Given a crown out of necessity, rebuilding from just about nothing into a kingdom to stand the test of time.

“Twilight?”

“Celestia?” Twilight blinked in surprise, not having realised she’d come face to face with those very sisters mid walk! “I didn’t see you there. I was… thinking.”

“A study within the confines of one’s own mind palace,” Luna jabbed. “Does that not return memories from times of old?”

“Funny,” Twilight deadpanned in turn. “But I was just on my way to the throne room, I didn’t think I’d run into you, well, here!”

“A guard informed us of your return. We saw fit to attend to you ourselves.”

“Yes, are you okay?” Celestia stepped forward with motherly worry replacing regal grace. “We did receive your message. Another country of ponies? Unicorns? Another alicorn!?”

“What was it your mother used to say…?” Luna wondered. “Ah, yes. I believe it was ‘Why is it always you’ that would be uttered.”

“Then next time perhaps you should invite yourself to the expedition to unknown lands. But to answer your question, Celestia, I’m fine. Intrigued, a little surprised maybe, but things could have gone so much worse.”

Celestia breathed a sigh of relief, nuzzling her daughter-figure on the cheek. “I am quite glad to hear that; this was a far more stressful situation than I’d wanted for you. I’d hoped for it to be a more relaxing change of pace for you, despite Discord’s machinations.”

“I’m hardly a foal anymore, you know I can look after myself and those under me. Besides, I do consider this to be a worthy challenge.”

“A challenge indeed. To think, those left behind upon our great exodus would build something so vast yet so well obscured for all this time…” Luna noted, walking aside and glancing out a window at the horizon. “I remember little from that time. But the bite of the cold is not something that fades.”

“And neither have they forgotten, if I’m reading Spike’s words correctly,” Celestia added. “This… ‘Ignis’, another alicorn… It hardly seems possible. Finding Cadance after a millennium was a shock, Flurry’s birth more so. And now to discover one of our own kind has existed for some time already.”

“A couple of centuries at least,” Twilight clarified. “He described leading a rebellion against a corrupt monarch. The people than practically forced a crown onto his head at a young age and had him fix their mess.”

“His ‘Discord’,” Luna remarked. “Alicorns were never one for obscurity, were we?”

“By design or otherwise,” Celestia agreed. “Well-liked by his people, but fearful of what exists across the sea. How many adventurous souls vanished trying to cross their territory I have to wonder?”

“They lived if it’s any consolation,” the Queen informed them. “Trapped there, but alive.”

“Yet the act remains an immoral one,” Luna replied disapprovingly.

Celestia nodded along with her sister’s point. “I have to agree. However, under the circumstances, it may be a point we must forgive. They are out of touch with the world, this meeting may be just what they need to realise that time has improved much in the world.”

Twilight hummed. “Out of touch, yes, but not entirely out of date. They have some comparable technology, if a bit more rudimentary in its design. Zeppelins and other air transport, rotorcraft included, though a lack of firearms. I would pin their technology at being more or less where we were when I was still your student. With some variance when taking into account cultural differences and similar conditions.”

“Twilight, I hope you’re not sizing them up for a fight?”

“I’m a Changeling Queen, I may hold the virtues of friendship first and foremost, but I’m always sizing up for a fight.”

“Then we shall hold that as a resort should the Magic of Friendship fall upon deaf ears,” Luna noted with a hint of amusement.

“Yes, but let’s hope that’s just idle paranoia,” Celestia said with an irritated glance at both of them. “Did he express any interest in diplomatic overture?”

“From what I gathered, there is a general sentiment to be left alone,” Twilight explained. “However, the King’s advisor and assistant, Assisting Hoof, I got a sense that he might be reluctantly supportive. Maybe. The Captain of the Guard, meanwhile, was entirely against our presence.”

“A Captain is want to be protective of his realm, I can understand his view,” Luna mused. “But what of the King himself? His left and right hoof ponies aside, he as a person.”

“If it was just me, I don’t think we’d have much of a chance. That would be a change too soon and far too quickly. However, he expressed some knowledge of you, Celestia. And when I told him about four other alicorns, he seemed incredibly interested in what I had to say.”

“Two centuries of being the only one of your kind… Yes, I can imagine so,” the Princess of the Sun said. “Then this is where we must start. I will pen him a message myself expressing interest in an exchange of knowledge and history, though we should not forward any true diplomatic proposal right away.”

“I see, get the stallion comfortable with our coexistence before we widen the conversation to include the futures of our two nations,” Luna agreed.

“Pen pals,” Twilight quipped. “The start of many distant friendships.”

“A little more formal, but I concede the comparison.”

“But,” Celestia continued. “If my introduction gets a positive result, the rest of Equestria’s alicorns should join in. I do believe that Flurry Heart, as the youngest of us, would be a particular voice he should hear. An insight into our current times in its purest form.”

“Just don’t let Cadenza start planning political marriages,” Luna dryly remarked.

“If it was anypony she planned to marry off, it’d be one of you two. She’s surprisingly critical when it comes to Flurry’s choice of partners,” Twilight said with a small smirk.

“I’ll… be sure to curb that train of thought before it manifests into something too devious,” Celestia decided, shuddering to think what her niece’s latest schemes to find her a significant other might bring. “I’ll have Valiant brief Vladimir on the specifics also, just in case.”

“Well, it appears we have, at the very least, a basis of a plan to deal with this unexpected situation,” the lunar alicorn stated. “Yet another entity of the ancient past rears its head. This is most delicate, and the past thirty-five years of peace and stability could be upset should we handle this incorrectly. And recalling the unrest and chaos of the previous conflict, I… I do not wish to see such things again. I have wrought too much myself and seen too much for that.”

Celestia gave her young sister a small smile, placing an alabaster wing over her and giving her a loving nuzzle on the head in a gesture of comfort. “Oh, my little sister. You always felt things far more deeply than you would dare let on.”

“I reject the implication.”

The larger mare chuckled. “Of course. But we won’t let it come to that. We’ve worked too hard since the rampage of Immortalis to build this present world, we won’t let it be toppled.”

“On that, I can’t agree more…” Twilight muttered, her mind thinking back on the dark Empress and all she brought.

Cities, towns and villages destroyed, thousands dead, the annihilation of much of the Equestria she had been raised in. Partially brought about by her own, albeit unwilling, hoof. Decades of rebuilding and reinforcing the friendships and bonds with other nations, expanding the world not through war but through diplomacy and understanding…

No, she would not let this bring it all down. For Avia, she would not see the world set aflame once more…

A long way from Canterlot…

Queen Vulgaris sat atop her throne, a small black stone slowly rotating in front of her, held loosely in her green magical aura. The red Changeling Queen let out a slow fuming breath as her daughter’s defiance rang still fresh in her ears. Imperious, her beloved daughter, now beholden to Twilight Sparkle like the rest of the fools who dared to call themselves the Queens’ Council. And as precious as she was to her, Vulgaris’ heart seethed at her lack of realisation to the predicament this left their race in!

‘To be so reliant on another species, making ‘friends’. What rubbish. We were once the pinnacle of life, now we eat Celestia’s scraps.’

Oh, how her peers would argue the reverse. That before they’d been ‘scavengers’, now they ate better than ever.

Perhaps there was an element of truth in that. They ate scraps then, too. But now they just ate gilded scraps instead. They were a lapdog, too cosy and complacent. No, the pinnacle they should be striving for was the empire of old! Immortalis, as monstrous as she was in the total domination of her own kind, wasn’t entirely wrong nor incompetent. If they could just return to that level of power, total control of all the lands around the First Hive, but with the Queens’ Council intact as a governing body…

That’s what she thought Crudelis had wanted, but her old friend was little more than a power-mad pawn for the Empress. And Immortalis herself… Well, if there was one good thing that she could say about Twilight Sparkle, it was that she killed that arrogant bitch.

Because, of course, she is so much different.

But she was, wasn’t she? She had no reason to take full control, to enslave her own kind. That barbarity was the downfall of the Empress and Queen Crudelis. But even with her sights far more reasonable, the supremacy of her kind as a whole rather than for the one, her kind no longer agreed. That underlying fact remained, so she was forced to wait…

Still, at least she could make preparations, just in case. Just like the rock that she twirled so casually, the chitin-like object glinting in the lighting flames around the throne room of her hive. So rare, astronomically difficult to produce and expensive to boot. How much it had cost her in trade with another hive just for this sliver, one piece of a larger whole gained in trade with Queen Tempora. The first of its kind to exist since the time of Imperatrix, where it had been used in a red rune that she wore on her person…

She had no idea what process the late grandmother of Chrysalis used to turn it from black to red such as it was, let alone alter its properties. This tiny, seemingly insignificant, little object hummed with changeling magic with one clear intent. Nullification. Specifically, the nullification of all magic lacking in a changeling signature. It lacked direction, of course, and would affect all non-changelings with no dictation. Imperatrix’s enhanced rune had been more… refined. Effecting even changelings, but only so long as the user willed it.

Such had been the method of attack used by Vespula’s assassin, Serpens. Vulgaris herself had been tempted to try her luck at retrieving it, but she dare not incur the wrath of Imperatrix’s progeny. Not yet.

She wasn’t even sure how Tempora had rediscovered the secrets of its creation, and she sure as the hives wasn’t sharing. Understandable, as unstable yet powerful as it was.

But now she had this shard. It had cost much and taken such a long time to convince the other Changeling Queen to part with it. And only this small piece, its range reduced from protecting a whole hive to Vulgaris’ immediate surroundings. But it was enough, just in case…

“My Queen!”

Ah, her ‘love collector’ in Canterlot. She did hope his information would be a little more worth her time than it had been previously…

“Yes, drone? What is it?”

“Queen Twilight Sparkle appears to be back early from her expedition.”

“…Yes. So?”

“That’s the thing, your Majesty. There are a lot of murmurings around the city, and I have been wandering the changeling embassies. I overheard a drone from Cocoon’s hive claim she had been talking with the Equestrian Hive’s ambassador. It’s unconfirmed, but I believe they discovered another civilisation in the west. Something about a ‘kingdom’.”

Vulgaris frowned, sitting up straight and placing her rock aside for the moment. This news was unexpected, she had never thought anything of the so-called Undiscovered West. The homeland of the ponies, yes. But one supposedly lost to the snows of the wendigos long ago.

“You are certain? What kind of kingdom?”

“Ponies? I am sorry, my Queen. I will continue to attempt to get clarification. However, they sounded worried. I’m not entirely sure things got off to a smooth start diplomatically speaking.”

Vulgaris sighed. More ponies, the last thing she needed! Why did their intrusive species have to-

…A poor diplomatic situation, did he say?

“How so?”

“I don’t know that either, your Majesty. Only that it has Queen Twilight worried.”

“Very well, you shall continue to investigate this matter as thoroughly as possible. I want to know everything there is to know about this kingdom. What exactly their relationship with Equestria is at present, and how much they know of our own kind…”

“Understood?”

Vulgaris hummed to herself, suddenly feeling in a marginally better mood.

Perhaps this day would be perfect after all…

Author's Note

It's baaaack~!

15 - Opportunity

This was so unfair!

Avia was splayed out across her bed, letting out a huge groan as she mentally sifted through the general chatter of the hive mind. A couple of orders from the guards here, a few general notice broadcasts there… Oh, and the aggravatingly common public bombarding of talk surrounding the Three Tribes of the ponies’ past and this ‘New Kingdom’ that her mother had discovered.

‘She always gets to make the big discoveries,’ she thought to herself with a pout. ‘I’ll get her back for this. Probably. Somehow. Gah!’

The Princess of the Equestrian Hive sighed, sitting up and stretched her wings out with a satisfying click of her back muscles. On top of the floods of chatter around the hive about the historically significant discovery, Avia had just finished with a briefing her mother saw fit to give her over their link. All the gritty details down to the odd crack in the stone walls of Ignis’ castle. She had to admit that it helped, she could almost see the images as her mother had seen them. But it wasn’t the same as actually being there.

Though she was also a little mad that they’d shot chains out of a cannon at Uncle Spike, that was not cool.

Jerks.

The Princess rolled off of her bed and landed on the floor firmly on all four hooves, taking a moment to shrug off any remaining stiffness in her limbs before walking down alongside the rightmost row of bookshelves with her eyes scanning for any of her books on the formerly Undiscovered West.

“No, not that one, that’s a fairy tale, that one written by a mad pony… Ah, there you are!”

She lit up her curved lavender horn and extracted a book entitled ‘The Hearth’s Warming Incident: An Examination of Equestria’s Foundation’. It was a more recent study written by a mare named Moondancer, an old friend of her mother’s and apparently something of a scholar herself. Clearly, if she’d written this book. It referenced and used data points from a lot of the other tomes she had on the subject but was somewhat designed to be an all-inclusive and up-to-date examination, with a bit of the mare’s own views and theories added in for flare.

Well, ‘up-to-date’ was no longer true given recent events. But Avia was fine with this, as was this ‘Moondancer’ she was certain. It just means they get to write more books!

She opened the book, taking a moment to glance at the contents page before flicking through to find what she was looking for. It was pretty early on in the book, most of it went into the politics and process of forming the early Equestrian monarchy, but the first couple of chapters were dedicated to the end of the tribes. A small part of the book considering the scarcity of information up until this point, but still a point of interest for the Princess.

Mostly because of a specific passage that came to mind.

While most evidence from that time indicate that the majority of ponies abandoned their homeland and travelled east, as indicated by the islands between Equestria and the West that remain entirely barren and abandoned since that age (See Appendix 3: Rockhoof’s clan), the lack of evidence from the homeland itself makes a certainty on the subject difficult.

Testimony from the Princesses of Equestria would suggest utterance of resentment from some. Princess Celestia herself would claim to have witnessed some families clinging to their homes, but most would be convinced by the perseverance of the wendigos. However, they themselves note they were but foals, and time her diluted their clarity of events. What little survived of Queen Platinum’s correspondence during Discord’s rampage also suggests a disagreement with the nobility. One damaged passage is as follows:

“-alas is the will of the noble few, dignified to the- -and to the snow, they shall be swallowed.”

While missing much of its content, it would suggest that some of the nobility too were reluctant to depart. If any did remain behind, like the late Queen states, they would have likely perished and become part of the monstrous hordes puppeteered by the icy spirits.

Such a little-known theory, unless you happened to be the scholarly type actively researching the Three Tribes. With all the research they had done for the expedition, they never expected to find so much more than old bones and, if they were lucky, a mummified body or two. And yet here they were, those ‘noble few’ and their whole freaking civilisation.

“Ahem.”

“ARHG!” Avia yelped, throwing her book down onto a nearby table as she turned to see Carduus hobbling into the room. “Carduus!? I thought knocking was a polite thing to do!”

He rolled his eyes. “One, I did, you were too absorbed. Second… you know you left your door open, right?”

Avia blushed. “Oh! I… Uh… yes?”

“I’m sure.”

“I was busy!”

“Avia, please remember to close your door when you’re alone in your chambers. I didn’t spend years as Captain of the Guard so that the hive’s future could compromise security because you got lazy,” he chided, though with a well-humoured chuckle.

“Right, sorry. I was just re-reading some of the information we had one the New Kingdom. Or, well, lack of information at least. Ponies being left behind is barely mentioned in any of these studies, and it’s always a hoofnote at best.”

“It’s not so different from our own people, really.”

“What do you mean?”

“We forgot we were once ruled by a genocidal maniac, for one,” he pointed out. “The whole world saw fit to forget the suffering of the dark ages.”

“Hardly by choice, people just sucked at writing things down back then,” Avia noted. “That and keeping those writings intact.”

“Hm. I take it you’ve been talking to your mother?”

“Yeah. She wants me to stick around at the hive for the time being.”

“You don’t sound too pleased.”

“Ya think?” she deadpanned. “I get it, I still need to get used to being all royal and stuff. But I still get to be jealous, alright?”

“Hah, I suppose you have that right. Just keep it on the down-low, I’m sure you don’t want a lecture from your mother on responsibility when she gets back,” Carduus warned. “Not that she has any room to talk. The things I could tell you about the Queen when she was your age.”

Avia smirked. “What you haven’t told me already? Or Uncle Spike. If she knew the half of it…”

“A secret between us, then,” he replied cheekily. “So, think you can find anything helpful in those books of yours?”

“I don’t think so. I was more looking because I wanted to clear my head. But it’s all outdated information now. I bet they could tell us so much more…”

“Even if you are stuck here, you can still help her,” the black changeling suggested. “Suggestions, ideas, even any information you do scrounge up. You don’t have to be entirely out of the loop, you know.”

Avia smiled. “I suppose you’re right. Thank the hives for the egregore, huh? Hm, alright. Enough feeling sorry for myself, what’s next on the agenda.”

“Now you ask, I believe there was some trouble in the atrium this morning you might have some input on…”

Canterlot

The changeling drone gave a slow breath out as he walked through the Equestrian Hive’s embassy, trying to look inconspicuous. He did blend well enough in with the other changelings around, his yellow chitin swimming amongst the blues, greens and other pastel colourations. Though it was the guards that gave him pause. Pony guards he could handle, but he could feel the stares of those blue armoured drones wherever he went.

But he was more scared about the eyes of Vulgaris he could just feel on him. He just wished the Queen would give him easier assignments. He might be assigned to their own embassy, but that didn’t mean he could just waltz around those of the other hives with impunity. There were plenty of places he couldn’t go, and this was a place were shapeshifting would be of no help. If he tried, a dozen alarms would be going off and wards would forcibly eject him from the spell right as the guards ejected him at high velocity into a prison cell.

Still, he just counted his lucky stars the information he was after wasn’t exactly classified or locked away. Just immersing himself in the chatter of the other drones was enough to slowly piece together the full story of the expedition. In fact, Twilight Sparkle’s drones seemed to be in the process of actively briefing the other hives. It made sense, a previously unknown nation of unknown intent was a pretty big deal, one the council needed to know of in case of future negotiation… or threats.

So long as that remained the case he was fine, he didn’t want to think about what would happen if the Queen asked him to do something more clandes-

“Going somewhere?” the thestral asked.

“Ulp!” The drone stopped, gulping as he realised that he had just about walked into two very important-looking guards. Actually, now that he looked at them, he was pretty sure they were the captains. “Um, just h-heading back to my own embassy, so…”

“Leave the kid alone, Vlad,” Valiant said with a tap on the thestral’s shoulder. “I think you’re intimidating him.”

“Intimidating? Me? Never,” he jokingly dismissed before turning his gaze back to the changeling. “But you should watch where you’re going, civilian. Running yourself at high speeds into a guard isn’t the best of ideas.”

“Sorry! I’m just late for a meeting with my boss.”

The best lies are technical truths…

“I see. Well, get going.”

“Yes, sir! Sorry about that…”

“It’s fine,” Valiant assured. “Have a good day.”

The drone hurriedly slinked off, keeping one ear open as the two ponies started to disappear into the embassy while the changeling made his way out through the front entrance and onto the street beyond.

“You are night and day to your pops, Kid,” Captain Vladimir claimed. “Broad would have been pissed at someone running headfirst into him. Horns are pointy, ya know?”

Valiant scoffed. “He was probably just as unnerved by everything like everyone else. It’s like every politician in the city has gone mad.”

“They weren’t all mad before?”

“Touché.”

The changeling moved out of earshot, releasing a relieved sigh as he glanced around the Canterlot street. More changelings, the highest concentration anyone would find in the city since it was their embassies on this street, though more intermingled with some pony diplomats and the odd noble shooting both the shapeshifters and their buildings dirty looks.

He looked up towards the castle, he eyes particularly lingering on the purple dragon now latched onto the mountainside above it. Trying to keep his nerves from re-emerging, he elected to return to his usual day job as a love collector. Just passively collecting their much-needed energy so he could add his surplus to the containers back in his own embassy and, alongside the others, return to the hive sooner rather than later…

On that note, the drone was pretty sure he just spotted a changeling/pony couple walking amongst the crowd. He bet that made his job all the easier, lucky sod.

There was that one unicorn mare he knew at the local florist; she had a nice smile. If only Queen Vulgaris would allow such a thing…

“Getting distracted, infiltrator?”

“Um! No! I… have more information to report, my Queen!”

At the other end of the hive link, back at the hive that the drone called home, Queen Vulgaris was pacing in front of a large set of doors with an impatient look on her face. She continued to twirl the black stone irritably in her magic, quite wishing her little drone would hurry up and deliver the information she so desired.

“Then do so, if you would please. The quicker you do, the quicker you can complete your primary task and return home.”

“Home would be nice, my Queen.”

“So, what exactly is the situation with this ‘New Kingdom’?”

“They are ponies, as I initially reported. Their ruler is an alicorn called Ignis, and I have heard reports that the ponies there are not exactly welcoming to outsiders. They’ve been isolated since the wendigos wiped out a lot of their people, so don’t trust people outside their own borders. The King has shown some hesitant interest in the alicorns, apparently. But from what I’ve heard, no one is really sure how future meetings are going to go. The ponies and drones of Twilight Sparkle’s hive are hopeful, but drones from other hives sound less optimistic.”

Vulgaris hummed, idly wondering if this would result in a council being called at the First Hive. But that was of little matter for the moment.

But what was of matter… A King, an alicorn, distrusting of Equestria. Oh yes, Twilight Sparkle would soon make him putty in her hooves if she had her way. But what if someone was to… ‘warn’ this individual about the corrupting influence of Equestria. After all, if the changelings were now beholden to them, the New Kingdom would fare little better.

Perhaps she had finally found a potential ally against Twilight Sparkle.

A temporary one.

Of course. She would not trade one pony overlord for another. An alliance of convenience might be in order. But she would have to play it carefully, getting this ‘Ignis’ to trust her words over Twilight’s would require delicate manoeuvring. But then again, he didn’t need him to trust her, just to trust Equestria even less.

And how, were she to succeed, to use it to her advantage? How could she have the changelings follow?

She had much to consider, but one step at a time. First came Ignis, the Queen finding herself believing that a meeting was in order. Oh, but she would have to conduct this task alone. Her hive was rife with potential leaks of her plans, all too many sympathetic to the ponies. Like that ‘love collector’ who gave her the information, she could sense his thoughts regarding that female. How could one find attraction in a chitin-less being she could never know…

But she would do this right. Not the hammer of Crudelis and Immortalis, rushing off with armies to meet the ponies head-on in a doomed effort. No, she would be the scalpel and do things as any good changeling should.

Pull the strings, and let the ponies do the dirty work themselves.

Vulgaris opened the door, letting herself into a chamber filled with pedestals containing various items of interest. Old artefacts of sentimental value, such as the fragments of her daughter’s maturation cocoon. Other items held more practical value, weapons and devices, one such pedestal being presently empty.

At least, until she gently placed down the black rock onto its surface and released her hold.

Humming to herself in satisfaction, she turned to one last exhibit. It sat right at the end, the pride of her little vault. Its once shimmering surface was charred and burnt nearly beyond recognition, its central jewel was cracked, and many fragments of it had shattered altogether to create a crater-filled shadow of its former glory. Once a symbol of power, battered and beaten into nothingness by the wrath of the sun.

Getting it here had been no small effort, smuggling it away in the aftermath of Immortalis’ mad assault. But a drone had done so, and so the rest of the world believed it to have turned to ash. But alas, it was not so. And now the once-powerful object, killer of Draco, sat on full display as just another trophy. A reminder of what its creator wrought, and what shall never be again. And for all the misery it caused Vulgaris, now it was little more than a pathetic trinket in a vault.

A fitting end to the regalia of the Empress.

16 - Foundations

There was snow falling today.

King Ignis sighed at the sight, little flakes beating against his study’s window like a chorus of drums amongst a marching band. Snow was not an unusual sight this time of year, or any time of year for that matter, though it should be. But this was a part of life for The New Kingdom, a bright sunny day suddenly blighted by an unwelcome downpour of ice and snow. It wasn’t all the time, in fact in this era it was the rarest it had ever been, but still not entirely uncommon.

That was the final legacy of the wendigos. Remnants of their magic still at work, only weakening with time, but fate saw fit to make it a slow process. Before his reign, entire crops could be ruined by random blizzards with no warning nor prior sign.

Now it was just a damper on an otherwise bright day, lest you were a foal seeking to make snow alicorns.

And yet Ignis could see it for what it was: a scar. A scar left by invaders from beyond their land, the last time any such invader was left unchecked and permitted to run rampant, still felt and suffered to that very day more than a thousand years later.

And now it served as a reminder for the thin ice he stood upon, Equestria lying in wait across the sea. Other ponies, it was to be said. But what was beyond that. The changelings? More? What would they let in should he pursue his curiosity?

And what scars would be felt by his people for another thousand years?

And yet…

Perhaps it was already too late, the floodgates were open. And if that were so, then what would be the price of ignoring the outside world? There were too many questions, and each one with an incalculable number of potential answers that themselves had an even greater array of consequences.

Choice and consequence, the fate of an entire country on his back. He didn’t enjoy it when they stuck him on the throne, he enjoyed it even less now.

But that was the hoof he had been dealt. Now, what to do with it…

The alicorn sighed again, turning from the window and approaching his desk. Notes, letters and proposals were scattered about. At the very top of the pile were the reports from his closest advisors, and they could not have been more divided on present matter.

Assisting Hoof with his cautious optimism, Stout Guardian with his steadfast pessimism. One advocating the careful application of an olive branch, the other a ready defence at a believed inevitable conflict. Two sides he was expected to balance, each loyal and dedicated but conflicting in their methodologies, and yet each pulling for his ultimate favour.

The snow kept on falling, increasing in its intensity, the patters on the glass pane increasing to an assaulting stampede on the stallion’s ears. A thousand voices all shouting their warnings, and yet drowning out just what that warning was in the process. Does he hide? Does he strike? How does he prevent another calamity like the wendigos?

Sometimes he wished someone would just come along and give him a definitive answer…

“Your Majesty?” the guard called up questioningly.

“My apologies, I was lost in thought,” the King apologised. “So, the letter?”

Yes, the letter, and the present source of his unease. It had just arrived, his little pony coming in and announcing such mere moments prior. And then the snow had started to fall, and the war inside him raged anew. To be honest with himself, he felt slightly embarrassed he’d spaced out like that in front of one of his subjects, but this was a situation for which he felt little comfort.

And now, it was time to make some choices…

“A message from Princess Celestia of Equestria.” He bowed as he presented the sealed document in his magical aura. “For your eyes only, as instructed.”

Ignis took hold of it, studying the closed parchment as if it were a ticking time bomb. “You have my thanks, Guardspony. Leave me, I must see to its contents privately.”

“Of course. We trust in your judgement, King Ignis.”

He appreciated that, giving the guard a nod as he departed from the room and left him alone. Though, this did leave a rather depressing silence around the alicorn, if not outright crushing.

Now, it was just him and the letter, one potentially containing the whole future of The New Kingdom within its written words. What was it his fellow alicorn across the sea wished from him? Peace, as the ‘changeling’ had professed? Or would it be something far more sinister?

The long-ago foal in him wished to ignore the letter and never find out, a cowardly child hiding beneath his bedsheets. But the fact was he could not afford such an indulgence, and so his undid the seal and let the sheet fold out before him.

Dear King Ignis, Sovereign Ruler of The New Kingdom and fellow alicorn across the western sea.

May I introduce myself as Celestia, Princess of the Sun and member of the Equestrian Triumvirate. My fellow alicorns, Mi Amore Cadenza, Princess of Love and Family, and Luna, Princess of the Night, also send their greetings and well wishes. As does the heir of Cadenza, Princess Flurry Heart.

This meeting is an unprecedented one, as unexpected as it is extraordinary. I must admit to you having me at a disadvantage, we had not expected your land to retain pony life after we fled the wrath of the wendigos. An event my sister and I experience first-hoof, we were there all those years ago, mere foals as our home and mother were both claimed by the snow.

They were there? The King found that hard to believe, and yet… Alicorns like himself were so long-lived, and her rule had supposedly lasted a millennium. So it wasn’t out of the question, but the sheer concept dumbfounded the pony. That the place of their birth was his home, not Equestria.

If so, that made them natives of The New Kingdom, or at least what had become so. Perhaps, then, that gave them more kinship than he had initially given them credit?

His interest growing, he progressed further down the letter.

Queen Twilight Sparkle has expressed to me that you and your people too bear the mark of that terrible time. I cannot truly fathom what I must have been like for your ponies, those who stayed and fought for their home, to survive the conditions they did. But I can appreciate the distrust that may bring to those outside your way of life. For that reason, I am not prepared to initiate any diplomatic relations that you yourself are not ready to initiate.

Humbly, I ask only to correspond and come to know one of the few alicorns left in our world. I believe you have much to tell us, and perhaps I wouldn’t be so bold as to presume we too have much to tell you?

The New Kingdom’s rulership over our old home shall be respected, it is as yours as Equestria is ours. But I hope, one day, the gap between us shall heal.

You decision in this matter shall be honoured, but I look forward to hearing from you.

With much regard,

Princess Celestia.

…Well, as far as letters from foreign powers of unknown intent go, he had to admit he was pleasantly surprised. No demands, no requests for grandiose alliances or unwanted trades, just an expression of well wishes and a personal desire to learn more about them. A desire he could relate with as far as it was with those other alicorns.

Celestia. Luna. Cadenza. Flurry Heart.

For the time going forward, there would be no meetings. No exchange of diplomats or disdainful intrusions from those not welcome. But, perhaps, for now, a reply in an unofficial capacity would be a good first step. If nothing else, he could secure his land’s independence and separation despite its unveiling to the world.

Or, at least, that was the hope.

A knock came on the door.

“Yes? Enter.”

In entered Stout Guardian, the Captain of the Royal Guard looking typically grim about something or other. Ignis could already imagine his reaction to the letter, one of incredulous distrust. Perhaps it would be best to keep it private for the time being.

“Captain. Do close the door behind you.”

He did so silently, then approaching the desk with an almost expectant stride.

“What can I do for you, Stout?” he asked.

“I trust that is the letter from those wayward cousins of ours,” he asked bitterly.

“It is. But I am afraid that I must insist on keeping it for my eyes only for the time being,” he informed the unicorn. “I am sorry, but I require time to… think about things.”

“I see…” he replied evenly, wandering over to that same window as the snow continued to fall. “Though I can imagine it’s contents. The typical platitudes and ‘friendship’ that they spout. The usual lies and misdirection to lure your ponies into their grasp.”

Ignis frowned. “Captain?”

“That is how they operate, you know. As I have seen myself, suffered personally. A dialogue to turn into servitude, and you won’t even realise it until you are too far into the trap.”

Ignis’ frown deepened, the alicorn slowly raising from his position behind the desk with the first embers of magic dancing around his horn.

“You are not Stout Guardian. So I ask, who are you?”

‘Stout Guardian’ smirked. “And yet you believed it long enough, did you not? I had contemplated remaining as such, but I believe both of us would be served better by a far more blunt confrontation.”

“Again, who would I be conversing with?”

The smirk only grew as green flames swirled around the faux pony’s form, the equine rapidly growing in size as the fur and armour melted away to reveal a deep red chitin and the predatory eyes of a Changeling Queen reflect back at Ignis in the window’s reflection.

And then she looked towards him.

“You may call me Vulgaris, Queen of the Changelings.”

“Another one of you,” he growled. “What is the meaning of this, creature? Was the last one not content to simply let things be?”

“I am not here on behalf of Twilight Sparkle,” she shot back. “I would never willingly submit myself to her or her Equestrian masters. But willingness has since become irrelevant as far as they are concerned.

“Explain.”

“You saw it for yourself, a Changeling Queen doing Equestria’s dirty work in coming here. Our race was once proud. We kept to ourselves much like you do, isolated our people from those who would threaten them. But that is of the past, and now we are enthralled to Equestria. We do their bidding, my peers so enamoured by their ‘friendship’ that they don’t see that who we are is being slowly stripped away piece by piece. One day, there will just be Equestria, and the changelings as the world knows them will cease to be.”

“We are not changelings,” he sneered. “But why should I even believe you, shapeshifter? You, who have infiltrated by castle under false pretence.”

“Yes, you do lack the safeguards of Canterlot, don’t you?” she noted. “And yet I am here, my own face and my own words. I do not hide behind the prettied presentation of a letter, words twisted to hide their true intent. Oh, I do not expect you to like me. I expect you to find me as repugnant as I find you ponies. But tell me, can you truly trust anything Equestria says either? At least I am being honest.”

“…Yes, I suppose you are,” he replied, taking note of her lack of attempt to hide her clear hatred for him and his kind. In her honesty, perhaps she did have a point. At least one to humour for the moment. “So, ‘honestly’, what is your intent, Vulgaris?”

“My people are being wiped out by falsehood and deception. I am desperate to stop this, but I am alone in my efforts,” she admitted. “And here you are, the latest prey they have in their sights. Does that letter not wish for you to begin a friendship? Small, insignificant. A simple bond seemingly harmless?”

He tilted his head. “That is exactly what Celestia proposes.”

“How familiar. Celestia started with Twilight Sparkle for us, an almost motherly bond she expertly crafted to manipulate her. Then came Twilight’s mother, the then-Queen Chrysalis. And as the years passed by, we became increasingly dragged into their scheme until we reached the present year. Equestria influences us more and more, that is their ploy. They are very good at long games. Celestia IS an alicorn, her life is theoretically infinite. She has all the time in the world to pull your strings. All of it, on paper, would appear to be nothing but beneficial. But that façade falters when their friendship turns into subjugation.”

Vulgaris hissed in anger, picking up the letter and examining its contents for herself. She gave a humourless laugh, throwing it aside before turning to face Ignis once more.

“What do I want? I want my changelings to be free. But I cannot. But you are, soon, to suffer the same fate. So, while we will never like each other, an alliance of convenience is what I offer. Equestria will not stop until the Queen’s Council and The New Kingdom are but a memory. So, Equestria must burn for the good of all our kinds.”

“Burn Equestria? You are a mad little bug, aren’t you?”

“Spare me the insults,” she spat back. “You consider the unicorns the pure race of ponies, do you not? That is all to fall, everything you are! Every last pony who looks to you to guide them! You WILL fail them if you allow Equestria in. Many have so happily galloped to their own graves in such a manner.”

“Assuming I would ever agree to such a proposal. What would you do should we succeed?”

“I care little for your ‘kingdom’, you can float back into the ocean and do whatever you wish for all the care I give,” she stated. “Equestria’s ashes, meanwhile, shall be for the changelings to do with as they please. We can hate each other from afar all we want, but the ocean shall keep us separate forevermore.”

Until it won’t.

“And yet I could deal with you now, and Equestria may yet be grateful,” Ignis threatened. “The thought that I would believe the word of a being like yourself over another alicorn.”

“And yet you must,” she declared without hesitation. “For the sake of your little ponies.”

“Oh? Must I?”

“Yes. You must. Our dealings shall be swift, we will eliminate the threat to both our peoples, and then the future is yours to do with as you will. Can you truly deny that when the alternative is intertwining yourself with Equestria to the point that, WHEN you see that my warning was just, it will be too late? Are you willing to risk every last stallion, mare and foal to satisfy your own curiosity of some alicorn female across the sea? I can smell that curiosity on you, and that’s what drives you, isn’t it?”

He grit his teeth. “What you are saying… If it is true, if Equestria is preparing to entrap us with a false promise of peace and friendship, then what you suggest would hold merit. I would do ANYTHING to keep my ponies safe. Even this. But, if I were to agree, I am uncertain we have the funds for a full campaign. Not to mention you are but one changeling, the rest are already in Equestria’s thrall.”

“My brothers and sisters will follow, I am… creating plans for that. But we need this war for them to succeed,” she explained. “As for funds, I anticipated such an even. Send a demand to Equestria, a large tribute of precious resources in return for the ‘peace’ they so desire.”

“And they’d just give them to us?”

“Why wouldn’t they? If they succeed in their plans, they’d get it all back. Lure them in as they would lure you. And then, when the time comes, we end their plotting before it is too late.”

Ignis was silent, studying the Changeling Queen with clear contempt.

And yet…

He had been so close to believing Celestia’s claims. But, despite how much it loathed him to admit it, Vulgaris’ warning made sense. It was all they had feared. Assisting Hoof would likely protest, but he knew Stout Guardian, despite his own inevitable and definite hatred for Queen Vulgaris, would agree that pre-emptive action was necessary.

But would he be swapping one devil for another?

Choice and consequence. Paths unending and shrouded so their contents were unclear. Too many permutations, too many variables.

But he could no longer ignore the possibility that Vulgaris was right. And the process of finding out on Equestria’s terms was one he could not afford to undertake.

His ponies came first. And to save them, he would do anything. Even ally with this changeling for the time it took to see victory take place.

May the universe forgive him for what he was about to do.

“I must discuss with my advisors…” he told her. “There is much to decide. Preparations to be made. But when the time is right, we will send that demand for tribute.”

“Ah, so it is. I shall remain here until my hive requires my return, ensure our little… cooperation continues as intended.”

“We will be watching you. One wrong move…”

“And I die. The feeling is mutual,” she responded with a dark chuckle. “I detest this necessity as much as I can feel you do. It oozes from you, but we must bear it. For now.”

“Indeed,” he tentatively agreed. “One last thing… The hives. How would you intend to turn them to your cause?”

“Oh, I won’t. Twilight Sparkle will do that.”

He gave a confused frown. “Twilight Sparkle? As I recall, she is more beholden to Equestria than any other.”

“Yes. She is,” Vulgaris confirmed. “But my, she does have her mother’s temper when correctly… applied. And as much as she believes in ‘friendship’ and ‘harmony’, she has one weak link that could see it all undone.”

“And that is?”

Vulgaris smiled. It was a fang-filled smile, one that suggested intense pleasure and anticipation for what would come next. Should the opportunity present itself, it would see all her intent realised. But it went deeper than that, there was a niggling part of her, something deep in the depths of her mind that felt deep satisfaction and vengeance for what had to be done. The final blow that would see to Twilight Sparkle’s destruction.

“Avia.”

17 - Demands

Celestia very nearly spat out her morning tea as she read the parchment in front of her, the reply from The New Kingdom she had been expecting.

Though ‘expecting’ was no longer the optimum word. Perhaps it could be considered hubris on her part, but she had been far expecting a more positive reaction that… that. A polite decline at worst, at best a receptive outlook that promised further communication. But this? This was not the promise of further communication she had been looking for.

She took a breath, regaining her serene persona as she re-read the letter just to be sure there was no miscommunication going on. But no, if anything, King Ignis was very precise and clear in his intent and demands.

Emphasis on the ‘demands’.

Word for word, the only thing worse would have been a denouncement or even a declaration of war outright. But this was little better, and the hostility in his words oozed from the page. She didn’t need to be a Changeling Queen to gauge the emotional state of its author.

What was she to think? In just a moment, their hopeful intent of broaching a peaceful dialogue seemed to be in tatters. What changed? Why did his curiosity sour? Whatever the case, his contempt was quite clear. What was she to do?

“That bad?” Luna questioned from her neighbouring blue throne. “Your attempts at serenity can never fool me, sister.”

“Nor do I presume they do, they are not for you,” she said back, gesturing towards the guards and other ponies present in the throne room. “Speaking of, leave us. No further admittance for court is to be accepted today.”

They all bowed, retreating from the room until the royal sisters could speak in perfect privacy.

Celestia sighed. “No, it is not good. See for yourself.”

With the letter passed over to her, Luna started to browse its contents as her frown increased with each subsequent sentence read. “A tribute? That is a lot of gold, jewels… One could fund an industry with this. Not a small portion of the royal vault, that is to be sure.”

“It’s over half,” Celestia deadpanned. “So no, sister. Not a small portion at all.”

“In order to ensure the legitimacy of the intent of the Equestrian crown…” Luna muttered as she continued to read. “Does he think us so untrustworthy, and yet mere coin would satisfy him as to our intentions?”

Celestia stood from her throne, striding out along the throne room floor and glancing up at some of the stained glass windows. She found herself lost in their depiction for a moment as she ran through things in her mind. Nightmare Moon, Discord, Sombra, Tirek, Crudelis, Immortalis. Plus the happier memories too, Twilight’s image as a recently ascended lavender Changeling Queen standing out to her most of all.

What window would be used to remember these events she had to wonder?

“Something isn’t right,” the Princess of the Sun grimly noted. “Twilight described him as xenophobic, but fair. More so, he was genuinely curious about us. Why would his attitude change so quickly? And why would he risk the safety of his people threatening an unknown such as ourselves in such a manner?”

“It does strike me as odd,” Luna agreed. “Alas… perhaps not entirely unexpected. Their fear of the outside world is ingrained in their culture, a simple curiosity may not have warranted, in his view, a gentle approach to what they view as a danger to their people.”

“Perhaps. And yet, this is still an unacceptable response. We cannot cede to these demands; how would that make Equestria appear? Friendships are not forged from attempted blackmail and threats of reprisal should said blackmail not be met. Nothing good can come from such an exchange.”

Luna appeared unusually conflicted, hesitating a moment before moving to say something…

And yet she never got to do so, the door opening to admit a rather worried-looking Changeling Queen.

“I assume you don’t mind me interrupting?” Twilight uttered as she slipped inside, the guards beyond the doorway going to protest before being silenced by a glance from their ruling alicorns. “The guards announced an end to court early and I figured something was going on. The New Kingdom?”

“Your instincts continue to serve you well,” Luna complimented. “Indeed, the response has arrived.”

“I know. One of my changelings mentioned a courier arriving,” she replied. “So less instinct and more…”

“Spies in our court?” Celestia remarked in jest.

Twilight blushed. “I- Huh? No! It’s not like it was a secret… And you still know what buttons of mine to push.”

“I apologise, but some humour was required,” Celestia remarked, before frowning and levitating the letter over to the changeling. “Because this holds little laughter.”

Twilight tilted her head as she took the parchment and looked over it much as Luna had.

“What!? This is… Wow, that’s a lot. You aren’t considering this, right?”

“So you agree that it is not to be considered?” Luna inquired. “Even if it secured peace between our nations?”

“This is not a good way to start a friendship,” Twilight pointed out. “I… I do not think accepting it would be a good course of action. It might give the impression that they can do so again because we’re so desperate to keep the peace.”

“So what would you have us do?”

“I can’t decide that for you, of course,” she responded. “But maybe you should respond. Politely refuse, and try to placate Ignis somehow? Failing that, maybe we should just let them be for the time being. They might just not be ready for friendship yet. Not now, anyway.”

“They seemed sincere in their hostility,” Luna stated. “I do not deny further demands would be untenable. But this one… They are a people out of time, perhaps they truly do need a token of our sincerity. If we are to crack their shell, we may need to play on their terms. And with their King’s tone in the letter, I fear that refusal may be met with inevitable hostility.”

The alabaster alicorn and Changeling Queen both blinked at the Princess of the Night in surprise at her words, each glancing at one another before looking back at Luna in confusion.

“Sister, if I may, this line of thought seems unusual for you,” Celestia mused. “I would have expected you to be, of all of us, the most displeased by this response. More so than us, you have typically been the more aggressive of us.”

“And perhaps your aggressiveness has increased since your experience with Daybreaker, sister.”

Celestia frowned. “That’s not fair.”

“I’m not trying to be,” Luna shot back. “I’m trying to make a point. Nightmare Moon, Daybreaker, Immortalis… I am tired of conflict, sister. These past years have been a much-needed change from the strife of the past, the realisation of Equestria’s dream. But I see this letter and I recall the devastation of Manehatten and other such losses we have taken. I would not see our Equestria come to an end over a bit of gold.”

Celestia placed a hoof on her shoulder. “I know, sister. I know our struggles have weighed heavier on you than I, for the darkness in your past. But it is our resolve to do what’s right that keeps the dream of Equestria alive. And this demand is not right.”

“I agree,” Twilight voiced. “The Magic of Friendship isn’t built on threats and bullying. We can solve this another way. We have to if we want to truly keep the peace.”

“But with one so fear bound as Ignis, can you be certain of that?” Luna questioned.

“It’s what my life’s experiences are telling me.”

“We should contact Cadance and inform her of this,” Celestia decided. “And perhaps we can yet salvage this, Twilight, what do you think about-”

Luna phased out their conversation, letting out a breath as conflict stirred in her heart. They weren’t wrong, this demand was an unwelcome occurrence. Before Immortalis, she would have shouted to the high heavens at the absurdity. She should be shouting to the heavens at the absurdity.

But now?

The flames of Daybreaker. Manehatten beneath the waves. A swarm of changelings tearing up everything in its path.

The last conflict to ravage their lands had devastated Equestria to its foundations. To see something like that again… She could no longer stomach the thought.

She had to stop it.

“To do what’s right…” she whispered to herself, mirroring Celestia’s own words, wondering just what ‘right’ might be…

The Crystal Empire

Prince Shining Armor looked out over the Crystal Empire, much on his mind as he imagined the distant ocean over the horizon. It was only recently the ageing stallion had returned from Canterlot after being forced to bury his own parents, and now they had just received a message that all but necessitated their return.

As one might imagine, he was not having a very good time.

He groaned as he turned from the balcony and made his way back inside. His armour was scattered rather unprofessionally on a nearby table, the purple metal looking rather worn and dusty. It had been some time since he had even donned his old gear and was rather hoping he yet wouldn’t be required to do so.

And yet he had enough experience as a guard to know when a situation was heading towards an unfortunate outcome. And this business with The New Kingdom? That screamed inevitability.

Not that he didn’t trust his sister and the Princesses of Equestria to find a way to avoid such an outcome, they had done so before. But the need to be ready was not lost on him, so the armour was removed from storage and laid out before him now.

His horn lit up as he picked up his helmet and stared straight at it. It still had a couple of dings in it from previous engagements. One dent in particular he recalled came from an all too close encounter with a changeling’s bolt of magic as their horde had pounded against the defences of Canterlot. He remembered his feral sister being forced through them via a will not her own, and then their encounter with Queen Vulgaris before she’d been swiftly pummelled into submission by Princess Luna.

None of them were pleasant memories. One’s he thought long behind him. But then, Twilight being Twilight, she had to discover a long-lost civilisation.

“It’s not her fault. If not her, then some other scholar,” Cadance remarked as she entered the room, her daughter following closely behind.

“Huh? What?”

“You were thinking about Twilight’s penchant for unearthing ancient evils and how you don’t want to stick that armour back on because of said evils.”

Shining Armor blinked. “You’re scary. You know that, right?”

Cadance giggled, her ethereal mane swishing playfully with the noise. “Shining Armor, how long have we been married? I can read you like she does one of her books.”

“…Is it bad I can never see what you’re thinking?”

“You’re hopeless.”

He pouted. It wasn’t like it was just him. Broad Sword complained of the same problem with Scarlet. Maybe it was just a stallion thing? Carduus never complained like that, nor Façade. But they were changelings, hearing the thoughts of their loved ones was a way of life for them.

“So, do you really think it’s as bad as Aunt Celestia made it sound?” Flurry Heart asked worriedly. “That these other ponies might actually attack us over this?”

“Only if Twilight doesn’t succeed in calming things,” Shining stated. “So don’t bank on a war just yet. Still, demanding a tribute isn’t exactly the best way to make an impression. And we won’t pay it.”

“I’d hope not,” Cadance remarked. “It’s like a foal demanding another’s lunch money. And that’s just mean.”

“A bit simplified, but not inaccurate.”

“Sometimes simple is best, it’s why I married you.”

“Oof!” Flurry laughed. “Ouch. You gonna survive that burn, Dad?”

“Very regal, the both of you,” he deadpanned. “Truly living up to the mythical godhood of the alicorns.”

“Pfft, you don’t count. You are my Dad,” Flurry dismissed. “You never let up on me.”

“No. No, I didn’t,” the Prince conceded. “But you should brush up on that regality since we’re leaving you in charge.”

“Come on, I’m hardly a filly anymore, not for a long time. Nor am I inexperienced in running the Empire while you’re off saving the world. Or actually saving the world myself, you know. Forgot my window in Canterlot?”

“You save Equestria from one goat and you’ll never let us forget it.”

“You brought it up!”

“And this kind of backchat is why you’re still our little filly,” Cadance joked.

“And you are meant to be on my side, Mother.”

“I’m on my own side.”

“And I need to finish packing!” Shining Armor announced. “Twily needs us in Canterlot and I’d feel better leaving sooner rather than later. It’s a good thing we haven’t fully unpacked from the last trip up. Had we known we’d be back so soon; we’d have just stuck around.”

“Well, this time we will until we’re sure things are okay again,” Cadance reassured her husband. “Flurry, you can actually come with us if you want. I know Twilight would appreciate having you there.”

The younger alicorn shook her head. “No. Tempting, but we both know the Empire would be better off with at least one of us here. The Crystal Ponies hate it when we all gallivant off somewhere. You go and give her my love.”

“I always do,” she confirmed, caressing her child’s face with the tip of one of her wings.

Shining only hummed, returning his attention to his armour and picking up his helmet again. His mirror image stared back at him, meeting his own eyes in what little of the metal’s surface still held a clear reflection. Old. Tired. He wasn’t a young pony anymore…

But he could go for one more round.

For Equestria? Perhaps.

But for his little sister? Forever.

18 - Conference with the Moon

Everything would be fine, they said. Trust that friendship would come swiftly and naturally, they said…

Apparently not.

Avia grumbled sourly, shifting uncomfortably from her position overlooking the atrium from one of the higher up balconies. Things could be mistaken for a normal day if, you know, she hadn’t just learned of a huge diplomatic calamity brewing on the horizon.

Hives, not brewing, it was brewed. Now it was being distributed!

And now she was just thirsty, so Avia mentally decided to stop with the metaphors.

She groaned, her forehead meeting the top of the railing with a ‘thunk’. It was like every day she had an increase in the number of mental gymnastics she was going inside her head. She’d been left behind to figure out how to run a hive, but everything here was as calm as ever. And that was the frustrating thing! Things were devolving into chaos out there and here she was, stuck in the hive while her mother did all the heavy lifting.

As usual.

If she was there, maybe she could figure out a way to help! There had to be some books and diplomatic treaties to browse in the Canterlot archives. Beyond that, maybe she could just help her mother strategize. Find some way to keep their world from devolving into anarchy overnight.

That thought… It was as strange as it was scary. The fact that this kind of event could actually lead to conflict. Beyond the occasional magical psycho or rampaging beast wandering around, the Princess of the Equestrian Hive had never known conflict. The thought of what happened in the past, the conflicts between Equestria and the changelings, it was little more than accounts and words in historical texts for her. Born so long after as she was, it wasn’t even a distant memory.

So the thought that the peaceful world she’d grown up in might be ending was nothing short of terrifying.

No, there had to be something she could do. There had to be.

Avia pried her forehead from the railing, raising her lavender gossamer wings and taking off into the air. She lowered herself through the atrium, passing several drones as she went as her eyes scanned for Carduus among the crowds. He was meant to be out here spending some time with Panacea and Iuvenes. She hated interrupting that, the old stallion could always use such a break. But she needed his advice.

It didn’t take too long to find them, a mix of simple scanning the area and mentally pinging the odd drone she passed for direction. But sure enough, there they were. Outside of a little café built into the walls of the hive, sitting around tables with a couple of extra guests. Soronis and Puellula were there, Rose and Tutela too. A large gathering of friends and family.

She felt all the more guilty interrupting it. But this couldn’t exactly wait.

“Princess!” Rose gasped. “Hey! Princess!”

“Wowwww…” Tutela said in awe.

“You’ve seen her before!” Rose pointed out.

“So? She’s still a princess!”

Avia blushed at the children’s reaction. But she shook it off and approached the table.

“Avia,” Carduus greeted. “I thought you were going through some more proposals today.”

“Yeah, that can wait…” Avia muttered. “Carduus, can I talk to you? In private?”

“Oh dear, what’s happened now?” Soronis asked worriedly. “The Queen didn’t blow something up, did she?”

“Sis, if anything, the Queen would be in the building being blown up by something else that’s big and scary,” Puellula disputed.

Avia puffed up her cheeks in annoyance. “Nothing has exploded! Buuut, things are a little complicated right now too.”

“…The New Kingdom?” Carduus enquired slowly.

“Yeah. The New Kingdom.”

“That’s the place Queen Twilight discovered, right?” Iuvenes asked. “The one with the unicorns? There’s been a fair bit of word going around, but Dad isn’t telling us much.”

“What’s to tell? There are a group of ponies from the land of the Three Tribes,” her father remarked in turn.

“Yes, but every time we ask for details, you are a little evasive.”

“She isn’t wrong,” Panacea supported her daughter. “And I know the look you get when things aren’t going all that well.”

“I-Is something wrong…?” Rose asked timidly.

“And this is why I’m not spreading things around needlessly,” Carduus rebutted. “Not right now, and not with the kids. I’m not sure what’s going on with Twilight right now, but I think I’m about to find out.”

“I’ll get him back to you as quick as I can,” Avia said apologetically. “I just need some words of wisdom.”

“Well, I’m not sure I’m wise persay. But I will lend an ear, your Highness. As always.”

“But you will tell us if something is up and we need to worry, right?” Soronis asked bluntly. “We’re known you since you were a kid, Avia. I’ve known your mother for far longer. I don’t want to be kept in the dark.”

“I know, Soronis. You have Rose to think about.”

“And her mother.”

“Hey!” Puellula protested.

Avia did smile a little at that. “I understand. But just let me try to figure things out first, okay?”

“I’m sure we can do that, dear,” Panacea said gently, then looking towards her husband. “Go on. We aren’t going anywhere.”

“Right…” he muttered as he stood up wobbly. “Excuse me for a minute.”

“Bye Miss Princess!” both nymphs called out as they started to move aside.

They made their way past the passing crowd, squeezing past an earth pony before budging up against another railing overlooking the atrium. Avia regarded the statues at the bottom a moment before sighing and turning to face the former Captain of the Royal Guard.

“Things have gotten worse.”

“I gathered,” he replied, glancing back at the others. “I was hopeful that their efforts to reach out to King Ignis would bear fruit, but I had a bad feeling things might not go as the Queen hoped. That’s why I haven’t really said much to anybody. I guess I was right.”

“For better or worse, your instincts are still sharp at least,” Avia mused. “I had a talk with Mother over the egregore. They received a threat in reply to Princess Celestia’s letter. They want a tribute. A large one. The subtext suggested bad things should they refuse.”

“Ah…” Carduus gritted his teeth. “The old playground bullying tactics. Act big and tough and steal another nymph’s bits. I know the Queen, and she won’t go for something like that. It goes against friendship, and frankly, she really doesn’t like being threatened.”

“You’re right. She’s mad,” she confirmed. “They’re not going to pay it. But… I’m not sure I should be back here, stuck in the hive.”

“We’ve talked about this, Avia.”

“Yes, but things are getting worse out there!” she hissed. “My mother needs me right now. And, if anything, I’m more likely to gain experience ruling by helping deal with this than staying cooped up.”

“And what of the hive if you go, hm?”

“Come on, Carduus. We all know the Equestrian Hive has been without us for a few days or even weeks before. The hive mind allows that. And I know you can fill in any gaps or help the rest of our drones do so themselves. But this is important, I feel it.”

The changeling drone sighed, blue eyes moving up and staring out through the shielded ceiling of the hive. “I know. But the Queen wanted you here… Even if your mind could be of use elsewhere.”

“I guess she’ll have to trust my judgement. She left me in charge, so let me be in charge.”

“You’re certain of this?” Carduus asked her. “You really want to go to Canterlot in the middle of all of this?”

The Princess nodded. “I have to.”

“Then there’s not actually anything I can do to stop you. All I ask is that you sleep on it first, however. Think on things, if only to figure out exactly what you’re going to do when you get there. And how to stop your mother from giving you the God of all lectures.”

Avia bit her lip. “I… guess there would be no harm. Okay, fine. I will do that. But we’ll talk about this again tomorrow, because I know I’ll be going.”

“I don’t doubt it. She would do the same thing, you know.”

“Oh, I know.”

He chuckled. “Good to know. But what exactly did Queen Twilight say they were going to do next?”

“The general plan right now is to try and straighten things out without paying a penny to The New Kingdom. Talk them down with the usual flairs of friendship. I don’t really know what they plan on saying to him, just that they’re trying to come up with a way to change his mind. Either go with the original deal or back off entirely.”

“Makes sense. Paying would be a bad idea.”

“Even if it would secure peace?”

“Avia, you know better. Bullies always come back for more if they succeed the first time,” Carduus shot back. “His threats of violence are likely just hot air.”

“Yeah… I guess you’re right…”

But even as she said that there was still something that was bugging Avia at the back of her mind. Almost like she was forgetting something important. Something she had heard…? No, something she had seen. What was it?

The royal changeling shook her head, putting that point into the back of her mind for the moment. Still, the feeling didn’t entirely desist…

“Worst comes to worst, they will see us through it. Just like before,” he said in an attempt to comfort the Princess.

“Right… Well, I’m off to go and think then. Because I haven’t done enough of that recently…”

“You could join us for a little while? Put your hooves up for an hour or so.”

“I don’t think I-”

“Avia,” he addressed sternly. “You could use it.”

She went to argue, but the sharp look in his eye caused her mouth to shut up tight. Avia then released a sigh, resigning herself to going along with his request.

“Okay, fine. An hour.”

“An hour,” he agreed, motioning for her to follow him back to the table.

And so she did, waving off the concerns of the others as she pulled up a chair and let her worries slide away for a little while. The subject was soon changed, and the topic of world politics largely forgotten, Soronis teasingly launching into some stories of Puellula’s childhood, much to Puellula’s dissatisfaction and the particular delight of Rose.

Still, that feeling remained. She had forgotten something, but for the life of her, she could not recall what it was…

Fire.

The hive was on fire.

Avia wasn’t sure what had happened, everything had been so sudden and… How? What had caused this? Had something attacked them? Was it just an accident? What was going on!?

She groaned as she raised herself to her hooves, finding herself standing atop the jagged remnants of one of the atrium’s levels. The charred remains of the café was behind her, the floor either side of her having collapsed deep into the bowels of the cavernous space.

That’s right, she was taking an hour to relax with her friends, wasn’t she? Yes, that’s right. Seeking advice from Carduus, he told her to sleep on her decision whether or not to go to Canterlot and then she had sat down with them for a brief breather.

She looked over towards the collapsed table. Most of them had fallen deeper into the atrium when the floor collapsed, but she had been laid out atop the remains of theirs.

But where were they? Soronis? Puellula? Iuvenes? The kids?

None of them were to be seen. In fact, there wasn’t a soul in sight. Just the crackling of the flames and the occasional distant scream.

Carduus wouldn’t leave her. Nor would Panacea. Nor any of them, short of the sisters getting the children to safety, but someone would have remained behind to tend to her when she was knocked unconscious. Because that had to have been what happened, right? She must have blacked out by whatever blast caused all of this.

Avia moved along to the edge of what little floor remained beneath her, staring out into the trashed atrium. Her eyes widened as she spied the scattered remains of the statues far below, the crystal they held to keep the protective shield in place likewise shattered and useless.

And then she looked up, the night’s sky spread out above her. And there they were, shapes descending down. Blades chopping the air, mana engines humming with power. Her heart briefly soared as she believed herself to be seeing the Equestrian EUP coming in to help. But then it plummeted as she realised these designs were not theirs but looked exactly how she imagined those across the sea looked based upon her mother’s descriptions.

They were New Kingdom.

A light emerged from one of the helicopters as it lowered down, blinding Avia as she stumbled.

And then she heard something revving up.

With a shout, she jumped from the balcony and into the air as many bolts of magic struck the platform she had just been on. She allowed herself to fall freely for a moment before snapping her wings open and clattering down into the bottom floor of the atrium.

And then she saw the bodies. Changeling, ponies… All residents of the Equestrian Hive. Slaughtered. Butchered. Stallions. Mares. Nymphs. All dead.

“Y-you…!” she whimpered out, tears breaching her eyes as she lit her horn and whopped her head up to face the monsters who had done this. “Why!?”

And then something else emerged from between the aircraft above her. Like a flaming comet, the large equine figure flew down towards her as she explicitly felt her magic fail her. It came close, halting just above the changeling as it stared down at Avia with nothing but hate and contempt.

And fire. This alicorn. It all came back to her.

She had seen this. Just before the expedition. She had seen this!

No matter how hard she tried, no magic came to her horn. Ignis just kept staring, the flames growing higher and higher until…

The moon glowed.

“BEGONE, SHADE!”

There was a pulse of dark blue magic, and then everything had changed. It remained night, but the sky seemed to glow more brilliantly than ever. The hive was no longer aflame, the rubble was gone, and the statues were repaired. As Avia looked up at the returned crystal, it lit with its great magical energies and shot a beam up into the sky, reforming the shield that kept them all safe.

And as it did, the moon glowed all the bright, before in a flash it morphed into another equine figure that gracefully descended until Avia came face to face with Princess Luna.

“Calm thyself, Princess Avia of the Equestrian Hive,” Luna declared. “The dream is done, let your rest be a peaceful one.”

“Princess Luna!” Avia shouted out with no small amount of relief. “That… I’m dreaming!?”

“Tis not my first visit, young one,” the alicorn confirmed. “But this was of particular intensity. I saw fit to make my presence known, especially considering the subjects.”

“You… You saw that, huh?”

She raised an eyebrow. “I am the Matron of the Dream Realm. I do not miss the minuscule details, let alone what is so obvious it becomes, quite literally, an inferno.”

Avia scuffed the ground. “Right. Yes. I suppose so. Thanks…”

“You are most welcome. Still, it is clear that recent events trouble you.”

Avia hesitated, looking around the now pristine hive once again as she tried to banish the image of the devastation from her mind. But try as she might, she could still imagine as the destruction around her. The smell. The feeling of the heat and ash against her chitin…

“All I’ve know is peace. I don’t want that to end,” she admitted fearfully. “To see what my mother saw. It still haunts her, you know. I see it. It changed her.”

“It changed us all,” Luna lamented. “Those events killed your grandmother. Took Twilight Sparkle’s mind and enslaved it to another. Brought out the deepest and darkest aspects of my sister, much as I had once fallen myself. Whereas you have seen nothing but peace in your short lifetime, I have known much strife. My taste for conflict has long since faded.”

Avia’s breaths became shaky. This dream, and the one before, that was what she had forgotten. She had dreamt about what was happening before it happened! Prophetic dreaming existed; Luna’s own Dream Realm was funny like that. It could bend time and space, peer into what was and could be. She remembered doing a research project into that very phenomenon just before her little misadventure in the Everfree Forest with the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

But she had seen it all happen. What was to come if the peace was not held.

‘Please, no…’ she inwardly begged as she scrunched her eyes shut. ‘Don’t let them destroy my home. I can’t let it happen. I… I just can’t!’

“Avia?” Luna questioned.

“You have to pay that tribute!” Avia suddenly declared. “You can’t provoke them. If we don’t placate The New Kingdom… I won’t see those flames again!”

“Alas, we shall not be paying anything,” Luna denied.

“But you saw-!”

“A dream, a construct of fears and insecurities. I have seen many,” the Princess of the night interrupted. “I too have… doubts, and I do question what will happen next. But after some thought, I have decided that my sister and your mother are correct. We cannot give in to their demands, doing so would incite future events such as these demands.”

“But-”

“It is decided. We are considering our future actions regarding these ponies but agreeing to their unreasonable and unjust terms is not something we can abide.”

“But you do have doubts?”

Luna looked away. “As I have explained to you, I grow weary of conflict. But I must trust in my sister and do what is right. I must put my fears aside and do what I must for the good of Equestria, not myself. We shall not be at war, young Avia. We shall prevent it.”

“But you won’t!” Avia protested in a panic. “I remember! I’ve seen Ignis before, before my mother found The New Kingdom. I’ve seen him! The death! The flames! It’s coming! If we provoke him, we will ALL pay the price!”

Luna’s eyes widened at the changeling’s sincere terror, looking back towards her while taking a step forward.

“Explain. Now.”

“I… I think I saw a vision of what’s to come. It happened just before the expedition, and I thought it was just a dream at the time. I brushed it aside,” the changeling recalled. “But now… I know it wasn’t just a dream! I saw Ignis, and it was just like it was a few minutes ago. Ignis will burn my hive given the chance, and Equestria is in his way.”

“You are truly convinced of this?”

“You know prophetic dreams exist. More than anypony!” she further pressed. “And I know enough about them to know when it has occurred! I’ve done the research, compared notes, projects done by myself my mother and all the other scholars of Equestria! I know what I saw, and we’re heading straight for disaster.”

“…I do not doubt your knowledge surrounding such things. You are your mother’s child in that regard. And… And I too have experience. My sister and I witnessed Lord Tirek’s return right before it happened, for example.”

“So you know I am right.”

“It is possible,” Luna admitted. “But there is no guarantee paying it would stop what is to come. Or, even if it should, they may attempt it again. We cannot allow-”

“PLEASE!” Avia cut her off desperately. “I know this whole thing is just… messed up! I’m running the variables in my head and there are all kinds of outcomes and so few right answers to turn to! But if we don’t try, then I know people are going to die. I want to try. I NEED to try.”

Luna was silent for a good few moments, conflict written across her facial features as she studied the Princess of the Equestrian Hive.

“…Should we do so, it would be but the once. Should they attempt future threats, as I unfortunately suspect, we cannot abide by them to keep the peace. Even if we wished to, we would not be able to afford to for long.”

“I know. If it happens again, there’s nothing we can do. But if they don’t? We should try, just this once. If it can avoid that future I saw…”

“And we would need to do it ourselves. Twilight would never agree, it goes against her very principles. My sister too would never condone it from a point of pride.”

“Then I’ll take it to them,” Avia decided. “If you can get it to me, maybe give me an escort of your guard, I can do it.”

“Not your own changelings?”

“They’d tell my mother. They’d have to. But your Lunar Guard will do what you ask of them.”

“Most. But I fear its Captain would find great discomfort in such an act,” Luna mused. “But I can think of a few. However, Avia, you must understand the dangerous path we trot. If something were to go wrong…”

“I know the risks. But I need to do what I can to protect my home. I want to do this. After what I saw, I NEED to do this.”

Luna grew silent once more, inwardly cursing herself for allowing herself to be swayed towards this course of action once again. No small part of her was screaming of its foolishness, that its outcomes were too numerous to properly predict. All arguments she had made to herself to talk herself out of it previously. But this supposed vision of Avia’s had upset the balance in her mind. The changeling was as sincere as she was knowledgeable about such things.

It could mean a number of things. But with the fire on the horizon, could they truly afford not to try?

Ponyville. Manehatten. The Badlands Hive.

Luna growled. Either this would be the best choice she ever made, or it would sit among the worst of them.

“Very well, Princess Avia,” Luna agreed with great resignation. “If you so insist, then I will help you. Come to Canterlot, I will oversee preparations here. But at the slightest sign of trouble, we shall be terminating this exchange.”

“Okay. I get it, I’ll be careful.”

“I would hope so. For we might never be forgiven should we fail this day,” the alicorn warned. “Rest, Avia. We have much work ahead.”

Avia nodded, steel in her eyes as her resolve hardened.

She knew what she saw. What would happen if she messed this up? But she had faith that future, that terrible future, could yet be prevented.

Carduus asked her to sleep on her decision. And she had done so more than he might have imagined.

Avia was going to Canterlot.

19 - Shadow Play

“Carduus, I am going to Canterlot! Right now!” Avia announced as she burst into the chamber where he was meeting with several guards.

Several pairs of luminous changeling eyes turned to blink at her, somewhat bemused by the Princess’ sudden and extravagant entrance.

Carduus just sighed.

“Would you excuse us?” he asked the guards, each of them nodding before proceeding to file out of the room until only the two remained. The former captain then turned towards Avia with an unamused expression. “And you couldn’t have just announced this to me over the hive?”

Avia paused a moment. “…To be entirely honest, I didn’t think of it.”

“Of course.”

“Hey, I’m being serious here,” she pressed further as she approached the stallion. “You asked me to sleep on it yesterday. Well, I slept on it. I slept on it harder than most people could hope to sleep on something. And I’m still going. I need to go.”

“What I said yesterday still stands, your Highness. I can’t stop you if you truly intend to do so,” the changeling responded. “But might I ask, what makes you more certain now than you were then?”

Avia hesitated, biting down onto her lip. Should she tell him about Luna’s visit? About her dream and all that it brought? A decent part of her felt like she should, if only to alleviate his concerns as to the validity of her decision. His support was always nice to have, being the gruff uncle he kinda was in his actions. His help would be great, given all his experience and caution well dealing with things like this. Changelings lived for doing things in the shadows, right? And she couldn’t think of a more experienced drone in the hive.

And yet…

Her point to the Princess of the Night still rang true. Of course, he would tell the Queen, he was duty-bound to do so. And, again, that caution-prone nature of his. Even if he did ultimately agree with their reasoning, or if he did not, it didn’t matter. She knew that her mother would shoot down the idea on principle/

So, for now, it was best to play things close to her chest.

She’d apologise profusely, and probably with a Pinkie Pie branded cake, later…

“I just had a lot of time to think,” the Princess told him. “And I am confident in my calculations and certainty of disaster if I sit on my flank and do nothing but file paperwork all day. You do not mess with the numbers, Carduus.”

“So I’ve long heard…” Carduus deadpanned, shaking his head in bemusement at the bookish changeling. “But, you know, even your mother has gotten the numbers wrong on occasion.”

Avia gasped. “Blasphemy!”

Of course, the whole reason she was doing this was because she didn’t agree with her assessment, but that was a disagreement of hypothesis in a scientific manner, totally different.

That’s what she was going with at any rate.

“Oh don’t give me that, you know it’s true,” Carduus shot back. “But, if you’re dead set on pushing your luck, I’ll do my best to pick up the pieces after you as per usual. I’ll help however I can, so if you truly feel like you can do something out there to help out, you have my support.”

Avia grinned, shooting forward and grabbing the aged changeling in a crushing hug.

“Thanks, Carduus! You’re the best!”

“Ow! Ow! Back injury!”

She loosened her grip.

“Sorry…”

“Yeah yeah, I should be used to it…” he muttered, returning the embrace before pulling away. “Well, seeing as you’re not going to listen to any more of my sage advice, I’ll get an escort prepared to accompany you to-”

“No! No escort!”

If his chitinous face had eyebrows, one of them would be raised to the roof with the expression he gave her.

“I mean…” Avia chuckled mirthlessly. “I know my way there; it will be quicker if I just rushed over myself.”

“Not really, even just a couple of guards would do well. Especially now.”

“Carduus, I’ll be fine. You worry too much.”

“I like to think I worry just the right amount.”

“Hey, nothing is going to happen flying between here and Canterlot. This is Equestria, and last I checked we’re not at war yet,” she pointed out. “I’m going to be heading out ASAP, and I don’t want to mess around getting something like that together.”

“You’ve never been bothered by ordinary protocol before,” Carduus noted suspiciously. “What are you up to, Avia?”

“…I’ve told you everything I need to, I just want to get going right now,” she stated. “Please, Carduus? Don’t fight me on this?”

His instincts told him something was off with this situation. He had known the Princess long enough to know when she was hiding something, hives knew she’d told the odd fib when she was a filly getting into all kinds of ‘research’-related mischief. He should really have insisted further, pushed for her to accept. He might have even managed it, for what he lacked in actual rank of the royal changeling he held a great deal of influence over her emotionally.

And yet, that wasn’t a one-way street. And looking into her eyes now, he wasn’t really sure he’d ever seen her looking so desperate and even terrified as she was now. Whatever the reason for the way she was acting, she clearly needed him to let her go on this one…

“Damn it, Avia. Fine. Just… keep yourself safe, alright?”

“I’m a Changeling Queen, I can handle myself.”

“Don’t let your innate power get to your head, no one is invincible,” he warned. “Go. Make haste to Canterlot, I’m sure Twilight will be thrilled to see you in person if nothing else.”

“Thanks, Carduus. I promise, I won’t make you regret this!” she thanked earnestly, giving him one last hug before turning to exit the room. “Pinkie promise!”

“I hope so kid, I really do…” he muttered to himself as she departed, standing alone in his thoughts for several moments after she had done so.

He couldn’t help but feel he was making a huge mistake.

“My Queen,” he called out over the hive to Twilight Sparkle. “There’s something you should know.”

“Oh? Carduus, what’s wrong?” Twilight answered.

“It’s Avia. She’s on her way to Canterlot as we speak.”

“What!? Why!? Hrmg, I told her to stay put!”

“Would you?”

“Doubtful. But still, not the point! Ah… What exactly did she say to you?”

“Only that she wants to help. Only… Well, I’m not sure what’s really going on. She looked a little distressed. Perhaps it’s just everything going on with King Ignis and his unicorns, but I’ve never seen her looking quite like… Well, like I’ve seen you at some of your lower moments.”

“…I see.”

“I can still stop her if you want me to.”

“She’s stubborn, it runs through our particular line of Changeling Queens,” Twilight mused. “When we set our minds to something, we don’t tend to give up easily.”

Yes, Queen Chrysalis was just the same in her own way. Never one to back away from her goals no matter who might object…

“Let her come, I’ll speak to her when she gets here,” the Queen decided. “Besides, I could use her assistance. Things are pretty hectic here.”

“So I hear. Just… keep an eye on her, yeah?”

“Always.”

Princess Luna wasn’t sure if it was her uncertainty or the guilt that weighed down on her the most, or some likely mixture of the two, but her mood wasn’t exactly at its brightest. Scheming with Princess Avia behind the backs of both Celestia and Twilight the way they were…

This could go so very wrong. She prayed that history would prove her right, or else she was going to have much to repent for.

As if her soul needed more.

And it could go very wrong indeed. It had occurred to her that their actions could very well bring about the future they were trying to prevent, though just as equally they could be on the right path and be correct in their actions.

That was the tricky part about prophecies, they were quite unpredictable. One could be as straightforward as it might seem, another could be misleading or otherwise self-fulfilling. A misstep could see all of their good intention undone, and thus leading to something that they tried so very hard to avoid.

There was even the possibility that Avia was mistaken and there was no prophecy at all. Though the Princess of the Changelings had been genuinely convinced of its validity, and her demeanour had caused the alicorn to be more partial to the idea of its truths. And even now, Ignis was planning who in Equus knew what with an unknowable state of mind, one born of a nation buried in its ignorance and outdated views of the wider world beyond The New Kingdom.

As they had before, dark forces were at play in Equestria. What form the wider plot against them took Luna could only speculate, but Avia’s glimpse had widened her deepest fears at where it would bring them if not prevented.

More war. More death. Another city destroyed. And whether she did something or nothing at all, either way, she could end up being responsible for them once again.

They had to take great care in the coming days…

Moving through the halls of Canterlot Castle, moving away from her inner conflict and focusing more on where she was at present, the Princess swiftly made her way past the everyday hustle and bustle until she came all the way up to the doorway leading into the war room. The timing was correct, so the individuals she had summoned should already have arrived and hopefully slipped into the chamber without drawing any attention to themselves. The last thing they wanted was some nosy maid causing rumours to float into her sister’s ears.

Doing much the same, checking to see that her surroundings were clear with both a visual scan and a magical one, Luna opened up one of the two doors and slipped inside before anypony could choose that inopportune moment to blunder around the corner. Closing it behind her, she found the map silent and yet the chairs around it occupied by half a dozen members of her Royal Guard waiting patiently for her arrival. There were three thestrals, two unicorns and an earth pony in all that Luna saw after doing a quick headcount, the alicorn being relieved to see that they had all made it as desired. Each had a question on their face, and it was high time she let them in on the secret.

“Gentleponies, I thank you for coming despite the unorthodox nature of my summons.”

“Your wish has always been our command,” one of the thestrals, the highest-ranking of the group, stated dutifully. “However, if I am permitted to speak freely, I am rather surprised to see that Captain Vespertilio is not in attendance. Given the secrecy insisted upon us, I would have thought our ranking officer would be involved.”

“Let me make this clear right now, lest future mistakes occur…” Luna said seriously. “Vladimir is not to be informed of these proceedings. I do not wish his involvement.”

On the surface, the ponies around her remained professionally neutral about this proclamation. However, she was not so blind as to assume they weren’t concerned by this particular action.

“We understand. However, this is an unusual precedence being set. Why keep him out of this?”

“Because his duty supersedes that of your own,” Luna answered. “You are all members of the Lunar Guard. You report to him, but more than that, your oaths are to me and me alone. But, as Captain of the Lunar Guard, Vladimir’s responsibilities go beyond simply doing as one is told. He is responsible, in conjuncture with Captain Valiant Snow, for the safety of all of Canterlot. And that means his rank requires further autonomy, and even though he is my Captain, him reporting events to my sister should he see the requirement isn’t out of the question. The opposite also rings true for Captain Snow if the issue ever arises, such is the nature of their positions.”

Luna sat in her designated place, her severe eyes glancing at every last one of them.

“My commands today are not to reach my sister, and as loyal as Vladimir is, I cannot take any risk. No matter whether I believe he would see fit to report to Celestia or not. The possibility alone cannot be condoned, and so I turn to all of you, those whose responsibilities are to my voice and mine alone. What you hear and do is not to leave this room until I say otherwise. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Princess Luna,” came the united sound of confirmation.

“Good. Now, Princess Avia of the Equestrian Hive is on her way to Canterlot as we speak. When she arrives, you will be rid of your traditional armour in favour of that of simple mercenaries. Under this guise, you will accompany young Avia and ensure her safety as she conducts her task.”

“Task?” the officer asked.

“Aye, she is to parley with representatives from The New Kingdom in order to ensure the prevention of future conflicts. This is classified to the utmost level, and failure could prove disastrous to Equestria.”

“When are we to leave?”

“That has yet to be decided. For now, go about your duties as normal until you are called upon. When you are, you will not leave the changeling princess’ side for a moment. The first sign of trouble and you are to evacuate her, understand? I will arrange for transportation via helicopter to collect you once you are beyond Canterlot’s walls, doing so within will arouse too much attention. I have already secured an EUP pilot who can be trusted to keep silent about this endeavour.”

Luna stood up, her wings flaring out as her glare increased.

“Do not be mistaken, there is great risk in this assignment, but our very future may depend on it. Equestria barely survived the last war, and I would not see it again. A rogue monster, mage or other such abomination is one thing. But an army is entirely another. The fate of Equestria is in your hooves, a fact you must not forget.”

Because she knew that if they did, and something went wrong, then forgiveness would be something the Princess of the Night would not deserve.

Not this time.

20 - What is Set in Motion...

There were more than a few curious eyes on Avia as she approached the castle.

Maybe it was the fact that she was a royal changeling wandering the streets of Canterlot without an escort. Maybe it was the slightly dramatic landing she’d had upon arrival. Maybe it was the multiple strands of hair out of place in her mane betraying the tumultuous nature of her visit.

Or maybe it was all of the above. Avia was open to any new hypothesis.

At least she appeared to be the most worrisome thing any of these ponies had seen all day. That meant that, like in the hive, the general populace was largely unaware of the giant powder keg of a diplomatic situation they were all sitting on. That was probably for the best, no panic to be had and all the concentration to spare on creating an effective solution to the presented problem. Plus, if Avia’s planned solution went to plan, they needn’t know how close things came to their home being potentially on fire.

Those flames in her dreams were very much seared into her head, and thinking on it further, she only quickened her pace towards the ponies’ seat of power.

Of course, before the Princess of the Equestrian Hive could get to dowsing any of them, she had to deal with the maybe-inferno that was going to be her mother. She was ‘technically’ disobeying her at that moment, after all.

Time would tell how that was going to go.

Avia let out a long breath, passing through the castle’s gates unimpeded as she cast off her sizable collection of butterflies that had taken up residence in her stomach. Her walk through Canterlot hadn’t really cleared her head up as much as she’d hoped it would. Maybe it would have been better to just land inside the castle grounds and be done with it.

Too late now. She had arrived…

“Excuse me?” Avia called out to a passing guard. “Um, where might I find my mother? Queen Twilight Sparkle?”

“Word is she is to meet Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor in the gardens, Ma’am,” the guard informed the Princess. “They arrived but a short while ago as well.”

“Gardens. Right. Thanks!”

Moving away from the helpful pony, Avia started her quick trek around the castle and towards the gardens where her mother was supposedly located. Stopping for nothing, soon enough she was arriving at her newest destination with her eyes on the lookout for any sign of the Queen amongst the decorative bushes and vibrant flowers.

But as she looked, her pace slowing significantly to better do so, her eyes also made note of what laid around her.

Under the light of the day, the gardens were a particularly vibrant green that screamed of nature’s life and prosperity. Birds were tweeting unseen in nearby trees, the changeling spotting several small creatures scurrying around joyfully enough to make a Fluttershy swoon. The Princess had to stop in place for a moment just to take it all in, to feel the wind on her face and the blades of grass against her chitinous lavender hooves.

She let out another, much calmer, breath. They really needed something like this back at the hive, it was amazing how calming a little bit of nature could be. Maybe she could do a paper on it… later. For the moment, she was just content for the here and now.

And then she spotted a familiar curved horn jutting up from behind a hedge, Avia moving around to indeed find her family standing by a marble fountain depicting Celestia raising the sun. They talked amongst themselves, not yet noticing the Princess’ presence.

“-cheek of them. You’d think they would have better things to do after sitting aside for as long as they have. It’s like a crazy ex after a bad break up,” Cadance complained.

“What my wife means…” Shining remarked. “Is that does this not strike you as a bit odd? Now that I think about it, what does he really hope to gain?”

“Their culture was quite xenophobic, you know this,” Twilight pointed out. “Maybe they simply do not know any better. Maybe it’s a mark of Ignis’ inexperience dealing with other cultures. I don’t know, but I hope to find out. And fix this. Somehow.”

“I suppose setting up a marriage is out of the question?” Cadance teased.

Twilight gave her sister-in-law a deadpan look. “Cadance. No. Stop.”

“I’m kidding, Twilight. Relax… But, as the Princess of Love, I could totally make it happen.”

“I don’t think he’s anypony’s type.”

“Ugh, I know right?” the pink alicorn lamented. “The first male alicorn in like… ever comes along, and he’s making himself out to be kind of a jerk. Oh, I’m never going to get Celestia or Luna to tie the knot with someone, am I?”

“I’m not sure this is the time for your scheming.”

“So disappointing…”

“Maybe one day, dear,” Shining jokingly comforted his wife, patting her on the shoulder. “First, how can we help calm things down?”

“Well, for now-” Twilight stopped mid-sentence as she finally turned her head enough to spot something purple in the corner of her eye, turning around to find her daughter standing awkwardly silent a short distance away. “…For now, I think I have a visitor.”

“Hi… Mother…” Avia scuffed the ground sheepishly. “Uh… I’m here! Where you told me not to be… Don’t be mad!”

“Your magically uber-powerful child going off doing their own thing, huh?” Shining snarked to his sister. “Oh yeah, we’ve been there.”

Twilight only spared her elder sibling the briefest of bemused glances, turning her attention fully onto her daughter as she approached the smaller changeling. “Avia, I left you in charge of the hive to gain experience in ruling over it by yourself. To prepare you for what may come one day.”

“I know, but I-”

“You were in charge of the hive,” Twilight quickly reiterated. “Meaning, if you judged that your presence here was more required than it was back home, that is your call to make. Not mine. It stands, I won’t turn you away.”

“Oh! So… you’re not mad?”

“Oh, I’m mad,” the Queen announced, and Avia couldn’t help but gulp at that. “I personally would have been much happier with you being able to directly keep an eye on the hive during this brewing crisis and be on station to handle anything that might happen. And you didn’t even have an escort!? I wouldn’t normally object quite so hard, Celestia knows I like my autonomy. But crisis! Key word! Crisis! Now is NOT the time to be flippant about your safety!”

Avia could feel herself shrinking against her mother’s eye-twitching anger by the second.

“…Oh.”

“Oh!? Ha! That’s one word for it! Argh! Hm… BUT! Like I said… I left you in charge, it was your decision, so I’ll respect it this time. But please think through all the variables about what might have happened and might yet happen without you there! Think about what I have said. And do not. Go places. Without an escort. In a. Crisis!”

Avia could not have nodded along any quicker or more violently.

“Good!” Twilight concluded, taking a moment to let her irritation bleed away before letting off a sigh. “I… am glad you showed initiative and conviction to do what you thought was right, at least. Those are good qualities. Just don’t leap off a cliff before checking there’s water below, hm?”

“I won’t… sorry…”

Twilight shook her head, taking her child into a loving hug. “I am glad you’re here, though. It’s nice to see you with all that is happening, and I could use your advice.

“Heh, well, here I am…”

“Here you are. Come on, that’s enough of a lecture for the time being.”

“Aw, come on! Not even a five-hundred-page essay on the subject?” a booming voice asked from above. “You’d have made me do the essay!”

How had Avia not noticed Uncle Spike up there!?

“That would be fun for her!” Twilight shot back at the dragon. “And while I respect and accept her decision, I don’t approve of it. Hardly the rewarding mood!”

“…Point taken.”

“You done?” Shining Armor asked. “That was… quite the display.”

Twilight blushed. “Oh! Right, you’re still here. Uh… Sorry you had to see that.”

“Don’t be. That was great.”

“Glad you enjoyed…” Avia deadpanned.

“Hey, it can be fun to hear her go Twilynanners.”

“I do not do that!” Twilight protested.

“With the added bit of Changeling Queen anger and indignation,” Cadance added.

“…Okay, THAT I can do. Sometimes. Shut up.”

“So, you doing okay, kiddo?” Shining asked his niece.

“I’m fine, thanks,” she replied. “Just had a frazzled couple of days. But then again, I’m sure the same can be said of all of you. How is Flurry?”

“She’s fine. Taking care of the crystal Empire while we’re gone.”

“And staying there…” Twilight muttered, though Avia heard it clearly enough to pout.

“Give her a break, Twi. She’s just leading by your example,” Cadance pointed out. She then looked over Avia critically, stepping forward and starting to fuss over her like the dotting aunt she was. “Your wings are drooping, you’re exhausted! Not to mention those bags under your eyes, you haven’t slept much, have you? Do you have your room ready to go, Avia? Before you go doing anything else you really should get some rest.”

“Hey! Hey! I’m fine!”

“No arguing! You look terrible.”

“You do,” her mother agreed. “Luckily for you, I’m always on the case. Your room is already prepared and waiting for you.”

Avia wanted to protest further, but she couldn’t deny the aches in her joints from the long flight over. Perhaps it would be good to get some rest before she… well, had to do the thing that would ‘really’ make her mother mad.

Oh, what was she doing…?

“Mum, I… Uh…” Maybe she should just tell her? Get her support on it? Just give up? “I just want to tell you… Well…”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Avia, you can talk to me. What’s on your mind?”

“I… I just wanted to say that I love you. You know that, right?”

“Huh? Of course I do, I know very well. And I love you, more than anything else in this world of ours.”

“I know…”

Things were too delicate. She couldn’t back down now. It had been her idea to begin with, and with Luna doing her bit… She hoped she wasn’t going to look back on this day down the line and kick herself for being a massive idiot.

If this was what gambling felt like, she didn’t entirely get why ponies went all the way to Las Pegasus just to experience it.

“Alright, I suppose I’m off to bed, then,” Avia decided.

“Probably for the best,” Shining Armor concurred. “Get a night’s rest. Celestia knows we all could use one.”

“We’ll see you for breakfast, I hope? I’m sure we’ve got some changeling smoothies around somewhere…” Cadance said.

“Sure, I look forward to it. See you later?”

“Of course. Now go on, don’t let us keep you.”

“I’ll catch up in a little while,” Twilight then told her daughter. “Get some rest.”

Avia nodded, turning away from the three and starting towards the castle. As she got a little bit away, she turned back to look upon her family as she left. Her eyes particularly lingered on her mother’s face, seeing within it the very epitome of everything she strived to be…

She then turned away, moving into the castle as the others all fell from view.

“Your Highness!”

“ACK!” Avia shouted in surprise, jumping back with an instinctual hiss that showed off her fangs and forked tongue.

What she saw was a thestral wearing brown barding, leather mixed with some cobbled-looking metal plates for protection. He bowed down to her as he emerged from the shadows, Avia taking note of both the blade in his scabbard and the retractable ones on his forehooves.

“I apologise for the intrusion,” he spoke again. “But Princess Luna has summoned you.”

“You’re… a Lunar Guard…?”

“Yes. Don’t let my appearance deceive you, I am merely dressed to accompany you on the task ahead.”

Luna had been busy…

“Alright, lead on. I guess.”

The guard nodded, taking Avia into the shadows and through what appeared to be a hidden passage behind a decorative suit of armour. Had that always been there? Fascinating!

Still, she couldn’t help but be a little disgruntled at the sudden distance between her and her bed. But this was why she was here; she’d expected little else than to get right down to business…

The passage the Princess was led down was a tight fit, so much so a flash of light saw the changeling switching to a pony with a far skinnier build to make things a little easier. It was entirely dark, barely more than a crawlspace between the walls that was covered in cobwebs and remnants left behind by rodents and other small creatures. The air smelled stale, and it was clear that this passage hadn’t seen use in quite a long time before today.

Eventually, however, the two of them emerged into what Avia recognised to be the hallway holding Luna’s study. It was a mere stone throw away from the room she so craved, as well as the royal lounge and Celestia’s own study. She had been heading here anyway, but Avia decided that Luna’s preference for careful secrecy was warranted in this case.

The guard led her to the blue moon-decorated doorway that led into the study, making his way inside without announcing his presence as Avia made to follow.

Once inside the room, admiring the largely dark blue décor and the telescope sitting on the balcony, Avia’s eyes finally rested on Luna who was standing in the corner examining a bookcase.

“Avia. You have arrived in good time,” Luna greeted without turning around. “Excuse the sudden nature of your extraction, but it was imperative that we speak before tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? That’s when I’m going to head out, then?”

“Indeed. I have already made to secure the funds we require, but it will not be long before my sister realises that something is amiss. We cannot delay.”

Avia supposed that she was missing that breakfast after all…

Luna turned away, nodding at the guard to depart and leave the two royals be. He did so, and one the room was theirs she approached the young Changeling Queen with an air of caution and worry about her.

“The final preparations are being made, so this will be your final chance to turn back, young Avia. If we do this, we cannot turn away. And the consequences of our actions will be ours to live with.”

Consequences… That was what her mother was trying to impart, seeing all permutations and roads ahead and where they might lead. Which would lead to war? Which would lead to peace? And what would each journey require and take from them in order to get there?

Quitting was tempting. Very tempting. But like back in the gardens, Avia couldn’t see anything but the fire in her dreams.

She had to believe this would work.

“I can’t. I need to do this. My mother won’t approve, I know. But she taught me to stand for what I think is right, and to make the choices a ruler must in order to protect his or her subjects. It’s why she didn’t send me home again a few minutes ago. I have to believe we’re doing the right thing.”

“I shall try to share in your optimism…” Luna dryly stated. “But it is done, on our heads be it. My loyal ponies will lead you from Canterlot before the sun is due to rise, so I would suggest turning in after this meeting is done. They are all disguised as mere sellswords, as shall you be. I assume you can achieve this?”

“Please, I’m a changeling.”

“I shall take that as confirmation. Good. You shall pick up your package once you are beyond the city limits, I have made arrangements with certain trusted ponies within these walls to have the necessary tribute taken there. You will then take it to the site of your transport, my guards shall lead you there. The pilot will take you to the site the transaction will occur at, a stretch of beach along our western borders. They shall be responsible for your safety, and you are to depart the MOMENT it is done… Or trouble arises.”

“Trust me, I’m not gunning for a fight out there,” Avia assured. “When we get there, how long shall we wait for them?”

“I am hoping they’ll depart with haste to claim their prize, likely taking one of their airships. While it may have taken many a day for Twilight’s ship to see the other shore, flight will grant extra expediency. Something they can afford since they do not intend to stay long.”

“So… a day? A few, maybe?”

“Depending on when they depart. But if they are punctual, a day should suffice for such a vessel. They need not the resources of a great naval ship, I would be surprised if they selected anything other than the speed a zeppelin affords.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Avia muttered. “Go to the place. Give the things. Don’t start a war. No pressure…”

“We shall speak in the morrow,” Luna stated. “I shall keep you from your rest no longer. Sleep, Avia. And let us hope Ignis has received my message and sees fit to abide by our terms…”

If Avia was to morph into a griffon, she’d cross her talons…

Unicornia

“I trust my ship has been prepared?” King Ignis asked his advisers as he slowly paced the throne room floor, looking over Princess Luna’s confirmation of the demanded transaction.

“It has,” Stout Guardian confirmed. “A simple ask, with our ships already on stand-by as they are. Say the word and it can depart.”

Ignis hummed, stopping to examine his company. His advisors, each with the exact opposite expressions he had come to expect when discussing matters to do with Equestria. And then there was Queen Vulgaris, his ‘guest’ within the castle.

The Changeling Queen was standing apart from the others, clearly as uncomfortable being around them as they were around her. There was certainly something undeniably venomous about the creature, little more than spite in her eyes every time she so much as looked at them. But she had her uses, they knew much more about what they were up against thanks to her input. Equestria’s military makeup, their naval forces… All they would really need to make plans into reality.

And soon it was to begin…

“Your Majesty, I do implore you to reconsider,” Assisting Hoof urged. “Take the tribute if you must but leave it at that. Equestria will know we are not to be trifled with; they will not attempt their alleged subjugation. If peace is out of reach, then let us return to isolation. It is better than the alternative.”

“While I would normally agree, my friend, I fear that option left us when our cousins arrived on our shore,” Ignis lamented. “They will pursue our ‘friendship’ this day by allowing this tribute to occur, but surely it is but part of their ploy. I cannot risk their efforts to continue when they are satisfied with our complacency. I will not allow my ponies to fall under the thrall of another they did not choose. Not again.”

“Your King is right, of course…” Vulgaris said with an unnerving purr. “What was it my kind thought? Oh, look how helpful these ponies are. Let us rebuild our lives together… Until the only lives we were building towards were theirs. All that we are, that we should be, washed away little by little… Bah! We are CHANGELINGS! Not pets! I warn you because it suits me, make no mistake, but let this alliance of mere conveyance spare us both from their banner.”

“As much as the bug’s words are sour to my ears,” Stout Guardian spat. “There is sense to be had. We always knew the rest of the world would seek to swallow us whole, just like the wendigos of old. This creature before us is no different, but her failure to prevent a fall against larger predators works to our advantage. Let us spare ourselves from their pathetic fate.”

“My, such hatred I smell off you,” Vulgaris chuckled in a predatory manner, starting to circle the Captain of the Royal Guard. “Spare the insults, whelp. It is true we fell, but without me, your fate shall be no different. Hives, I would love to watch it occur if it were just you. But our future also hangs in the balance, so let us focus on that.”

“At least we can be honest with each other…” Stout Guardian growled.

“We can hate one another later,” Ignis told them both. “The Captain rings true in his assessment, as grim as it might be. And Vulgaris is the living proof of a once-powerful nation made puppets of another. Another time would see us as enemies, but a greater foe forces our cooperation until it is done. Then we can go our separate ways and never have to suffer one another again.”

“Fine by me,” the Changeling Queen agreed. “And the intent I hold. But for now, that message has been most enlightening…”

Ignis returned his eyes to the scroll he’d received. So much had happened within a day, the message arriving at the castle amidst a flurry of blue shadow. Such speed it had come, far faster than the initial message. He did wonder why the other alicorns had not done so before, yet there was something strangely dark about the spell he’d witnessed. Whatever the Moon Princess’ game, he did wonder whether her fellows would approve…

“Yes, we can be at this beach within a day at full speed,” the King noted. “And this Avia is to be the representative… I had thought Luna herself would do so, but alas, it appears the job falls to another. No matter, we can retrieve the tribute and be gone. Then our efforts can truly begin.”

“Ah, but I see so much more opportunity here than you perceive,” Vulgaris claimed. “Avia… Young, clueless Avia. Princess of the Equestrian Hive, daughter of Twilight Sparkle. And just what I need to ensure my part in this goes to plan. I should thank her for making it so easy… Too bad she has to die.”

“What!? No, you cannot!” Assisting Hoof immediately protested. “Sire, this is madness. You are talking about starting a war over ‘what ifs’ and the word of this charlatan to start with! But this Avia? She is little more than a child!”

“As I understand it, she’s in her twenties. Sounds like an adult to me,” Stout refuted.

“Barely! She is no seasoned ruler, warrior or diplomat! She’s a young individual probably hoping to secure peace and prevent bloodshed! You can’t tell me you intend to slaughter an innocent such as that!?”

“No, I do not,” Ignis announced. “Vulgaris, do what schemes you must to see Equestria’s hold on your people crumble. But I will not kill unnecessarily. We war on Equestria to destabilise the crown’s power and render them a non-threat. You may want Equestria to burn, as you so delightfully put it, but I have no such desire. We will strike, we will cast aside the opposition straight to Canterlot and we shall demolish the throne. What your peoples do next is your business, but the threat to us will have passed and we shall return to our homes in safety. But I will not spill more blood than is required, especially not of innocents.”

“Thank you, your Majesty. I’m glad you retain at least a modicum of wisdom…” Assisting Hoof sighed in relief, though clearly wished to hear a bit more.

“Pfft. Ponies…” Vulgaris scoffed. “Do you not see? Avia is doing Equestria’s dirty work. She comes to you on their behalf, if she dies for them… Well, Twilight Sparkle’s faith in Celestia may not survive the incident.”

“Was I not clear?” Ignis asked. “When we retrieve our prize, no blood shall be spilt. Avia shall return to her mother alive and unharmed.”

“Then Equestria will maintain their hold over my people for much of your war,” Vulgaris warned. “Infiltrators that can be anypony, as I took dear Stout’s face when we first met.”

The Captain grumbled irritably at that.

“Your supply lines could be disrupted from within, and without those, you cannot maintain a presence in Equestria. Your rank and file will crumble, chaos ensues, the EUP moves in for the kill. Your people die, they may even follow the survivors home. Then what of your ‘kingdom’? Even if you manage to hold your grip, the effort will spill out well beyond your intended targets. Those ‘innocents’ you so want to spare? They die too.”

“You claim to be that deadly?” Stout asked doubtfully.

“Oh, we’re worse. Under Equestria’s guiding hooves, we will destroy your war before it truly begins. But it could be ended now, Equestria’s betrayal will shatter Queen Twilight’s loyalty to them.”

“But what of her rage to us?” Assisting Hoof pointed out. “Her child’s killers.”

“No longer unified with Equestria, even should she attempt to strike at you, she is but one hive. As large as it might be, there are many more of us you would no longer need to deal with. And I can handle Twilight Sparkle. I will cherish doing so.”

Ignis stared at Vulgaris. He stared for the longest time, his eyes on hers as a war continued to rage inside of him.

Assisting Hoof was right. She was an innocent. Neither a soldier nor one of the alicorns holding the leash.

But the Changeling Queen was also not without a point. How many more would die if the changelings committed all their forces to Equestria’s cause? On both sides, the casualties could be immense. More than he wanted to be responsible for. Vulgaris was the one who wanted blood, but if they could largely focus on the EUP and the alicorns, keep the collateral to a minimum…

Was Avia’s life worth thousands of others?

But then what of Twilight Sparkle? What if Vulgaris failed to ‘handle’ her as she so claimed?

What could he do? Was there a…

A plan started to form in the alicorn’s mind.

“Very well, Vulgaris. You have made your point,” Ignis decided. “For the sake of the lives of others, we shall do things your way. We will attack those delivering the tribute after we have claimed it. Hope that you are correct about Twilight Sparkle’s faith in Equestria.”

“I will do what I must to make it so,” Vulgaris declared. “And so I must take my leave, I have a war to prepare my hive for. I will do what I can to sabotage Equestria from the inside, and I shall break the Bearer of Magic one way or another.”

“Go then. Do what you must.”

“Oh… I intend to.”

The blood that is my due.

“Oh yes, it shall be due…”

In a flash of light, Vulgaris was gone. Teleported to somewhere Ignis hoped was far from Unicornia, never to return.

“That repulsive beast isn’t to be trusted,” Stout Guardian stated. “Upon Equestria’s defeat, she may attempt to rally her precious hives against us after she is done with them.”

“For once, I agree,” Assisting Hoof concurred. “How far are you to let her manipulate your fear?”

“I know she seeks my aid for her own desires, little more. She hasn’t been shy about that fact,” Ignis responded. “We shall watch her. Should our fears be confirmed before war’s end, we will eliminate her as a threat before it arises.”

Stout grinned. “I will see to it personally.”

“Canter carefully, there is something… else about her that I find most disturbing. But alas, I must prepare my ship for launch. We cannot leave the young Princess of the Changelings waiting.”

“My King… Ignis, please…” Assisting Hoof pleaded. “You have done so much to protect the land you love, to give your ponies a life of happiness and safety. Given too much of yourself from the days you were young all the way to the now.”

“He is King, it is his right and duty,” Captain Stout Guardian maintained.

“Perhaps. But be careful your love for us and determination to save does not lead you astray. The tyrant of the past was one thing, but this is wholly another. And Avia? I beg of you, do not do this. Tell me you do not intend to murder this girl. Please.”

Ignis’ silence was all that met the aged stallion’s horrified ears.

Author's Note

Hold onto your butts, the next one shall be... 'interesting'.

21 - Requiem

It was a new day, but the sun was yet to rise. Darkness still blanketed the mountain that held Canterlot, the only light coming from the many buildings covering its streets as the early birds began to rise while most of the city’s inhabitants remained safe and comfortable in their beds.

Safe and comfortable. Avia wished she felt either of those things at that moment.

Instead, there she was, rising in secret before even the crack of dawn had graced the sky. Not that there was anything wrong with the night, only that she was maybe committing sort-of treason with it. Did it count as treason if it was they, who were royalty and figures of authority in their own right, doing it? Considering how Princess Celestia might feel on the matter, it was debatable. And something Avia would be willing to construct a critically thought out argument for the pros and cons of if she had the time to indulge in such scholarly interests.

But no, such thoughts were idle attempt to distract herself from the parasprites in her stomach and the insurmountable task ahead of her.

If she ever said that there was no pressure, she wanted to be kicked. By a big kicking stallion. Maybe Big Macintosh. He seems like he could kick a giant hole into somepony’s thick stupid skull.

There her brain went distracting her again…

‘Focus, Avia,’ the changeling scolded herself as she made her bed, flattening the sheets in a precise and orderly fashion. ‘Focus… Can’t get cold hooves now. It’s too late for that. Just focus on the results. Segment your mind into facts, goals and a bin full of useless information that’s not helping me right now. Which is a lot.’

Too much. If she were to be honest, everything she was doing was rather terrifying.

Exciting; kinda like the stories of her mother’s old adventures.

But also terrifying; completely and utterly terrifying.

She shook her head, attempting to return her attention to the gear she had been provided for her ‘mercenary guise’. It was rugged, the kind of clothing that would give Rarity an aneurism. But it fit the bill of a sellsword, which was the idea. Mixed with her natural shapeshifting abilities, getting to the rendezvous point would be a piece of cake.

It was the bit that came after that gave her pause.

A sudden knock at the door caused the Princess to nearly jump out of her chitin! Suppressing a surprised yelp, Avia took a moment to compose herself before carefully approaching with her mind wondering just who it would be calling around at that hour.

Hopefully not her mother. That would be awkward.

“Who is it?” she called out.

“Just your escort, Ma’am,” came the voice of the same guard she’d met earlier. “Alongside Princess Luna.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Avia unlocked the door and quickly allowed the thestral and alicorn entrance. Once they were safely inside, she shut them in, making sure nopony had spotted their little collusion.

“Well, good morning…” Avia said.

“Good morning, young Avia. I do apologise for the intrusion,” Luna stated in turn. “But I wished to catch you before your departure.”

“For which I have come to collect you,” the guard added.

“Indeed. I see that you are prepared. I cannot say it suits you, but it fits the part.”

Avia hummed, magical flames ripping around her form and replacing chitin with light brown fur. Her wings vanished from view, though her horn remained. When all was said and done, she looked quite the unassuming unicorn of no particular interest to anyone.

“How about now?” the ‘pony’ asked.

“Better,” Luna confirmed. “You appear a mere sellsword. Though if you are intent on donning your disguise now, I would ask you allow me to whisk you out of the castle via spell. Unless you wish the castle’s anti-changeling safeguards to trigger.”

Avia blinked. That was a… really good point. If the ward detected a shapeshifted changeling wandering the halls, there would be a lot of attention on them really quickly.

That would have been bad. She must be stupidly stressed if she forgot that little detail…

“Do not concern yourself with that,” Luna told her, noting her sudden negative shift in demeanour. “No harm is done. I will see you beyond any countermeasure, and then you are free to wander as you will.”

“I’ll make sure we reunite with the others safely,” the thestral assured them.

“Alright… Alright…” Avia took in a breath. “I’m as ready as I’m going to be. Let’s get going before my mother finds out and gives me the goddess of all presentations on why we suck.”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “A crude way of putting it, but I understand the point. I will endeavour to stave off suspicion here. Just… do be careful on your journey. I can’t say I trust the word of Ignis and his ilk, so meet with his envoy and see the transaction through with great haste. I would not have you at risk for longer than is necessary.”

“Stop worrying so much, that’s my job,” the changeling joked. “But really, I’ll be out of there in minutes. Then I’m going to hide out at my friends’ place in Ponyville until Mother isn’t going to explode quite so hard at me for this.”

“Would she not check there first?”

“We have a secret clubhouse. It’s fine.”

“Do you mean the one in the crystal caves that Twilight has informed me of? Concurrently next to where Laughter’s sister resides?”

Avia gulped. She was doomed.

“Oooookay…” What a great start this was. “I’ll figure out that later. Ugh… Okay, let’s get this show on the road before my resolve fails.”

“As you wish. I wish you luck, Avia of the Equestrian Hive. May the spirit of your hives watch over you.”

“Thanks… Though, the reverence to the hives isn’t equitable to an actual deity more than-”

“I would suggest you take the encouragement and leave it be.”

“Right. I’ll do that.”

Luna nodded, her horn lighting up as Avia took up a position next to the guard that was to accompany her.

This was it. The moment that spell went off they were moving forward with no way back. She kept her breathing level, counting the brief moments that it took to charge as she took stock of all she had to do. Whatever the consequences were to be, they were now hers to discover. And they would be discovered soon. Either the day would end with war averted and all she would have to deal with was the consequences at home, or it would be their own requiem to suffer.

If there was a spirit of the hives as Luna had mistakenly posited, she’d be more than willing to pray for a bit of guidance in the hours to come.

Avia looked up into Luna’s eyes, the light of her horn reflecting within them as they shared one final moment of understanding.

And then it went off. Luna was gone, as was the Canterlot Castle, leaving nought but the empty streets of the sleeping city around them.

“Come, Princess. We have little time to waste, your transport shall be waiting for us.”

“Right. Lead the way, I’ll follow on.”

The sun was now rising into the air, giving a rather magnificent glow to the western ocean ahead of them. It was always nice to look out on natural wonders such as that, seeing as most of Avia’s days were spent examining the inner walls of the hive. The sea was calm, and she could imagine the only sound for miles around was the gentle flow of the waves against the beach.

But such peaceful sounds were sadly muffled by the chopping blades above her head. These transports were always so sound, the mix of the rotors and the harsh humming of the mana engines working in tandem to keep the thing airborne. It was fast, a feat of magical engineering that only improved with each new iteration that had been introduced. From the fragile prototypes of Equestria’s past, those that featured in the initial contact between their species half a century ago, to the more durable and proven variants of the modern era.

But for all that, she could hardly call them a peaceful nor a comfortable ride. It was almost a shame to disrupt the countryside around them with its presence, but needs must, and it certainly allowed for swift transit for them and their cargo.

“Landing zone is in sight,” the pilot informed them from over the intercom, the EUP pony looking out from the front cockpit with a searching gaze. “Looks clear. Cargo is still secure beneath us; the tethers are holding steady. I’m going to lower it onto the beach and release it, then I’ll set this bird down behind that hill there. Keep it covered while you trek to the site.”

“Alright, you heard the stallion!” the lead thestral barked out. “Get yourselves readied up, stay sharp and we can all go home tonight.”

“Yes, Sir!”

“Good! Princess,” he addressed the changeling among them. “This is your show.”

“Yeah. Thanks…”

Avia examined the group. The three thestrals with her were all equipped with retractable hoof blades and more traditional swords. The unicorns seemed to be more specialised battle mages while the earth pony had one of the newer rifles slung across his back. She’d never seen one of those griffon-descended weapons in action before. She hoped today would be no different.

She held on tight as the helicopter was lowered towards the beach. The ride was consistently bumpy and uncomfortable, one particularly large jolt coming when their cargo was released and safely dropped onto the ground below.

And then they were ascending again, though just a little. The cabin briefly leant to the side as the vehicle banked and performed a quick turn back towards the previously sighted hill. It took but a moment for them to come back into a hover above a flat stretch of field safely behind that said hill, the pilot once again starting to lower them down until, finally, the bottom of the aircraft met the ground and the engines started to die down.

“Princess?” the lead thestral called out.

“Yes, okay. Let’s get to it, I’d rather not leave the tribute unattended while we wait.”

Plenty of nosy bystanders would just love a haul like that…

The side doors opened up, the six guards piling out as Avia moved to follow. She kept up her disguise for the time being, if only until things were a little more certain. Though the guards proceeding to surround her in a protective formation left little to the imagination as to which was the individual of interest among them.

Still, they scaled the hill left their transport and its pilot behind to wait. Wait for either their return or until events required, they quickly vacated the site. Either way, it was left behind the safety of its natural cover while the others all made their way towards the dropped cargo that patiently awaited their arrival.

Grass gave way to sand beneath their hooves, the peaceful swaying of the ocean finally audible to Avia’s ears as they approached the sealed crates and stopped around them. They were here, and now all they had to do was wait. Wait for the delegation they hoped was coming. Coming to put an end to any talk to conflict and strife, to allow them all to leave with a greater ease of mind.

But all they could do was wait. The ponies stayed alert, as they were trained to do. The Princess, meanwhile, found herself gravitating towards the edge of the beach as her eyes examined the horizon.

The sun continued to rise high into the sky, Avia taking in the ground-side view of the sea with an even greater appreciation. She could taste the salt in the air, a gentle breeze flowing through her faux coat while bringing with it a not-so-unpleasant sensation.

It almost made her envy the ponies in a way. There was something far nicer about their coats and clear skin, softer and more pleasant in the way they interreacted with the world. Chitin was typically hard, meant for protection over comfort. Advantages and disadvantages to each… Though Avia did have to admit being able to change that at will certainly brought around its own joys. Less static, more capable of enjoying any sensation depending on the situation in which she found herself. She could have a coat. She could have chitin. That was the very nature of being a changeling.

Still, the breeze was nice…

And she had plenty of time to enjoy it. They waited. And they waited. The sun rising higher and higher as seconds turned into minutes. And then minutes turned into hours. The sun continued to rise until it was high above them, and then it started to fall again. Lower and lower, moment after moment, the waiting persisted until an orange tint started to spread out across the sky.

The ponies’ patience was commendable, but Avia soon grew restless. Were they not coming? Had they arrived at the wrong location?

She didn’t know, but all she could do was wait. Wait and hope that all would turn out as she hoped it would. How it had to go. Yet no amount of pacing the beach was making the time pass quicker, and all she could do was enjoy that breeze and keep her eyes on the ocean.

And so they waited some more…

Until, finally, the horizon provided its answer.

“I see something,” one of the ponies alerted to the others. “There, that a ship?”

Avia squinted to gain a better view, looking out at the sky trying to see what the guard had. It took some doing, but as the moments passed the object grew only larger on its approach. The sight of a zeppelin, still a decent distance away, but approaching at great speeds towards the beach. The design fit the description brought back from the expedition, and there was little doubt in Avia’s mind as to what it was.

It was a New Kingdom vessel.

They had arrived.

“Princess?” the lead thestral called out.

“I see it,” she confirmed. “Get ready. We still don’t know how they’re going to handle this.”

“Understood. Ponies! Blades sheathed, but ready to draw at the first sign of deception. Protect the Princess at all costs, the tribute is expendable. She is your utmost priority, understood?”

Avia heard their affirmations as such, but her focus remained on the incoming ship speeding towards the Equestrian beach. It occurred to her that this would officially be the first time that New Kingdom hooves had touched down on Equestrian soil. Who knows, maybe it would do some good to their perspective of their long-lost cousins? A girl could dream, right?

“Princess? I would ask that you remain close.”

“Right. Right. I’m coming.”

Avia moved away from the water’s edge and back to the collection of crates and Lunar Guard. They filtered around her protectively, waiting patiently until the zeppelin was not so distant anymore. The flying vessel made its final approach to the beach, finally crossing the border and coming into a hover over land but a short trek further down the shore. The changeling eyed it cautiously, making note of several visible gun emplacements dotted around the hull. She knew these things had been capable enough to knock her Uncle Spike out of the sky, so she didn’t entirely fancy a round against it herself.

But for now, those guns were silent.

She witnessed great harpoons being fired from the ship, attached to their point of origin via thick cable as the tops buried into the ground and anchored the vessel safely in place. Ladders were dropped over the side, and figures could be seen descending them while flashes of light likewise indicated several teleports from the unicorns who were capable of the spell.

And then they started to walk.

The lead guard walked up beside the Princess of the Equestrian Hive. “Well, they seem peaceful enough so far. Their weapons remain in their scabbards much as our own, those guns on that ship don’t seem to be manned. Your call, Princess. You spot anything I don’t?”

“Not really…” she noted carefully. “Just smile and wave, huh?”

“I’ll stick to a cautious scowl if that is permitted.”

Avia gave a small giggle at that. “If you really want to. Okay… let’s do this!”

“Copy that.”

With the tribute at their backs, the Equestrian group faced the oncoming soldiers of The New Kingdom. Their archaic armour was even creepier in person now that Avia was seeing it herself, her mother’s descriptions didn’t do it justice. But the pony leading them lacked any helmet, and even if it took a moment, he too was recognisable from all she had heard.

If she wasn’t mistaken, that was Stout Guardian. Captain of their Royal Guard.

They stopped a short distance away, silence dominating the space between the two for several moments as each side sized up the others. Stout’s eyes moved across the group several times, seemingly searching for something in particular. And if Avia was a guessing mare, she’d theorise that she was the subject of that search.

And then he spoke.

“I am Stout Guardian of The New Kingdom, here on behalf of his majesty King Ignis. Though I’m sure you knew that much…” he started. “I will keep this brief; I have little interest to remain on this beach for long. We seek the contents of those crates behind you, as promised by your Princess Luna.”

“And you shall have them,” the thestral guard responded. “You may, of course, check their contents, but you can be assured all is as promised. Then may you leave these lands in peace, as is your end of the bargain.”

“Aye, those are the terms,” the Captain confirmed. “But I was also under the impression I would be speaking with somepony of more… importance than a simple bat. Where is Princess Avia? I would assume she either hides back at the castle or, more likely, one of you is she.”

The thestral bristled at the ‘bat’ comment, but he otherwise maintained his composure. Avia studied the Captain for a moment, before taking a single step forward and letting her disguise finally drop.

“I am Princess Avia,” she announced, visibly a changeling once more. “I believe you’re acquainted with my mother?”

“Ah. You are her spitting image, as unsettling as that image may be,” he sneered. “It is good you are here, and such an effort you have gone to. I can scarcely imagine the riches within those crates of yours. Gold, jewels and… What do you call them? Bits?”

“That’s right.”

“Quite the bounty, enough to feed an army I would imagine.”

That comment gave Avia pause, her wings fluttering nervously on her back as she and the ranking officer sharing a concerned glance. She was rather hoping the unpleasant stallion was merely blowing hot air and the object of his bigotry, but there was something more in his eyes…

Not to mention the tingle of his emotions… There was something very dangerous about this pony, something volatile that was set to detonate. Hate. And… satisfaction?

Something was wrong.

“Commander…” Avia said in a quiet voice.

“I know…” he acknowledged. Even without empathic senses, his instincts were telling him much the same. “Wrap this up. We need to leave. Now.”

“Your tribute is here,” Avia spoke out to the opposing Captain. “Take it. We’re done here.”

“Indeed. But, oh dear, I do believe I have forgotten something. I do apologise…” Stout Guardian taunted in turn. “My King would have me inform you of a small… adjustment to the arrangement.”

The satisfaction was joined by sudden anticipation, Avia suddenly feeling a small amount of panic enter her chest as she took a step back while various spells crossed through her mind. Her guards likewise looked ready to draw their own weapons, but they were definitely outnumbered and outgunned by The New Kingdom’s troops...

Stout turned his gaze to the ponies accompanying Avia. “My King, in all his accursed benevolence, has seen fit for me to give you all a message. We wish for the tribute, but we also want the bug.”

What!?

“Do not draw your weapons, it would be a terrible choice to make,” he continued. “And the last you ever do. You, Princess Avia, are going to come with us. Come peacefully into our custody and we shall consider this transaction a success… It would be for the best, changeling. Otherwise, you compatriots will all die.”

Avia gaped. Why did they want her? This didn’t make any sense! They had the tribute they wanted, what use could she be to them!? Unless… to get at her mother… But why? Why would they want to do that? Did they… they…

There never was going to be any peace, was there?

“Princess…”

“I know,” she quietly replied to the thestral. “I’m not going anywhere. They’re going to attack Equestria no matter what we do.”

Stout Guardian took an impatient step forward, glaring at the opposing group with no contempt withheld in his eyes.

“Well? I am waiting for your answer.”

Avia let loose her spell.

Lavender magic cascaded across the beach, picking up all of the sand in its path and throwing it across the enemy soldiers in a miniaturised sandstorm that sent them spluttering as their vision was entirely obscured! They coughed and gasped for air, scattering as they attempted to vacate the affected area in a blind flurry.

Avia then turned, the magic in her horn redirecting towards the crates as she let loose another blast that hit the collected tribute dead on. The crates exploded open, some of its contents vaporising immediately while the rest scattered along the shore.

“Fall back!” the thestral ordered his ponies, and without missing a beat they all started backtracking towards the hill that was hiding their ride out of there.

The battle mages launched several bolts of combat magic towards the stragglers that succeeded at freeing themselves from the storm, a loud CRACK signalling that the earth pony guard’s rifle had gone off as one of the New Kingdom’s unicorns gave a shout of pain as he collapsed.

Avia looked over her shoulder as she and the others ran, her eye taking but a second to examine the scene of devastation they were leaving behind them. Several unicorns had ducked for cover to avoid the incoming magic fire, the wounded soldier was on the ground desperately clutching at the bullet wound that had passed straight through his armour like it was mere tissue paper. But the sandstorm was quickly dissipating, helped along by several of the unicorns clearing the way with their magic, Stout Guardian himself emerging from the chaos with rage in his eyes.

“Bah, recover what you can!” he shouted at his ponies, his sight on their scattered bounty for but a moment before they met Avia’s terrified lavender eyes. “Kill them!”

The Princess saw movement in the corner of her eye, her gaze shifting to the docked zeppelin as one of its forward cannons started to move towards them! There was a loud bang as the vessel fired at them, the projectile speeding towards their position as Avia jumped into action. She spread out her legs firmly beneath her, grunting as she lit her horn to form a shield around herself and her companions. The projectile impacted with a great force, Avia being pushed back as her shield cracked beneath the strain.

They needed to be out of there now!

As the vessel fired again, the unicorns now getting a grip and following behind them, Avia redirected her mana into a teleportation spell with the image of their transport in her mind’s eye. In a crack of her magic the world twisted from sight for a split second before the spell cast them out but a quick sprint from their escape.

“Agh! Go! Go!” the leading guard commanded, the helicopter’s pilot already spinning up the rotors as they got to their hooves.

It was powering up, the aircraft’s forward weapons emerging and sparking withy blue magical energies that promised a fight for any who would pursue it. The unicorns, meanwhile, were still a ways behind them and the zeppelin had its view blocked by the great mound. It would have to un-grapple itself from the beach before it could come after them, and even then, its speed was no match for theirs.

Just as Avia and Luna had planned, her escape was supposed to be swift and calculated.

Supposed to be.

She only saw his shadow, but it was enough to make her heart sink. Just as they had all risen to their hooves and started their run over to the helicopter, a great orange blur that left a fiery trail came blazing in and unleashed one devastating torrent of magic towards the craft. In a second, it erupted into a cascading mushroom cloud that claimed the entire vehicle and its pilot as the chassis was ripped apart and the remnants of the rotors were scarred across the countryside.

And then the blur turned, fire being blown around them as the sky surrounding the group was tinted orange and black smoke began to fill their lungs. Her escort instinctively piled in around the changeling royal, surrounding her in a protective formation as they were completed encircled by the raging flames.

There were several pops as New Kingdom unicorns teleported into the ring. One struck towards them with a blade, but the thestral leading the Lunar Guard sprung his hoof blades and deflected the strike, his second set plunging into the unicorn’s chest and ending his life. Two more came in at the group, one ducking beneath a magic bolt and striking out with his blade. It made contact with the caster, swiping a bloody gash across his front as he fell back with a startled shout. As this happened, the third attempted to lunge a spear at the group with the intent to skewer one of the guards upon it.

Avia lashed out with her magic, sending it aside harmlessly aside while the earth pony of the group attempted fired back and left a hole in the soldier’s forehead. As the sword-wielding unicorn attempted to teleport away, now alone, one of the lower-ranked thestrals struck out of the formation and clamped down onto his horn with his fangs. The unicorn screamed, pathetically batting at the pony’s armour in a panic before the battle mages blasted him back into the inferno with a combined spell.

And then the constant rain of magical energy started coming through the wall of fire and striking at them. The first deflected off of one of the battle mage’s armour, but more came as Avia raised her shield once again, both of the said mages lending their own magical strength to shore up the defence.

But it kept coming. Apparently wising up and deciding not to send in any more of their soldiers to be slaughtered, they were trying to bombard them into submission.

“Princess, we need an exit!” the lead thestral. “We don’t have a ride out of here, but I’m not ready to give up yet.”

“Not giving up is a good start!” Avia said as she strained to keep the spell going against the constant attacks of the enemy unicorns. “You know… I still don’t know your name…”

“Pah, is now the time!?” he responded indignantly. “Ugh… Commander Starry Night. A pleasure, your Highness.”

“Starry Night? That’s adorable.”

“Ma thought so too,” Commander Night grunted in turn. “I would be happy to regale you with the story… When we’re anywhere else!”

“I know! I’m trying to lighten the mood while I- Gah! While I think!” she replied, the shield starting to buckle. “Alright… Mages! Group teleport, channel your magics straight to me while I initiate! On my mark!”

“Yes, Princess!” both affirmed.

“It’ll be a blind jump, so quite dangerous, we could end up in the ground or in the air. But! I’m more so aiming for anywhere in the surrounding landscape away from them a decent way above sea level… Probably a small drop if this goes right, but it’ll give us a chance to slip away!”

“We’re ready,” Starry Night agreed. “Ponies, brace yourselves! Do it, your Highness!”

“Okay… Three, two, o-”

The shield exploded. It hadn’t been the force of the constant bombardment through the flames, oh no. Those had been denting their way through the young Changeling Queen’s defences, but with the added strength of the battle mages, it was slow work. But they had done damage, so when that final beam of dark orange, the same that had laid waste to their poor pilot, came careening from beyond the barrier it ripped straight through like it was barely there at all. The following detonation sent them all to the ground, ripping up charred grass and dirt as the magic continued to come.

“Stay down!” the Commander warned, bolts of magic continuing to fly overhead as their casters struggled to see through the flames.

And that was their only saving grace at that moment, the fires surrounding them stopping an immediate cascade that would end them.

But then there were more pops around them, and the assault began once more.

Several unicorns came running forward, giving cries of determination as the first reached one of the dazed thestrals and slaughtered them like a helpless animal.

“NO!” Avia shouted in distress, using her wings to boost her forward as she whipped her head and sent a wave of magic at the duo responsible.

They were sent flying back, straight into the flames like one of their previous peers, screaming as they were consumed by the ever-hungry inferno.

She’d killed them.

The world slow as that fact infested Avia’s mind, memories of scattering wood and the dying howl of a timberwolf invading her memories. But this was worse, wasn’t it? They weren’t timberwolves, animals of magic and logs. They’d been ponies. Sapient, thinking, feeling ponies. And she’d burned them, their screams as they’d been overtaken…

But even as the horrified changeling came to this realisation, more soldiers were now piling in, engaging the remaining five Lunar Guardsponies in a vicious struggle for survival.

One of the mages had a particularly manic fighter leap onto him, Avia snapping herself from her shocked stupor to catch the solider and pull him from the vulnerable pony. But even as she did, the rest of her group continued to struggle.

The second battle mage created a half-shield of magic in front of him to stop a blow, but weakened from the previous strike, it shattered with ease before he was cut down by a blade. The earth pony of the group stuck by one of the thestrals, the other fighting nearby in an attempt to get back to Avia. The former’s rifle found a target, blowing them away while their thestral partner attempted to parry back any of the unicorns that got close enough for a strike. Back up close to the wall of fire, it proved a reasonably effective strategy as another was knocked away by the bat-winged Lunar Guard before another crack of the earth pony’s rifle signalled another death.

Starry Night rammed into a unicorn, knocking them to the ground before his hoof blades dug into their belly between the plates of their armour. Avia threw the squirming pony in her magic aside, the Commander approaching and dealing with the stunned unicorn as he went. But as the thestral turned back to his companions, the other thestral was hit in the wing by a magic bolt that sent them to the ground. The guard was then pounced upon by several unicorns, their earth pony compatriot letting off one final shot at one of the attackers before a unicorn returned the favour done upon their friends by turning and bucking the unfortunate guard into the fire that had previously been protecting his back.

Despite several New Kingdom soldiers having fallen to their stalwart defence, the group was now down to three.

“GET BACK!” Avia shouted in anguish, sending another wave of magic that sent an entire cluster of soldiers through the fire and out the other end. She knew not whether they were set alight or landed safely, but it gave them some breathing room nevertheless.

“We can’t stay!” the Commander shouted out as he parried a sword and kicked its own back.

“Commander, Princess, fly!” their unicorn ally told them. “Go!”

“What about you!?” Avia asked in a panic.

“Never mind that! Just-”

The point was made moot as another bolt of magic came through the fire from behind them, striking the mage in the head and ending their life then and there.

“Shit! Ah! We can still do this, Avia!” Starry Night shouted, striking against several fighters that moved to corner them, though Avia’s continued waves of magic was pretty much the only thing stopping them from being completely overwhelmed.

But she wasn’t a fully matured Changeling Queen. She wasn’t her mother; she couldn’t oppose whole armies with just her will and wit.

What she was, was tired.

“ENOUGH!”

The flames around them roared up, a force taking hold of both the Princess and the Commander and sending them flying back to the centre of the ring where they were slammed down with enough force and entirely take the wind out of them.

Avia’s vision swam. Her mind was racing with a whole host of final efforts she could do to escape this situation with Starry Night. That blind teleport she had attempted before. Flight, as had been the other guard’s final suggestion. Either would give them a chance…

But everything had happened so fast. In but a minute they’d been completely overwhelmed. Battered. Beaten down until, now, Avia’s body just ached as the strength to escape bled away. And she wanted to. She so very wanted to. But the fight in her was gone.

What had she been thinking…? If it had been her mother here, she could have done so much more. Quelled the flames, saved those who had accompanied her. Beaten back their attacks with the full wrath a Changeling Queen could channel. But she didn’t have that strength, did she? She was just an inexperience Princess, led into a trap by the audacity to believe she could stop a war.

She’d so wanted to believe she could.

But she’d failed.

As her vision began to regain focus, a shape emerging from the flames before them. An equine shadow, wings spread wide with its horn alight. Avia’s eyes dilated as the scene around her suddenly seemed familiar. The flames. The alicorn…

It was her dream. Exactly her dream from before the original expedition.

What a fool she’d been…

King Ignis stepped out of his inferno, eyes trained evenly on the stricken Princess. He stared down at her, almost like her was studying her with great curiosity. And she couldn’t tell whether that was regret and pity or contempt she was detecting with her senses, as frazzled as she was…

“You know, I had hoped not to escalate this,” he said with a sigh. “Your escort was of no interest to my country’s security. I would have let them go quite happily, had they not slain my ponies as they had. I wish you hadn’t panicked; this could have been avoided.”

“We… we did as you asked…” Avia managed to say. “Why…?”

“Because, whether you realise it or not, child, Equestria’s peace is a lie.”

“What are you… talking about…?”

Ignis shook his head. “It matters not. But Vulgaris made it quite clear that your kind would be Equestria’s thralls in the war to come. You should be thanking me in a way. When this is done, you people will not have to bend the knee to Canterlot anymore.”

Avia’s eyes widened. Vulgaris!? Queen Vulgaris!? She… another Changeling Queen… of the Queen’s Council…

They’d been betrayed.

“The Queen… she won’t-!”

“Save your strength, the time to come shall be… difficult,” Ignis gently interrupted. “Everything will be alright. But I can’t have your mother bolstering my fellow alicorns’ strength. So, to show just how Luna has used your kind, you must be removed from the equation.”

“N-no!” Starry Night choked out, risking to his hooves with his hoof blades gleaming in the flickers of the flames. “I’m not out yet!”

He struck forwards, taking flight with his wings giving an almighty beat against the air as she shot towards the alicorn stallion in defence of his charge.

And then, in one quick motion, while Ignis didn’t even flinch, Stout Guardian was there. He moved between Ignis and the Commander, the Lunar Guard only having the briefest of moments to register the flash of steel as the Captain’s blade was thrust into his gut. Night’s own momentum carried him into its cold embrace, the thestral giving a surprised gasp as he found himself stopped in place at the end of the unicorn’s blade.

“B-bastard…”

Starry Night swiped up with his left hoof blade, Stout letting off a shout as it streaked across his cheek and gored it viciously. With blood pouring from the wound, his pained shout turned enraged as he twisted his blade until the guard fell silent. He then extracted the weapon, letting the deceased equestrian fall to the ground in a bloodied heap.

“Think you’re tough, you freak of nature!? Huh!?” the Captain shouted at the corpse, moving to desecrate it further before he found his blade caught in an orange aura.

“That’s enough, Stout,” Ignis said calmly. “He is dead. You need not dishonour him for protecting her.”

“Have you forgotten what they intend for us, Majesty?”

“No. All the more reason to show respect on the battlefield where we expect to receive none. Now…” Ignis approached Avia, standing tall over her battered form. “I am sorry to take you from your home like this, but my ponies come first above all. I am sure you understand, I must protect them as these ponies so valiantly protected you. Only I shall succeed.”

She couldn’t move. She tried to stand, to light her horn, to do anything! She was a Changeling Queen! She had to do better! She still could! Come on!

But nothing came. No energy. No strength. Only pain.

King Ignis’ horn lit up.

“This will be painless. I promise.”

She closed her eyes.

“Mother… I messed up. I’m so sorry…”

“…Avia!? Where the heck are you? What’s going on!? Answer me!”

“I love you, Mum…”

“Avia!?!”

Nothing but silence answered Queen Twilight Sparkle, and she could feel her daughter’s presence in the hive no longer.

“AVIA!”

Author's Note

So, um... Is it too late to ask you to put away the pitchforks? Yes? Okay...

Proceeds to emergency fallout shelter. I think Stable 84 will do.

22 - Devastation

The broken cry of pain and rage echoed all throughout Canterlot as the lavender beam of magic cascaded through one of the stained glass windows of the throne room. Glass shards scattered everywhere, what wasn’t turned to dust clattering to the ground and annihilating what was once a mellow depiction of times long past.

But even as the beam dissipated, and the glass remnants settled in the spots they fell, the shouts persisted. Terrible, horrific shouts as tears assaulted the stone floor. Loss, shock and horror-filled each droplet, one mare’s sorrow silencing the entire castle and filled the hearts of all those who heard it with grief.

But no grief could ever surpass that felt by Twilight Sparkle.

And it had been some time since Princess Celestia had felt so helpless…

When Twilight had appeared in the throne room, finding Celestia busy filling out executive orders to further investigate some strange events in the castle as of late, she had been… emotionless. Or perhaps that was the wrong way to view it. She’d been in shock, denying what she herself had felt occur. She had scarcely been able to articulate what had happened to bring her into such a state, the very reality of what she had to convey seeming to escape her.

But then she’d started to understand. It had dawned, and she’d begged.

Celestia had been forced to endure in horrified, dumbstruck silence as Twilight Sparkle, the mare she saw as her own child begged for the alicorn’s help.

Begged… to save a daughter that was seemingly beyond saving.

“Please… Celestia please don’t let this… please…” she had said to the Princess. “I can’t… she can’t…”

“Twilight! Tell me, what has happened!?”

“I… I can’t…” Oh, how she had choked on her own tears, overwhelmed and lost to her emotions. “I think… I think Avia is dead…”

And then, as if just saying those words had finally brought the full reality to bear, she had started to scream.

And, herself floored by such a declaration, unimaginable pain filling her heart, Celestia cursed herself for no longer knowing what to do…

“Twilight…” Celestia addressed in what she inwardly cursed herself for being a pathetic tone. “I… What do you-”

“What, Celestia!? What do you want me to say!?” Twilight rounded on Celestia, her pupils dilating dangerously within her tear-soaked eyes as her fangs bared instinctively. “What can you do!? Why did I even come!? She’s dead! I felt her… Hives, I felt her…”

“Twilight…”

“MY CHILD IS DEAD!” she bellowed with a defeated wail. “My nymph… my baby girl… I… I…”

Her scar burned with the greatest intensity it had suffered in years, driving a sharp breath from the Changeling Queen’s lungs as she pressed a hoof tightly to the old wound. Her eyes shook in their sockets, flashes of terrible memories passing through her mind at speeds she could scarcely comprehend. And with these flashbacks came the very sensations those events had wrought, as fresh as if it were happening in the present.

A knife in her chest, poison burning through her system as those who cared for her tried desperately to prevent the then-Princess’ demise, leading the changeling into a dark void where none could hear her screams. A severed limb amidst the rubble of the Badlands Hive, a frantic search revealing its Queen buried beneath crumbled stone. And so soon after did that Queen perish, passing quietly by her heir’s side. The pain that had forced into her heart, twisting it in a similar manner as to the now, all focusing in on the monster who had taken Chrysalis from the world…

And then the terror pulling the strings came. Hives fell, Draco perished in the chaos, changelings and ponies alike died in the thousands…

No control, Twilight forced to be a prisoner in her own body. The blood that stained her hooves during those days was unimaginable. An inner fight against a seemingly unstoppable force, shaking the foundation of their nations to their cores.

And now…

Now…

“WHY!?” she demanded to know from the world itself. “Who took her!? I will… I’m going to find them, whoever they are…”

“Twilight, please talk to me…” Celestia gently urged. “Just talk to me…”

“What’s there to say!?” she asked with a mildly unhinged chuckle. “My daughter is dead. And I’m going to find the one to blame, and I’m going to burn them.”

Celestia’s blood ran cold, her eyes meeting her former student’s and finding little evidence of the studious unicorn she knew once upon a time. All she saw was maddened grief and rage, the kind that promised death and destruction to any who would block her path. And it scared her. The true primal danger of both a bereaved mother and Changeling Queen both, and all she saw in those lavender eyes were that of her mother…

“Reminiscing, are we?”

Celestia dropped the book onto the bed and swung around, tearing open the curtains as she did so, the sunlight eliminating a previously shadowy corner at the far end of the room.

“Tell me, Celestia,” Chrysalis started spitefully. “Why shouldn’t I burn this pathetic city to the ground?”

Celestia examined Chrysalis and found not malice on her face. Instead, all she could see was the visage of a broken mare.

“How did you get in here?”

“Oh it wasn’t hard; your methods of detecting changelings are child’s play for any infiltrator worth their salt. And believe me, my changelings have notable skill; remember the army surrounding the city, hidden in plain sight? They can attest to that. You know, if diplomatic relations between us had succeeded we could have shown you far more effective means of detection, but I suppose it’s far too late for that, isn’t it?”

“No Chrysalis, it isn’t,” Celestia maintained.

“MY DAUGHTER IS DEAD!” Chrysalis exploded. “I felt her mind go silent. And she was killed by a pony! One of your most trusted guards no less. Your kind took the singular most precious thing I had, I-"

Chrysalis looked away momentarily, trying to compose herself. “So tell me again Princess Celestia,” she choked. “Why shouldn’t I burn this pathetic city to the ground?”

The late changeling’s words echoed in the alicorn’s ears like a bad omen. A strange mirror of what now stood before her, a broken mess that represented a ticking bomb to everyone and everything around it. A full circle from there to here…

So Celestia did what she had to do.

And she held her child close.

Twilight didn’t seem to be expecting the embrace. But then again, she hadn’t been expecting anything at all. Her vision being as red as it was, clouded by hatred and loss. Nothing else occurred to the mare, all the scholarly calculations and thoughtful anecdotes that would usually dominate her mind were blacked out by the smouldering sense of pain intruding into her soul.

But now…

“I know not who did this, a-and I can’t yet say how justice shall be done…” the Princess of the Sun tearfully told her. “But this is not you, either. The mare Avia looked up to so, as do we all. I too well understand what you feel, where this mental state can lead. But please, do not block us out. Shout at me. Curse my name. Do what you must. But do not lose yourself now, be strong for her memory.”

“I…” Queen Twilight Sparkle suddenly felt like nothing more than a lost filly, seeking comfort beneath the alabaster wing of a radiant deity seeking to soothe a strained spirit. Gone was the powerful figure that ruled her hive, leaving but a broken shell who curled into the embrace with a strangled cry. “Celestia…”

The passage of time became blurred after that. Little noise permeated the chamber, only the sobs of two mares and the gentle whistle of the wind through the shattered window. The sun too seemed to dim in response to its caretaker’s condition, turning a typical sunset into a dour evening that well informed all the world that all was not right.

But time did nevertheless pass on by, but it did not alleviate the grief felt by the distraught changeling in the alicorn’s grasp. But it did allow for the fog to steadily lift from her mind, until she was able to wipe the tears from her face, even if the flow did not cease, and look at Celestia with a desperate question in her eyes.

“What happened, Celestia…?” she asked. “She was here only yesterday. I saw her… Held her… Where did she go? Why did she…?”

“I don’t know. But… Maybe…”

No, it couldn’t be. Would she have done that? By herself? But then again, if Twilight Sparkle thought she was saving those she loved, and Equestrian itself, would she have? It might just be so, as loyal as Twilight had always been to her former mentor, her mind had always been her own. And, perhaps, the apple didn’t fall all that far from the tree.

“I did notice a peculiar anomaly today…” Celestia told Twilight. “A large portion of the royal vault has been emptied. I’ve been setting an investigation in motion.”

“…Someone stole from the vault?” Despite her fragile mental state, the Queen couldn’t help but be somewhat bewildered by that. “How? What was taken?”

“An inventory of the losses is still underway… However…” The Princess couldn’t be sure, but… If what had happened is what she thought, then it fit. As terrible as it might seem. “Looking over it… I fear that the contents would make up much, if not all, of what was demanded of us by The New Kingdom.”

Twilight grew silently, her gaze drifting to the floor so that her eyes were hidden behind her mane. Her voice likewise lowered in its tone, becoming but a monotone as the gears in her mind began to turn, her regained faculties putting together the dreadful puzzle…

“…The whole tribute?”

Celestia was silent a moment, but then nodded. “It would seem so. I had hoped otherwise, but-”

“But this just so happens to occur when Avia arrived from the hive,” Twilight finished, not straying from her monotone. “Hm. Could she? To do all of that…”

“Maybe… maybe she decided to prevent a war by herself. Maybe she didn’t agree with our stance on the matter. But either way, she couldn’t do it alone. If that is indeed what happened, she would have needed help. And…”

“And what?”

“There are other reports of unknown armed ponies leaving the city early this morning. Nopony seems to know who they were, but they departed in a hurry.”

Twilight grew silent. Her daughter… Yes, it did seem like her. To take matters into her own hooves. To do what she believed to be right. To save the changelings she loved so much, make a decision and carry it out herself as would be her duty as Queen of the Hive. It was what she was taught to do. To take a stand, be assertive and compassionate both.

But who could she have gotten to help her? Other changelings? Unlikely, she would have been informed. Sellswords perhaps, who would resist the promise of royal gold?

But then…

Then…

“Ignis…” Twilight’s voice formed into a growl. “The New Kingdom. If she went through with the deal we refused, then she would have met them. And… She said she messed up before she died. When she said goodbye to me. S-she met with them, didn’t she?”

“…It may be.”

“And MURDERED her!” she shouted. “Those bastards killed my child! They…”

Twilight looked up again, the rage-driven Changeling Queen returning. And then, quite suddenly, she turned and started to walk towards the door.

“Twilight! Wait!”

“I tried to show them the Magic of Friendship, I really did,” she spoke without stopping. “But this… This is beyond anything even remotely in the realms of ‘acceptable’. And if that’s what they do to a beautiful, wondrous naïve girl trying to do the right thing, then they won’t stop there.”

Celestia looked aside. As much as she hated to admit it, wanting to believe there was some way to salvage what had come, she wasn’t wrong. A nation desiring peace would have accepted the tribute and left. But this? War was their intent. It was as plain as the sun in the sky, or the moon among the stars, and it would be coming.

“I pray you are wrong, but I fear you are not,” she said sadly. “What will you do?”

“First, I need to tell Avia’s father that our little girl… that she isn’t coming home.” She stopped by the door, her voice cracking as she choked back another sob. “Then I shall mourn. And then I will be calling a Queen’s Council into session. The New Kingdom is coming, Celestia. Be ready for them.”

The Changeling Queen flung the doors wide, revealing several shellshocked guards on the other side alongside a flustered blue alicorn who appeared to be in the process of entering. Their eyes met, Luna remaining completely still, if professionally stoic, giving Twilight a nod of condolence while saying not a word.

Twilight looked away, continuing down the hall and out of sight.

“Sister…” Luna finally spoke once she had departed. “I would trust you are now aware of what has transpired?”

“Luna…” Celestia said in a tired manner. “Avia… I can hardly comprehend… Oh, Twilight…”

“There is more you should now,” Luna noted darkly, quickly strutting inside and closing the door behind them. “More I must confess.”

Celestia frowned. “Confess? What are you talking about?”

Luna’s stoic façade faltered, the mare closing her eyes with a great amount of guilt as she gritted her teeth. She took several moments to compose herself, letting out a sight before gaining the courage to face her elder sibling head-on.

“I fear I have erred in my judgement, made a mistake comparable to the one I made that night all those moons ago. And proved the past as Nightmare Moon yet hangs over me like a shadow… I am right to be feared by those who would hear the tales on Nightmare Nights every year.”

“Luna, you’re talking in riddles,” the other alicorn chided. “It has been long since the subject of your dark side has been presented. And having just learnt of poor Avia’s demise, I would hear nothing of the matter!”

“…But I am ashamed to say it relates.”

Celestia froze.

“…What?”

“Sister… I do not know where to turn, for I have made a mistake I can never return…” she admitted. “I may as well have killed the child myself. So full of dread was I that I turned away from the possibilities that my choice might wreak. I should have gone myself, but I feared your noticing. I failed you all.”

“Luna. What. Did. You. Do!?”

“When the demand came, I was forced to agree with your course of action. And yet a fear grew in my mind, one I am… not accustomed to,” she continued. “You have always been measured on your approach, perhaps too much at times. Considerate. Mine has always been one of action, I do not wait, I do what I must.”

Luna sighed again, staring up at the shattered window the Changeling Queen’s rage had left in its wake.

“Today that has been showcased in the worst way, and perhaps even been distorted. Where I would once have been the first to meet Ignis’ challenge, this time I found myself… struck by memories of an Equestria engulfed by war and terror. The rampage of Immortalis that brought us low.”

Celestia’s gaze softened. “Sister, if the memories of that conflict were haunting you so, you should have spoken to me about it.”

“Aye, that I should,” Luna agreed solemnly. “But I did not. And when I encountered Avia amid a nightmare, we found agreement in our fears. So we decided upon a plan.”

The final pieces fell into place.

“Luna…” Celestia addressed slowly, fearing what might come next. “Please tell me you didn’t. That the vault was stolen from, and that one of its owners didn’t merely extract its contents.”

“I wish I could do as you ask, but alas, I cannot. For it was I that took from our treasures, and it was I that arranged for Avia’s escort.”

“Those ponies… They were yours?”

“Without Vladimir’s knowledge, do not blame him,” she explained. “Disguised, they took the tribute and met with King Ignis’ representatives. And… none returned.”

Celestia took in a breath, closing her eyes and letting her younger sister’s confession roll around inside of her mind. In truth, perhaps she should have predicted such a thing. Working in the shadows, acting decisively as she so wished… that was her sister described quite well. But the action itself? Giving in to a threat? She never would have imagined her sister would be the first to buckle under such strain.

“Oh, Lulu…” Celestia said regretfully. “I never knew Immortalis had affected you so.”

“She turned you into Daybreaker!” Luna shouted back with a stamp of her hoof. “Took my sister and twisted her into a beast! Burned our ponies, drowned Manehatten and left us picking up the pieces for years to come! I… I could no longer stomach the conflict I once would have met with steel. I could not stand still and wait for war, so I took the burden upon myself to prevent it.”

“Upon yourself? Avia is gone.”

“…I know. To my eternal shame, I know. She was so adamant that I was most swayed, but I should never have allowed it. Sister… I let Avia die. And I do not know how to live that.”

Luna lowered her head, her eyes closing as she waited for judgement, a tear rolling down her cheek and to the floor.

“I am so sorry…”

“Oh, Luna…” Celestia stopped forward, nuzzling her younger sibling gently on the head. “Both of you… You were fools. Well-intentioned, but fools nonetheless.”

“I know. And for what I have caused Twilight…”

Celestia’s heart ached. On the one side, she had a little sister, wracked with guilt for her mistake. Celestia couldn’t help but blame herself in part. How could she not have seen her sister’s struggle? Not see the pain she was feeling that led her to make such an error in the first place? She was disappointed, and yet she found herself sharing in her sibling’s shame. She should have done something. Seen the signs. Anything!

And now, on the other side, she had a daughter who was deep in mourning, filled with primal rage and looking for someone to blame.

Ignis was to blame.

But so was Luna.

“Twilight should know…” the Princess of the Night spoke, taking a step back and standing up straight. “She deserves to know, and I deserved to be judged.”

“No.”

Luna blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Not yet. We can’t,” Celestia said regretfully. “What I just witnessed… Luna, she might well kill you.”

“Tia, this is Twilight Sparkle you speak of.”

“No. As of now, I speak of a Changeling Queen so full of hate for whoever she perceives to be as her child’s killer!”

“I DESERVE her condemnation for what I have done!”

“Yes, you DO!” Celestia shouted back, her wings spreading out as her anger flared. “You were irresponsible! You went behind my back and let this happen! But dammit, Luna, you are my SISTER! And Twilight is like my own child, and I will not see you killing one another for what is ultimately the mad actions of another across the sea! IGNIS gave the order, and for all your mistakes Avia is just as responsible, but Twilight won’t see the logic in that. Not now.”

“You expect me to lie?”

“As much as it pains me to say, she is in no state of mind to hear of your involvement. I do not know what the coming days will bring, but she cannot be told of this now. She must know eventually; she deserves the truth. But dropping this on her right now will destroy her. And you.”

“Sister, this is wrong.”

“What would you have me do, Luna!? Let you tear each other apart!?”

“I… I did this… All of this, the lies, the deceit, what have I done…?”

Celestia sighed. “Such is the path to hell, and now we all walk it…”

The Princess of the Sun glanced away from her and towards the door. Avia, Luna… What they had done, for all their pure intentions, had delivered onto them the very conflict they’d sought to prevent. And now she was forced to conceal the full extent of the truth from one who she cared for deeply.

“Forgive me, Twilight. For it is my love for you both that forces my hoof.”

23 - The Brothers of Unicornia

All had gone well.

King Ignis only wished he could feel more secure in that knowledge. But no such security came, just the scathing uncertainty of what had been done… and what had yet to be done.

They were at war. That was the one indisputable fact and consequence of all that had occurred. A war for the continuing independence of his people, aye, but a war nonetheless. One inevitably bound to deliver coffins back to their shores. For the first time in their entire history, their armies would clash with a foreign foe on a distant land, and all too many would not be returning. And too many ponies who opposed them as well, as had been demonstrated upon Equestria’s shores but a short while ago.

But, even with his heart heavy, he had to believe he was on the right course, and that the alternative would have led to a disaster they wouldn’t have foreseen. To serve his people is his one duty, however that must be carried out.

And yet, thus far ‘carrying it out’ led him to stare into the petrified eyes of a girl scarcely entering the prime of her years. One who, as far as he knew, had been far more genuine in her want of peace than the Equestrian soldiers ensuring her part in the matter. It made him wonder just how far Celestia’s grip on the changelings had gone, that they would send one of their young so happily to the slaughter. They had to have known it was a possibility. But like the king of old, tyrants were seldom to do things themselves. Whether to put them far from harm’s reach or to preserve the friendly façade Vulgaris made so clear.

But Avia’s participation was but a reminder of his ‘ally’s’ own ruthless nature. Was it her natural inclination, or was it perhaps born of a culture being wiped away over many decades? A budding resentment over an ongoing injustice?

It mattered little now. The deed was done, and now was the time to ensure it didn’t all go to waste.

“Your Majesty?” Captain Stout Guardian knocked the King from his ruminations. “Are you quite well?”

The alicorn shook his head, focusing back in on the two stallions before him. His Captain of the Guard and dutiful assistant both were giving him raised eyebrows, having trailed off from their reports after he’d entered his own thoughts.

“Hm? Oh! My apologies, but I fear recent days have made me somewhat weary,” Ignis explained. “Do continue, Captain. I am listening.”

“Right… Well, we are receiving reports of increased movement along the western coast; Equestrian forces are clearly expecting further reprisal. Several coastal sites have already received a great bolster to their local forces, though a few locations are still receiving aid.”

“That complicates matters, though is to be expected. Our own forces?”

“In position. We can strike on your order, hit some of those weaker positions and make a push into Equestria before they can stop us. If we can gain a foothold, they’ll be hard-pressed to dislodge us as we spread further inland.”

“Good,” Ignis agreed. “The word is given. We need to pierce into Equestria before they can block all the holes… And while our strike forces do that, is the bulk of the fleet ready to hit Vanhoover? Seeing as it’s their primary port along the western seafront, I don’t want their navy sailing around to flank our other positions.”

“Oh, trust me, I know. While we hit the weaker positions, our main force will keep the city quite occupied. I am confident we can at least buy time for the others to succeed, but more than that, should we take the city the EUP’s efforts to repel us will all but crumble.”

“Get us our foothold, Captain. That’s the priority. I’ll see to Vanhoover when it becomes necessary,” the alicorn commanded the stallion. “Once we have our entry points secured, then we can feel comfortable with the bigger fish.”

“Don’t worry, we have things in order and our troops are more than willing to make the push. Whether it’s Las Pegasus or the town of Silver Shoals, we’ll see it done.”

“I would start with the latter. As I recall in the brief, it’s a retirement community more than anything, it’s taking the Equestrians some time to get a defence ready there… But do take care in your efforts, we’re not here to ruin an old grandmother’s day.”

“I would hope not,” Assisting Hoof commented, shooting a glance at Stout Guardian. “Unless our courageous Captain sees the elderly a threat. You already killed a changeling princess, why not add them to your resume?”

“Funny isn’t your style, Hoof. Keep to making sure his Majesty’s chambers are clean and tidy,” he shot back.

“Enough!” Ignis interrupted the pair. “Though we may not all see eye-to-eye on all matters, bickering shall not solve our present crisis. Understood?”

They both paused, giving one another hesitant looks before relenting.

“Apologies, King Ignis. It has been a tough time for all involved,” Assisting Hoof lamented.

Stout nodded in turn. “Indeed. So, if we are in order, I will see to our forces right away.”

“I would ask you stay your hoof a moment, there is another matter…” the King noted solemnly. “The contingency. It is secure?”

“It is. If things don’t go as initially planned, I think it’ll get their attention.”

“I think we’ve done enough attention-getting,” Assisting Hoof cited with intense disapproval, though tilting his head at the mention of a ‘contingency’. “Many more will die before this is done. Many who needn’t have.”

“The price of freedom. Perhaps you should place your focus more on our victory than what might have been,” the Captain rebuffed. “Or are you no longer able to do your duty to your king?”

“I shall always do my duty, Captain,” he contested, his eyes narrowing at the unicorn before his gaze was cast to the alicorn himself. “To my King and, above even that, to the people of The New Kingdom. No matter how heavy is the weight it shall cast upon my heart, I shall do whatever I must to ensure their safety from those who would see them suffer.”

Ignis paused at that, staring down at the ageing stallion silently. But it would only be right for his advisor to consider his duty to be to their people over the crown, blind loyalty to such a trinket was what almost led them to ruin all those centuries ago, and that he himself had fought to abolish. A King was a servant of his people, not the other way around.

“Well said,” he complimented Assisting Hoof. “I trust your judgement in seeing that duty completed to the letter.”

“Thank you, my King. I believe I know how to do just that.”

“You could stop your wittering as a start,” Stout Guardian said with a snort. “What’s done is done, now we just need to win this thing.”

“Bickering…” Ignis called them out.

“Ngh. Apologies…” the Captain responded irritably. “But yes, we have things prepared. And we’re ready to change location once we’re further in. But, are you sure we shouldn’t keep things confined to the capital? I would feel safer with our own local forces ensuring security.”

“If they suspect our intent, the capital would be the first place a changeling shapeshifter would look. Even with Vulgaris’ assistance, I would not risk her countermeasures being circumvented. Especially since they will be familiar with them.”

“And they wouldn’t suspect it ‘there’ of all places. I see the reasoning, though I can’t say I quite agree.”

“Where and what, exactly?” Assisting Hoof questioned as he took a step forward. “Contingency? I would have thought to have been made aware of such a thing.”

“You are not required to know that,” Stout sneered.

“Why the-!”

“Stout! I told you to cease with the bickering!” Ignis raised his voice, standing from his throne. “You are my Captain, not a foal.”

That deflated the unicorn’s bravado in short order. But all the while, Assisting Hoof was less deterred, taking yet another step towards the alicorn with his question lingering yet in the very air around them.

“King Ignis, what is your contingency?”

“…While my Captain put it poorly, he has the right of it. Seeing the sensitivity of this particular fallback plan, we’re keeping it between us and a few of the most trusted among his guard. I’m sorry, my friend. But this one falls out of your hooves.”

“With all due respect, you have never deemed it necessary to exclude me from such things before.”

“These are extraordinary times, Assisting Hoof. I do not enjoy this, you are the most trusted amongst my council, and perhaps the wisest in many respects. But this is beyond you.”

“If you see me as wise, perhaps you would do well to heed my words of wisdom more often,” he pointed out with a raised eyebrow. “For they have been cast aside all too much as of late.”

“As I said, these are extraordinary times beyond your purview.”

“I see. In that case, I would excuse myself and attend to what IS in my purview. My King…”

With that, the stallion turned his back on the pair and made to exit the throne room. Ignis did nought to stop his flight, merely looking on with an air of sadness as his long-time friend and confidant opened the great doors and vanished through them.

Ignis sighed, sitting back down in his thrown and allowing his eyes to trail towards the ceiling as he pondered to himself once more. Assisting Hoof’s discomfort was hardly isolated, there was great fear emanating all across his nation. Fear the likes he hadn’t seen in them since… since the events that led him to take on the great burden of ruling.

But they had the strength to see it through then. He just had to pray to the heavens that such strength had not faded through the generations.

“Pay him no mind, he is more the fool as age creeps up on him,” Stout Guardian said. “We need not his approval.”

“The approval of one’s friend would do much to ease my mind,” Ignis rebuffed as he looked down upon the armoured pony. “But that will take time. I fear I have done much to earn his frustration, and I understand it wholeheartedly. But he will come around, he has yet to disappoint me in all these years at my side. Nor have you.”

He bowed to his king. “As I live and breathe, my blade has always been yours.”

“Oh, away with that. Leave the bowing to when I can be bothered with the ceremony of it all. For now… Just make sure to get this business done as swiftly and cleanly as possible. I listen to his wisdom more than he realises, and I would not have you add the elderly to that resume of yours, Captain.”

“Hm. I do believe I know your feelings on what measures as ‘acceptable casualties’.”

“We are entering this war as liberators, not ultimate destroyers,” he claimed. “Make sure your ponies know that too. I don’t want one of our airships landing on a school.”

“…I’ll see to it myself.”

“Make sure you do. Now… prepare a line to Vulgaris. I would speak with her before the fighting starts.”

“Oh, her. As you wish, my King.”

He bowed, nodding to his nearby guards to bring forth a large metal bowl held up on four stylistically curved legs. A potion bottle filled with glowing, bubbling blue liquid was uncorked and emptied into the basin. An eruption of smoke matching the liquid-filled the air, remaining stagnant for a moment while waiting for its twin to be active. It was but a short wait, the smoke coalescing into what almost appeared to be blue flames as a face appeared amidst the magical inferno.

“Ignis…” Vulgaris purred.

“Queen Vulgaris. I trust this is not a bad time?”

“It was not. I presume you can see my visage? This spell is most archaic, I cannot be sure where I am supposed to look.”

“It’s working fine,” the King assured. “And we know it’s secure. Or at least that’s what the beasts from the south professed when I acquired it from them. Believe me, their storms never tested our shores again.”

“One of the many scouts lost to your isolationism, I’m sure,” Vulgaris noted with clear boredom. “But I’m certain you didn’t endeavour to contact me just to gloat about past events?”

“No, I was more seeking to know how the changelings fare with what has transpired. Our forces shall soon descend on Equestria, and I am rather hoping your schemes are working in our favour.”

“Hm… I had been difficult to say, what with the increased alertness displayed in Canterlot,” the Queen started. “You got their attention, alicorn.”

“Yes, I know that. But what about Twilight Sparkle?”

“Word is she intends upon a Queens’ Council, the gathering of all the hives in times of great crisis, change or whatever might get the others out of bed in the morning. I had hoped she might, what better time than to spread the notion that now might be time to let Equestria die on its own hill?”

“And is she ready to do that? Does she yet ‘appreciate’ that a Princess of Equestria sent her child into our trap?”

“She has withdrawn herself, and her drones are displaying quite the skittishness ever since the blow was struck. You’ve sent quite the shock through the putrid hive mind of hers, and how I would love to revel in its pain. But I can’t say the message has gotten through that thickened skull, given the lack of explosions tearing the castle asunder.”

Ignis narrowed his eyes. “The whole point of this mess was to turn Sparkle against her alicorn masters.”

“And indeed it shall… in time. I doubt Princess Luna has been eager to share.”

“Then use your council. Make sure she knows.”

“Should the opportunity arise, so I shall. But I hope you don’t expect me to tell her myself, she would suspect my involvement in a heartbeat.”

“You have spies, claim they discovered it.”

“Should the opportunity arise,” she repeated. “You clearly do not appreciate the delicacies of changeling infiltration, pony.”

“Then my forces shall announce it to the world. However we can.”

“And she would believe you? Her child’s own murderer?” the Queen sneered. “You should really use that brain of yours, you surely must have one. If Luna could be made to confess, perhaps… But leave this effort to your betters. Twilight Sparkle will be mourning for a long time to come, and when the time is right, the alliance with Equestria will crumble.”

Ignis gritted his teeth at her tone, but she wasn’t without a point. Infiltration was not his game, it was hers.

He hated having to rely on this creature. But such was the grave he had led himself into…

“Just be sure to get it done, changeling,” Ignis warned. “Because Luna’s involvement isn’t the only individual who might be revealed.”

“Threats? Blackmail? There might be some hope for you yet,” she taunted. “But recall my words. YOU killed her. YOU are the fiend who cannot be trusted, trying to sow discord by blaming poor old me…”

Vulgaris surged forward, her fangs thrashing in the magical fire as her pupils dilated dangerously. Ignis couldn’t help but take a step back at the display, somewhat thankful the spell only allowed the passage of words and nothing more.

“You NEED me, cretin! Otherwise, Sparkle will tear your crown apart and leave nary enough to bury! Do what you need to, King. Wage your war, send your soldiers! I will deal with Twilight Sparkle! And by the end of it all, she will lay bloodied at my hooves, Equestria will crumble and my order shall be avenged with the blood of ALL my enemies!”

“...Avenged? For their subjugation of your kind?” Ignis enquired with a raised eyebrow, keeping his nerve in the face of her rage.

Vulgaris stopped her tirade, stopping in place and blinking at Ignis. She seemed to relax a little, taking in several deep breaths as she looked erratically from side to side.

“…Yes. Indeed. An… injustice that shall soon be rectified,” she stated. “Now, unless there is anything else, I believe we both have tasks to accomplish.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Stout, cut the spell.”

The Captain nodded and, a moment later, the face of the Changeling Queen sparked out and left the ponies alone in the Unicornia throne room. Several of the guards all glanced nervously at each other, and then at the Captain and the King as the former cleared away the potions before looking up at the ruler with concern.

“That thing is unstable. She’s as likely to lash out at us, her supposed allies, as she is to go through with her part of the plan.”

“She will go through with it,” Ignis mused. “It’s what comes next that concerns me. The likelihood of us having to deal with her before the war ends is increasing. There’s… something about that I can’t quite put my hoof on. She is erratic. Insane. Ruthless… and something else.”

“I think you summed it up enough.”

“Hm, perhaps. But one conflict at a time…”

“Aye. I’ll see it done right away.”

“Go. Move with the grace of our forefathers and bring glory to these hallowed halls.”

“As is your wish, my King. Our Kingdom will stand yet.”

With one last bow, Stout Guardian made to exit the throne room and leave the King to his musings. And so he did, Ignis returning to his throne and entering his thoughts. Vulgaris, Avia… All of what has been and what might be ran through his head time and again, never ceasing as he thought of the many faces soon to go to Equestria and never return.

He just wished, most of all, that the doubts would cease…

Stout Guardian moved through the halls of the castle, keeping his mind focused wholly on the coming mission set to his by his liege. The greatest challenge of his career no doubt, and soon to be his greatest triumph. Against Equestria and Vulgaris both when the latter eventually came to blows with them.

But they would win. Their cause was righteous, and his blade was set to claim the blood of a thousand foreign devils.

He passed by several fellow guards and other castle staff, but he paid them little mind as he continued to the airship dock. Once he would board, the final preparations would begin. And then the voyage to Equestria would commence, and their victory would be at hoof.

But something did pry him from his fervour. As he passed by an open balcony overlooking the enormity of Unicornia and the mountains beyond their peak, spying none other than Assisting Hoof himself leaning against the railing with his back to the Captain.

Stout stayed silent a moment, simply staring at the other unicorn’s back with an annoyed grimace. His outspokenness about the coming conflict had been no end of trouble for the Captain of the Royal Guard, and something that had caused him to greatly doubt the old stallion’s commitment to the future of their people. He entertained simply pressing on, ignoring the ageing fool and leaving him to his misery. But be it old kinship, his present irritation or mere curiosity, the stallion found himself walking up beside the pony and joining him in overlooking their home.

“…It is most beautiful when the sun sets, don’t you think?” Assisting Hoof asked.

Stout looked out over it all, noting the orange-tinted sky casting all kinds of patterns of shadow across the mountains. The entirety of The New Kingdom was before them, blessed by the sun itself, untainted by the meddling of its caretaker. The latter point was a small matter of indignation for the Captain, but one lessened by the reminder that it would soon be Ignis commanding the celestial body.

“Aye, that it is,” he concurred. “Do you not see all we fight to protect?”

“How can I not. Every day of our history is written across these skies, mountains and fields. All our struggles and hardships, from the eternal winter to the tyrant preceding Ignis. How our people built a nation from nothing, the ruins of an old-world history barely remembers, to one where life breathes around every corner.”

“Then why argue with us so?” Stout demanded to know. “Why turn your back on all of this?”

“I never turned my back, Stout. Nor shall I ever. All I do shall be for the people of The New Kingdom. But when I see this, all I see are the flames of war. And the flames across other fields far yonder, where other eyes so much like our own witness beauty of equal measure.”

“What are you talking about?”

“We all feared what lay beyond. When Twilight Sparkle first arrived on our doorstep, I knew not what to think,” the stallion mused. “But she was not the monster we so feared. Not like that other, this Vulgaris that has so poisoned our King’s ear. And now I see all of Equus, all wondrous, all precious. A whole world we have so ignored and will continue to do so even if it causes suffering to that which we hold most dear.”

“Keeping it out prevents the suffering of which you speak,” the Captain maintained. “It has worked so far.”

“Perhaps. But no longer. And now the flames of war are unleashed, and there may be no returning them to the bottle. And I fear for what will become of all this, what we shall make of it through our fear of recklessness.”

“Well don’t. We shall see it safe; our people will not fall this day.”

“I hope you’re right. And for what it is worth…”

Assisting Hoof turned, placing a hoof onto Stout Guardian’s shoulder.

“I wish you well in the battle to come. Though we may be at odds, we are both of The New Kingdom, and we are brothers in serving it.”

Stout was startled for a moment, but he then returned the gesture.

“Ha. You’re a pain in the ass, Assisting Hoof. But on this, we can at least agree. So I too wish you well, keep Unicornia in one piece until I return. And when I do, we shall never have to fear them again.”

And with one final nod, Stout turned from Assisting Hoof and continued on his way. He glanced back at the precipice, the two servants of Ignis regarding one another for a final time, before the Captain vanished back into the castle and left the older stallion alone.

Assisting Hoof glanced back over the mountains of his home, taking solace in the breeze passing through his fur as he braced for all to come.

24 - Guilt

The hive felt oppressively quiet today.

Usually flourishing with life, a place where one could not breathe without running into some kind of activity down one hallway or the next, the home of the Equestrian Hive was a silent grave without a single instance of the mourning bereaved in sight.

But there was mourning. There was no end to it.

It filled the very air, the changeling residents could all but taste the bitterness of loss. For a species of empaths, it was the literal definition of hell. A clustered soup of depression and bitterness that no one could avoid. In truth, they couldn’t even leave the hive, for the link shared by all was too tainted with it. And how could it not be? The mind that connected them all together held the largest sense of loss of them all, on the deepest personal level possible.

Their Princess was dead. Avia, the bright-eyed idealist they’d all come to know and love, was gone.

A fact Carduus knew all too well.

He let it happen.

“You can’t sit there all day…” Panacea called out to her husband gently, the elderly changeling mare standing by the doorway with a distracted look on her face. “It’s… not your…”

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what? Tell you it’s not your fault?” she asked in turn. “I know the futility of telling you that. And I’m not going to pretend I know what exactly happened between you that day, what she said to you, and what you said to her. But what I was going to say is that it’s not your place to sit and keep to yourself when you have a very worried granddaughter out here wondering where her grandfather is.”

Carduus sighed, turning to look at his wife. “I know. I know… I just wish I knew what to tell them. Or any other changeling for that matter. We’ve lived a long time, have we not? Our lifespans pale compared to the Queens, of course, but still… We’ve lived a lot, seen a lot, but never have I felt so…”

“Responsible.”

“Yeah. That’s the word for it…”

“Well, you’re not.”

“I thought you weren’t going to tell me that.”

“I married you, I’m used to talking with futility,” she shot back. “Look, the Queen is silent. I don’t know how she feels about it, aside from the obvious. Avia is… Well, please, think about your own children for a moment. The hive is in grief, and if we don’t support one another, what can we do? What can I do?”

Carduus sighed again. She was right, of course. But her being so was only a shallow comfort; retired or no, protecting the royalty of the hive was his job. And he’d seen two slain in a lifetime. The first time around, he could take solace in that he protected the then-princess. But what did he have to say now?

He let her go.

The final time they’d laid eyes on one another, she’d asked something of him, and he’d acquiesced. Let her walk through the doors of the hive never to return through them again.

That was a harder thing to live with.

Still, he rose from his seat and faced his wife, giving her a solemn nod. She just stared at him in kind for several moments, before turning and leading the way through into the living room. Sure enough, the two lights of his life were indeed there. Iuvenes and Tutela, both looking at him expectantly.

For the latter in particular, he forced a smile.

“What? You weren’t waiting for me, were you?” he asked the child. “I’m fine, just getting some shut-eye is all.”

“...It’s the middle of the day,” the nymph deadpanned.

“Ah, who can tell down here?” he playfully dismissed. “Don’t worry, kiddo. I’m not going anywhere, so let’s do something fun to pass the time. Can’t be sad all the time, can we? Where was that Equestrian game you like…?”

“Twister! And you’re really bad at it!” she reminded him with a chuckle. “I guess because you’re all old now.”

He gave a gasp that was half for show and half genuinely offended. “Now that’s a challenge, and I never run from those!”

Panacea coughed into a hoof. “Ahem, back injury?”

“Psh, I don’t see the issue.”

“Oh, dear…”

This was going to end with a grumpy and mildly injured changeling…

“Now, go find the box,” Carduus told his grandchild who, now thoroughly distracted from recent events, rushed off to do just that. And as she did so, it was Iuvenes’ turn to step forward, though with a far less placated look on her face. “I’m not about to get more platitudes from you, am I?”

“I’m a little beyond being distracted by Twister,” his daughter replied. “By some decades.”

“I know. Days that have passed us by…” he noted wistfully. “Alright, out with it.”

“I just wanted to see that you were really okay,” she stated. “It’s… bad out there. Puelulla is spending the time with Rose, Soronis too. So… I guess we hold onto each other for now. And Twilight too, when she returns.”

Carduus’ eyes found themselves drifting away from hers. “Yeah…”

“She’ll be fine. Hurt, but… The Queen has always steered us right. I mean, I’ve never known her to be down for long, even in the worst of times. Since the day I ran into her outside our old home, all bright-eyed and in awe of the returned Princess of the Hive.”

“I remember. She’d been panicking, you helped convince her to come back.”

“I do my best,” she said with a grin. “What can I say, everything good that has happened with her rule since was because of me. You can save your applause.”

“Hilarious.”

“I thought so. Just… be sure to speak to us a bit, yeah? No more hiding in the bedroom.”

“Pinkie promise…”

His heart lurched again. She’d made such a promise, just before the end…

“I’ll take you on that cursed phrase,” she accepted. “Now come on, I think my kid was about to trounce you at a game.”

“When did you get so snarky?”

“At the age of thirty, I think.”

“Hardy har.”

He followed on behind his daughter, Panacea moving to one side as she anxiously awaited to administer inevitable medical aid. Still, he found himself having what could almost be mistaken as a pang of normality as he joined his grandchild, box held in her magic with an eager grin on her face.

And yet, Avia’s fate never strayed far from his mind.

“I forgive you…” came a whisper, barely audible, over the hive link.

It was all he could do not to cry then and there.

“It’s ridiculous, Broad Sword. Completely off the charts!” Vladimir seethed into his cup, his prosthetic wing twitching in indignation. “You’d think after serving as Captain for as long as either of us, we’d get a straight answer about something like this. But no, I guess not!”

Broad Sword and Scarlet Snow just looked at him sympathetically, sat across the dining table from him within the aged couple’s home. So too was their son present, though Valiant’s eyes seemed cautiously focused on the fifth of their number.

Sitting silently, his eyes far away and his mind clearly focused on other matters, Façade continued to quietly reflect on recent events.

Events that had taken his child away.

Valiant coughed into a hoof, getting his lunar counterpart’s attention before subtly nodding his head in the changeling’s direction.

“I- right…” Vladimir sighed, his metal wing twitching irritably, sitting up straight in his seat and composing himself. “Sorry, Facade.”

“Hm?” he blankly looked towards the thestral, before shaking his head to clear the cobwebs. “What about?”

“I… nothing, it’s just… I was just telling Broad how I still can’t get any answers regarding my missing ponies. They up and vanished around the same time as… it all happened. Luna isn’t saying anything, but I can’t help but wonder if I’m just not being kept in the loop these days.”

“You’ve never doubted your princess before,” Broad noted. “But these are… strange times.”

“You… don’t think there’s a connection there, do you?” Valiant asked. “My people know nothing and are all accounted for, but those guards vanished alongside those treasures and…”

Multiple sets of eyes turned to Facade, who just shook his head in annoyance.

“You don’t need to dance around it,” he told them with a huff. “It happened the same time that my daughter was murdered by a warmongering alicorn from the far west. Just say it, dammit! My girl is dead, my wife is an infuriated mess, and I’m unable to do a fucking thing about it. So just say her name and be done with it.”

Valiant flinched guiltily at his harsh words, but the others just eyed him sympathetically.

“There is a likely connection, aye. Mayhap they got themselves involved with her intentions behind your back. Maybe something else is going on,” Broad Sword noted gruffly, leaning forward and staring daggers into his comrades. “But for now, as much as I hate to say it, it must be put to one side. Equestria is at a dagger’s edge the likes of which hasn’t been seen since the changeling invasion.”

“Oh, I’m accurately aware,” Facade responded. “And I know what you’re trying to do, Broad Sword. Perform your old blunt galvanizing speech to get the ball rolling. But you needn’t bother. I know where the wind is blowing, and my daughter’s death can only lead to one outcome. I know that, and I know I need to be the beacon of strength for those that follow me and for Twilight’s sake. But at this table, just let me be a father who lost his little girl. I beg that much of you.”

“Facade…” Scarlet muttered sadly. “He never meant to say otherwise. No one can deny what your feel, as much as we can’t imagine it…”

“She’s right, if anything were to happen to Valiant in the years I have left…” Broad trailed off. “I can imagine, but cannot truly understand the loss that has struck you.”

“Well, you could always just lose me instead. Make things easier,” Vladimir attempted to inject some small levity into the conversation.

It failed.

“I think that a poorly timed jest,” Broad scolded the Captain of the Lunar Guard. “Besides, you’re too much of an idiot to die.”

“You got that bit right…” Vladimir replied, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. “What I mean to say is that you have friends in here you can be yourself around. We all know this ends in war, Celestia help us… It takes precedence, I can’t be distracted by what happened to my missing guards, as Broad said, but for the moment… take the time. Whatever you need.”

Facade nodded appreciatively. “Thanks. But… I’ll stow the tears, there’s only one mare who needs to see that, and we’ll work through it together. Hives know she’s just as bad and shouldering it all anyway.”

“Will she be okay…?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know if I will be okay. But if Avia were here, she’d tell me to keep my chin up and look at the facts. Write an essay on those facts, even. Hah, or multiple. Ever her mother’s daughter… So, the facts are there’s a storm coming. And my conclusion is that we need to stop it. As best we can.”

“She was a good kid,” Valiant said.

“The best,” Facade replied with a small smile, blinking away tears that threatened to breach in spite of his vow. “She’d want us to… My daughter would… I…”

It was never a vow he could keep, no matter how hard he tried. And no amount of blinking could hide what now streaked down his cheeks, eyes screwing shut as he silently cried for a child lost.

The others sat in silence, quietly and patiently lending their supporting presence for a friend in the midst of despair.

And as friends and family lent one another their comfort, Facade was not alone in the pit of misery. Out through the window and along the winding streets of Canterlot, snaking one’s way through the distract of nobles and into the ground of the castle, traversing higher still to a single window overlooking the mountainside city, where an alabaster alicorns’ mind wandered to that very family, her eyes lingering where their house was known to lay.

Celestia closed her eyes, her mind troubled and clouded. A child loss. A daughter in mourning. A sister plagued with guilt. A war brewing amidst it all. And a lie that could sink all she held dear, or preserve it. The gamble was the worst of all, no matter how necessary it seemed.

Necessity… How much harm had been done with such lofty intentions? Luna and Avia had found that out the hardest way of all.

“Oh, sister…” Celestia muttered. “What webs we weave. Are we to entrap ourselves so...?”

“Yes yes, very dramatic, but it isn’t your web you should concern yourself with,” a voice that was very much unexpected sounded from inside the glass of the window, echoing ethereally around her. “Oh no, there is so much more at work than an angsty two-hundred-year-old alicorn teenager. And given your comparative lifespans and recent events, it’s not an inaccurate comparison I think.”

“Discord…”

“Oh, you see right through me…” Discord remarked, his visage barely becoming visible within the window. “What a pane…”

“You’ll forgive me, but my mood for your jests is even lower than usual. I trust you have at least some understanding of what has happened and why any decent soul would find it within themselves to be kind and mellow during these hours?”

“Your biting remarks wound me, it’s for that very reason I’m here to provide a salve,” he explained, appearing fully next to Celestia in a bright flash of light. “Besides, my intervention here can wipe away old debts. I do recall at least two previous changeling-related incidents where my wanderlust proved detrimental.”

Celestia rolled her eyes. “Fine. Speak.”

“Truly? You must be down in the dumps to not even try to throw me out of the castle, Tia my dear.”

“Nothing about this is a laughing matter, Discord.”

“...No, I suppose it isn’t. Believe me when I say I know what the cost has been, and I was the one who sent Twilight on her way.”

The Princess of the Sun’s glare would have melted anyone not the immortal Lord of Chaos. “You knew. You knew what awaited us there, and you waved us away with cryptic remarks as you usually do. Now people are dead and more shall surely follow, so I am sorry if my patience for your nonsense is all but spent!”

“I truly believed Twilight could handle what she found, and do it far better without my ‘meddling’ getting in the way!” he defended. “And she should have! It was all in the cards, little Twiggles would go in and do her friendship thing and long-lost brothers and sisters would do a random musical number to celebrate… Only that didn’t happen.”

“Clearly.”

“Indeed. They threatened for ransom. And then they got violent. Thing is, they’re xenophobic to be sure, but from all I’ve observed, they should have just ignored you at worst. King Ignis is not a conquering king. You two have much in common.”

Celestia grimaced. “You’re comparing me to a tyrant?”

“Tyrant? Oh no, far from it. He’s a hero to his little ponies. Tell me if you’ve heard this one; a people in despair, on the cusp of oblivion, and in comes an alicorn to solve all their problems and then gets shoved onto the throne for their trouble, and not by designs of their own.”

“...Like when we defeated you.”

“Quite. A millennium in stone, a nation hiding across the sea,” he confirmed. “Like all you parent-types you coddle and spoil your many annoying brats, and would never drag them into a fight that could harm the hairs on their little heads. Not unless you thought it the only way.”

“And how does murdering a child accomplish that?”

“How indeed? But like any angsty, naive teenager who is as worldly as you are able to resist the allure of chocolate sponge, all it takes is a bad crowd whispering the right lies into a gullible ear.”

“You say he’s merely gullible?”

“Oh, a complete idiot so desperate to save his people he’s imagining villains where there are none. Except, of course, the liar…”

Celestia’s gaze steeled, the alicorn turning on Discord and approaching him until no gap remained between their muzzles. “Who? Who is it you claim pulls the King’s strings? Who really killed Avia?”

“I don’t know, not yet. But I do have suspects. Not every Changeling Queen has been thrilled since they got all colourful.”

“A changeling? But… Twilight’s planning on bringing them into this conflict.”

“All part of the plan I’d say, but whose? And where to? There’s the real question, and the real answer to all your problems if I so graciously provide you with the answer,” Discord responded with a grin, a detective’s outfit forming around him spontaneously. “A Changeling Queen has betrayed you and is fuelling this conflict, playing both sides as it were. But how far does it go? Give but the word and the game is afoot!”

“...Get that magnifying glass out of my face.”

“Oh, very well. You have six new wrinkles, by the way.”

“Discord.”

“Hm, so, what do you say? They aren’t the only ones who can be sneaky, and I can go anywhere. I’ll find them, and I’ll even wrap them in festive paper when I deliver them to you. You couldn’t ask for more.”

Celestia looked aside, her eyes returning to the building where she knew Avia’s father sat. And someone else in the castle, a mother yet mourned her child…

“Do it. Find who did this, and end it before it goes too far.”

“Oh, it’ll be my pleasure, Tia.”

And then, in one final flash of light, the Lord of Chaos was gone.

Author's Note

It's baaaack... with a depressing chapter! :twilightblush:

25 - Comfort... And War

Twilight was…

Rundown?

Sorrowful?

Exhausted.

Deeply, fundamentally, spiritually as well as physically, exhausted.

And so, so much more.

So much worse.

Her soft bedsheets may as well have been a sea of nails digging into the scar that marred her form, each moment they provided comfort was another insult to the memory of one who could never know of comfort again. Who would never feel the sun on her face, the land beneath her hooves, the wind across her gossamer wings…

Grey. Ash. Death. Lifeless.

She herself felt but a step away. A cold nothingness coming to claim her, her form just waiting to stop and whither…

But she could not.

Would not.

Too much was yet left undone. A council to call. A war to fight.

Creatures to kill.

Thirst. Hunger. A primal instinct she had not felt for a long time. Yet it was so much stronger now, beyond anything she had ever experienced before. Not even the likes of when her own mother was butchered by the traitorous Crudelis, cruelty artificially induced by the mental manipulations of Immortalis… But now the desire was her own, hers to own and utilise as she saw fit.

A desire for vengeance. Death to those who stole an innocent life from the world. A life she had delivered. A life that had been hers to protect and cherish.

A life stolen from her. From her. A crime for which a Changeling Queen could only respond by bathing in blood.

And yet… here she was. Rather than doing any of that, she yet laid motionless atop those biting sheets. Coordinating, perhaps. Sending her drones here and there, controlling the flow of her hive, adding to the council preparations as was demanded of her.

But her body remained idle. Little more than a soft sobbing radiating throughout her chambers, a force within her yet keeping the murderous rage barely contained and the sorrowful cries of a lavender pony yet dominant.

If by a thread.

Nature and nurture. Will and instinct. Changeling and pony. Two sides of a coin, once spinning in harmonious tandem, now careening through the air with no clear answer as to which would land as the victor. Or with any indication that balance could ever hope to be returned.

Serene sorrow.

Thunderous rage.

So many thoughts.

So many feelings.

Avia was gone. Dead. Murdered. It was as if, in the briefest of moments in all of infinite existence, all of her hopes and dreams had just… ended. Colour drained from the world. One might’ve expected her to raise a hoof and find it blackened once more. All her struggles, all her victories… Every laugh, every tear… suddenly they just didn’t matter any longer.

It was just the sorrow and rage, her equally grieving sides fighting within her.

She was pathetic.

A failure.

She couldn’t protect her. She couldn’t even stand up and lead her hive.

A Queen. A mother. A changeling. A pony. She couldn’t be any of those things! She was a frail, weak, useless thing! So spiteful and hate-filled. So lost and alone…

Alone…

“You shouldn’t be like this, you know. Alone right now, I mean.”

Twilight, despite her state, couldn’t help but give a small yelp at the unexpected vocal intrusion. In a moment she shot up from the bed, wiping her tears away and glancing around to find the source of the familiar voice.

Her eyes finally landed on the closed window, finding a large green eyeball staring at her from behind the magically protected glass.

“Uh, hi, Twilight…” Spike’s muffled voice carefully greeted. “Um… can you open this? I don’t wanna break something… or get zapped by whatever magic is protecting this place and… um… yeah…”

Twilight maintained her bewildered stare for several moments longer, her brain having to undergo something of a reboot to register the change in outside stimuli compared to her inward sense of loathing and loss. Eventually, however, recognition did dawn within her pupils and she darted forward to throw the window wide and meet the dragon face-to-face.

“Spike!?” she opened up. “Wha- but- What are you doing here!?”

“I mean… I never left,” he noticed sheepishly. “Or, well, I mean… Twilight, we’re all really worried. Shining and Cadance have tried to come and see you, but they couldn’t get in and said you wouldn’t respond. And when you didn’t come out…”

Twilight turned, hiding her face from her old assistant.

“I’ve been busy.”

“I know. The drones have said you’ve been commanding them over the hive mind, but none of them have actually seen you either.”

“Am I not entitled to privacy, Spike?”

“No, that’s not what I- Twilight, please. You scaring us.”

Her head lowered, if just a little. “...I have more to do. So if there’s nothing else…”

Spike visibly wilted. “Twilight, I…”

“Now just a minute!”

Twilight gave a yelp for the second time in three minutes as a prismatic blur invaded her chambers and came to a stop, the pair now muzzle to muzzle.

Twilight stared dumbly at Rainow Dash, barely noticing Spike’s shout of protest and that of several other voices as the middle-aged pegasus stared her down with no sign of budging from her position.

“Ya know, Spike went through a lot of trouble to round us all back up after what happened!” the mare started. “So, okay, as crappy as things are right now, please don’t take it out on him!”

“Rainbow Dash!” Applejack’s voice called out from behind the Changeling Queen. “What are y-”

“Give me a minute, AJ!” Rainbow shot back, not breaking her stare even as tears started to breach it. “With Avia… Dammit, Twilight I’m so sorry. I can’t… For this to happen after everything, it pisses me off! That bit I get, how damned angry you gotta be! So of course we all came running, and of course Spike got us here quicker! But no matter how things are, you don’t get to lock yourself up and… and… torture yourself! You don’t get to do that to yourself and the people who love you! So for Celestia’s sake, Twilight, stop arguing and let us hug you.”

Twilight was silent.

Her gaze remained locked with the grimacing pegasus, her eyes angry and pleading as tears rolled down her cyan cheeks. She felt like she’d just been slapped, the pegasus’ words cutting into her like a blade. Or perhaps a pail of icy water, as whatever it was provided enough of a shock to the system for her scar, for the moment, to cease its torment.

Twilight finally took notice of the other ponies around her, the Bearers of Harmony having jumped from the great dragon’s back and into the room, said dragon now biting his lip and looking between the pair facing off before them. The others, meanwhile, held similar looks of apprehension at the confrontation.

Twilight returned her eyes to Rainbow, the orbs welling up as the dam burst with her body moving forward on autopilot and fulfilling the pegasus’ wish.

“Why does it always take a Rainbow Dash to knock my head straight…?” She allowed herself a slight chuckle. “Why do you bother with me…?”

“‘Cos you need us,” she replied between her own tears, returning the hug. “Even when you don’t want us to be here.”

“Ah coulda told you that, jus’ with a bit more tact,” Applejack gently derided the mare, marching forward and placing a hoof onto Twilight’s shoulder. “But she does speak for us too. We’re here, sugarcube. And not goin’ anywhere, ya here?”

“So I see,” Twilight responded. “Spike… You…”

“I had to do something…” he said. “I can’t… see you like this… I know we can’t fix this. But since I’m too big to come in there and hug you myself, I had to find some ponies who could.”

“And we were happy he did. This is… this…” Fluttershy choked down a sob. “We can’t believe it. It’s… not fair…”

Twilight regarded the yellow pony. “Did you… The Crusaders, did they…?”

“...They wanted to come, but we told ‘em to stay put,” Applejack explained.

“We told them about Avia. Their hearts broke at the news, they’d been so close…” Rarity noted. “Darling, this whole thing is… Whatever it is you’re doing, we want to go with you.”

“With me? Girls, a council has been called. And you’re all, well…”

“Kinda getting old, huh?” Pinkie Pie fiddled with a stray grey hair in her mane. “Yeaaah, but if I can still juggle twenty-five and a third parties, two dozen cakes and a set of four walls at a time, I can totally deal with whatever you guys do there… Besides, Lil’ Cheese has things in hoof back in Ponyville. Ya stuck with us as always, Queenie!”

“Yup, can’t get rid of us,” Rainbow concurred. “So shout, cry and do whatever you else you need to do, just do it with us. Because being alone sucks, like, really bad. And if I let you do that I’d need to kick my own ass.”

“Oh, I know you would,” Twilight conceded. “...Thanks. Really, all of you. I… think I’m alright now, at least for the next few minutes. Seeing you all here… It hurts, it hurts so bad and I… If I lost control I could… I need you here. Please stay…”

“Oh, that was a certainty. Didn’t we just say so?” Rarity pointed out.

“Heh, right. Okay… I can do this… The Crusaders, when this is done… I should see them, Avia would have wanted…”

“There’s no rush,” Applejack said gently. “We gotcha.”

“Thanks… girls…”

Twilight’s horn lit up, dragging the little ponies into a pile of comfort that didn’t seem to hurt like the rest. With them, it was always… different.

And the ravenous beast within seemed to be quelled somewhat.

If only a little, and however temporary. Nothing could rid the hurt in her being. Nothing.

But at least at that moment, she could share that load with those willing the bear it.

“Twilight, there’s one other thing…” Spike eventually spoke up, despite his clear longing to join in the pile. “The others wanted to see you about more… official things. Some of the drones tried to bring it up but couldn’t get a response from you.”

She did vaguely recall something about that, seemingly so insignificant at the time.

“Where do I need to go?” she asked him.

“The war room. There’s something big happening.”

And just like that, an extra ebb of the beast stirred once more.

“Ignis.”

Twilight strode into the war room with a purpose, reluctantly leaving her friends at the door when they were stopped by the guards. This was, of course, much to their severe disgruntlement, but they were insistent that what lay within wasn’t for their eyes unless the princesses said otherwise. With little option but a pointless argument, Twilight continued on alone.

Said princesses were already within, accompanied only by the two Captains of the Guard and Shining Armor. They all looked at Twilight with a mix of apprehension, relief and pity as she made her way to the table. It was something she did her best to ignore, but they were as piercing as they were grating.

“I’m fine,” she announced without any kind of prompt.

Cadence stepped forward. “Twily, you-”

“I’m fine,” she repeated the lie. “What’s happening? What has Ignis done now?”

They all looked between one another, Princess Luna looking almost desperate to speak. Yet she was silenced by a stern look from her older sister, who then turned to Twilight with a practised smile.

“If anything, I am glad to see you are up. If there is nothing you wish to discuss, then let us move to the immediate matter.”

The projection on the table shifted, highlighting Equestria’s western shoreline; Vanhoover, Las Pegasus, Hoofington…

And there, across the ocean, little inconsistently marked blips moving dangerously close to their borders.

“They’re coming,” Twilight noted.

“It would be the indication,” Valiant said. “Our scouts have noted several vessels on approach, all of unknown classification.”

“I’d like to think their separation from the world would render them rather less advanced,” Vladimir remarked. “Though I’m almost afraid to get my hopes up.”

“This can’t be all of them,” Shining Armor noted. “They’re too sporadic. Inconsistent formations…”

“Several scouts have failed to report in, so I assume they were lost doing their duty,” Luna said, her voice low and tired. “There are likely more we have yet to ascertain. But I believe we can make a fairly accurate hypothesis as to their intent.”

“Smaller groups at the front,” Vladimir contributed. “Larger forces at the back. They’re going to probe our defences first with the small fish, then try and batter us once they know how to hurt us.”

“The largest known force is heading for Vanhoover,” Shining continued. “If they get it, it would be quite the foothold in our territory. Defensive positions on the Smokey Mountains, free reign of the Unicorn Range, and train lines directly to Canterlot and the Crystal Empire.”

“What about Las Pegasus? It would serve as their gateway into all of Southern Equestria,” Celestia enquired.

“True, but they have less to gain,” Valiant pointed out. “A few small towns, a rock farm, a train connection to Vanhoover and Ponyville.”

“Ponyville would put them on Canterlot’s doorstep,” Twilight pointed out, bristling at the thought of harm once again befalling her former home. “It’s a prime location to stage an attack on the capital.”

“Yes, but with several more steps to get there,” the pegasus replied. “Not to mention the difficulty they’re bound to have securing Las Pegasus due to its layered nature. They have no experience dealing with cloud cities, giving our pegasus fighters a prime defensive point in the upper districts.”

“They probably hope to go straight for our heart,” Shining concurred. “Take Vanhoover, take Canterlot.”

Celestia gave a contemplative hum. “And all those small coastal towns bound to be drawn into the fighting… We should send one of our esteemed captains to oversee the defensive effort in Vanhoover. And, I should think, to coordinate evacuation efforts in smaller locations.”

“I’ll go,” Vladimir volunteered.

“I can also manage,” Valiant contested.

“No offence, but I have the experience and the epic blade wing.” He grinned, extending the deadly points from his prosthetic in demonstration. “If that’s acceptable.”

Luna nodded. “If that is your wish, I bid you a safe return.”

“Always. I’d like to take some of our EUP auxiliaries with me, shore up our defences. We know so little about their military strength, I don’t want to leave things to chance. Assuming our eastern borders can spare them.”

“Unless they have the time to navigate the globe from the opposite direction, going through zebra, griffon and changeling territory, among others…” noted the Prince of the Crystal Empire. “The changeling hives that way would give us fair warning even if they were to attempt it.”

With that comment, Celestia’s expression turned far more dour.

“Yes, the changelings… Twilight, how goes preparations of the Council?”

“We’re due to gather soon, the Queens are responding positively. All goes well, we should gain infiltrator units and overall reinforcement on all our defensive positions. Why?”

“I have come into certain… intelligence. Intelligence that suggests that one of the Changeling Queens may be working with King Ignis to see Equestria defeated.”

The mood immediately soured throughout the room, reactions ranging from shock, anger and, for some, tired acceptance.

For Twilight, her pupils immediately dilated as her body tensed dangerously.

“...Who?”

“I don’t know. I hope to find out, and soon. But there is reason to believe that The New Kingdom was spurred from isolationism to warfare by outside interference. Whether by infiltration or negotiation I cannot say, but manipulation almost certainly.”

“Which would mean Ignis isn’t the mastermind of this conflict,” Luna muttered with horrific realisation. “We’ve all been playing into another villain’s hooves.”

Twilight’s eyes drifted down to the map, staring down at the tiny dots representing Ignis’ forces, unblinking.

Another Changeling Queen would follow in the wake of Crudelis… Another to spur all she offered, all the blood and tears she had poured into helping her people! In strengthening them within and without, building bonds of friendship with other nations! Emerging them from slow decline into bountiful prosperity, without a single death required!

And still, STILL, they would choose the blade!? To sneak, to beguile, to lie and murder!?

To kill her daughter. As they had killed her mother long ago.

Chrysalis.

Avia.

She would find this traitor.

And then, without mercy, she would-

“Twilight?”

“Hm?”

Twilight realised all eyes were on her, staring with clear caution and concern. And then, following some of those stares, she found her hoof pressing into the projection hard enough that the table had cracked beneath the pressure.

She remained silent a moment, pulling her rage back into its ill-contained box before slowly removing her hoof with a sigh of regret.

“...If there is a traitor among them, then this gathering is all the more important,” the Queen stated. “We’ll flush them out, assuming you haven’t by that time. I’ll speak with Cocoon, I believe I can trust at least her. She’s always been a voice of support, like Draco before her. A friend. Her daughter, Queen Insecta, as well.”

Celestia studied her daughter figure for a few moments, radiating a motherly concern that, for the moment, she was hard-pressed to rein in.

She finally coughed into a hoof. “Indeed. You must also have suspects in mind.”

“I won’t rule out any of the others, but to varying degrees,” she replied. “Germanica, Vulgaris, Imperious, Tempora, Antennae… Some of those has shown overt dissatisfaction at one time or another, though others have since seemed to warm to our new reality. But any could be hiding an agenda behind false smiles, we are good at that.”

“So I remember, you always insisted so sincerely that the cookie jar emptied itself,” Shining gently teased his sister.

She levelled him a stare, though inwardly appreciated the nostalgia. It almost felt… normal.

“Right…” She cleared her throat. “Others are lower on the list of suspects, so I’ll start with the few I’ve listed.”

“You will be careful?” Cadence asked of her. “If one did start this, they’re probably going to target you specifically. And they’ll know you’ll be looking for them.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not the naive princess I once was. I’ve long learned the ways of the Council.”

“I know. But I worry, it’s my job.”

“And mine,” Shining concurred. “I can come with you.”

“No,” she gently rebuffed. “I appreciate it, Shiny. I do. But you’re going to be needed here, and this is strictly a changeling affair. At least as far as the Council is concerned. If anything changes I’ll inform one of my drones in the embassy.”

“I’ll keep an ear out. Just… don’t do anything… Twilight-y.”

“...What?”

“You know… Impulsive. Rash. Prone to freakouts. Books.”

“Okay, stop. I’m not twelve. Anymore,” she shot back. “Secondly… shut up!”

“Hey, I got you to smile. I win.”

Even in the darkest of her depths, why did he know what buttons he needed to push…

“I hate you.”

“Nope. You don’t.”

Celestia couldn’t help but feel a small amount of weight lift from her shoulders at the jovial display of siblinghood and, hopefully, it was an omen that suggested Twilight’s mental state could yet stabilise.

And yet, her eyes couldn’t help but drift back to the damaged projection…

“Then I think we know what we’re all doing,” she announced. “Myself, Captain Valiant, Cadance, Shining Armor and Luna will remain here to monitor things. Captain Vladimir will lead a contingent to reinforce our shoreline defences. Twilight will lead some of her changelings to the First Hive to gain their support.”

“I’ll of course be taking my husband,” Twilight added. “Carduus will continue to oversee the Equestrian Hive, and will remotely direct our own forces in while I focus on the Changeling Queens.”

“Very well. Good luck to all of you.”

With that, and a flash of her horn, the flickering projection ended and with it the meeting concluded.

Author's Note

A Christmas gift for you all, feels, fluff and angst all in one weird ball of stuff!

You're welcome!

26 - To Confront a Changeling

Discord was lounging in a tree.

The tree was now, for reasons only his addled mind could comprehend, made of taffy, but he thought it an improvement.

And, more to the point, it provided him and his cartoonishly sized binoculars a perfect vantage point over the changeling hive further down in the gorge. This little pile of lovebugs existed quite far from the Lord of Chaos’ usual stomping ground, more to the eastern edge of Zebrica nearing the Minon border, not that relative distance truly mattered to an entity that could bend space like a particularly cheesy quesadilla.

Oh, how his current patron Queenie would love that analogy.

A drone flitted by him and his special tree without so much as a glance in his direction, Discord glancing away from the hive to watch them go with a satisfied chuckle. Changelings weren’t the only ones handy with perception filters, after all…

“Not that it does much for me,” Discord spoke to himself, quite literally, a double now sat next to him. “All these bugs do is fly around and make noise. Much like every other hive, all extraordinarily boring for the boogiemen of old.”

“Well, we could always do a bit to liven things up!”

“An interesting proposal, Discord. But we are on recon! And I’m still willing to bet she’s our mare…”

“Bah, all these monarchs are as duplicitous as the next.”

“Very much so, but she is of a particularly spiteful variety. After all, did you see the thrashing moonbutt dished out during the invasion?”

“No, we weren’t here for that.”

“Oh, why must you always guilt me so?”

“It’s the Fluttershy influence. That, and Twilight can shout quite loud when she wants to.”

“Oh, now that was entertaining!”

“Indeed, alas, far less so given recent events. Hm… Now, my little changelings, what do you have to hide…”

In a flash, the tree returned to normal as Discord vanished from view. At least, almost all of him, his shadow remaining and stretching out its limbs as if preparing for a morning jog.

The shade made its way down to the hive, unseen by its denizens as he breached the closest entrance and all its protective wards as if they didn’t exist at all. He slowed his pace as he began to traverse the interior halls of the hive, shadowy ears listening out for any and all snippets of conversation that might be useful.

The place had moderate traffic filling the space, halls of familiar construction to anyone who had ever visited the Equestrian Hive. Carved stone and chitinous outcroppings formed the typical decoration, though somehow the colouration seemed less warm than the halls of its counterpart hive. Though that was likely due to the lack of pony influence, or maybe it was the general mood around the great structure, it was of little importance either way.

Most drones went about their days in relative silence, though with the odd words here and there to their passing fellows. Though, coming to an intersection some way into the hive, he did finally stop to listen at a passing discussion.

“Did you hear about Equestria?”

“I know, how horrible!”

“I know our Queen will do all she can to help.”

“I don’t know, she’s been rather strained with the Council of late…”

“Bah, it’ll work out. Now the Council is forming, they’ll have this crisis solved before this new nation can so much as lift a spear.”

Nothing so useful as it turned out. Though, if anything was to be taken, these drones didn’t seem complicit in whatever backroom dealings their sovereign saw fit to partake in. With that in mind, and a specific target likewise chosen, he prepared to move off.

“Maybe, but the Bearers might just do their friendship thing like always.”

“Come on, they’ve been out of their prime for a while. The Queen aside, you have some apple hick, a cowardly old pegasus-”

There was a flash of light.

“BEES! NOT THE BEES!”

“What? I don’t- Huh?”

Discord stayed still as he watched one changeling begin dancing around in a panic, swatting a lot of small somethings that didn’t exist while his companions looked on in utter bewilderment. One even attempted to swat at the invisible foe themselves, though predictably felt nothing impact their hoof.

Several green bursts came in quick succession as the drone unleashed a panicked succession of alternate forms, before finally settling back at his natural self and running down the corridor amidst screams of horror and regret.

Discord let his infuriated scowl return to a satisfied smirk before pressing on.

He roamed the halls for a while longer, paying little heed to any further conversations uttered by the passing residents. No, instead he made straight for the heart of the hive and, hopefully, the butt sitting in the throne.

And yet, no luck…

He reformed in the empty throne room of the hive, sitting irritably in the great seat while tapping his chin in contemplation.

Surely she had yet to leave for the Council? No, he’d have noticed that. Twilight had yet to go, though it was all quite imminent…

So, where did dear Vulgaris like to hide herself away from the world…?

Discord concentrated, closing his eyes and letting himself feel the ambient magic around him. Everything had a unique signature, a feel to it… And if he could just feel something a little unusual, then maybe…?

Oh.

That felt… bad.

In yet another flash, Discord found himself at the source.

Vulgaris hummed idly to herself as she considered the basin before her, just waiting for the ritual’s completion and the link’s establishment. Her direct line to King Ignis, off playing war on the other side of the globe…

To be frank, he had already succeeded in boring her.

He was so… pliable. Disappointingly so, really. She scarcely had to try. So quick to see enemies in the shadows, to jump to his little ponies’ defence…

All of Celestia’s parental instincts with none of the wisdom to back it up. If she were more like him, Crudelis would have walked all over them the first time around.

But Crudelis had underestimated her foe. But she knew what they were capable of, and what would happen if she were to be revealed…

In the shadows. Calmly. Patiently. That was where their greatest strength lay, and that was how they’d finally be rid of the ponies’ corrupting influence.

She placed a hoof on the basin, letting out a breath. Briefly, she examined the artefacts around her, her trophies, collectables… all of it. She could almost imagine where she would put the Equestrian regalia, right after she was done with this council gathering and the following war…

One thing at a time.

Indeed, she was getting ahead of herself. So, with due haste, she prepared the necessary concoctions and allowed the spell to form. A puff of smoke filled the air, and gradually did Ignis’ form appear before her.

“Vulgaris…” the alicorn cooly greeted. “I hope you take no offence should I ask you to make this quick, the arrival of our forces is imminent and I too must be ready.”

“Such bravado, charging into battle while the spies do the heavy lifting. As is the way of war,” she sneered in turn. “Last we spoke I mentioned the Queens’ Council, I thought you’d like an update.”

“I’m listening.”

“As it is, I’ve just received word that dear Twilight has emerged from her sulking and is preparing to depart the capital. The Council is soon to be underway and, as expected, the changelings are certain to end the war.”

Ignis frowned. “For our benefit, I hope.”

“In the long run,” she confirmed. “I have some drones picked out to play the dastardly double agent, you’ll have the intelligence you need, information on our deployments… And I’ll begin to lay down the clues for our studious Changeling Queen to reach the correction conclusion about Princess Luna.”

“Your ever-so-cautious tactic, I recall…”

“One hoof in front of the other, Ignis. I will absolve myself of all responsibility while Luna absorbs it all. When she discovers it of her own accord, Twilight will act as any rightfully should. Alicorn blood will run down the steps of Canterlot, and a beast unleashed shall not be quelled.”

“And so, in dramatic fashion, changeling shall turn on pony and the ensuing chaos will allow us to take the capital.”

“I’m glad you are taking it all in, you should-”

Fzzt.

Vulgaris stopped, blinking slowly as her mind began to catch up with the visual her eyes beheld before her. Her mouth slowly closed, the Queen of the Hive ignoring the suddenly perplexed Ignis staring at her in favour of the figure behind the basin twirling a very specific piece of regalia in his talon.

Discord levelled her a stare, looking both smug and righteously furious at the same time.

“You know, you should really leave the art of sowing chaos to your betters. Your version is just no fun,” the draconequus noted with a tone bordering playful jibe and a snarl. “And this here… Immortalis’ fabled regalia… At least, I assume so? Tsk tsk, reckless indeed.”

“What? Who is that? Vulgaris?” Ignis questioned urgently.

Vulgaris hissed, pupils dilating at the unintimidated Lord of Chaos twirling her most prized trophy like a foal’s toy! Eye slightly twitching, she finally looked up at the King of the New Kingdom with a venomous grin.

“I will call you back, don’t go anywhere.”

She unceremoniously cut the connection, levelling her full attention on the intruder before her.

“So, the ponies’ pet sideshow attraction has decided to snoop around,” she taunted Discord with a confidence he found as surprising as it was insulting. “Put that down, you might hurt yourself.”

“This? My, it has seen better days. Tia does have a fiery side, does she not?”

A spark flared in his claw, a burst of flame crashing forth and completely consuming the very object that once brought the changelings to their knees. The ashes were scattered, and crystal shards exploded to dust amidst a now-clenched fist.

The regalia of Empress Immortalis, in one act of fury, was no more.

“So you’ll excuse me for following the example, but it is one more thing I need to repent for.”

Vulgaris snarled harshly at him. “You… You will regret that, whelp!”

“Oh no, I don’t think so. You see, I have it on good authority you’ve caused quite the heartache for some friends of mine. And I think they’d rather like me to deliver you to them on a bouquet…”

He snapped his fingers, a variety of different bouquets of ornamental flowers popping into existence and dancing merrily around the chamber.

His grin widened to accentuate his own fangs. “Or perhaps I should deliver you as the bouquet…”

“Indeed? Oh, do enlighten me, Bringer of Chaos, just what crimes have I been deemed guilty of by the likes of you?”

Discord rolled his eyes. “Oh, so we’re going to be playing this little game, are we? Very well, let this court be in session!”

A floating gavel appeared beside him, cracking down with a loud wallop despite hitting little more than thin air.

“So, changeling, are you ready to begin?”

“If I am to be forced to endure this sham, then so be it. You have yet to answer the question.”

“May the court note that the defendant pleads not guilty! Pfft, of course she has. Well, ally of Crudelis and pathetic pawn of Immortalis, let us begin.”

The Queen frowned, beginning to circle the Lord of Chaos dangerously. “I knew nought of Crudelis’ plans, so what of our kinship? As for the Empress, deride me for my part if you must, but so too would you condemn your precious Twilight Sparkle.”

“Precious? Please, only one Equestrian holds such a place in my heart,” Discord rebuked. “Moreso, only one of you actually overthrew Her Royal Travesty, the other got trounced in front of every changeling in existence. Good show, by the way.”

“Hardly relevant,” she growled.

“No, but most amusing. But the origin of today…” he continued. “Plotting to help an enemy of Equestria and the Hives invade allied lands - oh you have been naughty.”

“Equestria’s enemy, not ours.”

“Avia would say otherwise, the changeling princess you plotted the death of. Assassination against your own, and yet you continue to cry innocence.”

“I only protest anything being wrong with protecting our interests. I will not let Equestria rot who we are any longer, we will not be leashed, like they cowed the so-called ‘Lord of Chaos’.”

“Oh, I’ll admit there is something infectious about their random musical numbers and parties…” Discord conceded. “But they’ve hardly forced you to do anything. Your people wanted a change, to move on from what wasn’t working to something that just might.”

“I NEVER wished for this!”

“Then you are alone, and pressing your own desires on everyone else! Deciding your own interests are worth a world more than the hopes and dreams of those around you, as I myself would have once done. But this isn’t about you, Queenie, it’s about the people you profess to rule. You wish to hide in the shadows and never be seen again? Fine, you do as you wish. But do not drag your people into a war through lies and treachery and claim it is for their benefit, you insult this court’s intelligence.”

“They know what they want, but not what they need. Soon, they’ll see the light.”

“No, I don’t think so. I may thrive on chaos but I am no longer the draconequus who can find any measure of amusement in this charade. I think it is time for a verdict and to adjourn; you’re guilty, by the way.”

There was another bang from the gavel, the self-professed judge stretching out as if preparing for a workout.

“I have half a mind to send you to an empty void to think about your choices for eternity, maybe with the pink one screaming in your ear all the while, but then some ponies might pout at me. So, you are coming with me to Canterlot where I’m sure Tia will stop Twilight from turning you inside out before your Council decides your final fate.”

Completely undaunted, Vulgaris responded to his proclamation with an amused chuckle. “No, creature, I think not.”

Discord smirked. “I do admire such staunch stubbornness in a changeling, but I think you forget which of us can mould reality into what pretty little patterns I so desire.”

“I have not, but it doesn’t matter.”

“Oh, really now?”

“The problem with you Equestrians and your ‘friendship’, is it makes you soft. You like your fluffy pillows and hugs and cake. You forget what hardship is like, what strength it takes to surpass it. It has made you weak, I won’t let it do the same to us. They’ll all thank me… one day.”

End him.

Discord recoiled a little, regarding Queen Vulgaris curiously as a dark shiver ran down his spine. His mouth moved, beginning to form a question of singular importance…

It stopped as a small black stone levitated up in the Queen’s magical aura, and an even worse sensation shot through him as if he were but a rodent in the path of the lightning storm!

In an instant, all the chaos, all effects around the chamber enacted by the Lord of Chaos in all their various forms, they all ceased to be.

“Oh, are you experiencing discomfort? Do forgive me, I seem to be making a poor host…” Vulgaris taunted Discord as he tumbled to the ground, his flight cutting out at the same moment as his creations. “But it may interest you to know that, in the end, I reject any pretence of authority you hold. You are in my court now. And the royal court of a Changeling Queen is NOT to be trifled with.”

“H-how did you…”

“A curious object, no?” She examined the shard adoringly, her eyes sparkling with enough malice to smother all the light in the room. “So rare, so prized… And so very deadly. Look at you, the nigh-invulnerable God of all chaos rendered to nothing more than a cowering wretch. Do you fear me, Discord? Yes? Good.”

Her crimson horn crackled and unleashed a wave of energy at the defenceless draconequus, thunderous bolts and energy throwing his writhing form across the room and smashing into the podium where the regalia once lay! His mouth formed and voiceless scream as the stonework around him exploded into rubble, showering him in dust and debris even as the torture continued.

“THIS is our true power! Our potential! A gift we would squander and sit on unrealised, where we could one day craft a civilisation surpassing that of the old Empire! And I, I, will be its architect!”

The magic intensified, coursing every inch of pain she could inflict into the would-be jester. Her pupils dilated hungrily, a piece within her taking particular delight in every ounce of suffering inflicted onto the helpless being. He was the first, the first of their vengeance, and he would be the first to die.

She slowly bled away her pool of mana, shaping the violent maelstrom of unleashed arcane energies and swiftly formed what was left into a simple levitation spell.

Discord, limp in her grasp, eyes barely open as he feebly gasped for desperate gulps of air, remained aloft as the Queen examined her prey with immense satisfaction. Any respite, however, was short-lived as she lifted him higher before slamming him into the ground with a sickening crack.

“And unlike yourself, I never underestimated my foes. I knew you might come, there was always a chance you would find it worthy of your notice. That you would honour me with your divine presence…” she jeered. “So of course I prepared. And how well you played your role in this grand scheme of mine.”

“Y- I…” Discord weakly looked up at the Queen. “You don’t have to…”

“Do what? Kill you? Go through with my grand ‘evil’ scheme? History will not define me such, whereas you shall always remain the vile jester who simply couldn’t get over his overconfidence.”

She lifted the shard high into the air, one jagged end gleaming at Discord as his eyes went wide at the improvised dart. Death itself stared him into the face, his vast powers, the ability to shape reality itself, failing him.

“Begone, fool. You never should have come here.”

Discord’s mind scrambled. To be beaten by this moron? This Changeling Queen of all creatures? To leave this world forever? To leave Fluttershy…

He had to do something. Anything. Some grand saviour, some miracle! The power of friendship, coming through at the last!

Time was at a crawl as Vulgaris’ magic let the projectile loose, piercing the air with Discord’s heart as its dreaded destination.

Memories and regrets. Hopes and dreams. So much passed through the Lord of Chaos’ mind, thoughts he believed he’d never had, things left unsaid. So much to do, and yet seemingly so little time left to him. Shock, horror and desperation fully set in, he reached into the deepest parts of his own self to… anything. Something. There had to be something. Some way… Somehow…

There.

A drop. That was it. A tiny sliver on mana dripped through the smallest of cracks in whatever barrier that accursed stone had placed atop his usually boundless reservoir. Perhaps it was his nature, perhaps it was the fact that the shard bringing forth his demise was itself but a diminutive fragment of a greater whole… Or, perhaps the likeliest scenario, it was a mix of the two.

Whatever the reason, devoid of any other hope, it was enough.

He called forth what mana he could, forcing it through the crack even as his very spirit screamed at him to cease the attempt. His body bled, his soul flickered like a smothered candle, all crushing down at his attempt to call forth the magic within.

It was all he could do.

It was barely enough.

But it was.

The teleportation magic crackled, feral, scarcely controlled. And in a single instant, a piercing pain striking his chest, the visage of the hive was replaced with the pearlescent marbles and magnificent stonework of Canterlot Castle’s throne room.

He had appeared in a standing position, feet planted firmly onto the pristine carpet leading to the duel thrones. His form ached, his spirit waned, his vision blurred as the lights of the chamber seemed to encompass the edges of his vision and begin a slow flood across the darkening orbs. And he wasn’t alone, either, for fate would have it that a certain alabaster alicorn had been morosely staring up at one of the stained glass windows, deep in thought, at the moment of his timely arrival.

And, startled by the appearance of the haggard draconequus, she flinched backwards as her head span around to regard that very visitor.

“Discord!?”

“Ah… it appears…”

Discord tapered off, chuckling at himself, his lion paw clutching his heart as trickles of blood began to pour from the gaping wound left by the passage of the shard entering his chest. The shard he knew was, with some reasonable certainty, now lodged in the fleshy sack he called his heart.

“...that I made something of an error, Tia my dear…”

And then, with the last of his energy fleeing his stricken form, preventing the formation of any further words and the information they may have transferred, and with no ceremony and little in the way of dignity, Discord collapsed onto the floor with his consciousness too taking its leave. Sound, sight, touch… All left him as he wondered if he stared into the abyss of eternity, only a single shout of distress seeing fit to shepherd him along.

“DISCORD!”

27 - The Traitor Within

“I do hope you like the tea. I know it’s your favourite, and you’ve never complained before, but I always have to ask. You know how I enjoy our tea parties, so I always need to be sure it’s just right.”

A tea set was placed gently down onto the wooden surface next to the voice’s owner, that of Fluttershy, steam gently rising from the spout of the teapot with two cups at the ready.

“I know it may lack the usual chaotic flavour you bring, but I think it’s nice to have a peaceful talk every now and then. I have a lot to tell you, and I’m not going anywhere until you hear every last thing. And then I thought I would keep you company longer still because… well, because I can.”

She placed a hoof on the bed containing her draconequus friend, biting her lip as he failed to respond.

“And… and even if you can’t talk back right now I’ll… just have to talk a bit more for the both of us. Um, if that’s okay…”

Discord did not respond, his eyes remaining closed as his bandaged form remained in deep slumber beneath the sheets of his bed.

“Fluttershy…” Princess Celestia softly addressed, glancing towards her little sister as she did so.

Luna shared her glance, before shifting it to the rest of the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony in the room, all in attendance except Twilight, who were all standing far enough back to give Fluttershy and Discord their space.

With another moment passing, and not hearing a reply, Celestia moved her eyes back to the yellow pegasus and spoke once more.

“Fluttershy, though we have removed the offending shard, his injuries remain severe. He cannot hear you, and I do not know if and when he shall wake.”

Fluttershy nodded, not looking back at the alicorn. “...I know. I just want to be here, so he wakes up to the smiling face of a friend.”

Rainbow Dash stepped forward, biting her lip as she regarded her fellow pegasus. “Shy, you… you don’t need to stay here alone, you know…”

“He is right here, so I’m not alone,” she retorted. “He needs me, and Twilight needs all of you. I can’t go anymore, you can.”

“Ya sure, sugarcube?” Applejack gently asked. “Ah know why, but she could still use ya too.”

“I know… But I can’t. Not until he is awake, I know she understands.”

“Yeah, uh, where did Twi go…?” Rainbow then enquired, looking around the room with a frown. “Wasn’t she just here…?”

“She slipped out, I’m surprised it slipped your notice,” Luna informed her.

“We’re supposed to be leaving any minute, dear. She has a lot to think about,” Rarity pointed out. “This has… not helped.”

“No kidding, nobody is exactly in a partying mood,” Pinkie Pie glumly noted. “Uh, what happened to that nasty black rock thingy anyway?”

“Yeah, what’s with that?” Applejack concurred.

Celestia sighed, her eyes eyeing the bandaged wound on Discord’s stricken body. Her mind replayed his final moments, his self-professed mistake as his mind slipped away with his ravaged body, leading to his collapse into a slumber from which he had yet to wake. How her immediate efforts to lend assistance had been… stifled. Blocked.

But that thing.

“Twilight did identify it,” she stated. “It’s a rare material, one we have encountered previously, back when our contact with the changelings first began.”

“A rune,” Luna clarified. “More refined, but made from the selfsame material. Designed to block out the flow of mana and any attempt at arcane manipulation.”

“So, uh… it makes ponies’ magic stop?” Rainbow said with a scratch of her head.

“Indeed. Though while the one utilised by Serpens could pick and choose its targets, the one wielded against Discord was crude by comparison. A shard of a greater whole, and in its unrefined state, haphazardly blocks the magic of any non-changeling entity. Even Discord was not immune to its effects, power be damned.”

“But it is out now…” Fluttershy said, moving her hoof compassionately to his shoulder. “He’ll be fine…”

“We hope. But it did pierce his heart, and as a being of chaos, he is intrinsically linked to the magicks he wields. Being cut off for a time has likewise negatively impacted his recovery.”

“How did you manage to remove it without magic?” Rarity asked curiously.

“Very carefully,” Luna deadpanned. “And the steadiest-hooved surgeons this nation has to offer.”

“I’ll… not press for details.”

“Wise.”

“But it was a changeling thing that did it, huh?” Rainbow Dash asked, despite already knowing the answer. “What was he even doing!?”

“Looking around, his own idea, but with my approval and behest,” Celestia guiltily noted. “I do not know what he found, or who, but they were ready for him. Whatever force is at work, they are no fool. They knew he might come, and found a way to tackle a nigh-invulnerable force with expert precision.”

“And Twilight has undoubtedly been disturbed by the implications, and what it means for this war,” Luna added. “Those who are not to stay at his side, you should go to hers. Now. She shall not delay her departure I fear, not at this hour, and not knowing what she does.”

“You will look out for them both, yes?” Rarity asked, looking toward both Discord and Fluttershy.

“Of course, and she may stay as long as she likes,” Celestia confirmed. “Go to my daughter, support her as only you can. This Council is going to test her, and all to come.”

“Alas, we would do so ourselves, but the current situation does not allow for such luxury,” the lunar alicorn remarked. “Our attention is required to the west, while you must travel eastwards…”

“We’ll watch her back, don’t ya worry none,” Applejack confirmed. “Fluttershy, you good?”

“I’m fine. Go with her, I’ll be here when you get back.”

Applejack nodded to her, before levelling the rest of the girls with a solemn look. She then turned and headed for the door, requiring no further prompt.

“I guess it’s another adventure, been a while,” Rainbow remarked, moving to follow.

Pinkie Pie nodded as she did much the same. “You’re telling me! But we’ll keep our spirits high no matter what nasty things are going on around us!”

Rarity watched them go, then turned to Fluttershy before making any movement of her own.

“Darling, you are sure? I know it has been asked, but I worry for you being here as you are.”

“Rarity, I…” She clenched her eyes shut. “I know it’s not likely, but maybe it’ll be the smell of the tea or… o-or my voice or something else familiar that’ll wake him up. Maybe some chaos, maybe just being here, I don’t know… But Twilight still has all of you, but he only has me. I need to be here.”

Rarity gave a relenting sigh. “I know. But I had to ask. Hopefully, this sordid business will be over quickly, and we’ll be back as soon as we are able. Do remember to look after yourself in the meantime, Discord wouldn’t want to wake up to your exhaustion either.”

“I know, thank you, Rarity.” Fluttershy offered her a small smile. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”

“Well, alright… We shall return soon, be careful.”

With that, Rarity moved to follow behind her friends and left just the princesses present alongside the buttery mare.

A silence fell, Fluttershy watching the last of her friends leave. She looked on at the door a moment or two more, before finally turning her gaze once again towards the Lord of Chaos in her care. She returned to her idle chatter, fidgeting with the tea set as if it were merely another of their usual meetings…

This left the two alicorns feelings rather out of place, the younger of the two awkwardly clearing out her throat.

“Well… Then I suppose that is that. Sister…?” Luna looked towards her elder sibling. “I do believe we have other duties to attend to.”

“Indeed,” Celestia confirmed, nodding to her sister to follow as they too left the chamber. “And Twilight hers… They will be leaving soon.”

“Yes, to make good on our alliance,” Luna responded. “And yet, perhaps into the jaws of a traitor as well.”

“A Changeling Queen… It is plain Ignis is not the mastermind at play, just a piece on the board.”

“For one dissatisfied with current affairs, I’m sure The New Kingdom was the perfect opportunity. And if Ignis is aware of my involvement in Avia’s…”

“...You worry this traitor will as well, and Twilight’s discovery is a real possibility.”

“A worse way than hearing it from my own mouth.”

“Either instance could shatter her already fragile mental state, but it is possible…”

“Then, Tia, what are we to do…?”

Celestia sighed. “I wish I was an omniscient goddess who had all the answers, Sister, but I am not. Is Ignis aware of this third party, actively working with them as opposed to the usual changeling manipulation? Is this Queen aware of all Ignis does, and the full truth of Avia’s demise? I know none of these things, only that we walk a tightrope that is ill bound on both ends.”

“Then we are at the whims of fate.”

“In part, but be it luck or careful planning, Twilight is in much peril. She may not believe any such claim should it occur, or…”

“This Council may well decide all our fates, and my folly shall play its part.”

“As will mine, and that of all of us,” Celestia mused. “Come what may, I shall ever be at your side. As I will hers, and we will come through this trial one way or another.”

“Ah, ever the voice of optimism. It does get droll.”

“And yet…”

“And… I appreciate it nonetheless,” Luna slowly admitted. “I… Thank you, Sister. And I do pray for Twilight’s safety, whatever awaits her in the shadows of the First Hive.”

Celestia hummed, steadily walking towards a nearby window overlooking one of the castle’s many gardens.

“We shall just have to trust in her, as we have done many times before. In her and her friends, may the fates guide them in all yet to come…”

“My Queen, are things prepared?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

“Hard not to, considering…”

“Really, I’ll be alright. My friends are coming, my husband is here… I’ll get through it, I am your Queen.”

“That I cannot deny. Good luck.”

“Thank you, Carduus…”

Twilight let her mind drift away from the connection, the former captain’s voice going silent. She glanced up at the low hanging moon, the first embers of a new day creasing over the distant horizon. The early morning air was bitterly cold, making the Changeling Queen idly wish for a ponies’ fur over her chitinous outer form.

Alas, she resisted the urge for any kind of shapeshifting for the moment, instead turning to the gathering of changelings filling up carriages around her and the small group of mares emerging from the castle and approaching them.

“Girls… Is Fluttershy…?”

“Staying, until his eyes open once more,” Rarity was the one to respond. “Not that you can blame the poor dear…”

“No… No, I can not.”

A pang of rage welled up within the changeling, memories flooding into her being as what she learned caused the Lord of Chaos’ horrific state…

The weapon that so haphazardly struck into his heart… was of changeling origin.

Changeling.

Once upon a time her own grandmother, another Avia stolen away by the machinations of monsters, had held such a weapon. Perfect, albeit. A piece of her legacy perverted into aiding those who gave her the scar that yet burned in an eternal reminder of the pain haunting her each and every step.

Serpens…

Crudelis, Immortalis, all of them. Just what did she have to do to escape their accursed legacy? The shadow and rivers of blood they’d left in their wake? How were her hooves still dragging through such a mire where, even as she’d gazed at an enemy from across the sea, her own people yet endeavoured to stab her in the back!?

And now another friend was hurt. Oh, she’d find her. Whoever she was. Whichever bitch betrayed them, sold them out, killed her child.

If Discord awoke, he’d tell her.

If not, the Queen would find her.

And then she was going to kill her.

“Twilight?” Rainbow called out, waving a hoof in front of Twilight’s to bring her eyes into focus. “You’re kinda spacing out on us there, Sparkle. Wanna clue us into what your thinking?”

Twilight sighed. “Sorry, girls. Just… A traitor waits for us in the hive, someone who is fueling this war. Because of course… of course, it would be one of them…”

“Don’t go blamin’ yourself none,” Applejack remarked. “Decades of peace, all happy and quiet, nopony saw this comin’. We all thought those days were behind us.”

Twilight gave a bitter, humourless laugh.

“Oh, I’m not. I blame whichever Changeling Queen got the bright idea to follow in the hoofsteps of dead mares. History serves as an example, and so it shall be…”

The ponies all looked between each other, each one seeing the same glance of concern in the eyes of the other, before returning their full attention to the seething changeling.

“Well, while I am certainly partial to seeing such ruffians getting their deserved comeuppance,” Rarity began. “We mustn’t forget to maintain cooler heads, a good investigation requires clear thinking and sharp vision.”

Pinkie Pie gave the fashionista an odd look. “Really? What am I thinking right now?”

Rarity’s eyes turned deadpan. “Cake, darling.”

“Ohhhh, you are good!”

“What they mean to say is…” Applejack interrupted, rolling her eyes. “...that we’re by your side through thick and thin, as we’ve always been.”

“Oh, that rhymed!” Pinkie chirped. “Ha, the evil-lings don’t stand a chance!”

“Well, we’d better figure out which one it is. Before more end up like Discord,” Rainbow noted. “And when the New Kingdom’s airships come, I’d like to know the guy next to me isn’t about to glow green or blue or whatever and jump me.”

“That would be bad, yes…” a new voice noted, rapidly approaching the group.

Facade walked up to his wife’s side, a few other changeling drones in guard attire keeping a respectful distance behind him.

He nodded at the Element Bearers, horn lighting up as he removed his helmet and held it tightly to the side of his barrel. What measure of emotion could be gleaned from his two luminous orbs appeared… tired. Equal, if not somehow more, to that as his Queen. Despite being upright and rigid, it was clear the Captain had slept little in recent days.

Yet, in spite of all of this, he stood tall, giving Twilight a brief nuzzle before he took a step forward and addressed the group.

“My Queen, ponies, I do believe everything is ready to go,” he announced. “The escort is prepared and all bodies accounted for, cargo is hitched and catalogued, every last item on the list checked off and even a few extra added because I do know how much you love expanding these things…”

That little quip earned him a smile, despite its clearly forced delivery.

“You know me so well…” the Queen responded.

“I’d hope so, I married those checklists you know.”

“Did you now?”

“What would checklist ponies look like…” Pinkie spontaneously pondered.

“Efficient,” was the Queen’s answer. “But that is neither here nor there. Girls, have everything? I don’t want to turn around ten minutes in because somepony forgot their uniform.”

“One time, Twi,” Rainbow retorted in irritation. “One. Time.”

“Sure it was, Sugarcube,” Applejack jested. “But really, we’re fine. Had everything packed ahead, even some extra for Fluttershy. But ah don’t suppose she’ll need it now…”

“A bit of added redundancy never hurt anypony, or anyling for that matter,” Rarity said in turn. “Now, I am ever so eager to see this First Hive for myself. Honestly, all these years and not even a peep!”

“Eh, you see one hive you see them all…” Rainbow dismissed.

“But this one is so full of history, I can already feel the inspiration!”

“Uh-huh…”

“Well, critters like us ain’t usually welcome,” Applejack pointed out. “So… thanks for letting us ride along for this one, huh?”

“This time, I know I’ll need you there…” Twilight solemnly noted. “When we arrive I have arranged to meet with Cocoon, as I usually do. Hopefully, she might have some insight into the recent behaviour of some of the other hives, and what reception we can expect at the Council itself.”

“I imagine they have already departed,” Facade stated, rubbing a hoof against his chin. “Insecta too. I’d be surprised to have any of them sitting out of this one, it does concern the security of the realm.”

“I’d hope so, all the more difficult to find a traitor when you can’t look them in the eye. But we will find them, drag them into the light and then… End this.”

“Soon. Vladimir is older than we are and he’s the one leading the defence in Vanhoover. Guy really needs to retire.”

“He’ll get there when he gets there. Hives, let us not deprive him of a use for that wing of his…” Facade laughed. “Not that you’re as sprightly yourself, Ms Dash.”

“Well, I still know not to leave a friend hanging when- Wait, you just call me old?”

“Your imagination, I’m sure,” Facade calmly replied, though didn’t bother masking his smirk, as he replaced his helmet and began to return to his underlings. “Well, Celestia is offering us this new day and politics awaits.”

“Bleh.”

Rarity smiled at the prismatic pegasus. “You could stay behind, dear.”

“Oh, no way. We’re a pegasus down as it is. So, if we’re doing this thing let’s not waste any more time. Right, Twi?”

“Right,” she confirmed with a nod. “To the Council Hive, then…”

Twilight looked up at the sky, the glow of the sun breaking through the early morning clouds, the ominous breeze snaking through her mane…

Her glare hardened, locking onto the general direction of their faraway destination. Where she was sure to lay… whoever she was. Whatever one of them did it. Betrayed them. Manipulated them.

Killed her.

She was coming for them.

And for that wide, gaping hole that would forever sit within the hive mind… There was no wrath too great, no punishment too severe, to fall upon the one who took her child from her…

None.

28 - Act 1 Epilogue

Above the Western Ocean.

It struck Ignis that he’d never seen so much water all at once. Insular as The New Kingdom is, making such a crossing across the vast sea had never been much of a consideration. Rather it had always been something of a natural barrier, keeping out the unknown masses that would seek to upset the balance and topple all he’d strived to preserve.

So seeing nothing but water around him, all three-hundred and sixty degrees, with not a speck of land in sight was rather disconcerting.

As it was, he was rather glad he was high above it on one of their many airships, rather than swaying atop a maritime vessel instead. Flight he could deal with just fine, he wasn’t keen on testing his sea legs.

And it really was just water, they’d long fallen out of sight of the rest of the fleet, moving away to their ‘other’ destination. And this was something he had to see for himself, and Stout Guardian would maintain the primary offensive in the meantime.

But he would be joining them soon enough, he’d hardly ask his soldiers to do something he himself was unwilling to do. And he’d led ponies into a fight or two in the past, he’d do it again. Once their insurance was secured and he was confident it would remain so for the foreseeable future.

“Are you quite done gawping?” Vulgaris’ projection asked from the chamber behind the King, the alicorn sighing as he turned from the porthole and looked towards the changeling’s crimson visage. “You called me, did you not? I do not appreciate being left waiting while you daydream.”

“My apologies, I’m merely admiring territory all too alien to my eyes,” he responded diplomatically. “And considering what is to come.”

“My changelings are hard at work, I have already received some reports of successful sabotage. Small things mostly. Missing supplies, misplaced orders.”

“A good beginning, but I trust escalation is due.”

“Steadily. This must be slow, careful work. I need not remind you that they have more than one expert in sniffing out changeling infiltration,” the Queen noted. “Fortunately, I am all too aware of their safeguards. They are difficult to circumvent, but not impossible with time and caution.”

Ignis hummed in thought. “Do as you will. My force will hit their first targets imminently, and with Queen Twilight coming to you, I see ample opportunity in your near future.”

“Indeed. The Queen’s Council has ever been a place of intrigue, though I cannot show my hoof too soon. It would appear they already suspect foul play amongst our kind.”

“Yes, and on that note…” Ignis narrowed his eyes, studying the changeling carefully. “That creature from our last conversation… I require answers.”

“Discord, you mean,” she said with a smirk. “By his own claim, an independent power. In reality, another once-proud being broken and forced to bend the knee to the Equestrians. He stumbled upon our alliance, that you witnessed.”

“Stumbled upon, or was sent by his masters?” he questioned.

“If you are wondering whether my part has been exposed to the alicorns, no, I do not believe so. The beast was arrogant enough to confront me himself, so assured that his power was beyond reproach. For that overconfidence, I struck his heart and felled a God!”

“A God…? Hmph, perhaps he wasn’t the only one needing to mind their arrogance.”

“You know so little, King. Discord’s power was not to be trifled with, but I was prepared. And now he is gone, and our plans remain on course.”

“Then do what you need to do, my ponies are in position.”

“Indeed… and where shall you be, I wonder? Will you grace us with your presence as well?”

“In due time. You are not the only one who sees the need to prepare for all eventualities, and I have just the bargaining chip should things take a turn against us.”

Vulgaris quirked an eyebrow, her interest piqued. “Bargaining chip? I would quite like to hear about this contingency of yours…”

Ignis returned her smirk. “In due time. For now, I’m sure you can appreciate the need for secrecy.”

“Of course… But we are partners, are we not? Perhaps it would behove us to be-”

“I have spoken all I need to on the matter. See to your council, I will be in touch soon.”

Without waiting for another word of protest or ire, Ignis cut the connection to the Changeling Queen and let silence fill the room.

He let out a breath, letting the gathered tension in his body slowly bleed away. His eyes steadily drifted back to the porthole, and the vast blue surrounding them. A final calm before the storm claimed them all… Was that a hint of land far on the horizon? Or was his apprehension merely getting the better of him? He wasn’t sure either way, but the alicorn did suddenly find the need to ensure the safety of the said bargaining chip once more.

He moved away from the window, exiting the chamber entirely and into the corridor beyond. A couple of soldiers and crew of the zeppelin stopped to bow at his passing, with the King giving a practised nod in return and his stride remained unaffected.

His passage took him further into the bowels of the ship, past the cargo hold and into the deepest depths where the brig was located. Down here the air was dry, the light dim and dour, the wood beneath his hooves just that little bit more crickety…

Depressing, as any semblance of a prison was wont to be.

But secure, out of the way… and presently only home to a single occupant.

Outside the door to the brig were two of Stout Guardian’s most trusted royal guardsponies, each unicorn saluting as the monarch approached. Trusted enough to be let in on the secret and warn away any prying eyes aboard the ship. So few could know what lay within, for if it was discovered before the time was right…

They did nothing to bar his passage, Ignis passing through the portal and into the dungeon beyond.

And there, in the centre of the room, was a crystal. A large object radiating magic, lavender in colouration, rooted to the ground via the obsidian altar it was affixed to. It hummed gently, providing the only source of light in the chamber after the entryway was secured behind him.

And there, held aloft and sleeping soundly within…

There was Princess Avia, alive and well.

“Safe and sound… good…” Ignis muttered as he approached studying the young Changeling Queen within. “How Vulgaris would have discarded you… She is a brute, despite her claims of wisdom. Such a meaningless death she would have you suffer…”

He lit his horn, the magic within the crystal dulling ever so slight.

And then, after a few moments of agonising silence, the mare’s eyes began to flit open ever-so-slightly…

“Wuh…?” Avia groaned, her vision blurring in and out as she vaguely perceived the orange alicorn before her, albeit heavily obscured by a lavender tint that covered her entire world. “I… Uh… Hm…”

“Awake?”

“Yeah… Still in the, uh, suspension crystal I see.”

“Comfortable?”

“I guess… Surprisingly. You know, since the last time we had a chat in here I’ve been thinking, and I’m pretty sure I could overload this thing.”

“...Excuse me?”

“If I spent this conversation slowly channelling what little magic I can access through my horn and into the surrounding structure, I could probably attune just the right harmonic resonance to crack its surface and tumble on out of here,” she noted matter-of-factly. “There’s an essay on warding magics in the Canterlot Archives that you should really read, shore up those weaknesses!”

Ignis blinked, regarding her with complete bemusement. “And yet you chose to tell me that rather than see it through.”

“Well, yeah. I’d fall right into a centuries-old alicorn who I know first hoof I can’t tangle with. It’s all kind of fascinating, though… In a kinda terrifying sort of way.”

“Always so quick to analyse things, and altogether curious…”

“I mean, ahem… I like books and learning things. It’s genetic.”

“Clearly. Yet your predicament is unchanged.”

“I know…” Avia averted her eyes, images of fire and blood flashing in her mind’s eye. “You… hurt them…”

“I’ve already apologised, I won’t do so again,” Ignis quietly replied. “I’m only protecting my people.”

Avia looked back at him, a small mixture of resentment mixing into her fearful gaze.

“I… I was trying to stop this…!” she protested sadly. “We didn’t want to fight! But you… You aren’t protecting anypony, you’re just going to get them all hurt! Nopony wins in this situation!”

“I know all about Equestria, how it tamed your kind. We won’t give up our freedoms so easily, and won’t be fooled by false olive branches.”

“I don’t know how you got these ideas into your head, but you really should read a history book or two. Oh, I know a couple of authors that-”

“Unnecessary.”

Avia pouted. “Aw, but it could be fun! More than… hanging here, like a pinata.”

“After I leave here, you will return to your slumber. I can’t have you shattering the crystal when I’m not around, you’re too important.”

“So you’ve said. But you don’t know what you’re doing! If my mother thinks that you… That I’m… I know her. She’s a nerd, like me. Kind, responsible, hard-working… But she’s also stern as a Queen, sometimes has a temper… And is really hurt. She always tried to hide it from me, but I can see it. Whenever grandmother comes up, or the Empress, or that scar…”

“She cares for you greatly,” Ignis noted. “That is why you’re here.”

“You’re missing the point!” she rebuked. “If she thinks I’m gone, I don’t know what she’d do. Friendship is her life, her dream, her hope… But there is something else in her, buried, but now… I can’t hear the others… My mind is silent… alone… She’ll have felt that.”

“I know she has.”

“Then you’re in danger! You have to let me go! Please! We can stop this! Even if we have to go our separate ways, remain apart, nopony needs to die! I don’t want my mother to do something that’ll destroy her! And… I don’t want you to either.”

Ignis paused, frowning at her words. He studied her as if trying to work out a perplexing enigma.

“Me?” he questioned. “What do you mean?”

Avia took in a slow breath. “You’re doing this for your little ponies, right? Think you’re protecting them?”

“I am protecting them!”

“Then you can’t be all bad! Not like in the stories, of power-mad tyrants and beasts and stuff. You’re one of the redeemable ones!”

He snorted, clearly offended by the remark. “I fail to see why I require redeeming, Princess.”

“Well I- I mean… I just don’t think you want to do this. In time, you won’t be able to forgive yourself. A lot of innocent ponies are going to die if this happens, and we’re not your enemies! You’ll come to see that, and you’ll hurt too…”

“...You believe that, truly. Don’t you?”

“I do. I don’t want anyone else to hurt. Not Mother. Not you.”

Ignis offered her a genuine smile, albeit a small, saddened one. “You’re a good kid, I can see that. I’m glad you live… But you’re young, sheltered. Naive. And I think you too will see my view in time.”

“...Only one of us is naive, Ignis. I’m young, but… at least I know friendship. You could too… Please…”

“I’m sorry. Sleep now, this will be over soon, and then you can go home.”

Ignis lit his horn, the glow within the crystal increasing as consciousness began to leave Avia once more.

She tried to protest, to get in some few final words… Yet nothing left her lips as her eyes began to close. A small whimper was all that escaped as her thoughts shifted to her mother… Her pain… Her anger…

She silently prayed for her and Ignis both. For their souls in all to come…

…

…

…

Silence.

Avia slept soundly once more, a dreamless sleep that would remain until he saw fit to wake her again. When that would be he couldn’t say, for soon she would be held far from the front lines in a location specially chosen for its remote nature. There she would be left with only the trusted few to watch over her, watch and wait for his command.

An abandoned structure, deep in a southern wasteland. And an ironic one, if the alicorn’s understanding of past events was on the mark. Mostly collapsed, and what little was left had been largely reclaimed over the ensuing decades. A place not a soul had stepped within for all of that time, a ghost of Twilight Sparkle’s past with one last part to play…

With a final glance of regret, Ignis turned from the slumbering changeling and exited the chamber.

For soon they would be arriving at the Badlands Hive, the former home of Princess Twilight Sparkle, where the future of all their kinds may yet be decided in the days to come…

Author's Note

When you don't see a body, right? Well done to those who picked up on that quick enough.

29 - Intermission: A Talk Over Wine

Princess Luna halted her nightly rounds, coming to a stop in the corridors that passed by the access route to the royal and guest bed chambers. Something had piqued the interest of her nose, a smell slowly but surely overpowering the soothing smell of her lavender plants.

Taking a quick look around to ensure there were no guards present to witness her next move, she took a huge unroyal sniff, loud enough that she herself recoiled slightly. But it had done the trick, and she knew what and where the smell was coming from.

Princess Celestia was sat at her desk, staring morosely into her wine glass, and a sigh escaped her lips. Lifting the glass for another sip, she was jolted by the sound of her door banging open, and only just avoided spilling the red liquid down her white coat.

“Out with it, Sister!” Luna half asked, half demanded.

“You know, Lulu, it never fails to impress how easy it is you can read me. How did you know this time?”

“Well, Tia, this time I could smell it. That particular bottle of pre-Discordian wine only comes out when you are in the mood for deep brooding. So, out with it.”

Celestia chuckled slightly. “Quite right. Well...” she paused, putting down her glass. “I think, nay I know... Luna, I’m rattled.”

Finally crossing the distance between them, Luna moved a chair to her and sat beside her sister, concern written on her features.

“It takes much to rattle you,” Luna pointed out, before stealing the wine glass and downing its contents. “Which, may I add, makes me immediately apprehensive. Care to share?”

Nodding softly, Celestia took a moment to organise her thoughts. “Luna, I know you’ve contemplated this before, but what are we?” She held up a hoof to stall her sister. “Let me elaborate. Are we Immortal, unkillable, or just ageless? Are we beyond death, or just beyond the effects of time, and still able to be killed?”

Luna nodded. “I see, this is about Discord, isn’t it?”

“Yes and no,” Celestia half confirmed. “It is his situation that has made me think about this again. Even in our worst battles with King Sombra, neither of us were wounded enough for us to tell, and until now I assumed the only way we would find out the truth would be to live long enough.” She uncorked the bottle on her desk and poured herself another glass, before Luna conjured an identical glass, and dutifully filled that too.

“And now,” Luna began. “You fear this war will be extreme enough to pull us into battle again and test those theories, with an enemy that has a weapon that can kill a Chaos Lord?”

“Exactly. And if it was used on us. I fear what should happen should I lose you. Could I lose myself, and become the wrath of the sun? I’ve heard our soldiers talk about my use of a solar lance after Twilight’s near death, and the names they have come up with circle around in my head.” Luna quirked an eyebrow, a question evident. Celestia rolled her eyes, though a slight smile crossed her lips. “Solar Flare, Nightmare Sun, The Hammer of Dawn – Inspired, but now I see our potential mortality, and I’m worried by the chance that we could fall; in battle or otherwise.”

Luna blinked a few times, before placing a foreleg around Celestia’s back and shaking her ruefully. “I need to have a word with the soldiers it seems; ‘Nightmare anything’ is my trademark, and I’ll make it a law if I have to.”

“Luna!” Celestia shouted, her face aghast

“What, Tia? I thought a joke might help lighten the mood. Come here.” She pulled her into a hug, using her wings to encompass her sister in a weird role reversal. “Discord is powerful but overconfident, and I will tell him as much when he wakes up. We have far more experience, and we are not going to rush in unprepared, and more importantly, not alone.”

Luna let go of the sidelong embrace, looking her elder sibling dead in the eyes.

“And as for falling – I do not believe you shall do so. Not again. Recall that I have seen the face of your darkness. Not a Solar Flare or any of the others, but a Breaker of the Day. And in those darkest of times when all seemed lost we yet prevailed, do not doubt we shall again.”

“Thank you, Lula. You have no idea how much your words mean to me.”

“I’d like to think I do. But thank you all the same. Besides, the weight of this war is mine to bear. It was my mistake, if anypony should be pondering such as this, it is I. And I alone.”

“There is plenty of blame. Do think me as innocent, if I had acted differently…”

“We’d have made other mistakes and be back where we began.”

“Perhaps. We are imperfect beings, despite any reputation.”

“…It is not my reputation that concerns me, but… Do you truly believe my transgression can ever be forgiven? Whether it be from the words of a traitor or my own confession, she will have every reason to despise me.”

“She will,” Celestia bluntly confirmed, Luna being unable to suppress a small flinch at her words. “Only time will tell us the answer, and only time can heal such wounds. But I have faith in her. Always. All we can do is let her mourn and be at her side as she does.”

“Well, time is one thing we do have…” Luna noted, refilling both their glasses as they clinked them together in a toast. “To the immortals.”

“And the answers we shall eventually find.”

They each drank from their glasses. Luna did so greedily, while Celestia’s emptied at a more leisurely pace, but before long both were sat empty before the pair.

“I do believe that is enough morose introspection for an evening. Now…” Luna corked the bottle, and with a flash sent it back down to the cellars. “It is late, and as the princess of the night I am ordering you to get some rest.”

“You have a point. Thank you again, Lulu, and I shall see you in the afternoon.”

Luna squeezed her in a hug. “Goodnight, Tia,” she spoke softly, before slipping from the embrace and leaving to resume her routine.

A few minutes later, a nearby pony of the Lunar Guard witnessed his princess half-whispering to herself as she passed his checkpoint. Despite any protocol that might ‘dissuade’ it, he couldn’t help but edge a little closer with his ear straining for her voice.

“Nightmare Sun? Really? I do need to check the copyright laws tomorrow. Stealing my thunder, the gall of them...” before she passed out of range.

He wasn’t sure what he was expecting.

Author's Note

As per tradition, a small extra bit written by Copey while I did the editing. Back to our main program next time!

30 - Act 2 Prologue

Ruins of the Badlands Hive

Were Ignis an archaeologist he’d be almost fascinated by the dilapidated structure surrounding him, even if its ruination was a more recent event even within the lifetimes of your standard mortal. But he could still feel the history in the stones upon which he trod, centuries of life and generations brought to an untimely end mere decades previously.

Even should he decide to act on such base curiosity, however, he knew he’d find little of value left within these dark halls. Much of the hive had long since collapsed due to damage sustained during its final battle, and more with the simple passage of time. The residential district mostly. The deepest levels were all but gone, and the rest had been scavenged quite effectively during the move to the newer model.

Like the throne room, where he just so happened to be standing at that particular moment. When he had first arrived, he’d found total darkness, and even after setting up braziers to give the place something of a light source, there was little to gawk at. Queen Chrysalis’ throne had been removed, probably the same that Twilight still sat in if he had to make an educated guess. If there were ornate decorations lining such a fabled space then they too were long gone, all but a moth-eaten carpet leading to where the changelings’ seat of power once sat.

Still, where better to set up their little insurance scheme? Deep within the remaining structure, only one way in and out, with an element of poetry to boot.

So, defences had been raised, soldiers now lining barricades running the length of the hall leading to the dais which once held the throne. In its stead, a certain crystal now gently hovered in place, held aloft by gently humming arcane energies as the prisoner within soundly slept.

The Princess of the Changelings had returned home. A home she had never known, perhaps, but home nevertheless.

He took some small relief in knowing she would be safe there, far from the ravages of the burgeoning war above. And were things to go awry, then he’d have his insurance. Against the Equestrians… and Vulgaris if necessary.

“Her stasis is stable,” one of the King’s subjects spoke up, finishing their inspection of the crystalline gaol. “My team will continue to monitor the subject so long as we remain. And I trust the guards will be able to handle things if the changelings get curious?”

“They, or the Equestrians,” Ignis replied. “These are our best unicorns, you are in safe hooves, do not worry yourself.”

“That is comforting to know. It is… disconcerting, being in this strange land so far from home.”

“Indeed…” Ignis mused, turning his eyes upwards towards the ceiling.

Such an arid wasteland, the Badlands had certainly earned its name. And surrounded on all sides by either dense, humid jungle or scorching desert. He’d truly never seen such much sand in one place. Everything about this continent was alien…

“I trust you can acclimatise for the time being?” the alicorn enquired. “Discomforting as it may be, this is truly an endeavour of great import.”

“Ah, do not worry about us, your majesty. Our supplies are good for six months and we can always resupply past that.”

“With luck, we shan’t need to stay that long,” Ignis assured. “Keep yourselves healthy. And her too. There is enough unpleasantness in this situation without adding to it unnecessarily.”

The unicorn nodded. “I understand. We’ll make sure the Princess here is the picture of health for whenever you come calling again. We won’t let you down!”

“Nor I you. Any of you,” he resolutely replied, his voice raising a few decibels for all present to hear. “I shall return with good tidings should fate be with us. So, for now, I must bid you all farewell, my little ponies.”

Ignis turned and started to depart, leaving behind his subjects as they continued to dutifully carry out their tasks as he so bid. Yet more lives counting on him.

Counting on him to secure their nation’s future. To secure their lives in both the present and the morrow. Something he silently promised to himself; to bring them home hale and whole.

He couldn’t keep that promise. Not to all of them. Not in war.

But he’d damn well try anyway.

Exiting the throne room, he began his trek back through the halls of the hive. The path back to the atrium had been lit in a similar manner to the said chamber, braziers of flickering firelight guiding his path. There were turnoffs at frequent intervals, but most were dark and silent, irrelevant to their needs and so left abandoned after their initial scouting run of the structure.

In many ways it was hard to imagine these uninviting dark halls hosting a whole city, given all they’d found in the modern day were rodents and vermin of varying sizes and threat. Nothing they’d struggled to clear out, leaving it dead once more.

He moved by one last junction, this one partially collapsed, before he emerged into an environment far more spacious than the rest. A multistorey cavern that had once served as the beating heart of the hive, many floors lining the edges of a now empty void. Many of these too had collapsed, but some staircases and landings were still capable of supporting the weight of your average equine.

The void itself hadn’t always been so, either. Something that was all too evident when the alicorn reached the bottom-most floor.

There laid in complete disarray the remains of a giant statue, the Princess’ own namesake if his information was accurate. How it must have once dominated this space, serving as its protector in its own way. But whatever barrier it had once projected, along with its fabled perception filter, had long lain dark. The hole it had left above led out into the bright midday sky, though a hastily constructed elevator powered via pulley and winch now served as the primary entrance into and from the hive, Ignis’ ponies having worked to seal up the other entrances. And it truly was the only way short of extreme amounts of force, newly placed arcane crystals humming with power as they project a cyan shield across the gaping maw of the cavern.

Perhaps not as elegant as their predecessor, but it functioned for what they intended.

King Ignis ceased admiring the barrier, returning his attention to the forlorn statue. So much of it was twisted and unrecognisable, pieces still charred from whatever concussive force and toppled so long ago. The head was still partially recognisable, eyes still defiant even after the end.

“Let us hope such defiance hasn’t persisted quite so fiercely through the generations…” he grimly mumbled to himself, despite already knowing the likely answer.

And then something caught his eye. A glint, the sun catching something white amidst the dirt and rubble. Ruminating for a moment, he ultimately caved to his scholarly curiosity and lit his horn, the fiery aura moving rock and earth aside to reveal whatever it was that had caught his eye.

He recoiled slightly at the sight; immediate regret being released in a sigh at the macabre scene.

It was a leg. Or at least, once upon a time, it must have been. Now it was little more than skeletal remnants, a long and slender foreleg leading to a chipped and scarred hoof. Small scraps of black chitin likewise clattered around as the rubble was disturbed, leaving little doubt as to which species the appendage once belonged.

Yet…

He lifted his own right foreleg, idly examining it before returning his gaze to the remains. The length seemed a little longer than his own limb, no normal changeling would be a match for his stature…

Could it truly have been…?

Lowering his hoof back to the ground, fresh regret piling over him at the clear implication, he turned from the forgotten bones and began to make his way towards the elevator out of the hive, electing to leave certain ghosts to their rest.

It was as he approached said elevator, however, that he spied it already descending from the surface. Within was a single armoured unicorn, one of his soldiers, who perked up immediately upon sighting the sovereign.

There was a sudden pop as the unicorn vanished from the elevator and reappeared next to Ignis, his teleportation spell ending as he quickly bowed to the King.

“Your majesty, we have received word from our assault and Vanhoover!”

“Ah, finally…” Ignis stated. “How does Stout fare? I wish to hear all.”

“Well… it appears our forces have made landfall. However, they are reporting some difficulties taking certain regions of the city. We are encountering fierce resistance, led by one of the Equestrian Princess’ own royal guardsponies.”

“Hm, I see. Then I suppose we had better depart, I have lingered too long,” Ignis decided, stepping onto the arriving elevator alongside its former occupant. “Give me the details. Especially about this guardspony…”

The elevator began to rise, Ignis emerging into the sun as his fiery mane seemed to burn in its rays…

31 - Port

Vanhoover

The fog had rolled in a short while ago. It was a thick, blinding fog; something you’d imagine for a horror-themed novel your friend would force upon you on Nightmare Night. Not that such a situation was something Vladimir could speak of with personal experience, oh no, not at all…

Still, it couldn’t have chosen a worse time to make their lives miserable. On alert as they were, it would be far preferable if they could see any incoming forces from The New Kingdom before they reached the shore. But with the thick haze surrounding them from every direction they wouldn’t know friend from foe until they were neck deep in arrows and artillery fire. As fun a prospect as that was, as Captain of the Lunar Guard he thought it best that it not come to that.

The pegasi were already on the case, naturally. Both members of the forces under his command and some local volunteers. Still, as heavy as it was it would take some time to send packing. Until then, all he could do was wait…

And wait he did, staring out of a window looking down toward the harbour. He was multiple stories up, in the structure that usually housed harbour master’s office along with some local shipping firms and a single griffon-owned fishing company. For now, though, it had been claimed as his command post for the forseeable future. It was vacant beyond his ponies; the usual residents having been cleared both from the building and from the shoreline in general. Advisories had been sent out for those within the city to either leave or seek shelter, but in a place as vast as Vanhoover moving thousands upon thousands of residents wasn’t exactly quick or entirely feasible.

Still, with the coastline evacuated at least any initial fighting would be away from the civilian populace, but if it were to spill further in…

The thestral shook his head, shaking such thoughts away for the time being. They were doing what they could for them, little more could be said until it all kicked off.

He stretched out his artificial wing, letting the blades pop and then sheath themselves like they were an ordinary pegasus’ feathers. He could almost feel the muscles satisfyingly pop and creak, a ghost of a sensation from a long time ago…

Outside he stared at marching patrols, a mix of his own troops and that of the EUP, the flashes of silver and purple all adding to the foreboding sense any bystanders would be feeling. In the harbour itself sat a myriad of vessels; any civilian ships that hadn’t fled the area were moored tightly to the nearest dock as their owners prayed to Celestia, Luna or whomever else that their property would remain in place and intact when they next returned. Further out, mere shadows against the fog, a blockade of great metal vessels surrounded the city at sea, their guns trained outwards and scanning for any threat. The HMS Clover the Clever was among them, the very ship that had been at the centre of all this at the beginning. Now the crew were probably lamenting what their last mission had led to…

They’d get their absolution soon enough.

Part of him meekly hoped that their king would get a grip on reality and go home before a shot was fired. But reality was literally knocking at Equestria’s door even as he entertained such thoughts.

Still, it wasn’t just the fleet they’d had ready for them. The shore was littered with defences, cannons, arcane batteries with unicorns manning them, some more traditional but increasingly obsolete ballista that had remained emplaced there for who knows how many decades…

The ponies themselves were a mish mash of the tried and true and the new but unproven. Plenty of firearms, the thestral considering his recent-but-a-lifetime-ago conversation with his solar counterpart as he saw one such unit march by the building. He’d figured that if they were going to prove their worth as replacements for the old guard now was the time to do it, so he’d seen fit to bring along as many of what was available as he could.

Old guard…

He sighed as increasingly ancient history played through his head. The Wedding. Serpens. Sombra. Tirek. Crudelis. Immortalis… Everything in between. Nopony could claim he hadn’t seen more than his fair share of his many decades in Lunar Guard. He’d lived long enough to see machines take to the sky, wood be replaced by hardened metals out at sea, and now the new-fangled boomsticks make a good old sword a bit of relic.

Even his inner musings sounded old and tired…

One way or another this would be his last war.

There was a gentle thud against the window as a single droplet hit the smooth surface, Vladimir’s eyes training on the single spec of rain as he frowned. He turned to the nearby desk where a long-range radio had been set up. He switched on the microphone, setting it to the necessary channel before speaking.

“You know, pretty sure I asked for less cloud, not more. I’m seeing the start of rain down here.”

“Uh, sorry, Captain,” the voice of one of his guardsponies responded. “We’re working to clear it away, but for every patch of blue sky were create another vanishes back into the mist. Might be a storm out to sea that’s being blown our way by rogue winds, a bad one.”

“The local weather team still with you?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What are they saying?”

“They’re getting frustrated. I don’t think they like us dictating how to do their jobs, frankly neither would I. But more to the point, if this is a storm, they’ve never seen one this bad. They say they would normally have it cleared out by now, the idea of an unscheduled patch of rain slipping them by seems to insult them.”

“You sure they’re not just boasting?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. I’d think any weather team would hate losing control of the weather, not a good look when that the whole point of their job. Like if you couldn’t show off your metal crutch, just wouldn’t mesh right.”

Vladimir’s face formed into a wry grin. “Now, is that any way to talk to the guy in charge of your paycheck?”

“When that guy allows you to get away with it, go nuts.”

“I’ll remember that,” he retorted. “But really, what’s the ETA on getting it clear?”

“Hard to say. Though… it feels a little off, doesn’t it?”

Vladimir paused. A storm this bad, right here, right now…? Of all times?

The New Kingdom didn’t exactly have any pegasi of their own on hoof, but a unicorn’s horn could do some incredible things given the chance…

“Any word from our scouts? Anything at all?”

“Our fliers haven’t seen anything, but we can barely see a hoof in front of our eyes out here. We’d need to be on top of them, at which point…”

There wouldn’t be much room to report back.

“Get your teams back to base, now!” Vladimir commanded, his coat standing on end as his stomach tied into a knot. “If this thing is getting worse, then my gut says they’re already here!”

“Understood. We’re falling back!”

Vladimir rapidly switched channels, his heart beating a mile a minute as his ear twitched as rain started to fall at an increasing rate.

“All units, cease patrols and assume your positions, all ponies off shift get your asses up! We have incoming!”

And if they didn’t, he’d apologise later. But for this he wasn’t taking chances. If that storm was indeed the work of spell craft….

He placed the radio aside after receiving a string of affirmatives, wandering back towards the window. He could already see a flurry of activity outside, ponies he’d seen wandering on patrol come racing back to the shoreline to take up their positions, guns previously idle training up towards the sky while even some of the ship out in the blockade made adjustments in their positioning. As if a switch were flicked the entire effort had gone from lazily going through the motions to tense preparedness.

There was a crack.

Thunder?

No.

Vladimir’s pupils dilated as a shadow steadily emerged through the fog. It was nearly indistinguishable, were it not for the sudden flashes that heralded its coming.

An airship.

Not even moment had passed from that point of recognition before explosive booms began to echo around the shore. Bright flashes from the ships as their guns trained upwards towards likely more yet-unseen targets as they opened up with full volleys! Ponies started shouting as latecomers barrelled towards their posts, the shadows of pegasi shooting overhead towards the enemy as more and more began to make themselves known.

Crash!

The entire building shook as a flash from the lead shadow was followed by an impact that sent anything not nailed down clattering to the ground! Vladimir had to brace himself to not go tumbling as the window before him shattering into hundreds of shards, the thestral hearing something give and begin to collapse and crash out into the street below!

There was a wet feeling on his cheek in the aftermath, Vladimir raising a hoof to his cheek to feel where a shard of glass had lightly cut into his face. The lights in the room flickered and died out, and as he looked out through the shattered glass, he saw a pile of debris forming from a fresh hole in the side of the building.

He heard groans and felt a tremble echo through the structure, signalling just how unsafe it was to be standing there at that moment!

Without a moment to lose he threw himself through the gaping void and out into the storm beyond, his wings spreading wide as he lowered himself down to the street next to a group of EUP soldiers. He gave them all a look over, several sporting cuts and bruises from the impact, and beyond them some ponies were trying to dig friends and allies caught in the collapse.

Many eyes trained on him, Vladimir taking a moment to centre himself before his eyes narrowed and he glared up at the airship as it came into full view.

A monstrous thing, guns already lighting up the surrounding area as he saw smaller craft begin to dislodge and make a beeline for the surface.

He let the blades in his wing slide free.

“Ponies, they’ve spilt the first blood. Let’s give it back to them!”

A resounding cheer met his declaration, and without looking back he began a mad dash towards the docks. He spared a glance up as more airships became visible through the haze, and pride swelled in his heart as he witnessed the main gun of one of their battleships trail one of the airborne vessels as it made for the shore and unleash its payload with all Equestria’s fury! Whatever it struck, it was important enough that the vessel detonated immediately, a vast fireball striking across the sky and washing over the surrounding vessels in an inferno!

A crackling pop shook him from the sight, a unicorn appearing before him with a spear held aloft in his magical aura.

‘Here we go!’

The thrust came swift, but Vladimir had been doing this for a very long time. Age be damned, he wasn’t about to be outmanoeuvred by an amateur! Ducking beneath the thrust was a simple matter, the sheen of metal flashing past his peripheral vision. He launched off from his hindlegs, ducking further to the left as the unicorn recoiled and attempted to bring his spear around. But in such close quarters his wing blade was fasted, outstretched and tearing through the soldier’s armour and flesh as swiftly as a wonderbolt in a calm breeze.

A spurt of blood scattered across the dock, the pony silently falling as his weapon clattered free. As it rolled to Vladimir’s waiting hooves, he kicked it up and into the grasp of his wing, deftly hurling it forwards and through the neck of a second incoming unicorn.

More thunderous booms overhead, a blinding flash of light causing Vladimir to wince as debris, body parts and general remnants scattered around as a building collapsed and cascaded onto the surrounding streets and even into the churning sea. In his moment of discombobulation a third unicorn sought to take advantage of the distraction, sword swinging wide as the thestral barely raised his metallic wing and extended all of his feathers into a makeshift shield, catching the blade between his own.

For the briefest of moments he stared into the pony’s eyes, a battle of will and might as they each tensed against the first grip of the other, before the unicorn was violently hurled aside by an almighty buck from another silver armoured Equestrian. The soldier left no time to recover as he followed through with a second strike, showcasing the wall of force that was earth pony strength, before he lifted the invader and humiliatingly sent him splashing down into the waters below.

“You, you’re with me! I want that strength at my back!” the Captain shouted towards his timely saviour amidst the chaos.

“Ah ain’t going anywhere, Cap’n!” a rough voice replied with an all-too-delighted laugh, cracking his hooves together in anticipation.

The harbor was awash with further such skirmishes, EUP, royal guard and invading New Kingdom soldiers clashing as blood began to mix with the mirky salt-ridden waters of the bay. By now all of Vanhoover was awake to the violence, and Vladimir could only imagine the panic gripping the civilians behind their lines…

The thestral allowed himself another glance upwards, the fleet of Celestia-accursed airships spreading out and laying down heavy fire onto their defensive positions.

Not unopposed, however. As he looked up towards the heavens, eyes obscured by the yet heavy fog layer, he witnessed the hazy image of a new airborne arrival gliding its way through the gloom and onto the field of battle. Yet it came not from the sea but the land, the heraldry of the royal sisters bringing great relief to his heart as the Equestrian zeppelin opened up with all its guns towards the closest enemy vessel. Nor was it alone, though smaller in number, the local squadron of friendly airships were not to be outdone by their naval counterparts!

A flash of heat singed the hair on Vladimir’s left cheek as another structure was set alight, a beacon of the damned shining out into the fog.

“Get that fire out!” he commanded of a group of nearby unicorns. “Don’t let it spread, we have enough to deal with!”

The unicorns made no acknowledgement, but they didn’t need to, gathering in practiced cohesion as their horns lit as one and began to manipulate the waves crashing against their shores. The water spilled forth and into the air, guided by a pure white aura that was made of their amalgamated powers, crashing into the flames and smothering them before it could threaten the entire cluster of structures.

“Sir!” his large companion shouted out, Vladimir’s eyes shifting to the source of his warning.

A trio of nearby invaders stood out, robed and armoured lightly as compared to the previous lot. The thestral couldn’t help but be irritated as they lit their horns in unison, practically copying their homework as their united their spells into a barrage of magical missiles that cascaded into several nearby EUP soldiers, blowing the stricken ponies apart before changing course towards them!

“Down!”

Vladimir gave his wings an almighty flap and launched into the air, avoiding two such missiles as they crashed into the ground harmlessly. Another came his way as he darted to the side and landed back down several metres away, going immediately into a roll that put him behind some rubble and away from the sight of those mages!

Crack! Crack! Crack!

From a nearby rooftop several muzzle flashes heralded screams of pain, Vladimir looking up and over at his assailants, two of them collapsing to the ground as a third cowered behind a conjured shield that absorbed the bullet that struck it. He retreated back as further gunfire emerged, magic clashing with modern technology before a bamf heralded their retreat.

Yet more were teleporting in all around them, however, his new musclebound friend having already located a new playmate, Vladimir having more than half a mind to join in.

The sound of straining metal assaulted the thestral’s ears, not helping was the thestrals naturally superior sense of hearing. The source was obvious, one of the very Equestrian airships had been inwardly lauding moments ago now aflame, fate allowing it one final pyrrhic moment as it uncontrollably slammed into one of the New Kingdom’s own and sent both vessels crashing down in a flaming heap, the clash of metals and detonations and fuel and ammo ringing out across the city and lighting blazes anew.

Further chaos reigned further out, the lunar guardspony spying at least one cruiser aflame and steadily sliding beneath the waves.

The rest both gave and received, the clashing of swords, the sparks of mage craft, the crackle of gunfire. This city of thousands was now thrust into a nightmare. And if they got a foothold to strike further into the metropolis…

Not while he yet lived.

Bladed wing outstretched, Vladimir vaulted over the pile of rubble and located the nearest hostile soldier, striking forth with the ferocity of a far younger thestral and went to work as dutifully as he had in decades prior. No hesitation. No time to falter.

After all, this long night had only just begun.

The First Hive

The forest surrounding the first hive was the picture of tranquillity, the morning sun rising to be greeted by the lush greenery, ancient trees and young flowers as bees gently buzzed from one to the other as they gleefully gathered their pollen. The ancient stones almost glowed in the majesty of the early sun, a far cry from its fury as witnessed many a year ago.

And as it was so rarely to be on vaunted occasions, life filled the halls of this most historic of locales, changelings of all colourations walking the halls and providing the usual guardians with no small amount of reprieve, the hives all trickling in and their gathering started to get underway.

But as with all such gathering, the tranquillity of the morning was betrayed only by the tense air surrounding those inhabitants. The Council convening always acted as an omen, now more so than most…

“So, this is it, huh?” Rainbow Dash noted, glancing around at the smattering of drones gathering supplies from their convoy and dragging them inside the structure ahead. “Gonna be honest, imagined something… cooler.”

“’Course ya did,” Applejack deadpanned. “But wouldn’t be all that subtle if it had a big ‘awesome base o’ shapeshifters’ sign now, would it?”

“I wasn’t suggesting that. But, ya know, something aside from a few… ‘romantic’ old stones.”

“It is very picturesque, nothing wrong with a bit of romanticism, darling,” Rarity chimed in.

“Yeah, you’d think that.”

“Hm, I can’t wait to see the inside. Ancient changeling architecture, home of that dreadful Empress… I am on the verge of inspiration!”

“It’s kinda a shame Fluttershy isn’t here, I think she’d like it,” Pinkie lamented, glancing towards some of the previously noted bees.

“Yeah, but she’s gonna do what she has to,” Applejack responded. “And somepony has to look after that fool of a chaos god. And so, help me if ah were there I’d be buckin’ him upside the head the moment he woke.”

“Yeah, too bad she won’t get to see all the little critters around here,” the party pony said in turn, hopping over to closest of the pollenating creatures. “Hiya Mr Bee! How’s life in the hive? Oh, do you have a hive in the hive? Hive-ception!”

The bee looked up, offended, and then flew away from the bubbly annoyance.

“Good talk, Mr Bee!”

Twilight smiled, glancing away from her dearest husband for a moment before returning her attention to him. “Make sure everything is secure and stay on guard. Whoever the mole is, I don’t want them playing dirty while we busy with the bureaucracy.”

“Hey, I have this in hoof. And if we do end up going home with a mana bomb strapped to our ride then you can relegate me to the sofa for a month.”

“Oh, I have far more creative ideas of punishment,” Twilight noted with a predatory purr. “Buuuut, that’s neither here nor there.”

Her posture sagged, her momentary good mood very quickly bleeding away as she scanned the busy hive and the weight of all being wrought back home crushed down on her at once.

The New Kingdom. The traitor.

Avia…

Twilight sighed. “Our baby girl died because of one of them, and I’m going to figure out who.”

“Hey, I’m right beside you. Not going anywhere.”

“Yeah, same,” Rainbow Dash commented, trotting up beside the Queen. “Hey, we got this.”

“Of course. We find the bad guy, shoot them with a pretty rainbow and then… well… We’re here for you, Twilight. Always,” Pinkie Pie tapered off, placing a gentle hoof on Twilight’s shoulder.

“I know. Thank you for coming, girls.”

“Why, you should have allowed it sooner. All these years and only now do we get a glimpse…”

“I’d stick together while here, ponies being in attendance of one of our gatherings… some might take it the wrong way,” Façade warned.

Applejack nodded. “We’ll be careful. Not our first rodeo with antsy folks.”

Twilight hummed, nodding along as she continued to look around their immediate surroundings. She watched a deep blue and second red drone walk nearby side by side, their armour indicating they belonged to Queen Cocoon. And sure enough, upon a few moments of further inspection, the flash of cyan chitin caught her attention.

“Excuse me, girls. It’s time I got to work.”

“You good?” Rainbow asked.

“I’ll be right back, don’t worry. I just need to talk with an old friend.”

Twilight strode forwards, leaving her friends with Façade a short distance behind her. She didn’t need to go far, as already walking out to greet her was the unmistakable visage of Cocoon herself, the tall light blue Changeling Queen stopping before her counterpart and giving a small, respectful bow of her head.

“Twilight Sparkle, Queen of the Equestrian Hive. It has been some time,” Queen Cocoon addressed the younger monarch.

“Cocoon. You are well? And Insecta?”

“I am, as is my daughter, thank you for asking. Her hive is presently on route, I expect to be greeting her shortly,” Cocoon responded, her expression darkening as she took in a gentle breath. “I heard about Princess Avia. You have my sympathies. And my support.”

Twilight remained silent for a few moments, slowly letting air release from her nose as her muscles tensed at her words.

“I… Yes, I had hoped as much.”

“I don’t think you’ll find much opposition either, not with such a brazen attack on one of our own. Even considering the personal loss, her death is a hive that shall never be. And with our recent expansions, the others are like to take it as a direct threat and insult from this ‘New Kingdom’.”

“And are you threatened by them? Ignis and his followers?”

“I’m not so concerned as to the aspirations of one maddened alicorn as I am a message I recently received from our embassy in Canterlot. That one of the council may yet work with this fiend? You are certain of this, Queen Twilight?”

“Discord sure thought so, and now he lies at the edge of death. Someling manipulated events, and now my child is dead. I wish to know why before I kill them.”

Cocoon tilted her head. “Indeed? Well, I am pleased I am not among your suspects, given what you have told me.”

“A hive like yours only has everything to lose from this war. Our friendship notwithstanding,” Twilight replied. “Ever since Draco passed on, you have been my most consistent ally in these hallowed halls. History would be a deciding factor in my judgement. Though I would ask you to remain in confidence, tell not even your child.”

Cocoon frowned. “You would consider even her a suspect?”

“An unlikely one. But your being in the loop is enough for now, I don’t want too many variables nor too many ears.”

“Then you have a plan?”

“I have theories. Hypotheses. I will test them, and I will find the answers I seek.”

“Hm, then I shall trust your judgement. And your clearly thought-out risk assessment.”

“No good scientific method is complete without one,” Twilight stated, stepping past Cocoon and staring up at the hive, her eyes dilating and a soft, vengeful growl entering her voice. “And before I was ever a Queen, I was a very good scientist.”

1 - Prologue

It has been forty-five years since Queen Twilight Sparkle first discovered her lineage and claimed her birthright, forty-three years since she became Queen of the Hive. And never has it been harder on her than when a new power in the Undiscovered West makes itself known to the world.

But that is now. The seeds were sown long ago, in a land of eternal winter...

****

The castle was dreary, the distinct chill of ice permeating through the very air its inhabitants breathed. There was very little life to be found within its walls, many of the previous populace having already left in preparation for the coming exodus. Their ancestral home, the birthplace of their kind, all soon to be left to ruin.

But not just yet.

Two ponies still walked the halls, giving one final farewell to the home they would never see again. Each was adorned in a warm cloak, one blue with speckled stars while the other’s was a royal violet befitting of her status. Their route took them past an array of windows overlooking the snow-covered royal gardens, the more regal of the two taking a lengthy look of longing at the exterior. A place of such wondrous beauty, but one doomed to freeze until nought remained.

Then she continued forth, the stallion accompanying her dutifully following on in silence. Finally, their walk took them to a great pair of doors ornately carved with the histories of their people. From the moment they had crawled from their primitive herds to build the great city upon the mountain. A place of regality that all other dwellers far below would look upon in envy. And, behind those doors, was the centre of it all.

The throne room.

The guards who had formerly protected it were also gone, likely among the formations preparing to leave the city. The velvet throne at the end was empty and quiet, as so it would be forever more.

The mare signed, bringing an alabaster hoof to her forehead to rub the base of her temple, brushing aside her well-groomed purple mane to do so. That throne was one that had belonged to her father until recently, the king. But with the fall of their nation requiring the birth of a new one, the crown was now to fall to her.

She turned to her companion, a grey stallion in a wizard’s outfit. He had a short beard that was beginning to show signs of greying, the stallion rapidly reaching the mid-point in his life, and yet his eyes showed that he still had many years left in him.

“We should not delay for too long, Queen Platinum,” Starswirl the Bearded cautioned. “The wendigos will return soon, and they will bring with them those they have already claimed as theirs. We do not have the strength to hold off another attack, let alone survive the cold they bring.”

“You need not remind me,” she returned. “And it is still ‘princess’ for the time being, Starswirl. I am not a queen until I have a nation.”

“You do have one, and they are waiting for you to accompany them. Thousands of unicorns awaiting salvation.”

“I hope I can give it to them,” Platinum lamented. “Gah, if only Pudding Head and Hurricane weren’t so pig-headed!”

“Both stallions share the blame, but you cannot claim full innocence.”

She glared at the mage. “Excuse me?”

“My student told me all that occurred. None of you were willing to truly give the other a chance, but all it would have taken was one of you to extend the olive branch.”

“Why should I be the first when neither of them were willing!?”

“Perhaps you have answered your own question,” he told her. “With the three pony tribes remaining ununified, the birthplace of our species is doomed.”

Platinum sighed. “Perhaps. But I am royalty, they should have known their place!”

Starswirl regarded her with a disapproving look. “I do hope you reconsider your position, your Highness. But this is a talk for another day, we need to go.”

Princess Platinum was silent, her eyes remaining locked on her father’s throne. Some of the stallion’s words bore into her mind, and yet they were also in conflict with the teachings she had undergone ever since she came into the world. Unicorns were meant to be the superior race. The most dignified. The most intelligent.

And yet they had been brought to ruin just as the earth ponies and pegasi had.

Still in conflict, but stubbornly clinging to the superiority her blood was meant to bring, she finally tore herself away and regarded the mage.

“Very well. My ponies need me, I shall not-”

The Princess was interrupted when the throne room doors were flung violently open, Platinum recoiling in shock while Starswirl turned to stare dangerously at the intruders. Three ponies adorned in elegant robes, each clearly of the wealthy elite, stormed in under the escort of their personal guards. Another stallion, one with a yellow coat largely covered by a brown cloak, sheepishly followed them in.

“Clover,” Starswirl addressed the yellow stallion, a question on his face. “What is the meaning of this?”

“I’m sorry, Master. But these ponies insisted on speaking with Princess Platinum,” Clover the Clever replied. “I tried to tell them to stay in line and wait with the others, but they weren’t having any of it.”

“We are not like the earth ponies, doomed to fester with the peasants beneath us,” the lead unicorn noble scoffed. “Trudging through the dirt to find a new home when a perfectly good one is right here.”

“You know that this city can no longer be our home,” Platinum decreed, clearly very tired of arguing with these very same ponies. “And those peasants are unicorns like us and, moreover, they are my people. My duty is to them, we have to leave.”

“Then send them on their way. Have them mingle with the pegasi and the earth ponies as they too seek out new lands,” the pony dismissed. “There are enough of the pure-blooded to rebuild here without their kind. The noble families shall survive!”

“Many have already agreed to leave,” Starswirl pointed out. “Your peers know that there is no future here.”

“They would reconsider if our ruler did.”

“Which she shall not,” Platinum retorted.

The noble glared at her. “Even still, enough wish to remain to continue on. Not just with the best of us, but with the servants and guards we would take with us. Even without you, with careful propagation, Unicornia will rebuild.”

“Don’t be fools!” Clover blurted out. “You will be condemning yourselves!”

“Watch your tone, colt!”

“That ‘colt’ is my protégé,” Starswirl pointed out. “He knows of what he speaks, we have both see the horrors lying in the blizzards. If the wendigos come for you, you will not survive. Those who are not slaughtered will become possessed, their bodies twisted into monsters beyond imagining.”

“We will take that chance.”

“Will you now? You truly believe you can survive where so many have not.”

“Those who did not clearly were not worthy of it,” the noble shot back. “Princess, please. Consider our position.”

“I have long considered it, and I still know where my destiny lies,” Platinum stated. “And it is with my people and those not so foolish as to remain in a doomed city. We will find a new home and rebuild there.”

“And we shall remain. We will see who is right.”

“Perhaps,” she agreed. “And maybe, if we both are, our peoples will reunite one day.”

The noble smirked. “Yes. And then we shall see who became the stronger.”

Platinum frowned at his words. It almost sounded like a threat, a very punishable crime under unicorn rule. One many ponies had made the mistake of taking, often resulting in lives behind bars or even execution depending on the severity.

But that time had passed, there was no room for such things. Not anymore.

“I suppose we shall,” she chose to reply simply, turning to regard both Starswirl and Clover. “Come. It is time.”

The three ponies passed the nobles by, each group giving the other looks of bitterness and resentment. The nobles watched as their monarch and her advisers departed, moving on into an uncertain future.

And then, with barely a glance, they too left the throne room behind. They walked back through the corridors of the castle until they found a nice balcony at the very front, the view stretching out before them showcasing the whole city and the valley spread beneath it. Unicornia in all its glory, so many streets now empty while the most direct route to its road down the mountain was packed to the brim with ponies of all shapes, sizes and colours. Unicorns, each and every one of them; the inhabitants of Unicornia as they had existed for countless years and generations. All were wrapped as warmly as they could, carrying all they were able to as they prepared to face the arduous journey ahead.

The journey would take them east, far away from the three tribes and to the sea. From there, ships had already been prepared to take them across the sea. Wooden ships with sails to guide them, meant to take the population to an empty land rumoured to exist beyond the great blue divide. A new home. Names were already in circulation for the first settlements of this ‘New Unicornia’, intended to be far more vast than the singular city-state of Old Unicornia ever was.

Everfree. Manehatten. Vanhoover. All planned, but time would tell if they would come to be.

And yet the nobles above would have no part in that future. They watched from their balcony as the unicorns, with Princess Platinum and Starswirl the Bearded at their head, moved out of the city and towards their destinies.

“And there they go,” one of the nobles said to another. “There are so few of us now. The wendigos will undoubtedly follow them. Swallow them whole.”

“With luck, it means they will leave us be while they consume those cowards,” the other replied. “But our couple hundred ponies will grow over the centuries into a new kingdom, one to rival anything they might build. Not that they will make it.”

And so, they watched. They watched longer still even for a while after all other unicorns had long departed. The earth ponies and the pegasi would not be far behind, leaving the land of this new kingdom solely to the unicorns. And it is in this world that the remaining of the elite would rule over the ponies sworn to serve them, even as the long winter continued around them…

“Wow! So fascinating!” Princess Avia of the Equestrian Hive gushed, closing the history book detailing the final accounts of Unicornia’s abandonment. “I wonder what happened to those ponies?”

She had been reading the tome for some time, absorbing all the information it had to offer. She had no idea that some of the nobility had been so foolish as to stay behind, even with the wendigos all but knocking on their door. Despite what those few had believed; Platinum had made it to the land across the sea. There, she had done as Starswirl hoped and put her differences with her counterparts aside after the wendigos were seemingly decimated by the Fires of Friendship, going on to be the first and only Queen of Equestria. It was in this new land that Starswirld had found two alicorn fillies, taking them in as his new students. It was in this new nation that said fillies eventually grew to take over from Platinum, remaining the Princesses of Equestria well into the modern era.

Equestria, the very place in which the changeling hive around Avia now sat.

The young lavender changeling gently moved the book aside, it joining a stack of other three tribes-related material she had collected from the bookshelves around them. These bookshelves belonged to her mother, Queen Twilight Sparkle, whose room she was currently in sat on a comfortable chair alongside a small table.

“Froze to death, probably,” her father, Façade, mused back from his position at the table. “We know the land is still caked in snow to this day.”

“Not that we know much else. It’s not called the ‘Undiscovered West’ for no reason.”

Façade hummed. “Well, then it’s a good thing your mother will soon change that, hm?”

“That’s why I’m reading up on this stuff. She gets to go on this expedition while I’m stuck here!”

“Ruling,” he pointed out tersely. “A big responsibility you need to learn.”

“Yeah, I know,” she conceded. “I’m still jealous, though. It’s a HUGE opportunity!”

He levelled her a deadpan look. “You do know that all travellers to that land have never returned, right? It’s why it’s been lost.”

“Well, no Changeling Queen has ever tried,” Avia shot back. “Besides, it’s Mum. She’s good at danger and stuff.”

Façade chuckled. “That she is. And she will have more than enough guards with her. Both pony and changeling.”

“But not you,” Avia noted.

“Someone has to keep an eye on you. Besides, adventuring is a younger changeling’s job. Or ones with impressive longevity, like your mother.”

“Oh please, you’re only fifty-five.”

“And she’s sixty-three, but still as hot as Tartarus.”

Avia blanched. “D-Daaaad!”

He laughed again. “And despite being twenty-three, you still let your father have an easy time in making you embarrassed.”

She pouted. “It’s not my fault you’re so good at it.”

“Technically it is. If you weren’t here, I wouldn’t be a father. And fathers are designed for this sort of thing.”

“Whatever you say…”

They were silent for a few moments, Avia just quietly fuming over her father’s continuing smug smirk. But then her irritation fell away, her expression becoming more forlorn.

“I had a nightmare last night.”

“Oh?” Façade asked curiously. “Anything big?”

“I’m not sure,” the Princess admitted. “I fell asleep after writing to my friends in Ponyville, and after talking with Mum for a bit about the expedition. It was… oddly real. Everything was burning… There was a pony there. An alicorn.”

“One of the Princesses of Equestria?”

“I don’t know. Maybe? But… they attacked me.”

“Huh. Well, I wouldn’t let it bother you too much, Avia. Your imagination was probably just on overdrive given how much you have been excited to learn about the Undiscovered West.”

“I don’t know… but it was so real.”

“If it bothers you again, I could always write to Princess Luna.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary. It was only a one-off. So far, anyway.”

“Alright then. But I’m here to talk if it happens again, okay?”

She gave him a grateful nod. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Any time. After all…” He raised a hoof, one filled with holes seeing as he, unlike his wife and daughter, was one of the few remaining changelings not affected by the metamorphosis caused by the Elements of Harmony so many years prior. “I am a holy changeling.”

Avia just groaned. Loudly.

“Princess, a moment?” Carduus’ voice sounded over the hive, Avia glad for the distraction while her father just looked pleased with himself. “Your mother wants to see you in the throne room. It’s about her coming trip, and your duties meanwhile.”

“Thanks, Carduus. But why are you pinging me and not her?”

“Because she has her muzzle buried in maps and verbally asked me to so not to distract herself.”

“Right, of course, that’s why,” she internally deadpanned at him. As much as she loved books almost as much as her mother, it only would have taken a few moments of thinking… “I’m on my way.”

She cut the link with the old changeling, standing up from her seat. She was more than ready to escape her father's teasing, but was also equally nervous about hearing what her mother had to say in regards to her coming dominion of the Equestrian Hive. Even if it would only be for a short while.

She was not ready to be a queen, not yet.

But she would do her mother proud, on that point she was determined…

And yet, even as the Princess left to find Twilight Sparkle, other forces were stirring far across the world. Far from the hive, far from Equestria, long across the vast ocean… There, in a land long thought empty and lifeless, two fiery amber eyes looked upon a land of ice and little vegetation. They looked out upon all that had built upon this desolation, musing on just what challenges were now to come.

Author's Note

And so the next story in the Change series begins! Welcome to the finale, folks. It's going to be a wild ride...

3 - Loss

The hive was mourning.

Seldom few had ever met Twilight Velvet and Night Light. But all knew of them, of course. Even those whose roots came from the hives of Queen Crudelis and Queen Draco, which naturally made up the vast majority of the population after each Changeling Queen’s demise. All knew of the pony couple who had taken in the Queen of the Hive, raising her as their own to the best of their ability. It had been they who had nurtured and protected the young nymph when Chrysalis was unable, they who had set into motion the one who would, one day, become a ruler with her place well and truly secured in the annals of history.

It had all started with them, taking in a lonely infant on their doorstep. It was from the Queen’s pony side that her humility had sprung up to temper the fierceness that came naturally with being of the hive’s royal bloodline. The friendships she had gone on to forge with the other Bearers of the Elements of Harmony, Twilight Sparkle’s desire for peaceful outcomes first before the alternative may sadly come to life… It was them who had been the start of it all.

That was not to dismiss Chrysalis and Celestia, of course, each an important role in the Three Mothered Mare’s life. Chrysalis had given the Queen her name, it was from her that the love of books was inherited as well as her loyalty and protectiveness of the hive. Celestia, meanwhile, had further nurtured the qualities that Twilight Velvet and Night Light had planted within her. The alicorn had pointed her in the direction of her long-time friends while further encouraging that scholarly nature that, even now, still drove much of what the Queen did.

But now, like Queen Chrysalis, Twilight Velvet was gone. And not only had Twilight Sparkle lost another mother, but she had also lost the only father she had ever known in Night Light, having no memories to speak of as to Virum, the changeling who sired her and sacrificed his life for his infant daughter.

And while all those but those seldom few could not fully know the pain of their loss, they all felt the numbness from both the Queen and the Princess. Something had been taken from the royal changelings, something close to their hearts. And, subsequently, it was as if the hive itself had lost something in the process.

And so, they mourned.

“So, the funeral…” Façade asked carefully towards his wife, who was sat silently in their chambers with a gossamer wing wrapped around her despondent daughter. “I hate to ask this now, but… How will this affect the expedition?”

Twilight was silent for a few moments. As much as her mind was elsewhere, that was something she, as Queen, had to consider. And yet…

Twilight sighed, shifting and tightening her grasp on Avia.

“It will still go ahead, we had to go to Canterlot to link up with the ponies accompanying us anyway,” she noted. “But we will need to depart earlier… It just means I’ll have to coordinate efforts in the hive from there.”

“I can stay… If you want,” Façade offered. “Make sure everything goes smoothly while you go and… say goodbye.”

“No. Don’t,” Twilight asked of her husband. “I… I want you there. Carduus can help organise things. He can handle it, he always can…”

“I know he won’t say no to you,” Façade replied. “Alright, I can make the arrangements for that with him. If this is still happening, we’ll ensure everyone meets you in Canterlot when we had originally planned it.”

Twilight groaned. “There was still so much to do… Supplies to categorise, documents to-”

“Twilight…” Façade interrupted. “We’ll handle it. Just… take it easy, yeah?”

“It’ll be alright, Mama…” Avia finally said, looking up at her mother and giving her a gentle nuzzle. “You know the hive will get everything ready. We can go to Canterlot…”

Twilight sighed again. “I know. But this was all so sudden. Their health was meant to be fine and now… now…”

“I know,” Façade said sympathetically, trotting over to the two most important mares in his life and sitting close to them. “But these things happen, it was just their time. At least they went peacefully, together.”

“It still hurts,” Twilight responded, her expression pained. “The worst thing? It’s not even like when my mother died. My biological mother, I mean. Everything about it was different. But this… I don’t really know how to describe it. There’s nothing I could have done; nothing could have been different. I feel… I don’t know…”

“Do you think Uncle Shining has been told?” Avia asked. “Cousin Flurry Heart?”

Twilight nodded. “Celestia would have sent them a message. They will know…”

“At least we get to see them again.”

“A small bright side. It has been too long…” Twilight mused. “Alright… Pack your things, Avia. We leave tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“You. Me. Your father,” she explained, getting a nod of agreement from the stallion. “I don’t want to leave this. I need to see them, and I’m sure you do too.”

Avia sniffed, humming in agreement. As much as the news of their passing hurt, she couldn’t deny her eagerness to leave the hive for Equestria’s capital as soon as possible. Her pony grandparents deserved that much at least.

“I’ll gather some of my guards for an escort, a carriage will be prepared by dusk,” Façade told Twilight.

The Queen gave him a grateful look. “Thank you. Avia, go get ready. I’ll do the same here. Also, Façade, could you have someone put away the mess we left in the throne room?”

“I can,” he confirmed, his head twitching as he communed with other changelings within the hive mind. “There, done. The others can pick up where you left off, don’t worry.”

Which was certainly a relief. If she had to continue delegating and planning while also having to deal with her parents’ passing…

The loyalty her hive showed its ruler did touch her heart, it really did…

With that settled, the three parted ways. Façade to go and make sure transport and a sufficient royal escort was prepared, Avia to pack, and Twilight…

Before packing, she focused in on the hive mind and found just the changeling she was looking for. The changeling in question was a simple love collector, one assigned to work in Ponyville to passively collect love energy that they would then return to the hive for submission into the reservoir. But while they were there, the changeling was in the perfect position to inform some old friends about what had happened…

The day was a cold one, a light scheduled shower of rain overtaking the city of Canterlot. Even though it wasn’t the heaviest storm in the world, most ponies had already seen fit to remain indoors and out of its way. Those who remained in the streets did so either beneath helpful umbrellas or raincoats of various colourations and designs. Some were the simple yellow variety, while other such coats were more extravagant and clearly of Rarity’s design.

Canterlot Castle was no different. Far fewer ponies walked the gardens, only the guards continued to dutifully patrol despite the droplets pattering against their golden helmets.

And then, looking out form a window in a high up tower as the rain gently poured down the pane, Princess Celestia herself watched it all. The rainclouds above already seemed to be passing, a few pegasi dancing around in their weather team uniforms. Somewhere nearby, currently obscured by the clouds, Cloudsdale would be floating across the landscape. As always, the factory within the mobile pegasus city was hard at work controlling and distributing the correctly scheduled weather patterns across Equestria. Canterlot, in around a month’s time, was due to receive a far more torrential downpour from the winged ponies.

And yet, with the gentle pattering currently pressing up against the window, the current weather well reflected the sombre mood Celestia was in.

“Let me guess…” Princess Luna addressed, finding her older sister exactly where some of the staff had directed her. “Thinking about Twilight Sparkle?”

Celestia chuckled, turning to look at Luna. “Am I really that transparent?”

“When it comes to her, easily so,” she stated, joining the Princess of the Sun by the window. “Today of all days, however, it is warranted. It is a thing we have seen far too often with our potentially infinite lives, something we can never truly understand and yet have born witness to more than any other. Simple age.”

“Each in their sleep, barely an hour apart. At least, according to the coroner,” Celestia mused. “A peaceful death after a full life. They might be considered lucky in that regard, but I know they would regret leaving behind those that yet live.”

“Indeed,” Luna agreed. “I trust their family are all on their way as we speak. They had many who loved them, their memories will live on.”

Celestia hummed, returning to gazing at the window. The rain had become even lighter, the pits and pats of the drops becoming rather infrequent. The Princess watched as her sun started to reappear, breathing its light onto her little ponies.

“I do worry about Twilight most of all, though,” Celestia then said. “And not just because of what we are. She… She does not handle loss well.”

Luna raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Do you recall what happened when Chrysalis died?”

“You mean when she was murdered by that fiend Crudelis?”

“The very same event,” she confirmed. “When that happened… Twilight has long found a balance between what is pony within her and what is changeling. But that day, in that tent, it was like… Twilight’s pony side was smothered by the vengeful Changeling Queen inside her. The rage I saw in her eyes was terrifying. We got her back, but I always fear that balance being toppled once more.”

“She has come a long way since she gained her crown,” Luna pointed out. “But even so, this is not then. The circumstances are wholly different, there is no foul play to incite the vengeful Changeling Queen buried within her. You needn’t worry, she will mourn with the rest of her family and then life will go on. Even if the pain of losing a loved one never truly fades.”

Celestia gave her a sad smile. “I know. I’m also worried about how Avia is handling the news. She has not been damaged as her mother has, she's never lost something like this before. She is no longer a child, but still…”

“Like her mother, Avia will survive this blow,” Luna assured her sister. “They will each seek comfort in you, I am sure. As will they in Cadenza and the others. But survive they will.”

“You are right,” Celestia admitted. “But this is still a sad day for all involved.”

Luna hummed. “Yes, and with such an important event on the horizon.”

“How have our preparations for Twilight’s latest project been, while we are on that subject?” the Princess of the Sun enquired.

“Well. Your school is jumping on this with the usual expected eagerness,” Luna informed her. “Captain Valiant is hard at work briefing the ponies under his command as to what they may face, and I believe my own Captain of the Guard is pouting about his exclusion.”

“You couldn’t let him have his fun, could you?” Celestia jokingly scolded her little sister.

Luna rolled her eyes. “He is not a young stallion anymore for one thing, sister. And he does so love to overindulge himself so close to retirement.”

“And yet he remains capable.”

“True. But I would much prefer at least one of them to remain, and he is the logical choice. That, and the last time he went on one of Twilight’s ‘expeditions’ he returned with one less wing.”

“Point conceded. Still, I’m sure we can find something for Vladimir to do in the meantime.

“I believe he will be plenty busy overseeing the training of the newest recruits into the Lunar Guard,” Luna stated. “As ever, his experience is invaluable.”

“Hm, maybe I should have Broad Sword return to give some pointers to them too. At least while his son is back in the land of our birth,” Celestia mused. “I must admit, Luna, no small part of me wishes we were going with them to the old world.”

Luna’s mood seemed to fall slightly. “Admittedly, sister, I do not even recall much from before the snow.”

Celestia smiled, giving her sister a light loving nuzzle. “You were just a filly with your fool of an older sister, herself barely a teenager, to look after you. And I must admit, even I struggle to remember much before Starswirl took us in upon our arrival in Equestria.”

Luna was silent, moving closer to her elder sister as an alabaster wing was comfortingly draped over her back. Both alicorns looked out of the window and tried to picture the continent far beyond their view. The place where ponykind had their humble beginnings even as the changelings of old had conquered much of what was now the Griffon Empire and Zebrica. And then even long after the fall of Empress Immortalis, when snow had started to fall and all ponies had been forced to leave. Two small alicorns treading their way amongst the masses, homeless and alone, even the ancient mother they’d barely known claimed by the rampage of the wendigos.

That was where Twilight was going.

Luna couldn’t blame Celestia for her continued motherly fears.

7 - Plans

One Week Later…

The War Room was host to a few specific individuals, all glancing down at the magically holographic map gracing its centre. So many times had this chamber been a focal point during times of crisis; from the conflict with Crudelis, all the way to the Battle of Canterlot many years ago. This time, however, the room’s purpose was far less urgent and likewise less sinister. No, on this day it had a task before it that was far more exciting in nature, and decidedly scholarly at that.

Equestria’s visage flickered and shimmered in the light, a line forming from Canterlot with tiny little carriages and fliers of both changeling and pony origin escorting it along its way. The line ended in Vanhoover, where a tiny little blue translucent battleship stood ready to retrieve its occupants. From there the ship departed the dock with the miniature ponies and changeling on board, travelling into the unknown.

The route and timeframe for the expedition was clear on display.

“A simple journey, all things considered,” Princess Luna mused. “Especially now that all is gathered and prepared.”

Those she addressed included her sister and both Captains of the Royal Guard, alongside Queen Twilight and Princess Avia. So too was Twilight relaying the ongoing conversation to her husband, presently assisting the last of their drones arriving in the city from the Equestrian Hive.

“The HMS Clover the Clever has finished loading up all the supplies we agreed on?” Twilight asked.

“According to the reports, they’re just waiting on their passengers,” Vladimir confirmed. “And since you’re leaving tomorrow, I doubt they’ll have time to sneak anything from those barrels of Griffonian ale.”

“Remind me why that was added to the manifest again…” Valiant said with a slight deadpan.

“Morale, kid. It’s going to be a long voyage across the ocean.”

“I think you lost the right to call me ‘kid’ twenty years ago, Vlad.”

“Princess, permission to keep calling my counterpart here, ‘kid’.”

Luna smirked. “Granted.” A chorus of chuckles swept the room.

“See?”

“So long as it’s not in a meeting, Captain,” Celestia said with a small look of annoyance, though one mixed in with amusement, at both her sister and the thestral.

“On another note, the last of our people have trickled in,” Façade reported to his wife over the hive mind. “And with them the last of our own gear, plenty of scrolls for you to document our findings, love.”

“Is it packed?” Twilight asked eagerly.

“Getting there. It’ll be ready by early hours tomorrow.”

The Queen squeed inwardly, the perfect picture of calm on the outside. Unless you knew her enough to catch the glint in her eye, which was most of those present.

“My changelings are perfectly prepared,” Twilight relayed to the others. “Vladimir is right about one thing; we will be able to set off at first light tomorrow.”

“Then I’ll ensure my ponies get a good night’s rest and are up and ready for the big event,” Valiant supplemented. “We won’t be letting the pony interest in this expedition down.”

“And I’ll be shipping off back home…” Avia muttered dejectedly. “So jealous…”

“Maybe next time, Avia,” her mother replied apologetically.

“I’m sure you will value the ruling experience you gain, however,” Celestia said to the young Changeling Queen warmly. “And you may surprise yourself, I think.”

“Yeah, we’ll see… I guess.”

“I’m just sorry I’ll have to be saying farewell to the others so soon…” Twilight mused. “Cadance and the others, my friends… It was nice spending the week, even if… Well, I miss the days when my fellow Bearers of Harmony could drop everything for some grand adventure at the drop of a bit.”

“Time is a cruel mistress, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna noted. “Not that they would let that stop them if they truly wished to go, but I find it an ill-advised venture.”

“I know. At least one of them is going to be hitchhiking with us.”

The others all blinked.

“Spike!” Twilight quickly and happily clarified. “I’ve been talking with him, and he’s decided he wants to come along. I think he just wants to keep an eye on me with everything that’s happened, but I’m not going to say no to my Number One assistant!”

“I’m more focused on having a giant fire breathing dragon coming with us,” Valiant remarked. “It’ll certainly do something for my ponies’ morale, but… Queen Twilight, the added logistics of bringing such a large drake…”

“Spike can look after himself,” Twilight assured the Captain. “We won’t need any last-minute changes to the supply manifest. He will grab a few things for himself and then meet us at the shoreline of the Undiscovered West.”

“He can fly. He’ll be there faster than a big metal boat,” Avia stated.

“Exactly. Don’t worry, we have it all covered.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Celestia said. “In that case, let us call the meeting here. I believe you will be wanting to spend time with-”

Celestia stopped, suddenly narrowing her eyes sharply down at the table and its ongoing projection. Twilight shared a glance with her daughter, a sentiment shared by the others, before she studied exactly what about this map had suddenly earned the sun’s ire.

Oh.

“Okay, why is there a small little Discord hula dancing on the bow of the ship?” Avia asked with obvious perplexion.

Sure enough, a small shimmering version of the Spirit of Chaos was dancing away atop of the HMS Clover the Clever, clearly having the time of his life. It was so utterly random that everypony and everyone suddenly found themselves at a loss for words. Of all the things they had expected out of the meeting, that had not been one of them.

But Celestia, taking in a breath, lit up her horn and promptly cut the projection. In essence, she pulled the plug and just watched as the holographic diagram flickered and started to fade. As it did, little Discord seemingly started to panic, waving his arms frantically at the incoming tidal wave of nothingness before it finally hit him.

The results were… dramatic.

Silently, the little draconequus started to melt away, though it seemed to take far longer than the rest of the projection. He seemed to monologue his over-the-top demise as he faded from existence until, finally, he was no more.

And then there was a bright flash that heralded a decidedly more ‘normal’ Discord appearing on top of the now deactivated table, laid out in a position that just screamed ‘paint me’.

“My my, how rude of you!” Discord chided. “The poor thing was just having a bit of fun, but now he is condemned to the realm of nonexistence! Oh, how cruel a fate…!”

“That was clearly just you, Discord,” Twilight deadpanned.

“Oh, trample of my fun, as always,” he remarked, clicking his talons and reappearing next to the Changeling Queen. “So, what’s going on today? Daring monster attacks? Friendship lessons? No cakes left in the pantry?”

“I shudder to think,” Celestia quipped.

“And you likely know the answer, you irritating fiend,” Luna stated.

“Right right, the ‘Undiscovered West’,” he mused. “Though ‘undiscovered’ is a bit of an exaggeration, I pop in for tea ever hundred and twelfth Tuesday.”

“You do!?” Avia blurted out. “What’s it like? Are there monsters? Ponies? Monster ponies!?”

“Spoilers…” Discord taunted. “But you do have quite the imagination, still so foal-like and prone to wonderful bouts of chaos.”

“Don’t get any ideas…” Twilight warned with a fang-filled hiss.

“When have I ever done something to little old Avia, really?”

“The Everfree Forest.”

“A complete accident!” Discord protested. “Besides, she did come out with a lesson about responsibility. She’ll really need that in the next however long you’re across the sea being a nerd.”

“Is there a point to this interruption, Discord? Or is this just a ‘social’ visit?” Celestia asked coolly.

“Truth be told, I’ve been listening in on your little planning session,” he admitted. “Fluttershy has told me all about your little expedition during our usual meetups, and I simply wished to see what it is you exactly intend. You are well prepared, sure, and yet absolutely not at the same time.”

“Elaborate…” Twilight demanded.

“Oh, I think you will find a challenge over there. I know you like those,” he continued. “Telling you exactly what would spoil the surprise, and I’m not sure my particular brand of help would be welcome. No, I think this is a problem best left in your capable hooves. Happy friendshipping, Twinkle!”

And then, in another flash of light, he was gone.

“Well then…” Luna began. “That is most concerning.”

“Are… are you going to be in danger…?” Avia asked Twilight with no small amount of worry. “Because there’s obviously something more over there than just trees and rocks! Are you really sure you don’t want me coming along?”

“All the more reason not to,” Twilight pointed out. “Besides, I doubt it. If Discord thought whatever is over there would wipe out the whole expedition the moment we set hoof on land, then he’d tell us. He’s annoying, but he’s not an idiot.”

“And another fan of chess,” Celestia concurred. “His remarks do pose questions, but if he thought you were ill-suited to handle it, we would know.”

“Then we stick to our plan, I intend to meet Discord’s latest challenge as I have every other,” Twilight said determinedly. “Captain Valiant, prepare your ponies. We leave at dawn.”

Whatever laid ahead, the Queen of the Hive was ready.

The Equestrian Hive felt somehow emptier without the Queen, let alone the drones she had taken with her. Life was just as busy on the surface, of course, but any drone connected with the joined consciousness could tell the difference.

For most, when you happen to be a rather elderly changeling drone who had spent a significant amount of time arranging such an exodus during the Queen’s absence, the silence would be a good moment to kick up one’s hooves and take a well-deserved break.

Unless you were former Captain Carduus, of course.

The changeling was hunched over a desk located in one of the side rooms in the house he shared with his significant other, an office space of sorts where he could keep his mind busy during his twilight years. A scattered array of papers were dotted around in the fashion of organised chaos, each with a variety of crossed-out notes and agendas he had seen to over the past week. It was his honour to do so, nothing like age and an old combat injury were going to stop him from taking the load from his Queen’s shoulders during such a turbulent and emotional time.

Much to the chagrin of the second changeling peeking into the room, before she then entered at a slow pace.

“You can take a break, you know,” Panacea gently chided her husband as she walked up beside him. “I’m not sure what else you can do.”

“Oh, I’m sure I’ll find something,” Carduus retorted. “Even with the funeral done, the Queen will be hurting. That, combined with the expedition, means she shouldn’t have to be bothered every time one of the nymphs knocks a flowerpot down into the recesses of the atrium.”

“Oh dear. Nobody was hurt, I hope?”

“No, though the establishment in question has been advised to keep their decorations away from the edge.”

“Still, there are plenty of others to do that. Changelings still in the guard, for instance. Avia will be back. You could ask Iuvenes for help, even.”

“She has enough on her plate with their little rascal,” Carduus dismissed. “Besides, I’m still good for something. It’s not like you can resist giving pointers to the ‘new generation’ of changeling medical drones.”

“He was doing it wrong!” she shot back with a huff.

“Admit it, we’re both stubborn.”

Panacea huffed. “True. But neither of us are as spry as we used to be, the Queen wouldn’t want you exerting yourself. If you want something to do, why don’t we see if Iuvenes will drop Tutella on us for a few hours and give her some free time.”

“We could…” Carduus mused, trailing off as he glanced off at one of the decorative features of his office space. It was a helmet, battered and dented, pulled from the collapsed rubble of the Badlands Hive. His helmet from before he threw himself between Crudelis and Twilight Sparkle. “I do wish I could be with her, though. A Captain of the Guard should always be beside his Queen.”

“You say that every time she leaves the hive,” Panacea said sympathetically, leaning forward and giving the old stallion a quick kiss just below his horn. “Always loyal to a fault. But we have to let the young have their fun sometime, and you know Façade would never let anything happen.”

“He has the greatest reason not to,” he conceded. “Alright, I’ll be through in a moment. Just leave me to old memories a moment longer.”

“I’ll whip you up a drink, then,” she replied, giving the drone one finally nuzzle before retreating from the room.

Carduus smiled at her as she departed, sighing once the door had fully closed and turning to once again view the helmet. He knew she was right, of course. Age was one enemy he couldn’t defeat, but he would continue to do his best for his hive. What else could he do? He could no longer fight; he was even more likely to topple now than when he briefly fought the swarm of Immortalis during the invasion. But his mind was sharp as ever, desk work and coordination he could handle.

And thinking on the Queen…

“Twilight? You leave tomorrow, yes?”

“Ah, Carduus. I was wondering if you’d check up on me,” Twilight responded with some amusement. “Yes, we are. The final meeting with the princesses just concluded, I trust everything is well in our hive?”

“Aside from a broken flowerpot,” he responded with a communicated internal chuckle. “I’m about to take a break from all that, though.”

“I am glad to hear that. I am always available; it really isn’t a bother.”

“It is to me, my Queen. I want you to enjoy your trip.”

“I will. Please, keep an eye on Avia, won’t you? I worry about her. This will be a great big first for my little filly.”

“I will always protect Avia as I have you, my Queen. I promise you.”

“I know, Carduus. You always have. Take care, you hear?”

“Always, Twilight.”

And with that, Carduus left his old friend to her business. Slowly, his old bones creaking, he got up from his seat and started towards the door. He would take the moment to enjoy the break because, whether his wife complained or no, he still had plenty of work to do.

Author's Note

Sorry for the scarcity of updates, real-life has continued to be... complicated.

I'll be getting back into weekly updates soon, I promise! And with it, the story I have set up to replace A Sparkle in the Darkness shall also arrive. Plus... something a little extra between me and Skijarama...

13 - Flashback: Fires of Friendship

The fire burned bright.

The flames illuminated the cave in a soft amber glow, licking around a heart-shaped flux of magic suspended up high by the ceiling of the underground space. It was a lifeline to those taking shelter within, which included hundreds of ponies. Thousands more remained outside, some in makeshift shelters and tents, while others had been recently given refuge in the city of Pegasolpolis as it sat high above the cave and the mountain it resided on.

Mount Canterhorn, as coined by Clover the Clever.

The refuges were ponies of all walks of life. Earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi. Even some thestrals were among them in the cloud city, despite the limited numbers the pegasus sub-type possessed. Non-pegasi sheltering in the cloud-based settlement were being sustained by unicorn magics allowing them the ability to walk on cloud as the pegasi could, certainly lessening the strain on the surface. Though they couldn’t take them all, filled to capacity and them some after agreeing to take in those who needed it the most. The sick and helpless, the old and young, those unlikely to survive in the freezing snow leftover by the late wendigos.

Beasts that had likewise been destroyed by the enigmatic magic protecting them now.

It was still so fresh in their minds, and yet equally mysterious and confusing. They had all fled across the ocean, landing in this new continent that had barely been mapped. Through either sheet coincidence or the hooves of fate itself, all three factions had chosen to seek refuge by Mount Canterhorn as the snow followed. All three sides were all but ready to fight one another, consumed by petty squabbles over who had the rights to the land around them.

Their squabbling had almost cost them dearly, the cold creeping in while they were distracted and very nearly ending their lives as the wendigos closed in.

Then the fire came, the wendigos were destroyed and their species saved. All because three little ponies managed to put their differences aside and decide to face their deaths with bravery and friendship.

It saved them all.

It was something Queen Platinum played over again and again in her head as she watched over the camp below the cave with tired eyes. She held some of the blame for what almost occurred, so prideful when she met the other leaders in the cave that she couldn’t see the more pressing concern. Too much pride…

She had to be better.

The unicorn sighed, tightening her royal purple cloak as the chill in the air nipped at her fur. Her eyes glanced up at Pegasopolis, a little envious that the pegasi had been able to move their own home to this new land of Equestria whereas the earth ponies and unicorns had been forced to abandon theirs.

At least it gave them a head start.

Equestria… The named seemed appropriate for a newly united race of equines, the decision had been the first thing they could agree on in years.

But there was still so much to work out…

“You should come inside, the fire of the heart will warm you,” Starswirl the Bearded noted as he walked up beside the Queen. “Equestria needs its Queen.”

“Does it?” she questioned. “I nearly doomed us. Do I deserve the crown?”

“You have the most experience ruling as a monarch. Hurricane is more military-minded, Pudding Head is… Well, Pudding Head. They admitted this themselves.”

“Right. And now Hurricane commands the armed forces of all three races and Pudding Head still remains Pudding Head.”

“I think ‘morale officer’ were his precise words.”

“What even is that?”

“I wouldn’t question it. He seems an odd one that pony.”

“Indeed. I should think up a more suitable position and higher stature, else the earth ponies might think we’ve given them the rough end of the deal. I’m still shocked they even chose to let my reign continue, or begin again as it is, given our prior conflict.”

“Our young friends were very persuasive,” Starswirl said with pride in his voice. “My student has done well, I think. He and his new friends, they’ll make excellent advisers in your new court.”

“Yet even now their fire begins to fade.”

“The physical flame, yes,” the wizard confirmed. “But not the spark ignited between them. I can’t say I understand this new magic, but it is powerful. I fully intend to study it while exploring this new land. I can think of a few ponies that may be of assistance. They will be the pillars upon which this ‘Equestria’ is built.”

“I like it. ‘The Pillars of Equestria’,” Clover the Clever remarked from behind them, joining his Queen and Mentor by the edge of the rockface. “You’ll have to introduce me.”

“I will when I’ve met them myself. But each has a reputation of their own from their respective tribes. A dragon tamer. A healer…”

“Sounds like you have things in hoof,” Platinum remarked. “And while you gallop around Equestria mapping it out and studying every inch, I have to try and built a country once the snow clears.”

“We have to try and build a country. You might be the first Queen of Equestria, your Majesty, but you still have your pegasus and earth pony counterparts to call upon,” Clover pointed out. “I’ve spoken with Hurricane. He plans to use Pegasopolis to go around the area and try and clear the snow faster. You know, I have some ideas about constructing a more large-scale weather control device…”

“Ambitious,” Starswirl stated. “But focus on the immediate tasks for now, Clover.”

“Right. Well, they also want to rename it, seeing as it’s a new start and all. No idea what to.”

“Maybe ‘Pegasus Land’,” Platinum remarked sarcastically.

“Cloudsdale, actually,” Hurricane himself deadpanned, exiting the cave alongside former Chancellor Pudding Head. “I’ll remain with you and help train this new ‘EUP’ idea of ours. Going to take some time to get the recruits to work together, but I’m used to knocking some heads until they get the idea.”

“Also, totally going to make a new town earth pony style, but with all races welcome to help!” Pudding Head declared. “Manehatten, I think. It’s going to be the most advanced city in Equestria someday, just watch!”

Hurricane snorted. “Earth pony designed? Advanced? Right.”

“Hey!”

“Let’s not go down this route again,” Starswirl interrupted an argument in the making. “That leaves us with two settlements then, Cloudsdale and Manehatten. What of the unicorns?”

“This mountain will do, I think we’d be comfortable here,” she decided. “Hm… Canterlot.”

“Sounds good to me. Though I think one more settlement should be included in these little plans of ours,” Clover added. “A capital city. One built using all three races and their design aesthetics.”

“Make sense. We can split our people accordingly, get them to each sight where construction can begin. I’ll arrange an escort detail for each effort,” General Hurricane said. “But where would this capital be? Seems a good place to start with our colonisation plans.”

“Start? You have Cloudsdale already!” Pudding Head moaned.

“We cheated,” Hurricane quipped. “But that doesn’t answer my question.”

“There was a forest a short distance from here. We passed it, if you recall,” Starswirl recounted. “The Everfree. A small forest to be sure, but it would be good for lumber.”

“The City of Everfree. A place to stand the test of time,” Platinum agreed. “Alright. It is decided.”

Starswirl nodded. “So it is. My friends, these are truly momentous times in our history. With my student’s fire acting as our hearth, warming our hearts, we go forth in this new endeavour.”

“Then let the event of our unification always be remembered,” Hurricane declared. “Let it be a day celebrated through song.”

“And parties!” Pudding Head added. “Presents!”

“The details are trivial. But this… Hearth’s Warming’s most important thing is remembrance,” Platinum stated.

Clover looked away from the others, his stare directed at the western horizon. “What we were, what we lost. And why we’re still here.”

“Friendship, yes,” Platinum said with a hum. “If only we all allowed ourselves the chance to learn that lesson.”

“Those fools in Unicornia made their choice. If they live, they will forge their own path,” Starswirl reassured her. “But our future is here, and it has begun.”

As he spoke those words, far below amongst the makeshift shelters and tents, two fillies skulked through the crowds of ponies as carefully as they could. One was extremely young, the other seemed to be in her early teens as she kept her younger sister close. They each wore dirtied cloaks over their back, both for warmth and to hide their secret…

They watched as the others huddled for warmth, many around hastily erected cooking fires. Every time they felt the heat, they were reminded of what they once had.

A home of stone brick lit by candles with their own cooking fire lit as their mother made their favourite meals. They hadn’t had much, not so much as a book for entertainment to be found, such things being a luxury few could afford. But they had each other, and their mother had been as beautiful as she was powerful. She made stories of her own, ones the sisters would listen to every night before sleep claimed them.

And then the cold had come, she had told them to run as the monsters came. Her power was great, but there were so many of them, the elements themselves at their command.

She hadn’t followed as she promised.

So the sisters had to continue on, hiding their closely guarded secret as their mother had always instructed. After all, ponies had always fought what was different, why should it be different with them?

But now they were working together, so maybe…?

No, the elder had to shake such thoughts from her head. She had to protect her little sister, she promised their mother. She had to be the adult now.

But she was scared. Even if she had to hide it. She wanted her mother, and she wanted to go home.

But home was lost to them now. They had made it to the shore, stowed away on those wooden ships as they’d made the crossing. Those ships had since been broken down, many of the shelters around them were made from their remains.

There was talk of making a new home. Maybe the sisters would go along with them. Perhaps the elder could find work in a tavern? When taverns existed again, at least. Something to let them eat…

“Tia…?” the younger asked, the young filly looking up at Celestia with shimmering eyes and a quivering lip. “I’m cold…”

“I know, Lulu…” Celestia told Luna, brushing her pink mane out of her eyes before patting her sister’s cyan one in comfort. “We’ll ask one of the nice ponies around us if we can join them by the fire, alright.”

Luna sniffed. “O-okay… Think Mama will be here somewhere…?”

Celestia hesitated, a pit rising in her stomach. “I… don’t know. Let’s get somewhere warm first, okay?”

“Okay…”

They started to move again, the elder of the two secret alicorns looking around for the most ideal ponies she could think to ask based on initial impressions. Who would consider it? Who would pose a threat? She had to protect her sister…

“Tia?” she then asked again timidly. “You will never leave me, right?”

“Never,” she replied, nuzzling the top of her head. “Come on…”

And so the two sisters went, eventually going on to find a nice earth pony couple all too happy to let two children share their fire.

And yet, even as the ponies planned their future and where to build their homes, little did they know that there already existed beings who existed beneath the surface of Equestria. And as they planned their future, already the seeds of it were being sown.

After all, on a hill a short distance from the campsite, an equine shaped creature watched as her dragon-like pupils surveyed the area with curiosity. Several more chitinous beings joined her, adorned in armour that did little to cover the holes dotted around their forms.

“How curious…” Queen Imperatrix mused. “Find out what you can.”

The changeling drones nodded, fire surrounding their forms and replacing them with that of simple dirtied earth ponies. They started to trot down towards the camp as the Changeling Queen watched, humming in contemplation.

On that first day of Hearth’s Warming, the future was being written and decided upon long before any could ever realise it…

Author's Note

You all get lore for Christmas! Watch those dominos begin to fall...

Celestia and Luna are set on a path leading to Starswirl, too deciding his path that day, discovering the training them. Thus leading to their rule.

Imperatrix would use the ponies as a hunting ground, leading to the original Queen Avia to turn against her mother and thus the feud with Crudelis. All the while, the New Kingdom was beginning its own journey across the ocean.

Hearth's Warming set in motion more events than the story ever would tell...

Except for Immortalis. She predestined to return whether any of this happened or not... So lucky for the world things did go as described.

Also, a little reminder that the Tree of Harmony existed long before the Pillars in this universe. Just a tidbit.

32 - The Hives

The council chamber was as it ever was. Ancient. Picturesque, perhaps. Some might even argue it to be stagnant, standing all but the same since the rise and fall of the Empress who once used it as her seat of power. Whatever one were to perceive of the storied chamber, its significance could never be denied, with all the power of the changeling hives brought to bear.

Nineteen Changeling Queens all sat atop their pedestals lining the room. A steady incline from the losses they had suffered in prior decades. Chrysalis, Crudelis, Vespula, Draco… New blood as the daughters of the hives rose to take their places either as the ruler of their forebearers' or an entirely new domain.

Queen Twilight glanced across the chamber towards her fellow princesses, her generation, so to speak. Insecta and Imperious, each long have risen to the height of monarchy in their own right. Yet, all throughout the chamber not a single new princess stood amongst them. No new blood curiously watching their mothers decide the future of their kind, displaying the actions they themselves would be responsible for in the years to come.

Not anymore.

And the circumstances leading to those events were no longer unknown to them, Twilight concluding her recounting of recent history. Their expedition. First contact upon the shores. Early hopes dashed all too soon. And Avia, so full of hope and wonderful idealism, led to her death through treachery and barbarism. The threats. And sheer hubris of these unicorns, and the war that followed their bold declaration of hostility.

Throughout the retelling, the other Changeling Queens looked on with practised neutrality. Their eyes remained calm but piercing, as if dissecting every word, if not every syllable, that came pouring from the lavender changeling’s maw. It was only natural, of course.

Twilight was the exact same way.

And with the conclusion, silence. The stares remained in place, but speech was replaced with a calculating air radiating throughout the chamber. She could see through their neutrality, each going back through the whole speech to ensure they had heard with ears unclouded. Then they judged. Made their own conclusions. Their own decisions.

It was only through a snide sneer that the peace was broken.

“Twilight Sparkle and her little expeditions…” Queen Tempora darkly mussed. “Why must it always be you? Perhaps you have brought back another artefact? What shall it be this time, further enslavement or simple elimination?”

Twilight’s pupils dilated in rage. “My child is dead. Do not make light of this.”

“Yet she is not without point,” Queen Antennae retorted. “It would appear these little ponies were content to drift in the middle of the sea until your curiosity awoke the beast and set all this into motion.”

“That a whole civilisation existed in a supposedly dead land was not anticipated. We all long believed the wendigos had destroyed any and all life on that continent,” Twilight pointedly stated. “And they were given every opportunity to return to their isolation. They chose the blade, not I.”

“And yet-”

Cocoon cleared her throat in quick interruption. “And yet, whatever you all may think of Queen Twilight’s scholarly pursuits, it is King Ignis’ ambitions that brought conflict to Equestria’s shores. Whatever the case, it is done. And the question is not on the benefit of hindsight, but our response to this insult. Not to mention the danger this new alicorn poses.”

“A danger, yes. But to us?” Queen Germanica asked. “The matter of insult aside, I doubt Ignis’ intent spreads as far as the next continent over. What quarrel has he with the griffons? Or the zebricans? Both of whom he would have to risk the ire of to reach this hive.”

“Yet some of us exist closer to the fire than others,” Nursei spoke up in turn.

“Perhaps. Yet only one hive sits front and centre; yours, Twilight Sparkle.”

“You are not incorrect,” Twilight admitted. “Yet you do not need to be in the fire to feel the heat. And even one hive being affected can have severe ramifications, this you all know too well.”

“Are we forgetting the primary point here? If you would allow me to return us to the insult?” Queen Arisana spoke up. “A Princess of the Hives is dead. A future lost, a new hive that shall never be. Our numbers still have never fully recovered from Crudelis’ betrayal, but ‘Queen Avia’ would have solved that quandary.”

“Indeed, Arisana has the right of it,” Queen Pupa concurred. “Our kind stood in decline for generations. Millennia. A reduced and scattered shell. Only in recent years have we seen even the smallest amount of growth. That this pony would cut that short is a challenge that cannot remain unanswered!”

“It is a loss both personal and logistical, I would be hard-pressed to believe it if one of you were to deny that single truth,” Cocoon lamented. “When the symbol of our future prosperity is cast down and smeared in blood, are we, the Queens of all Changelings, to merely ignore it?”

“My mother is right,” Insecta spoke out. “I knew Avia. And it was not so long that I myself stood in her position. And I know she would have been a bright, successful addition to this council. Much like her mother. The New Kingdom squandered her gift.”

As Insecta spoke, one of the Changelings Queens present offered her a wry grin.

Vulgaris settled her hooves in front of her, leaning back on her throne and studying the younger monarch. Her amused hum attracted a multitude of eyes, least of all from Queen Twilight herself, before she finally spoke her mind.

“Perhaps. But I see not why another cannot be created.”

“Mother!” Queen Imperious hissed from the throne to her right.

“She is hardly lacking in companionship, this is little more than a minor setback,” Vulgaris swiftly dismissed. “And yet this ‘King Ignis’ does sound bothersome. And I do so hate bothersome entities.”

“We are so glad for your ‘support’,” Cocoon mocked.

“We are neglecting one of our chief concerns,” Queen Ingrica stated. “As Antennae so kindly pointed out, for most of us this conflict is far afield. Why should many of us do anything at all? An insult this was, I do not deny. Yet is one life enough to put our subjects’ lives in danger.”

“Indeed. What could we possibly have to gain from decisive action?” Vulgaris asked rhetorically. “But the answer is, of course, simple. Equestria.”

Queen Austriaca shared a glance with Queen Ingrica, the former being the one to voice their shared thought. “Indeed? And you, Vulgaris, have never been much of a supporter for our equine allies.”

“Oh no, that I can never deny,” Vulgaris admitted. “Our closeness is a weakness. This I have ever believed. And yet that weakness has now been exploited, and it cannot be ignored.”

“Explain.”

“Need I? I’m sure Queen Twilight is more than willing to spell it out.”

Twilight stared pointedly at Vulgaris for several moments, renewing that calculating and emotionless gaze digging into the red changeling’s being. She then released her stare with a sigh, rubbing the right side of her temple with a hoof.

“If I must. But I should think the threat clear.”

“It is clear. For most of us, I should think,” Queen Xerox spoke. “It has to do with the ‘closeness’ Vulgaris so aptly mentioned.

“My hive has gained a plethora of trade agreements throughout the ponies’ lands,” Queen Acadica stated. “As have most of you. Is that not so, Tempora, Ingrica?

Tempora set her jaw, glancing aside. “…You have the right of it. To some extent.”

Vulgaris rolled her eyes. “Indeed, indeed. So many ties and binds with Celestia’s little ponies. Even my own drones can’t help but be involved with their kind. My own daughter…”

“…To great benefit,” Imperious noted. “We all have embassies in Canterlot. Drones, love collectors and otherwise, operating in their nation sanctioned and supported.”

“Love energy. Freely given, flowing into each of our reservoirs so that no changeling young need starve. No new royal at risk of perishing due to a shortage…” Twilight spoke from painful experience. “One benefit of multitudes. Trade. Security. Political outreach. Even beyond Equestria! I could categorically list off every beneficiary, diplomatic link and agreement we have made through Equestria to other nations. Every single one has been conducted with Equestrian support, guiding us through a process for which our kind have become woefully inadequate. Operating in the light as opposed to the shadows.”

“By refusing aid, we risk all of these benefits through our inaction,” Cocoon further pressed the point home.

One of the others, Plastron, nodded along to her words. “Even were they to be so characteristically forgiving, the damage brought by warfare may cause severe disruption if not the complete collapse of certain sectors should the damage not be mitigated where appropriate.”

“And what if Equestria were to lose?” Queen Pensylvanica asked critically. “What would Ignis do with a nation brought to heel? Given New Kingdom policy, annexation is unlikely. Perhaps he will orchestrate a shift in government, and who can say what their stance on the hives shall be?”

“Or burn it entirely, leave naught but ash,” Pupa added to the other queen’s statement.

“…The Equestrian Hive almost certainly with it,” Queen Orbata, the last of them to speak to this point, finally concluded. “A further reduction of our numbers to top off the list of losses brought about by such a disaster.”

Arisana nodded. “Then surely this cannot be allowed to stand. Whether you act on principal for the death of Princess Avia or the practicality of it, the threat The New Kingdom poses to the hives is very real.”

“The surely the solution is both obvious and inevitable,” Vulgaris remarked, her eyes glaring into Twilight’s. “You came here for soldiers. Spies. Infiltrators. Changeling support on the front lines and behind it too. To bring those unicorns chaos and death like they’ve never known.”

“In less brutal a description…” Twilight’s reply began. “…but yes. I would request you all spare what you can. Yourselves included if feasible. Our infiltrators can confuse their forces. Our warriors can bolster the EUP’s defence. A single one of us should be a match for the treacherous wretch sitting atop of it all, so what could several do?”

“Do we know the alicorn’s capabilities?” Imperious enquired.

“I know mine,” Twilight dangerously responded. “And so will he, in due time.”

“To be clear, your mistakes have led us to this mess,” Vulgaris mocked. “Yet, the bother that this is, I wish to see it resolved. I have a hive to run, so if you want his head, I see no reason why it shan’t be yours.”

“Are you volunteering?” Cocoon asked with a quirked eyebrow.

“As I said, I want this resolved. It would behove me to see to it myself.”

“I would also accompany Queen Twilight. My mother too, I imagine,” Insecta stated, receiving a confirming nod from Cocoon in turn.

“…I can spare a handful of infiltrators. But I will attend to my hive, my place is there and there alone,” Tempora decided.

“Before deciding about the who and what, I believe we need to confirm this course of action shall actually be taken,” Cocoon pointed out. “If Queen Twilight is satisfied that this discussion has reached its zenith.”

Twilight nodded. “I am. You all know what’s at stake here. Equestria has been our friend for decades. A friend who has stuck by our kind even when it has every right to turn away. It has been my home for far longer than that. I will fight for its future and ours. Friends do not abandon each other. Especially not to a bully such as Ignis. So vote, vote and let’s get this done with.”

The result was, of course, unanimous.

Ignis’ image flickered in the smoke before Queen Vulgaris, the changeling safely sequestered away in the private chambers set aside for her, an expectant look in his eyes as he regarded the Changeling Queen. He took a moment to study the faint surroundings behind her, the dark stone and chitinous materials, alien and almost menacing in design…

Not as menacing as the creature herself, alas. Her eyes brimming with what he would almost call excitement, or perhaps hunger…

“There has been development, then?” he asked, knowing full well the answer.

“Twilight Sparkle laid out her grand plan, and I played the part required of me,” Vulgaris pridefully responded. “I shall be departing for Equestria soon with a host of drones, as will several of the others. Some of the details are being worked out but be assured I will provide all the details once they are available.”

“Be sure you do. You are presently informing me that our army will be rife with shapeshifters, I would quite like to know who they are, where they are, and what each intends before it becomes a problem for us.”

“But of course…” At least, that of her most pressing rivals. What was the harm in letting a few slip through the cracks and soften those little ponies up? It would make for certain assurances when the war was all said and done…

“Let them burn with all the rest.”

“You will have your names,” Vulgaris continued. “And we can enter the next stage of this farce. I will be right at the princess’ side, doing my piece to secure our nation’s future… Don’t be alarmed if one or two of my drones steal away some information here and there. Appearances are so important.”

“Nothing vital. And no bodies. No deaths,” Ignis warned. “If you really require it we can arrange an ‘exchange’ where necessary. But if I find out you have taken more than agreed upon…”

“Again, with the hostility, why, are we not allies? For now,” Vulgaris purred. “Our interests yet align, so I’ll do what I must. Play your war. I’ll win it for you with whispers and suggestion.”

“We shall see…” Ignis replied dryly. “I expect those names. Do not delay.”

The smoke drifted away, the alicorn’s visage vanishing to nothingness. It was a rather delightful metaphor in Queen Vulgaris’ eyes. A fitting future for the spoiled princeling, and ponykind as a whole if all came to fruition. One step at a time, one battle, one meeting after another. Little lines of fate all coming together, and vengeance would be had.

Revenge…

She wasn’t entirely sure why the thought sounded as sweet as it did. But it wracked her every waking thought. Her entire being demanded it be satisfied. A persistent thought in her head that would not let her be. Equestria would pay, the changelings would be their own masters once more, and she would reign as their liberator and ruler both.

It was all so close now. After all these years…

“So… so long…”

Vulgaris lit her horn and draped a cover over the cauldron, turning her back on the magical device and heading for the door.

She wasn’t expecting the visitor patiently waiting for her exit.

“Mother.” Imperious casually greeted.

“Daughter…” Vulgaris greeted in turn, albeit with far more caution. “I did not realise you wished to speak with me.”

“Do I need a reason? I am your child. And you yourself did bid me visit you again, no?”

Vulgaris was silent for several moments before giving a slow nod. “Quite right… What do you require?”

Imperious frowned. “That was quite the display back there. In the chamber… You surprise me. Your quick action in going to Equestria’s defence was a refreshing change of pace. Even in your own seething manner.”

“It is only a logical course of action. Nothing more.”

“Oh, I quite agree. That expanded trade agreement I mentioned? It went quite well, I for one would quite like to protect my investments,” the younger changeling noted. “Much unlike yourself when we last spoke, now that I consider it. Passing strange.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“When we last spoke you decried our ties to Equestria. Bemoaned your own humiliation, all but made them out to be our slave masters. Called me a fool in more than one way for my disagreement with your assessment.”

“I recall mentions of a ‘stubborn old mule’,” Vulgaris deadpanned in response.

“That you are. At least, that’s what I expected.”

“I believe I explained my reasoning well enough in the meeting,” the elder queen retorted. “This new alicorn is a blight in need of excision. I won’t suffer further disruption from those pastel brats.”

“Now that I believe. Yet I find it difficult to accept there isn’t another advantage you see in this. I had expected you to sit idly by and offer token support at best, not wade into the mire yourself. Not for them, no matter what you claim. I know you, mother. You would have no interest in doing so for the sake of preserving this alliance. No, you have another reason…”

“Or perhaps you underestimate me, daughter. You and all the other ingrates on the council,” she shot back, Imperious gritting her teeth at the jibe. “What do you wish me to say?”

“That you’re on our side.”

“Excuse me?”

“Tell me that you're on our side. That you won’t make yourself a problem.”

“So, you have that little faith in me?”

“Promise me. Now.”

“I am on the side of our kind and our best interests. And right now, that means going along with Twilight Sparkle and her standard lunacy.”

“And you’re certain of that?”

“You bid me swear, and I have. There is nought more to be said!” Vulgaris stamped her hoof in emphasis of the point. However, her posture softened a little, and she gave a small sigh before speaking again. “If nothing else, one truth is I shan’t do anything that would see harm come to you, daughter. I work for the future of our kind. You most of all. That has ever been my foremost priority.”

Imperious studied her for several moments. Doubt and suspicion remain etched across her face, and yet that essence of familial affection began to eat away at it all too soon. She quickly gave a sigh of her own, letting any and all tension leave her frame.

“…Okay. Then let us be about it. At least we shall be together for some time yet, mother. A change that may do us both good, it has been some time.”

“Indeed. I look forward to that, at least.”

Imperious nodded, starting to turn and walk away. She couldn’t help but stop and glance over her shoulder with remaining concern, but soon let that fade too as she made her departure.

Vulgaris watched her go. Her eyes hardened as she turned a corner, leaving the Changeling Queen alone once more.

Lies. Half-truths. Real truths. When to tell which. How to mix them. How to truly deceive, blend them so which one is which becomes all but indiscernible. She had always been so good at that. All three together, the ultimate lie…

Imperious would forgive her one day.

She wouldn’t have a choice.