All I really need's a smile, smile, smile!by Lightening_ZingChaptersSurprise! (rev. III)Cookies! (Rev. I)Here comes Pinkie! (Rev. I)Party of the two (rev. I)Meet new friends! (Own Rev I)Secrets and lies! (Own Rev I)Giggle at the ghosties! (Senpakuxkira Rev.I)Fluttershy's not a food, traitor! (Own Rev I)Checklist (Own Rev I)Cutie Mark Feeders! (Own Rev I)Story Time (Own Rev I)Intermission: The Earth is round. There is no up or down. aka World MapsNew pony in the town! (Own Rev I)Unexcepted visitorHost(ility)Hop, Skip and Jump (unrev...)Wake up, sleepyhead!Changing Mind pt.1Changing Mind pt.2 (Raw version)Intermission: It was under E! aka Changeling writing systemSurprise! (rev. III)It was late in the evening when the bell in Sugarcube Corner rang. In the door stood a white-coated pegasus with a blond, straight mane. She had bandaged wings and a tired look in her eyes, yet there was a small, mischievous smile on her face. All in all she looked like a pony who had had a pretty rough day. "Is anypony here?" she called out. "Just a second, I’ll be right there!" a high-pitched, excited voice suddenly replied. The pegasus moved further into the room, towards a counter displaying a wide assortment of cookies. She looked at them with sneer of contempt. "I'm here silly!" From the kitchen bounced a grinning, pink, earth pony with a pink mane and tail that, for some reason, reminded the newcomer of candy floss. When the pink pony saw the pegasus however, her grin fell. "Oh, it's you." "Surprise?" chuckled the pegasus. "No, you got her mane and personality wrong." said Pinkie, now without a trace of joy in her voice. "What? You’re not making any sense... As usual." "I'm Pinkie." said the pink pony, as if that explained everything. "Oh, we both know that you’re not." Deadpanned the visitor. Pinkie shot the pegasus an angry look as her mane dulled and straightened, her coat greying a bit. "What do you want, Chrysalis?" She asked sharply. "Why are you so angry? I only wanted to visit my beloved sister. Is that so bad? Does that justify your hate?" smirked Chrysalis, letting her eyes go to their natural green. "No, but what you did to my friends, to the princesses, to me-YES!" "Keep your voice down, 'Pinkie', I'm sure that you don't want your 'friends' to know about your little secret. Oh, I see it in your eyes, this fear... I wonder, what would they do if they discovered that their little 'friend', Pinkie Pie the earth pony, is really a Changeling Queen?" Pinkie Pie sat on ground, her head dropping down. "I lied to them, okie dokey? I lie to everypony about who… what I am." A tear fell from her eye. "I was planning to tell them, someday, but..." Sadness vanished from her voice, and in its place came anger. " ...but thanks to you, everypony knows about changelings, and believe we are evil!" "Oh, they already knew. Fables, stories, horrors..." "That's not real." Pinkie retorted. "It's enough for them to believe. And if ponies are so tolerant, then why did you take this ... shape?" Chrysalis scowled. Pinkie was silent for a while. She had seen so often how stupid and blind ponies can be. Zecora, Appleloosa, Luna... Always the same; prejudices, pride, fear. Truth is, she had helped along the baseless fear of Zecora, but she was scared that this wise zebra would blow her cover with some brew of hers. It seemed logical to fear the reactions of the ponies around her. She sighed. "You know why. They wouldn't accept me, looking as myself, but my friends are still my friends! And for Discord's sake, if only we had reached the Elements of Harmony, I would have stood against you. I hate you. I truly hate you. And I know you can feel it", the earth pony said with passion, her eyes betraying just how hurt she was. Chrysalis frowned and, for first time since entering the bakery, she looked guilty. "Sis... I'm sorry for what happened in past. I wanted to avoid that, but I was left with no choice. Your ideas were dangerous; I couldn't let you to rule by your ways. Your plan of going to Equestria to negotiate with Celestia was crazy! I was scared that you would be killed on spot! I was scared that the Swarm would be exterminated. I couldn't imagine that ponies would accept emotion-eaters. I'm afraid they still won’t." The Changeling Queen confessed. Pinkie Pie blew her nose into a pink hanky she had grabbed from the desk. "Chrys, I know why you did it. I knew, but it still hurts. Exiled; my throne taken from me. Accused and found guilty of betraying the Swarm. Thrown out of the hive like... a stranger. No, worse; an enemy. Abandoned. Sentenced to live alone, on my own. But I managed. I made up weird stories about my past, and found my place in Ponyville. Imagine; a rainbow showed me the way when I was lost in the wasteland. I even became the Bearer of Laughter. And the first time I saw you after so many years... you were threatening my friends, Equestria, and even hurt the brother of my close friend. On top of that you even managed to fool even me. And even when you finally revealed yourself you looked so sick and I was scared. Scared, of you and for you. I was torn apart: You and the Swarm and my friends and Equestria, that I would need to choose a side..." Pinkie wept softly. "Sister, I'm sick. All of the Swarm is. We are running low, too low on Love. This was a desperate attempt to change everything. Conquering Equestria would have saved us. There is so much Love in its very foundation, in its ponies, in everything. But now... we are in an even worse situation than we were before. My ‘lings are scattered all over Equestria, many of them are wounded. The Princesses likely hate us all, the guards are hunting day in and day out for hiding changelings. Even you are in danger now. I failed, as a leader and as a sister." Chrysalis abandoned her disguise. In a jet of green fire the white pegasus disappeared, and in her place stood the shape of an alicorn, shelled in damaged black chitin, with a jagged horn and holed legs, wings, tail and mane. One of hers wing looked torn. She sat, full of shame. Pinkie trotted up to her and hugged her. Chrysalis shuddered from this gesture. "You tried you best, sis. You only wanted what was best for the Swarm. That was our responsibility. You sacrificed your own sister for them, you came up with plan to save them all, and took the hardest role; you fought with Celestia herself for them. I'm still mad at you for what you did to me, but you have been a better Queen than I have. Look at me, I forgot about everyling I left behind. Never cared what was going on back in the Swarm. Who knows, maybe it all could have been avoided if only I had returned in time. I was too conceited to listen to you when I should. And you couldn't stop that. It was my hard lesson," Pinkie winced slightly. Chrysalis hugged Pinkie back. "Don't be sad. You have always been the cheerful and silly one." "And you were the confident and tyrannical one. Seriously, all this 'forgive me, I was wrong' doesn’t go with that evil face, sick green eyes, damaged wings and holes." Pinkie let out a small laugh. She lifted the Queens head a little with her hoof. Chrysalis smiled slightly. There was a small moment of silence. "Chrys, what are you going to do now?" Pinkie asked. "There is nothing I can do. My plans have gone south. And your old ideas are now impossible because of my pride and my stupidity. I fear and hate ponies... I fear what they will do when they discover me. I hate them because I need them. I hate them, because food shouldn't be a threat to me. I don't understand how you can live like this!" "Like what?" "Like a simple baker. Like a pony, an earth pony. How you never treat or look at them as food.” "Simple baker? Silly, I'm Pinkie Pie, I'm anything but a simple baker! Everypony says about me 'she’s just being Pinkie'. It's to describe how unique, in a 'crazy but fun' way I am. I like them, and they like me. I know they wouldn't like Metamorphosis, but... I don't care about her! I'm Pinkie! And about feeding... I know everypony in Ponyville, did you know that? Seriously everypony! It’s not that hard, since I was used to knowing so many different ‘lings in the past. I know so much about them, and I care about them all from the bottom of my heart. They are not food to me, but they feed me without knowing. And they like me, they love my parties. Parties... MMMmmm, are like food contest. So many of emotions, so... live! I love to throw parties, both for food and fun. That's Pinkie Style! I'm getting love from the entire town. And nopony is hurt despite it, because with so many sources, nopony is left without emotions. From every single pony I take only a little bit, so little that they don't feel that. And it'll grow back! It's like sheep shearing." Pinkie giggled after a moment. "What’s so funny about that? What you said sounded clever" Chrysalis asked confused. "Oh, nothing. Only that ponies are not sheep. Imagine a pony with sheep wool. They would be sooo fluffy. One big fluff in pony size. That would look so funny!" "Sister," Chrysalis shook her head at her sister antics. "You are just as silly as always." "Hey, I'm the silly one! The Silly Filly! Oh, that rhymes! But that should be Silly Larva, but that doesn’t rhyme, sooo..." Pinkie Pie bounced from Chrysalis, her mane back to its regular bouncing form as well. "Yes, you are. But you are also the wise one. You found a way to sate your hunger, without nopony noticing, without hurting them. And I was stupid to not believe you, when you said that it would be possible." "Chrys... There is only one option left. I'm going to Celestia. To save us." "What?!" Chrysalis rose up, shocked by Pinkies idea. "You can’t! I cannot lose you, not after today..." Chrysalis looked conflicted for a bit, but finally continued "I missed you. I missed having a sister. I missed your silliness, you weirdness, talking to someling who doesn’t care that I'm a Queen, just talking like nothing really matters." "Sister, it’ll all end in rainbows and sunshine," Pinkie smiled. "Trust me. You will not lose me. I don't want to lose you either. And this is something I have to do. You reminded me of my responsibilities to my subjects. And if we don’t do anything the guards will catch you, or me. Or you will die from starvation... Or something even worse and, duh!, dying from starvation is pretty bad you know!" "But... you have everything!!! Food, peace, 'friends' even, Why would you want to risk it?" burst the changeling Queen at Pinkies stubborn stupidity and from her own fear. "Shh Chrys. You don't want to wake up the Cakes. They sleep lightly." Pinkie warned, but too late. Crying was heard from above. "Okay, nevermind. I need to put them back to sleep," sighed the earth pony. For a while the jaw of Chrysalis was on the floor. But then she went full nuts. "You have larves?! Are you mad, starting a hive in the middle of Equestria?" "What? No! NoNoNo! They aren't mine. Where did you get that idea? They are foals of Missus and Mister Cake. I'm loco in the coco, but not so much to... you know…" Pinkie Pie blushed. "I - Good" Chrysalis calmed down a bit and then she transformed back into the white pegasus. "You are silly as always. Looking after someponies foals... like a nurse." Chrysalis scowled, but it was fake one. "Oh, just go you meanie queenie." said Pinkie with small smile. Chrysalis was moving towards the door, but she stopped. "Sister? Please, promise me that you won’t go to Celestia." "I cannot promise you that." Pinkie's smile vanished. "But I can Pinkie Promise that I'll talk with you before I go." "Thanks... Pinkie." Chrysalis said and exited Sugarcube Corner. Both Changeling Queens had someone they needed to look after. For one, it was an entire Swarm of changelings, lacking food, desperate from hunger, and all of them looking up to their Queen. For the other it was a pair of twins, awaked by the nighttime meeting of two estranged royal sisters. (Rev made by Kexerval Scratch) Author's Note Attention, new readers. Any chapter past 3 is not revised. Just don't get you hopes high. Cookies! (Rev. I)The next morning, Pinkie came bouncing down to the kitchen only to be met with a concerned looking Mrs. Cake. Lying on the desk in front of the mare was a small paper note. "Hiya Mrs. Cake! What's up with the frown? Or maybe my eyes have turned upside down, because I’m sure there’s no reason to be sad!" asked Pinkie upon seeing the look on her employers face. "Oooh, did you get mail Mrs. Cake?! Is it an invitation?! An award for being awesome?! Oh wait, that isn’t something to get sad over. I get it! ...Bills?" with that last question Pinkie raised a confused eyebrow. "No no, Pinkie, nothing like that." Mrs. Cake smiled lightly. "Problem is; I’m not sure what it is! Please, could you have a look Pinkie? Maybe it's another of Rainbow Dash’s pranks?" Pinkie trotted up to Mrs. Cake with a happy smile. "Oh, it's way too early for Dashie! She is a real sleepyhead. Napping all the time. Like a cat! Hey, maybe she's part cat!? That would explain why she is so agile!" While she was talking, Pinkie began to look over the sheet. At first she didn't notice anything weird. It seemed like a regular letter and she was about to say so, when she suddenly realized that the writing wasn't of the Equestrian alphabet: It was Changeling runes. A cold shiver ran down her spine. It was incredibly stupid; the perfect way to blow her cover! What was Chrysalis thinking?! "I know who wrote this!" She chimed happily, making sure to put on a smile before turning to face Mrs. Cake. "Yes, Pinkie? Please, do tell." "Scootaloo!" Pinkie said, as if it had been obvious all along. "Why Scootaloo?" "Oh, because she's a chicken! So her hoofwriting is complete chicken scratch!" Pinkie had to admit, that was pretty cruel. Scootaloo hated that nickname with a passion. Pinkie once told her that that chickens are very determined and tough. So tough that when they fight, they fight to the death. That had lifted the pegasus filly’s spirits a bit. But then that meanie- pants, Diamond Tiara had told her that it only applies to the male chickens, and that the females are only good for lays eggs. Then she laughed about what an egg-laying Cutie Mark would look like. Scootaloo had had enough and pummeled the spoiled unicorn into ground. Apple Bloom eventually managed to cheer her up when she showed her an old comic-series about a time-traveler, named McFly, who was a master of all kinds of scooters and who kicked some serious flank after being called a chicken. It goes without saying that Scootaloo now had yet another idol. "Dearie?" Asked Mrs. Cake. "Yes, Mrs. Cake?" "You kind of spaced out for a bit. I was saying that you might be right that this was work of some foals. It looks just like scribbles. And children nowadays..." "Yup, nothing to worry about!" nodded Pinkie enthusiastically. Mrs. Cake grabbed the note and started to crush the paper into ball. "No!" Pinkie gasped and ran up to Mrs. Cake, taking the now crumbled note from her hoofs. "Dearie?" Mrs. Cake backed up a few steps. "Oh, Mrs. Cake, I'm sorry but I wanted to ask you if I could use this paper for origami. Or better yet; airplanes! Ooooh! Pegasus flying origami!" Pinkie babbled, masking her panic with typical Pinkie Pie behaviour. "...Allright Pinkie, you are so bizarre." Mrs. Cake smiled slightly. Pinkie let out a silent "phew" and hurried back to her room with the note. "I'll be back in a minute!" She shouted down the stairs, and bounced inside her room. After making sure that nopony was around, she unfolded the paper and started to read. The runes were shaky to say the least, as if whoever wrote this was weak or unskilled at writing. "Sis I need your assistance. ASAP. I hate to risk your cover and your happiness, but lives are at stake. Come to Everfree Forest. Someling will lead you to me. I couldn't come myself, I'm too weak. Please, bring some Love if you can, by any means possible. P.S. If you can't make it there without risking your life or your secret, DO NOT COME." Pinkie stared at the note for a while. Chrysalis had to be out of love if she couldn’t even make it to Ponyville. She must be in dire need of love. But maybe it wasn’t just her. She wrote "lives". How many of them could be hiding in the Everfree? How many were starving right at that very moment? Pinkie sighed and looked under the bed. There it was: Her Love-filled treats. She had come up with this idea many years ago. Transferring Love into real food or drinkables, and using them later. Not that she was ever in need of that, but it helped her dealing with excess of Love and she liked treating her friends with their own love. It always made them so happy, and they told her it was delicious. What she was holding in her hooves could probably fill at least a dozen changelings. Pinkie smiled to herself. "You gotta share, you gotta care..." She sang quietly and giggled. She wrapped it as a gift, put it onto her back, and walked down to the kitchen. She sneaked, like ninja, behind Mrs. Cake who was pouring flour into a bowl. "Mrs. Cake!? Could I get a free day? I almost forgot my Pinkie Promise to spend time with a friend!" The pink pony started pleading with tears in her eyes. Mrs. Cake jumped under the ceiling from shock. She needed a while to calm down. "What? Of course dearie, I know how important your promises are to you. And I can handle today myself, I doubt we are going to have that many customers." She gave Pinkie a nervous smile. "Great! Thanks Mrs. Cake! You really should get that reward for being super-duper-awesome Mrs. Cake! See’ya!" She bounced from the shop and into Ponyville. She trotted happily along the streets, exchanging small talk, calling out "Hello!" or "Hi!" along the way, even though she was worried by the contents of the letter. Well, she was changeling in the end. Wearing masks was a part of her life. Remembering the words of the note, she gathered as much love during this trip as was possible without hurting anypony. "Sup, Pinkie?" a brash cyan pegasus landed in front of Pinkie. She had a rainbow colored mane and tail. "Feeling up for some pranking?" The pegasus asked with a playful smirk. "Nah-ah, I can't right now Dashie. I've got to make some deliveries." Pinkie bucked herself in her mind for not preparing a good excuse in case she met any of her friends. "Oh, great, is everypony avoiding me? Applejack is busy bucking, Fluttershy had to do something with her animals, Twilight closed the library because she is practicing her new spells, Rarity wanted me to pose for her stupid fashion, and you have to make some deliveries!" Rainbow fretted and flew up. "What's up with all of you? Totally uncool." "Oh, Dashie" Pinkie giggled. "You are behaving just like me before my birthday!" "Well..." the pegasus scratched her arm. "Yeah, you are right, I think. So, where are you going? I'm up for going with you." Pinkie wasn't prepared for that. She couldn't just tell Rainbow to go away, and she didn't want to give her treats to anypony. There were beings that needed them more. So, she had to tell Rainbow that she was going to somepony who Dash don't like. Who could she choose?... "Ditzy Doo!" She chimed. "Derpy? Ugh, I'll pass. It’s not like I dislike her... but she can be such a weirdo." Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "She's fun!" "She causes too much extra work for the rest of us." Dash said matter of factly. Ditzy was indeed a hard working mare, and she was generally a good, sweet, pony. But sometimes she... derped something up. And when she did, she did it to the max. And it didn't help that she was just trying to help and often didn't know what went wrong. Someponies thought she did it on purpose, when she was actually truly oblivious to what happened. Pinkie knew perfectly well that the gray pegasus was really embarrassed about what she did. Nevertheless Pinkie liked Ditzy. There was something uplifting about this bubbly postmare. She just needed a little help fitting into Ponyville. "Yup, but she's so often trying fix what she messed up!" "Which sometimes ends in a much bigger disaster." Rainbow huffed, thinking of the time when Derpy single-hoofedly demolished town hall. "Well... You’re right..." Pinkie pouted slightly. Rainbow suddenly felt a little mean about the whole conversation. "Hey, but she's still cool, okay Pinkie?" "Okey Dokey Loki!" "Awesome! Okay, sorry, I gotta go! See ya later Pinks!" and with that, Rainbow Dash whizzed away. Pinkie left Ponyville and headed into the Everfree, careful not to be spotted by anypony. At the boundary of the forest she spotted a single Pegasus. He was a stern looking soldier from Celestia's Royal Guard. Pinkie panicked a bit. Was it a trap? Or was this one of her own kind? When she was exiled she was also deprived of her abilities to recognize other changelings, as well as the ability to mind-link to the others. It was taken from her in case she wanted to seek revenge on her kind, by compromising their covers. She had only recognized Chrysalis because Chrysalis let her. Otherwise she would have been oblivious about who she had been speaking to. And now she was in trouble. Unsure about the identity of the pegasus in front of her, how should she defuse this situation? Pinkie began to open her mouth, but then the guard bowed before her! "Queen, I was awaiting for you. Do you wish to be lead to your royal sister?" Pinkie was stunned for a moment, but the she brought her hoof under the chin of the pegasus and raised his head. He had clueless look on his face. "My lady, what are you doing?" His brow raised in confusion. "Silly, you’re risking your cover like this. And there is no need to call me by my title!" "But..." "No buts, only yes ma'am, okay? So, what's your name? And are you hungry?" "Que... Um..." He stopped when he saw Pinkie's disappointed glare. "My name is Second Shade... Um... and yes, I am... Very. But you really shouldn't worry about it too much... And what should I call you... Que... errr... my lady?" "Oh, call me Pinkie for now! Everyone calls me that! Oh, and take this cupcake!" She reached for the box, and she took from it a single cupcake. "Um... thanks? But... what should I do with it?" "Silly, eat it! What else can you do with it?" She laughed at the confused guard. But she had a suspicion that he wasn't really trained for undercover harvest missions. He bowed before her and he didn't know what to do with food... He was probably a worker inside the hive, not a soldier or scout who was trained to fit into pony society. She mimicked eating with her mouth to encourage the confused changeling. "Okay..." He took a small bite. His eyes widened in shock. "It was... I... I'm full! And it was so live in taste... I’ve never tasted Emotions like these!" He spaced out for a second. "Oops... I got a bit carried away Qu... Pinkie..." "No worries! I'm glad you liked that! So, could you lead me to Chrysalis?" "Yes, Pinkie! Follow me." And with that, the two disguised changelings disappeared into the shadows of the Everfree Forest. Here comes Pinkie! (Rev. I)"Queen... Sorry! Pinkie... could you, and this is only a suggestion, so if you don’t want, you shouldn't listen, and I might be out of line..." Shade saw Pinkie smile encouragingly "...but could you change to you real self before we reach the camp? I only recognized you because Queen Chrysalis gave me your description..." "Oh... Okie! But it would be a great surprise!" "Pardon?" "Imagine! An earth pony trotting into camp, and then! POOF! Where the pony was standing, there is a Queen with gifts for everyone!" "That does sound pretty funny, Pinkie, but they would be scared at first... But it sounds like great idea." He added carefully. "Well, you’re probably right. How far is it?" "We only need to go slightly past the old castle ruins, and into the undergrounds we found. This is one of our better camps. Or, so they say, at least." "So... how bad it is?" Pinkie asked seriously when the ruins became visible through the trees. "We have many wounded. We are healing them, and trying to organize passage for them back to Swarm territory. But too many of us are too hungry to even attempt the journey. The ponies are developing changeling-seeker spells, royal guards are patrolling all the best routes back home, most of our gatherers have already been caught and need to be rescued - which we can't accomplish because most of us aren’t soldiers, but workers or recon... ...we probably won't make it." Shade’s voice was somber, but calm. It was the calmness of one who had accepted his inevitable death. "And worse, the Queen is giving away all of her love, even when she herself is barely holding up." He looked up to Pinkie. "Some of us are putting our hope in you. But... I lost all of it." Pinkie knew that words wouldn't be enough to lift this ‘ling from this depression. So she was silent the rest of the way to the ruins. "Pinkie? I hope you aren’t mad at me... I just... These last years, things have become worse and worse, but me and my friends were able to survive. But now... I can't reach them or they are dead..." He continued, looking for some kind of forgiveness. And what could she say? That she was sorry? That he shouldn't lose hope? That she’d fix it? It hit her hard. The future of her race was bleak. Back home: Famine, caused by advancing desertification of usable land, for farming ingredients for love potions or other substitutes of love, and raiding griffin parties. The war between the Griffin Kingdom and the Swarm had never ended. It had just gone on so long that war had become the obvious state for both sides. And it was horrible. Here in Equestria: They were stranded, scattered, wounded and hungry in unfriendly territory. They were failed invaders, seen as an unequine enemy. She'd try her best, but it was just that: Try. No guarantee that she'd succeed. "I'm sorry, Shade." She said truthfully. Just that. Nothing more would be needed. Nothing more could be said for this broken ‘ling. Not now. "I... Thank you Queen... Pinkie. I just needed someling to speak to, about how bad things are looking. I'm trying to look tough, so I don’t worsen the situation in camp. Too many have lost their spirits already. But the truth is... I'm broken inside. And I can't help it." The disguised guard was sobbing slightly. Pinkie stopped following him. She said tenderly "Maybe you want to rest a while? A few minutes won't change much." Guard nodded and sat in front of Pinkie, trying to get a grip on himself. "If you need to cry, don't hold back. I'll understand." "No, I... I can take it..." Silence, broke by sound of tears hitting the ground. Pinkie let him cry it all out. After a few minutes, the pegasus-disguised changeling stood up. "I'm ready. Shall I lead?" He asked calmly, but the undertones of sadness were still noticeable. "Lead me, Shade. We have love and hope to deliver." After a short walk, following her guide, Pinkie saw what could be mistaken for a wolf's den. She gave Shade an asking look, and in response he nodded. The earth pony sighed, and pinkish flame engulfed her. Her legs extended, her head took a more alicorn-like shape, from her back sprouted pinkish transparent wings, a cross between those of a butterfly and a dragonfly, from her forehead grew a sabre-shaped horn, and from top of her head rose a small crown-like appendage. On the ends of her legs a few small holes appeared, placed regularly and symmetrical. A few holes placed with some kind of order was a sign of a healthy changeling. Large holes, or too many, or randomly placed ones, meant the changeling was likely sick or hungry. Her mane lost its puffiness and fell down, greying a bit, looking very similar to her last birthday party, when she though her friends had abandoned her. Her body was covered in dark pink chitin armor, which looked less battle-ready, and more for elegance. A few details of armor were a slightly brighter tone, and her eyes were fully blue, until she lifted her internal eyelids. A changelings internal eyelids are generally used to recognize other changelings and observe trace emotions or magic. They are also used to show the mental map created through the hive mind: This mind-map includes the position of other changelings as well as information gathered by the recons, such as the location of enemies, allowing anyling to see where they are. The eyelids also blocks sharp light or, with the use of magic, can give limited dark vision. For Pinkie though, most of these uses weren't working now because she was without mind-link. Finally, with the disappearance of the former earth pony's Cutie Mark, the transformation was complete. Shade looked at her and felt a tiny glimmer of hope. Maybe she could change the wrath of fate. "It’s been so long..." Pinkie hissed. "Oh well! How do I look? I can't enter looking anything but exceptional." "Pinkie, just looking at you is giving me hope. You look exactly like what we’ve been awaiting for." She looked at him gratefully. "Let's share this hope with others, alright?" Her guide nodded and went through the hole, down into the ground. Pinkie brought her internal eyelids down and brightened her vision. Pressing through the narrow tunnel was hard enough, and there weren’t any sources of light. Going deeper, she heard dim voices. She couldn't distinguish individual voices or conversations, but they sounded... weak, tired. " Queen, I mean Pinkie, the tunnel will go down sharply now, so do be careful." And with that the changeling in front of her disappeared. Pinkie looked down, she saw light and Shade waiting on the end of tunnel. He had somehow slid down. Pinkie carefully grabbed, with her magic, the box of love-filled sweets, and jumped down. With a loud thud she landed in front of the guard and stepped into the light. What she entered had to be the cellar of the old castle. Huge rooms, with walls in same style as the old princesses castle. The stood some old columns in middle of room she entered. On left and right walls were two entries each, and in the wall opposite to Pinkie was a large gate. And then she saw them. Her people. There were dozens of them, maybe even over a hundred. All of them were staring at the dark pink Queen. Wounded, hungry, tired. Soldiers, workers, males and females. Looks of hope, looks of wonder and looks of absolute confusion were in the minority at first. Most of them looked with despair, hatred or resignation. But then everyling began looking at each other. Hushed conversations were heard. "Is that her?" "She looks healthy." "That’s the exiled Queen?!" "No way, this isn’t real." "She's looking at us!" "She was exiled by the Queen!" "Maybe she come to save us?" And then, those who were lying stood up. The wounded were asking the healthy to help them up. Those already standing started to bow, and others joined them. Some started to crawl towards the Queen with pleading looks on their faces. Pinkie noticed one who was crawling to her with damaged hind legs. She was young, maybe even underage, wearing light recon armor. If she weren't so famished, she would be a pretty one. But now, she had so many holes in her body, her "mane" had fallen off, the wings on her back were in tatters, and her chitin was cracked and fully black; no hints of color. Pinkie let her eyes scan over the crowd. She felt great sadness hitting her heart, but she couldn't afford to let it overcome her. She had responsibility. She lifted her hoof. What could she say to them? She wasn't one for speeches. She wasn't really a ruler. She didn't know how to do that. But she had to. Her... subjects... were waiting. How did Chrysalis do it?! "Your Queen has come back. And she's ready to feed you all!" Or at least, she hoped so. "I'm here to give you hope, I'm here to do something about the horror that has befallen our kind!" She silenced for a second. What else to say? They were excepting her to give them hope. But if she promised and then failed... They will lose absolutely everything. Any leftovers of hope would be crushed. So what to add? Truth. "I cannot guarantee you that I can save you all or that we can make it through. I can't say that in end of this there will be a happy ending. I can't promise that you will like it. But I can guarantee you that I will do everything I can! If I had to, I'll die trying! This is my word to you!" Weirdly, there were some cheers. Not loud ones, not live ones, but there were a few. Pinkie began transferring love to her horn, which lit with a pink glow. "And now, stand up, and let your Queen feed you." And with that she lowered her horn atop the closest changeling to her, and she gave away part of her love into body of the ‘ling. She began a slow walk through the hall, feeding the changelings as she came across them. She asked everyling she fed about how they were feeling, how bad their wounds were, if they lost anyling close to them, if there was anything she could do to help. She gave them words of assurance, compassion, sometimes condolences. She somehow knew that she should do it this way, that her... subjects, still an odd word for her, need a symbol. A symbol of a motherly Queen, listening to their fears, giving them the feeling of being cared for, bringing them hope in the darkness with her small smile of compassion and eyes full of understanding. She chuckled sadly to herself, thinking that this was a job more suited for Princess Celestia or Fluttershy than her. Now she was listening to the confession of one of the female workers. The poor female had killed a Canterlot guard during the attack, when she only wanted to stun him. She had used a changeling stun-spell for that, but in her panic she had overpowered it and the guard’s mind was crushed by the spell. The pegasus mindless but still live body had fallen from the air, down on top of her. She had laid under his dead-minded body for almost an hour, feeling the beating of his heart, too scared to do anything. Now she was wetting at night from the terrible nightmares she had. Pinkie could only listen. No words she knew were good enough. She could only listen. And the fact that she couldn't do any more for them was hurting her. But she had to hold on, to finish her duty. When the love in her body was running low, and the color of her body began to darken, she ate some of the treats she had brought to restore her love levels. Less than half to go. She could make it. Yes, she could. She looked back, and saw fed changelings, their strength slowly returning, looking at her with respect and gratitude. Yes, she could make it, she had to. Pinkie didn't know that her older sister was watching her from the gate, leaning on the side of it from weakness. She was contend with waiting, observing as her younger sister walked through the room, illuminated by weak torch light, feeding each ‘ling equally, no matter how wounded, how important he or she was, talking with them, like some kind of embodiment of mercy. Chrysalis closed her eyes, glad that her sister had answered her call. Her sister would come to her when she was done tending to their subjects, so she retreated back to her quarters quietly, so as to not disturb her sisters work and slowly, because of her weakness. Party of the two (rev. I)Party of the two (rev. I) Pinkie entered Chrysalis’ "royal chamber". It was an old prison cell, with a sturdy wooden bed on one side, so decayed that it was a miracle that it didn't just crumble under the weight of Chrysalis. On the other side was a simple hole in floor for "needs". The wall opposite the entry was full of scribbles and notes. Because of age it was hard to read, except for two short notes. They said "I don't want to leave, LEAVE ME ALONE! I am DANGERous!!!" the other said "I hate the victorious SUN. evenifitbringsmePAINTandCOlors!" The scribbles gave the room a weird atmosphere. "I suppose he was mad, unstable." said Chrysalis, noticing Pinkie looking at the wall. "And it had to be centuries ago." "Do you know who he was? Or if he really was a he?" asked Pinkie in a tired voice. She was mentally exhausted. "Look at the ceiling." It was a work of art. The ceiling was made from same stone bricks and cobblestone like rest of dungeons, but the resident of this cell had at some point decided to flatten said celling, making it an even plane, and then to use it as canvas. These weren't scribbles, these were detailed sketches in small frames creating some kind of border, and in middle were six big paintings, colors dulled with age, but the still visible. The outer border showed the history of Equestria beginning at The Exodus Of The Three Tribes, through the funding of Canterlot and other cities, the Dragon Wars, great achievements of ponykind, the Chaos War, Luna and Celestia raise to power... and so on... In the last frame of the outer border was a painting showing a crying, lone, Luna. The middle frames illustrated Luna, transformed into Nightmare Moon, fighting with Celestia, the Banishment of Nightmare Moon, Celestia, crying over her bitter victory. The last frames showed a stallion from the lunar guards crying to the moon, stripped of his duty, said guard thrusting his spear at Celestia during court and the last image showed the creation of this art, by the imprisoned guard. "He..." Pinkie wasn't sure what to say. "Notice that the first pictures are worse than his last. He wasn't skilled at the beginning, I’ve noticed that some of the scribbles on the walls are exercises, or concepts of what he put on this celling, but he wanted to leave something behind to be remembered. It's a shame that the only ones who’ve seen it are changelings, not the quite viewers he had in mind..." Chrysalis paused "Well, I better start writing the history of the Changelings on this wall, and about their foolish queen who led them to their annihilation." "Okay, but let me write the happy ending and epilogue." Chrysalis smiled sadly. "I hope you will." "Chrys, you need to lighten up." "How? All of it, all these wounded, dead, hunted... It's all my fault. And I see it in their eyes, I see in their wounds, I hear it in their calls for help..." Pinkie sighed. Chrysalis had, well... failed. Bad. But descending into grief and shame wouldn’t help anyling. Her sister needed a hard buck into reality. Chit-chatting about how she was feeling, and trying to improve her mood wouldn’t work. So... time for a different approach! "You know what? You messed up! And you are messing it up even more! Your subjects are waiting for your lead, and you are abandoning them! They feel it, you know?! Get out from this bed and look at them! Look good and hard! They are waiting! They are falling into stagnation because of you!" Pinkie raged. Chrysalis turned her back to the pink Queen. "I failed... I promised them, and I failed. Lying here, I won't hurt them more" "Chrysalis, do you remember mother? What she said about leadership? The Queen always shall be with their kind, no matter what way fate will lead them. Guide her people, even when the sky falls to the ground, even through everlasting night, to her last breath, even as she's dying. It's our responsibility..." "...many of our subjects terminated their loyalty to me." Chrysalis hid her face with her hooves. "They told me I'm no real Queen... I lost them... A Queen shouldn't be abandoned by her subjects..." "So? They are not your responsibility anymore. But you still have many behind your back, awaiting your leadership. Do you want to lose them too?" "No... but there is nothing I can do..." "Yes, there is! Stand up!" Chrysalis obeyed. "Listen sister. You did something. You brought me back. I'll do my best to help you. But I need you to help me. We must go through it together." Pinkie nuzzled Chrysalis. "So, you and me, standing as one versus everything this world will throw at us?" Chrysalis nodded unsure at first, but then she broke down and hugged Pinkie. Pinkie used this opportunity to transfer some love into her sister. "I don't know what to do now... I just don't know... I'm afraid... I'm afraid of what else can go wrong...I'm so scared that I just want to lie and watch this celling, to do nothing... This way anything that happens won't be my fault... But now you’re telling it will be my responsibility anyway..." "Yes, Chrys. But there is one important difference between doing and not doing. In not doing; failure is granted, in doing; there’s a chance of success." "Only a chance..." sighed the defeated black Queen. "At least it’s a chance. It's like comparing nothing to something." Chrysalis broke the hug and backtrotted a few steps. "Sis... I want to restore you into the ranks. Return the mind-link to you, clear your name..." "I'm not ready for mind-link. It was too many years ago. It would be unnatural to me now." Said Pinkie, tried to imagine how it was. Having the ability to talk with tens of changeling at the same time, no matter where they where, not only talk with words, but images, memories, emotions, sounds heard, transfer her ideas without them being altered by the imperfectness of normal means of communication... It would be no exaggeration to say that half of the changeling world was part of this shared inter-mind dimension. It made changelings perfectly synchronized in battles, where the unit commanders created order channels, making sure the chain of command was never broken and where the recons created mental maps of the battlefield, insuring that the battle never fell into chaos. It made changelings in peace organized too, because there were no misunderstandings. The Ponyville fiasco of Winter Wrap Up wouldn't happen in the Swarm... Well, unless for some reason all lings decided to terminate their mind-link. Pinkie rethought all of this. "Chrys, I need the mind-link on my terms. I will take it on my own pace." "It'll be done. For now most of the swarm is… unreachable. Most of the changelings are too weak to serve as strong relays. You will be lucky if you could contact the camp near Canterlot, and it's closest one." "That’s something I wanted to ask you. Where are the other camps and what's their situation? I was told by Shade that this is one of the better." In front of Pinkie appeared a map of Equestria, floating in the air by Chrysalis’ magic. But it was more of a model of Equestria than than a map. On a map you don't have rivers, mountains, hills represented by... well, rivers, mountains and hills. Every building was there, as objects on the ground, not marked on the sheet. Pinkie looked at Chrysalis questioningly. "Yes, I'm using mind-link magic for this. So, our main camps are..." On the map appeared a few orbs. One was near Ponyville, another near Manehattan, another one near Fillydelphia, next one near Appleloosa and a last one far north of Canterlot. "The worst situation is in Camp Canterlot. Many patrols a sweeping the area, the background love levels a low, and the camp is overcrowded... They had heavy casualties, and almost a third of the camp turned against me. The best situation was in Appleloosa, it’s safe, but still lacking food. Well, now our camp is in the best situation. Even if we are hiding, thanks to you we have restored some strength. Beside these camps, there are at least dozens of smaller ones, but most of them are... on the run. And of course there are hundreds struggling alone." "How many of us survived?" "Last report I’ve received, states... eight hundred forty eight. No, make that forty four. I buried four yesterday." said Chrysalis gravely. She continued after a while. "In our camp there are one hundred seven changelings. In Canterlot Camp, three hundred twenty nine, or rather was. One hundred three terminated their mind-link and loyalty to me, and left the camp. I'm afraid that they’re going to do something stupid. In Manehattan there’s one hundred eighty two. In Fillydelphia, one hundred seventy. In Appleloosa, fifty six." Pinkie wanted to ask how many Chrysalis had brought for the invasion... But it would only hurt her more. It was something to wonder about later. "We need to send love to the others. But first, our captured need to tell the truth about the state of our race. Before we even reach Celestia, ponies need to be conscious about how bad our situation really is..." "What?! If the ponies know of our weakness they won't have any second thoughts about crushing us!" "You are thinking about griffins. Ponies are different. If we show them how much we are alike, but that we have our backs against the wall... some of them might sympathize with us, they’ll think what they would do in the same situation. Ponies are not really our enemies. They were hurt by our attack, but I don't think they really hate us. It's not like the Griffins hate, bred from centuries of anger and conflict. It's hate born of fear, and when we get rid of the fear, we get rid of the hate." "We killed a few of them!" Chrysalis was clearly scared of Pinkies idea. Pinkie nodded sadly "And they killed probably tens or hundreds of us.” she sighed “We need to use this." "I... don't understand." "Weakness will be our weapon to win their hearts. We need to show them that we are not really a threat to them, that we are just... dying. And that this attack was from desperation not from hate." Chrysalis shuddered at these words. "I want to see things the way that you do. But I can't." After a moment of silence, Chrysalis looked thoughtfully at the pink Queen. "Sis, I'll do as you suggest. I'm putting my hope into your plans." Pinkie nuzzled her sister. "I'm grateful for you trust. But there is another part you don't like either..." "Yes?" asked Chrysalis, sorrow clear in her voice. "I need you and maybe few other changelings to learn how earn love, my way." "Oh..." Chrysalis sighed, and smiled a bit. "Pinkie Pie style?" Pinkie grinned widely. "You bet’cha!" Meet new friends! (Own Rev I)Meet new friends! (Own Rev I) (3000+ words?! Somebody stop me! Generally, I'm feeling I'm OOCing all the time, but it's terribly hard to stay in character, without repeating dialogues from series... Oh well, I'm going to keep trying.) Pinkie spent the rest of her visit in the camp telling stories about her life in Ponyville to Chrysalis and few selected changelings. Their reactions were varied. Most of the gathered changelings were impressed by Ponyville described in those stories, by it's serenity and safeness. Surprisingly for them, Pinkie observed that ponies had many things in common with Changelings. It was obvious truth for gatherers or recons, but most lings back home didn't know it. For them it was just distant food source, and who cares how you get your food. Knowing that your food source is not so different from you... Well, it could be disturbing. Of course there was something distinguishing changelings from other kinds of sapients, and it was their understanding of community. For example, each pony was a part of community in some way, but most of the ponies weren't seeing themselves as a part and a creator of it. Ponies saw it as Me and the rest of ponies, when lings saw it as Me and the rest of us, The Swarm. Lings knew and were reminded by constant connection with other lings via mind-link that any of them, all of them are really on this same side and that even if anyone of them is unique being, that in global scale they are the same. It that wasn't that they didn't matter. It was exactly opposite. Each changeling was important. Each one was contributing something to The Swarm, and The Swarm was giving it back to them. Changeling seeing any other ling knew that in spite of all differences they shared similar goals: To be happy. To had dreams fulfilled. To live their life fully. In short words: Ponies were looking for differences looking at other ponies, when Changelings were looking for similarities in other lings. Of course, there were other shocking things, like starving or poor ponies. For Changelings it was natural that the rich ones were supporting those who weren't, doing it in simple belief that all of them were part of Swarm and because of that all of them were important. Changelings were to support each other, to care for each other. "You got to care, you got to share" was a general idea behind social system of The Swarm. It wasn't that in The Swarm private property didn't exist or it was forbidden but it was less important than the life of a fellow ling. Letting, or even worse, making another ling to die because of selfishness was one of the greatest crimes in Swarm. It was punished either by terminating their mind-link or by exile. Outright killing other ling from selfishness was punished either by capital punishment or by deprivation of all rights, even right to life. It meant that any other ling could kill such criminal without consequences. Chrysalis said that some of changelings were behaving now like non-lings, like ponies or griffins. Caring only for themselves, treating others like enemies. She banished most of them to stop these 'disease' from spreading to other changelings. It was hard decision but it has to be done or at least Chrysalis believed that. It made her a tyrant in the eyes of many lings but she couldn't let The Swarm to tear itself apart in riots, crimes or maybe even civil war. Pinkie never felt conflicted so much as hearing that. Some part of her was arguing that what Chrysalis did was simply evil but other side of her was argumenting that her sister was right in her intention. So, all in all, Pinkie decided to not comment this. Unfortunately, other changelings, the majority of them were regular soldiers, saw it as a disgrace that one of the Queens of their race was living as a normal pony, or even worse, was part of the Elements Of Harmony. They argued that it made the Pinkie's loyalty to the Swarm doubtful. How could they believe she isn't Celestia's minion? She was fighting in her glory against enemies of Equestria, they said. She fought against her own kin during Canterlot Invasion, some added, and it caused outrage. She even saved one of the princess of Equestria. And what seemd to the worst for some lings, she wasn't even so important. Pinkie felt attacked, threatened. She saw in eyes of few lings hate, she could even feel it, flowing in the air. Pinkie could only object that if she wasn't there Eternal Night would have prevailed starving the Changelings as the Ponies would starve and the land would have been destroyed by Discord's power. Chrysalis added if they aren't ready to be leaded by Queen who fought with gods they better be begone, or she herself will reduce them to ash. Pinkie wasn't really sure such harsh words were needed, but it worked and gave her a better understanding how badly The Swarm ideology was damaged by famine and war. Pinkie wanted to apology for her actions during Invasion. Chrysalis had to feel her intention, because she put her hoof on Pinkie shoulder and sent her simple message; "It's not the time". Soldiers turning against their Queen. In the time of Pinkie's mother it seemed to be impossible. Times were hard too but she always reminded them the strength of a changeling was coming from the strength of The Swarm. Pinkie was trying to remind herself how her mother put it; "There is saying: The whole is more than the sum of its parts. And I'm looking at you, my beloved subjects, and I know it is true. Each one of you is a something perfect, something to admire, but all of you, no matter how big, how small, how strong, how weak... You are creating something much greater, something much more marvelous... You are The Swarm. You are One. I see you all working as one body, together, arm in arm. Changelings! Your Queen is proud of you! I'm blessed by such subjects, and let me this time to bow to you, to each one of you, and to all of, The Swarm!" That was one of her general speeches. There were sometimes speeches for selected groups of changelings, like military, mothers, workers of different sectors... Most of time her mother was giving speeches to raise spirits, to give hope, to ensure integrity of The Swarm. She was trying to a shining beacon of hope and defiance to the impending doom. It was lost fight, yet every day her Mother was going to the balcony, observing the royal hive, it's citizens, complentating beauty and magnificence of her nation. She was like captain of dying ship. Doomed, but proud of her crew, of her ship. Everything is on road to ruin, like it always was. Is there anything to save? Is there any chance to escape sealed fate? Pinkie's spirits were low after leaving camp. She knew she had to keep it together but it was so hard with all bad news. No light in the end of tunnel, and it was looking that she had to create this light first for others. She had to be a lightbringer like her mother was. It was her duty. Pinkie couldn't see how she could achieve it. How one pony... correct, changeling, could carry this burden? How could she do it after so many years? She simply forget how it was to be a daughter of Queen, a princess of Swarm. She had memories but she couldn't see herself fit the role everyone excepted. She fell she had to cry on someone's shoulder but there was nobody to listen to her cries. Who could listen to broken changeling? Sister knew how bleak situation is and she was already crushed by all of this. Pinkie had to give her hope and strength. Admitting to her about fears and sorrow would only crush her further, and bury hopes to lift her up. Twilight? She would freak out and send letter to Princess about imposter... Funniest thing; is that really a deception if most of your life you was a disguise? She probably wouldn't even try to listen; as smart Twilight was, she had tendency to be dogmatic. Pinkie would stand before Celestia as imposter who took a form of Pinkie Pie, and they would ask where is real Pinkie Pie. They wouldn't believe. Rainbow Dash? It was easy to predict, she would attack first and ask questions later. Applejack? She would use lasso on Pinkie and buck her up until she got answers which she wanted to hear. She was so stubborn sometimes. Real earth pony all in all. Rarity? She would probably faint first, and call guards second. Fluttershy? Fluttershy... Pinkie thought about for a while. Fluttershy was a kind one. Ready to extend hoof to those in need. Still, there was no way to predict her reaction to real Pinkie. Pink pony didn't want to think about it but she recalled that many lings in the camp were in need of first aid or serious medical assistance. From all friends of Pinkie, Fluttershy was closest to medical pony. It was something to think about. Now, younger Queen wanted to cry. At this moment there was nobody to listen to her cries, so she sat under the tree, and looked up at evening sky. She sighed. Hard times were coming to her and she wasn't sure if she would have her friends of her side. It was probably the worst for Pinkie. Problems are easier to take when there is somebody on your side, someone to walk trail with you. But now? How could she? It was only two weeks after Invasion on Canterlot. Nopony will trust her. It was too early for that, and on other hand, her subjects, so new and unfamiliar idea for her, don't have enough time. Chrysalis mentioned that they have three weeks at most before they will start to slip into coma. Pinkie let sigh, and let her head fall. She had to go back to Ponyville, to made good lie to tell Mrs. Cake, to invent some solution for changelings... But now she was mentally exhausted. She just wanted to lie under tree and cry. "Pinkie?" Shy voice was heard. Pinkie lifted her head up and looked at concerned yellow pegasus. She wasn't quite ready, and she wasn't feeling up to "happy Pinkie Pie". "Hey Fluttershy." She asked with voice out of her usual happiness. "Is there something wrong?" Fluttershy asked hesitantly. "No, nothing... Just..." Just my kind dying from famine! "...just bad day. Nothing to worry about." "Are you sure? Um... I mean I can listen... if you want to..." Pegasus asked in small voice. "Yeah, I'm sure." Pinkie made mistake looking straight in this full of compassion eyes. It almost broke her. "Oh... Okay. But if you would want to, just please, do come..." Fluttershy voice was only sincere and full of care. It broke any wall Pinkie made. She couldn't stop what was happening next. "Shy, I lied to you. I didn't want to. But I'm too scared. Too many thing are going wrong..." "Pinkie, you know I'm always ready to listen to problems of my friends..." "I know, I know... But I don't want to overburden you..." Answered Pinkie with feeling of guilt. You idiot! You are concerning her! "Oh, how bad It could be? ...If you don't mind telling me that, that's it." Confound that Fluttershy. In her soft words had to be some kind of hypnotism. "My sister... My folks..." Pinkie wanted to buck herself. Hard. "Yes...?" shy pegasus asked softly. "They are starving... and lost..." "Oh..." "And... I need to help them..." "You could ask for help..." Shy pegasus said helpfully. "I can't... They are... I am..." Pinkie was too scared to tell truth, yet she wanted to yell it at this very moment, to have it over. "Pinkie, you can tell me anything, if you only want to..." reassured Fluttershy. "Fluttershy... You are good friend but..." Pinkie looked down to her hooves. After while she closed her eyes to not let tears fall. Silence, Pinkie felt hug on her body. She let her body collect kindness radiating from Fluttershy. It was good, nutriorus feeling, but for Pinkie it had sour taste. She felt wrong feeding now, it only reminded her what she was. "Shy, I'm afraid. I'm scared you will be scared of me... when I show you truth..." "Oh, Pinkie, how could I? We are friends... It would be horrible of me." In her voice there was no resentment. "Could you... could promise you won't run? You won't yell?" Cautious side of Pinkie's mind was yelling at her. What the hell are you thinking?! "Um... Okay... Cross my heart..." Flutthershy broke hug and started to make required gestures. "No, you don't have to use this liar promise! Just promise..." Pinkie snaped. She didn't want to see this promise. Not now. She was a liar and now it hurt her so much. "O-okay" Fluttershy backed up a bit, shocked by Pinkie reaction. "I promise, I mean, if it's good enough for you." "Yes..." Said Pinkie hestiantly. Now or never... "Shy... My sister is Chrysalis. This Chrysalis. I'm a changeling. Always was." Fluttershy looked shocked, but she didn't run or yell. It was getting easier after each words. "Stories about my pas are lies. There wasn't Granny Pie or rock farm... There was royal family, reduced to me, Chrysalis, and our mother. There was royal high-hive, Thorne-Lark, on verge of wasteland and war zone. I'm Changeling Queen like Chrysalis, but she took my throne from me and exiled to Equestria. Mother told us that we should rule together but my sister considered me dangerous to greater good of our people. Invasion on Canterlot wasn't my idea, I swear, nothing what happened this day..." Pinkie looked with pleading for belief in her eyes. "I believe you, Pinkie... But... Why your sister did it?" yellow pegasus was in mix of emotions. On one hoof she was scared, because changelings were scary and Pinkie claimed she was one of them. On other hoof, it was Pinkie. Her friend, sad and hurt. It was right thing to help her. However, she was changeling, one of those creatures who attacked Canterlot. Worse, her sister was Queen Chrysalis, who hurt Shining Armor, Twilight brother, kidnapped Princess Cadance and bested Celestia in fight. It was horryfing, her friend was sister to monster. But It was Pinkie... or... or imposter. But it all didn't make sense. It had to be Pinkie. Her friend, a monster? She could be just joking, but she sounded too serious. Even Pinkie was serious sometimes. "She was desperate. Her subjects are starving, living under constant danger of war, trying to somehow live by. Changeling we saw... They looked so scary because they are famished. And why my sister... well, she doesn't know ponies as good as me. She saw us... I mean, Equestrians, as source of food. Now she sees ponies as enemies, because so many of her subjects were hurt or... worse...." "I'm sorry..." Suddenly Fluttershy felt bad about herself. She just labeled a whole kind of sentient beings as a monsters. Fluttershy, who was friend to every living being, even predators. Fluttershy, who was one of few ponies okay with meat-eaters. Fluttershy, who knew what animals do when they are hungry or afraid. She felt like hypocrite. "And now she's losing control, her subjects are turning against her, and worse, she's falling into depression; she's looking for my help. Everyling I met, It was so hard... so many eyes devoid of any emotion, only awaiting for-for end. Or other's looking at me with exceptions, that I will solve this mess. And I know what I have to do but I'm afraid. I'm afraid you, my friends, will be scared of me. Or don't trust me. Or accuse me of being fake. But I has been Pinkie over half of my life..." "Um... If you don't mind asking... How did you feed? I mean..." "No, I'm not like my sister. I'm not hurting ponies. I feed on emotions, I'm not sucking it up from you or stealing emotions of other pony. I'm taking from ponies a tiny bit, small part. They don't even feel it and it feeds me. I'm not greedy. I wasn't trying to take from one pony so many emotions to feed more than myself. I never fed on only one pony. I'm feeding on Ponyville." "O-okay... But it doesn't sounds fair to other ponies..." "I know!" Pinkie snapped from shame. "I know... but how to say it? Hi, I'm parasite feeding on your feelings, feed me? Oh, hey Applejack, sorry I'm taking meal from you? Oh, apples? No, no, you silly farm-filly, I'm taking your emotions. No, it would freak them out. They would think all I was doing was done for food. It-it's not true. I like everypony, but I'm feeding on them... And it makes me evil." Pinkie's word sounded frank to Fluttershy ears. "Were you? Did you hurt anypony?" "What? No! I'm caring for them, for you. I want you to be happy! I need to eat too. And I'm sorry Shy, I was taking from you too..." Pinkie broke eye contact with Fluttershy shamefully. "It's okay... I think I understand... But it wasn't okay you didn't told truth to anypony... I understand you were too scared. You really should told everypony truth someday. Or at least Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow, Applejack. They deserve it. And I'm sure it would be better than you imagine." "R-Really? They will be mad at me. They won't believe me." "Oh, I'm not mad at you. And I'm sure they won't too" She reassured with soft smile. "Are you sure?" "Well... No, I don't think so. Twilight probably is still sore about what your sister did and Applejack could be angry for lying to her all your life, to not ever mention Invasion... But they are your friends..." "They are friends of Pinkie Pie, a earth pony, not Queen Metamorphosis, changeling..." Pinkie Pie said with bitter voice. "Um... yes... but eventually they will understand... I hope..." "Yeah... maybe some day. Now I can't compromise my cover, Fluttershy. I have many hungry and wounded to care..." "Changelings are near?" Asked meek pegasus with a bit of panic in her voice. "Yes, one is sitting in front of you." Pinkie shot unsure smile. "I'm sorry! Didn't want to offend you, I'm just scared of them. I mean... fangs, solid color eyes, hisses, insectoid shapes or shells on body..." "Huh, we are not pretty ones?" "Um.. that wasn't I meant... I was more... I never saw a friendly changeling..." Fluttershy was trying hard to hide simple fact that appearance of lings was frightening to her. "If you want to, I can reveal myself..." Said Pinkie hesitantly. "Could you?" Pinkie nodded, and let her body change to original self. She felt weird, like her own body didn't fit her; she needed to get used to changed perspective. She waited in anxiety for Fluttershy reaction. "You are not so scary as others. Are you shorter than Chrysalis." "I'm younger sister, and I'm quite short for a Queen." Pinkie chuckled nervously. "Am I... okay? Not scary?" "U-um...You are scary a bit but it's like Princesses are scary. Taller, bigger, regal... And your fangs are, um, disturbing." Yellow mare smiled nervously and added, "Your wings are pretty. Like butterfly or dragonfly." Pinkie cheered inside her mind. If Fluttershy wasn't scared, then nopony else should. She smiled to pegaus. Fluttershy in reaction "eeped" and hid herself behind tree. After a while she came back. She was shaking a bit. "I'm sorry, please don't be mad at me but you showed your fangs better and..." "Okay, no smiling." "Oh, no, don't stop yourself because of my fears. I just need to get used to it." Pinkie nodded. It was early night. "Uh-oh... I have to go to Mrs. Cake, explain somehow myself." She sighed. "Well, another lie..." And with that changed back to her earth pony self. "Fluttershy?" "Yes?" "Thank you. I needed that..." "Oh, what are friends for?" Pinkie wanted to go, but two more questions were lingering in her head. "Shy, are you okay with that I was feeding on you?" It was so awkward question to ask but she had to ask it. "Um, I'm not okay with that I didn't know but you had to eat too... So, yes, I'm okay with that you are changeling. You can't help what you are..." She paused a bit, and continued quieter. "W-well, you can still feed on me... I know you are good pony, um, changeling." Awkward! Strangely for Pinkie, Fluttershy blushed. "O-okay. Fluttershy... I know you are good with animals, caring, feeding, healing them... Many of lings, my subjects, are wounded. Could you, you know, help them?" "Uh... I don't know..." "You can decline. No hard feelings." "It's not that I don't want. If they are hurt as you say, they deserve help; anyone who is hurt deserve care... It's just that I'm scared of them. I-I'll try." "You do?" "Yes." "Shy, you are great friend. If there is..." "T-thank you. I need to go, it's so dark..." "I get it. Thanks. Bye!" shouted Pinkie and galloped to Ponyville. After all, maybe her friends will stand by her side. Maybe at least few of them. Reaction of Fluttershy was giving her hopes for that. Maybe she wasn't alone in this mess as much as she thought. "Bye." Answered Fluttershy and trotted to her cottage, plunged deep in thoughts. Secrets and lies! (Own Rev I)Pinkie had a general long-term idea how she should deal with situation of her subjects. It was rather simple; start negotiations with Equestria and learn lings how to live between ponies. Of course, there were few questions which needed to be answered first. How should she approach the Princesses? Alone, with Chrysalis or maybe with a small escort? If and when she should uncover her real self to her friends and Ponyvillians? What will happen about her current life? Could she go back to living as a simple baker in Ponyville or would she be needed back home? She wished she could return to her life, she loved Equestria, and she was quite often needed here too. All this harmony stuff depended on her and her friends. She knew she should focus on short-term problems, like organizing food for local camp. She should figure out some method to feed other camps too. Long range transfer was ruled out option by Chrysalis; she stated that too much Love would be lost in transit at such range and it would probably leave a visible magic trace. Short range was impossible due to royal guards actively searching for lings. At least some treatment to wounded was arranged. Chrysalis hadn’t brought too many skilled medics with her and even if there were any in the camp, they couldn't do a thing without supplies. Fluttershy, even if she wasn't skilled in ling anatomy, was willing to help and had basic supplies. It wasn't near enough, but it was start. Pinkie was now wondering should introduce lings to Fluttershy and vice versa. Poor dear, she will probably die from fear in this dark, cramped dungeons, to not even mention her fear of changelings. There was a way to avoid it but it was dangerous and harmful for wounded; it was to transport them to Fluttershy’s cottage after sunset. Still, it was interchanging one risk with another. What if someone spot them or their state worsen because of trip? Pinkie had to take it all into account. She decided to spend her break from work to walk around Ponyville and sense some strong emotion sources. One of the strongest sources were Sweet Apple Acres. It wasn't so surprising; Apple Clan really loved their farm and it was radiating from fruits of their labor. Their apples were an option worth considering but Pinkie knew she couldn't just waltz there and bought all of their apples. It wasn't that she didn't have enough money. She knew she had enough bits to buy at least few carts of apples as she almost never used money Cakes gave her. It wasn't so surprising after taking into account that she didn't had to buy any food for herself, to rent room (Cakes gave her room; they treated her as a daughter) or to use any medicine. All her money was going straight to bank, and she was very rarely taking withdrawals. After few years it should be small fortune but it will arise suspicions about her and it was something she wanted to avoid. She decided she should investigate if there is a way to use that money without her name attached to it. Other good source was Carousel Boutique. Rarity loved her creations, ponies who bought from her dresses loved them too and almost everypony appreciated Rarity's hoofwork. Unfortunately there was a one tricky question: how to eat Love to a dress? Or Love that was already in a dress? Eating them like apples or any Love-filled treat would be silly and wouldn't work. Pinkie had idea but she needed a consultation with Twilight for that. Unfortunately, such questions could make her friend suspicious. "Hiya Twilight! I was wondering if a smart pony like you could create a gem able to absorb emotions around them! Oh, why I'm asking? Oops...". Basically, Pinkie was trying to recreate Love gems. Love gems existed on Swarm territory and were good sources of love but now all of them were empty of stored emotions and mines were extracted. Maybe there was a method to recreate them but how to gather such information without arousing suspicions? History books stated that ling of past were able to do such artifacts, unfortunately this knowledge was lost in fires of war. Another source could be Zecora as she could brew love potions. For ponies it was a will-breaking mind-fogging potion, for lings - a tasty liquid meal. Unfortunately, Zecora was convinced that a love potion is foul, evil and anypony with sound mind won't even think about using it. "Hey Z, I have over one hundred hungry mouths to feed, could you make me some love potions?" Pinkie cursed that she didn't learned characteristic traits of decorations of zebra tribes, she could use that knowledge to decide if Zecora was from one of zebras which still traded with The Swarm. If not, then Zecora will be extra threat, as she can know special ways to spot changelings. Other than that Pinkie couldn't think of any other fast sources without introducing other lings to Ponyville. It would make her job easier but most of them had sightliest idea of living as a pony. It made it an another risky solution and most of avabile lings weren't able to carry enough food to make a big difference; there was not enough Gatherers. She could of course install more lings in Ponyville but introducing almost half of hundred new ponies to Ponyville in such short time... If it wasn't something to raise questions, then she could blew her cover in middle of Ponyville with specially crafted number for such occasion. There was one ling who could make a huge difference: Chrysalis. Chrysalis, being Queen, had a higher Love capacity than even Gatherers. She could put it in good use but only if her condition and attitude toward ponies improved first. Pinkie wasn't entirely sure what talents Chrysalis possessed to raise interest and positive feelings toward her. Well, she was bookworm as youngling. She used to read all history books, all legends, all plays she could get. To some extent she was like Twilight but when Twilight was into knowledge, Chrysalis was into stories of past. She loved to place her dreams in times of former glory of The Swarm when war was something distant, famine was unthinkable, and all lings worked as one. Fortunately Chrysalis wasn't reading only books written by changelings. She liked zebra's legends and fables, old stories of ponies, and even to some extent a griffin mythology. She loved to relate what she was reading and she even used used magic to cast some illusions to show how she imagined some scenes from a story. Sometimes she was even telling half of it by illusions, and changes into characters from the book. It sounded like a good talent for unicorn. There was still problem with decent backstory and demandor, or it could end like Trixie. Great And Powerful, Alone And Arrogant, Bragging And Wandering. Pinkie felt bad for her. Trixie didn't know how much she is missing. What's use of being Great And Powerful, if you don't have friends? It was something to talk about with Chrysalis. Pinkie was considering when she could catch Chrysalis when she suddenly realized that she was connected into mind-link. She didn't used it for years so she wasn't sure how to create connection. For everyling else it was natural. They grew up with it. It was like breathing, and everyone knew how to breath. Thinking how to do it wouldn't make it possible. Idea struck Pinkie. Think, behave like you were talking to other pony but not with mouth, just like they could hear thoughts inside your head. No more complications. "Chrys?" She thought about her, wishing to make connection. "Yes, Morpha? That's you? Your signal is very weak." Chrysalis took connection. It was weird feeling, like part of your mind was extending somewhere, to make a some kind of bridge between two minds. Pinkie could sense her sister as she was in front of her. Not like that she saw Chrysalis with her eyes or with some kind of illusion. It was much better. She could feel how her older sister was feeling, not like in talking face to face when she could only guess how Chrysalis was feeling, basing on her body language or tone of voice. It was like having projection of inner self. Pinkie somehow felt that with other changeling there would be more boundaries between two minds, less insight in mind of other, a less transmit of emotions. They were sisters so such open connection was to be excepted. Their mother said them they should have as less secrets and lies between them as possible. She said then: "Look at the moon and the sun my dears. Both of them traverse through sky, encircling our world, chasing each other, dancing. Thanks to the sun we have day, light and life. Thanks to the moon we have time to sleep, restore strength, dream, and some believe that the moon is somehow connected to water. Have you ever imagined what would happen if the moon clashed with the sun, if their dance broke? All harmony of the day and the night would be destroyed, and every being of this world would suffer. Chrysalis, Metamorphosis. You are like the moon and the sun to this lands. You need to rule as one, as sisters and you can't let anything broke it. Can you promise me that?" How it ended everyling knew. "Yes, it's me. I was out of practice as you know." She laughed a bit. "I know..." Chrysalis acknowledged in small voice and shame. "Listen, Chrys, do you still remember stories you read? I mean, when you was reading through every book in Central Library like some crazy bookworm." "Many of them. Why are you asking?" "And do you still remember how to cast this super-cool illusions what you used to show scenes?" "Maybe... I wasn't practicing it in years, you know..." Chrysalis answered with doubt. "My question still stands: why are you asking?" "Weeell, I found way to use you for helping our subjects." Pinkie let a slightest bit of mischief enter her voice. "Oh, how? Telling them fables?" Changeling Queen used sarcasm, but it was only half-hearted. Deep inside she was a bit of curious. "Close, but you mistook who." Slyly answered Pinkie. "No, you don't want me to..." Chrysalis was reluctant. "Yes, I do. You kind of promised me that." "But... I'll screw it." "Nah, if you only let your Auntie Pinkie take care of it." Chrysalis silenced, shocked by Pinkie's nonsense. "Sis, I'm at least a two years older than you. And I'm your sister, remember?" "Duh, I know! You were always so older sister." Pinkie laughed for a while. She heard a small chuckle on Chrysalis side and felt small positive feedback. "Listen Chrys. Your lings need food and I need your help." She continued seriously. "I can gather great amounts of food for them, but I have limits too. If you join me, we could at least double this limit." "I know, but..." Pinkie felt fear from older sister. "Listen, I know you are scared. I'll be by your side, okay? I'll help you. But I need your help. Our lings need us." Pinkie wondered if Celestia and Luna had similar talks in past. She felt weird talking this way, like it was out of her league but some part of her mind was arguing it was right. Silence was her only answer. Pinkie considered if Chrysalis broke connection. "Sis... I'll do it. For our kind. And... If something goes awry, that was your idea." "Yeah, like when we were younglings." Pinkie answered with smile in her voice. "It was good times..." "It was..." Both sister felt nostalgic, reminding how much fun they had together, into how many adventures they fell... "Ugh, I don't want to read it. It's boring!" "I know, right? I would rather read anything else, even our mom books, than... this." "Uh-huh... Everything is better than this, Chrys." "Hey, Morphie, I have idea!" "Yeah? We will displace it again? I have a few ideas..." "We are not 'borrowing' catapult!" "It's good idea! And it's belongs to our mother so it's ours too!" "No! We will run from palace!" "I don't know..." "We will raid library and bakery on the way." "I'm in!" "Operation Raid-Run is a go then!" "Girls... I'm not sure what I should feel, so I'm just going to ask: Why?" "...governess lesson was boring." "Correct me if I'm wrong, but... You sneaked out of room, found good enough explanation for guards to let you leave your chambers, took few books from library and used knowledge from book to disguise yourself as other lings then you raided a palace bakery where you got into fight with kitchen staff, in which you were outnumbered 2 to 5, somehow managed to pull out from bakery to only get chased by guards and then you launched yourselves from catapult to escape chase and escape palace, only because you were bored?" "Well... yes?" "..." "MOM, are you alright...?!" "I facehoofed too hard..." "How I miss her..." Chrysalis broke silence with sad statement. "Me too..." Silence yet again guested between sisters. It lived, fueling their nostalgic feeling by drowning them into memories, at least until Chrysalis spoke. "Okay, is there anything more you want me to say?" "Yes, I probably found some kind of medic to help lings." "Who? One of your friends?" "Fluttershy. Another Element Of Harmony." "This coward one?" Older Queen asked with uncertainty. "She's not a coward. She talked down a angry dragon once. And there was situation with cockatrice when she was turning to stone, but still she won." "You are kidding, do tell you are." Said Chrysalis with disbelief. "No. She's typical with-back-against-wall-I-m-going-berserk." Pinkie honestly confirmed. "Okay... But I'm not sure how our subjects will react to this." Replied older sister with tone of voice suggesting that she doesn't know how to react to this. "I know, I know. And I don't know how to met her with wounded." "She's afraid of us?" "Kind of. She's afraid of almost everything, even sometimes her shadow. We could send wounded to her place, It is out of borders of Ponyville." "It is dangerous." "I know, but do you have better ideas?" "Could you, I don't know, convince her?" "I don't want force her. She's my friend." "Does she know what you really are?" Chrysalis suddenly remembered what wasn't fitting in it. "Yes. She didn't run, she didn't scream. Weeell, she panicked a bit when I smiled..." "I understand... If she won't turn you up, It will be a miracle." Sighed Chrysalis. "She won't. I trust her. She's my friend." "Well, if you say so. Maybe she's really you friend. We'll see. I have news from other camps and our captured. I wasn't able to get much, connection broke every few seconds... anyway, here you are. Other camps somehow cope with situation, and when I say they cope, that means they are rather successful in minimizing losses. Only around twenty lings died in last few days from hunger and wounds. I know it sounds bleak but I have better news." Chrysalis added when she felt Pinkie sadness. It should lift her up a bit. "Our captured will start talking, as you ordered. Fortunately, it seems that some of our subjects were talking with ponies even before you order. I don't feel fine with that they broke orders, but it seems you were right, as you predicted, most of ponies started to understand that we don't have hivemind and we are not simple bugs. According to words of one prisoners in Canterlot, Princess Luna is thinking about stating that every captured ling is prisoner of war and by that they should be provided with health care and food. I still don't believe that, but maybe you are right..." "It's great news! Tell them to keep talking. About everything they want. We have to look for them like similar beings. It's our only chance to win their hearts before you and me start talking with them.." If Princess Luna admits that captured lings have rights like normal prisoner it would simplify many problems, especially feeding so much lings. She could order the lings in worst condition to found ponies and surrender to them. It was giving some hopes. If they win a mind of one Princess, negotiating with second will be easier. "I'll pass it to them. We'll see what future brings." "Okay, Chrys, I need to go back to work. I'm not skilled enough to talk with you and customers at same time." "I get it. Then... We'll meet tonight?" Chrysalis asked hopefully. "Yes, and I'll try to talk with Fluttershy about bringing her tonight." "Good. Bye, dear sister." "Bye." Pinkie walked back into Sugarcube Corner. Break was over and customers were already awaiting. It seemed that it will be a hard day as customers were already impatient and she had to bake sold treats to restock shop, then clean kitchen after baking... Yet, it couldn't take a big grin from her face. It was only one reason for that. Future was looking brighter now than yesterday. Giggle at the ghosties! (Senpakuxkira Rev.I)"Mrs. Cake, I'm going out! I'll be late!" Yelled Pinkie, standing in the door of Sugarcube Corner and looking outside. It was late evening and she finished all her chores. Streets of Ponyville were getting empty, night life in Ponyville was poorly developed comparing to this of Canterlot or Fillydelphia. There were a few clubs, opened all night long but most of ponies preferred sleeping over partying. Of all of Pinkie only Rainbow Dash hit the clubs and bars regularly. Pinkie came along with her sometimes and it was great fun; at least if Dash didn't get wasted. She didn't know her limits, and when inebriated she was often starting brawls or being very emotional, whining to anypony about her problems. She was a worse drama queen than Rarity. Rarity on the otherhoof had these "classy evenings" as she described it that she attended. The Apples sometimes had "wild country nights” in the barn. According to Applejack it was just good old fashion earth pony fun and by that she meant hard cider, dances, country music and occasionally fights; [it was a great way to went off to many ponies. (This doesn’t make sense, but I’m not sure how to change it.)] Twilight had Roleplaying Club meetings every two weeks. Pinkie could understand why it was fun, but for her it would be weird. Changeling disguised as pony, roleplaying some fantasy creatures... It was like a box inside a box inside another box and so on. Fluttershy was too shy to hit clubs, but Rainbow Dash said she took her to wild party in somepony house when they were still in flight camp. If what Rainbow said was true then at this party Fluttershy became a demon. She was drinking like tomorrow wouldn't come, flirting with hottest colts at the party, singing songs loud and proud while taking revenge on everypony who wronged her somehow. She was so radical that nopony could believe that such a beast was inside such a meek pegasus. It was for the best she didn't remember what she was doing that night. Same could be said for half of the party goers. "Dearie, where are you going? Will you be safe?" Asked Mrs. Cake with a motherly concern. "Yeah, I'm a very responsible mare. Pinkamena Responsibility Diane Pie is my name." She grinned to Mrs. Cake. Her concern was like evening tea to Pinkie; pleasant, smooth, and soothing. Mrs. Cake face scrunched up in uncertainty. "Besides I'll be with Fluttershy." Pinkie added to reassure older mare and it looked that it worked. "Oh, okay. Give her my regards." "Will do! See ya Mrs. Cake!" And with no further ado Pinkie was off to Fluttershy. The trip to Fluttershy’s was quite uneventful, after a few minutes of trotting she was in front of Fluttershy's cottage door. The inside was lighted, so somepony should be inside. Pinkie knocked and waited for a response. After several seconds she knocked again and there still was no response. For a moment Pinkie was afraid that Fluttershy was afraid of her and decided to hide from her or she decided to report Pinkie to guards and it was a trap. It could happen. That had to be it! Fluttershy wasn't her friend at all! "Pinkie, cut it out, you’re going Pinkamena again..." She whispered to herself. She was about to turn over and go straight to the camp, but then door opened. "Oh, I'm so sorry Pinkie, I didn't hear you..." she heard a soft voice say. "Hiya Fluttershy, I wanted to talk with you. Could we go inside?" "Um, I would rather not... I mean, can we talk outside?" Fluttershy responded hesitantly. "Angel?" Pinkie asked knowingly. "K-kind of..." "Yeah, I sometimes wonder who’s the pet and who’s the owner..." Pinkie whispered under her breath. "Um, I'm sorry. I didn't hear what you said." "Oh, nothing, just thinking to myself. I'm good for a walk!" "O-okay, just let me get my things." And with that she again disappeared inside the house. She appeared again with saddlebags on her back, and key in her mouth. She locked the door and turned to Pinkie. "Shy, why do you have bags?" "You asked me to come and take care of the changelings." "Yes, but Fluttershy, are you reaaally ready? I don't want to scare you." "I am scared, yes, but it's something I should do..." "That was something I wanted to talk with you about. Could we go somewhere more secure?" Fluttershy nodded in answer, so Pinkie started to bounce towards Everfree Forest. The yellow pegasus gulped, and followed her eccentric friend. Everfree was a mysterious place; things behaved differently there than anywhere else in Equestria. Uncontrollable weather, animals taking care for themselves, plants growing without a care, without order... It was something incomprehensible for most of Ponyvillians and it made them uncomfortable. There were few ponies with differentiating outlook, like Apple Bloom; she wasn't scared and she even said that she doesn't understand what's wrong with it. And there was Zecora, a zebra, who said she lives in Everfree because it's untainted by pony civilization. "Sooo I want to warn you, we aren’t very pretty not when we’re hungry. You saw them at the invasion. And many of them look at ponies only as food source... So they won't be pleasant. I came to a solution, I could transport wounded to your place an-" "No, Pinkie! If they are seriously wounded they shouldn't be moved!" Interrupted Fluttershy with confidence in her voice... only to this confidence melt away second later. "I-I'm sorry I interrupted you, but you could hurt them even more by moving them." "Okie-Dokie, I get it, Shy. I didn’t want you feel like there wasn’t another option." Fluttershy stopped and prodded the ground with her hoof. She wanted to ask something but had to gather her courage. Pinkie waited she knew that the meek pegasus would ask her questions when she was ready. She only needed time. "Um, Pinkie, I have a few questions about your kind... if you don't mind." She finally asked. Pinkie turned to her and looked around. There shouldn't be anypony nearby, but better safe than sorry. "It's looks like we’re deep enough inside, and nopony is around so ask me all you want" Pinkie encouraged grinning. "Okay..." Fluttershy sighed. "Can't changelings able to feed on their own love? Or are your emotions different somehow?" Pinkie’s eyes widened, but quickly she remembered the pegasus pony couldn't have known what her question entailed. "Fluttershy, it's like asking why hungry ponies don't eat themselves. It's like cannibalism. Yes, changelings can feed on their own love or the emotions of other lings, but it's monstrous to even consider it as solution." "Couldn't you, um, feed on yourselves like you on Ponyville?" "No, it's not possible Shy. If everyling feed on everyling that… well you know that when animal eats fruit or something that not all of nutrients are absorbed? It’s the same with Love." "But, are you able to feel? I mean... feelings are food? So what's different between feeling from a pony and feelings for changelings?" "It's hard to explain and I don't remember too much... It's complicated. Feeling emotions and feeding on them is different. We are capable of feeling, you know, and we can feed on our own emotions. Okay, I think I know how to explain it! Okay, Flutters, imagine you have a tree. A tree that’s able to eat fruits of other trees. I know, it's silly, because trees can't eat, but it doesn't matter, it's hypothetical." Pinkie noticed Fluttershy’s dumbfounded expression. "What? Oh, sorry I think I’m spending too much time around Twilight." Pinkie chuckled; the truth was she knew a lot of words, but she preferred not to use them. The way she saw it, it's better to be considered funny than smart. Smart ponies are busy or are used by other ponies as advice givers, when funny ponies had fun. "So, we have two fruit eating trees! What would happen if they would try to fed on each other, Fluttershy?" "Um, they..." Fluttershy began, only to be interrupted by Pinkie. "They would eventually starve from lack of nutrients. Same goes with changelings. You can't eat a cake and have a cake. Shame, it would be handy. In some cases we do fed on emotions of other lings, like feeding kids or couples. When we say "You’re so sweet to me" or "We give our foal all the love we can" it isn’t a metaphor. But those are special cases. In case of lovers - it's cultural thing, letting lovers to taste each other feelings, some kind of fetish or something. Foals must be fed this way, to ensure their proper development. Why? I don't know." "I see you are very different..." "You betcha. I sometimes wish to be born as pony. But I was hatched as Queen..." sighed the disguised changeling. "Oh, that's another question, how your kind deals with family? I mean I know you have a sister but, um, what about kids, mothers, and fathers." "Well my sister’s and my eggs were hatched by our mother, the previous Queen. Eggs of other changelings are hatched by Mothers, special kinds of changelings, and then are distributed to changeling couples who take them as their own. We don’t breed like ponies, where any mare can have foals with any stallion. Sure, females and males can still… well you know." Fluttershy blushed a bit. Pinkie continued. "The Mothers are the ones who decide if couples who can have foals. It ensures that our children will be loved, won't be born into poverty." "Members of family aren't related? It's rather strange." "Weeell, you could say everyone is someone's brother or sister, maybe cousin, by pony standards. We see it differently. At least I remember it so." Pinkie replied. "I-It makes sense. You said Mothers are special kind of changelings are there other kinds?" "There are three basic types: Warriors, Gatherers, and Workers. Warriors are very good fliers, have decent amount of strength, and weak, simple magic. Gatherers are decent fliers, have weak bodies comparing to these of soldiers, and their magic is slightly worse than these of unicorns. Workers are weak, very weak fliers, but have very decent amounts of strength, their bodies are often endure more thanks to their larger size, thicker shells, and have slightly better magic than warriors. Being one from these three types doesn't sentence you to a usual job of said body type. Being a Warrior doesn't mean you have to join the army. Oh there are Queens too, but we are unique..." "It sounds like pony races." noticed Fluttershy. "Yeah, you can say that... They are quite similar, warriors as pegasi, gatherers as unicorn, and workers as earthponies... But any changeling isn't born into warrior, gatherer or worker. Before that is a type named by someling called "nymphs". That body is average in any characteristics comparing to other types. Weaker fliers than warriors, weaker magic than gatherers, weaker bodies than workers, but better magic than warriors, stronger body than gatherer, better fliers than workers. Their body is..." Pinkie stopped searching for word. "More universal? A base for other forms?" suggested Fluttershy. "Yes, that's it! So, thanks to this universality, young changeling can discover which ‘race’ they belong in. When they finally discover it their body starts to change into its destined race. It’s like everypony was born a weak alicorn that with the discovery of his or her cutie mark changes into pegasi, unicorn or earthpony. Some lings don't find out what ‘race’ is for them. They will always be "nymphs" but it doesn't make them worse or unable to live among us. They just have it harder to find their place in The Swarm and find their talent or job." "But you said there are special kinds... Could you tell me more about them? If you want to that is." "There are Mothers. They are designed specifically to lay eggs. It's one of most important and respected jobs in the Swarm. They even have their own Council, they have power to oppose the Queen and counsel her actions. The details are hard for me to describe, I’ve never met one. I was... afraid." She paused a moment to remember the other kinds of lings. "There are Recons. You can say they are between warriors and gatherers. Good fliers, good magic, but worse than this of gatherers, and rather declined into illusions, bodies slightly better than that of gatherer. If comparing to pony races, you could match them to pegacorns. There are a few special workers class, I don't quite remember them now, but for now I only remember Goliaths. They were just bigger, stronger versions of workers, but they don't have wings, and their magic is pretty weak. It would be like slightly bigger Big Macs with telekinesis. Yup, it's pretty complicated. And special changelings are usually created by transforming from basic types of changelings." "Okay, I think I know all I need for now" "Okie-Dokie, are you sure you are ready for this?" "Yes." Fluttershy replied with shaky determination. They started to travel towards hidden camp. Fluttershy was shivering. Pinkie wasn't quite sure if she was scared from dark forest or oncoming meeting with changelings. "Chrys, I'm bringing Fluttershy. Do you prepare lings for her arrival?" She asked Chrysalis using mind-link. "Yes, but you know I'm losing control over our subjects. I don't know if it’s good idea." her sister answered with doubt in her voice. "If everything goes smooth, that won't be problem. I'll be there in a few minutes with her." Fluttershy was now walking very close to Pinkie, she was scared of forest. The forest after dark was full of alien sounds to the pony. Thousands of sounds of distant animals and bugs. Most of them were rather quiet, but together they were creating atmosphere of danger. For Pinkie it was easier because she was using her double eyelids to brighten her vision. But for Fluttershy it was slightly brighter than darkness of the sky. It was too dark to actually distinguish any shape from the background. She wasn't sure if everything around her were trees or monsters. She was sure there were monsters watching her from behind the trees. She was sure she saw whites of eyes. Her legs started to shake. She heard something like monster panting. Then she tripped over something. She screamed quietly as to not bring any monsters to them. "P-pinkie?" She asked whispered fearfuly. Then she saw bright pink light. And then she screamed again, in front of her was standing a terrifying creature, Queen Chrysalis! But monster wasn't attacking. Fluttershy carefully opened her eye. That was Pinkie in her natural form, using her horn to light the area around them. "Sorry, Fluttershy, I thought about it too late. I should have thought about it earlier." Her light wasn't much, but it made the area around them brighter, and showed that it was monsterless. "I-I'm sorry Pinkie... Can I call you Pinkie when you are Queen...?" "It’s no biggie Fluttershy, I'll be always Pinkie to you. I don’t really like my original name." "Why not? It sounds like a good name." Fluttershy stood up. She was still terrified, but she was slowly calming down. "Filly, please. Metamorphosis. I know in my family long names are tradition, but that's just silly." "It's a pretty name. It reminds me of butterflies." "Yup, I know. But it's too long. And when Chrysalis shortens it to Morpha it sounds just awful... I like Pinkie more." "But you often are using Pinkamena Diana Pie as name..." objected in soft voice yellow pegasus. "...I know, but it's still better than Metamorphosis." "I like Metamorphosis." "Thanks Shy. I'm sorry I scared you." "No, no, I'm sorry I was scared." "Fluttershy, that was my fault." "No, no, don't think that! It was my fault I was scared." "Shy..." Pinkie broke out in laughter at their exchange. They started to giggling. It made the rest of the travel to the ruins much easier and reminded each other of when they were going through the Everfree with Twilight to the ruins of the princesses castle to find the Elements of Harmony and stop Nightmare Moon. Pinkie even sang her song from this adventure. After half of hour they reached ruins, from there the entrance to the dungeons was close. Pinkie was slightly worried. "Chrysalis, pleaaase don't scare her." "Maybe you except me to hide myself to not scare her?" Chrysalis groaned in response. "That's an idea..." Pinkie felt surge of animosity from her sister. "I was just joking, relax!" "I'm stressed, okay? Don't push me." "Okay, okay, just try to not be intimidating." "I'm not a monster, you know." Chrysalis wasn't in the mood for this. "Okie-Dokie." Pinkie turned to Fluttershy. She looked fine, not scared at all. Or at least as scared that is possible for Fluttershy. But... "Fluttershy, listen. I'll lead you and we will reach main hall. There most of the changelings will be there. Probably my sister too..." "Chrysalis?" Fluttershy asked fearfully. "Yes... Did I forgot to say you that?" "Y-yes..." "Oops... Listen, I will be there with you. And Chrys is nice if you get know her better and she's in good mood. She just bad with ponies..." "D-did you mean to ponies?" "Well...that too, but I want to change her. Sides, you are my friend it’ll be okay." Pinkie tried to give Fluttershy her most encouraging smile. It seemed to work, because pegaus nodded determined. Pinkie entered the tunnel, and Fluttershy followed. She seemed to manage her fear enough to dwell through the tight, dark tunnel. Then they reached the main hall all the changelings were there. Hundreds of eyes hidden behind external eyelids turned toward them. All of them were standing still, just watching. On other end of hall was Chrysalis with four guards at her sides. She was sitting, and trying to look as regal as she could. "Welcome to our camp, pegasus Fluttershy. We have been waiting for you." She greeted the pony even managing to smile without a hint of disgust. In that moment Fluttershy fainted. "Of all the possible things..." Sighed Pinkie. Author's Note Big thanks to Senpakuxkira for revising it! Fluttershy's not a food, traitor! (Own Rev I)Pinkie woke up. It didn't meant that she opened her eyes, got up from bed and started brand new day. It only meant her mind left sleep and entered reality. She wasn't able to do anything except thinking. She wasn't scared, as it happened before. Her mind was simply disconnected with her body. At this moment it felt like she wasn't material, real thing, only a stream of consciousness and thoughts. It was relaxing in bizarre way. Everything was somewhere else. Not real. She couldn't describe what, where, how she was. She didn't have senses at this moment. Her mind was everything at this moment. Her brain equaled reality for now. It was only thing existing. Her bliss lasted only as long as memories of last night didn't start to show up. What happened before she went to sleep? After Chrysalis greeted them Fluttershy fainted. She was frightened by so many changeling looking at her. They weren't pretty, they were scary, Pinkie had to agree. Even worse, some of them looked at her like she was prey or enemy. Others looked at her like she was nothing, too depressed to really care. Some, very small number of them looked at her with hope in their eyes. Chrysalis idea to greet her only made it worse. She had good intentions, Pinkie was sure of that, but she exaggerated it. Yes, some greetings would be at place. But loud welcoming with guards at sides was too much for Fluttershy. What happened next? Pinkie brought Fluttershy to Chrysalis quarters. She had talk with her sister. Chrysalis was again at "I'm fuck-upper". She knew it was important for Pinkie and that this pegasus actually could and wanted to help her subjects, still, she blew it. Pinkie snapped at her. She had enough of self-blaming, and empty words. Chrysalis was taken-aback by attack of her sister. Pinkie was mad at herself for her outburst. They had a talk. Fluttershy regained consciousness during their reconciliations. She opted to stay quiet during this. When changeling sisters found it out, there was embarrassed silence. When Chrysalis was about to say something stupid like "That can't leave this room." or something like that, Fluttershy said with this sweet quiet voice that she forgives everything Chrysalis. That she knew Chrysalis wanted best for her own subjects, that she understood how stressful it had to be for Queen and she had no hard feelings. In pegasus voice there was no trace of prideful pity or shame, it was only compassion and understanding. It almost broke Chrysalis hostility toward ponies, but she regained herself and formally thanked Fluttershy for kind words, even if she doesn't need them. It wasn't truth and everyone knew it. Also everyone knew that Chrysalis pride and animosity toward ponies won't break from one act of Flutershy. Then Chrysalis went to inform changelings that her sister and her friend will help wounded. There were accusations of betrayal. Only few changelings knew that Pinkie was bearer of Element of Harmony, and Elements of Harmony fought with them during Invasion. Unfortunately, these changelings informed rest of camp that their Queen was among Elements. In camp there was a growing faction of lings who saw Pinkie as traitor who should be court-martialed. They weren't saying it loud, because Chrysalis could kill them at spot. This rebels were trying to gain support for their ideas without Queen noticing. Most changelings in camp were confused, but rather good willed. Yes, she fought with them. Yes, she wounded few of them. Yes, she was in Elements of Harmony. But she also brought them food, listened to them, slightly cheered up Chrysalis, and now she brought medic, even if a pony medic. In effect most of changelings were supporting Chrysalis and Pinkie. Still, accusations of betrayal were threw at them. Chrysalis reminded gathered subjects that she and Metamorphosis are still Queens, so it means they are highest authority. Their word is a law, and if this was only Chrysalis decision, she would send them all on execution, so they should be glad that Metamorphosis is strongly against it. It silenced them, but made their hate against Pinkie and Chrysalis stronger. After these shaking news Fluttershy and Pinkie as Queen went to main hall. At first Fluttershy was close to fainting again, but then she saw how many of them were wounded. She braced herself at this sight and asked Pinkie for help. So they started walking from changeling to changeling. Fluttershy was amazing. She kept her fear contained, for sake of patients. She talked to them, asked where it hurts, how they gained such wounds, then cleaned their wounds, bandaged them, braced wounded legs or wings, and so often giving words of hope that their wounds will get better. She was treating them like any other patient of her, with full care and compassion, trying to do her best. Her easing smile and gently voice seemed to make lings feel better. It was like magic. But sometimes, and Pinkie would be happy to not know it, sometimes it was too late. Infection was too bad, or wounds too severe. Fortunately,in all cases it was limb and it was possible to amputate them. This weak, shy mare did it. Even worse, she did it calmly, professionally. She asked Pinkie to hold hooves of patient under operation or hug them. It was the least they could for patient who will be cripple for rest of the life. When Pinkie was holding them, Fluttershy was using her saw. Pinkie saw panic and pain in eyes of patients during amputation. This terrible sound... First, scratching against chitin shell. Scratch-Scratch. Then this watery-meaty sound of cut flesh. Drip-drip of blood. Slapping of cut muscles of limb. Then against scratching, but this time against bone, ended by silent crack. Then again muscles... How so often they flinched at this sound. So often they started to scream at this moment, so often they cried... But it was her duty to be there for her people. Later they had a break. Pinkie asked Fluttershy how it's possible that she is holding up. Fluttershy answered that she had learned it earlier during work with animals. She added that she will cry tomorrow; now she had patients to take care of. She then added she is even glad that there wasn't any case where only option is to... her voice broke then. Pinkie only nodded with understatement. Latter memories were blurry. It was hard work. It went slightly easier when two volunteers joined Fluttershy. One of them, Shiri, claimed that she was taught first aid a bit in home. Fluttershy decided to send Pinkie to her house to bring more supplies. Pinkie was glad for that. She used trip to Fluttershy cottage to puke out all horrors of this night. It made her dizzy, but cleansed her mind a bit. She made this trip as fast she could. When she returned, she immediately felt something bad happened. Guards were keeping an eye on few wounded changelings. Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen. "Traitors attacked your friend." It was all Chrysalis said. Fluttershy was attacked by changeling she was patching up. Two trails of blood flowed down along her neck, her hooves. Fortunately, his fangs didn't reached any vital veins. Fluttershy was wounded. It shocked her, she didn't reacted. Sometimes animals were aggressive and attacked her, but it never happened to her that some animal tried to kill her. Ling who attacked her was about to unleash another attack, luckily few changelings reacted and subdued him. Few fights started between changelings and some suffered wounds. Fluttershy was standing in middle of riots, don't understating what went wrong, what's going on. Her volunteers escorted her to Chrysalis chamber. When Pinkie reached camp, rebels were captured or dead. Chrysalis was conducting martial court for them. Fluttershy was crying, and few changelings, feeling thankful for her kindness, were trying to help her, cheer her up and bandaged her wound crudely. She was crying because she was hurt, and she was crying for those who died and will die. Chrysalis said loudly all those who raised hoof against other changelings or allies of them are traitors, and treachery is punished by capital punishment. Pinkie was mad and disappointed. They hurt her friend who was only trying to help them. They were... so stupid, so irresponsible. They didn't deserved her help. She agreed with her sister that they should be punished but she felt death is too much. They argued. Chrysalis argumented that they are cancer and weed, and are needed to be slain. Pinkie argumented it will only made more lings going against Chrysalis, and sisters can exile them. Chrysalis countered it with that they could attack ponies, and it will ruin Pinkie plans to make peace with Equestria. After some debate they agreed that some of them, these ones who wounded heavily other lings, will be slain, and other will lose all their rights. Camp will carry out justice on it own. Both Chrysalis and Pinkie were present during executions. It was so simple act... Convicted changeling was immobilized, then guard approached them, gave them right to last wish, and then they were pierced by horn of guards, through chest toward heart. It was fast, it was clean, it was painless. It was death. It was ending someling life. For Pinkie it was something new and in bad way. She was trying to keep strict glare, like it was unquestionable that this changelings doesn't deserve it, like she had right to send to death. But it was hard for her. She never attended any execution, never ever. Chrysalis seemed to used to that. It was horrible. Stern face, no mercy in her eyes, regal pose, wings flared open, stiff like statue, aura of righteousness was coming from her. Pinkie wasn't so good at this, she just sat there, and watched how eight changelings were killed by quick thrust. It was fast. It was clean. It was almost painless. It was death. After that, both sisters retreated to Chrysalis chamber. Fluttershy was still there. Changelings who followed her were still there. Fluttershy eyes were still bloodshot, but she stopped crying. She was even slightly smiling. She was teaching gathered changelings how to properly bandage and clean wounds. Both sides, pony and changelings were... friendly to each other. What happened after it? When changelings left Fluttershy and both Queens alone? Fluttershy was crying again when she discovered what happened to rebels. She was crying about these who lost their limbs. She was crying about every wounded changeling. Pinkie tired to comfort her friend. And younger Queen was shocked by that even Chrysalis said few words of comfort and gratitude, and they were genuine. She told them she still don't trust ponies, she still have problems to think more of them, but Fluttershy is really a friend of Pinkie and she can be trusted as ally of changelings. It was closest what Chrysalis could say to word "friend". There was three-sided talk what Queens should do next. Next steps. Pinkie suggested that when they wrap up situation in this camp, they should gather small cortege and travel to Canterlot under white flag. Chrysalis was doubtful. Griffins never cared for white flag, it never stopped them from killing emissaries. Pinkie and Fluttershy assured her ponies were different. Pinkie added that in this group should be wounded, to make them looking defeated and helpless. She said it was all about showing ponies that changelings are at their mercy. Chrysalis was strongly against it, but she agreed to it. This is Pinkie way now. Fluttershy was against it, because wounded should rest back in camp. Pinkie countered that they will be carried by healthier changelings. And if everything will go right way ponies will treat their wounded. Fluttershy wasn't sure about it. Chrysalis told that maybe Fluttershy could go with them to look after injured. Pinkie said it was great idea if someponies will trot along them. Fluttershy then asked Pinkie when she is going to talk with her friends about her being changeling Queen. Chrysalis interrupted that was idiotic idea, especially with this purple jealous unicorn. Pinkie answered that it will happen soon, but when she couldn't tell. They talked more about it, argued if it was really necessary. After when they finally agreed that this will happen, but not too early to not blow up their plans. Then Pinkie asked Chrysalis if she created some backstory to sell Ponyville and how she will look as unicorn. Chrysalis showed how she will look. She was a tall, skinny gray unicorn, with black and dark green dreadlocks as her mane and tail. Her cutie mark was depicting open book and candle. On few places of her hide was zebra tattoos, or griffin marks. She seemed to be a seasoned traveler who visited many distant lands. Her name was Charming Story, and she was born in village on east border of Equestria. She loved to learn new stories and she decided to get to know them all. It seemed like plausible story to Pinkie. Fluttershy added she would be happy to heard stories from Chrysalis. Later... More talking... More establishments. Pinkie and Fluttershy left camp, earlier bidding farewells to gathered changelings. They reached cottage. Fluttershy asked Pinkie to stay. She needed someone to hold her when stresses of this night were leaving her. So Pinkie hugged her closely, and listened to quiet weeping of her friend. She said that Fluttershy don't have to come if it's hurting her. Fluttershy answered that she can't leave them now. Changelings needed her help. They talked quietly, still holding each other, until Fluttershy fell asleep. Pinkie didn't want to wake up yellow mare, so she fell asleep too, still holding her friend. So... That was it. Last night. Pinkie felt she had a body now. Head, body, legs... All in place. Her sense of touch was back. She couldn't move anything yet. She wondered if it's like being paralyzed. Feeling your body, but it doesn't respond to you. She tried to imagine how it would felt, being trapped in such state. Horrible, eternal darkness, and you know there is outer world around you but you can't reach it and you can't focus on world of your mind because your senses are distracting you. Next sense what come back to functioning was sense of smell. She smelled a scent of other pony, mare. She smelled a bunch of various animals. She smelled food, bread, some flowers, tea... It wasn't food to her, but she knew it's aroma. Then she saw light through her eyelids. Her sight was up, but she couldn't open eyelids. Her body was still deaf to her commands. Speaking of deaf she was slowly regaining hearing. Animals bustling around, quiet humming of Fluttershy, clinking of her tableware. Pinkie slowly opened her eyes. She was lying on floor, pillow under her head and blanket on her torso and legs. She looked around, she was still in main room of cottage. So, what's now? Checklist (Own Rev I)(I know, This chapter can feel forced, and I'm sorry for that. I just need to break block in my mind... somehow. I think if I'll end this story... someday hopefully, I'll try to rewrite it all. Maybe.) After breakfast with Fluttershy Pinkie Pie went back to Sugarcube Corner to explain her disappearance last night. Next step was hurtful for Pinkie, because she loved Cakes as daughter could love her parent; she was going to give them resignation and move out of her room. She was afraid that they'll see this as betrayal, as she doesn't want to be their friend or "daughter" anymore. She was trying to reassure herself somehow that it will went okay, but she couldn't. How could she if she was feeling like betraying Cakes. However, she knew that if she won't betray them, she'll betray her sister and her kind. Some vicious part of her mind tried to reason that betraying Chrysalis is okay because she was first to betray Pinkie. She drove away this thought with simple belief that Chrysalis is sorry for what she did and she is her sister. If you can't forgive your own sister, how could you forgive anyone? She wondered for a moment how Celestia felt when Luna turned into Nightmare Moon. How fast she forgave her little sister, how fast she realized that her sister downfall was her fault too. How hurting it was, looking to moon and realizing that you sister is far away, banished by your will, corrupted by your own neglect. Maybe, maybe if she did something different... Pinkie shook her head. Past is past. There is nothing that can be done about it. Only thing she can do is to forgive and ask for forgiveness. She hoped that Equestria and her friends will forgive her and her kind. Especially Twilight. She triedd to imagine future events, but after quite bleak visions of future she decided to better focus on now and there. Her plan was simple: One, Meet Cakes, explain them what happened yesterday. Pinkie felt slightly bad about it part, because her explanation will be bunch of lies. Well... Nothing new in her life, but now it was different. Somehow. Two, Give Them Resignation. She couldn't figure out any lie what wouldn't hurt them, or would be convincing. Hard part, but it has to be done. Three, Check Out Her Account. She almost never used her money. She was sure there was quite a fortune on her account, but she wasn't sure how much. Her salary wasn't much, but for young mare it was quite the cash. And Pinkie wasn't pony so she didn't had to spend this on food, and she wasn't keen for luxuries like dresses and jewelry. Four, Meet Charming Stories, Possibly. Charming Stories, aka Chrysalis, was going to make a few short trips to Ponyville to observe ponies, and get used to being among them. Hard lesson for Changeling Queen, and Pinkie decided she won't make it harder by throwing her Welcome To Ponyville Party!, Chrysalis will tell her when she was ready. Five, Ask Twilight About Charging Gems With Emotions While Being Incognito. Simple, change into unicorn, and posing as young scholar ask her about that kind of magic, and if it is possible, ask if could she learn her how to do it. It could be solution to sending love to other camps. Six, Buy All The Apples! Apples from Sweet Apple Acres were indeed grew with love. Pinkie felt it, and she discovered by eating them she can ingest some love stored in them. It wasn't rich source of love, and to fulfill hunger she would need eat a dozens of them, but beggars can't be choosers. Seven, Avoid Friends. When news will reach them about her plans to move out from Sugarcube Corner and resignation she gave Cakes they will probably try to talk with her and change her mind. Pinkie wasn't sure if she could handle this. Eight, Meet Fluttershy. She offered she'll help tonight again. Pinkie had to escort her to camp and help her a bit. Nine, Plan Next Steps. Council with Chrysalis, few important changelings and maybe Fluttershy about next steps. Ten, Sleep. This step didn't need explanation. During this simple remainder Pinkie reached door of Sugarcube Corner. She sighed, trying to exhale her worries, and went inside with bright smile. It wasn't so hard, she was master of smiling despite her worries. Thankfully, there weren't any customers at this time of morning. Behind the counter was Mrs. Cake who noticed Pinkie. She sighed with relief but there was angry frown too. "Pinkie! Where have you been? I sent Carrot to search for you!" Pinkie pouted and looked on her hooves. She knew Mrs Cake will be afraid for her safety and she did what she did anyway. She knew that she had now higher priorities, but still... she wasn't feeling okay with hurting her loved ones. "I'm sorry... I was with Fluttershy all night." It was truth. Maybe it wasn't full story but it was true enough. Pinkie lifted her head. Mrs. Cake watched Pinkie with confusion and smile after while. "Pinkie, I understand. But you could say us that you will... spend night with her." Mrs Cake made this pause, trying to get Pinkie reaction. If she will deny this subtext, it will give Mrs Cake confirmation of her theories. If she will ignore it, well, maybe she's just oblivious or she isn't trying to hide it... "I thought it won't be so long. It just took more time than I thought." Pinkie didn't notice this suggestions as she was more focused on apologizing Mrs Cake. "Oh?" Mrs. Cake raised brow, awaiting more details. "Yes, but it was totally worth it! I had great time with Fluttershy." Pinkie gave small grin. Mrs. Cake coughed. She knew it; as she knew that Twilight Sparkle had something-something with Rainbow Dash, and Applejack have hidden corny romance with Rarity. It was just obvious! Opposites attract, sound and simple. "And when we were done, It was too late so I had to sleep at Fluttershy place." And then Pinkie noticed Mrs Cake growing blushing. She added two to two, and came to obvious conclusion. "Mrs. Cake? Eeew..!" "You don't need to deny it, Pinkie! I'm all supporting you! It doesn't matter that she's a mare! And pegasi!" And in this moment Mr Cake went in. She saw her wife with her hooves in air and huge smile, and Pinkie back trotting with confused and scared look. For moment he thought that there is something wrong with his eyes. He blinked. Yup, this is Pinkie, and this is Cup; not other way around. He wanted to say something but Cup spotted him. "Sweetie, guess what?!" Pinkie interrupted her putting hoof her mouth. It didn't stopped her from talking, or rather trying to. "Don't listen her!" Mrs. Cake winced finally noticing hoof in her mouth. Mr. Cake decided that his question is still viable. "What's going on?" Pinkie took a huge breath and got her mouth running. "Mrs. Cake is thinking that Fluttershy is my marefriend, because I spent last night at her cottage, but it's absolutely not true, what I said her, and she overreacted and was telling me that I have nothing to be ashamed of, duh, I know it, I mean, it's okay to be gay, and all, but it's simply that I don't feel anything for Fluttershy, except friendship, but Mrs. Cake have her theory, and..." Pinkie took second breath, and continued. "And I'm sorry for not informing that I will be today, but we had great friend time together, and then it was too dark, and Fluttershy said she'll be afraid for me and she couldn't escort me because it was too dark, so I stayed with her. I'm sorry!" Mr. Cake had unsure look on his face, when his brain was slowing down Pinkie explanation, and transforming it in more than one sentence. When he finally understood he sighed. "Pinkie, please, give us a moment." Pinkie frowned, and got closer to Mr Cake. "Buuut..." Pinkie used cuteness. It wasn't very effective. "Pinkie, I need to talk with Mrs Cake. Private." Pinkie frowned and started trotting toward door. Mrs Cake started to babbling about how cute pair is Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, who was concerned what will be this "talk" about. But when she was passing by, Mr Cake hissed to her. "I need to calm her down, that's why I need you to left this room, okay?" he asked her. He sounded honest. Pinkie just nodded and left Sugarcube Corner, and sat on the stairs before entrance. Outside was calm, typical morning in Ponyville. Bright, warming sun on the lightly clouded sky, light breeze. Ponies wandering in their own paces around, exchanging greetings, small talking on streets... She wanted to sing by just watching that peaceful scene. How a wonderful world... How this pony was named? Hoofstrong Bugler. Yeah, that was song perfect for this moment. But when Pinkie was about to start singing, Mr Cake walked out of Sugarcube Corner and sat by Pinkie side. "I calmed Mrs Cake. She's... well, romance enthusiast. She read too much of this, and sees couples between everyone." "I... It's okay. She just overreacted. Mrs. Cake, listen..." "You are okay. That's most important." He turned to her and smiled. "You are fully grown responsible mare. Filly no more. I said that to Cup yesterday and she was still panicking about you. I even tried to remind her that you and rest of girls took care of Discord and Nightmare Moon. She just told me that we shouldn't let you to go for such dangerous adventures." "Weren't you afraid like Mrs Cake?" "Of course I was, but I trust you. You see, you are like daughter to us. It's just that she want you to be safe. But she forgets that you are an adult now, and about to go in wide world of Equestria, maybe even further. She's afraid she'll lose you. Yes, this day will hurt her, but she'll get better. So, what I want to say... You could say that you will be today, but don't worry about it, okay?" Carrot looked with seriousness on his face, but his eyes were kind. Pinkie nodded. Mr Cake smiled. "And please, don't forget you can call us Carrot and Cup or... how you called when you were a filly." "You know, I just can't. It don't feel right and I don't know why..." "No problem here Pinkie. It was just cute back then. So... We are all right?" Carrot Cake started to rise up. "Yeah, I think, Carrot." She wanted to rise up, but then she remembered. "No, there is one more thing." "Yes?" "I'm going to have very little time in next few weeks. I'll need to quit the job." "We can give you few free days." "No, It's more... complicated. I just can't have a job." "Could you explain why? I'm just curious, so you don't have to answer...." "I... think I'll try to find any trace of my family. I just need to try." "I understand. I'll probably would do the same thing. Heh, almost did... Are you going to move out?" "Yes, I think so... thanks for you understanding, Carrot." "Pinkie, I want just you to be happy. If you need it, you need it." She turned to enter Sugarcube Corner. "Are you coming?" "Nah, I think I need a moment for myself." "Alright. Oh, and Pinkie?" "Yup?" "Whenever you will want, you can go back to us. We will welcome you with wide open hooves. We won't drive you off. You are our daughter, no matter what." Small tears appeared in Pinkie eyes, and she jumped and hugged Carrot. It was not only because how great pony Carrot was, he was like father to Pinkie. Unfortunately it only meant that in few weeks this relationship will be no more. It was the worst thing, and second reason for tears flowing from Pinkie eyes. Realizing how many miracles of her current life will be crushed by her new-old life. Friendships, her "family", her reputation... Everything. On one hoof she felt hurt by that and she wanted that it was just a bad dream. On other hoof, she knew it was small price for saving few hundreds of thousands of changelings. Life of one earth pony for thousands more safe lives... It was obvious what was more important. Carrot Cake hugged her back. Still, it hurt this one fake earth pony. "Thanks, thanks... dad." Pinkie somehow forced that lost word from her mouth, but she felt Mr. Cake deserved that. They broke their hug. "I think Cup needs me... So... Goodbye, Pinkie." He smiled and trotted inside Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie wiped her tears, and moved to her next goal. Cutie Mark Feeders! (Own Rev I)At the same moment when Pinkie was checking out state of her account, Chrysalis was cursing herself for listening her sister. She knew nothing good will came from this. She decided to do simple reconnaissance in Ponyville, made mental map for herself of city, and try to behave like normal pony. Simple scouting mission and training as Chrysalis was reassuring herself. Her problems began when she spotted this blasted mint colored unicorn with lyre as her cutie mark. Lyra Heartstrings was eating sandwich at restaurant with a friend, earth mare with curly two-colored mane and three candies as cutie mark. Lyra was one of few ponies kidnapped to make Invasion possible. When Chrysalis recognized her she tried to keep it cool and ignore her. Unfortunately this mare kept staring at Chrysalis who started to losing it. What if this unicorn recognized her somehow? What if Celestia's guards developed some kind of changeling seeker spell? What if she somehow screwed up her disguise? What if... Chrysalis heartbeat went crazy. Chrysalis started to sweat and turned her pace up to pass this danger as fast is possible without raising suspicions. Her trot started to get shaky. Maybe a bit faster, maybe slow gallop... "Hey, you!" Lyra shouted, waving her hoof toward Charming Stories. She sounded rather happy... ...but in Chrysalis ears it was accusing tone, tone used to gather angry mob. She lost it, jumped up, and broke into fastest gallop possible. Her long legs allowed her to reach high speeds, and in her panicked state of mind, she powered them with magic. It was one of unique abilities of changelings, controlled internal magic. Changeling with usage of magic could became stronger, faster, sturdier, shorten reaction time, and other enhancements but it was quite magic expensive. When magic run dry, then next used source of power was undigested emotions, and then burning out body. This ability was only reason why changeling army was able to stop Griffin Kingdom raids. Griffins were stronger, could use some kinds of weather magic, had two agile hands and were able to fight bipedal. Even more, they used metal armors, barely pierceable with changelings fangs, swords, spears, bows, crossbows, all of them able to pierce through best armors of changelings. Statistically, for every killed griffin changelings lost two or three combatants. And it was getting worse and worse. Griffin army developed better tactics and weapons when changelings numbers were getting smaller and smaller and their technology was getting even worse. They were able to create some kind of organic armor, which was light and self-healing but it was giving very little protection against arrows and bolts. Griffin weapons were unusable for changelings, because changelings lacked claws to use them properly. Of course, changeling knew telekinesis. But to use sword with enough power to actually hurt you needed to use more power than to hit it effectively with magic-supported buck. It was basically nonviable action. To use crossbows or bows user needed very rare precision in multiple telekinesis, so in changeling army there were only few ranged soldiers. Only weapons what was barely usable without magic was spears, and heavy siege machinery, like ballista. All of this caused to creation new doctrine of fight in Swarm. It was named MAD. Mutual Assured Destruction. Wounded or doomed changeling was encouraged to burn out oneself magic and life power make oneself faster, stronger and more powerful by usage of internal magic. It was harsh strategy, but it worked. In beginnings of war this tactic was used very rarely, only when they were dead anyway, or decided to die with so many enemies possible, but nowadays it was common order. Stop enemy for all cost, use MAD. Now in Poyville one disguised Changeling Queen was very close to beat pony sprint record with usage of internal magic combustion. When she reached lake in the park, she stopped, exhausted. She looked around to made sure nopony is around, and when she was sure of her safeness, she collapsed on her side. She was breathing heavily, and keeping conscious with only hard will. She knew if she'll black out, her disguise will break down, and It would compromise her mission. Her mission... Her mission was to keep her subjects safe. Her Mother ordered young Chrysalis and Morpha that on her deathbed. Chrysalis tried, tried so hard. She recognized every danger, she saw every problem her country struggled with. Problem? Metamorphosis, her idea of peace talks with Equestria, hostile zebras tribes... It was dangerous, and Chrysalis was afraid it'll create only new enemy, and will compromise lives of few changeling scouts in Equestria and in zebras tribes. Solution? Exile her, and strip her of Queen title, call her traitor. Consequences? Changelings in Equestria broke down their mindlinks. Few riots in major hives across Swarm. Loss of public support. Griffin raids under cover of chaos. Loss of few hundreds citizens... Two broken hearts. Problem? Griffin Kingdoms. As always. New king and his advisers were planning new invasion. Solution? Assassination of said king and commanders. Mission carried without problems. Consequences? Outrage through Griffin Kingdoms. Many volunteers joining their army. New kings plans to vengeance through another invasion backed up with wide public support. Massive hunts on changelings agents. Another campaign lasting few years. Dozens thousands of her subjects dead, crippled or missing. Many crucial agents in Griffin Kingdoms dead. One of older Mothers Palace burned down with all eggs and changelings inside. Opinions in Swarm about new ruler mixed and radicalized. Problem? Suspicion of conspiracy in army. Solution? Send agents to investigate this and allow to kill traitors. Consequences? Few experienced commanders lost. Few killed by agents, more decided to prove their loyalty through suicide. Real conspiracy begins. Problem? Conspiracy. Solution? Kill them. Consequences? Loss of support in army. Riots. Assassination attempt on Queen. She could go like that forever. She tried. She really tried to do best for her country. But she couldn't. Everything she tried ended in bigger disaster. She should keep her subjects safe, but her actions only led to more deaths. She wished she could change that or go mad with power, become plainly evil Queen who should be killed by rightful mob. But no, something in her mind was still reminding that it was her responsibility to rule kingdom. To protect them. Oh, so often she wished that assassination attempt on her was successful. Her problems would end and probably her kingdom would go better without her... Oh, it would be so easy. No. One last try. Maybe Metamorphosis idea is right. Maybe it'll work out. Then, make her Queen again. And then Chrysalis will abdicate. And then, who knows... But for now she wanted to be alone and weep. About how bad Queen she is. About how much she was envious of ponies ability to eat fruits, vegetables, and other food. She hated them for that. She hated every other species for that. She hated that her species is, without sugarcoating, parasites. Maybe in older days, when mines were full of gems, and farms were able to support their growing numbers, maybe then they were something more. But now they were parasites, and she hated that. She hated that she needed to care for something she hated, more precisely, ponies, to get food. It was sick! But her sister told her that she don't care. She love her friends, they are loving her back, and they were feeding her by the way. She considered it a perfect situation. They were okay, she was okay, everypony was okay. Why should she complicate this? Why to hate them? Why to felt guilt? Why to hate yourself if you can't change yourself? Her advice was simple. Stop hating. Stop hating yourself, then stop hating others. Then love them and be loved. And don't feel bad about eating that love, as long you aren't hurting them. Even for Chrysalis it sounded solid... But she didn't know how she was supposed to change her mind. It was something where Pinkie was clueless. She said, "Silly, it's your mind. I'm not you, even if it would be funny at first, and boring at last... It's something you need to do by yourself." Chrysalis was deep in thoughts when she heard excited filly voice. It was obvious it belonged to some kind of tomboy. "Did you see how fast she run? Pony, she had to be fastest pony in Ponyville! ...except Rainbow Dash." She added after while with slight shame in her voice. "Scootaloo, we know." Second voice was more refined, trying to be "lady-like". "You kept talking about it for last five minutes." "I'm not sure if I could keep with her on my scooter. She was just like... cheetah!" Continued first excited voice. "What's cheetah?" Asked third voice. She had thick "farm" accent in her voice. "I don't know, she's making up words." Answered second voice. "I'm not!" First voice. "You do!" "I'm not!" "You do!" "Girls, stop it! Scootaloo, what's cheetah?" interrupted third voice. "It's the fastest cat in the world! And big one! It's faster than anything on the ground!" First voice answered. Her name had to be Scootaloo. "Are you a dictionary?" mocked second voice. Chrysalis knew they were closing to her but she was simply too exhausted to run again. She sat up. Worse, she was getting hungry. Maybe these fillies would pass by... "Hey, there she is!" ...so much for hopes, Chrysalis groaned. She looked at them. Orange pegasus with purple mane, yellow earth pony with red mane, and white unicorn with slightly pinkish and purple mane. All of them were still fillies. Good... And one of them was very excited. "Hey, you are this super fast mare!" exclaimed orange filly. "Maybe I am. What do you want?" answered Charming Stories, aka Chrysalis. She had bad habit hiding her insecurity behind rudeness. "I wanted to say that was cool! Running like that..." answered pegasus. She was slightly taken back with her excitement because of her harsh answer. Finally Chrysalis realized she was ruining opportunity; filly in front of her was impressed. 'It's positive feeling. Don't screw it up. You have their attention. You can try to make them to like you. ...no. To be liked by them. You remember what happened last time when you made someone love you. Okay... Just forget they are ponies. Try to be friendly. Forget you are changeling. Be real. You aren't imitating anyone. You are you... Okay.' "Sorry for my response... I'm just tired after this run." Chrysalis smiled apologetically. It may be not honest one but was good enough copy to fool fillies. "You are tall... And you have funny mane." Said unicorn. "Funny?" Asked Chrysalis using harsh tone of her voice. Did she made something wrong with her mane? Did she left her original mane? "I never saw anything like that. But I like it." unicorn smiled. Yes, she was interested. 'Good.' "Miss.... Ah'm sorry, Ah don't know your name yet... but what is this? Is this cutie mark? But one like Zecora's?" Earth pony pointed with her hoof at one of Charming Stories zebra tattoos. "My name is Charming Stories and it's tattoo. This one...." She wanted to explain meaning of said tattoo, but was interrupted by orange filly. "Tattoo?! Wow, like bad guys in books!" Okay, Chrysalis, keep it cool. She didn't mean it. She don't know who you are. And you aren't bad guy. Yeah... right.... You kidnapped Princess, threw her to abandoned caves, brainwashed few ponies, almost killed with emotion-exhausting spell captain of royal guard... My reasons were right, but methods, maybe not so... And why I'm talking about myself in second person?! "Little pony, I'm not evil." Charming Stories gave reserved smile. "It's mark of my journey. It reminds me where I have been." "Where you have been?" repeated unicorn with slight twist to side of her head. "Yes, filly. I'm travelling pony. It's zebra tattoos, this is griffin marks and this... Well, this is my cutie mark." "Travelling pony?! Like Daring Doo?!" squealed Scootaloo. ...Daring Doo?! Who the hell is Daring Doo?! Chrysalis started to panic again. Keep it safe, she reminded herself. Ask about her like you just simply forgotten. "Who is Daring Doo?" "She's awesome adventurer..." Started orange filly. So, Chrysalis just admitted she don't know some hero from Equestria. Great job, she thought, they had to know I'm not a pony now... "...and she's character from the book." Finished Apple Bloom. It was great relief for Chrysalis. "Well... maybe..." agreed pegasus with doubt in her voice. "I'm afraid I hadn't read that book, but you could say I'm some kind of adventurer. I'm searching for stories, legends and myths." "It's not so cool like Daring Doo. But you are still okay to me." "What's your names, fillies?" asked Charming Stories. She felt that they had positive feelings toward her... Well, only this earth pony had some doubts. Anyway, it's something to work with. "Apple Bloom!" "Sweetie Belle!" "Scootaloo! And we are..." Chrysalis noticed that they took gasp of air. She had bad feeling that they were about to call for help.... "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" Okay, that was not call for help but it made her deaf. "Cutie Mark... what...? she asked when she regained her hearing. "Cutie Mark Crusaders. We are tired of being blank flanks, so we are trying everything to make our cutie marks appear." explained Sweetie Belle. "What you cutie mark means Miss Charming Stories?" asked Apple Bloom. "My cutie mark makes me storyteller. I love to learn and share stories. That's why I decided to travel how far my hooves could carry me, and you can see I had been far from home." "But... You could just borrow the book from library..." expressed her doubts Sweetie Belle. "It's better to learn at source. And I'm sure I knew few stories which you couldn't find in books." Fillies looked at each other, and then sat on the ground. "Tell us one." they said as one. Chrysalis was at same time happy and angry. Happy - her interaction with these kids was going rather good. Angry - she wished she could regain some strength, take a few more moments for herself and way they ordered her... They are just kids, Chrysalis reminded herself, Was I so different from them when I was young?. "Well, young ones, I'll tell you story of first non-unicorn knight of Trotingham..." Story Time (Own Rev I)"First non-unicorn knight of Trotingham... I suppose you filles know where Trotingham is? Yes, Sweetie Bell, it's city on the Braytish Isles, which belongs to the continent called by us, Equestrians, Euponia. You see, Euponia is place where three pony tribes lived before they found this wonderful land. How they reached and created Equestria is another story. Braytish Isles were ruled by powerful union of kingdoms, together called Braytish Empire. And what can you say about weather on Braytish Isles? Yes, Scootaloo is it? Yes, that's correct. Rainy. Wild. Uncontrolled. You see, it's tradition left after times when our story belongs. Back then on Brayton Islands lived only two pony tribes. Unicorns and Earth ponies. As legends tells us, unicorns navigated sun through sky and ruled over land as nobility. Being noble meant that you had ownership of land given by king. You see, land belonged to unicorns. Earth ponies were only users of said land, they grow crops on surface of it and dug ores or other minerals from it but it didn't belonged to them. Lord of land could just say that you have to leave his grounds. It created relationship between two tribes called feudalism. In theory it should worked that earth ponies were tending to the ground paying bills in Pounds, Pounds were a currency used on Braytish Islands, and goods to the unicorn lord, when unicorn lord should protect said earth ponies from any danger that could strike them. Every unicorn with title of lord had to be skilled in combat, both psychical and magic, and be always ready to fight with any monster what could danger his subjects. These unicorns were called knights. Knights! Brave warriors clad in powerful magic or metal armors, skilled in fight with any kind of weapon and magic, known for their bravery, honor, and glorious adventures. They were heroes, and stories about their bravery were widely told. Hero of our story wished he could be one of them but there was one tiny problem. He was an earth pony. Even worse, he reached his adulthood without mark on his flanks. Yes, fillies, he was grown up AND still blank flank. No wonder nopony treated his dreams seriously. His job was far from his dreams. He was mirror maker. It was good paid job, because his mirrors were highest quality, but he felt it wasn't his destiny. Everypony who saw his mirrors wondered why his cutie mark wasn't one of mirror. It was obviously his special talent, creation of perfect mirrors. Heck, even his parents, who were mirror makers too, named him Clear Reflection. Yes, Sweetie Belle? You see, making mirrors back then was not simple feat. Mirrors were made from various metals. Most popular was silver and bronze. To made metal reflect image you need polish it carefully hundreds and thousands of times with different materials. It was boring and hard work, but it let him live him at high level in city of Trotingham. Still, he was not happy. He was hoping for something what could bring him closer to his dream... and maybe cutie mark. Being blank flank was harsh back then, everypony believed that blank flanks were worse, not truly ponies, or that they are cursed. In some provinces they were even hunted or cast out. But one day, in distant province of Braytish Islands monster appeared. A terrifying Cockatrice! Oh, you know what cockatrice is? You have met one? But how did you...? Fluttershy...? I heard she can be persuasive but it seems impossible. How do I know Fluttershy? Um... I'll explain after story. So, cockatrice started to rampage through countryside of the kingdom. King ordered his best knight to resolve this situation. This unicorn was bravest, strongest, most loyal knight in the whole kingdom. He bested many others monsters, and saved many ponies in his previous adventures. Everyone excepted that he will came back with head of the monster. After all, he was greatest hero who lived back then. He never came back. King sent more and more knights, hoping one of them will slain cockatrice, and save their brothers in arms. No one came back and whole villages went silent. Many ponies started to run as far they could from where petrified ponies were found. Cockatrice started to closing to Trottingham. Lord of city ran away when he heard the news. Not longer after that city militia ran away. They were sure that they couldn't harm cockatrice. How to fight with something that is turning you flesh to stone? How you could hope to win, if the most heroic knights failed? City was abandoned, every pony with lick of common sense ran away. Every pony able to run, ran away. City militia even when choosing to run away didn't left their orders, to help and serve. They organized evacuation and kept order to prevent riots during escape from doomed city. But there was two ponies who left behind. One of them was pony who had hope to stop it. Yes, it was Clear Reflection. When everypony started to run away, he stayed in his shop and tried to make best mirror ever made. He tried every material, every technique he knew. Day after day, night after night, he was working on his masterpiece. He made first glass based mirror. He spent every moment on polishing it to perfection. Everypony thought he went nuts and tried to force him to leave his shop but he didn't listen. He told them, time after time, that it's something he had to do. Second one was a young guard who decided to stay behind and give signal when cockatrice will enter the city. He knew it equaled petrification from cockatrice sight. He believed in his duty to protect other ponies and he knew that his horn and flag will be warning to other ponies to stay away from the city. His name fitted him; He was called Valiant Stand. Finally... Cockatrice reached gates of the abandoned city. Valiant played alarming note on his horn... No, not unicorn horn, musical horn Sweetie. Clear Reflection left his shop with package on his back when he heard signal. He was exhausted and hungry. He spent last two weeks trying to made perfect mirror. He was afraid, but he felt like he had to try. He was closing to gate where he saw flag signalling that cockatrice is inside the city, but then...! He tripped. His package landed on ground with loud CRUNCH! With great fear in his heart, he started to rip open his package. Inside was his mirror made from glass. Broken to pieces. He saw thousands of flawed reflections. All his hopes, all his dreams - crushed like this mirror. He started to cry. Worse, this loud sound attracted attention of cockatrice. Monster saw pony sitting with his back to it. It started to move closer... Clear heard closing in monster. For a moment he thought about running or about turning to cockatrice and getting over with it... But then he remembered why he stayed in his city. Why he made this mirror. Why he went out against cockatrice. He wanted to be a knight. And true knight will never withdraw! Knight, real knight will do everything to protect others! Real knight will fight to end! He looked at his broken mirror. He knew that cockatrice was few meters behind him. Some broken shards of mirror were still giving perfect images... Few of them were still usable. Cockatrice was confused. It was sure that pony knew that it was close. Ponies usually ran or try to fight and this pony was ignoring it. Even more, he was doing something with... rocks? ...water? ...with something on the ground. Did he ate something...?! Cockatrice was very confused. Suddenly earth pony turned back. He had closed eyes. Cockatrice instinctively used its glare to turn pony to stone. For a moment it saw another cockatrice. When it understood what was happening it was too late. Cockatrice was hit by it own glare. Clear Reflection spat out shard of mirror he was holding in his mouth and started to breathing again. He was exhausted, tired, sleepy, wounded... but he was happy. He proved something himself and defeated cockatrice with its own weapon. He went up a tower where he heard guard signalling that cockatrice entered the city. He took horn from the stoned guard pony and started to play victory fanfare. Then he put alarming flag down and raised up normal city flags again. Ponies who were hiding around Trottingham turned their hands toward said city in confusion. Someone slain invincible monster? But how? It was impossible... Nopony had enough courage to approach to the city... But when King heard that somepony may or may not won over wretched beast, he decided to investigate personally. Next day after hearing such news he and his party were at gates of Trottingham. City was silent. Main gates were closed. It seemed to be absolutely abandoned but then he heard fanfare he was told about. Somepony was in city! King asked his servant to play royal fanfare. After a few minutes main gate started to open. Behind main gate, on little square was statue of cockatrice with expression of shock. It was too real to be a normal statue. He ordered his mages to confirm his suspicions. After few spells they told him that it was cockatrice who turned to stone his knights. And then one earth pony with bandaged mouth approached the king and his party. He bowed and pointed with hoof to monster and then to shard of mirror in his saddlebags. King instantly understood. "Did you defeated this monster?" Earth pony nodded. "How?" Earth pony took a shard from his saddlebags. He pointed to eyes of the cockatrice then to his mirror and then to the cockatrice again. King was silent. Earth pony started to take off bandage from his mouth. King gestured him to stop but he continued anyway. "How did you know that cockatrice will smite itself with glare?" King asked. His court started to surround Clear Reflection. Young earth pony was getting afraid. They were nobles after all and they were observing him, judging him. "I didn't know that, my highness. I hoped it'll work. I thought that... If cockatrice turns to stone with its stare... then mirroring this stare to itself eyes should turn it in stone too..." "How long you spent on creating this mirror?" "Two weeks, my highness. All time of the day and most of the night." "I suppose your weapon wasn't broken when you made it." Company of King started laughing but he stopped them with lift of his hoof. "It wasn't joke." He looked at them sternly and then at earth pony. "I tripped and broke it..." "Why you didn't run when you only hope was crushed?" "I, I wanted to be like knight... I couldn't run. I had to defeat this monster or be defeated. Running away was not an option." King watched carefully earth pony. He started to circle around slayer of cockatrice. "You will be a knight." For moment everypony was silent; statement of king dumbfounded them. Impossible happened and then everypony at once started to talk. "What?!" Clear asked with happiness in his voice. "What?!" yelled outraged unicorns in party of King. "He will be the knight." "But... But he's not even from nobility!" shouted one unicorn. "He showed more courage, sacrifice and devotion than most of us! He spent more time on mastering his weapon, than most of us on celebration of sword! He charged against enemy who won over the best of the best! He wasn't even sure that will work but he did try anyway and when he lost his weapon, his only hope against this beast, he didn't run! He decided to stay and fight with remains of his mastership! And he took it into his mouth, even if it could maim his ability to talk! To eat! He could have been killed by that! He risked losing one of most precious thing to pony! If he's not worthy this title... most of us aren't. I for one I'm not!" Roared King. Everypony was silent. Most of them from shock and shame and others from fear of king's retribution. "And look at mark on his flank." King added after taking few deep breaths. On flank of Clear Reflection was picture of mirror but shield shaped. You see, fillies, shield, sword or crowns were very rare cutie mark. And usually it appeared on flank of someone very high in nobility. It was looked as prophecy that pony with such cutie mark will be great hero or leader. "What's your name, young colt?" "Clear Reflection, my highness." "You will be known as Reflective Shield, Cockatrice slayer, young one." King reached his sword with magic. "And I believe I have land for you." "...yes?" "I think Lord of Trottingham proved his uselessness, and should be stripped of title, and maybe executed... What do you think? I suppose you should rule there, as you saved this land.." For our young hero it didn't felt right. He looked a sword, saw his reflection in metal. His tired, bloodshot, but proud eyes. He made his mind. "Sir, I don't agree. You should spare him and let him rule over Trottingham." "Why you say so?" "Because, my king, you are no better than him... You run from cockatrice too and sent your ponies to stop it." King raised his sword higher in menacing way. In crowd angry whispers were heard. "I have sword in my grasp. I can kill you with one blow, and you insult me?" "No, my king. I'm only telling the truth." "You are not afraid I will kill you for this words?" "I am." "Why then are you telling me this?" "Because you asked, my king." Clear looked straight in king's eyes; his words were sincere. Sword fell down... on shoulder of young earth pony, to everypony shock. "Integrity and honesty. Very rare blessing and curse, young knight." And so, Clear Reflection, known now as Reflecting Shield, became first earth pony knight of Trottingham, wide known cockatrice slayer and honest royal adviser. After his ascension into nobility precedent was made and till then any pony with great merits to Braytish Empire can became a nobility. But this is for another stories..." Intermission: The Earth is round. There is no up or down. aka World MapsWe interrupting our scheduled story to bring some... MAPS! It's not finished, but I think it'll help in understanding Swarm situation, and... It's nice to have map. So, first map: Geographic one. Bigger version: http://derpibooru.org/100297 Geography... booooring! I think there is no need to add more on this map, so let's see other one - political: Bigger Version: http://derpibooru.org/100302 See, we now know where is who. Griffin Kingdoms - Gryperra, Zebras - Zebrica, and Changelings... in between. Uh-Oh. Griffins reason to attack Swarm is visible already - crossroad between Zebrica, Equestria and Gryperra. Traders could travel to Zebra Empire with rivers, faster, and safer than through Tribes territory. More, Travelers Salvation is great outpost for future railroad line to Equestria. If Griffin could take it, they would create there great communication junction, and maybe metropolis. Great progress for Griffin Kingdom, and maybe rest of the world. Faster exchange of goods, people, information, everything. World would became smaller. Only problem is that Changelings live there... Few words on other nations. Zebra Empire – Zebras attempt on creation superpower like Griffin Kingdom or Equestria. They are in constant war with Tribes, which not accepted rule of Empire. Moose Republic – if Equestria reminds USA… We need Canadians! Old World Countries – MLP version of Europe. It got better, and species segregation between earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns is no more. Species segregation in general is in decline. AUS – Apogifia United States. …sorry, I don’t know too. Feel free to imagine. Lyria, Maluana, Falcalia – not important countries. Mixed ponies, zebras, sometimes other species. Diamond Dominion – mostly Diamond Dogs. New pony in the town! (Own Rev I)One hundred fourteen thousand ninety hundred eighty two bits and forty two cents. Over one hundred bits. It was quite overwhelming sum for Pinkie. It was too much money. ...no, not too much. Her subjects needed more. Much more. They deserved more. But for young mare, like Pinkie it was too much. She never saw such money. She never had more than one thousand bits in hoof and it was only when she paid for materials which Rarity used for Pinkie's Gala dress. Rarity skills were free of charge, but paying for materials she used was right thing to do... and Applejack was insisting that they should pay Rarity for her wasted time on first batch of dresses. Rarity was all against that idea. They had quarrel about it. Funny thing is how similar they are to each other. Both of them are hard working, Applejack tending to her family apple farm, Rarity trying to keep up with orders of customers. Applejack had to buck down thousands of apples each year, when Rarity had to design hundreds of new dresses each season. Applejack had to work from sunrise till sunset everyday in season, when Rarity sometimes had to work few days straight without sleep when she was closing to deadline. Both of them are very proud about their "brands". Both of them pushed to the limit to offer best products they could. Both of them took pride from their work. Applejack was ready to help anypony, even if she was already tired out after her chores on farm. Rarity was ready to shoot down profitable contract to have time for her friends. Both of them repressed some parts of them. Pinkie spied few times Applejack in her barn practicing her Manehattan accent or posture of high born lady. Sometimes she was playing some high class tunes on her farm violin. Applejack seemed to feel guilty after this, but Pinkie was sure Applejack somehow longed to this. Maybe her "down-to-earth" and weird accent was some kind of masking her inner desires. She was trying to be as down to earth as it was possible, closing to stereotype of dumb earth pony, when her mind was tempting to reach higher. Rarity once told that if Applejack took care about herself, brushed her mane, clean her coat with some shampoos and worked her manners a bit, she could trot through Canterlot like knife through butter. She said that Applejack is "diamond in rough". Rarity on other hand... She was breaking down her shop machines to fix or improve them. She sometimes asked Cutie Mark Crusaders to buy her something from tool shop. Pinkie once took glimpse of some this secret projects of Rarity: mechanical wings, watches, some industry machines, probably to do something with fabrics... That's where Pinkie took concept of her helicopter. Rarity seemed to be inclined toward technology, what was very earth pony like, and... dirty, uncouth, unladylike, and much more thing what Rarity officially despised. Of course, they were differences. Rarity was rich, or seemed so, when Apples were fighting for every bit. Rarity was trying to join high class, when Applejack officially disregard them. Applejack was pretending to be a simple farmer earth pony, when Rarity was officially treating a something what anypony sane couldn't desire. Rarity always knew how to manipulate ponies into helping her, what for Applejack was unfair. Applejack was almost always saying what she really thought, when Rarity thought it was rude. Rarity was proud about herself, when Applejack was trying to be humble. And much more minor differences... The sad thing for changeling like Pinkie was that they saw only differences, when they had so much in common. They major principles in life were similar, their creed of work was comparable, both of them cared for their reputation and other ponies. "Sis!" Her train of thoughts was interrupted with unexpected mindlink from Chrysalis. She was happy, optimistic. ...and signal from her was stronger this time. Pinkie wondered if it was because Chrysalis was closer to her or because she fed. "Hi! What's up?" answered Pinkie, not usual Pinkie-happy, but glad. "I just had breakfast. Let say foals are tasty." "Chrys, what I said about being evil witch? We are evil fairies!" Pinkie joked. "Ooops... but stew was great. No bones clinching in teeth..." "StEEEEEEEEWWW? You should make cupcakes!" "I don't know how to bake, remember? But you look like you'd be good at helping me make some! ... Seriously, some foals gave me willingly some Love." Chrysalis was joking back. It was good sign. Pinkie was almost sure she wasn't lying, she couldn't sense anything suggesting lies in Chrysalis mindlink stream. But Chrysalis could still make a mistake in sensing pony's emotions reserve. "Okay, tell me more!" Asked Pinkie, hoping for more details. "I was resting in the park where this three fillies spied me..." "CMC?" "What?" asked Chrysalis, don't understanding this acronym. "Cutie Mark Crusaders. Three fillies adventuring for their Cutie Mark..." "Yes, them. Where I was... so, they started to asking me who I am, some short talk happened, and then, after learning my "Cutie Mark" they asked me to tell them story." "Oh, which one you choose? Maybe "Amaryllis in Dreamcocoon"?" "If I would choose this one, Equestria would just invite us for barbecue. And you know what? No masks needed!" Chrysalis answered with irony. "Oh, I would finally stretch my wings! But, could we stay for the main course?!" "I believe they wouldn't want it other way. I'm sure we would be main event of this party." "I'm always main event of any party!" Pinkie stated proudly. "Yeah, I'm sure you are... Back on the track. When they asked me for story, I told them one about cockatrice slayer, Reflecting Mirror. One of older fables. I used illusions to enhance the story. They liked my performance and praised me after all... Weird feeling. I mean, It went better than I excepted..." "Easier than taking over Equestria, no doubt..." "Less effective too... If only my plan worked..." "What would you do with ponies if you won? It's something what is bugging me since we met." "Use them as Love source of course! What's other use of ponies?" Pinkie could feel disregard, and underlying envy in Chrysalis stream. But there was something more... "But how?" "Dreamcocoons. We would create one shared dreamspace for all of them, imitating this world. They wouldn't know that they are in our power or that there was Invasion. They would exists peacefully in their dream of perfect world, when we would take real Equestria." "It's... not bad idea." It was to some extent evil, but it weren't half of it what Discord or Nightmare Moon could do to Equestria. It was just stealing your real world and some of your Love, in exchange for other world. Maybe even better one. "I may be evil in their eyes but I'm not stupid. That's why I ordered our soldiers to use non-lethal tactics when dealing with resistance from ponies. We could use everypony. Maybe some ponies would join us, when they understood that we don't want their doom... I was hoping that we could convert Celestia or Luna to our side." "To control Sun and Moon?" "This too. But if they would joined us, taking over Equestria would be easier, they would keep under control ponies trying to break from dreamspace, and, to be honest, they are good leaders. I hate to say that, but this land is in better condition than any other place where my scouts reached. It's like Utopia." Chrysalis was silent for a while, but Pinkie could feel she was thinking seriously about something. "Sis, could you point me to Fluttershy?" "No biggie, but why?" "I... made some mistake. I accidentally said that I know Fluttershy. So, I think I need to work out some backstory with her." "Great!" "Great?! Are you mad?" "Nope! Well, maybe yes, but it is great anyway! Because you had to train you social skills among ponies!" "I don't want to..." stated quietly Chrysalis. "I know, and that is why it's great! Because you had to!" "...It makes sense. So, how to get there?" "Give me a second." Pinkie displayed on her left internal eyelid schematic representation of Ponyville from pegasi eye view. In center of her view was simple blue dot symbolizing her, and around were other symbols symbolizing other ponies she could sense. Ponies were usually symbolized by their Cutie Mark and initials. Her mental map was joined with other information like who lived where and basic information about inhabitants. She just had to focus on one home to get all information she learned about ponies living there. She could did it other way, too, thinking about where pony lived would return this place spotted on her mental map. Ponies often wondered how Pinkie could remember almost everything about anypony; She just had whole catalogs about them inside her mind, like in some library. "Okay, Chrys, where are you?" Green dot lighted up inside park of Ponyville. When Pinkie focused on it she started to "digest" more information. Changeling, Queen, Chrysalis... Yup, she needed no more. In no time Pinkie marked few possible routes to Fluttershy cottage from Chrysalis current location. But how she could send it her? She was out of practice in such thing. How she did it before? She was doing something like this without problem but it was ten years ago. Back then it was natural, she didn't had to think, it was like flying for pegasi, magic for unicorn, or walking for anypony. She knew it was time to use her imagination. She thought about sending a mail. First, write it down. Done. Second, pack it in envelope. Something "clicked" inside Pinkie's mind, so it was probably done. Third, address it. It was simple, she knew where she wanted to sent it. Again, something happened and Pinkie wasn't sure what was it. Fourth and last step, send it. Map disappeared, Pinkie had short black out on her both eyelids. Did something went wrong? "Why it took so long?" "I wasn't honing my mind link lately. Did you get it?" "Um... yes... Well, thanks... I will go to Fluttershy now." Chrysalis felt suddenly very stupid, maybe it was remorse too and shortly after that she broke down her stream. Pinkie turned down map and displayed her task list for today. Point one, two, three and probably four was done... So point five. Pinkie looked around, looking for some place where she could create her new disguise. Pinkie felt that if she only could transform into Celestia, or someone from Twilight family, she could get any information she wanted from this intelligent unicorn, but it would be too risky as she didn't knew enough them to behave like them. New pony then it is. Gender: mare, Pinkie never really tried to behave like stallion, or male of any species. Species, it was too obvious: unicorn. Twilight wouldn't be very interested in explaining spells to earth pony or pegasi, simply, there was no point in doing it. Unicorn mare, next, cutie mark... Who would want to knew such spells... Either pony with knack into magic, or... idea! But how would cutie mark of sightseer look like? Binoculars? Map? Nope, too adventure related. Luggage? Closer, still not this... Camera! Often related to such professions as photographer or journalist but it can be interpreted into sightseeing. Yes, it can work... Colors, mane... Fur - light bluish, mane - darker blue, falling into purple, eyes... let them be yellow bright. Mane, simple ponytail. Tail not too long, not combed. Last part... Name. Something related to her talent, or something general... Most ponies changed name after founding their talent. Something related to camera or tourism... Snapshot? Sounds good. Surname will come later as for now it wasn't necessary. Pony known now as Snapshot was off to Twilight Library. She quickly regretted that she changed so early. She couldn't feed by the way going to Twilight. Reason was simple, ponies liked Pinkie's avatar, when Snapshot was unknown to them, so they felt almost nothing toward her. Yes, Snapshot could gather some background Love, but it would worsen mood of ponies around. Every place had it own emotional background, and every living being could feel it. If place was liked, it was giving back it's likeness to beings around like hot sand on desert was giving back heat... Maybe not so much and fast, but general idea was the same. Changelings were immune to such things, not like they didn't sense it, feel it, but it wasn't overriding them such strongly like ponies. It was only reason why Pinkie could raise up spirits of her friends in scary forest. She was simply unaffected and aware what really is going on. Finally, Snapshot reached Ponyville Library. She raised her hoof and knocked few times. There was no response. After few seconds more, she cautiously opened door, and sneaked her head inside. What she saw made her flinch. It wasn't darkness inside. It wasn't mess what made her afraid. It wasn't that she saw stacks of empty coffee mugs. It wasn't that Twilight was on verge of "mad Doctor" judging from her look. It was topic she dedicated herself to study. Changelings! Fairy tales, biology books, old history books, legends, bestiaries, even few new newspapers were lying on every available table. On black boards were scrambling of Celestia's prize student. Questions like "How to detect Changeling?", "Discorded Flutterponies?", "Unity or Individuality?" were scribbled down along her suspicions and ideas for spells. But it wasn't worst thing. Even anatomy charts hanging in few places weren't the worst thing. They looked new, like made only few days ago; they were showing internals. The worst thing were parts of chitin armor and shells. Somepony ripped them from someling... Snapshot heart started beating loudly. She was afraid that Twilight might hear it. Twilight turned her head to Snapshot and smiled. Snapshot couldn't make out if it was evil or good smile... but it definitely gave her creep along her back. "SPIKE! WE HAVE ONE HERE!" Twilight yelled with her horn glowing up. Snapshot jumped up, and hit frame of door with her head. She landed hard on her belly, tried to raise herself up supporting on her forehooves. Her eyes were perplexed, vision blurry and her eyes were ringing, recovering from Twilight yell, her heart thudding irregularly, lungs running almost out of oxygen, blood in her veins feeling cold. Pain was something abstract, she felt nothing, only that her body should rest now, that something is wrong. She realized that she can't run in this condition. She slipped, and hit floor with her jaw. She saw last one big blink of white light, and then... she was done. Unexcepted visitorWorking out convincing story how Charming Stories met Fluttershy went great, especially when Fluttershy convinced Chrysalis that overcomplicated story will be more likely to be exposed as a lie. When Chrysalis tried to create alibi what could cover all possibilities, and it turned out to be almost impossible, Fluttershy proposed the simplest possible explanation: Charming Stories accidentally reached her cottage yesterday and Fluttershy agreed to take her in for a while. Then they talked a bit with each other, and that's how Charming Stories know a bit of her, and Ponyville. Fluttershy version had only one flaw: why such a shy and fearful pony did this? When Chrysalis voiced it aloud, and maybe a bit rudely, Fluttershy looked down at the ground, probably hurt by harsh words of Changeling Queen, and answered her concerns with a bit of malice in her voice: "And do you have better idea, Queen?" Chrysalis felt touched by Fluttershy answer, but not in "What did you say, you puny pony?!" way, more in "I did something wrong" way. And when she realized she felt a bit sorry for her words toward Fluttershy, she was a bit scared. She felt sorry towards pony. It was wrong. Ponies should only be providers of Love, nothing more. ...but doesn't gardener love plants which give them fruits? Doesn't good shepard care for his flock? ...doesn't Pinkie care for ponies of the Ponyville? Chrysalis sighed. She felt conflicted. Few days ago, it was so simple. She hated ponies, and wanted them under her hoof, robbed from their Love, and land. Now, she felt sorry for one of the weakest and most pathetic ponies in the world... ...and this pathetic and weak pony was so brave and devoted to her job so she willingly went through Everfree Forest in the night, then went down into old, narrow dungeons full of Changelings, the same which attacked Canterlot two weeks ago... Because she believed that everyone hurting deserves help, and everyone have some good inside... She wasn't weak idiotic pony, she was more a saint. 'Do I have some good left inside me?' wondered Chrysalis, looking at Fluttershy. She felt her gaze softened, and her heart fluttered a bit. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but it need to be done anyway. "Fluttershy, I'm sorry." Chrysalis felt weird. For first time she said she was sorry to pony... and she really meant it. Fluttershy raised up her head and looked toward Chrysalis. Her eyes were hypnotizing, there was something inside what told 'Go on... if you okay with this...'. And it was enough to break from Chrysalis more words. "I'm sorry for harsh words I used, and I'm thankful for help. What you proposed is better than any of mine concepts." Fluttershy kept her encouraging look. Chrysalis started to feel uncomfortable. What she could say more? She opened her mouth... And then Fluttershy smiled with closing her eyes. "It's okay, Chrysalis. You are not bad person, you just forgets how to be nice. You are scared, too. I understand." "I... thank you." They stared awkwardly for a few seconds at each other. Chrysalis wondered what she should do now. Should she left? And do what? She really didn't want go back to cramped camp... She was happy to see sun again, and feel more optimistic about future outside. When she was in camp, and saw her hungry, mangled, wounded subjects, it was hard too keep her hopes high. And she really wasn't feeling that going back to Ponyville was good idea. She could meet that mint unicorn who recognized her... or something. No, Chrysalis was scared a bit about exposition. But then Fluttershy came with solution. "Would you stay for the tea and cookies?" It was ridiculous idea, tea for changeling was just flavoured water. Cookies were just like sandstone, or mud, or something, but with flavour. No nourishment, only flavour. "What? It is foolish, I can't feed on this..." She began, but then realization hit her. She made same mistake again in few minutes. She looked sheepishly toward Fluttershy. "I'll gladly drink tea with you, even if it isn't feeding me..." Fluttershy again slightly smiled toward Chrysalis. "You are making progress." Chrysalis was wondering why it felt so good to be praised for such nothingness. She was suspecting the answer, but it was too scary for her. But she couldn't ignore proofs. She was trying not to hurt her, she was caring what she was thinking about her... It wasn't like she liked her, right? Proud Changeling Queen don't need pony friends, right? But Chrysalis knew that she already lost it, that it was only matter of time when she start wanting to have good relations with her, or maybe other ponies... Because she made one exception. And this mare was unique. She weren't prejudiced toward her kind, even after Canterlot Invasion. Yes, she was afraid. But she was afraid of most ponies, and most ponies were kind toward her, or good looking... when her changelings attacked her yesterday and looked like army of skeletons, or other zombies, with wretched holes in their bodies. If this pegasi drew hoof toward her and her kind... Shouldn't Chrysalis do the same? Chrysalis turned toward main room of Fluttershy cottage, and laid her eyes on the table. There was already pot full of tea, and two cups. Chrysalis could smell aroma of black tea, and freshly baked cookies. She turned her look toward kitchen and she saw that Fluttershy was trotting with plate of cookies in her mouth. She flapped with her wing, like she was asking Chrysalis to take a seat. All this together was giving such homely atmosphere which would melt heart of most ponies. Chrysalis was about to oblige toward Fluttershy gesture, when she sensed in her horn that huge amounts were building up somewhere near, somewhere in the house. She turned toward Fluttershy, and wanted to warn her. Too late, with big pink blast of magic, on top of the table a unicorn appeared. Chrysalis eyes locked themselves on one of cups, and she saw wonderful spectacle how white, simple cup transformed into white mist and porcelain shards. When every piece stopped moving, then Chrysalis broke her gaze from broken cup, and scanned room. She saw broken plate and scattered cookies on the floor. She saw tea, slowly flowing from remains of pot, and dripping onto wooden floor. She saw toppled chair, where Fluttershy was supposed to sit. She saw Fluttershy, crouching low on her legs, hiding her eyes with her wings, shaking with fear, her back against wooden wall of her home. And then Chrysalis saw who caused all this mess. She was purple. She was unicorn. She had dishevelled dark purple short mane with pink streak. Her eyes were similar in colour to her fur, and they were full of panicked madness. Her horn was glowing with magic, when she tried to force Fluttershy wings from her face. She was yelling something, pledge of help or painful confession, Chrysalis couldn't catch on. Inside Chrysalis mind everything went quiet. Everything become simple and focused. It was this unicorn. This one who failed her plans to conquer Equestria. It was mare who caused her army to hide and hope for salvation, or slowly die from starvation and wounds. It was her who called her evil, even when she couldn't give convincing proof. She was everything what went wrong. She was unaware tormentor of Chrysalis subjects. And now she was unaware that there is Changeling Queen with desire for revenge in room... Chrysalis felt like everything was calming down, when her brain started to analyse how to kill Twilight Sparkle. Blast of magic? Buck in side? In neck? Maybe simple horn pierce through head or neck? Strangling? One was sure - Twilight Sparkle will pay for her... ...her what? She didn't do anything wrong. She protected her country... ...which was what Changelings army did everyday against Gryphons... ...who wanted territory of Swarm for own gain... ...what Chrysalis wanted for her kind... ...what she wanted to achieve with Invasion... ...which was method Gryphons used to deal with Changelings... ...she did similar thing to Equestria, like Gryphons did to Swarm... ...but she did it only because her kind was threatened by extinction... ...and it wasn't changing a bit that what Twilight Sparkle did was admissible thing, from Equestria point of view. Chrysalis lost her certainty. She wasn't sure before that her Invasion had chance of success, but now she wasn't even sure that it was right thing to do. She should try to establish relations with Equestria. She should try to make alliance beetwen Equestria and Swarm. She should make a contact with other countries than Griffin Kingdoms, and Zebra Empire, or Zebra Tribes. She should keep defending borders of her country, and her infiltrators in Griffin Kingdoms and Zebra Empire should spread propaganda, or more so, truth about her kind. But what if it all fail? Would it made her right to invade other country? She knew answer. It was yes. Because it was matter of survival. But she would be only morally allowed to do so after trying other ways to save her species. And then, when she heard panicked squeal of Fluttershy, Chrysalis realized that this mad purple unicorn was still scaring her... ally. She knew now that she wasn't allowed to kill her. Twilight Sparkle was still friend of Fluttershy and Metamorphosis. And killing Celestia's personal student would probably made negotiations harder or rather impossible. But Chrysalis would be damned if she wasn't going to enjoy this. She trotted to side of Twilight Sparkle with evil smile, still disguised as Charming Stories. Purple mare realized someone was standing by her, and her eyes widened with shock, when she turned her head to face unfamiliar unicorn. Chrysalis wasn't wasting time, and when she saw that Twilight horn was glowing up with magic, she did most instinctive thing to her. She attacked Twilight with her head, and when spell of distracted unicorn went fizzle, then she turned herself frontally against her, stand on her back legs, and aimed one powerful front hoof kick straight in her face. Twilight head hit wooden floor first. There was moment when her body stand firmly on the hooves, when her head was lying on the floor, but then her body collapsed on her side. Not so far from her head were fragments of cup that her teleportation threw away from table. Chrysalis observed her for a while. She was breathing, so she was alive. It was all she cared for. Oh, how hot was her desire to be allowed to kill this defenceless unicorn... ...but Chrysalis was sure now, she shouldn't think that way. But when she saw small droplet of blood in unicorn's nose, she gave small smile of joy. It was low and bad, but she enjoyed this. She turned to Fluttershy. She was still trembling and hiding her face away from horrors what happened in her room. "D-d-did you k-ki... killed her?" she asked. Chrysalis turned her head toward Twilight again. "No, I knocked out her. She looks okay." Fluttershy slowly took away wings from her eyes, and when she saw that what Chrysalis said was true she raised herself up. She was visibly shaken be events of few last minutes, but with power of will she trotted to Twilight, and started to checking her head for damages. Chrysalis noticed how Fluttershy stare was similar to this of young changeling soldiers after battle. It was called "Thousands yards stare". "What was that about?" Chrysalis asked Fluttershy after few long seconds. Fluttershy murmured something. Chrysalis wasn't sure what she said. "Fluttershy? What she yelled?" "She..." yellow mare was breaking down again, clearly sobbing "...she said she murdered someone." And then fear stricken Chrysalis heart. Metamorphosis. She was going to get information from Twilight. Did Twilight... Chrysalis couldn't believe it. She didn't want to. She tried to establish mindlink with her sister, time after time, but it was like there was no Metamorphosis. Just emptiness on other side. Like she was... ...dead. Legs under Chrysalis failed, and she was there, lying without care for world. She heard her heart slowly and deeply pounding. She was feeling like her brain was on fire, and her stomach turned into rock. She wanted to destroy something. She wanted to kill somepony. She wanted so many things, but now she felt like she was sinking. She was sinking in sorrow. Her sister, with who she finally regained contact... dead. She was no more. It was such alien concept. It was such impossible concept. Her sister, no more. It was true that Chrysalis lived without thought about her for years, but now, after reunion... She regained her sister for only few days. Her sister who turned out to be wiser, more successful than her, happier... She gave Chrysalis hope and optimism for days to come and... She was dead now. And why?! Because her stupid sister, inept leader, had to meddle in her life with her problems. And then she felt someone poking her in her side. She tried to ignore. But then she heard quiet, soft voice of Fluttershy. "Chrysalis...? Pinkie..." "She's dead." "You can't be sure..." "Her mindlink is dead." Fluttershy was silent for a while, thinking how she could counter it. She was hoping that Pinkie is okay. "She may be wounded and unconscious." And this simple statement was enough to lift hope of Chrysalis again. Fluttershy could be right. Maybe she was so deeply unconscious, that Changeling Queen couldn't sense her. She stand up. "Then we need to hurry!" "U-um... what about Twilight..?" "I don't care!" Well, if she really killed her sister, then Chrysalis would care about Twilight. She would bother about her swift execution. But this statement caused Fluttershy to back off with scared face. Chrysalis looked toward her. She wanted to shout, yell, she wanted to force that stupid pegasi to run with her. But she knew that would be effortless. "She's safe, she's alive. This is what I'm not sure about my sister. So please, could you forget about Twilight, who can possibly be murder of my sister?" Chrysalis explained with not so hidden annoyance in her voice. Fluttershy was torn. She looked toward Chrysalis and Twilight alternately. She should take care about Twilight, she may have some hidden damage. She should run to library and check out if Pinkie is alive. She should do both of this at the same time. Her fear muddied what was more important. She just couldn't decide. "OH, SO BE THAT WAY!" Chrysalis yelled, her anger mixed with disappointment, and shortly after she run out from cottage. It snapped Fluttershy from her dilemma, she realized what she should do. But Chrysalis was already running away and couldn't hear Fluttershy shouting to her to wait. Host(ility)Voices. So many voices that it wasn't possible to distinguish one individual voice. There was so much of them it wasn't even possible to say that they were voices at all. It was more like ocean. Quiet, almost dead, murmur of the ocean of voices was something interrupted by roar of waves of screams and cries. But even if voices were indistinguishable from each other there was few words repeated so often. But they were less words and more grunts of stranded animals. "...hungry..." "...weak..." "...hopeless..." "...struggle..." "...cold..." Sometimes it was possible to hear melodic prayers rising above sound of ocean. "...ancestors, let her join and live beetwen you, as her mortal self dies..." "...Queens and Mothers, I hope you'll find me worthy..." "...Mother, Father, we will be seeing soon..." And in roars of occasional billow, roars and cries of dying, fighting, and hurt could be heard. "Take some more!" "Don't leave me..." "For Swarm! For Queen!" "...is that it? Is it end?... I'm feeling fine... too fine... my legs... MY LEGS!!!" Pinkie/Metamorphosis was afraid to open her eyes. She remembered something bad happened to her in Twilight's Library. She wasn't sure what Twilight was going to do to her. Maybe her disguise fell? Maybe now Twilight is mad sciencing her body to discover changeling secrets? Or maybe she is slowly dying... But then Metamorphosis recalled something from book she read - when you are dying, or you are in bad shape, your brain creates pleasant dreams... and it wasn't pleasant at all. And she felt it wasn't dream either. It was somehow too real. She decided to slowly open her eyes. She saw blackness beneath her, like she was levitating above it. And then she saw trulyand her eyes shot wide open. That were changelings. Thousands of them. Hundred thousands. And she saw them true. She wasn't seeing their shells, their masks. Her vision wasn't obstructed by unreliability of her senses. She saw them as they saw themselves. And it was frightening. She wasn't only seeing them. It was more like becoming them. When she started to hear someling thoughts, fully understanding why he or she thought that way, gaining their memories, experiences, hearing what they hear, seeing what they see, feeling their body... She was starting to lose feeling of herself. It was sucking her self-awarness more and more. It was like sea whirl. It was like abyss. Was she Metamorphosis, or someling else? And who was Metamorphosis, what it meant to be her? She was someling else. She always was. But who? /// Chair she was sitting on was surely created to torture with discomfort. Only way to be it hardly endurable was sitting on it was by method of Griffins, sitting on flank, letting her hind legs dangling in front of her and front lying on chair arms. "What's your name, you moron? Or maybe you don't have any? Fucking drone..." On opposite of small room was pegasus in uniform unknown to her, but it had Equestrian Guard symbols on chest. He was sitting behind desk in typical pony manner, and held pencil in his right wing. He was actually trying to kill her by power of his furious glance but fortunately it had no effect on her. "Khatriii Bzzihoov" "What was that? I can't write down you retarded clicks, hisses and buzzes!" "Catherine Busyhoof" "Yeah, right, I'll believe in bug with Griffin name... And show your gross eyes!" He took pencil from his wing to his mouth, wrote down something on form in front of him, and the again he took pencil in his wing. It was surely frustrating to have repeat it every time. "It's..." "I wasn't asking about your opinion! Rank? Cannon fodder? And what I said about your eyes?! Show them!" He barked to her with contempt in his voice. There was something about this stallion what was making her hate him more and more, and it wasn't only his behaviour. 'Manners' he showed were absolutely excepted in talking with enemy. "Corporal." She lifted her external eyelids. "Like savages like you had ranks..." He looked into her eyes and muttered "...disgusting... Breed?" Maybe it was how he raised his nose after each insult? Or this how he squinted eyes, like he wanted to non verbally tell her 'Ha, I'm so sharp. How are you taking it, huh?!'. "Gatherer." "What was your orders during Invasion? Except buzzing around like bunch of handicapped bugs and trying to score a kill on unprotected ponies? Even that you fucked up..." It was definitely how he was thinking about how ingenious he was, when he was basically a simpleton. "My orders were to pacify any resistance that could emerge. We were only allowed to use non-lethal grade spells..." "Another one with same story! I won't believe any longer in this shit! I want to hear truth about your orders... And maybe I'll go soft on you..." She had this enough. Why she had to play this act, when she was unquestionably getting killed after it? It didn't made any sense. At least they could do their part quick enough, and do not attempt to perform such tomfoolery. "Our task was to eliminate resistance with casualties as low it was possible. Dead ponies doesn't generate Love.... but maybe in your case it wouldn't made a difference." She decided to speed things up a bit. "What did you say?!" Nostrils of military stallion flared angrily. He changed a bit his position, preparing himself to jump. Pencil slipped from his wing, he didn't even notice. It was obvious that interrogation was over. "Maaare, did Chrysalis laid her hoof on you? No, even her can't create such miserable creature..." "I'll rip you to pieces!" Pegasus jumped, easily flying over desk and in one fluid motion tackling Catherine. She was thrown away from chair, and crashed hard on wooden floor. She heard crack behind her back. Probably her back shell was damaged a bit by impact, she concluded. It wasn't important now. "Last words?" Asked pegasus, his eyes full of unrestrained hate. "Shut up!" And then storm of blows toward her face. She tried to protect her face, but his hits with front hooves were simply too strong. First hit connected her face, then another, and another... Her vision started to blur from pain. She tried to lift herself from him, but she couldn't turn around to get her hooves on the ground, and her wing were unresponsive. She attempted to charge spell, but another hit went straight into her eye, and her spell discharged without effect. She tried to hit him with her right front hoof, but he effortlessly blocked it, and then hit with another hoof. She heard loud crack, saw broken shell on her leg, orange blood dripping from cracks, and realized her leg shouldn't bend like that. And then pain hit her. This bastard broke her leg! Loud scream escaped her lungs. He stopped his attacks for a moment, took few deep breaths. He raised his right front hoof to straight punch, final blow. She saw determination in his face. 'That's how my life ends...' She realized and closed her eyes. She heard loud crash, she wondered for a second if it was sound of her face crushed under hooves of hostile pony, but then she heard new voice. "Sergant Strikes!" "Captain Armor, I... She attacked me!" "Is that so? Dozen of beaten prisoners states otherwise!" She opened her eyes and turned her head toward source of new voice. She saw strong, well built white stallion with blue mane. His cutie mark was representing shield with pink star inside. She knew who was this pony, and she was now sure she was dead. If there was anypony deserving to get revenge on changelings, it was him. His wife captured, and thrown to caves under Canterlot for few days. He himself, tricked and almost turned to "vegetable" by Chrysalis feeding upon him. Panic and pain made her stare into him with wide eyes. Her mind, dulled by pain and engulfed by panic wasn't really processing what was happening around her. "Sir! They are enemy, we shouldn't treat them as Celestia-damnded guests!" "Would you let them starve?! What with your honour?" "Sir, I would kill them! None of this monsters should live, when he..." answered angrily pegasus. "Sergant, you are off duty, report to my office!" "Captain, you are the one who should bring justice to this monsters! They kidnapped your wife! They brainwashed you!" "Guards!" Called Shining Armor outside. Two armoured guard earth ponies walked inside and stand behind Shining Armor. "Are you all mad? Brainwashed?! They are our enemy!" "Guards, capture Sergeant Strikes and bring him to my office, he is currently under charge of insubordination." Shinning voice was calm, powerful. It was voice of somepony used to ordering, and seeing his orders carried out. "No, we have to kill them! They are monsters!" Strikes stand on his hind legs and striked with both front legs toward changeling head, hopping to stomp it. Hooves of rebelious guard were inches away when strong magic bolt from Shining Armor horn struck him, and made his attack missing her head. Snap! Khatrii realized, pain of broken leg was gone. She turned her head toward her damaged leg. She noticed how weirdly her leg was ending slightly before elbow. It was ridiculous! And then she saw rest of her leg lying not so far from her. Realization hadn't hit her yet. Her brain was still insisting that everything is alright with her missing part of leg, that she still had it. Captain of guard was first to react. "Somepony, fetch here a medic!" Khatrii was fully focused on her leg, so she didn't pay attention to two earth pony guards beating military pegasus into submission, or Shining Armor calling medical aid. She lifted her right leg close to her eyes. It was impossible. She was feeling that her foreleg, hoof, everything under her elbow was here. But her eyes were telling her otherwise. She tried to bend her fetlock. Her brain was telling her she did it, and she saw how her disconnected muscles under her ripped shell flexed. She knew the truth, but she wasn't accepting it yet. She couldn't lost her foreleg. It was impossible. But when she saw her orange blood slowly dripping from her detached foreleg, she couldn't longer deny it. She started to scream, and it wasn't scream of pain. It was scream of fear and disbelief. When she was no longer able to scream she started to sob. "Calm down, help is coming." She ignored it, she was staring at her leg, as it could change something. Minute later someone else entered room. Somepony obscured her foreleg. She lifted her head. Before her stand male unicorn. He had small iron ring on his horn, and his mane was cut really short, like he was shaved to bald skin few days ago. His cutie mark was picture of syringe and red cross behind it. He grabbed her detached foreleg in his magic and started to examine it. "We'll see what we can do about it... Nurse Honeycomb, please, make her sleep at ease." And then in Khatrii's vision entered another female changeling. She was Gatherer. She had her "mane" cut like unicorn did. She had iron ring on her horn too. Even more, her wings were forced to stay closed by iron chain around her waist. But she was looking healthier than anyling Khatrii saw in few last years. Her shell was snowy grey, with details, like backshell or wings on her back almost white. Her holes were small, placed along her forelegs creating pattern of dotted line. On top of her head was nurse cap. She turned her head toward crippled changeling. Nurse horn glowed up and then she put it down on Khatrii's head. Khatrii suddenly started to feel... relaxed and sleepy. "Which one bastard did it to her?!" Was last words she heard, muttered angrily by other female changeling. -- Khatrii waked up. She instantly raised her front right leg in front of her eyes, to confirm her worst fears. She was absolutely shocked when in front of her eyes her leg appeared like it wasn't crippled before. She was dumbfounded. It shouldn't be there. She tried to bend her fetlock, and quickly was assured it was bad idea by pain what shout through her almost whole right side, and in react she shrieked. Only after it she noticed she had place of her former wound bandaged. She heard rapid knocks of hooves against wooden floor. She turned her head toward source of sound... And she saw white sheet in front of her, hang on steel frame by small rings. She turned her head right, she saw same structure what was in front of her. She turned her head left, again, same white sheet. But there was also small wooden table, and on top of it was standing small bottle with simple label around it neck. She wasn't trained in reading Equestrian alphabet, so she couldn't decipher what was written on label. Then, under bottle was lying paper note, written in Changeling writing system. "Love potion. Drink it up. Nurse Honeycomb." Then she noticed she was actually lying in simple pony bed, than rather on floor. There were even bedclothes. What the...? It's not the way how prisoners are supposed to be treated. "Corporal Bziihoov?" White sheet in front of her moved, and revealed same snowy grey changeling who put her to sleep. Khatrii decided to not answer. She wasn't sure how she should behave. Was she allowed to talk on of her kind, not part of invasion army? Maybe this female ling was traitor? Maybe she was spying for the enemy? "Corporal Khatrii Bziihoov?" And then she noticed again iron ring on her horn, and chains around her wings. She was probably in same situation as she was. She wasn't sure what kind of situation it was but this other ling was in it too. But she wasn't quite sure, she had to play it safe. "Yes, it's me..." "Well, I was kind of suspecting it. Usually we don't deal with legs ripped off by some..." She swallowed down a curse. "Anyway! Doctor Killer connected your foreleg again, but we are not sure if it will fully heal. He did everything what was possible, but you overall condition isn't giving a good prognosis... but at worst you won't be looking as cripple." "Killer?" "Doctor Killer. Pain Killer. He was trying to be cool, so he changed his name when he was eighteen, but he didn't quite grasped that 'Doctor Killer' will scare most of patients..." she laughed a bit. "What they are going to do to us?" "Basically we are now prisoners of war. It means they are not longer allowed to hurt us, and had to provide food, aid, and shelter for us. In exchange, we are not longer fighting and cooperate in camp works. Think about is as jail for soldiers. Then they are going to give us trial." "It makes no sense..." "Ponies are different. And hopefully Sergeant Dick will be sent to martial court. This son of... beaten at least ten lings before! But he never went so far before, so we couldn't prove he hurt prisoners. He always stated that they were in this shape before they came here... And every Celesta-damned guard was sticking to his version. But most of personnel was changed, and Shining Armor was sent to personally carry out of inspection." "Celestia-damned? Are you on pony side?" "It depends on how are you seeing it. I was sent here by Queen Imago almost twenty years ago. How old are you?" "Twenty four." "So you don't remember old Queen Imago... right? We were installed here to gain information about Equestria and to, possibly, conduct further actions.They weren't stated but Queen in her speeches for us ordered us to keep low profile and blend into pony society. She had some long term strategy in mind... But then she died, and Queen Chrysalis exiled her sister, who was wishing for making peace beetwen Swarm and Equestria, and maybe Zebras..." "Queen Metamorphosis was traitor!" "I heard from group what was captured two days ago, that Queen Chrysalis has contacted Queen Metamorphosis, and considered her innocent... How it look for you? Because for me it looks like from cheap novel. Anyway, Queen Metamorphosis will be joining in ruling over Swarm." "But..." "Anyway, I was following original orders by Queen Imago, and Chrysalis broke her promise toward her mother. I'm not considering myself a traitor. And I consider Equestria as my second homeland." "Then... why are you there?" Khatrii waved with her light foreleg, meaning this prison. "Because after Invasion every changeling is considered to be a enemy to Equestria, or at least accused of espionage. Big thanks, Chrysalis!" Angry frown appeared on face of white ling. "And why is this Doctor Killer here?" "Accused of pro-changeling sympathies. Being married to one for almost ten years and knowing this causes such suspicions." "He knew?!" "I told him few weeks before marriage." "But... why? Why you told him? Why he didn't told the guards?" Nurse ling smiled happily. "Some poet said, 'Love conquers all'. I was afraid he will turn out me to guards. Funny thing was that he wasn't even considering that, but he was more conflicted that he should love someone outside of his kind, and someone who was lying to him for few last years..." Small glint of shame shined in her eyes. "After all it worked out. Do you know what is most ironic about it? He was fully convinced after he received reply to his letter to Princess Cadance. Of course he omitted some details, but he described her general idea... big thanks again, Chrysalis!" White ling sighed, and added in somber voice. "Killie ensures me that everything will be like before... But it's impossible, even if I know there are still few friends of mine out there who don't care about my origin." "Pony Friends?" "Most of them are ponies, but there is also one other changeling and griffoness." "What?! Griffins are..." "You don't know her, so don't call her names, understood?" Medical changeling interrupted her, giving her stern gaze. "She was one of few who stand up against guards who came for me." Suddenly nurse voice gained characteristic griffin growl and screech used when user was furious. "She's good monster! Let her go! Or I will have to patch up you sorry flanks!" Honeycomb smiled a bit and continued normally. "She knocked out one guard but his companions get her. She's awaiting trial now, but she sent this..." She touched her nurse cap "...to Killie with letter. She wrote she knew there was something weird about me, but I was one of best nurses she met, so she doesn't care." "And when we are about nursing... You had to drink this potion." Telekinetic grasp of nurse gatherer appeared on the bottle, and it levitated in front of Khatrii, and it uncorked itself. "It's real Love potion, so it will feed you. So... Will you?" Khatrii nodded and grabbed bottle and started to drink from it. At first it's taste was sweet but then it gained a bitter undertone, and when it reached her belly, she felt a warmness spread through every part of her body. It was very concentrated dose of Love, she never felt something like that before. It wasn't enough to cover her deficiencies of nourishment in few last years... But maybe in few weeks she will even regain her colour... She closed her eyes, and started to daydream how wonderful it would be to look healthy, well-fed again... to be again dusty orange, not black, and her holes again fitting her pattern... It did not take her long to fell asleep. /// She regained her awareness. But immediately two voices started to yell to her who she was. Metamorphosis! Metamorphosis was her name! She was daughter of Queen Imago from lineage of Changeling royalty! She was sister to Queen Chrysalis! She was destined to rule over Swarm, together with her sister! She was Pinkie Pie! Pink party pony! Element of Laughter! Pony who knew everypony in Ponyville! Pony who saved world twice! Pony who had friends such as Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy! Both voices yelled they are the true one. But then third voice joined in. You are both. Queen Metamorphosis of Swarm, Pinkie Pie of Equestria, Element of Laughter. And you are my daughter. It was voice unheard at least for fifteen years. Metamorphosis felt two legs wrapped around her chest, and head on her left shoulder. And then she felt she was dropped down, but she wasn't really falling down. She was actually more like hovering. And then she felt ground under her hooves. Young Queen decided it's good time to open her eyes. In front of her was sitting her Mother. She looked almost exactly how she remembered her. Shorter than any Queen before her. She was only slightly bigger than average Worker. Her shell was only thick in few places, like her chest, legs, in other she was almost without chitin. It looked like she was born with armor under her skin, but nothing else. Colour of her shell was between gray and sea green. Her teal mane was kept in topknot. She had almost non-exsistent fangs, barely visible. And then Morpha saw her eyes. Full of joy shadowed only by underlying concern. "I found you, nymphie." And then Morpha was overflowed by conflicting emotions, which caused that her mouth was overflowed by her words. "How! You! Am I! Where! I was! You!..." Her mother laid hoof on mouth of her daughter and gave her small smile. "Morpha, I always loved how vivid you are, but could you slow a bit? You are missing whole sentences." "Am I dead...?" "No. You are just... lost." "Are you?" "Yes. I am dead." "Wow... Chrysalis, you... Talk about awkward family reunions..." Morpha joked half heartily. Absurdity of situation forced her to somehow relieve it. Her mother laughed. Her mother voice was almost a bit of crackling so her laughter wasn't one of the most enjoyable ones... But for Morpha it was one of the most desired sounds to heard again. "Should I ask how is Chrysalis doing to make you feeling better? She never visits me. She's always so busy..." Morpha smiled. "Only because you quite went west." "But she knows where I am, doesn't she? It's not like I'm living on some dead end..." "Yes, but trip here is quite killing." Morpha was trying very much to stifle a chuckle. "Oh, be careful or you will knock me dead with your wits." It was too much for younger ling. She chuckled, and then mother and daughter shared a laugh. After their laughter died down, Morhpa had to get answers for some questions. "What it is what I looked at? Into? I was someling else for a moment." "Changelings. Every alive ling is down there. From here you have unlimited, absolute access to every mind." "But... what happened?" "Connection beetwen your mind and your body is broken. If it wasn't damaged, you couldn't get pulled into someling like this..." "I don't understand..." "You mind accidentally reached too high levels of hivemind. It's rare phenomenon to non-dying changeling reach this place... Think about your body as anchor. Your binding beetwen mind and body was broken. Your mind reached levels where wasn't supposed to be, without place to come back and it started to fall down at first possible place." "It's like somepony who forget way to home, decided to move into some other pony home?" "More like... becoming one with this other pony..." Realization hit Metamorphosis. She could cease to exists, not even die...Her terrible visions were interrupted by calming words of her mother. "Morpha, don't worry about it... I wouldn't let it happen..." "And... how are we...?" "I'm... not quite dead. Neither anyling who is remembered by anyling..." "I always thought it's only saying..." "Not in our case. After death our minds stays for some time in part of hivemind created by shared memories of changelings... These memories are like anchors, keeping our minds in this plane of existence. We are just here, in plane of hivemind above yours, observing how are you handling your lives, and "living" in copy of your world based on your memories..." "Ancestors are really above us, guiding us..." "Yes. And it's also true that sometimes somelings can be helped by their ancestors... But it is like whispering, rarely heard." "But what if someling is forgotten? What if everling from family died?" "Then this changeling will die here too. Forever." "So... what then?" "Noling knows. Most of us wonder what is beyond. Many of us are awaiting this." "Why? It sounds like heaven..." "You'll understand one day. I know that my mother was happy when lings who remembered her personally, died. She was free to go further." "I don't understand..." "I know. I wasn't either. Now I do. But enough about such gravely matter. Morphie, I'm so proud of you..." "Why? I didn't achieved anything... I left my responsibilities away..." "Do you know what would probably happened if you decided to stay?" "I didn't thought about it..." "Rift beetwen and your sister will grow. You would seen each other more and more as political enemies than sisters. And then, one day, you would clash with each other, sending your country into civil war. Sister against sister, and brother against brother, our empire would drown under this bloodshed. Griffin Kingdoms would certainly used this mayhem to attack us... and who know if it wouldn't be last campaign against bug monster from the east..." Imago stared for a while in distant space, letting her words sink into her daughter. "By leaving without conflict, you gave your sister time to realize she needs help in ruling over our empire." "But..." "That you could appeal to her reason was unlikely. We both know she is a bit... thick-headed." Old Queen sighed with weariness. "And I'm rather proud of Chrysalis as well. She made many mistakes, it's true. On the other hoof, she managed to avoid worse mistakes, such as full open war with Griffin Kingdoms, or allowance to create drones, to mention few. First would cause destruction of our bodies, latter, of our souls. And she had courage to admit before herself she made a mistakes, or plainly failed, that her way wasn't the one what could save her subjects... And finally to admit it all before her sister who maybe was right all along... It's what I'm proud about in her." "Mother... What were you plans for Equestria? Changeling I, she, it gets confusing, was talking with said you had long term plans for Equestria." Imago sighed heavily. "First step of my plan was to contact them using changelings who were already living for years among ponies as our ambassadors. If they would consider us as friends, I would try to negotiate with them to allow us build at least one of our hives on their territory and citizenship for our subjects... This hive would be last hope of our kind if Griffins would conquer our land. But if they would consider us as enemies... Then I would order changelings blended among ponies to wreak panic and havoc, destabilize the country, and when Equestria would be on the verge of disintegration I would order similar attack to this of Chrysalis. I'm not proud of this second solution, but Queen's have to always consider well-being of her subjects first, and her conscience second..." "Is there anything you can tell me, what could help us?" "Funny thing, how different you are as Pinkie and Metamorphosis..." Just when Morpha was about to ask what her mother had in mind, she continued "I can give you few advices. You need to regain recognition among your subjects. Don't be afraid to give a few speeches. I know the few first ones will be hard, but you need to clarify that you are really back, and they need something to give them hope. They don't trust your sister so much, so they need to hear it for themselves from you. You should try gain contact with changelings who lived here for years. Their support could be crucial in long term strategy, and they could provide help for survivors of Invasion. You absolutely need to look out what rebelling lings are up to. Their actions can wreck our hopes for negotiations with Equestria. Help Chrysalis to regain confidence. Anything more... No, I think it's all. You are doing good, Morphie, and you know situation better than me. Well... I'm glad we could meet. I was really missing you. But I believe we should cut our meeting short..." "Why? Can't I stay a little bit longer? I wanted to talk with you more..." Morpha asked pleadingly. "Chryssie is seriously considering to unleash hell on you purple friend. Her patience is wearing thin." "But... How long I was out?" "You arrived here by early afternoon, and now we have late evening, so she is fully excused in her barely herd anger." "But how I can come back if my connection was broken?" "Let me help you..." Her mother closed to her and crossed her horn with Metamorphosis horn. "I'll send you back to your body... I hope we won't be seeing soon." She smiled sincerely. "What, why? Oh... I get it..." "Farewell, Morphie." "Goodbye, Mom..." And then Metamorphosis felt in blackness again. Author's Note Amount of words has been doubled! Only if quality could went the same... Hop, Skip and Jump (unrev...)Few hours ago: Cocktail of anger, fear and adrenaline and magic flowed through Chrysalis when she ran toward Ponyville. She ran like mad mare, not allowing any obstacle to slow her down. She jumped over, ducked under, rammed through or passed by any object in her way, no matter it was pony, cart, bush, or anything else. To anypony who watched it with friendly eye, it was amazing exhibit of agility and tenacity transformed into incredible row of stunts. For her it was just blur of actions and fast thinking. For her it probably went like this: Cart standing across the bridge. Ponies arguing about something. Too high to jump over. It's gonna hurt. Skid on belly under cart. Again on hooves. Run. Ignore surprised yells. Town hall far in front. Fountain is next to town hall. Gotta turn left near fountain. So many ponies in a way. Too many to ram through. Look around, keep speed. Stack of boxes on the left near wall. High enough to jump on balcony. From balcony to another one, and then to ground. Filly on the way, jump over! Jump on the boxes. Jump on balcony! Ignore surprised yells of ponies. "What the hay?!" It doesn't matter. Jump on another! Not losing speed. Jump down, trying to land sideways. Brace for impact. Roll over. Get up. Legs? Still working, hurt. Gallop forward. Group of ponies talking, blocking the way. Too high speed to turn or halt. Barrel with trash nearby, before them. Jump on barrel. Jump over ponies. Barrel overturns, spilling it contents onto ponies. Don't waste breath on saying "sorry". Doesn't matter now. Turn left or right?! Display map. Left. Evade ponies, bump and ram some. Look back. Anyone wounded? Okay, faster! Market. Market day. Too many ponies. Too many market stalls. Stalls? Jump on apple cart hauled by big red stallion. "What in tarnation...?!" Jump on stand of mare with orange hair. She yells. Ignore. Where next? She throws carrots. Jump on another stand. Another yell. All market ponies stares. Jump on another stand. Another orange mare yells. She wears hat. She looks familiar. She kicks apples in direction of stranger. Stand cracks. Jump on statue of the fountain. Stand collapsed. Jump was too short. Hop out from water. Look around. Few angry ponies approaching. Where to run!? Nowhere to run! Time to fight through! Too weak... Too low on magic to fight all of them... everything hurts. Her legs are surely wounded. Heart beats fast and shallow. Vision blurs. Chrysalis felt sudden chill from head to her hooves. So, that's it. End of line. They are going to finish her, or at least capture, and then they will found out who is she and execute her. There is nothing she can do, she failed everyling, she failed her sister. Orange mare with hat on top trots toward her angrily. Chrysalis can't make out what she was yelling, too much ringing in her ears. Chrysalis took firm stance on her shaking hooves. Last Queen won't go without fight! She will take few ponies with her. Ponyville will burn to the ground. "Camp commander?" She tries to maintain mindlink. It's too wavy, and therefore it couldn't reach it's destination. Chrysalis tries to aim her horn toward orange mare. She should have still enough magic for few killing shots but it's hard to aim when her head floats. Orange mare looks even more angered but backtrots a bit. Vicious chaneling spots this as ocasion, jumps forward to charge through earth mare... but her hooves never touched ground. Even more, she felt tightness against her ribs, feeling of sudden acceleration... and ground was moving away from her. She heard flapping of feathery wings, and surprised yell. "RAINBOW DASH!" Chrysalis felt like her head was getting airy... -- Chrysalis gasped with loud wheeze and opened her eyes. She saw blue, clear sky. It meant she was lying on her back. "Where was she", was a question pounding through her head. But it wasn't only thing what was pounding inside her. Her heart had jumpy, weak rhythm. Her lungs wheezed heavily with each breath. She remembered that she tried to reach library, but she wasn't sure what happened after she run out from Fluttershy cottage. She was sure she made dash toward library through Ponyvile. She remembered flashes of her crazy gallop, and she wasn't sure if she really did all this jumps, she never was a athlete. It was more like her sister thing. She raised her legs... Ouch, they were hurting so much from exhaustion. She noticed few fresh stabbings. It wasn't from any severe wounds, only from grazes... still, she should later do something about it. It would be stupid to let her mask rot away. "If I were you, I wouldn't try that." She heard unknown to her voice. "Is it a threat?" Chrysalis snapped and tried to move her head toward source of voice. Even her neck was burning from exhaustion. She was able to take a look of her surroundings, but she couldn't see owner of this cracking voice. They were on some kind of balcony, but more like terrace. "Naaah, more like friendly advice. I bet that you won't be able to stand even for minute." Chrysalis saw blue pegasus mare with rainbow mane and tail closing in to her. It had to be Rainbow Dash. There was no other possibility with this mane. "What happened?" "It was nice running you did down there, but it made upset some stiff ponies... So, I swooped down and saved you from furious mob!" She puffed out proudly her chest and rubbed her hoof against her chest with smile toward disguised Chrysalis like she was awaiting for something. "Well... thanks. Could you tell me wh..." "So! What's your name?" Rainbow Dash interrupted her with barely contained curiosity. "Charming Stories... And I was..." "Such egghead name for such awesome runner? Are you sure you didn't missed you destiny? I mean, those long le..." "RAINBOW DASH!" Chrysalis yelled, and regretted this second later. She felt like her lungs were bursting at seams. She wondered what part of her body wasn't overtaxed with strain. Her painful yell worked - Rainbow Dash was silent for a two or so seconds. "Hey, you are even yelling like my egghead friend!" Rainbow Dash suddenly realized something, and shot a confused look toward Chrysalis. "Wait, how do you know my name? Are you a chan..." Chrysalis groaned. "You are famous. Twice saviour of Equestria. Only pegasus alive able to pull of Sonic Rainboom. Hell, you was mentioned in few newspapers!" "Oh... yeah." Rainbow Dash replied sheepishly. Unicorn rolled over by flailing her legs, and was currently trying to stand up. She was able to raise her flank, but her chest was still lying on the ground, her forelegs too weak to push up her weigth. Rainbow Dash chuckled at this sight. "Need help?" "Are you blind?!" Chrysalis snapped, frustated with her lack of ability to even stand up. "Jeeez... All you need is to ask." Rainbow Dash took in to air, flew over Charming Stories, grabbed her by hers shoulders and went up. Chrysalis stood shakily. Rainbow landed in front of tall unicorn. "Thank you..." "So... Where you were trying to get? You was running like it was matter of life and death." Chrysalis weren't fond to idea of telling her truth. But on other hoof, she had problems with even standing. And she was lost, she realized when she displayrd map - it wasn't useful anymore, itlost track of her place. And Morpha said Rainbow Dash really cares about her friends. It could be used for her advantage. Somepony need to give her a lift to library, and somepony needs to check on Twilight and maybe made her reasonable. Rainbow Dash looked like pony who won't budge to use force against friend for her own good. Who knows what Twilight will do when wakes up. "Rainbow, listen. I need to get to library..." "No can do. Twilight, librarian, I meant, barricaded herself with studies or something... she only sends Spike for food or something. Unless it's emergency..." "That's it! Something bad happened there!" "What do you mean?" Rainbow Dash tilted her head to the side with confusion. "When I was meeting with Fluttershy... Don't interrupt! I met her only two days ago!" Chrysalis snapped when Rainbow was about to interrupt her. "When I was meeting with Fluttershy, she, Twilight I mean, teleported from thin air, and started to yell that she murdered somepony. I knocked her out, and then I galloped out looking for library. Fluttershy is probably on her way too. Somepony need to check on Twilight if she's still crazy. Fluttershy and I will check out what really happened. Are you in for help?!" Rainbow Dash had a grimace of utter shock. She shook her head, and shot glare of animosity toward Chrysalis. "I don't believe you. Twilight would never..." "Then fly to Fluttershy and ask her herself! I know you are fast, It will take you one minute flat! Just point me to the library!" "Stay right here! If you lied to me..." Rainbow Dash soared straight in direction of Fluttershy cottage. "Great" Chrysalis muttered. She could finally took better look at surroundings. She was on a terrace of... a tree? It was house inside the tree. Pony who lived here had a good taste in Chrysalis opinion. Changelings always preferred their houses alive and organic. Very expensive but easy in maintain, comfortable, self repairing and easily expandable. Tree wasn't as great as changeling building biomatter, but still it was better in eyes of Chrysalis than any other pony building made from stone or wood. Chrysalis felt incoming mindlink transmission. It was from camp commander. "Majesty?" "Yes, commander?" "Queen Metamorphosis is unreachable. What we are supposed to do?" "I'm researching why my sister is silent. I need someling to observe Fluttershy cottage. Inside is very powerful unicorn... in not right state of mind. Description: Twilight Sparkle. Chinch-tier stealth." "Right away, my Queen." Commander wanted to add something, but abandoned the thought. "I need also my location on mental map." "Sending to you. Anything more, majesty?" Chrysalis displayed map again. She saw one ray running through Ponyville, beginning in abandoned castle, then appeared another one, beginning at swamps near Ponyville, when she felt another mind link opening. Both lines crossed in middle of Ponyville. It was location where Chrysalis was. "It's all. Thank you, commander." Mindlinks cut down. Chrysalis would laugh, if even breathing wasn't hurtful. She was where she wanted to be. Library. She was on terrace of library. She even didn't need Rainbow to give her a lift, because she was already there. She trotted toward wooden door, leading inside. She reached it with her magic, but door didn't moved a bit, locked from inside. She looked around for a window to break open and slip through. Unfortunately, they were too small to let her do that. Chrysalis was again getting irritated, she went so far, one door shouldn't stop her. She lowered her horn and prepared to strike door with a powerful magic beam, the same she used to best Celestia. Chrysalis closed her eyes, and tried to cast the spell. Her horn glowered... and spell fizzled with few green sparks. Her magic was almost completly deplated. Disguised Queen dropped to her haunches. She felt like she hit the wall. She could transform some of her Love into magic, but her reserves of Love were low, and it would take time, time she wasn't having too much. Rainbow Dash could be back any minute, and Chrysalis preferred that she would be first to inspect library, if her sister disguised broken down or... False unicorn gulped, and tried to convince herself that it was not a option. She raised again, and trotted toward the door, wondering what she could do now. She wasn't burglar so she didn't know any method to deal with locks. Changeling method to deal with closed door was to destroy said doors, or transform into someone who is allowed to get through. Maybe there was some other approaches... She looked at metal hinges and lock. If she could use her flameless burning spell around them, she could then buck door open easily. She thought again. It would be enough if she could burn out the wood around lock. She clapped her hooves happily, and she began to prepare spell, when sudden spark of insight come to her head. She realized that this spell was common among changelings, but to ponies it was probably unknown. She almost blew her cover, again! Chrysalis hit door furiously with her foreleg, wanting to somehow dispose her arising anger with that. She was furiously punching door, when she suddenly heard small voice behind the unsolvable obstacle. "T-twilight, is that you?" Chrysalis knew this voice, but at first she couldn't pinpoint who was the owner. "Twilight? Answer me, please?" Fright was easy to sense in voice of... Spike, it was Twilight dragon assistant, Chrysalis realized suddenly. Finally, a glimmer of hope. She tried to remember how Twilight sounded like. "Spike! Open the door, please!" Spike could hear exhausted, and a bit terrified about Twilight outside. It shouldn't be surprise he unlocked door without hesitation. Chrysalis jumped through almost immediately after she heard click of unlocking lock. "Who are you!? You are not Twilight!" She heard shocked voice, and she turned to the owner of the voice. Spike was small purple bipedal dragon with green underbelly, chest, and spines. Unfortunately, Chrysalis couldn't take a good look at his face, because Spike decided it was good time to turn out and try to make a dash deeper inside library. Fake unicorn quickly grasped baby dragon in her telekinesis, and levitaded him toward her. Small dragon was trembilng in her force. "Twilight...?" he asked fearfully. "She's safe, knocked out but safe." "Are you going to.. arrest her? It was accident!" If I could I would have her head on silver plate, thought angered Changeling Queen. "What happened? I'm not guard, but if she really killed somepony..." she decided to answer with not-so-well hidden threat. "She's okay! She's breathing!" Quickly replied frightened baby dragon, nervously clenching his fists. "You can see her!" Chrysalis took a look around. She was in somepony bedroom. Desk with few quills and inkpots, and opened diary on it. Few shelves with books on them, a small chest on the end of the bed... and on the bed pony with bandage on her head. She trotted quickly toward her, blinded with hope and barely noticing bowl with water, opened first aid book, and small opened chest with bandages, and some drugs in it. When she was next to head of the pony she was sure of three things. It was her sister. She didn't had any proof, it was more hope than knowledge... but it had to be her. She was alive, her chest was rising and falling with each breath. And somepony cleaned and bandaged her head. Finally she was able to notice all small things around bed. Somepony helped her disguised sister. But if it wasn't Twilight... "You did this?" She asked small dragon, pointing with her hoof to pony and all thing around bed. "Y-yes?" Spike answered fearfully. Many thoughts how to show her joy and thankfulness toward young dragon has flashed through Chrysalis mind. She wanted to jump, yelling her sister is alive. She wanted to at least hug dragon for his effort. But Chrysalis, being Chrysalis... "You did splendid job. I was afraid..." She sighed, putting dragon down. Spike eyed her unsure, but he finally managed to stammer "Is Twilight okay? She..." "She went crazy, and I had to knock her out... but Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash should calm her down when she wake up. She bloody scared us!" Chrysalis violent emotions were slightly giving away. "Is it her first time? I meant...!" She wanted to correct herself realizing how it sounded. "She never did something like that. She..." Spike gulped and contiuned "Twilight had freak outs before, but nothing like this. She is... There is something wrong with her! And she doesn't want to say what it is..." Chrysalis shot a glance at Spike. She didn't need a second look, she saw such fear many times before. Fear born from lack of knowldge what's happening to friend. In last few days she saw it too often in her camp. Everyling was hoping for precise information from other camps, to confirm fears or hopes about close ones. So often few lings came to her and asked kindly if Queen knew anything about some ling... and she had to answer that she wasn't able to manage stable communication with other camps, so she was only able to do only highest priority calls. They always looked so dejected and sadly understanding when they left her. Or lings which friends were suffering from traumatic events of Canterlot and after. Unresponsive shells of lings, or only shadows of they former selfs, drowning in their pain. Chrysalis actually really felt bad for Spike. He was only a kid, and for some reason his friend... maybe even mother figure just went crazy, believing she murdered a pony. Probably there was more to that. This green dragon eyes full of fear... She trotted closer to Spike and kneeled. He needed some help, she felt it. Some kind soul to listen to him or something. Maybe it will make something better... "Hey... Twilight is okay. Nothing bad happened. She just..." "She freaked out! She didn't even stop to check her breath..." Spike pointed at pony in the bed. "She wasn't in right state of mind. Something is probably troubling her..." Spike once again interrupted her. "But, she should tell me! I am her number one assitant! I was always able to help her. I heard her cry in sleep three days ago. And she was mumbling something like... like..." Spike couldn't force himself to finish thought. "Like?" "Like they made her into muderer! But she would never kill anypony! It's some fat lie!" Chrysalis had to fought urge to snap. Yes, Twilight would never kill a pony. Probably not even a pet or something. But her actions during Invasion caused unknown, yet high casualties among changelings. But nooo, lings are not ponies, and they'll never be. ...could it be that Sparkle had some gulit inside? That she felt bad she caused such pain? It... complicated... things for older Queen. She wanted to blindly hate Twilight for crossing her plans... but yet, again she did something that anyling was doing during griffin attacks. And she had gulit trips in effect... But it didn't sounded like she was regreting that what she did caused death, more like she was forced to cause these deaths. She was probably regreting that her hooves became dirty, Chrysalis thought cynically. But some seed of doubt was planted. And Morpha was great pony... She saw strained expression of young dragon. She decided she won't share her suspicons about source of Twilight ramblings. He was hurted enough. "Listen... I believe you could ask her when it's over. She wil realize she have some problem, and needs friends help." After second of doubt she decided to grab dragon in small hug. He flinched, but shortly quickly returned gesture. Chrysalis felt dragon was giving some positive emotions... some hope, some grattidute, maybe something friendship-like. She inhaled it with every part of her body. Was it that what Morpha was talking about? Help them and they'll feed you? It was ridicolous, but it was feeling right. "Thanks... Heh, just realized I don't know your name." "Charming Stories." "I'm Spike. You are good pony." Chrysalis for once felt good with such statement. Author's Note I'm aware it will probably be medicore... But I have to post it anyway. This chapter was scrapped... seven times if I recal. Frustated seven times. Once I scrapped when I reached 4000 words mark... Wake up, sleepyhead!"Listen, you imbecile, we shouldn't move her! We don't know how badly she wounded her head and you don't want to see you stupid friend in the jail!" Charming Stories shouted angrily at Rainbow Dash. She stood low on her hooves, with horn aimed at opponent in argument, preparing herself for incoming rumble. "Nopony insults my friends! Back it off or else...!" Rainbow Dash flew up, and cracked her front hooves menacingly. Before she could use them, she was brought to the ground by strong tug of her tail. Rainbow snorted at reason of her unexpected landing, Applejack. "Cut it out ya'll! Fluttershy, what's wrong with her?" Applejack was only pony in room who kept her nerves calm under pressure, maybe except the unconscious pony in a bed, who didn't so much of choice in this matter. Spike was trying to help Twilight who seemed to suffer another emotional breakdown, when other unicorn in the room, Rarity, looked like she was about to faint or fight with strange unicorn. Fluttershy said something but nopony paid attention, especially Applejack and Rainbow Dash who were arguing. When Applejack seemed to stay calm, even if quite irritated, Rainbow Dash wasn't holding out her anger. Chrysalis own anger wasn't fading too fast, as her fear was great fuel for that. She had reasons to be afraid. First and foremost her sister wasn't waking up, even after few hours passed. Chrysalis tried everything she could, but it was like noling was inside. It wasn't hard to imagine that Metamorphosis was braindead or her soul left her... even if the body was still alive. Another problem was her mindlink with the camp - it was dead since she talked with commander after a short examination of her sister. She told them that Metamorphosis had minor accident and she is simply sleeping to heal off. He sounded like he bought it, but it was a few hours ago... Chrysalis knew orders she gave him if she won't be reachable. First they will send a single scout to make out situation of the Queen, and reasons of her silence. Then, basing on observation of said scout, commander will have to send rescue squad or wait for a better situation to contact Queen. Of course, there was a third option, if risk was too high, commander was forced to abandon his Queen, and hope she will fend for herself... But knowing Commander Shard's naivety and loyalty, it wasn't hard to imagine him sending everyling to save the Queen. Chrysalis tried to find a reason for sudden death silence. There wasn't too much options. There could be some spell casted by Twilight which rendered Chrysalis mindlink useless. Chrysalis crossed it out by casting a simple unicorn spell, magic detection. It rendered the library free of any spells except maybe telekinesis Twilight used. That left another option open, her lings get captured or killed, but then she would heard something from them about this... Even if dying screams. Chrysalis shuddered. Last signals of dying ling were terrible experience. Influx of various memories, a screeching scream, dying background signals of mind, and this long cheep, abruptly ended in a crackle. She heard that too often in the last few weeks... And that how she was left with the last option: Someling was messing with the link between the Queen and the camp. Skilled changeling in mindlink based spells was able to interrupt or alter communication between other lings and even more. They were called lurkers and stealing memories, mind breaking, snooping, or masking their mind-pattern was their game. They were able to do with minds and links connecting them whatever they want, so it shouldn't be surprising that most of such skilled lurkers were employed by the Crown and used to countermeasure those who used it for their own good or hurt lings. Chrysalis was sure she took for the Invasion only six of them, solely for communication reasons and detecting former spies. She knew that one of them, Clear Signal missed, or more probably died with two other lings during the Canterlot Invasion (she sent her to intercept Cadance and Twilight), another one was captured after the wedding fiasco, and served as a irregular source of information from Canterlot, another two died not long ago from wounds, and last two were currently unreachable but alive. It left her with three lurkers, and one of them was currently in a prison in Canterlot. Other two were probably still loyal to her, or at least to their cause... So it had to be one of agents sent to Equestria by her mother. Could they really hate her so much that they are willing to cause an extinction of their very own kind? Chrysalis was almost sure that was not a option, many of these lings left families behind. No ling, maybe except a monster would doom own family. That left her with possibility was that they would just try to eliminate her and then deal with Equestria. Executing their own Queen could be quite convincing that they weren't following her orders. Chrysalis for a minute wondered if it wouldn't be for the best, but then she noticed a small smile on face of her sister. Maybe she could somehow convince them... if she could wake up. She was the reason they turned against her, aren't she? Chrysalis kicked herself internally. Rebellion of spies against her was her fault. Twilight Sparkle obsession with research about changelings, which caused current state of Metamorphosis, was her fault. Chrysalis tried to fought returning thought that maybe it would be better that she weren't been hatched. Morhpie would be better Queen than her... if she only had a chance to become one. If she only wasn't always pushed away from it by her older sister. Chrysalis always said her that she will take care of everything, and Morhpie wouldn't have to worry about all this boring royal stuff. She always tried to protect her, and it made her worst friend, and then enemy. Sudden silence jerked her to attention. Everypony was staring at Fluttershy who tried to back off despite a wall behind her. "S-she have slightly damaged skull, b-but other..." Fluttershy took a painful breath. "But otherwise she's okay... ...just isn't waking up." "Is she okay to took her to hospital?" Applejack kept her questions simple. She learned that it was often best way to deal with problems and panic, not fuss around them, keep it simple and focused. Fluttershy shot an apologetic glance at Chrysalis, which just shook her head objectionably. "I-it seems so..." Chrysalis felt betrayed by only pony she respected. But how could she do otherwise? Fluttershy probably wanted the best for Morphie... Pinkie Pie too. Applejack nodded and turned toward Charming Stories. "Is there anything you can do to wake her up?" She wasn't angry, it was matter-of-fact question. Chrysalis just knew that lying under this stern gaze is bad idea. She just couldn't imagine what would happen if Applejack found out that she was lied to... And Chrysalis felt it was rather big chance she could sense her lies. The only safe way out was truth. "There left only one thing to do... Pray. Give me a moment..." It wasn't quite a lie, it was rather a half-truth. Chrysalis wasn't a religious ling, hardships of her life destroyed any belief in god or force above her wanting her good. Of course, she still talked to the mother, but a changeling cult of ancestors wasn't a true religion. Applejack seemed to understand this as a valid reason, even if her eyes showed doubt. She turned to the rest of the ponies and gestured them to leave. Rainbow Dash wasn't one to oblige without another argument. "AJ, seriously, you trust her?! Girls, c'mon!" Rainbow Dash took a disgusted look at Rarity leading broken Twilight out. "Ah don't have reason to not." "But, but she can kidnap her or something!" RD flailed her forehooves into air while flowing up. "Then why would she try to save her and protect Twilight? RD, trust me." Applejack words were nothing but rational and honest. Chrysalis didn't cared for Twilight at all and she liked idea that she would be imprisoned in Equestrian jail. Unfortunately, Twilight will be useful for her sister later plans... and she was her friend. Applejack and Rainbow stared at each other for few moments. Chrysalis could sense how Rainbow's anger started to cool off in contact with Applejack certainty and calmness. RD landed on the ground and flared her nostrils one more time. "Allright, AJ, you won. I just hope you know what are you doing. I just don't like this madness." She trotted toward the door. "Ah don't like this at all too, sugarcube... Fluttershy, are ya comin'?" Orange pony stopped before leaving, turning her head to pegasi who tried to hide in her own mane. Chrysalis turned toward Fluttershy and mouthed "Go away you idiot". Fluttershy winced like a beaten dog, and walked away with her head low. "I'm sorry..." she whispered with her quiet voice. Chrysalis just turned away her eyes from traitor, and sat before the bed. She heard loud click of a latch inside door. She was left alone. Alone. Thousands of thoughts run through her head. Alone - she could take Morphie with her and run away. Alone - she wouldn't make more than hundred meters with her on back. Alone - is she even still here? In her head? Alone - is there anyling alive anymore? Alone - noling on other end of the mindlink. This silence was eerily. Alone - no help would come. Alone - she even lost an ally in Fluttershy. Alone - why she even cared for others? Alone at the throne as they say. Alone - maybe she should just... No, she wasn't alone, sudden thought attacked her. She was feeling so alone because someling make her feel like that. No, not that Lurker, she realized in sudden clarity, that was her self-loathing and sadness. For a moment her treacherous parts of mind tried to use it for more self-loathing, but something in Chrysalis mind made her realize it would be a vicious cycle. She had no time for such nonsense. She should realize this earlier. There were still lings out here who needed to be saved. There was still Morhpie... Chrysalis was sure of it somehow. She knew she should focus at things at hoof now. Lurker who separated her from her subjects was probably also listening to any attempts of communications. Of course, there was a option that he or she somehow just blocked links without trying to gather any information, but Chrysalis knew she had to try. She started to open her link again, but she decided to went with full power, without any masking, on any possible channel that could exist. "I don't know who you are. I tried to deduce it, and I came to three possible options. First, you could be one from my army who rebelled against me. If it's truth, then only thing I'm going to ask you for is: Do not doom our kind. Do not seek a vengeance for all cost. If your leaders have plan which considers following a path of peace and it have any chance of success - I'm ready to began my abdication if it's what are you looking for. Second, you could be one of agents installed by my mother in Equestria. You betrayed... no, you stopped following me when I wrongfully banished my sister. You were allowed to do so by orders of my Mother if I guess correctly. Banishment of Queen Metamorphosis was... wrong." Chrysalis paused. Thinking about something was one thing. Talking, or streaming it was different thing. "My fear that Equestria will be another enemy, lack of faith in my sister, my stupidity caused her exile, and therefore the Invasion. Invasion which probably destroyed anything that you could achieve, any long term plan of yours, maybe even tear apart families. I... For all it's worth, I apologize. My only intent was saving my subjects. My only result is dooming them. I'm not good Queen of the Swarm. Fortunately, I'm not the only one who can fulfil this position. Queen Metamorphosis is alive and informed of current situation. I contacted her in person. She... She will be restored to her old position. If she allows, she will be sole Queen of Swarm. I think you will found it favourable. But... But there was a small accident during her quest in finding some short-time salvation for still-my subjects which ended with her in coma-like state. I can't sense her in her body. I can't even found any trace of her mind. Her body is breathing, but... she's not waking up. I'm... I'm afraid. I don't want to lose her. Not like this... not after... Excuse my slip. I need help. Survivors of the Invasion need help. I'm not looking for fight with Equestria, I mean harm no longer. I'm not even able to. Now, I'm asking only to abolish this ban on link with my lings and... help my sister, please... I... There's a third option. You can work for Celestia or Luna. If you are going to bring justice on my head... do it. I know ponies of Equestria demands it. I wouldn't be surprised if your own heart wants it. I have to beg, just send them my wishes for peace. There is nothing more I could be asking for." Chrysalis listened into silence, awaiting for any signal, any voice. If she could only heard what was happening in this silence... -- "Surveillance." "Authorization." "...do we have to go through this? You have my mind signature." "Authorization." "T14, 7UN4-N0T-NNM" "Affirmative, link clear and loud, come in." "I have an unexpected situation development. Open your link more, I'll sent package." "Wilco, send you traffic..." "Awaiting confirmation." "Solid copy. I... Can you confirm this bit about Queen Metamorhposis." "That's what she said." "Heh. It's not time for joking. We need to keep focused." "You chuckled, and really, we are not military. Anyway, I can't locate Queen Metamorphosis. Instead I'm tracking few lings from Chrysalis army. They seem to be part of a bigger group. We have to scratch off mission." "Why?" "First, there are her lings nearby, and with them it can go ugly. We don't want any casualties, right?" "But they don't know what's going on with her." "Exactly, so they will scout Ponyville, and try to find her. There are few commanders in her army who would consider "burning down Ponyville" a valid solution for getting their Queen to safety, and you know who lives in Ponyville." "Elements Of Harmony." "I won't put them on the line of fire. Our cause it's not worth destruction of the world." "I still believe Princess Celestia have back-up plans for everything. Our agents in Canterlot seemed to confirm that." "If you say so, anyway..." "Understood. I'll call off the mission. Still, I need you to get any information which could confirm your findings." "I need an authorization for a snoop." "You can do anything you can. We need as much information is possible about Queen Metamorphosis." "Allright, I'm going in. Synthesis, out." -- Chrysalis still heard silence, but she felt it changed somehow. She tried to reestablish connection with her subjects, but then... Her senses blacked out. Only because her attacker take control over her body, she didn't gasped or yelled. Chrysalis wasn't trained in countermeasures for such things, she always had ling for this. She was on absolute mercy of her attacker. She quickly realized that her aggressor didn't seemed to try to kill her, or destroy her mind. At once she understood what was target of his attack. He wanted to access her memories. Chrysalis started to think frantically what she should do, and realized any her action will be known by her tormentor. She only could wait helplessly in silence and darkness of her mind... Could she? She knew there were few memories she should protect at all cost such as Metamorphosis disguise in Ponyville. She was... a white pegasus with blond mane! Yeah, Surprise! She used this even back in the Swarm, when she played with her sister. Chrysalis felt her mind separating in two streams of consciousness, one focused on making as much false information was possible about Pin... Suprise! ... when second was trying to make out any way to throw out her invader. She couldn't cut off her link. She couldn't use her magic to shield herself. She was never trained to protect herself from Lurkers.... "I cannot hide, I cannot run, I cannot fight..." She listed her options. Sudden memory of P... Suprise occurred to Chrysalis. Her motor mouth, which made almost everyone puzzled about inner workings of her mind. Chrysalis would smile if she could, if her ability to move any muscle weren't taken from her. She had an idea. -- "Rorr'rt!" "..." "I know you are here, stop playing games!" "What's going on, Synthesis?" "I need mind bleach, is there something like that?!" "What happened?" "This crazy mare... She showed me... No, you really don't want to know." "Oooo-h... You are tempting me to snoop you." "No, really... Did you know that... nevermind. I got some information." "Awww... I was hoping you will say something more. Go ahead." "This part about Queen Metamorphosis is true and she's alive. Chrysalis really contacted her, and it seems that Queen Metamorphosis forgave her and is currently working together with Chrysalis to save our kind." "Is she stupid?!" "Naive maybe. Stupid - not. Otherwise Chrysalis seems to really care about her, but... we know Chrysalis, it could be just another trick. Anyway, I couldn't work out Queen Metamorphosis true disguise. Chrysalis memories are true... But she muddled it with other memories. I could only get that Queen Metamorphosis is not a white pegasi with blond mane named Surprise, a supposed Cutie Mark shape, and a possibly first name of her pony form. It is P. Oh, and she have tendency to speak very fast and very excited." "Did we had anyling in Ponyville?" "Yes, librarian, but she moved to Trottingham over two years ago. Celestia indirect actions." "Hell... I'll contact First. We have to change our plans." "What's my orders?" "Observe them, and keep me informed." "Comm-ban?" "Abort it." "Allright, I'm out." -- Chrysalis shook her head. With that simple gesture she was almost sure Lurker left her head. And then she felt tingling of someling trying to reach her. It was Commander. "Queen Chrysalis, are you okay?" "I'm fine." "We suppose some Lurker disrupted our links..." "I know it, Commander. Anything more?" "Yes, lings are asking about Queen Metamorphosis." "I can't provide more information about her. Situation is under development." "Should I prepare Hit and Rescue squad, my Queen?" "Put them in standby, but I believe it won't be necessary." "Understood. It's only suggestion, but lings are worried. It could be wise to enlighten them about situation later." "Noted, Commander." "Commander Shard, out." She was surprised that Shard didn't mobilized any soldiers earlier. She even wanted to call out him and ask about it, but then she heard a single knock at the door. She turned towards entering Applejack. "Have ya finished?" Chrysalis nodded. "Don't feel bad about it. Prayers don't work too often." Applejack sat next to Charming Stories. Both ponies sat in the silence, stared into the unconscious unicorn. "It's just stupid." Chrysalis broke the silence. "She's not dead, ya know." "But it's still stupid. She went in, panicked and knocked herself out." "Huh. Twilight can be mighty scary when she have her episodes." "I guess this happens often ." "Not really. Once or twice." "How she is holding up?" Painful sigh was Applejack's answer, and for Chrysalis it was more explanatory than any words. "Darn. We could use Pinkie around... Ah sent Rainbow to look out for her." "Who is she?" Chrysalis asked innocently, and she was honestly curious how Pinkie's friends saw her. "Ah tell ya, she's craziest mare ah have met. Not that she's some screw loose. Nah, she's plain crazy. We, in Ponyville, say about her she's "Just Pinkie"." "Then why you want her here?" "Because sometimes you need corkscrew, not regular old pony like me. She may be ... Pinkie, but she knows how to put pony from dumps." Applejack chuckled. Chrysalis only humphed and arched her eyebrow. "If she would be around she would throw welcoming party for both of ya. Shucks... Ah just realized we didn't trade our names. My name is Applejack." Applejack draw her hoof. "Charming Stories." Chrysalis just bumped extended hoof. She felt small spark between her and Applejack. It wasn't friendship, not yet, it was more like promise... "So, Charming, would ya help girls and me?" Applejack asked, standing up. "Yes, I'm already invested in this..." Chrysalis followed apparently pony-in-charge. "Great to hear that. Could ya make a stretcher from this bedsheet? I'll go organize girls..." Applejack left her and Chrysalis could hear a muffled conservation. She tried to eavesdrop, but it was too quiet to make anything out of it. With nothing more to do she focused on task at hoof. If she could bind corners of the sheet with something than she could make a hammock carriable by two ponies, one at the front and second on the end. It will be troubling to carry it downstairs, but it's some solution... she got to work without further ado. -- "She is not breathing. I killed her. She's not breathing. What will Princess Celestia do? She'll banish me. Or execute me. Or execute me and banish my body. Or..." Twilight monotone, emotionless ramblings quickly started to annoy her former nemesis. "Shut up." "Or she'll banish me, a then execute me..." Twilight mind seemed to be blocked in stable loops of unresponsive insanity. She claimed that she killed a pony, said pony is not breathing, and reflections how Princess Celestia is going to punish her. It seemed that everypony gave up at trying to reason with Twilight, and at the moment when Chrysalis came down, only Spike was actually doing something to pull out her from stupor. "Careful, sugarcube, keep it steady." Chrysalis heard Applejack from stairs. Applejack and Fluttershy were carefully carrying down wounded pony. Fluttershy was flying at front of stretcher to keep it levelled. Chrysalis wondered if it wouldn't be better to wait for Rainbow Dash, as two pegasi could make it much easier than earth pony and pegasus. Chrysalis heard sob, and when she turned toward source of sound, she saw that even Spike gave up. Rarity comforted him with kind words and tight hug. Chrysalis felt Love from these two... "She's not breathing. Where are you carrying her?" Even if it was a question, Twilight voice was monotonous and uninterested. It was probably her way of noticing that Applejack and Fluttershy were already in main room of library. Chrysalis decided to take a better look at hated unicorn. Bloodshot eyes, dishevelled mane, unkempt coat were quite obvious evidence that Twilight hadn't slept well or at all in last few days. "Why she's like that? Why she ignores us? I'm useless..." "Spike, dear, I don't want to hear such words from you ever again. You are wonderful dragon, and a great friend. Twilight is just... not herself as you see. Excuse me for a moment, as Applejack and Fluttershy will need my help." Rarity broke hug and trotted toward door. She stopped in her tracks, she seemed worried about something. "I hate to ask you for this, but unfortunately I have to... Could you look out for Twilight and... you new friend?" This word hit Chrysalis. She didn't want to be a friend with anypony or anydragon. But... Morphie would like it, didn't she? It was she was about. Make some friends. She's not dead! "She's not breathing. Death from suffocation happens after..." Chrysalis shoot a look at Twilight. She found some book on biology and was now reading it aloud. In any other circumstances, seeing hated unicorn in such broken state would cause a joy in heart of Changeling Queen. But now she hated Twilight for her egoistic delusions. She bordered herself with self-told lies and was only focusing on her fate, forgetting about her friends and hurt she caused. She took a look at Twilight friends. Did she even realized how much she hurt them? No, her mind was galloping in circle containing delusion, fear, self-hate... but friends were not included in her thinking. Chrysalis blood boiled in anger. She hated Twilight. She should enjoy that, and she had no reason to care about those ponies. But... she saw Spike, and he aroused her compassion. He was just a kid who couldn't help, who couldn't fully understand what's happening. On other hoof, he knew what to do with wounded pony, which was quite surprising for Chrysalis. Chrysalis wasn't sure what was real cause what made her do what she did. Anger? Compassion? She grabbed Twilight in telekinesis, and lifted toward supposed Morphie and her shocked friends. Twilight didn't even react, and everypony freeze uncertain how to react. Chrysalis made Twilight head touch chest of unconscious pony. "Listen! What you hear!?" Chrysalis shouted. Carriers trotted in place unsure what they should do. "She's not breathing." Twilight answered without hint of emotion in her voice. Chrysalis hit Twilight head in chest of her victim. "LISTEN!" Rarity horn bristled with magic, Chrysalis was sure she will be hit in few seconds by something... She started to regret her decision. "She's..." Applejack flared nostrils, preparing herself mentally to attack strange unicorn. Chrysalis noticed that small glow of unicorn magic enveloped Applejack's grip of stretcher. Chrysalis wondered how they could communicate that fast without mind-linking... And then everyone in the room could hear a groan escaping mouth of wounded pony with small frown forming on her face. "...few more minutes..." she said in quiet voice. Everyone stared with wide eyes. Chrysalis, surpassing initial shock, tried to establish connection with her, or at least to sense if it was really her sister. Her spirits were already high when it seemed connection was picked up. "Chryssie... wake me later, 'kay?...". When Chrysalis heard that, and sensed it come from pony next to her, she almost screamed from joy. Small yawn escaped her sister's mouth. "She's breathing..." Twilight voice was shaking, as her belief she killed somepony. Everyone seemed to still be dumbfounded by a scene playing in front of their eyes. "She's alive!" And with these words Twilight's blindness and stupor vanished. Chrysalis dropped Twilight, shocked from unexpected joyful scream of Twilight. She even backed up a few steps. And then for Chrysalis everything exploded. When Chrysalis found herself few minutes later, she was hugged by Fluttershy and Spike, and dazed by sudden influx of positive emotions toward her. Twilight was talking with Applejack. She looked quite ashamed, when earth pony seemed to be relieved and scornful at the same time. Rarity was helping Morphie with getting up who still seemed to be sleepy, but yet in character. Nopony noticed Rainbow Dash sitting in the window. She smiled. "Have I missed anything?" Author's Note I need proofreader... Argh, somepony, pleaaase? And 116/5? Guys, really? IMHO it's too good rating for this. Changing Mind pt.1Chrysalis was afraid that her sister will slip to her Pinkie persona after waking up. Gladly, she was proven wrong, as Metamorphosis immediately picked up her act of tourist pony, Snapshot. Everypony focused at her, asking her various questions, or in Twilight's case, asking for forgiveness. Chrysalis considered to leave discreetly, but she opted against it; her sister could need her. Snapshot answered few questions and quite easily (too easily in Chrysalis opinion) forgave Twilight. She even said that it was her fault, because it was her who panicked in the first place. After few minutes of making acquaintances with "new" friends, Snapshot said that she have terrible headache and needs to rest somewhere. In effect, everypony offered her a place to stay. Chrysalis blinked, as once again her beliefs about ponies were challenged. She always believed that ponies were only concerned about families and small circles of friends, working together with anypony else only for material profit. Yet, neither Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity or Twilight mentioned anything about payment, like they really cared about stranger pony. Chrysalis didn't want to acknowledge this, but she felt she could be a bit prejudiced about ponies; It was another crack in her perfect, simple vision of world. "...so, thanks for offer everypony, but I think it would be best if I will stay in Fluttershy's place." Chrysalis jerked, hearing that, it was unwelcome change of her plans. "But..." She began, looking at her sister and Fluttershy. Everypony turned their attention to tall unicorn. Chrysalis shut her mouth, and immediately tried to make a call to her sister. It took a few seconds for Metamorphosis to pick up the connection, during Chrysalis finished awkwardly, "...I thought I'm staying in your house." Chrysalis instantly regretted connecting with her sister. Chrysalis knew that her sister had to lost some skills in link management. Yet, she would never suspect that Metamorphosis would forget or wouldn't be able to tune out pain. What Chrysalis felt was worse than any migraine she suffered. She could swear that veins of her head were full with small shards of ice and her head was going to pop from pressure inside. It was painful enough without mentioning that everything was flowing, light was too bright, and voices were crystal sharp and painful as such. She could barely make out what Fluttershy was saying to her. Chrysalis almost threw up from terrible sensation; she decided to disconnect immediately. "Snapshot needs quiet place to rest. I hope you are not angry..." Fluttershy noticed pained Chrysalis pained scowl what she took as disappointment, so she quickly added. "Of course I can sleep on the ground and offer you a couch..." "Yes, I see... NO! You won't sleep on the ground! I will just find some other place. I can even sleep in the forest, It wouldn't be the first time when I have to wing it." It was true, Chrysalis journey to Equestria was rough; she slept with her lings on simple rugs under a starry sky; only way to survive cold of the night was to pile up with other lings. She was sure that any place in Equestria was easier to survive than Transirebla Desert. "Oh, I'm certain somepony will take you in. Ponyville is full of good ponies..." Fluttershy added helpfully, and nodded toward her friends. They seemed to understand it immediately. Chrysalis didn't want attention of these ponies, but she knew she had to play it cool, even if for her own safety. "Well, I don't want to be burden..." Even if she tried to sound sure, her fear made her sound uncertain. It was welcomed with hearty guffaw of Rainbow Dash and Applejack. Chrysalis shoot them anxious glance. "It seems that Shy really rubbed of on you, Charming." Applejack explained with wide smile. "Yeah! I mean, woah, one moment you are awesome runner, next you are jerk, and then you are... well, like Fluttershy." Fluttershy and Snapshot bid their farewells and left. It seemed that pain was taking better of Metamorphosis, as pained scowl was still attached to her face. Something clicked in Chrysalis brain, as she focused on Applejack. She knew this pony from somewhere... Her eyes widened with sudden realization. She destroyed Applejack cart during her mad run toward library. "Uh, do ya need something?" Applejack wasn't feeling comfortable with green unicorn focused on her. Especially if it seemed that she was afraid. "I... destroyed you cart...?" "Yup. Ya did." Applejack nodded. "And you threw a rubbish on me!" chimed in Rarity "It wasn't easy to clean off it at such hurry..." Chrysalis gulped. These ponies had any right to be angry. Applejack could even call guards on her for material losses. Her only hope was in minimizing anger, even if they hidden it well. She cursed that her magic was so low that she couldn't risk casting even simplest emotion detection spell. If other party was changelings, it would be easier too... "I'm sorry. I didn't want to. Please, don't..." "Don't worry ya head about it. Ah'm sure ya didn't, ya had other problems on your head." Applejack smiled, it seemed that this pony valued integrity. Chrysalis offered a small smile of gratitude, she never suspected it will be so easy. Naive ponies, she thought. Or maybe just kind... "Don't worry, Ah'll let ya make up for it." Applejack added with slow nod. Chrysalis smile fell. "Make up...? How?" "Ya will help me on farm. Ya know anything about apples?" "Um... They are tasty?" Chrysalis answered hesitantly. "Darn right they are! But Ah was asking; Do ya know anything about working on apple farm?" Chrysalis knew many thing about agriculture. She knew what soil was perfect to what produce. She knew which products of her nation could be traded to which goods of their few trading partners. To improve commerce she even learned how to store and transport them. She knew how her subjects provided water for their farms without pegasi blessing of weather manipulation. She was aware how much it cost to produce a one sack of grain, one bushel of corn, or other goods of her kingdom. She set prices Crown was offering to farmers for their work. But beside that, she didn't know first thing about farmers work. She probably couldn't distinguish apple from pear. "I'm afraid that answer is no." "Well, what about magic?" "Such as?" Applejack paused, mouthing word, and finally finished "Telekinesis, girl!" "I'm no better than average pony." "Shoot... Well, ya seem sturdy for unicorn, but... I think ya won't be useful." Chrysalis blinked, surprised. She never excepted that Applejack could be a racist. She felt disappointed in Applejack, she seemed to be a good person... for a pony, Chrysalis added. She couldn't stop herself from asking, "What do you mean by that?" "Ugh, don't be angry, but you are not farm pony, and you don't seem to be cut out for that..." Chrysalis realized that she could bail out from paying out her damages on farm, but her pride took better of her. She had to prove something to that pony. "Because I'm a unicorn?" She deadpanned. Temperature in room dropped down a few degrees. "Kind of. Don't get me wrong here, but unicorns usually aren't so tough as earth ponies or pegasi are. It just the way it is. If ya had magic like Twi here..." It only irked Chrysalis further. Maybe it was that it seemed to her that ponies were caste driven society, with strict boundaries what race can do. Maybe it was mentioning Twilight Sparkle as someone better than her. "So, you are racist." Celestia own sun couldn't heat atmosphere in the the room as these few simple words. "Wait a darn tootin minute!" Applejack was obviously outraged by Chrysalis statement. Chrysalis noticed rage painted on Rainbow Dash face, and utter shock of rest of ponies and one dragon. "No, you listen. You just said unicorns are not good enough to work on farm, just because they sport a horn! I may not bee such skilled magician like Twilight, but just show me what I need to do, and I will, in any way I can! I may not be as good at you, fine, but I'm not so retarded to not even pay off my debt! I don't want to get easy way out, because you think I can't manage!" Applejack rage seemed to subdue slowly. After few seconds more, she slowly nodded her head. "Alright. Ah can give ya a chance, just don't cry to me later about it." "I won't." Applejack spit on her hoof and extended it toward Chrysalis, who did the same. Two hooves bumped. "Deal." Both ponies said at same time. Applejack chuckled. Chrysalis arched her brow, confused by sudden improvement in mood of orange pony. "Ya have spirit, I have to give ya that. Maybe ya will prove me wrong." "Well... Thanks. You may not be racist, just practical... So I'm kind of... sorry?" Chrysalis finished sheepishly. She wasn't sure how she should play it off from this moment. "Naaah, it's fine. Water under bridge. It doesn't mean Ah will go easy on ya, and Ah reckon ya wouldn't want it other way... I think Rarity want something from ya too." White unicorn stepped in. "Of course I want something! I want satisfaction!," she raised her hoof dramatically, "...or rather I would want if your reasons weren't right, darling. Still, crime is crime..." "...Crime?" Chrysalis asked; she knew that pony laws and customs were different, but it seemed to be quite absurd; staining one's coat being a crime. "Of course! To destroy masterwork of Aloe and Lotus is serious offense! To make me take a emergency bath is only slightly less serious crime." Chrysalis noticed how Rainbow rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Aren't you exaggerating a bit?" Chrysalis asked to confirm her suspicions. "No, I'm certain I'm not!" "Rare, you are. Can't you just say what do you want from her? Just look like pro does it!" Rainbow Dash threw herself in conversation and turned to Chrysalis. "Yo, I want to beat you for things you said about my friends!" "...Beat? Like in fight?" Chrysalis grinned. Blue pegasus was starting to play on her nerves with her brash behavior. Chrysalis was sure that smashing her face to dirt will calm her nerves. "Yeah, If you want to. Race, fight, which one you prefer. You better not chose to fight with me. I have black belt in karate, kung-fu and few other martial arts." Chrysalis wasn't honestly sure if Rainbow was really such skilled fighter or just so full of herself. She saw how she fought and it seemed to be more of a improvisation than actual style. "Rainbow, that is too much!" Twilight interjected. "Fight, until one side gives up or is unconscious. Two seconds." Chrysalis stated in even cold voice. "Seconds?" Rainbow tilted her head in misunderstanding. "She meant a pony who is selected by a participant of the duel to observe and interfere when life is in danger or rules are broken." Twilight explained, strain of previous events still audible in her voice. "So, something like judge? I call dibs on AJ!" Chrysalis winced; AJ was her preferred choice. Rainbow Dash choice left her with Fluttershy, Rarity or Twilight. Fluttershy was good pony in Chrysalis book, but she couldn't imagine how shy pony could be a good choice for such matter. Rarity she didn't know, but she seemed to be shady type, and was wronged by Chrysalis. ...it meant she had to choose Twilight. "Then I'm choosing Twilight as my second." "When?" Chrysalis hesitated. She wanted to beat Rainbow here and now, but she had to admit she was exhausted and her Love was running too low to give her any edge. "Three days from today." "Will do. It won't change a thing, I'm still gonna kick you sorry flank." Rainbow Dash bragged, smashing her forehooves together. "We'll see." Chrysalis gave her mischievous smile, trying to plant worry in pegasus heart. "Don't fool yourself." Rainbow Dash was practically butting in Chrysalis face. Chrysalis opened her mouth to retort, but polite cough broke apart two opponents from each other. She turned her head to Rarity. "Please, I understand you two have to... 'went off' as they say, but could I have you attention?" "Yeah?" Rainbow answered for both of them. "Charming, am I right?" Chrysalis nodded. "I think I found a way for you to pay for you crimes. You see..." Rarity raised her hoof dramatically. Chrysalis sighed and realized she wasn't only one. It seemed that everypony one way or another showed their distaste for Rarity drama. "To the point." Chrysalis suggested with unamused voice. "Why yes, I would want to use as model. You see, I have order from Fancy Pants consort, Fleur De Lis. You are similar height and body build... well, you are more athletic than her, but it won't be a problem. And who knows, maybe even princess Cadance or Luna will be interested in these dresses?" "So... You want me to wear clothes?" Chrysalis asked doubtfully. "Yes, is it a problem? If you are not used to clothes, I understand, I will find another use for you..." "Well, no, it's not the problem. It just doesn't seem to be hard..." Chrysalis voiced her doubt; it seemed to be too easy. She was sure there had to be some catch. Rainbow guffaw broke her train of thoughts. Chrysalis noticed worried faces of Twilight and Applejack. Applejack even took down her hat. "Okay, you are so screwed that I'm even sorry for you!" "Rainbow!" Rarity fumed. Chrysalis yet again wanted to smack pegasus. "Ugh, why everyli..." Chrysalis sneezed to hide her error "...sorry, why everypony seems to be afraid of this?" "She tried to crush my organs into pulp!" Twilight zoned out and come down on Equs when she noticed horrified grimace of Chrysalis. Twilight smiled sheepishly. "Corset." She turned to hurt Rarity "Sorry... I know you didn't meant to..." "Darling it was only corset..." Rarity tried to explain her actions but Rainbow Dash interrupted her, "She ripped half of my mane!" "Darling, you are quite over dramatizing, and if you only brushed it more often, you wouldn't have so many terrible tangles..." "Well, to be honest, ya made me to not move a muscle for few hours when ya were fussing about some details." "AJ, but... It was worth it?" Rarity smiled faintly. "Sure it was, sugarcube, still..." Everypony broke into discussion about their dealing with Rarity wish to make everypony fabulous. Chrysalis wasn't afraid to be a model; It couldn't be half bad as these ponies portrayed. They were pathetic ponies in her eyes but then she reminded herself who they really were. They were ponies who faced a crazy royalty, dragon, god of chaos, and fought their way through her subjects. She recalled how they fought. It was like they were one, it was like they were changelings Insync, it was harmonious. Twilight Sparkle mowing down changeling rag-tag army with stunning spells, Applejack bucking out anyling who tried to put down her purple friend. Rainbow Dash was recklessly dashing through small groups when Rarity style of fight could be considered a dance, dance in which partner after partner is biting the dust. Chrysalis was suspecting that Fluttershy could be trained in Zebrican martial art, Aikido, she knocked out few lings when seemingly avoiding the fight. She shook her head; Those ponies were crazy. They are afraid of their dressmaking friend but facing a danger of live and limb was no problem for them. Chrysalis sighed, she knew she had to be on their good side. "Rarity? Tell me when you will need my help, I'll gladly pay off my debts." Chrysalis tried to smile honestly. "I want to finish this order as early is possible. Still, I have to consider you arrangements... What would you say, 5 days from now?" "It's fine for me." "Ugh, Ah don't wanna to be doubtful, but how are ya gonna to do it all? Fight, farm, posing..." asked Applejack. Chrysalis realized how many obligations she gave to ponies around her. ...ponies who made her plans undone. Ponies who were friends of her sister. Chrysalis felt better when she put this in that perspective. ...but still some parts of her were rebelling. Some parts of her mind were even afraid that she will really befriend some ponies. And yet again Chrysalis was asking herself if it wasn't the point of following her sister ideas. "Tartarus if I know. If everything is done and said, I will excuse myself and make some place for me to stay." Chrysalis wanted to say her goodbyes and leave; she had to talk with few lings and think about few things. "You don't have to leave, you can stay here." She heard voice she hated so much. Chrysalis turned to face Twilight. She seemed to have only good will in her eyes, even if her smile was strained and nervous. She wasn't such a wreck like hour ago, yet she still seemed to be broken in some way. "It's great idea, Twi! Ah'm sure it will be better than my barn." Applejack happily agreed. "No." Everypony focused on Chrysalis. She knew she had to play it safe, yet wanted to hurt Twilight. She noticed Spike clinging to leg of hatred pony. Seeing his thankful and hoping eyes caused a small change in her heart; she found a new way to hurt Twilight. "I appreciate the offer, but no. Forgive me to be straight, I don't trust you too much and we deserve some explanation for you actions." Chrysalis was straining to gave it neutral tone, yet it seemed that her friends were offended. "Hey!," 'Who else than Rainbow Dash'; Chrysalis chuckled internally. Twilight head turned down in shame. "She is right, Rainbow. You all deserve some explanation. You too, I caused too much stress for you..." Twilight looked Chrysalis in eye. Chrysalis realized she saw eyes like that; she saw them in her lings. Broken, tired, kind of lifeless eyes of someone who was trapped in their own personal hell. Chrysalis wanted to turned away her eyes, guilt was finding a way to her heart, yet these purple eyes were to captivating... and then she saw a small sparkle of hope deep inside them. "You see... It's about what happened in Canterlot." Confessions are similar to avalanches; Chrysalis already knew how it will went, from small opening up to whole revelation. "When we were in Canterlot, before Invasion, I met few ponies from my school.... most of them were... well, they were all about me being Bearer of Harmony and such. All of them, except one pony. Moondancer. Do you know what she did say? 'Twilight! I'm so happy for you!" 'Why, because I'm Bearer?" I was kind of tired by then. You know, all that atmosphere and all of you ignoring my suspicions. Nevermind, it's fine girls, you were all worked up, and I... Well, I will better continue; she said 'No, of course no! You made friends. You know, I was always hoping I could reach you and be your friend, but hey, I'm so glad for you!'. She wanted to be my friend when I was closed for others, not considering friendship as something valuable. We talked for a bit. She was quite like Pinkie, maybe less..." Twilight gave strained chuckle "Pinkie, but you know what I mean. Friend to everpony. We promised to write to each other. ...I thought I made a first friend in Canterlot. You know, a friend who I rejected before. It doesn't matter now." "Why it is?" Applejack asked, worry painted on her face. "She is dead. Killed by a changeling. Not in Invasion. Later. Some of them survived in caves or such places..." Chrysalis believed she skipped a beat. Changeling outright ignoring her orders? Of course it could be ling who did not get any update of orders. Still, even in original orders killing a pony was considered to be a last option. Could it be some of lings who decided to disobey their Queen? What purpose could serve killing a random pony? Chrysalis needed to know more; if it was one rebeling lings, they could plan something vile to Chrysalis and Metamorphosis plans.. "She wanted to be actor, you know? She went to AlTeRnation, one of the finest acting school in Equestria. Few days ago a changeling suddenly attacked her professor during lecture. Moondancer... she barged into fight. She bought enough time for her teacher and other students to escape. She... you know the rest. Changeling didn't survived too. Guards killed him on spot." "These monsters..." Rainbow clenched her teeth. "I- Princess Luna asked me if I wanted to help Equestria in research about changelings. Obviously I answered yes. You know, I saw them only as bugs, threat. Luna sent me reports of other researches. That pieces of shell?" She pointed with her hoof to small pile of shard of changeling shells "This is their skin. Yes, I have parts of their body. To study them. Ponies ripped their bodies apart to study them. For a while it didn't bothered me. You know, I thought they are just mindless bugs. But...", Twilight eyes glistened. 'They are not'; Chrysalis finished in her mind. 'Is it it what is hurting her?' "They have names. Families. They had dreams and hopes. They are like other sentient races. I... read reports from Luna researches. Some of captured changelings lived here for over ten years. They are reports of mixed pairings with them! Ponies who lived with changelings, knowing what they are ...they are not monsters I wanted them to see. You know why I wanted them to be monsters?" Everypony nodded in silence. "We killed them. We killed hundreds of them. Not with our own hooves, but... Shining spell smashed many of them against walls, many of them didn't survived being thrown away. We found hundred of bodies. I have blood on my hooves. Blood of sentients." Tear escaped Twilight eye and dropped to the ground.. "They made me a murderer! I pity and hate them at the same time! They..." "Sugarcube..." Applejack trotted softly to her friend. "Sometimes, ya have to kill someone who's threating ya family and friends." "Applejack, what - what would you do if you family were starving and somepony around had abundance of food, and you were sure that they won't share? What would do if Apple Bloom was dying from hunger? Could you just say her that is the way it is? Be honest with me." Applejack gulped and focused on floor below her. "Ah... Ah reckon Ah would rob them. Raid their farm. Family and friends come first. Granny told stories what ponies can do when they starve..." "Changelings did it for some reason. They are dying race. They are starving and fighting lost war. They believed that is their only chance. We doomed them." Even Rainbow Dash seemed to be taken back by such statement, and she only asked, "But... they attacked us?" "Their Queen decided it's only course of action what had any chance of success. If Princess Celestia and Luna asked you to kill some griffins to save everypony you know, would you do it?" Rainbow Dash was silent. Chrysalis even more so, as even her mind was blank. That pony what she hated so much was crying both for her lost innocence and changelings she believed she doomed. "We had every right to defend ourselves." Applejack objected. "I know, Applejack!" Twilight snapped suddenly. "I know... sorry for my outburst. It is what it hurts me so much. Every side of conflict wanted good for their people. Everyone thought they have the right to do what they did. If only their Queen would tried to talk with us..." "So, it's their Queen fault, big deal. Can't we just make peace with them?" "It's more complicated... We have to deal with two different groups of changelings, one of them are Chrysalis soldiers, and they are not talking too much. Other group are changelings who were sent to Equestria by previous Queen to serve as their agents. She wished to contact Equestria and depending on our reaction either destroy or befriend us. There are hundred of them, maybe more. They broke their loyalty to Queen Chrysalis after she exiled her sister. Some of they even say that Chrysalis killed her own mother." Chrysalis wanted to drop to her knees, she heard this lie thousands time before, but it was still hurting each time she heard it. She would never killed her mother! She loved her, yet Chrysalis was sometimes haunted by thought that death of her Mother was her fault. If she did not asked her to come visit father's grave... Chrysalis stopped her thoughts, she couldn't break down, not now, not here. "Most of these 'old' changelings are considering themselves loyal to Equestria and Princesses. I even have a report of a changeling who was disguised as guard and fought against Chrysalis changelings. He freed his team and they were one of few units still fighting during Invasion. Few of them were the ones who informed that danger was coming to Canterlot. They couldn't specify anything, because they were killed by Chrysalis." Chrysalis noticed a change in Twilight's behavior. She became more focused and she stopped sobbing. It was like chance of sharing her knowledge make her calmer, more happy. 'Appleloosa Chase'; Chrysalis remembered how it went. In Appleloosa lived two Lurkers loyal to Equestria and they discovered that Chrysalis is coming. They tried to reach other changelings via mindlink but only thanks to Chrysalis own Lurkers communication couldn't be established. She wanted to spare them, but they tried different methods to inform Equestria. Chrysalis didn't had other choice to kill them and their pony friends. "There may be few thousands of them around all of Equestria. They didn't contacted Princesses before, because they were afraid. How could they not? They were sent here to be spies and possible agents of destruction. Even more, they are broken in two major political groups. One group want to call Luna and Celestia their Queens. They want to be citizens of Equestria like ponies. Other group wants to live in system of their own design, direct democracy. ...anyway, about changelings of Chrysalis we know only tidbits. They are hungry, many of them are sick and their home is ever so often ravished by west Griffin Kingdoms." "Darling, can't Princesses allow these lings who are loyal to Equestria to just live here and... well, reproduce?" "...changelings don't breed like us. Yes, they have genders, but they are infertile. They have centralized system of breeding. There are special kind of changelings, Mothers. They hatch eggs, who were later given to chosen changelings." "It's dreadful!" Rarirty seemed to be disgusted by mere thought. Chrysalis sighed, she saw other species way of breeding as inefficient, but not disgusting; maybe even more romantic some way, their children were in straight way fruit of love. 'Yeah, right, if most of them weren't knock ups or accidents.', added her cynical side of mind. "It's quite smart solution to deal with overpopulation or irresponsible parents. They can't breed like us and it's not possible to transform normal ling into Mother without Queen or without special conditions. Queen Chrysalis is out of question, and where-about of younger Queen is unknown. Special conditions means that they would need to erect special buildings. Simply - not possible without contact with rest of their nation." "Okay, so the Queen is problem. Can't we catch her and make her surrender, then offer them peace and place to stay.. somewhere?" "It's not possible with current moods in Equestria. Too many ponies wants them dead. Princess Celestia sent to Griffin Kingdoms a question about changelings; they suggested a joint operation to solve the changeling problem once for all. Princess Luna said that Princess Celestia is seriously considering to re-establish Royal Army and take their offer. Things the Griffin ambassadors said... I don't know what to think." "What do you mean, 'solve the changeling problem once for all'?" Rainbow Dash asked, suspicion audible in her voice. "It's euphemism for 'Kill them all', darling." "Sugarcube, what about Princess Luna?" "Princess Luna wants to allow changelings who lived here citizenry, if they prove they weren't part of Chrysalis attack. About Chrysalis... she wants her dead. She believes that then it could be possible to make other changelings reasonable, and accept Princesses rule." Chrysalis gulped. One princess wanted her species extinct, when the other wanted her dead and try her subjects to accept new rulers. Could she not realize it would start war at best and civil war at worst? "Wait, it doesn't add up. Princess Celestia can't just simply want to kill every one of them..." "Rainbow, I couldn't believe this too but then I looked in older history books. What do you know about Independence War in Griffin Kingdoms?" Indepence War happened over seventy years ago and it gave The Swarm a few years of a breather. If not for this unexpected cease of fire, changelings would be probably extinct by now. Irony wasn't lost on Chrysalis; Celestia who wanted her subjects dead accidentally bought them a time. "Ugh, not a bit, you know I'm not such egghead." "She practically orchestrated a civil war there, because she was afraid that Griffin Kingdoms united under one king will be dangerous in ambitious claws. They outnumbers us 11 to 3. They can fit out more soldiers than we could. They have better sense of technology. If united kingdoms would decide to invade us... they would won someday, after long and terrible war. Celestia considered it all and she cause war because she wanted the best of Equestria. Sometimes best for Equestria means the worst for others. Did you know that Equestria is considered isolationist by other nations? We have only 18% of other races in our population when 31% population of Griffin Kingdoms is not-griffins and Euponia have 44% of ponies, 27% of griffins and 29% of others sapient races. Do you know why? Because Princess Celestia made it difficult to immigrate here. Yet again, for good reasons. She chooses who can come in and who not, she doesn't want problem stirrers here. Princess Celestia always want the best for us, but her ways are sometimes less than noble. Did you know that Windigoes..." Twilight seemed to be again breaking down; Chrysalis wondered what Princess Celestia did in past what could have such effect on her student. Windigoes? If Chrysalis recalled correctly, they were considered to be extinct. Could be it that Celestia made them extinct? ...could it be that changelings will be next? Chrysalis hoped that it won't be the case. "Okay, sugarcube, it doesn't matter what Princess Celestia does. What's is important, what do you think about it." "I don't know. I hate and pity changelings. I hate them because what they did, they attacked us, they made me kill them! They killed Moondancer! But... they believed they had no other option, that it was their only way to be saved. I-I can imagine doing the same in their place; if Celestia would say that I need to kill some strangers to save everypony... I think I would follow her orders. I don't know. I want to blindly hate them, but I can't, I know too much about them. I would want to forgive them if I did not hate them so much for what they did. I'm torn apart and it's why I f-freaked out. I can't sleep because in my dreams I see me, crushing their heads with my hooves, and..." Twilight was outright crying, nothing could stop shaking in her voice and tears from her eyes. Applejack could only carefully hug her to provide some closure "Celestia... They-they are begging for mercy. They lift up their eyelids, and I see their fear in their dying eyes and I-... enjoy it in this dream for a moment!" Broken unicorn wailed. "And then I'm crying, I'm ashamed of myself, and I try to help them... Those who are still alive, but they use it to attack me, and then I see how we all die, Canterlot burning, b-but I know they did what they had to do... I-I understand them, and if I understand h-how I can hate them? How..." Twilight was sobbing for a few long minutes, everypony was patiently waiting. Chrysalis couldn't make out her own emotions. Was it shame? Compassion? Guilt? Only thing she was sure of - she felt bad. She thought seeing Twilight Sparkle crying would give her satisfaction, but she was wrong; she felt pathetic instead. Everypony and everyling who was touched by her actions was hurt. She tried to reason that the mare in front of her was enemy, but she know the truth: the mare in her front was her enemy because she made her. Twilight voice was cracking from exhaustion. "Other times I dream that anypony can be a changeling, and kill me suddenly, like Moondancer was killed! I dream that nowhere Is safe, that anypony face can suddenly change into insect-like head... Luna visited me in dreams, but this didn't helped! She turned into Chrysalis, she tried to fool me, to trap me in my dreams. I..." Twilight couldn't cry anymore. Applejack was slowly stroking sobbing pony along her back. "Hey, Twi, it's okay. Ah had nightmares too, ya know? Ah... Ah was dreaming what could happen if they won. It wasn't pretty, Ah tell ya. But then... Apple Bloom told me what few changelings did with foals. They took them to safe place, and tried to calm them down. They promised that if this will be all over, there will be peace and everypony will be happy. Ya know, Apple Bloom is good judge of characters; she said these few who tried to calm down were kind to them, she said they even argued with other changelings to ensure safety of foals and ponies. Probably they didn't want to damage livestock, if ah think about it. Bloom said they were good ponies inside, just doing wrong things. Ah couldn't believe that. They were just bugponies, Ah get ya when ya wanted them to be monsters. So Ah told Apple Bloom that they tried to trick her." Applejack turned to her friends "Rarity, Rainbow, Ah'm sure Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo told ya the same story." "Well, no... Sweetie didn't mention that..." Rarity slowly closed in. Rainbow Dash sighed, it was only answer Applejack could get. "So ya know, one night Ah heard Apple Bloom wailing. Ah went to her and asked her what happened. She said Ah won't trust her. Ah managed to make her talk finally, and... she told me few details she omitted. Most of them are not important, not now. But... she told that one of these bugs, nurse Something-Someling suddenly bid her farewell and best wishes, ya know, all these things ya say to foals if ya are going to not see them for long time and moved closer to window. Apple Bloom said she had calm, sad eyes, and then love barrier washed away her. Window was gone, bug nurse was gone... or most of her gone. Apple Bloom saw blood. Blood on what left of window. Blood and some pieces of her wing. Apple Bloom took these pieces with her. Ah hated that nurse, ya know? She robbed Apple Bloom of innocence by dying or getting terrible wounded on her eyes. Apple Bloom was torn. She wanted that we would won, ya know, to be safe, free and all but she was afraid that this bug nurse was dead. Ah was enraged. How could she care about enemy? Then..." Applejack paused staring into darkness. "H-how you dealt with it?" Twilight asked. "I reminded myself what my Pa said. He was a guard, ya know. Farm needed extra money, so he enlisted. He was put on south frontier. There were sometimes small skirmishes of buffaloes or other bandits; Mild west wasn't always mild. Few of his friends died on his eyes and yet He told me that we should remember that our enemies, even if we have to kill them, they can be a decent ponies, buffaloes or griffins. That sometimes just people who any other day could be friends, have to kill each other, because world is just like that. My Pa maybe wasn't educated too much, but he was wise enough to somehow make sense of this mess. For years Ah couldn't understand that. But that one night, when Apple Bloom was crying, Ah understood." Applejack paused, like she had confession to make "We buried that few parts of that changeling. It calmed down Apple Bloom." "Why... Why it can't be simple? Why there is such things.." "Twi, world we living in is not perfect. That's the way it is." Applejack words were honest, and nothing else, and it made them even worse. Words of Applejack were taking accusatory tone in Chrysalis mind. 'That sometimes just people who any other day could be friends, have to kill each other, because world is just like that.' No, world isn't just like that, it is like that because someponies, somelings, somegriffins made crap decisions, and Chrysalis was the one of them. Yet again Chrysalis wondered if world wouldn't be better if she hadn't hatched. She knew there was no point in such musings. She knew she screwed up and now she had to live with consequences. She wanted to surrender, to be taken, to be undone, but she couldn't do it to lings who were looking up for her or to her sister. "I-it's not all." Twilight added quietly. "When I saw Snapshot bleeding from her head... I didn't stopped to check her pulse, I just took her in, and I was watching her bleed. Only when I heard Spike going downstairs I started to thinking again... I knew I had to dispose a corpse. I never questioned that she could be alive." "Why Fluttershy?", Rainbow Dash asked. "Because she knows animals which require meat. Because she lives far from Ponyville. Because I could force her to do what I wanted, broke her." "What would you..." Rainbow tried to ask more questions, but she noticed Applejack glance. "I don't know, Rainbow. Probably I wouldn't try to k-kill her..." Twilight guessed question what Rainbow wanted to ask. Applejack sighed. "Thanks to Charming I couldn't go so far." Small weary chuckle escaped her lips, and she turned her head to Chrysalis. "Charming... When I saw you... I was ready to try to hurt you. Maybe even..." "I understand." "Just like that?" Rainbow seemed to be unconvinced. "Yes, I would probably do something like that too." 'Well, I did; Appleloosa Chase. Same idea, but better planed and executed.' "Thank you, Charming. Thank you for stopping me. If you weren't there..." 'If I weren't in Equestria, all of that wouldn't happen.' Chrysalis thought sourly. Chrysalis was thinking how to answer when Twilight suddenly yawned. "Sorry, girls... I think I'm exhausted. Thank you for listening, I feel slightly better." Twilight give them first happy, yet weary smile. "...maybe I will sleep today." "Twilight, you neglected yourself. I hope I can encourage you to go to SPA with us." Rarity suggested. "Well, I..." Twilight tried to oppose but Rainbow interrupted. Chrysalis wanted to listen to the rest of conservation, but tug of tail distracted her. She turned to Spike who was tugging her tail. "Yes, Spike?" "Please, stay." Chrysalis tilted her head quizzically. Spike didn't break his eye contact, she could see hope in his eyes. "I couldn't make her to open up. You did. You stopped her when she went crazy, and... please, just stay. She needs everypony help." Chrysalis considered situation yet again. On the one hoof, she couldn't say she like Twilight, she only stopped to hate her and living with someone researching changeling was tempting fate. On the other hoof, Spike seemed to start to like her, library was full of books and Twilight research could get Chrysalis a good understanding of current situation and it seemed to be a good gesture toward other Bearers and Twilight. "Please?" Spike repeated his plead. "Well... It wouldn't be my first time sleeping in library." Chrysalis gave him small smile. Changing Mind pt.2 (Raw version)Fluttershy was concerned. Of course one could say that Fluttershy was always concerned but it wouldn't be true. Instead, Fluttershy was afraid most of the time. Afraid how the other ponies will react, what they will say to her, what they will say behind back. For Fluttershy any social activity beyond circle of her friends was marked with fear, fear of being hurt or hurting somepony. Only thanks to help of her friends she was able to subdue it enough to interact with ponies of Ponyville; before becoming Bearer of Kindness she rarely left her cottage to visit Ponyville. Of course it was inevitable because sometimes her medical cabinet and pantry ran low on supplies. If such need arose she preferred to sent out Angel or other known animal to make her shopping but it wasn't always possible. Some shops were suspicious about bunny with shopping list and basket. Even more when some less honest shopkeepers discovered that rabbit wasn't stupid and was able to sense when they tried to cheat him. Fluttershy didn't volunteered to create music for Summer Sun Celebration but she was too afraid to correct it so she went with it. Sometimes she suspected it could be Rainbow Dash work, but she fiercely denied it. However, at this very moment Fluttershy wasn't scared, frightened or horrified. No, she was merely concerned, and it was somehow worse. Fear often simplified situations to either running or fighting, neither reaction suitable for situation what Fluttershy was facing. Fluttershy was concerned about her pink friend, who turned out to be a Queen of changelings. Said friend wasn't even pink at this very moment, as she was wearing disguise of a tourist pony, Snapshot. Poor pegasus wasn't even sure how to call out her friend. Metamorphosis, publicly known as Pinkie Pie The Queen of Parties was concerned too. Amazed. Concezed. Amarned. She wasn't sure how to call this emotion, yet she knew reason of it. She was feeling different, yet she couldn't point out any major difference. A some time has passed since their return. During this time Fluttershy put her wounded friend to bed, cleaned mess made by Twilight, fed her animals, made herself dinner, and cleaned herself. She was quite surprised to saw her friend out of her bed, sitting on the couch in the saloon. "Pinkie, are you feeling better? Did you headache stopped?" She called her out back then. "I think... yes." Came an answer from Pinkie but it wasn't voice of Pinkie. Tone was the same, but manner of speak and articulation was much more mature and calm. Then Pinkie giggled, Pinkie-like, and Fluttershy decided she was truly concerned. It was few minutes ago. Fluttershy had no real experience with changelings and she wasn't sure how wounds taken under disguise could be affecting changeling, however Pinkie's head injury was just flesh wound. She was reasoning that disguise used by Pinkie wasn't a illusion, more like a transformation and in effect this wound should be sustained to her changeling form too. Still, this thoughts of Fluttershy were only attempts to take her mind from major concern: Pinkie was surprisingly quiet. Pinkie wasn't sure why she was calm; she had memories that she was always active, maybe even hyperactive, always interested in everything, yet... at this moment she just didn't felt like it. And it was surprising her, amazing her, yet concerning. Fluttershy realized that Pinkie could be just talking with other changelings, however it didn't seem to be in character for Pinkie to just sit and pointlessly observe surroundings. No, Pinkie Fluttershy remembered was always moving, always doing something, making weird remarks or no sense at all. If Pinkie was quiet that meant she was either sad, sick, or maybe really focused on something but it was really rare. Everything Pinkie did was slightly... well, Pinkie-sh. And now Pinkie was sitting quiet with small frown on her face. Metamorphosis was confused by memories she had. She remembered being a crazy pink pony but couldn't understand why she was behaving that way; she loved jokes, she loved to laugh, but her behavior in last years was excessive to say the least. She was puzzled, her past seemed to be fun, but now she felt like she couldn't behave that no more. She felt... mature. And it was surprising her, amazing her, yet concerning. Fluttershy was considering that her friend was traumatized by the recent events. Everything what happened in few last days had to take effect on the poor pony... changeling... friend. Fluttershy for a moment felt real fear; How good she knew Pinkie? They were friends but always distant ones. Could she trust her? How could she? Whole life of person in front of her was a lie. Maybe so called 'friendship' was just a mean to survive for her? Maybe she was a fake friend? Maybe that's why she was laughing so easily; she really did not cared for other ponies, they were just food sources to her? Or maybe real Pinkie was captured somewhere by changelings? Fluttershy was conflicted about what she should be thinking until she noticed a small smile on her friend face. It was Pinkie's genuine smile. Any doubt and any fear she had, just vanished at this simple sight. Pinkie smile was one of thing Fluttershy was sure; it was smile brightening anypony day. Fluttershy sighed happily and went to kitchen with clear mind. She was still concerned about well being of her friend, but at least she wasn't afraid of her. Pinkie/Metamorphosis realized her problem; she wasn't herself. For other ponies/lings these could sound like a first sing of craziness, but craziness was a bread and butter of Pinkie. For Pinkie it was reasonable enough to call out her other self. "Hi!" "Hello. It seems we are We." "Me, we are not like Princess Luna, we-I don't use that silly royal We." "Well, We have rather sound reason to do that. Maybe Luna uses We because she is as crazy as We?" "Do you think she have, I dunno, Nightmare Moon as her other-I?" "Who knows?" "I can imagine that!" Pinkie voice changed into that of Luna "No, Nightie, we don't want everlasting night no more. Oh, and we can't threat ponies like we used to." "But, Lu...!" Metamorphosis answered with spot-on Nightmare Moon impression. "Neigh, Nightie, I said neigh! And please, be a good evil side." "Grump-grump... Future is not fun and you are not my mom!" "What did you heard about your mother?" "Ugh, I don't have one? I'm just a..." "Wrong! Nightmare.... I'm your MOTHER!" "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Metamorphosis/Pinkie for a moment was in perfect unison of laughter as they were one, but then it ended abruptly. "It seems we have a problem with Ourselves. We are not We." "Pffft..." "Okay, lt is ridiculous. We are not we, we are not I, I'm sure I'm not we." "And I'm not me. Mind equals blown." "Better not, we still need it. Actually, it's not true what I said. Not entirely true, as We are I." "We-we or we-you? We-we, it sounds silly. Like Weeeeeeeeeeee..." "I meant we are a singular person, not two sharing a body. Well, or rather we used to be." "I'm sure I don't remember you with me in my head. But hey, I think we can share! I mean, the more the merrier?" "Well, we could throw a tea or party with ourselves, couldn't we? Maybe we should invite Pinkamina? She feels left out so often..." "Better nor... hey, it's that what you meant? That you are my other side, like her?" "Something like that but with a twist; you are my other side, not other way around." "What?!" "When I left The Swarm and traveled through desert I was in control. Situation changed when I reached Equestria. My personality, my behavior would be problematic for me so I started to act differently, think differently. At some point you became an other me and shortly after, major personality." "So... You are like my past me? And I'm current me?" "You could say so. It would correspond with popular theory that every person is really a medley of few differentiating personalities. Such theory would explain why people are able to feel conflicted or literally arguing with themselves. Unfortunately, anypony or anyling never said that there was any other voice, except those with mental problems, so it seems we are unique. Shame it doesn't explain why I was awoken." "Geez, you are smart." "Well, I was often ushered to learn by Mother and we have a pretty good brain in this head. It's quite a shame that you decided make a shield from your ignorance." "Hey!" "I'm not calling you stupid; the one who is responsible is me. It was me who decided to play it out that way. It seemed to be a perfect solution. When a young filly shows up and doesn't know two bits about common facts, there is no better way to explain it than that she preferred to play than to learn. It's shame that it really became a trait of you." "What do you mean? And how could it be me, if you are keeping saying it was you." "Fair point; I made you that way. The point when you became you and I lost control is not clear. Back to your objection; I believe that most of ponies think that you are irresponsible, weird, maybe even crazy." "I make them laugh! It's better than be..." "Don't be so defensive, I know what you mean. Still, you could be something more. You could be considered responsible, intelligent and funny." "I don't want to." "Why?" "I'm me, I don't want to be something more. I'm happy as myself. There is no one else..." "Pinkie, I'm you too. Or rather you are me." "You can't be. You are.." "What, serious? Mature? Calm? ...boring?" "Yeah." "Pinkie, look in your memories. Me? Boring? You have to be joking! I just wasn't bristling with energy like you, knew when to stop bothering others and had better sense how to not offense someone privacy. Okay, maybe except trying to get Chrys diary. And Mother regals. ...and, I'm sure bakers weren't too mad about my pantry raids... Anyway! My point still stands. We are the same, but different. We both love to laugh, joke, see other lings, or in your case, ponies happy, and we both love sweets." "Butm you are so serious, how could you be me?" "Pinkie, we are older than any of your friends, and it's not like we could be always so... youthful and immature. It's time to grow up, Pinkie." "I'm afraid." "I know." "I'm happy. I'm safe. I can be me. I don't want to lose it. I don't want to be someone important, someone like..." "Like Queen?" "...yeah. It's so responsible, so stressful, so organized, so... unfunny. I want to be me, not some kind of doll, like Princesses are. I don't want to lose my friends. If they still will be my friends, then I will have to leave Ponyville to rule The Swarm, and they will be so far..." "Pinkie? Don't despair, I understand your fears. I don't want to lose them too." "Too?" "Well, I have your memories, and I decided I like them. But it's not the point. The point is; we don't know what will future bring, but we can shape it. Maybe you won't have to leave Ponyville and you will keep your friends. Maybe they will never forgive you. Maybe you will have to leave Equestria... FOREVER!" "That wasn't funny." "Yeah, I know. We can't ignore our subjects. Can we ignore them for our selfish desires? Would you ignore some pony because you was afraid what will happen?" "It's not the same and you know it! You are asking me to throw my life away! When I help somepony I don't risk everything I have!" "...except when you decided to help Twilight during return of Nightmare Moon? Didn't you risked your life? Did you were not afraid when you discovered that you became Bearer of Laughter? Didn't it changed your life? Just look how it turned out! You never had so close friends as these six. You never went to Galloping Gala, you never traveled so much, you never played a major role in act on Canterlot stage. So many wonderfulthings came out of it... and few which caused you harm. Did you not faced dragon and hydra? Did you not panicked over you friendships? Did you not felt disappointed by Gala?" "But..." "Everything have good and bad sides. Everything will turn out fine in long run." "But it's more than that! I... you want me to face Princesses, my friends, my... subjects, Equestria. That's too much. I don't know how to talk with princesses, I don't know how my friends will react... and I don't want, I don't know how to rule! I'm... I'm not the right pony to do it." "That's where I come in. And don't forget: as long we live, there is hope. Or how it father put: As long as I can fight, I'm victorious. Pinkie, what happened to pony who few days ago was able to withstand our sister lack of hope? What happened to changeling who traversed whole desert alone, only on wings of hope?" "I don't know. I just don't have it! I feel like I'm Pinkamina, but I'm not. Could I be starting to stop being me?" "Pinkie, your train of thoughts..." "What about it?" "Terribly put." "You are the smart one. I'm the funny one." "Yeah, and I have more optimism than you." "Shame we can't... hey! HEEEY!... are you pondering what I'm pondering?" "How to take over the world?" Um... no. Maybe Chryssi, not me. Do you want to take over the world too?" "No... Well, maybe. If everyone would agree." "...fine enough for me~! I won't turn you out. Em... me. It would be crazy, even for me. 'Voices in my head want to take over the world!' " "Just tell what you you come up with." "You said I'm the major me, and you were like some background character, so I think you were giving me advice and hopes and such in the past. That's why I had sometimes bright ideas and hope." "Makes sense..." "Of course it makes sense, Especially if you agree with it, my smartie side." "So, to restore your hope and gave you any chance to fulfill your destiny, I need to return to my previous state. ...I don't think it's possible." "Why? ...you don't want to have a battle in center of the mind, like in the comics?" "No. I just don't know how to do it." "So we will have to share the body or what?" "It's not a solution." "Yeah, I'm crazy enough without some kind of mind-mate." "Quite. And throwing me out is not a option too." "Hey, I wouldn't throw myself out of my mind. I mean, I do it sometimes, but..." "Just give me a few seconds to see what I can do." "Okie-dokie-lokie." For a moment Pinkie felt like everything was fading away like she was just fading into dream. She yawned, shook her head and waited for response from her other side. "Pinkie, I believe I have a solution. Our problem is that as two personalities, each working independently from other one, we can't be working efficiently. Preferred solution would be that one of would became dominant and other dormant. I tried to achieve it in two ways, both failed. Neither of us can't became dormant personality. Neither of us can't force other to became dormant. We are equals in rights and power. That leaves with last option." "And that is?" "Became one. Fuse ourselves. Then we will have my intelligence and optimism, your charisma and sense of humor, and few other traits." "But... I will stop being me." "Same here, but not really. You will be me and I will be you. We will be singular I. I know it's complicated, but... I know! Pinkie, think about taste. Imagine that you have two tastes and when you mix them you get another one, which is both of former two, and yet something new. It is going happen to us." "It's weird..." "Just trust me. If you can't trust yourself, then who could be trusted?" "Okie-dokie but how we can do it? It's not like there is some kind of fusion dance." "Unfortunately, it's not a Japonese comic... I think the problem is we perceive ourselves too differently." "What do you mean?" "We are different. Maybe if we admit our differences, we can overcome them." "But how we can see them?" "I don't know, you are the pony one." "Hey, It sounds mean." "Well, ponies are better at spotting differences than changelings, aren't they?" "I think so but you could say it different." "It's not a bad thing. Ability to see differences between similar things is as useful as noticing similarities at differing things. I mean..." "Like sugar and salt? They are white and shining, but one of them is salty and other sweet! ...other way around, sugar is sweet, not salty. Weird, salt is sweet too, if not eating too much of it." "Yes, something like that. So it means I'm well, you pure changeling, and you are, well..." "Ponyling? Changeony?"" "First one sounds better. Let's call you ponyling then." "Okay, other one! You are thinking things out, when I have feelings and hunches." "Do you realize that I was probably these haunches, right? " "Shhhh, me. You know what I'm thinking." "Hm... sounds about right. You are basing your actions on emotions and intuition when I prefer to think out solution, and then call out to intuition or feelings. So, using my 'smartness' I noticed some strange pattern in you behavior. When somepony wants an explanation of your action you gave them a whole bunch of nonsense mixed with sensible explanation. You don't lie, you just confuse them. I would understand using this to protect our identity, but..." "Non sequitur." "Why you are suddenly using Latin? I mean, what you said could be used to describe what I just described... Ancestors!" "What?" "If I'm correct, and I think I am because I'm 'smartie' one... Yes, I think it's working. You are getting pieces of me, and vice versa." "I'm not feeling any different. Nevertheless, to answer you question, I dunno. It just feels safer to answer them like that. I mean, It's 'just Pinkie Pie'. If I suddenly started to make sense, they would be thinking some changeling took my place." "Ironic, isn't it?" "Not my sense of humor." "Neither mine. Chryssi was ironic and sarcastic type when I preferred practical jokes and general mischief." "Noling was safe." "And nopony is safe. Well, I don't see too many differences here... except you are more absurd." "What fun is there in making sense?" "Please, don't quote him." "Well, he did had a point." "Don't be silly pants! ...did I just said that?" "Oh, I spotted another disparity! Hey, these new words are funny! I mean, they are so smart, and stuffy, and they make sense!" "New words? I think you just absorbed parts of my knowledge as I took few of you catchphrases. It seems the differences between me... us are vanishing. We are becoming more and more alike. I wonder... By the way, what's the point of word without sense? It would be only hollow sound. Silly." "Not really, because it could have emotion in it. Squee is not a real word, and you can feel meaning of it. Anyway, I spotted another difference, and it's related to what I was talking about. You are hiding your emotions." "Don't you? Pinkamena..." "It's different. You are just... restrained, I think?" "And you are showing your excitement too often. It can be irritating and nopony will treat you seriously." "Right! But I discovered that controlling your emotions is not fun and nopony trusts somepony who isn't behaving like next pony. Wait, I complicated it too much. Ponies, and probably all of the sentients believe someone who is someone like them... Still too..." "I get it. So, We... I should be more open with showing emotions." "Well, and I should try to be not too excited. Anything more?" "I... I'm not sure. I have hard time to differ myself from you. I think that when we are becoming so close I are... Our streams of thoughts are crossing each other and merging. I think I am close." "It's funny! I was afraid about this, and now I feel... good. Better than ever even. Like there was something I never realized I was missing. It's like... I know. You know what I'm talking about." "How do I feel about Chrysalis?" "Weird question, she is my sister!" "Yes, but she exiled me!" "She did it for the good reasons." "Really? I don't think so." "She did. At least she thought she did. I can't hate her..." "I can." "Not really." "No, but I feel resentment." "I forgave her." "I will remember what she did it to me." "I forgave her." "Yes, to forgive but not to forget. I can stand behind it." "I... Who am I?" "Pinkie Pie and Metamorphosis." "It's too mouthful." "Morph Pie?" "Nah, punny. Pink Metamorhphosis." "Too long." "Metamorphosis Pinkamina Diana Pie." "Long, but... sounds good. Proper form would be Methamorphosis The Second Pinkamina Diana Pie. It sounds royal." "I am me. Still me. New olds me." "Metamorphosis is complet~e!" Intermission: It was under E! aka Changeling writing systemCurrently I'm stuck up in next chapter but for now I want to show some small idea about Changelings. Their alphabet. For now it looks pretty simple. Different letters, but that's all. Well, it's not quite true. There are Symbols. And they are often used to replace the words written with letters. Why? Symbols are using less space, sometimes faster to write, and some are fast to recognize. Few examples (there are more, much more of them). You could ask: What Symbols and letters have in common? Letters of said word are written in Symbol. Okay, so again few examples. For start "zebra". It looks easy, doesn't it? And all letters are in symbol as said. But it is weird why it's written from right to left. Does Changelings read from right to left? No. Symbols can be created from any side to any side. Let's look at sun. Sooo, symbols can be written from left to right, up to down, right to left, down to up... And they can be rotated by 90 degrees clockwise too. And even worse, some lines, letters can be omitted during creation of symbol. It's making quite a feat deciphering them. It's all for the moment, maybe I'll extend topic later, if you all will be interested. I'm not sure it'll be used in story later, just part of world building.
Surprise! (rev. III)It was late in the evening when the bell in Sugarcube Corner rang. In the door stood a white-coated pegasus with a blond, straight mane. She had bandaged wings and a tired look in her eyes, yet there was a small, mischievous smile on her face. All in all she looked like a pony who had had a pretty rough day. "Is anypony here?" she called out. "Just a second, I’ll be right there!" a high-pitched, excited voice suddenly replied. The pegasus moved further into the room, towards a counter displaying a wide assortment of cookies. She looked at them with sneer of contempt. "I'm here silly!" From the kitchen bounced a grinning, pink, earth pony with a pink mane and tail that, for some reason, reminded the newcomer of candy floss. When the pink pony saw the pegasus however, her grin fell. "Oh, it's you." "Surprise?" chuckled the pegasus. "No, you got her mane and personality wrong." said Pinkie, now without a trace of joy in her voice. "What? You’re not making any sense... As usual." "I'm Pinkie." said the pink pony, as if that explained everything. "Oh, we both know that you’re not." Deadpanned the visitor. Pinkie shot the pegasus an angry look as her mane dulled and straightened, her coat greying a bit. "What do you want, Chrysalis?" She asked sharply. "Why are you so angry? I only wanted to visit my beloved sister. Is that so bad? Does that justify your hate?" smirked Chrysalis, letting her eyes go to their natural green. "No, but what you did to my friends, to the princesses, to me-YES!" "Keep your voice down, 'Pinkie', I'm sure that you don't want your 'friends' to know about your little secret. Oh, I see it in your eyes, this fear... I wonder, what would they do if they discovered that their little 'friend', Pinkie Pie the earth pony, is really a Changeling Queen?" Pinkie Pie sat on ground, her head dropping down. "I lied to them, okie dokey? I lie to everypony about who… what I am." A tear fell from her eye. "I was planning to tell them, someday, but..." Sadness vanished from her voice, and in its place came anger. " ...but thanks to you, everypony knows about changelings, and believe we are evil!" "Oh, they already knew. Fables, stories, horrors..." "That's not real." Pinkie retorted. "It's enough for them to believe. And if ponies are so tolerant, then why did you take this ... shape?" Chrysalis scowled. Pinkie was silent for a while. She had seen so often how stupid and blind ponies can be. Zecora, Appleloosa, Luna... Always the same; prejudices, pride, fear. Truth is, she had helped along the baseless fear of Zecora, but she was scared that this wise zebra would blow her cover with some brew of hers. It seemed logical to fear the reactions of the ponies around her. She sighed. "You know why. They wouldn't accept me, looking as myself, but my friends are still my friends! And for Discord's sake, if only we had reached the Elements of Harmony, I would have stood against you. I hate you. I truly hate you. And I know you can feel it", the earth pony said with passion, her eyes betraying just how hurt she was. Chrysalis frowned and, for first time since entering the bakery, she looked guilty. "Sis... I'm sorry for what happened in past. I wanted to avoid that, but I was left with no choice. Your ideas were dangerous; I couldn't let you to rule by your ways. Your plan of going to Equestria to negotiate with Celestia was crazy! I was scared that you would be killed on spot! I was scared that the Swarm would be exterminated. I couldn't imagine that ponies would accept emotion-eaters. I'm afraid they still won’t." The Changeling Queen confessed. Pinkie Pie blew her nose into a pink hanky she had grabbed from the desk. "Chrys, I know why you did it. I knew, but it still hurts. Exiled; my throne taken from me. Accused and found guilty of betraying the Swarm. Thrown out of the hive like... a stranger. No, worse; an enemy. Abandoned. Sentenced to live alone, on my own. But I managed. I made up weird stories about my past, and found my place in Ponyville. Imagine; a rainbow showed me the way when I was lost in the wasteland. I even became the Bearer of Laughter. And the first time I saw you after so many years... you were threatening my friends, Equestria, and even hurt the brother of my close friend. On top of that you even managed to fool even me. And even when you finally revealed yourself you looked so sick and I was scared. Scared, of you and for you. I was torn apart: You and the Swarm and my friends and Equestria, that I would need to choose a side..." Pinkie wept softly. "Sister, I'm sick. All of the Swarm is. We are running low, too low on Love. This was a desperate attempt to change everything. Conquering Equestria would have saved us. There is so much Love in its very foundation, in its ponies, in everything. But now... we are in an even worse situation than we were before. My ‘lings are scattered all over Equestria, many of them are wounded. The Princesses likely hate us all, the guards are hunting day in and day out for hiding changelings. Even you are in danger now. I failed, as a leader and as a sister." Chrysalis abandoned her disguise. In a jet of green fire the white pegasus disappeared, and in her place stood the shape of an alicorn, shelled in damaged black chitin, with a jagged horn and holed legs, wings, tail and mane. One of hers wing looked torn. She sat, full of shame. Pinkie trotted up to her and hugged her. Chrysalis shuddered from this gesture. "You tried you best, sis. You only wanted what was best for the Swarm. That was our responsibility. You sacrificed your own sister for them, you came up with plan to save them all, and took the hardest role; you fought with Celestia herself for them. I'm still mad at you for what you did to me, but you have been a better Queen than I have. Look at me, I forgot about everyling I left behind. Never cared what was going on back in the Swarm. Who knows, maybe it all could have been avoided if only I had returned in time. I was too conceited to listen to you when I should. And you couldn't stop that. It was my hard lesson," Pinkie winced slightly. Chrysalis hugged Pinkie back. "Don't be sad. You have always been the cheerful and silly one." "And you were the confident and tyrannical one. Seriously, all this 'forgive me, I was wrong' doesn’t go with that evil face, sick green eyes, damaged wings and holes." Pinkie let out a small laugh. She lifted the Queens head a little with her hoof. Chrysalis smiled slightly. There was a small moment of silence. "Chrys, what are you going to do now?" Pinkie asked. "There is nothing I can do. My plans have gone south. And your old ideas are now impossible because of my pride and my stupidity. I fear and hate ponies... I fear what they will do when they discover me. I hate them because I need them. I hate them, because food shouldn't be a threat to me. I don't understand how you can live like this!" "Like what?" "Like a simple baker. Like a pony, an earth pony. How you never treat or look at them as food.” "Simple baker? Silly, I'm Pinkie Pie, I'm anything but a simple baker! Everypony says about me 'she’s just being Pinkie'. It's to describe how unique, in a 'crazy but fun' way I am. I like them, and they like me. I know they wouldn't like Metamorphosis, but... I don't care about her! I'm Pinkie! And about feeding... I know everypony in Ponyville, did you know that? Seriously everypony! It’s not that hard, since I was used to knowing so many different ‘lings in the past. I know so much about them, and I care about them all from the bottom of my heart. They are not food to me, but they feed me without knowing. And they like me, they love my parties. Parties... MMMmmm, are like food contest. So many of emotions, so... live! I love to throw parties, both for food and fun. That's Pinkie Style! I'm getting love from the entire town. And nopony is hurt despite it, because with so many sources, nopony is left without emotions. From every single pony I take only a little bit, so little that they don't feel that. And it'll grow back! It's like sheep shearing." Pinkie giggled after a moment. "What’s so funny about that? What you said sounded clever" Chrysalis asked confused. "Oh, nothing. Only that ponies are not sheep. Imagine a pony with sheep wool. They would be sooo fluffy. One big fluff in pony size. That would look so funny!" "Sister," Chrysalis shook her head at her sister antics. "You are just as silly as always." "Hey, I'm the silly one! The Silly Filly! Oh, that rhymes! But that should be Silly Larva, but that doesn’t rhyme, sooo..." Pinkie Pie bounced from Chrysalis, her mane back to its regular bouncing form as well. "Yes, you are. But you are also the wise one. You found a way to sate your hunger, without nopony noticing, without hurting them. And I was stupid to not believe you, when you said that it would be possible." "Chrys... There is only one option left. I'm going to Celestia. To save us." "What?!" Chrysalis rose up, shocked by Pinkies idea. "You can’t! I cannot lose you, not after today..." Chrysalis looked conflicted for a bit, but finally continued "I missed you. I missed having a sister. I missed your silliness, you weirdness, talking to someling who doesn’t care that I'm a Queen, just talking like nothing really matters." "Sister, it’ll all end in rainbows and sunshine," Pinkie smiled. "Trust me. You will not lose me. I don't want to lose you either. And this is something I have to do. You reminded me of my responsibilities to my subjects. And if we don’t do anything the guards will catch you, or me. Or you will die from starvation... Or something even worse and, duh!, dying from starvation is pretty bad you know!" "But... you have everything!!! Food, peace, 'friends' even, Why would you want to risk it?" burst the changeling Queen at Pinkies stubborn stupidity and from her own fear. "Shh Chrys. You don't want to wake up the Cakes. They sleep lightly." Pinkie warned, but too late. Crying was heard from above. "Okay, nevermind. I need to put them back to sleep," sighed the earth pony. For a while the jaw of Chrysalis was on the floor. But then she went full nuts. "You have larves?! Are you mad, starting a hive in the middle of Equestria?" "What? No! NoNoNo! They aren't mine. Where did you get that idea? They are foals of Missus and Mister Cake. I'm loco in the coco, but not so much to... you know…" Pinkie Pie blushed. "I - Good" Chrysalis calmed down a bit and then she transformed back into the white pegasus. "You are silly as always. Looking after someponies foals... like a nurse." Chrysalis scowled, but it was fake one. "Oh, just go you meanie queenie." said Pinkie with small smile. Chrysalis was moving towards the door, but she stopped. "Sister? Please, promise me that you won’t go to Celestia." "I cannot promise you that." Pinkie's smile vanished. "But I can Pinkie Promise that I'll talk with you before I go." "Thanks... Pinkie." Chrysalis said and exited Sugarcube Corner. Both Changeling Queens had someone they needed to look after. For one, it was an entire Swarm of changelings, lacking food, desperate from hunger, and all of them looking up to their Queen. For the other it was a pair of twins, awaked by the nighttime meeting of two estranged royal sisters. (Rev made by Kexerval Scratch) Author's Note Attention, new readers. Any chapter past 3 is not revised. Just don't get you hopes high.
Cookies! (Rev. I)The next morning, Pinkie came bouncing down to the kitchen only to be met with a concerned looking Mrs. Cake. Lying on the desk in front of the mare was a small paper note. "Hiya Mrs. Cake! What's up with the frown? Or maybe my eyes have turned upside down, because I’m sure there’s no reason to be sad!" asked Pinkie upon seeing the look on her employers face. "Oooh, did you get mail Mrs. Cake?! Is it an invitation?! An award for being awesome?! Oh wait, that isn’t something to get sad over. I get it! ...Bills?" with that last question Pinkie raised a confused eyebrow. "No no, Pinkie, nothing like that." Mrs. Cake smiled lightly. "Problem is; I’m not sure what it is! Please, could you have a look Pinkie? Maybe it's another of Rainbow Dash’s pranks?" Pinkie trotted up to Mrs. Cake with a happy smile. "Oh, it's way too early for Dashie! She is a real sleepyhead. Napping all the time. Like a cat! Hey, maybe she's part cat!? That would explain why she is so agile!" While she was talking, Pinkie began to look over the sheet. At first she didn't notice anything weird. It seemed like a regular letter and she was about to say so, when she suddenly realized that the writing wasn't of the Equestrian alphabet: It was Changeling runes. A cold shiver ran down her spine. It was incredibly stupid; the perfect way to blow her cover! What was Chrysalis thinking?! "I know who wrote this!" She chimed happily, making sure to put on a smile before turning to face Mrs. Cake. "Yes, Pinkie? Please, do tell." "Scootaloo!" Pinkie said, as if it had been obvious all along. "Why Scootaloo?" "Oh, because she's a chicken! So her hoofwriting is complete chicken scratch!" Pinkie had to admit, that was pretty cruel. Scootaloo hated that nickname with a passion. Pinkie once told her that that chickens are very determined and tough. So tough that when they fight, they fight to the death. That had lifted the pegasus filly’s spirits a bit. But then that meanie- pants, Diamond Tiara had told her that it only applies to the male chickens, and that the females are only good for lays eggs. Then she laughed about what an egg-laying Cutie Mark would look like. Scootaloo had had enough and pummeled the spoiled unicorn into ground. Apple Bloom eventually managed to cheer her up when she showed her an old comic-series about a time-traveler, named McFly, who was a master of all kinds of scooters and who kicked some serious flank after being called a chicken. It goes without saying that Scootaloo now had yet another idol. "Dearie?" Asked Mrs. Cake. "Yes, Mrs. Cake?" "You kind of spaced out for a bit. I was saying that you might be right that this was work of some foals. It looks just like scribbles. And children nowadays..." "Yup, nothing to worry about!" nodded Pinkie enthusiastically. Mrs. Cake grabbed the note and started to crush the paper into ball. "No!" Pinkie gasped and ran up to Mrs. Cake, taking the now crumbled note from her hoofs. "Dearie?" Mrs. Cake backed up a few steps. "Oh, Mrs. Cake, I'm sorry but I wanted to ask you if I could use this paper for origami. Or better yet; airplanes! Ooooh! Pegasus flying origami!" Pinkie babbled, masking her panic with typical Pinkie Pie behaviour. "...Allright Pinkie, you are so bizarre." Mrs. Cake smiled slightly. Pinkie let out a silent "phew" and hurried back to her room with the note. "I'll be back in a minute!" She shouted down the stairs, and bounced inside her room. After making sure that nopony was around, she unfolded the paper and started to read. The runes were shaky to say the least, as if whoever wrote this was weak or unskilled at writing. "Sis I need your assistance. ASAP. I hate to risk your cover and your happiness, but lives are at stake. Come to Everfree Forest. Someling will lead you to me. I couldn't come myself, I'm too weak. Please, bring some Love if you can, by any means possible. P.S. If you can't make it there without risking your life or your secret, DO NOT COME." Pinkie stared at the note for a while. Chrysalis had to be out of love if she couldn’t even make it to Ponyville. She must be in dire need of love. But maybe it wasn’t just her. She wrote "lives". How many of them could be hiding in the Everfree? How many were starving right at that very moment? Pinkie sighed and looked under the bed. There it was: Her Love-filled treats. She had come up with this idea many years ago. Transferring Love into real food or drinkables, and using them later. Not that she was ever in need of that, but it helped her dealing with excess of Love and she liked treating her friends with their own love. It always made them so happy, and they told her it was delicious. What she was holding in her hooves could probably fill at least a dozen changelings. Pinkie smiled to herself. "You gotta share, you gotta care..." She sang quietly and giggled. She wrapped it as a gift, put it onto her back, and walked down to the kitchen. She sneaked, like ninja, behind Mrs. Cake who was pouring flour into a bowl. "Mrs. Cake!? Could I get a free day? I almost forgot my Pinkie Promise to spend time with a friend!" The pink pony started pleading with tears in her eyes. Mrs. Cake jumped under the ceiling from shock. She needed a while to calm down. "What? Of course dearie, I know how important your promises are to you. And I can handle today myself, I doubt we are going to have that many customers." She gave Pinkie a nervous smile. "Great! Thanks Mrs. Cake! You really should get that reward for being super-duper-awesome Mrs. Cake! See’ya!" She bounced from the shop and into Ponyville. She trotted happily along the streets, exchanging small talk, calling out "Hello!" or "Hi!" along the way, even though she was worried by the contents of the letter. Well, she was changeling in the end. Wearing masks was a part of her life. Remembering the words of the note, she gathered as much love during this trip as was possible without hurting anypony. "Sup, Pinkie?" a brash cyan pegasus landed in front of Pinkie. She had a rainbow colored mane and tail. "Feeling up for some pranking?" The pegasus asked with a playful smirk. "Nah-ah, I can't right now Dashie. I've got to make some deliveries." Pinkie bucked herself in her mind for not preparing a good excuse in case she met any of her friends. "Oh, great, is everypony avoiding me? Applejack is busy bucking, Fluttershy had to do something with her animals, Twilight closed the library because she is practicing her new spells, Rarity wanted me to pose for her stupid fashion, and you have to make some deliveries!" Rainbow fretted and flew up. "What's up with all of you? Totally uncool." "Oh, Dashie" Pinkie giggled. "You are behaving just like me before my birthday!" "Well..." the pegasus scratched her arm. "Yeah, you are right, I think. So, where are you going? I'm up for going with you." Pinkie wasn't prepared for that. She couldn't just tell Rainbow to go away, and she didn't want to give her treats to anypony. There were beings that needed them more. So, she had to tell Rainbow that she was going to somepony who Dash don't like. Who could she choose?... "Ditzy Doo!" She chimed. "Derpy? Ugh, I'll pass. It’s not like I dislike her... but she can be such a weirdo." Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "She's fun!" "She causes too much extra work for the rest of us." Dash said matter of factly. Ditzy was indeed a hard working mare, and she was generally a good, sweet, pony. But sometimes she... derped something up. And when she did, she did it to the max. And it didn't help that she was just trying to help and often didn't know what went wrong. Someponies thought she did it on purpose, when she was actually truly oblivious to what happened. Pinkie knew perfectly well that the gray pegasus was really embarrassed about what she did. Nevertheless Pinkie liked Ditzy. There was something uplifting about this bubbly postmare. She just needed a little help fitting into Ponyville. "Yup, but she's so often trying fix what she messed up!" "Which sometimes ends in a much bigger disaster." Rainbow huffed, thinking of the time when Derpy single-hoofedly demolished town hall. "Well... You’re right..." Pinkie pouted slightly. Rainbow suddenly felt a little mean about the whole conversation. "Hey, but she's still cool, okay Pinkie?" "Okey Dokey Loki!" "Awesome! Okay, sorry, I gotta go! See ya later Pinks!" and with that, Rainbow Dash whizzed away. Pinkie left Ponyville and headed into the Everfree, careful not to be spotted by anypony. At the boundary of the forest she spotted a single Pegasus. He was a stern looking soldier from Celestia's Royal Guard. Pinkie panicked a bit. Was it a trap? Or was this one of her own kind? When she was exiled she was also deprived of her abilities to recognize other changelings, as well as the ability to mind-link to the others. It was taken from her in case she wanted to seek revenge on her kind, by compromising their covers. She had only recognized Chrysalis because Chrysalis let her. Otherwise she would have been oblivious about who she had been speaking to. And now she was in trouble. Unsure about the identity of the pegasus in front of her, how should she defuse this situation? Pinkie began to open her mouth, but then the guard bowed before her! "Queen, I was awaiting for you. Do you wish to be lead to your royal sister?" Pinkie was stunned for a moment, but the she brought her hoof under the chin of the pegasus and raised his head. He had clueless look on his face. "My lady, what are you doing?" His brow raised in confusion. "Silly, you’re risking your cover like this. And there is no need to call me by my title!" "But..." "No buts, only yes ma'am, okay? So, what's your name? And are you hungry?" "Que... Um..." He stopped when he saw Pinkie's disappointed glare. "My name is Second Shade... Um... and yes, I am... Very. But you really shouldn't worry about it too much... And what should I call you... Que... errr... my lady?" "Oh, call me Pinkie for now! Everyone calls me that! Oh, and take this cupcake!" She reached for the box, and she took from it a single cupcake. "Um... thanks? But... what should I do with it?" "Silly, eat it! What else can you do with it?" She laughed at the confused guard. But she had a suspicion that he wasn't really trained for undercover harvest missions. He bowed before her and he didn't know what to do with food... He was probably a worker inside the hive, not a soldier or scout who was trained to fit into pony society. She mimicked eating with her mouth to encourage the confused changeling. "Okay..." He took a small bite. His eyes widened in shock. "It was... I... I'm full! And it was so live in taste... I’ve never tasted Emotions like these!" He spaced out for a second. "Oops... I got a bit carried away Qu... Pinkie..." "No worries! I'm glad you liked that! So, could you lead me to Chrysalis?" "Yes, Pinkie! Follow me." And with that, the two disguised changelings disappeared into the shadows of the Everfree Forest.
Here comes Pinkie! (Rev. I)"Queen... Sorry! Pinkie... could you, and this is only a suggestion, so if you don’t want, you shouldn't listen, and I might be out of line..." Shade saw Pinkie smile encouragingly "...but could you change to you real self before we reach the camp? I only recognized you because Queen Chrysalis gave me your description..." "Oh... Okie! But it would be a great surprise!" "Pardon?" "Imagine! An earth pony trotting into camp, and then! POOF! Where the pony was standing, there is a Queen with gifts for everyone!" "That does sound pretty funny, Pinkie, but they would be scared at first... But it sounds like great idea." He added carefully. "Well, you’re probably right. How far is it?" "We only need to go slightly past the old castle ruins, and into the undergrounds we found. This is one of our better camps. Or, so they say, at least." "So... how bad it is?" Pinkie asked seriously when the ruins became visible through the trees. "We have many wounded. We are healing them, and trying to organize passage for them back to Swarm territory. But too many of us are too hungry to even attempt the journey. The ponies are developing changeling-seeker spells, royal guards are patrolling all the best routes back home, most of our gatherers have already been caught and need to be rescued - which we can't accomplish because most of us aren’t soldiers, but workers or recon... ...we probably won't make it." Shade’s voice was somber, but calm. It was the calmness of one who had accepted his inevitable death. "And worse, the Queen is giving away all of her love, even when she herself is barely holding up." He looked up to Pinkie. "Some of us are putting our hope in you. But... I lost all of it." Pinkie knew that words wouldn't be enough to lift this ‘ling from this depression. So she was silent the rest of the way to the ruins. "Pinkie? I hope you aren’t mad at me... I just... These last years, things have become worse and worse, but me and my friends were able to survive. But now... I can't reach them or they are dead..." He continued, looking for some kind of forgiveness. And what could she say? That she was sorry? That he shouldn't lose hope? That she’d fix it? It hit her hard. The future of her race was bleak. Back home: Famine, caused by advancing desertification of usable land, for farming ingredients for love potions or other substitutes of love, and raiding griffin parties. The war between the Griffin Kingdom and the Swarm had never ended. It had just gone on so long that war had become the obvious state for both sides. And it was horrible. Here in Equestria: They were stranded, scattered, wounded and hungry in unfriendly territory. They were failed invaders, seen as an unequine enemy. She'd try her best, but it was just that: Try. No guarantee that she'd succeed. "I'm sorry, Shade." She said truthfully. Just that. Nothing more would be needed. Nothing more could be said for this broken ‘ling. Not now. "I... Thank you Queen... Pinkie. I just needed someling to speak to, about how bad things are looking. I'm trying to look tough, so I don’t worsen the situation in camp. Too many have lost their spirits already. But the truth is... I'm broken inside. And I can't help it." The disguised guard was sobbing slightly. Pinkie stopped following him. She said tenderly "Maybe you want to rest a while? A few minutes won't change much." Guard nodded and sat in front of Pinkie, trying to get a grip on himself. "If you need to cry, don't hold back. I'll understand." "No, I... I can take it..." Silence, broke by sound of tears hitting the ground. Pinkie let him cry it all out. After a few minutes, the pegasus-disguised changeling stood up. "I'm ready. Shall I lead?" He asked calmly, but the undertones of sadness were still noticeable. "Lead me, Shade. We have love and hope to deliver." After a short walk, following her guide, Pinkie saw what could be mistaken for a wolf's den. She gave Shade an asking look, and in response he nodded. The earth pony sighed, and pinkish flame engulfed her. Her legs extended, her head took a more alicorn-like shape, from her back sprouted pinkish transparent wings, a cross between those of a butterfly and a dragonfly, from her forehead grew a sabre-shaped horn, and from top of her head rose a small crown-like appendage. On the ends of her legs a few small holes appeared, placed regularly and symmetrical. A few holes placed with some kind of order was a sign of a healthy changeling. Large holes, or too many, or randomly placed ones, meant the changeling was likely sick or hungry. Her mane lost its puffiness and fell down, greying a bit, looking very similar to her last birthday party, when she though her friends had abandoned her. Her body was covered in dark pink chitin armor, which looked less battle-ready, and more for elegance. A few details of armor were a slightly brighter tone, and her eyes were fully blue, until she lifted her internal eyelids. A changelings internal eyelids are generally used to recognize other changelings and observe trace emotions or magic. They are also used to show the mental map created through the hive mind: This mind-map includes the position of other changelings as well as information gathered by the recons, such as the location of enemies, allowing anyling to see where they are. The eyelids also blocks sharp light or, with the use of magic, can give limited dark vision. For Pinkie though, most of these uses weren't working now because she was without mind-link. Finally, with the disappearance of the former earth pony's Cutie Mark, the transformation was complete. Shade looked at her and felt a tiny glimmer of hope. Maybe she could change the wrath of fate. "It’s been so long..." Pinkie hissed. "Oh well! How do I look? I can't enter looking anything but exceptional." "Pinkie, just looking at you is giving me hope. You look exactly like what we’ve been awaiting for." She looked at him gratefully. "Let's share this hope with others, alright?" Her guide nodded and went through the hole, down into the ground. Pinkie brought her internal eyelids down and brightened her vision. Pressing through the narrow tunnel was hard enough, and there weren’t any sources of light. Going deeper, she heard dim voices. She couldn't distinguish individual voices or conversations, but they sounded... weak, tired. " Queen, I mean Pinkie, the tunnel will go down sharply now, so do be careful." And with that the changeling in front of her disappeared. Pinkie looked down, she saw light and Shade waiting on the end of tunnel. He had somehow slid down. Pinkie carefully grabbed, with her magic, the box of love-filled sweets, and jumped down. With a loud thud she landed in front of the guard and stepped into the light. What she entered had to be the cellar of the old castle. Huge rooms, with walls in same style as the old princesses castle. The stood some old columns in middle of room she entered. On left and right walls were two entries each, and in the wall opposite to Pinkie was a large gate. And then she saw them. Her people. There were dozens of them, maybe even over a hundred. All of them were staring at the dark pink Queen. Wounded, hungry, tired. Soldiers, workers, males and females. Looks of hope, looks of wonder and looks of absolute confusion were in the minority at first. Most of them looked with despair, hatred or resignation. But then everyling began looking at each other. Hushed conversations were heard. "Is that her?" "She looks healthy." "That’s the exiled Queen?!" "No way, this isn’t real." "She's looking at us!" "She was exiled by the Queen!" "Maybe she come to save us?" And then, those who were lying stood up. The wounded were asking the healthy to help them up. Those already standing started to bow, and others joined them. Some started to crawl towards the Queen with pleading looks on their faces. Pinkie noticed one who was crawling to her with damaged hind legs. She was young, maybe even underage, wearing light recon armor. If she weren't so famished, she would be a pretty one. But now, she had so many holes in her body, her "mane" had fallen off, the wings on her back were in tatters, and her chitin was cracked and fully black; no hints of color. Pinkie let her eyes scan over the crowd. She felt great sadness hitting her heart, but she couldn't afford to let it overcome her. She had responsibility. She lifted her hoof. What could she say to them? She wasn't one for speeches. She wasn't really a ruler. She didn't know how to do that. But she had to. Her... subjects... were waiting. How did Chrysalis do it?! "Your Queen has come back. And she's ready to feed you all!" Or at least, she hoped so. "I'm here to give you hope, I'm here to do something about the horror that has befallen our kind!" She silenced for a second. What else to say? They were excepting her to give them hope. But if she promised and then failed... They will lose absolutely everything. Any leftovers of hope would be crushed. So what to add? Truth. "I cannot guarantee you that I can save you all or that we can make it through. I can't say that in end of this there will be a happy ending. I can't promise that you will like it. But I can guarantee you that I will do everything I can! If I had to, I'll die trying! This is my word to you!" Weirdly, there were some cheers. Not loud ones, not live ones, but there were a few. Pinkie began transferring love to her horn, which lit with a pink glow. "And now, stand up, and let your Queen feed you." And with that she lowered her horn atop the closest changeling to her, and she gave away part of her love into body of the ‘ling. She began a slow walk through the hall, feeding the changelings as she came across them. She asked everyling she fed about how they were feeling, how bad their wounds were, if they lost anyling close to them, if there was anything she could do to help. She gave them words of assurance, compassion, sometimes condolences. She somehow knew that she should do it this way, that her... subjects, still an odd word for her, need a symbol. A symbol of a motherly Queen, listening to their fears, giving them the feeling of being cared for, bringing them hope in the darkness with her small smile of compassion and eyes full of understanding. She chuckled sadly to herself, thinking that this was a job more suited for Princess Celestia or Fluttershy than her. Now she was listening to the confession of one of the female workers. The poor female had killed a Canterlot guard during the attack, when she only wanted to stun him. She had used a changeling stun-spell for that, but in her panic she had overpowered it and the guard’s mind was crushed by the spell. The pegasus mindless but still live body had fallen from the air, down on top of her. She had laid under his dead-minded body for almost an hour, feeling the beating of his heart, too scared to do anything. Now she was wetting at night from the terrible nightmares she had. Pinkie could only listen. No words she knew were good enough. She could only listen. And the fact that she couldn't do any more for them was hurting her. But she had to hold on, to finish her duty. When the love in her body was running low, and the color of her body began to darken, she ate some of the treats she had brought to restore her love levels. Less than half to go. She could make it. Yes, she could. She looked back, and saw fed changelings, their strength slowly returning, looking at her with respect and gratitude. Yes, she could make it, she had to. Pinkie didn't know that her older sister was watching her from the gate, leaning on the side of it from weakness. She was contend with waiting, observing as her younger sister walked through the room, illuminated by weak torch light, feeding each ‘ling equally, no matter how wounded, how important he or she was, talking with them, like some kind of embodiment of mercy. Chrysalis closed her eyes, glad that her sister had answered her call. Her sister would come to her when she was done tending to their subjects, so she retreated back to her quarters quietly, so as to not disturb her sisters work and slowly, because of her weakness.
Party of the two (rev. I)Party of the two (rev. I) Pinkie entered Chrysalis’ "royal chamber". It was an old prison cell, with a sturdy wooden bed on one side, so decayed that it was a miracle that it didn't just crumble under the weight of Chrysalis. On the other side was a simple hole in floor for "needs". The wall opposite the entry was full of scribbles and notes. Because of age it was hard to read, except for two short notes. They said "I don't want to leave, LEAVE ME ALONE! I am DANGERous!!!" the other said "I hate the victorious SUN. evenifitbringsmePAINTandCOlors!" The scribbles gave the room a weird atmosphere. "I suppose he was mad, unstable." said Chrysalis, noticing Pinkie looking at the wall. "And it had to be centuries ago." "Do you know who he was? Or if he really was a he?" asked Pinkie in a tired voice. She was mentally exhausted. "Look at the ceiling." It was a work of art. The ceiling was made from same stone bricks and cobblestone like rest of dungeons, but the resident of this cell had at some point decided to flatten said celling, making it an even plane, and then to use it as canvas. These weren't scribbles, these were detailed sketches in small frames creating some kind of border, and in middle were six big paintings, colors dulled with age, but the still visible. The outer border showed the history of Equestria beginning at The Exodus Of The Three Tribes, through the funding of Canterlot and other cities, the Dragon Wars, great achievements of ponykind, the Chaos War, Luna and Celestia raise to power... and so on... In the last frame of the outer border was a painting showing a crying, lone, Luna. The middle frames illustrated Luna, transformed into Nightmare Moon, fighting with Celestia, the Banishment of Nightmare Moon, Celestia, crying over her bitter victory. The last frames showed a stallion from the lunar guards crying to the moon, stripped of his duty, said guard thrusting his spear at Celestia during court and the last image showed the creation of this art, by the imprisoned guard. "He..." Pinkie wasn't sure what to say. "Notice that the first pictures are worse than his last. He wasn't skilled at the beginning, I’ve noticed that some of the scribbles on the walls are exercises, or concepts of what he put on this celling, but he wanted to leave something behind to be remembered. It's a shame that the only ones who’ve seen it are changelings, not the quite viewers he had in mind..." Chrysalis paused "Well, I better start writing the history of the Changelings on this wall, and about their foolish queen who led them to their annihilation." "Okay, but let me write the happy ending and epilogue." Chrysalis smiled sadly. "I hope you will." "Chrys, you need to lighten up." "How? All of it, all these wounded, dead, hunted... It's all my fault. And I see it in their eyes, I see in their wounds, I hear it in their calls for help..." Pinkie sighed. Chrysalis had, well... failed. Bad. But descending into grief and shame wouldn’t help anyling. Her sister needed a hard buck into reality. Chit-chatting about how she was feeling, and trying to improve her mood wouldn’t work. So... time for a different approach! "You know what? You messed up! And you are messing it up even more! Your subjects are waiting for your lead, and you are abandoning them! They feel it, you know?! Get out from this bed and look at them! Look good and hard! They are waiting! They are falling into stagnation because of you!" Pinkie raged. Chrysalis turned her back to the pink Queen. "I failed... I promised them, and I failed. Lying here, I won't hurt them more" "Chrysalis, do you remember mother? What she said about leadership? The Queen always shall be with their kind, no matter what way fate will lead them. Guide her people, even when the sky falls to the ground, even through everlasting night, to her last breath, even as she's dying. It's our responsibility..." "...many of our subjects terminated their loyalty to me." Chrysalis hid her face with her hooves. "They told me I'm no real Queen... I lost them... A Queen shouldn't be abandoned by her subjects..." "So? They are not your responsibility anymore. But you still have many behind your back, awaiting your leadership. Do you want to lose them too?" "No... but there is nothing I can do..." "Yes, there is! Stand up!" Chrysalis obeyed. "Listen sister. You did something. You brought me back. I'll do my best to help you. But I need you to help me. We must go through it together." Pinkie nuzzled Chrysalis. "So, you and me, standing as one versus everything this world will throw at us?" Chrysalis nodded unsure at first, but then she broke down and hugged Pinkie. Pinkie used this opportunity to transfer some love into her sister. "I don't know what to do now... I just don't know... I'm afraid... I'm afraid of what else can go wrong...I'm so scared that I just want to lie and watch this celling, to do nothing... This way anything that happens won't be my fault... But now you’re telling it will be my responsibility anyway..." "Yes, Chrys. But there is one important difference between doing and not doing. In not doing; failure is granted, in doing; there’s a chance of success." "Only a chance..." sighed the defeated black Queen. "At least it’s a chance. It's like comparing nothing to something." Chrysalis broke the hug and backtrotted a few steps. "Sis... I want to restore you into the ranks. Return the mind-link to you, clear your name..." "I'm not ready for mind-link. It was too many years ago. It would be unnatural to me now." Said Pinkie, tried to imagine how it was. Having the ability to talk with tens of changeling at the same time, no matter where they where, not only talk with words, but images, memories, emotions, sounds heard, transfer her ideas without them being altered by the imperfectness of normal means of communication... It would be no exaggeration to say that half of the changeling world was part of this shared inter-mind dimension. It made changelings perfectly synchronized in battles, where the unit commanders created order channels, making sure the chain of command was never broken and where the recons created mental maps of the battlefield, insuring that the battle never fell into chaos. It made changelings in peace organized too, because there were no misunderstandings. The Ponyville fiasco of Winter Wrap Up wouldn't happen in the Swarm... Well, unless for some reason all lings decided to terminate their mind-link. Pinkie rethought all of this. "Chrys, I need the mind-link on my terms. I will take it on my own pace." "It'll be done. For now most of the swarm is… unreachable. Most of the changelings are too weak to serve as strong relays. You will be lucky if you could contact the camp near Canterlot, and it's closest one." "That’s something I wanted to ask you. Where are the other camps and what's their situation? I was told by Shade that this is one of the better." In front of Pinkie appeared a map of Equestria, floating in the air by Chrysalis’ magic. But it was more of a model of Equestria than than a map. On a map you don't have rivers, mountains, hills represented by... well, rivers, mountains and hills. Every building was there, as objects on the ground, not marked on the sheet. Pinkie looked at Chrysalis questioningly. "Yes, I'm using mind-link magic for this. So, our main camps are..." On the map appeared a few orbs. One was near Ponyville, another near Manehattan, another one near Fillydelphia, next one near Appleloosa and a last one far north of Canterlot. "The worst situation is in Camp Canterlot. Many patrols a sweeping the area, the background love levels a low, and the camp is overcrowded... They had heavy casualties, and almost a third of the camp turned against me. The best situation was in Appleloosa, it’s safe, but still lacking food. Well, now our camp is in the best situation. Even if we are hiding, thanks to you we have restored some strength. Beside these camps, there are at least dozens of smaller ones, but most of them are... on the run. And of course there are hundreds struggling alone." "How many of us survived?" "Last report I’ve received, states... eight hundred forty eight. No, make that forty four. I buried four yesterday." said Chrysalis gravely. She continued after a while. "In our camp there are one hundred seven changelings. In Canterlot Camp, three hundred twenty nine, or rather was. One hundred three terminated their mind-link and loyalty to me, and left the camp. I'm afraid that they’re going to do something stupid. In Manehattan there’s one hundred eighty two. In Fillydelphia, one hundred seventy. In Appleloosa, fifty six." Pinkie wanted to ask how many Chrysalis had brought for the invasion... But it would only hurt her more. It was something to wonder about later. "We need to send love to the others. But first, our captured need to tell the truth about the state of our race. Before we even reach Celestia, ponies need to be conscious about how bad our situation really is..." "What?! If the ponies know of our weakness they won't have any second thoughts about crushing us!" "You are thinking about griffins. Ponies are different. If we show them how much we are alike, but that we have our backs against the wall... some of them might sympathize with us, they’ll think what they would do in the same situation. Ponies are not really our enemies. They were hurt by our attack, but I don't think they really hate us. It's not like the Griffins hate, bred from centuries of anger and conflict. It's hate born of fear, and when we get rid of the fear, we get rid of the hate." "We killed a few of them!" Chrysalis was clearly scared of Pinkies idea. Pinkie nodded sadly "And they killed probably tens or hundreds of us.” she sighed “We need to use this." "I... don't understand." "Weakness will be our weapon to win their hearts. We need to show them that we are not really a threat to them, that we are just... dying. And that this attack was from desperation not from hate." Chrysalis shuddered at these words. "I want to see things the way that you do. But I can't." After a moment of silence, Chrysalis looked thoughtfully at the pink Queen. "Sis, I'll do as you suggest. I'm putting my hope into your plans." Pinkie nuzzled her sister. "I'm grateful for you trust. But there is another part you don't like either..." "Yes?" asked Chrysalis, sorrow clear in her voice. "I need you and maybe few other changelings to learn how earn love, my way." "Oh..." Chrysalis sighed, and smiled a bit. "Pinkie Pie style?" Pinkie grinned widely. "You bet’cha!"
Meet new friends! (Own Rev I)Meet new friends! (Own Rev I) (3000+ words?! Somebody stop me! Generally, I'm feeling I'm OOCing all the time, but it's terribly hard to stay in character, without repeating dialogues from series... Oh well, I'm going to keep trying.) Pinkie spent the rest of her visit in the camp telling stories about her life in Ponyville to Chrysalis and few selected changelings. Their reactions were varied. Most of the gathered changelings were impressed by Ponyville described in those stories, by it's serenity and safeness. Surprisingly for them, Pinkie observed that ponies had many things in common with Changelings. It was obvious truth for gatherers or recons, but most lings back home didn't know it. For them it was just distant food source, and who cares how you get your food. Knowing that your food source is not so different from you... Well, it could be disturbing. Of course there was something distinguishing changelings from other kinds of sapients, and it was their understanding of community. For example, each pony was a part of community in some way, but most of the ponies weren't seeing themselves as a part and a creator of it. Ponies saw it as Me and the rest of ponies, when lings saw it as Me and the rest of us, The Swarm. Lings knew and were reminded by constant connection with other lings via mind-link that any of them, all of them are really on this same side and that even if anyone of them is unique being, that in global scale they are the same. It that wasn't that they didn't matter. It was exactly opposite. Each changeling was important. Each one was contributing something to The Swarm, and The Swarm was giving it back to them. Changeling seeing any other ling knew that in spite of all differences they shared similar goals: To be happy. To had dreams fulfilled. To live their life fully. In short words: Ponies were looking for differences looking at other ponies, when Changelings were looking for similarities in other lings. Of course, there were other shocking things, like starving or poor ponies. For Changelings it was natural that the rich ones were supporting those who weren't, doing it in simple belief that all of them were part of Swarm and because of that all of them were important. Changelings were to support each other, to care for each other. "You got to care, you got to share" was a general idea behind social system of The Swarm. It wasn't that in The Swarm private property didn't exist or it was forbidden but it was less important than the life of a fellow ling. Letting, or even worse, making another ling to die because of selfishness was one of the greatest crimes in Swarm. It was punished either by terminating their mind-link or by exile. Outright killing other ling from selfishness was punished either by capital punishment or by deprivation of all rights, even right to life. It meant that any other ling could kill such criminal without consequences. Chrysalis said that some of changelings were behaving now like non-lings, like ponies or griffins. Caring only for themselves, treating others like enemies. She banished most of them to stop these 'disease' from spreading to other changelings. It was hard decision but it has to be done or at least Chrysalis believed that. It made her a tyrant in the eyes of many lings but she couldn't let The Swarm to tear itself apart in riots, crimes or maybe even civil war. Pinkie never felt conflicted so much as hearing that. Some part of her was arguing that what Chrysalis did was simply evil but other side of her was argumenting that her sister was right in her intention. So, all in all, Pinkie decided to not comment this. Unfortunately, other changelings, the majority of them were regular soldiers, saw it as a disgrace that one of the Queens of their race was living as a normal pony, or even worse, was part of the Elements Of Harmony. They argued that it made the Pinkie's loyalty to the Swarm doubtful. How could they believe she isn't Celestia's minion? She was fighting in her glory against enemies of Equestria, they said. She fought against her own kin during Canterlot Invasion, some added, and it caused outrage. She even saved one of the princess of Equestria. And what seemd to the worst for some lings, she wasn't even so important. Pinkie felt attacked, threatened. She saw in eyes of few lings hate, she could even feel it, flowing in the air. Pinkie could only object that if she wasn't there Eternal Night would have prevailed starving the Changelings as the Ponies would starve and the land would have been destroyed by Discord's power. Chrysalis added if they aren't ready to be leaded by Queen who fought with gods they better be begone, or she herself will reduce them to ash. Pinkie wasn't really sure such harsh words were needed, but it worked and gave her a better understanding how badly The Swarm ideology was damaged by famine and war. Pinkie wanted to apology for her actions during Invasion. Chrysalis had to feel her intention, because she put her hoof on Pinkie shoulder and sent her simple message; "It's not the time". Soldiers turning against their Queen. In the time of Pinkie's mother it seemed to be impossible. Times were hard too but she always reminded them the strength of a changeling was coming from the strength of The Swarm. Pinkie was trying to remind herself how her mother put it; "There is saying: The whole is more than the sum of its parts. And I'm looking at you, my beloved subjects, and I know it is true. Each one of you is a something perfect, something to admire, but all of you, no matter how big, how small, how strong, how weak... You are creating something much greater, something much more marvelous... You are The Swarm. You are One. I see you all working as one body, together, arm in arm. Changelings! Your Queen is proud of you! I'm blessed by such subjects, and let me this time to bow to you, to each one of you, and to all of, The Swarm!" That was one of her general speeches. There were sometimes speeches for selected groups of changelings, like military, mothers, workers of different sectors... Most of time her mother was giving speeches to raise spirits, to give hope, to ensure integrity of The Swarm. She was trying to a shining beacon of hope and defiance to the impending doom. It was lost fight, yet every day her Mother was going to the balcony, observing the royal hive, it's citizens, complentating beauty and magnificence of her nation. She was like captain of dying ship. Doomed, but proud of her crew, of her ship. Everything is on road to ruin, like it always was. Is there anything to save? Is there any chance to escape sealed fate? Pinkie's spirits were low after leaving camp. She knew she had to keep it together but it was so hard with all bad news. No light in the end of tunnel, and it was looking that she had to create this light first for others. She had to be a lightbringer like her mother was. It was her duty. Pinkie couldn't see how she could achieve it. How one pony... correct, changeling, could carry this burden? How could she do it after so many years? She simply forget how it was to be a daughter of Queen, a princess of Swarm. She had memories but she couldn't see herself fit the role everyone excepted. She fell she had to cry on someone's shoulder but there was nobody to listen to her cries. Who could listen to broken changeling? Sister knew how bleak situation is and she was already crushed by all of this. Pinkie had to give her hope and strength. Admitting to her about fears and sorrow would only crush her further, and bury hopes to lift her up. Twilight? She would freak out and send letter to Princess about imposter... Funniest thing; is that really a deception if most of your life you was a disguise? She probably wouldn't even try to listen; as smart Twilight was, she had tendency to be dogmatic. Pinkie would stand before Celestia as imposter who took a form of Pinkie Pie, and they would ask where is real Pinkie Pie. They wouldn't believe. Rainbow Dash? It was easy to predict, she would attack first and ask questions later. Applejack? She would use lasso on Pinkie and buck her up until she got answers which she wanted to hear. She was so stubborn sometimes. Real earth pony all in all. Rarity? She would probably faint first, and call guards second. Fluttershy? Fluttershy... Pinkie thought about for a while. Fluttershy was a kind one. Ready to extend hoof to those in need. Still, there was no way to predict her reaction to real Pinkie. Pink pony didn't want to think about it but she recalled that many lings in the camp were in need of first aid or serious medical assistance. From all friends of Pinkie, Fluttershy was closest to medical pony. It was something to think about. Now, younger Queen wanted to cry. At this moment there was nobody to listen to her cries, so she sat under the tree, and looked up at evening sky. She sighed. Hard times were coming to her and she wasn't sure if she would have her friends of her side. It was probably the worst for Pinkie. Problems are easier to take when there is somebody on your side, someone to walk trail with you. But now? How could she? It was only two weeks after Invasion on Canterlot. Nopony will trust her. It was too early for that, and on other hand, her subjects, so new and unfamiliar idea for her, don't have enough time. Chrysalis mentioned that they have three weeks at most before they will start to slip into coma. Pinkie let sigh, and let her head fall. She had to go back to Ponyville, to made good lie to tell Mrs. Cake, to invent some solution for changelings... But now she was mentally exhausted. She just wanted to lie under tree and cry. "Pinkie?" Shy voice was heard. Pinkie lifted her head up and looked at concerned yellow pegasus. She wasn't quite ready, and she wasn't feeling up to "happy Pinkie Pie". "Hey Fluttershy." She asked with voice out of her usual happiness. "Is there something wrong?" Fluttershy asked hesitantly. "No, nothing... Just..." Just my kind dying from famine! "...just bad day. Nothing to worry about." "Are you sure? Um... I mean I can listen... if you want to..." Pegasus asked in small voice. "Yeah, I'm sure." Pinkie made mistake looking straight in this full of compassion eyes. It almost broke her. "Oh... Okay. But if you would want to, just please, do come..." Fluttershy voice was only sincere and full of care. It broke any wall Pinkie made. She couldn't stop what was happening next. "Shy, I lied to you. I didn't want to. But I'm too scared. Too many thing are going wrong..." "Pinkie, you know I'm always ready to listen to problems of my friends..." "I know, I know... But I don't want to overburden you..." Answered Pinkie with feeling of guilt. You idiot! You are concerning her! "Oh, how bad It could be? ...If you don't mind telling me that, that's it." Confound that Fluttershy. In her soft words had to be some kind of hypnotism. "My sister... My folks..." Pinkie wanted to buck herself. Hard. "Yes...?" shy pegasus asked softly. "They are starving... and lost..." "Oh..." "And... I need to help them..." "You could ask for help..." Shy pegasus said helpfully. "I can't... They are... I am..." Pinkie was too scared to tell truth, yet she wanted to yell it at this very moment, to have it over. "Pinkie, you can tell me anything, if you only want to..." reassured Fluttershy. "Fluttershy... You are good friend but..." Pinkie looked down to her hooves. After while she closed her eyes to not let tears fall. Silence, Pinkie felt hug on her body. She let her body collect kindness radiating from Fluttershy. It was good, nutriorus feeling, but for Pinkie it had sour taste. She felt wrong feeding now, it only reminded her what she was. "Shy, I'm afraid. I'm scared you will be scared of me... when I show you truth..." "Oh, Pinkie, how could I? We are friends... It would be horrible of me." In her voice there was no resentment. "Could you... could promise you won't run? You won't yell?" Cautious side of Pinkie's mind was yelling at her. What the hell are you thinking?! "Um... Okay... Cross my heart..." Flutthershy broke hug and started to make required gestures. "No, you don't have to use this liar promise! Just promise..." Pinkie snaped. She didn't want to see this promise. Not now. She was a liar and now it hurt her so much. "O-okay" Fluttershy backed up a bit, shocked by Pinkie reaction. "I promise, I mean, if it's good enough for you." "Yes..." Said Pinkie hestiantly. Now or never... "Shy... My sister is Chrysalis. This Chrysalis. I'm a changeling. Always was." Fluttershy looked shocked, but she didn't run or yell. It was getting easier after each words. "Stories about my pas are lies. There wasn't Granny Pie or rock farm... There was royal family, reduced to me, Chrysalis, and our mother. There was royal high-hive, Thorne-Lark, on verge of wasteland and war zone. I'm Changeling Queen like Chrysalis, but she took my throne from me and exiled to Equestria. Mother told us that we should rule together but my sister considered me dangerous to greater good of our people. Invasion on Canterlot wasn't my idea, I swear, nothing what happened this day..." Pinkie looked with pleading for belief in her eyes. "I believe you, Pinkie... But... Why your sister did it?" yellow pegasus was in mix of emotions. On one hoof she was scared, because changelings were scary and Pinkie claimed she was one of them. On other hoof, it was Pinkie. Her friend, sad and hurt. It was right thing to help her. However, she was changeling, one of those creatures who attacked Canterlot. Worse, her sister was Queen Chrysalis, who hurt Shining Armor, Twilight brother, kidnapped Princess Cadance and bested Celestia in fight. It was horryfing, her friend was sister to monster. But It was Pinkie... or... or imposter. But it all didn't make sense. It had to be Pinkie. Her friend, a monster? She could be just joking, but she sounded too serious. Even Pinkie was serious sometimes. "She was desperate. Her subjects are starving, living under constant danger of war, trying to somehow live by. Changeling we saw... They looked so scary because they are famished. And why my sister... well, she doesn't know ponies as good as me. She saw us... I mean, Equestrians, as source of food. Now she sees ponies as enemies, because so many of her subjects were hurt or... worse...." "I'm sorry..." Suddenly Fluttershy felt bad about herself. She just labeled a whole kind of sentient beings as a monsters. Fluttershy, who was friend to every living being, even predators. Fluttershy, who was one of few ponies okay with meat-eaters. Fluttershy, who knew what animals do when they are hungry or afraid. She felt like hypocrite. "And now she's losing control, her subjects are turning against her, and worse, she's falling into depression; she's looking for my help. Everyling I met, It was so hard... so many eyes devoid of any emotion, only awaiting for-for end. Or other's looking at me with exceptions, that I will solve this mess. And I know what I have to do but I'm afraid. I'm afraid you, my friends, will be scared of me. Or don't trust me. Or accuse me of being fake. But I has been Pinkie over half of my life..." "Um... If you don't mind asking... How did you feed? I mean..." "No, I'm not like my sister. I'm not hurting ponies. I feed on emotions, I'm not sucking it up from you or stealing emotions of other pony. I'm taking from ponies a tiny bit, small part. They don't even feel it and it feeds me. I'm not greedy. I wasn't trying to take from one pony so many emotions to feed more than myself. I never fed on only one pony. I'm feeding on Ponyville." "O-okay... But it doesn't sounds fair to other ponies..." "I know!" Pinkie snapped from shame. "I know... but how to say it? Hi, I'm parasite feeding on your feelings, feed me? Oh, hey Applejack, sorry I'm taking meal from you? Oh, apples? No, no, you silly farm-filly, I'm taking your emotions. No, it would freak them out. They would think all I was doing was done for food. It-it's not true. I like everypony, but I'm feeding on them... And it makes me evil." Pinkie's word sounded frank to Fluttershy ears. "Were you? Did you hurt anypony?" "What? No! I'm caring for them, for you. I want you to be happy! I need to eat too. And I'm sorry Shy, I was taking from you too..." Pinkie broke eye contact with Fluttershy shamefully. "It's okay... I think I understand... But it wasn't okay you didn't told truth to anypony... I understand you were too scared. You really should told everypony truth someday. Or at least Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow, Applejack. They deserve it. And I'm sure it would be better than you imagine." "R-Really? They will be mad at me. They won't believe me." "Oh, I'm not mad at you. And I'm sure they won't too" She reassured with soft smile. "Are you sure?" "Well... No, I don't think so. Twilight probably is still sore about what your sister did and Applejack could be angry for lying to her all your life, to not ever mention Invasion... But they are your friends..." "They are friends of Pinkie Pie, a earth pony, not Queen Metamorphosis, changeling..." Pinkie Pie said with bitter voice. "Um... yes... but eventually they will understand... I hope..." "Yeah... maybe some day. Now I can't compromise my cover, Fluttershy. I have many hungry and wounded to care..." "Changelings are near?" Asked meek pegasus with a bit of panic in her voice. "Yes, one is sitting in front of you." Pinkie shot unsure smile. "I'm sorry! Didn't want to offend you, I'm just scared of them. I mean... fangs, solid color eyes, hisses, insectoid shapes or shells on body..." "Huh, we are not pretty ones?" "Um.. that wasn't I meant... I was more... I never saw a friendly changeling..." Fluttershy was trying hard to hide simple fact that appearance of lings was frightening to her. "If you want to, I can reveal myself..." Said Pinkie hesitantly. "Could you?" Pinkie nodded, and let her body change to original self. She felt weird, like her own body didn't fit her; she needed to get used to changed perspective. She waited in anxiety for Fluttershy reaction. "You are not so scary as others. Are you shorter than Chrysalis." "I'm younger sister, and I'm quite short for a Queen." Pinkie chuckled nervously. "Am I... okay? Not scary?" "U-um...You are scary a bit but it's like Princesses are scary. Taller, bigger, regal... And your fangs are, um, disturbing." Yellow mare smiled nervously and added, "Your wings are pretty. Like butterfly or dragonfly." Pinkie cheered inside her mind. If Fluttershy wasn't scared, then nopony else should. She smiled to pegaus. Fluttershy in reaction "eeped" and hid herself behind tree. After a while she came back. She was shaking a bit. "I'm sorry, please don't be mad at me but you showed your fangs better and..." "Okay, no smiling." "Oh, no, don't stop yourself because of my fears. I just need to get used to it." Pinkie nodded. It was early night. "Uh-oh... I have to go to Mrs. Cake, explain somehow myself." She sighed. "Well, another lie..." And with that changed back to her earth pony self. "Fluttershy?" "Yes?" "Thank you. I needed that..." "Oh, what are friends for?" Pinkie wanted to go, but two more questions were lingering in her head. "Shy, are you okay with that I was feeding on you?" It was so awkward question to ask but she had to ask it. "Um, I'm not okay with that I didn't know but you had to eat too... So, yes, I'm okay with that you are changeling. You can't help what you are..." She paused a bit, and continued quieter. "W-well, you can still feed on me... I know you are good pony, um, changeling." Awkward! Strangely for Pinkie, Fluttershy blushed. "O-okay. Fluttershy... I know you are good with animals, caring, feeding, healing them... Many of lings, my subjects, are wounded. Could you, you know, help them?" "Uh... I don't know..." "You can decline. No hard feelings." "It's not that I don't want. If they are hurt as you say, they deserve help; anyone who is hurt deserve care... It's just that I'm scared of them. I-I'll try." "You do?" "Yes." "Shy, you are great friend. If there is..." "T-thank you. I need to go, it's so dark..." "I get it. Thanks. Bye!" shouted Pinkie and galloped to Ponyville. After all, maybe her friends will stand by her side. Maybe at least few of them. Reaction of Fluttershy was giving her hopes for that. Maybe she wasn't alone in this mess as much as she thought. "Bye." Answered Fluttershy and trotted to her cottage, plunged deep in thoughts.
Secrets and lies! (Own Rev I)Pinkie had a general long-term idea how she should deal with situation of her subjects. It was rather simple; start negotiations with Equestria and learn lings how to live between ponies. Of course, there were few questions which needed to be answered first. How should she approach the Princesses? Alone, with Chrysalis or maybe with a small escort? If and when she should uncover her real self to her friends and Ponyvillians? What will happen about her current life? Could she go back to living as a simple baker in Ponyville or would she be needed back home? She wished she could return to her life, she loved Equestria, and she was quite often needed here too. All this harmony stuff depended on her and her friends. She knew she should focus on short-term problems, like organizing food for local camp. She should figure out some method to feed other camps too. Long range transfer was ruled out option by Chrysalis; she stated that too much Love would be lost in transit at such range and it would probably leave a visible magic trace. Short range was impossible due to royal guards actively searching for lings. At least some treatment to wounded was arranged. Chrysalis hadn’t brought too many skilled medics with her and even if there were any in the camp, they couldn't do a thing without supplies. Fluttershy, even if she wasn't skilled in ling anatomy, was willing to help and had basic supplies. It wasn't near enough, but it was start. Pinkie was now wondering should introduce lings to Fluttershy and vice versa. Poor dear, she will probably die from fear in this dark, cramped dungeons, to not even mention her fear of changelings. There was a way to avoid it but it was dangerous and harmful for wounded; it was to transport them to Fluttershy’s cottage after sunset. Still, it was interchanging one risk with another. What if someone spot them or their state worsen because of trip? Pinkie had to take it all into account. She decided to spend her break from work to walk around Ponyville and sense some strong emotion sources. One of the strongest sources were Sweet Apple Acres. It wasn't so surprising; Apple Clan really loved their farm and it was radiating from fruits of their labor. Their apples were an option worth considering but Pinkie knew she couldn't just waltz there and bought all of their apples. It wasn't that she didn't have enough money. She knew she had enough bits to buy at least few carts of apples as she almost never used money Cakes gave her. It wasn't so surprising after taking into account that she didn't had to buy any food for herself, to rent room (Cakes gave her room; they treated her as a daughter) or to use any medicine. All her money was going straight to bank, and she was very rarely taking withdrawals. After few years it should be small fortune but it will arise suspicions about her and it was something she wanted to avoid. She decided she should investigate if there is a way to use that money without her name attached to it. Other good source was Carousel Boutique. Rarity loved her creations, ponies who bought from her dresses loved them too and almost everypony appreciated Rarity's hoofwork. Unfortunately there was a one tricky question: how to eat Love to a dress? Or Love that was already in a dress? Eating them like apples or any Love-filled treat would be silly and wouldn't work. Pinkie had idea but she needed a consultation with Twilight for that. Unfortunately, such questions could make her friend suspicious. "Hiya Twilight! I was wondering if a smart pony like you could create a gem able to absorb emotions around them! Oh, why I'm asking? Oops...". Basically, Pinkie was trying to recreate Love gems. Love gems existed on Swarm territory and were good sources of love but now all of them were empty of stored emotions and mines were extracted. Maybe there was a method to recreate them but how to gather such information without arousing suspicions? History books stated that ling of past were able to do such artifacts, unfortunately this knowledge was lost in fires of war. Another source could be Zecora as she could brew love potions. For ponies it was a will-breaking mind-fogging potion, for lings - a tasty liquid meal. Unfortunately, Zecora was convinced that a love potion is foul, evil and anypony with sound mind won't even think about using it. "Hey Z, I have over one hundred hungry mouths to feed, could you make me some love potions?" Pinkie cursed that she didn't learned characteristic traits of decorations of zebra tribes, she could use that knowledge to decide if Zecora was from one of zebras which still traded with The Swarm. If not, then Zecora will be extra threat, as she can know special ways to spot changelings. Other than that Pinkie couldn't think of any other fast sources without introducing other lings to Ponyville. It would make her job easier but most of them had sightliest idea of living as a pony. It made it an another risky solution and most of avabile lings weren't able to carry enough food to make a big difference; there was not enough Gatherers. She could of course install more lings in Ponyville but introducing almost half of hundred new ponies to Ponyville in such short time... If it wasn't something to raise questions, then she could blew her cover in middle of Ponyville with specially crafted number for such occasion. There was one ling who could make a huge difference: Chrysalis. Chrysalis, being Queen, had a higher Love capacity than even Gatherers. She could put it in good use but only if her condition and attitude toward ponies improved first. Pinkie wasn't entirely sure what talents Chrysalis possessed to raise interest and positive feelings toward her. Well, she was bookworm as youngling. She used to read all history books, all legends, all plays she could get. To some extent she was like Twilight but when Twilight was into knowledge, Chrysalis was into stories of past. She loved to place her dreams in times of former glory of The Swarm when war was something distant, famine was unthinkable, and all lings worked as one. Fortunately Chrysalis wasn't reading only books written by changelings. She liked zebra's legends and fables, old stories of ponies, and even to some extent a griffin mythology. She loved to relate what she was reading and she even used used magic to cast some illusions to show how she imagined some scenes from a story. Sometimes she was even telling half of it by illusions, and changes into characters from the book. It sounded like a good talent for unicorn. There was still problem with decent backstory and demandor, or it could end like Trixie. Great And Powerful, Alone And Arrogant, Bragging And Wandering. Pinkie felt bad for her. Trixie didn't know how much she is missing. What's use of being Great And Powerful, if you don't have friends? It was something to talk about with Chrysalis. Pinkie was considering when she could catch Chrysalis when she suddenly realized that she was connected into mind-link. She didn't used it for years so she wasn't sure how to create connection. For everyling else it was natural. They grew up with it. It was like breathing, and everyone knew how to breath. Thinking how to do it wouldn't make it possible. Idea struck Pinkie. Think, behave like you were talking to other pony but not with mouth, just like they could hear thoughts inside your head. No more complications. "Chrys?" She thought about her, wishing to make connection. "Yes, Morpha? That's you? Your signal is very weak." Chrysalis took connection. It was weird feeling, like part of your mind was extending somewhere, to make a some kind of bridge between two minds. Pinkie could sense her sister as she was in front of her. Not like that she saw Chrysalis with her eyes or with some kind of illusion. It was much better. She could feel how her older sister was feeling, not like in talking face to face when she could only guess how Chrysalis was feeling, basing on her body language or tone of voice. It was like having projection of inner self. Pinkie somehow felt that with other changeling there would be more boundaries between two minds, less insight in mind of other, a less transmit of emotions. They were sisters so such open connection was to be excepted. Their mother said them they should have as less secrets and lies between them as possible. She said then: "Look at the moon and the sun my dears. Both of them traverse through sky, encircling our world, chasing each other, dancing. Thanks to the sun we have day, light and life. Thanks to the moon we have time to sleep, restore strength, dream, and some believe that the moon is somehow connected to water. Have you ever imagined what would happen if the moon clashed with the sun, if their dance broke? All harmony of the day and the night would be destroyed, and every being of this world would suffer. Chrysalis, Metamorphosis. You are like the moon and the sun to this lands. You need to rule as one, as sisters and you can't let anything broke it. Can you promise me that?" How it ended everyling knew. "Yes, it's me. I was out of practice as you know." She laughed a bit. "I know..." Chrysalis acknowledged in small voice and shame. "Listen, Chrys, do you still remember stories you read? I mean, when you was reading through every book in Central Library like some crazy bookworm." "Many of them. Why are you asking?" "And do you still remember how to cast this super-cool illusions what you used to show scenes?" "Maybe... I wasn't practicing it in years, you know..." Chrysalis answered with doubt. "My question still stands: why are you asking?" "Weeell, I found way to use you for helping our subjects." Pinkie let a slightest bit of mischief enter her voice. "Oh, how? Telling them fables?" Changeling Queen used sarcasm, but it was only half-hearted. Deep inside she was a bit of curious. "Close, but you mistook who." Slyly answered Pinkie. "No, you don't want me to..." Chrysalis was reluctant. "Yes, I do. You kind of promised me that." "But... I'll screw it." "Nah, if you only let your Auntie Pinkie take care of it." Chrysalis silenced, shocked by Pinkie's nonsense. "Sis, I'm at least a two years older than you. And I'm your sister, remember?" "Duh, I know! You were always so older sister." Pinkie laughed for a while. She heard a small chuckle on Chrysalis side and felt small positive feedback. "Listen Chrys. Your lings need food and I need your help." She continued seriously. "I can gather great amounts of food for them, but I have limits too. If you join me, we could at least double this limit." "I know, but..." Pinkie felt fear from older sister. "Listen, I know you are scared. I'll be by your side, okay? I'll help you. But I need your help. Our lings need us." Pinkie wondered if Celestia and Luna had similar talks in past. She felt weird talking this way, like it was out of her league but some part of her mind was arguing it was right. Silence was her only answer. Pinkie considered if Chrysalis broke connection. "Sis... I'll do it. For our kind. And... If something goes awry, that was your idea." "Yeah, like when we were younglings." Pinkie answered with smile in her voice. "It was good times..." "It was..." Both sister felt nostalgic, reminding how much fun they had together, into how many adventures they fell... "Ugh, I don't want to read it. It's boring!" "I know, right? I would rather read anything else, even our mom books, than... this." "Uh-huh... Everything is better than this, Chrys." "Hey, Morphie, I have idea!" "Yeah? We will displace it again? I have a few ideas..." "We are not 'borrowing' catapult!" "It's good idea! And it's belongs to our mother so it's ours too!" "No! We will run from palace!" "I don't know..." "We will raid library and bakery on the way." "I'm in!" "Operation Raid-Run is a go then!" "Girls... I'm not sure what I should feel, so I'm just going to ask: Why?" "...governess lesson was boring." "Correct me if I'm wrong, but... You sneaked out of room, found good enough explanation for guards to let you leave your chambers, took few books from library and used knowledge from book to disguise yourself as other lings then you raided a palace bakery where you got into fight with kitchen staff, in which you were outnumbered 2 to 5, somehow managed to pull out from bakery to only get chased by guards and then you launched yourselves from catapult to escape chase and escape palace, only because you were bored?" "Well... yes?" "..." "MOM, are you alright...?!" "I facehoofed too hard..." "How I miss her..." Chrysalis broke silence with sad statement. "Me too..." Silence yet again guested between sisters. It lived, fueling their nostalgic feeling by drowning them into memories, at least until Chrysalis spoke. "Okay, is there anything more you want me to say?" "Yes, I probably found some kind of medic to help lings." "Who? One of your friends?" "Fluttershy. Another Element Of Harmony." "This coward one?" Older Queen asked with uncertainty. "She's not a coward. She talked down a angry dragon once. And there was situation with cockatrice when she was turning to stone, but still she won." "You are kidding, do tell you are." Said Chrysalis with disbelief. "No. She's typical with-back-against-wall-I-m-going-berserk." Pinkie honestly confirmed. "Okay... But I'm not sure how our subjects will react to this." Replied older sister with tone of voice suggesting that she doesn't know how to react to this. "I know, I know. And I don't know how to met her with wounded." "She's afraid of us?" "Kind of. She's afraid of almost everything, even sometimes her shadow. We could send wounded to her place, It is out of borders of Ponyville." "It is dangerous." "I know, but do you have better ideas?" "Could you, I don't know, convince her?" "I don't want force her. She's my friend." "Does she know what you really are?" Chrysalis suddenly remembered what wasn't fitting in it. "Yes. She didn't run, she didn't scream. Weeell, she panicked a bit when I smiled..." "I understand... If she won't turn you up, It will be a miracle." Sighed Chrysalis. "She won't. I trust her. She's my friend." "Well, if you say so. Maybe she's really you friend. We'll see. I have news from other camps and our captured. I wasn't able to get much, connection broke every few seconds... anyway, here you are. Other camps somehow cope with situation, and when I say they cope, that means they are rather successful in minimizing losses. Only around twenty lings died in last few days from hunger and wounds. I know it sounds bleak but I have better news." Chrysalis added when she felt Pinkie sadness. It should lift her up a bit. "Our captured will start talking, as you ordered. Fortunately, it seems that some of our subjects were talking with ponies even before you order. I don't feel fine with that they broke orders, but it seems you were right, as you predicted, most of ponies started to understand that we don't have hivemind and we are not simple bugs. According to words of one prisoners in Canterlot, Princess Luna is thinking about stating that every captured ling is prisoner of war and by that they should be provided with health care and food. I still don't believe that, but maybe you are right..." "It's great news! Tell them to keep talking. About everything they want. We have to look for them like similar beings. It's our only chance to win their hearts before you and me start talking with them.." If Princess Luna admits that captured lings have rights like normal prisoner it would simplify many problems, especially feeding so much lings. She could order the lings in worst condition to found ponies and surrender to them. It was giving some hopes. If they win a mind of one Princess, negotiating with second will be easier. "I'll pass it to them. We'll see what future brings." "Okay, Chrys, I need to go back to work. I'm not skilled enough to talk with you and customers at same time." "I get it. Then... We'll meet tonight?" Chrysalis asked hopefully. "Yes, and I'll try to talk with Fluttershy about bringing her tonight." "Good. Bye, dear sister." "Bye." Pinkie walked back into Sugarcube Corner. Break was over and customers were already awaiting. It seemed that it will be a hard day as customers were already impatient and she had to bake sold treats to restock shop, then clean kitchen after baking... Yet, it couldn't take a big grin from her face. It was only one reason for that. Future was looking brighter now than yesterday.
Giggle at the ghosties! (Senpakuxkira Rev.I)"Mrs. Cake, I'm going out! I'll be late!" Yelled Pinkie, standing in the door of Sugarcube Corner and looking outside. It was late evening and she finished all her chores. Streets of Ponyville were getting empty, night life in Ponyville was poorly developed comparing to this of Canterlot or Fillydelphia. There were a few clubs, opened all night long but most of ponies preferred sleeping over partying. Of all of Pinkie only Rainbow Dash hit the clubs and bars regularly. Pinkie came along with her sometimes and it was great fun; at least if Dash didn't get wasted. She didn't know her limits, and when inebriated she was often starting brawls or being very emotional, whining to anypony about her problems. She was a worse drama queen than Rarity. Rarity on the otherhoof had these "classy evenings" as she described it that she attended. The Apples sometimes had "wild country nights” in the barn. According to Applejack it was just good old fashion earth pony fun and by that she meant hard cider, dances, country music and occasionally fights; [it was a great way to went off to many ponies. (This doesn’t make sense, but I’m not sure how to change it.)] Twilight had Roleplaying Club meetings every two weeks. Pinkie could understand why it was fun, but for her it would be weird. Changeling disguised as pony, roleplaying some fantasy creatures... It was like a box inside a box inside another box and so on. Fluttershy was too shy to hit clubs, but Rainbow Dash said she took her to wild party in somepony house when they were still in flight camp. If what Rainbow said was true then at this party Fluttershy became a demon. She was drinking like tomorrow wouldn't come, flirting with hottest colts at the party, singing songs loud and proud while taking revenge on everypony who wronged her somehow. She was so radical that nopony could believe that such a beast was inside such a meek pegasus. It was for the best she didn't remember what she was doing that night. Same could be said for half of the party goers. "Dearie, where are you going? Will you be safe?" Asked Mrs. Cake with a motherly concern. "Yeah, I'm a very responsible mare. Pinkamena Responsibility Diane Pie is my name." She grinned to Mrs. Cake. Her concern was like evening tea to Pinkie; pleasant, smooth, and soothing. Mrs. Cake face scrunched up in uncertainty. "Besides I'll be with Fluttershy." Pinkie added to reassure older mare and it looked that it worked. "Oh, okay. Give her my regards." "Will do! See ya Mrs. Cake!" And with no further ado Pinkie was off to Fluttershy. The trip to Fluttershy’s was quite uneventful, after a few minutes of trotting she was in front of Fluttershy's cottage door. The inside was lighted, so somepony should be inside. Pinkie knocked and waited for a response. After several seconds she knocked again and there still was no response. For a moment Pinkie was afraid that Fluttershy was afraid of her and decided to hide from her or she decided to report Pinkie to guards and it was a trap. It could happen. That had to be it! Fluttershy wasn't her friend at all! "Pinkie, cut it out, you’re going Pinkamena again..." She whispered to herself. She was about to turn over and go straight to the camp, but then door opened. "Oh, I'm so sorry Pinkie, I didn't hear you..." she heard a soft voice say. "Hiya Fluttershy, I wanted to talk with you. Could we go inside?" "Um, I would rather not... I mean, can we talk outside?" Fluttershy responded hesitantly. "Angel?" Pinkie asked knowingly. "K-kind of..." "Yeah, I sometimes wonder who’s the pet and who’s the owner..." Pinkie whispered under her breath. "Um, I'm sorry. I didn't hear what you said." "Oh, nothing, just thinking to myself. I'm good for a walk!" "O-okay, just let me get my things." And with that she again disappeared inside the house. She appeared again with saddlebags on her back, and key in her mouth. She locked the door and turned to Pinkie. "Shy, why do you have bags?" "You asked me to come and take care of the changelings." "Yes, but Fluttershy, are you reaaally ready? I don't want to scare you." "I am scared, yes, but it's something I should do..." "That was something I wanted to talk with you about. Could we go somewhere more secure?" Fluttershy nodded in answer, so Pinkie started to bounce towards Everfree Forest. The yellow pegasus gulped, and followed her eccentric friend. Everfree was a mysterious place; things behaved differently there than anywhere else in Equestria. Uncontrollable weather, animals taking care for themselves, plants growing without a care, without order... It was something incomprehensible for most of Ponyvillians and it made them uncomfortable. There were few ponies with differentiating outlook, like Apple Bloom; she wasn't scared and she even said that she doesn't understand what's wrong with it. And there was Zecora, a zebra, who said she lives in Everfree because it's untainted by pony civilization. "Sooo I want to warn you, we aren’t very pretty not when we’re hungry. You saw them at the invasion. And many of them look at ponies only as food source... So they won't be pleasant. I came to a solution, I could transport wounded to your place an-" "No, Pinkie! If they are seriously wounded they shouldn't be moved!" Interrupted Fluttershy with confidence in her voice... only to this confidence melt away second later. "I-I'm sorry I interrupted you, but you could hurt them even more by moving them." "Okie-Dokie, I get it, Shy. I didn’t want you feel like there wasn’t another option." Fluttershy stopped and prodded the ground with her hoof. She wanted to ask something but had to gather her courage. Pinkie waited she knew that the meek pegasus would ask her questions when she was ready. She only needed time. "Um, Pinkie, I have a few questions about your kind... if you don't mind." She finally asked. Pinkie turned to her and looked around. There shouldn't be anypony nearby, but better safe than sorry. "It's looks like we’re deep enough inside, and nopony is around so ask me all you want" Pinkie encouraged grinning. "Okay..." Fluttershy sighed. "Can't changelings able to feed on their own love? Or are your emotions different somehow?" Pinkie’s eyes widened, but quickly she remembered the pegasus pony couldn't have known what her question entailed. "Fluttershy, it's like asking why hungry ponies don't eat themselves. It's like cannibalism. Yes, changelings can feed on their own love or the emotions of other lings, but it's monstrous to even consider it as solution." "Couldn't you, um, feed on yourselves like you on Ponyville?" "No, it's not possible Shy. If everyling feed on everyling that… well you know that when animal eats fruit or something that not all of nutrients are absorbed? It’s the same with Love." "But, are you able to feel? I mean... feelings are food? So what's different between feeling from a pony and feelings for changelings?" "It's hard to explain and I don't remember too much... It's complicated. Feeling emotions and feeding on them is different. We are capable of feeling, you know, and we can feed on our own emotions. Okay, I think I know how to explain it! Okay, Flutters, imagine you have a tree. A tree that’s able to eat fruits of other trees. I know, it's silly, because trees can't eat, but it doesn't matter, it's hypothetical." Pinkie noticed Fluttershy’s dumbfounded expression. "What? Oh, sorry I think I’m spending too much time around Twilight." Pinkie chuckled; the truth was she knew a lot of words, but she preferred not to use them. The way she saw it, it's better to be considered funny than smart. Smart ponies are busy or are used by other ponies as advice givers, when funny ponies had fun. "So, we have two fruit eating trees! What would happen if they would try to fed on each other, Fluttershy?" "Um, they..." Fluttershy began, only to be interrupted by Pinkie. "They would eventually starve from lack of nutrients. Same goes with changelings. You can't eat a cake and have a cake. Shame, it would be handy. In some cases we do fed on emotions of other lings, like feeding kids or couples. When we say "You’re so sweet to me" or "We give our foal all the love we can" it isn’t a metaphor. But those are special cases. In case of lovers - it's cultural thing, letting lovers to taste each other feelings, some kind of fetish or something. Foals must be fed this way, to ensure their proper development. Why? I don't know." "I see you are very different..." "You betcha. I sometimes wish to be born as pony. But I was hatched as Queen..." sighed the disguised changeling. "Oh, that's another question, how your kind deals with family? I mean I know you have a sister but, um, what about kids, mothers, and fathers." "Well my sister’s and my eggs were hatched by our mother, the previous Queen. Eggs of other changelings are hatched by Mothers, special kinds of changelings, and then are distributed to changeling couples who take them as their own. We don’t breed like ponies, where any mare can have foals with any stallion. Sure, females and males can still… well you know." Fluttershy blushed a bit. Pinkie continued. "The Mothers are the ones who decide if couples who can have foals. It ensures that our children will be loved, won't be born into poverty." "Members of family aren't related? It's rather strange." "Weeell, you could say everyone is someone's brother or sister, maybe cousin, by pony standards. We see it differently. At least I remember it so." Pinkie replied. "I-It makes sense. You said Mothers are special kind of changelings are there other kinds?" "There are three basic types: Warriors, Gatherers, and Workers. Warriors are very good fliers, have decent amount of strength, and weak, simple magic. Gatherers are decent fliers, have weak bodies comparing to these of soldiers, and their magic is slightly worse than these of unicorns. Workers are weak, very weak fliers, but have very decent amounts of strength, their bodies are often endure more thanks to their larger size, thicker shells, and have slightly better magic than warriors. Being one from these three types doesn't sentence you to a usual job of said body type. Being a Warrior doesn't mean you have to join the army. Oh there are Queens too, but we are unique..." "It sounds like pony races." noticed Fluttershy. "Yeah, you can say that... They are quite similar, warriors as pegasi, gatherers as unicorn, and workers as earthponies... But any changeling isn't born into warrior, gatherer or worker. Before that is a type named by someling called "nymphs". That body is average in any characteristics comparing to other types. Weaker fliers than warriors, weaker magic than gatherers, weaker bodies than workers, but better magic than warriors, stronger body than gatherer, better fliers than workers. Their body is..." Pinkie stopped searching for word. "More universal? A base for other forms?" suggested Fluttershy. "Yes, that's it! So, thanks to this universality, young changeling can discover which ‘race’ they belong in. When they finally discover it their body starts to change into its destined race. It’s like everypony was born a weak alicorn that with the discovery of his or her cutie mark changes into pegasi, unicorn or earthpony. Some lings don't find out what ‘race’ is for them. They will always be "nymphs" but it doesn't make them worse or unable to live among us. They just have it harder to find their place in The Swarm and find their talent or job." "But you said there are special kinds... Could you tell me more about them? If you want to that is." "There are Mothers. They are designed specifically to lay eggs. It's one of most important and respected jobs in the Swarm. They even have their own Council, they have power to oppose the Queen and counsel her actions. The details are hard for me to describe, I’ve never met one. I was... afraid." She paused a moment to remember the other kinds of lings. "There are Recons. You can say they are between warriors and gatherers. Good fliers, good magic, but worse than this of gatherers, and rather declined into illusions, bodies slightly better than that of gatherer. If comparing to pony races, you could match them to pegacorns. There are a few special workers class, I don't quite remember them now, but for now I only remember Goliaths. They were just bigger, stronger versions of workers, but they don't have wings, and their magic is pretty weak. It would be like slightly bigger Big Macs with telekinesis. Yup, it's pretty complicated. And special changelings are usually created by transforming from basic types of changelings." "Okay, I think I know all I need for now" "Okie-Dokie, are you sure you are ready for this?" "Yes." Fluttershy replied with shaky determination. They started to travel towards hidden camp. Fluttershy was shivering. Pinkie wasn't quite sure if she was scared from dark forest or oncoming meeting with changelings. "Chrys, I'm bringing Fluttershy. Do you prepare lings for her arrival?" She asked Chrysalis using mind-link. "Yes, but you know I'm losing control over our subjects. I don't know if it’s good idea." her sister answered with doubt in her voice. "If everything goes smooth, that won't be problem. I'll be there in a few minutes with her." Fluttershy was now walking very close to Pinkie, she was scared of forest. The forest after dark was full of alien sounds to the pony. Thousands of sounds of distant animals and bugs. Most of them were rather quiet, but together they were creating atmosphere of danger. For Pinkie it was easier because she was using her double eyelids to brighten her vision. But for Fluttershy it was slightly brighter than darkness of the sky. It was too dark to actually distinguish any shape from the background. She wasn't sure if everything around her were trees or monsters. She was sure there were monsters watching her from behind the trees. She was sure she saw whites of eyes. Her legs started to shake. She heard something like monster panting. Then she tripped over something. She screamed quietly as to not bring any monsters to them. "P-pinkie?" She asked whispered fearfuly. Then she saw bright pink light. And then she screamed again, in front of her was standing a terrifying creature, Queen Chrysalis! But monster wasn't attacking. Fluttershy carefully opened her eye. That was Pinkie in her natural form, using her horn to light the area around them. "Sorry, Fluttershy, I thought about it too late. I should have thought about it earlier." Her light wasn't much, but it made the area around them brighter, and showed that it was monsterless. "I-I'm sorry Pinkie... Can I call you Pinkie when you are Queen...?" "It’s no biggie Fluttershy, I'll be always Pinkie to you. I don’t really like my original name." "Why not? It sounds like a good name." Fluttershy stood up. She was still terrified, but she was slowly calming down. "Filly, please. Metamorphosis. I know in my family long names are tradition, but that's just silly." "It's a pretty name. It reminds me of butterflies." "Yup, I know. But it's too long. And when Chrysalis shortens it to Morpha it sounds just awful... I like Pinkie more." "But you often are using Pinkamena Diana Pie as name..." objected in soft voice yellow pegasus. "...I know, but it's still better than Metamorphosis." "I like Metamorphosis." "Thanks Shy. I'm sorry I scared you." "No, no, I'm sorry I was scared." "Fluttershy, that was my fault." "No, no, don't think that! It was my fault I was scared." "Shy..." Pinkie broke out in laughter at their exchange. They started to giggling. It made the rest of the travel to the ruins much easier and reminded each other of when they were going through the Everfree with Twilight to the ruins of the princesses castle to find the Elements of Harmony and stop Nightmare Moon. Pinkie even sang her song from this adventure. After half of hour they reached ruins, from there the entrance to the dungeons was close. Pinkie was slightly worried. "Chrysalis, pleaaase don't scare her." "Maybe you except me to hide myself to not scare her?" Chrysalis groaned in response. "That's an idea..." Pinkie felt surge of animosity from her sister. "I was just joking, relax!" "I'm stressed, okay? Don't push me." "Okay, okay, just try to not be intimidating." "I'm not a monster, you know." Chrysalis wasn't in the mood for this. "Okie-Dokie." Pinkie turned to Fluttershy. She looked fine, not scared at all. Or at least as scared that is possible for Fluttershy. But... "Fluttershy, listen. I'll lead you and we will reach main hall. There most of the changelings will be there. Probably my sister too..." "Chrysalis?" Fluttershy asked fearfully. "Yes... Did I forgot to say you that?" "Y-yes..." "Oops... Listen, I will be there with you. And Chrys is nice if you get know her better and she's in good mood. She just bad with ponies..." "D-did you mean to ponies?" "Well...that too, but I want to change her. Sides, you are my friend it’ll be okay." Pinkie tried to give Fluttershy her most encouraging smile. It seemed to work, because pegaus nodded determined. Pinkie entered the tunnel, and Fluttershy followed. She seemed to manage her fear enough to dwell through the tight, dark tunnel. Then they reached the main hall all the changelings were there. Hundreds of eyes hidden behind external eyelids turned toward them. All of them were standing still, just watching. On other end of hall was Chrysalis with four guards at her sides. She was sitting, and trying to look as regal as she could. "Welcome to our camp, pegasus Fluttershy. We have been waiting for you." She greeted the pony even managing to smile without a hint of disgust. In that moment Fluttershy fainted. "Of all the possible things..." Sighed Pinkie. Author's Note Big thanks to Senpakuxkira for revising it!
Fluttershy's not a food, traitor! (Own Rev I)Pinkie woke up. It didn't meant that she opened her eyes, got up from bed and started brand new day. It only meant her mind left sleep and entered reality. She wasn't able to do anything except thinking. She wasn't scared, as it happened before. Her mind was simply disconnected with her body. At this moment it felt like she wasn't material, real thing, only a stream of consciousness and thoughts. It was relaxing in bizarre way. Everything was somewhere else. Not real. She couldn't describe what, where, how she was. She didn't have senses at this moment. Her mind was everything at this moment. Her brain equaled reality for now. It was only thing existing. Her bliss lasted only as long as memories of last night didn't start to show up. What happened before she went to sleep? After Chrysalis greeted them Fluttershy fainted. She was frightened by so many changeling looking at her. They weren't pretty, they were scary, Pinkie had to agree. Even worse, some of them looked at her like she was prey or enemy. Others looked at her like she was nothing, too depressed to really care. Some, very small number of them looked at her with hope in their eyes. Chrysalis idea to greet her only made it worse. She had good intentions, Pinkie was sure of that, but she exaggerated it. Yes, some greetings would be at place. But loud welcoming with guards at sides was too much for Fluttershy. What happened next? Pinkie brought Fluttershy to Chrysalis quarters. She had talk with her sister. Chrysalis was again at "I'm fuck-upper". She knew it was important for Pinkie and that this pegasus actually could and wanted to help her subjects, still, she blew it. Pinkie snapped at her. She had enough of self-blaming, and empty words. Chrysalis was taken-aback by attack of her sister. Pinkie was mad at herself for her outburst. They had a talk. Fluttershy regained consciousness during their reconciliations. She opted to stay quiet during this. When changeling sisters found it out, there was embarrassed silence. When Chrysalis was about to say something stupid like "That can't leave this room." or something like that, Fluttershy said with this sweet quiet voice that she forgives everything Chrysalis. That she knew Chrysalis wanted best for her own subjects, that she understood how stressful it had to be for Queen and she had no hard feelings. In pegasus voice there was no trace of prideful pity or shame, it was only compassion and understanding. It almost broke Chrysalis hostility toward ponies, but she regained herself and formally thanked Fluttershy for kind words, even if she doesn't need them. It wasn't truth and everyone knew it. Also everyone knew that Chrysalis pride and animosity toward ponies won't break from one act of Flutershy. Then Chrysalis went to inform changelings that her sister and her friend will help wounded. There were accusations of betrayal. Only few changelings knew that Pinkie was bearer of Element of Harmony, and Elements of Harmony fought with them during Invasion. Unfortunately, these changelings informed rest of camp that their Queen was among Elements. In camp there was a growing faction of lings who saw Pinkie as traitor who should be court-martialed. They weren't saying it loud, because Chrysalis could kill them at spot. This rebels were trying to gain support for their ideas without Queen noticing. Most changelings in camp were confused, but rather good willed. Yes, she fought with them. Yes, she wounded few of them. Yes, she was in Elements of Harmony. But she also brought them food, listened to them, slightly cheered up Chrysalis, and now she brought medic, even if a pony medic. In effect most of changelings were supporting Chrysalis and Pinkie. Still, accusations of betrayal were threw at them. Chrysalis reminded gathered subjects that she and Metamorphosis are still Queens, so it means they are highest authority. Their word is a law, and if this was only Chrysalis decision, she would send them all on execution, so they should be glad that Metamorphosis is strongly against it. It silenced them, but made their hate against Pinkie and Chrysalis stronger. After these shaking news Fluttershy and Pinkie as Queen went to main hall. At first Fluttershy was close to fainting again, but then she saw how many of them were wounded. She braced herself at this sight and asked Pinkie for help. So they started walking from changeling to changeling. Fluttershy was amazing. She kept her fear contained, for sake of patients. She talked to them, asked where it hurts, how they gained such wounds, then cleaned their wounds, bandaged them, braced wounded legs or wings, and so often giving words of hope that their wounds will get better. She was treating them like any other patient of her, with full care and compassion, trying to do her best. Her easing smile and gently voice seemed to make lings feel better. It was like magic. But sometimes, and Pinkie would be happy to not know it, sometimes it was too late. Infection was too bad, or wounds too severe. Fortunately,in all cases it was limb and it was possible to amputate them. This weak, shy mare did it. Even worse, she did it calmly, professionally. She asked Pinkie to hold hooves of patient under operation or hug them. It was the least they could for patient who will be cripple for rest of the life. When Pinkie was holding them, Fluttershy was using her saw. Pinkie saw panic and pain in eyes of patients during amputation. This terrible sound... First, scratching against chitin shell. Scratch-Scratch. Then this watery-meaty sound of cut flesh. Drip-drip of blood. Slapping of cut muscles of limb. Then against scratching, but this time against bone, ended by silent crack. Then again muscles... How so often they flinched at this sound. So often they started to scream at this moment, so often they cried... But it was her duty to be there for her people. Later they had a break. Pinkie asked Fluttershy how it's possible that she is holding up. Fluttershy answered that she had learned it earlier during work with animals. She added that she will cry tomorrow; now she had patients to take care of. She then added she is even glad that there wasn't any case where only option is to... her voice broke then. Pinkie only nodded with understatement. Latter memories were blurry. It was hard work. It went slightly easier when two volunteers joined Fluttershy. One of them, Shiri, claimed that she was taught first aid a bit in home. Fluttershy decided to send Pinkie to her house to bring more supplies. Pinkie was glad for that. She used trip to Fluttershy cottage to puke out all horrors of this night. It made her dizzy, but cleansed her mind a bit. She made this trip as fast she could. When she returned, she immediately felt something bad happened. Guards were keeping an eye on few wounded changelings. Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen. "Traitors attacked your friend." It was all Chrysalis said. Fluttershy was attacked by changeling she was patching up. Two trails of blood flowed down along her neck, her hooves. Fortunately, his fangs didn't reached any vital veins. Fluttershy was wounded. It shocked her, she didn't reacted. Sometimes animals were aggressive and attacked her, but it never happened to her that some animal tried to kill her. Ling who attacked her was about to unleash another attack, luckily few changelings reacted and subdued him. Few fights started between changelings and some suffered wounds. Fluttershy was standing in middle of riots, don't understating what went wrong, what's going on. Her volunteers escorted her to Chrysalis chamber. When Pinkie reached camp, rebels were captured or dead. Chrysalis was conducting martial court for them. Fluttershy was crying, and few changelings, feeling thankful for her kindness, were trying to help her, cheer her up and bandaged her wound crudely. She was crying because she was hurt, and she was crying for those who died and will die. Chrysalis said loudly all those who raised hoof against other changelings or allies of them are traitors, and treachery is punished by capital punishment. Pinkie was mad and disappointed. They hurt her friend who was only trying to help them. They were... so stupid, so irresponsible. They didn't deserved her help. She agreed with her sister that they should be punished but she felt death is too much. They argued. Chrysalis argumented that they are cancer and weed, and are needed to be slain. Pinkie argumented it will only made more lings going against Chrysalis, and sisters can exile them. Chrysalis countered it with that they could attack ponies, and it will ruin Pinkie plans to make peace with Equestria. After some debate they agreed that some of them, these ones who wounded heavily other lings, will be slain, and other will lose all their rights. Camp will carry out justice on it own. Both Chrysalis and Pinkie were present during executions. It was so simple act... Convicted changeling was immobilized, then guard approached them, gave them right to last wish, and then they were pierced by horn of guards, through chest toward heart. It was fast, it was clean, it was painless. It was death. It was ending someling life. For Pinkie it was something new and in bad way. She was trying to keep strict glare, like it was unquestionable that this changelings doesn't deserve it, like she had right to send to death. But it was hard for her. She never attended any execution, never ever. Chrysalis seemed to used to that. It was horrible. Stern face, no mercy in her eyes, regal pose, wings flared open, stiff like statue, aura of righteousness was coming from her. Pinkie wasn't so good at this, she just sat there, and watched how eight changelings were killed by quick thrust. It was fast. It was clean. It was almost painless. It was death. After that, both sisters retreated to Chrysalis chamber. Fluttershy was still there. Changelings who followed her were still there. Fluttershy eyes were still bloodshot, but she stopped crying. She was even slightly smiling. She was teaching gathered changelings how to properly bandage and clean wounds. Both sides, pony and changelings were... friendly to each other. What happened after it? When changelings left Fluttershy and both Queens alone? Fluttershy was crying again when she discovered what happened to rebels. She was crying about these who lost their limbs. She was crying about every wounded changeling. Pinkie tired to comfort her friend. And younger Queen was shocked by that even Chrysalis said few words of comfort and gratitude, and they were genuine. She told them she still don't trust ponies, she still have problems to think more of them, but Fluttershy is really a friend of Pinkie and she can be trusted as ally of changelings. It was closest what Chrysalis could say to word "friend". There was three-sided talk what Queens should do next. Next steps. Pinkie suggested that when they wrap up situation in this camp, they should gather small cortege and travel to Canterlot under white flag. Chrysalis was doubtful. Griffins never cared for white flag, it never stopped them from killing emissaries. Pinkie and Fluttershy assured her ponies were different. Pinkie added that in this group should be wounded, to make them looking defeated and helpless. She said it was all about showing ponies that changelings are at their mercy. Chrysalis was strongly against it, but she agreed to it. This is Pinkie way now. Fluttershy was against it, because wounded should rest back in camp. Pinkie countered that they will be carried by healthier changelings. And if everything will go right way ponies will treat their wounded. Fluttershy wasn't sure about it. Chrysalis told that maybe Fluttershy could go with them to look after injured. Pinkie said it was great idea if someponies will trot along them. Fluttershy then asked Pinkie when she is going to talk with her friends about her being changeling Queen. Chrysalis interrupted that was idiotic idea, especially with this purple jealous unicorn. Pinkie answered that it will happen soon, but when she couldn't tell. They talked more about it, argued if it was really necessary. After when they finally agreed that this will happen, but not too early to not blow up their plans. Then Pinkie asked Chrysalis if she created some backstory to sell Ponyville and how she will look as unicorn. Chrysalis showed how she will look. She was a tall, skinny gray unicorn, with black and dark green dreadlocks as her mane and tail. Her cutie mark was depicting open book and candle. On few places of her hide was zebra tattoos, or griffin marks. She seemed to be a seasoned traveler who visited many distant lands. Her name was Charming Story, and she was born in village on east border of Equestria. She loved to learn new stories and she decided to get to know them all. It seemed like plausible story to Pinkie. Fluttershy added she would be happy to heard stories from Chrysalis. Later... More talking... More establishments. Pinkie and Fluttershy left camp, earlier bidding farewells to gathered changelings. They reached cottage. Fluttershy asked Pinkie to stay. She needed someone to hold her when stresses of this night were leaving her. So Pinkie hugged her closely, and listened to quiet weeping of her friend. She said that Fluttershy don't have to come if it's hurting her. Fluttershy answered that she can't leave them now. Changelings needed her help. They talked quietly, still holding each other, until Fluttershy fell asleep. Pinkie didn't want to wake up yellow mare, so she fell asleep too, still holding her friend. So... That was it. Last night. Pinkie felt she had a body now. Head, body, legs... All in place. Her sense of touch was back. She couldn't move anything yet. She wondered if it's like being paralyzed. Feeling your body, but it doesn't respond to you. She tried to imagine how it would felt, being trapped in such state. Horrible, eternal darkness, and you know there is outer world around you but you can't reach it and you can't focus on world of your mind because your senses are distracting you. Next sense what come back to functioning was sense of smell. She smelled a scent of other pony, mare. She smelled a bunch of various animals. She smelled food, bread, some flowers, tea... It wasn't food to her, but she knew it's aroma. Then she saw light through her eyelids. Her sight was up, but she couldn't open eyelids. Her body was still deaf to her commands. Speaking of deaf she was slowly regaining hearing. Animals bustling around, quiet humming of Fluttershy, clinking of her tableware. Pinkie slowly opened her eyes. She was lying on floor, pillow under her head and blanket on her torso and legs. She looked around, she was still in main room of cottage. So, what's now?
Checklist (Own Rev I)(I know, This chapter can feel forced, and I'm sorry for that. I just need to break block in my mind... somehow. I think if I'll end this story... someday hopefully, I'll try to rewrite it all. Maybe.) After breakfast with Fluttershy Pinkie Pie went back to Sugarcube Corner to explain her disappearance last night. Next step was hurtful for Pinkie, because she loved Cakes as daughter could love her parent; she was going to give them resignation and move out of her room. She was afraid that they'll see this as betrayal, as she doesn't want to be their friend or "daughter" anymore. She was trying to reassure herself somehow that it will went okay, but she couldn't. How could she if she was feeling like betraying Cakes. However, she knew that if she won't betray them, she'll betray her sister and her kind. Some vicious part of her mind tried to reason that betraying Chrysalis is okay because she was first to betray Pinkie. She drove away this thought with simple belief that Chrysalis is sorry for what she did and she is her sister. If you can't forgive your own sister, how could you forgive anyone? She wondered for a moment how Celestia felt when Luna turned into Nightmare Moon. How fast she forgave her little sister, how fast she realized that her sister downfall was her fault too. How hurting it was, looking to moon and realizing that you sister is far away, banished by your will, corrupted by your own neglect. Maybe, maybe if she did something different... Pinkie shook her head. Past is past. There is nothing that can be done about it. Only thing she can do is to forgive and ask for forgiveness. She hoped that Equestria and her friends will forgive her and her kind. Especially Twilight. She triedd to imagine future events, but after quite bleak visions of future she decided to better focus on now and there. Her plan was simple: One, Meet Cakes, explain them what happened yesterday. Pinkie felt slightly bad about it part, because her explanation will be bunch of lies. Well... Nothing new in her life, but now it was different. Somehow. Two, Give Them Resignation. She couldn't figure out any lie what wouldn't hurt them, or would be convincing. Hard part, but it has to be done. Three, Check Out Her Account. She almost never used her money. She was sure there was quite a fortune on her account, but she wasn't sure how much. Her salary wasn't much, but for young mare it was quite the cash. And Pinkie wasn't pony so she didn't had to spend this on food, and she wasn't keen for luxuries like dresses and jewelry. Four, Meet Charming Stories, Possibly. Charming Stories, aka Chrysalis, was going to make a few short trips to Ponyville to observe ponies, and get used to being among them. Hard lesson for Changeling Queen, and Pinkie decided she won't make it harder by throwing her Welcome To Ponyville Party!, Chrysalis will tell her when she was ready. Five, Ask Twilight About Charging Gems With Emotions While Being Incognito. Simple, change into unicorn, and posing as young scholar ask her about that kind of magic, and if it is possible, ask if could she learn her how to do it. It could be solution to sending love to other camps. Six, Buy All The Apples! Apples from Sweet Apple Acres were indeed grew with love. Pinkie felt it, and she discovered by eating them she can ingest some love stored in them. It wasn't rich source of love, and to fulfill hunger she would need eat a dozens of them, but beggars can't be choosers. Seven, Avoid Friends. When news will reach them about her plans to move out from Sugarcube Corner and resignation she gave Cakes they will probably try to talk with her and change her mind. Pinkie wasn't sure if she could handle this. Eight, Meet Fluttershy. She offered she'll help tonight again. Pinkie had to escort her to camp and help her a bit. Nine, Plan Next Steps. Council with Chrysalis, few important changelings and maybe Fluttershy about next steps. Ten, Sleep. This step didn't need explanation. During this simple remainder Pinkie reached door of Sugarcube Corner. She sighed, trying to exhale her worries, and went inside with bright smile. It wasn't so hard, she was master of smiling despite her worries. Thankfully, there weren't any customers at this time of morning. Behind the counter was Mrs. Cake who noticed Pinkie. She sighed with relief but there was angry frown too. "Pinkie! Where have you been? I sent Carrot to search for you!" Pinkie pouted and looked on her hooves. She knew Mrs Cake will be afraid for her safety and she did what she did anyway. She knew that she had now higher priorities, but still... she wasn't feeling okay with hurting her loved ones. "I'm sorry... I was with Fluttershy all night." It was truth. Maybe it wasn't full story but it was true enough. Pinkie lifted her head. Mrs. Cake watched Pinkie with confusion and smile after while. "Pinkie, I understand. But you could say us that you will... spend night with her." Mrs Cake made this pause, trying to get Pinkie reaction. If she will deny this subtext, it will give Mrs Cake confirmation of her theories. If she will ignore it, well, maybe she's just oblivious or she isn't trying to hide it... "I thought it won't be so long. It just took more time than I thought." Pinkie didn't notice this suggestions as she was more focused on apologizing Mrs Cake. "Oh?" Mrs. Cake raised brow, awaiting more details. "Yes, but it was totally worth it! I had great time with Fluttershy." Pinkie gave small grin. Mrs. Cake coughed. She knew it; as she knew that Twilight Sparkle had something-something with Rainbow Dash, and Applejack have hidden corny romance with Rarity. It was just obvious! Opposites attract, sound and simple. "And when we were done, It was too late so I had to sleep at Fluttershy place." And then Pinkie noticed Mrs Cake growing blushing. She added two to two, and came to obvious conclusion. "Mrs. Cake? Eeew..!" "You don't need to deny it, Pinkie! I'm all supporting you! It doesn't matter that she's a mare! And pegasi!" And in this moment Mr Cake went in. She saw her wife with her hooves in air and huge smile, and Pinkie back trotting with confused and scared look. For moment he thought that there is something wrong with his eyes. He blinked. Yup, this is Pinkie, and this is Cup; not other way around. He wanted to say something but Cup spotted him. "Sweetie, guess what?!" Pinkie interrupted her putting hoof her mouth. It didn't stopped her from talking, or rather trying to. "Don't listen her!" Mrs. Cake winced finally noticing hoof in her mouth. Mr. Cake decided that his question is still viable. "What's going on?" Pinkie took a huge breath and got her mouth running. "Mrs. Cake is thinking that Fluttershy is my marefriend, because I spent last night at her cottage, but it's absolutely not true, what I said her, and she overreacted and was telling me that I have nothing to be ashamed of, duh, I know it, I mean, it's okay to be gay, and all, but it's simply that I don't feel anything for Fluttershy, except friendship, but Mrs. Cake have her theory, and..." Pinkie took second breath, and continued. "And I'm sorry for not informing that I will be today, but we had great friend time together, and then it was too dark, and Fluttershy said she'll be afraid for me and she couldn't escort me because it was too dark, so I stayed with her. I'm sorry!" Mr. Cake had unsure look on his face, when his brain was slowing down Pinkie explanation, and transforming it in more than one sentence. When he finally understood he sighed. "Pinkie, please, give us a moment." Pinkie frowned, and got closer to Mr Cake. "Buuut..." Pinkie used cuteness. It wasn't very effective. "Pinkie, I need to talk with Mrs Cake. Private." Pinkie frowned and started trotting toward door. Mrs Cake started to babbling about how cute pair is Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, who was concerned what will be this "talk" about. But when she was passing by, Mr Cake hissed to her. "I need to calm her down, that's why I need you to left this room, okay?" he asked her. He sounded honest. Pinkie just nodded and left Sugarcube Corner, and sat on the stairs before entrance. Outside was calm, typical morning in Ponyville. Bright, warming sun on the lightly clouded sky, light breeze. Ponies wandering in their own paces around, exchanging greetings, small talking on streets... She wanted to sing by just watching that peaceful scene. How a wonderful world... How this pony was named? Hoofstrong Bugler. Yeah, that was song perfect for this moment. But when Pinkie was about to start singing, Mr Cake walked out of Sugarcube Corner and sat by Pinkie side. "I calmed Mrs Cake. She's... well, romance enthusiast. She read too much of this, and sees couples between everyone." "I... It's okay. She just overreacted. Mrs. Cake, listen..." "You are okay. That's most important." He turned to her and smiled. "You are fully grown responsible mare. Filly no more. I said that to Cup yesterday and she was still panicking about you. I even tried to remind her that you and rest of girls took care of Discord and Nightmare Moon. She just told me that we shouldn't let you to go for such dangerous adventures." "Weren't you afraid like Mrs Cake?" "Of course I was, but I trust you. You see, you are like daughter to us. It's just that she want you to be safe. But she forgets that you are an adult now, and about to go in wide world of Equestria, maybe even further. She's afraid she'll lose you. Yes, this day will hurt her, but she'll get better. So, what I want to say... You could say that you will be today, but don't worry about it, okay?" Carrot looked with seriousness on his face, but his eyes were kind. Pinkie nodded. Mr Cake smiled. "And please, don't forget you can call us Carrot and Cup or... how you called when you were a filly." "You know, I just can't. It don't feel right and I don't know why..." "No problem here Pinkie. It was just cute back then. So... We are all right?" Carrot Cake started to rise up. "Yeah, I think, Carrot." She wanted to rise up, but then she remembered. "No, there is one more thing." "Yes?" "I'm going to have very little time in next few weeks. I'll need to quit the job." "We can give you few free days." "No, It's more... complicated. I just can't have a job." "Could you explain why? I'm just curious, so you don't have to answer...." "I... think I'll try to find any trace of my family. I just need to try." "I understand. I'll probably would do the same thing. Heh, almost did... Are you going to move out?" "Yes, I think so... thanks for you understanding, Carrot." "Pinkie, I want just you to be happy. If you need it, you need it." She turned to enter Sugarcube Corner. "Are you coming?" "Nah, I think I need a moment for myself." "Alright. Oh, and Pinkie?" "Yup?" "Whenever you will want, you can go back to us. We will welcome you with wide open hooves. We won't drive you off. You are our daughter, no matter what." Small tears appeared in Pinkie eyes, and she jumped and hugged Carrot. It was not only because how great pony Carrot was, he was like father to Pinkie. Unfortunately it only meant that in few weeks this relationship will be no more. It was the worst thing, and second reason for tears flowing from Pinkie eyes. Realizing how many miracles of her current life will be crushed by her new-old life. Friendships, her "family", her reputation... Everything. On one hoof she felt hurt by that and she wanted that it was just a bad dream. On other hoof, she knew it was small price for saving few hundreds of thousands of changelings. Life of one earth pony for thousands more safe lives... It was obvious what was more important. Carrot Cake hugged her back. Still, it hurt this one fake earth pony. "Thanks, thanks... dad." Pinkie somehow forced that lost word from her mouth, but she felt Mr. Cake deserved that. They broke their hug. "I think Cup needs me... So... Goodbye, Pinkie." He smiled and trotted inside Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie wiped her tears, and moved to her next goal.
Cutie Mark Feeders! (Own Rev I)At the same moment when Pinkie was checking out state of her account, Chrysalis was cursing herself for listening her sister. She knew nothing good will came from this. She decided to do simple reconnaissance in Ponyville, made mental map for herself of city, and try to behave like normal pony. Simple scouting mission and training as Chrysalis was reassuring herself. Her problems began when she spotted this blasted mint colored unicorn with lyre as her cutie mark. Lyra Heartstrings was eating sandwich at restaurant with a friend, earth mare with curly two-colored mane and three candies as cutie mark. Lyra was one of few ponies kidnapped to make Invasion possible. When Chrysalis recognized her she tried to keep it cool and ignore her. Unfortunately this mare kept staring at Chrysalis who started to losing it. What if this unicorn recognized her somehow? What if Celestia's guards developed some kind of changeling seeker spell? What if she somehow screwed up her disguise? What if... Chrysalis heartbeat went crazy. Chrysalis started to sweat and turned her pace up to pass this danger as fast is possible without raising suspicions. Her trot started to get shaky. Maybe a bit faster, maybe slow gallop... "Hey, you!" Lyra shouted, waving her hoof toward Charming Stories. She sounded rather happy... ...but in Chrysalis ears it was accusing tone, tone used to gather angry mob. She lost it, jumped up, and broke into fastest gallop possible. Her long legs allowed her to reach high speeds, and in her panicked state of mind, she powered them with magic. It was one of unique abilities of changelings, controlled internal magic. Changeling with usage of magic could became stronger, faster, sturdier, shorten reaction time, and other enhancements but it was quite magic expensive. When magic run dry, then next used source of power was undigested emotions, and then burning out body. This ability was only reason why changeling army was able to stop Griffin Kingdom raids. Griffins were stronger, could use some kinds of weather magic, had two agile hands and were able to fight bipedal. Even more, they used metal armors, barely pierceable with changelings fangs, swords, spears, bows, crossbows, all of them able to pierce through best armors of changelings. Statistically, for every killed griffin changelings lost two or three combatants. And it was getting worse and worse. Griffin army developed better tactics and weapons when changelings numbers were getting smaller and smaller and their technology was getting even worse. They were able to create some kind of organic armor, which was light and self-healing but it was giving very little protection against arrows and bolts. Griffin weapons were unusable for changelings, because changelings lacked claws to use them properly. Of course, changeling knew telekinesis. But to use sword with enough power to actually hurt you needed to use more power than to hit it effectively with magic-supported buck. It was basically nonviable action. To use crossbows or bows user needed very rare precision in multiple telekinesis, so in changeling army there were only few ranged soldiers. Only weapons what was barely usable without magic was spears, and heavy siege machinery, like ballista. All of this caused to creation new doctrine of fight in Swarm. It was named MAD. Mutual Assured Destruction. Wounded or doomed changeling was encouraged to burn out oneself magic and life power make oneself faster, stronger and more powerful by usage of internal magic. It was harsh strategy, but it worked. In beginnings of war this tactic was used very rarely, only when they were dead anyway, or decided to die with so many enemies possible, but nowadays it was common order. Stop enemy for all cost, use MAD. Now in Poyville one disguised Changeling Queen was very close to beat pony sprint record with usage of internal magic combustion. When she reached lake in the park, she stopped, exhausted. She looked around to made sure nopony is around, and when she was sure of her safeness, she collapsed on her side. She was breathing heavily, and keeping conscious with only hard will. She knew if she'll black out, her disguise will break down, and It would compromise her mission. Her mission... Her mission was to keep her subjects safe. Her Mother ordered young Chrysalis and Morpha that on her deathbed. Chrysalis tried, tried so hard. She recognized every danger, she saw every problem her country struggled with. Problem? Metamorphosis, her idea of peace talks with Equestria, hostile zebras tribes... It was dangerous, and Chrysalis was afraid it'll create only new enemy, and will compromise lives of few changeling scouts in Equestria and in zebras tribes. Solution? Exile her, and strip her of Queen title, call her traitor. Consequences? Changelings in Equestria broke down their mindlinks. Few riots in major hives across Swarm. Loss of public support. Griffin raids under cover of chaos. Loss of few hundreds citizens... Two broken hearts. Problem? Griffin Kingdoms. As always. New king and his advisers were planning new invasion. Solution? Assassination of said king and commanders. Mission carried without problems. Consequences? Outrage through Griffin Kingdoms. Many volunteers joining their army. New kings plans to vengeance through another invasion backed up with wide public support. Massive hunts on changelings agents. Another campaign lasting few years. Dozens thousands of her subjects dead, crippled or missing. Many crucial agents in Griffin Kingdoms dead. One of older Mothers Palace burned down with all eggs and changelings inside. Opinions in Swarm about new ruler mixed and radicalized. Problem? Suspicion of conspiracy in army. Solution? Send agents to investigate this and allow to kill traitors. Consequences? Few experienced commanders lost. Few killed by agents, more decided to prove their loyalty through suicide. Real conspiracy begins. Problem? Conspiracy. Solution? Kill them. Consequences? Loss of support in army. Riots. Assassination attempt on Queen. She could go like that forever. She tried. She really tried to do best for her country. But she couldn't. Everything she tried ended in bigger disaster. She should keep her subjects safe, but her actions only led to more deaths. She wished she could change that or go mad with power, become plainly evil Queen who should be killed by rightful mob. But no, something in her mind was still reminding that it was her responsibility to rule kingdom. To protect them. Oh, so often she wished that assassination attempt on her was successful. Her problems would end and probably her kingdom would go better without her... Oh, it would be so easy. No. One last try. Maybe Metamorphosis idea is right. Maybe it'll work out. Then, make her Queen again. And then Chrysalis will abdicate. And then, who knows... But for now she wanted to be alone and weep. About how bad Queen she is. About how much she was envious of ponies ability to eat fruits, vegetables, and other food. She hated them for that. She hated every other species for that. She hated that her species is, without sugarcoating, parasites. Maybe in older days, when mines were full of gems, and farms were able to support their growing numbers, maybe then they were something more. But now they were parasites, and she hated that. She hated that she needed to care for something she hated, more precisely, ponies, to get food. It was sick! But her sister told her that she don't care. She love her friends, they are loving her back, and they were feeding her by the way. She considered it a perfect situation. They were okay, she was okay, everypony was okay. Why should she complicate this? Why to hate them? Why to felt guilt? Why to hate yourself if you can't change yourself? Her advice was simple. Stop hating. Stop hating yourself, then stop hating others. Then love them and be loved. And don't feel bad about eating that love, as long you aren't hurting them. Even for Chrysalis it sounded solid... But she didn't know how she was supposed to change her mind. It was something where Pinkie was clueless. She said, "Silly, it's your mind. I'm not you, even if it would be funny at first, and boring at last... It's something you need to do by yourself." Chrysalis was deep in thoughts when she heard excited filly voice. It was obvious it belonged to some kind of tomboy. "Did you see how fast she run? Pony, she had to be fastest pony in Ponyville! ...except Rainbow Dash." She added after while with slight shame in her voice. "Scootaloo, we know." Second voice was more refined, trying to be "lady-like". "You kept talking about it for last five minutes." "I'm not sure if I could keep with her on my scooter. She was just like... cheetah!" Continued first excited voice. "What's cheetah?" Asked third voice. She had thick "farm" accent in her voice. "I don't know, she's making up words." Answered second voice. "I'm not!" First voice. "You do!" "I'm not!" "You do!" "Girls, stop it! Scootaloo, what's cheetah?" interrupted third voice. "It's the fastest cat in the world! And big one! It's faster than anything on the ground!" First voice answered. Her name had to be Scootaloo. "Are you a dictionary?" mocked second voice. Chrysalis knew they were closing to her but she was simply too exhausted to run again. She sat up. Worse, she was getting hungry. Maybe these fillies would pass by... "Hey, there she is!" ...so much for hopes, Chrysalis groaned. She looked at them. Orange pegasus with purple mane, yellow earth pony with red mane, and white unicorn with slightly pinkish and purple mane. All of them were still fillies. Good... And one of them was very excited. "Hey, you are this super fast mare!" exclaimed orange filly. "Maybe I am. What do you want?" answered Charming Stories, aka Chrysalis. She had bad habit hiding her insecurity behind rudeness. "I wanted to say that was cool! Running like that..." answered pegasus. She was slightly taken back with her excitement because of her harsh answer. Finally Chrysalis realized she was ruining opportunity; filly in front of her was impressed. 'It's positive feeling. Don't screw it up. You have their attention. You can try to make them to like you. ...no. To be liked by them. You remember what happened last time when you made someone love you. Okay... Just forget they are ponies. Try to be friendly. Forget you are changeling. Be real. You aren't imitating anyone. You are you... Okay.' "Sorry for my response... I'm just tired after this run." Chrysalis smiled apologetically. It may be not honest one but was good enough copy to fool fillies. "You are tall... And you have funny mane." Said unicorn. "Funny?" Asked Chrysalis using harsh tone of her voice. Did she made something wrong with her mane? Did she left her original mane? "I never saw anything like that. But I like it." unicorn smiled. Yes, she was interested. 'Good.' "Miss.... Ah'm sorry, Ah don't know your name yet... but what is this? Is this cutie mark? But one like Zecora's?" Earth pony pointed with her hoof at one of Charming Stories zebra tattoos. "My name is Charming Stories and it's tattoo. This one...." She wanted to explain meaning of said tattoo, but was interrupted by orange filly. "Tattoo?! Wow, like bad guys in books!" Okay, Chrysalis, keep it cool. She didn't mean it. She don't know who you are. And you aren't bad guy. Yeah... right.... You kidnapped Princess, threw her to abandoned caves, brainwashed few ponies, almost killed with emotion-exhausting spell captain of royal guard... My reasons were right, but methods, maybe not so... And why I'm talking about myself in second person?! "Little pony, I'm not evil." Charming Stories gave reserved smile. "It's mark of my journey. It reminds me where I have been." "Where you have been?" repeated unicorn with slight twist to side of her head. "Yes, filly. I'm travelling pony. It's zebra tattoos, this is griffin marks and this... Well, this is my cutie mark." "Travelling pony?! Like Daring Doo?!" squealed Scootaloo. ...Daring Doo?! Who the hell is Daring Doo?! Chrysalis started to panic again. Keep it safe, she reminded herself. Ask about her like you just simply forgotten. "Who is Daring Doo?" "She's awesome adventurer..." Started orange filly. So, Chrysalis just admitted she don't know some hero from Equestria. Great job, she thought, they had to know I'm not a pony now... "...and she's character from the book." Finished Apple Bloom. It was great relief for Chrysalis. "Well... maybe..." agreed pegasus with doubt in her voice. "I'm afraid I hadn't read that book, but you could say I'm some kind of adventurer. I'm searching for stories, legends and myths." "It's not so cool like Daring Doo. But you are still okay to me." "What's your names, fillies?" asked Charming Stories. She felt that they had positive feelings toward her... Well, only this earth pony had some doubts. Anyway, it's something to work with. "Apple Bloom!" "Sweetie Belle!" "Scootaloo! And we are..." Chrysalis noticed that they took gasp of air. She had bad feeling that they were about to call for help.... "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" Okay, that was not call for help but it made her deaf. "Cutie Mark... what...? she asked when she regained her hearing. "Cutie Mark Crusaders. We are tired of being blank flanks, so we are trying everything to make our cutie marks appear." explained Sweetie Belle. "What you cutie mark means Miss Charming Stories?" asked Apple Bloom. "My cutie mark makes me storyteller. I love to learn and share stories. That's why I decided to travel how far my hooves could carry me, and you can see I had been far from home." "But... You could just borrow the book from library..." expressed her doubts Sweetie Belle. "It's better to learn at source. And I'm sure I knew few stories which you couldn't find in books." Fillies looked at each other, and then sat on the ground. "Tell us one." they said as one. Chrysalis was at same time happy and angry. Happy - her interaction with these kids was going rather good. Angry - she wished she could regain some strength, take a few more moments for herself and way they ordered her... They are just kids, Chrysalis reminded herself, Was I so different from them when I was young?. "Well, young ones, I'll tell you story of first non-unicorn knight of Trotingham..."
Story Time (Own Rev I)"First non-unicorn knight of Trotingham... I suppose you filles know where Trotingham is? Yes, Sweetie Bell, it's city on the Braytish Isles, which belongs to the continent called by us, Equestrians, Euponia. You see, Euponia is place where three pony tribes lived before they found this wonderful land. How they reached and created Equestria is another story. Braytish Isles were ruled by powerful union of kingdoms, together called Braytish Empire. And what can you say about weather on Braytish Isles? Yes, Scootaloo is it? Yes, that's correct. Rainy. Wild. Uncontrolled. You see, it's tradition left after times when our story belongs. Back then on Brayton Islands lived only two pony tribes. Unicorns and Earth ponies. As legends tells us, unicorns navigated sun through sky and ruled over land as nobility. Being noble meant that you had ownership of land given by king. You see, land belonged to unicorns. Earth ponies were only users of said land, they grow crops on surface of it and dug ores or other minerals from it but it didn't belonged to them. Lord of land could just say that you have to leave his grounds. It created relationship between two tribes called feudalism. In theory it should worked that earth ponies were tending to the ground paying bills in Pounds, Pounds were a currency used on Braytish Islands, and goods to the unicorn lord, when unicorn lord should protect said earth ponies from any danger that could strike them. Every unicorn with title of lord had to be skilled in combat, both psychical and magic, and be always ready to fight with any monster what could danger his subjects. These unicorns were called knights. Knights! Brave warriors clad in powerful magic or metal armors, skilled in fight with any kind of weapon and magic, known for their bravery, honor, and glorious adventures. They were heroes, and stories about their bravery were widely told. Hero of our story wished he could be one of them but there was one tiny problem. He was an earth pony. Even worse, he reached his adulthood without mark on his flanks. Yes, fillies, he was grown up AND still blank flank. No wonder nopony treated his dreams seriously. His job was far from his dreams. He was mirror maker. It was good paid job, because his mirrors were highest quality, but he felt it wasn't his destiny. Everypony who saw his mirrors wondered why his cutie mark wasn't one of mirror. It was obviously his special talent, creation of perfect mirrors. Heck, even his parents, who were mirror makers too, named him Clear Reflection. Yes, Sweetie Belle? You see, making mirrors back then was not simple feat. Mirrors were made from various metals. Most popular was silver and bronze. To made metal reflect image you need polish it carefully hundreds and thousands of times with different materials. It was boring and hard work, but it let him live him at high level in city of Trotingham. Still, he was not happy. He was hoping for something what could bring him closer to his dream... and maybe cutie mark. Being blank flank was harsh back then, everypony believed that blank flanks were worse, not truly ponies, or that they are cursed. In some provinces they were even hunted or cast out. But one day, in distant province of Braytish Islands monster appeared. A terrifying Cockatrice! Oh, you know what cockatrice is? You have met one? But how did you...? Fluttershy...? I heard she can be persuasive but it seems impossible. How do I know Fluttershy? Um... I'll explain after story. So, cockatrice started to rampage through countryside of the kingdom. King ordered his best knight to resolve this situation. This unicorn was bravest, strongest, most loyal knight in the whole kingdom. He bested many others monsters, and saved many ponies in his previous adventures. Everyone excepted that he will came back with head of the monster. After all, he was greatest hero who lived back then. He never came back. King sent more and more knights, hoping one of them will slain cockatrice, and save their brothers in arms. No one came back and whole villages went silent. Many ponies started to run as far they could from where petrified ponies were found. Cockatrice started to closing to Trottingham. Lord of city ran away when he heard the news. Not longer after that city militia ran away. They were sure that they couldn't harm cockatrice. How to fight with something that is turning you flesh to stone? How you could hope to win, if the most heroic knights failed? City was abandoned, every pony with lick of common sense ran away. Every pony able to run, ran away. City militia even when choosing to run away didn't left their orders, to help and serve. They organized evacuation and kept order to prevent riots during escape from doomed city. But there was two ponies who left behind. One of them was pony who had hope to stop it. Yes, it was Clear Reflection. When everypony started to run away, he stayed in his shop and tried to make best mirror ever made. He tried every material, every technique he knew. Day after day, night after night, he was working on his masterpiece. He made first glass based mirror. He spent every moment on polishing it to perfection. Everypony thought he went nuts and tried to force him to leave his shop but he didn't listen. He told them, time after time, that it's something he had to do. Second one was a young guard who decided to stay behind and give signal when cockatrice will enter the city. He knew it equaled petrification from cockatrice sight. He believed in his duty to protect other ponies and he knew that his horn and flag will be warning to other ponies to stay away from the city. His name fitted him; He was called Valiant Stand. Finally... Cockatrice reached gates of the abandoned city. Valiant played alarming note on his horn... No, not unicorn horn, musical horn Sweetie. Clear Reflection left his shop with package on his back when he heard signal. He was exhausted and hungry. He spent last two weeks trying to made perfect mirror. He was afraid, but he felt like he had to try. He was closing to gate where he saw flag signalling that cockatrice is inside the city, but then...! He tripped. His package landed on ground with loud CRUNCH! With great fear in his heart, he started to rip open his package. Inside was his mirror made from glass. Broken to pieces. He saw thousands of flawed reflections. All his hopes, all his dreams - crushed like this mirror. He started to cry. Worse, this loud sound attracted attention of cockatrice. Monster saw pony sitting with his back to it. It started to move closer... Clear heard closing in monster. For a moment he thought about running or about turning to cockatrice and getting over with it... But then he remembered why he stayed in his city. Why he made this mirror. Why he went out against cockatrice. He wanted to be a knight. And true knight will never withdraw! Knight, real knight will do everything to protect others! Real knight will fight to end! He looked at his broken mirror. He knew that cockatrice was few meters behind him. Some broken shards of mirror were still giving perfect images... Few of them were still usable. Cockatrice was confused. It was sure that pony knew that it was close. Ponies usually ran or try to fight and this pony was ignoring it. Even more, he was doing something with... rocks? ...water? ...with something on the ground. Did he ate something...?! Cockatrice was very confused. Suddenly earth pony turned back. He had closed eyes. Cockatrice instinctively used its glare to turn pony to stone. For a moment it saw another cockatrice. When it understood what was happening it was too late. Cockatrice was hit by it own glare. Clear Reflection spat out shard of mirror he was holding in his mouth and started to breathing again. He was exhausted, tired, sleepy, wounded... but he was happy. He proved something himself and defeated cockatrice with its own weapon. He went up a tower where he heard guard signalling that cockatrice entered the city. He took horn from the stoned guard pony and started to play victory fanfare. Then he put alarming flag down and raised up normal city flags again. Ponies who were hiding around Trottingham turned their hands toward said city in confusion. Someone slain invincible monster? But how? It was impossible... Nopony had enough courage to approach to the city... But when King heard that somepony may or may not won over wretched beast, he decided to investigate personally. Next day after hearing such news he and his party were at gates of Trottingham. City was silent. Main gates were closed. It seemed to be absolutely abandoned but then he heard fanfare he was told about. Somepony was in city! King asked his servant to play royal fanfare. After a few minutes main gate started to open. Behind main gate, on little square was statue of cockatrice with expression of shock. It was too real to be a normal statue. He ordered his mages to confirm his suspicions. After few spells they told him that it was cockatrice who turned to stone his knights. And then one earth pony with bandaged mouth approached the king and his party. He bowed and pointed with hoof to monster and then to shard of mirror in his saddlebags. King instantly understood. "Did you defeated this monster?" Earth pony nodded. "How?" Earth pony took a shard from his saddlebags. He pointed to eyes of the cockatrice then to his mirror and then to the cockatrice again. King was silent. Earth pony started to take off bandage from his mouth. King gestured him to stop but he continued anyway. "How did you know that cockatrice will smite itself with glare?" King asked. His court started to surround Clear Reflection. Young earth pony was getting afraid. They were nobles after all and they were observing him, judging him. "I didn't know that, my highness. I hoped it'll work. I thought that... If cockatrice turns to stone with its stare... then mirroring this stare to itself eyes should turn it in stone too..." "How long you spent on creating this mirror?" "Two weeks, my highness. All time of the day and most of the night." "I suppose your weapon wasn't broken when you made it." Company of King started laughing but he stopped them with lift of his hoof. "It wasn't joke." He looked at them sternly and then at earth pony. "I tripped and broke it..." "Why you didn't run when you only hope was crushed?" "I, I wanted to be like knight... I couldn't run. I had to defeat this monster or be defeated. Running away was not an option." King watched carefully earth pony. He started to circle around slayer of cockatrice. "You will be a knight." For moment everypony was silent; statement of king dumbfounded them. Impossible happened and then everypony at once started to talk. "What?!" Clear asked with happiness in his voice. "What?!" yelled outraged unicorns in party of King. "He will be the knight." "But... But he's not even from nobility!" shouted one unicorn. "He showed more courage, sacrifice and devotion than most of us! He spent more time on mastering his weapon, than most of us on celebration of sword! He charged against enemy who won over the best of the best! He wasn't even sure that will work but he did try anyway and when he lost his weapon, his only hope against this beast, he didn't run! He decided to stay and fight with remains of his mastership! And he took it into his mouth, even if it could maim his ability to talk! To eat! He could have been killed by that! He risked losing one of most precious thing to pony! If he's not worthy this title... most of us aren't. I for one I'm not!" Roared King. Everypony was silent. Most of them from shock and shame and others from fear of king's retribution. "And look at mark on his flank." King added after taking few deep breaths. On flank of Clear Reflection was picture of mirror but shield shaped. You see, fillies, shield, sword or crowns were very rare cutie mark. And usually it appeared on flank of someone very high in nobility. It was looked as prophecy that pony with such cutie mark will be great hero or leader. "What's your name, young colt?" "Clear Reflection, my highness." "You will be known as Reflective Shield, Cockatrice slayer, young one." King reached his sword with magic. "And I believe I have land for you." "...yes?" "I think Lord of Trottingham proved his uselessness, and should be stripped of title, and maybe executed... What do you think? I suppose you should rule there, as you saved this land.." For our young hero it didn't felt right. He looked a sword, saw his reflection in metal. His tired, bloodshot, but proud eyes. He made his mind. "Sir, I don't agree. You should spare him and let him rule over Trottingham." "Why you say so?" "Because, my king, you are no better than him... You run from cockatrice too and sent your ponies to stop it." King raised his sword higher in menacing way. In crowd angry whispers were heard. "I have sword in my grasp. I can kill you with one blow, and you insult me?" "No, my king. I'm only telling the truth." "You are not afraid I will kill you for this words?" "I am." "Why then are you telling me this?" "Because you asked, my king." Clear looked straight in king's eyes; his words were sincere. Sword fell down... on shoulder of young earth pony, to everypony shock. "Integrity and honesty. Very rare blessing and curse, young knight." And so, Clear Reflection, known now as Reflecting Shield, became first earth pony knight of Trottingham, wide known cockatrice slayer and honest royal adviser. After his ascension into nobility precedent was made and till then any pony with great merits to Braytish Empire can became a nobility. But this is for another stories..."
Intermission: The Earth is round. There is no up or down. aka World MapsWe interrupting our scheduled story to bring some... MAPS! It's not finished, but I think it'll help in understanding Swarm situation, and... It's nice to have map. So, first map: Geographic one. Bigger version: http://derpibooru.org/100297 Geography... booooring! I think there is no need to add more on this map, so let's see other one - political: Bigger Version: http://derpibooru.org/100302 See, we now know where is who. Griffin Kingdoms - Gryperra, Zebras - Zebrica, and Changelings... in between. Uh-Oh. Griffins reason to attack Swarm is visible already - crossroad between Zebrica, Equestria and Gryperra. Traders could travel to Zebra Empire with rivers, faster, and safer than through Tribes territory. More, Travelers Salvation is great outpost for future railroad line to Equestria. If Griffin could take it, they would create there great communication junction, and maybe metropolis. Great progress for Griffin Kingdom, and maybe rest of the world. Faster exchange of goods, people, information, everything. World would became smaller. Only problem is that Changelings live there... Few words on other nations. Zebra Empire – Zebras attempt on creation superpower like Griffin Kingdom or Equestria. They are in constant war with Tribes, which not accepted rule of Empire. Moose Republic – if Equestria reminds USA… We need Canadians! Old World Countries – MLP version of Europe. It got better, and species segregation between earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns is no more. Species segregation in general is in decline. AUS – Apogifia United States. …sorry, I don’t know too. Feel free to imagine. Lyria, Maluana, Falcalia – not important countries. Mixed ponies, zebras, sometimes other species. Diamond Dominion – mostly Diamond Dogs.
New pony in the town! (Own Rev I)One hundred fourteen thousand ninety hundred eighty two bits and forty two cents. Over one hundred bits. It was quite overwhelming sum for Pinkie. It was too much money. ...no, not too much. Her subjects needed more. Much more. They deserved more. But for young mare, like Pinkie it was too much. She never saw such money. She never had more than one thousand bits in hoof and it was only when she paid for materials which Rarity used for Pinkie's Gala dress. Rarity skills were free of charge, but paying for materials she used was right thing to do... and Applejack was insisting that they should pay Rarity for her wasted time on first batch of dresses. Rarity was all against that idea. They had quarrel about it. Funny thing is how similar they are to each other. Both of them are hard working, Applejack tending to her family apple farm, Rarity trying to keep up with orders of customers. Applejack had to buck down thousands of apples each year, when Rarity had to design hundreds of new dresses each season. Applejack had to work from sunrise till sunset everyday in season, when Rarity sometimes had to work few days straight without sleep when she was closing to deadline. Both of them are very proud about their "brands". Both of them pushed to the limit to offer best products they could. Both of them took pride from their work. Applejack was ready to help anypony, even if she was already tired out after her chores on farm. Rarity was ready to shoot down profitable contract to have time for her friends. Both of them repressed some parts of them. Pinkie spied few times Applejack in her barn practicing her Manehattan accent or posture of high born lady. Sometimes she was playing some high class tunes on her farm violin. Applejack seemed to feel guilty after this, but Pinkie was sure Applejack somehow longed to this. Maybe her "down-to-earth" and weird accent was some kind of masking her inner desires. She was trying to be as down to earth as it was possible, closing to stereotype of dumb earth pony, when her mind was tempting to reach higher. Rarity once told that if Applejack took care about herself, brushed her mane, clean her coat with some shampoos and worked her manners a bit, she could trot through Canterlot like knife through butter. She said that Applejack is "diamond in rough". Rarity on other hand... She was breaking down her shop machines to fix or improve them. She sometimes asked Cutie Mark Crusaders to buy her something from tool shop. Pinkie once took glimpse of some this secret projects of Rarity: mechanical wings, watches, some industry machines, probably to do something with fabrics... That's where Pinkie took concept of her helicopter. Rarity seemed to be inclined toward technology, what was very earth pony like, and... dirty, uncouth, unladylike, and much more thing what Rarity officially despised. Of course, they were differences. Rarity was rich, or seemed so, when Apples were fighting for every bit. Rarity was trying to join high class, when Applejack officially disregard them. Applejack was pretending to be a simple farmer earth pony, when Rarity was officially treating a something what anypony sane couldn't desire. Rarity always knew how to manipulate ponies into helping her, what for Applejack was unfair. Applejack was almost always saying what she really thought, when Rarity thought it was rude. Rarity was proud about herself, when Applejack was trying to be humble. And much more minor differences... The sad thing for changeling like Pinkie was that they saw only differences, when they had so much in common. They major principles in life were similar, their creed of work was comparable, both of them cared for their reputation and other ponies. "Sis!" Her train of thoughts was interrupted with unexpected mindlink from Chrysalis. She was happy, optimistic. ...and signal from her was stronger this time. Pinkie wondered if it was because Chrysalis was closer to her or because she fed. "Hi! What's up?" answered Pinkie, not usual Pinkie-happy, but glad. "I just had breakfast. Let say foals are tasty." "Chrys, what I said about being evil witch? We are evil fairies!" Pinkie joked. "Ooops... but stew was great. No bones clinching in teeth..." "StEEEEEEEEWWW? You should make cupcakes!" "I don't know how to bake, remember? But you look like you'd be good at helping me make some! ... Seriously, some foals gave me willingly some Love." Chrysalis was joking back. It was good sign. Pinkie was almost sure she wasn't lying, she couldn't sense anything suggesting lies in Chrysalis mindlink stream. But Chrysalis could still make a mistake in sensing pony's emotions reserve. "Okay, tell me more!" Asked Pinkie, hoping for more details. "I was resting in the park where this three fillies spied me..." "CMC?" "What?" asked Chrysalis, don't understanding this acronym. "Cutie Mark Crusaders. Three fillies adventuring for their Cutie Mark..." "Yes, them. Where I was... so, they started to asking me who I am, some short talk happened, and then, after learning my "Cutie Mark" they asked me to tell them story." "Oh, which one you choose? Maybe "Amaryllis in Dreamcocoon"?" "If I would choose this one, Equestria would just invite us for barbecue. And you know what? No masks needed!" Chrysalis answered with irony. "Oh, I would finally stretch my wings! But, could we stay for the main course?!" "I believe they wouldn't want it other way. I'm sure we would be main event of this party." "I'm always main event of any party!" Pinkie stated proudly. "Yeah, I'm sure you are... Back on the track. When they asked me for story, I told them one about cockatrice slayer, Reflecting Mirror. One of older fables. I used illusions to enhance the story. They liked my performance and praised me after all... Weird feeling. I mean, It went better than I excepted..." "Easier than taking over Equestria, no doubt..." "Less effective too... If only my plan worked..." "What would you do with ponies if you won? It's something what is bugging me since we met." "Use them as Love source of course! What's other use of ponies?" Pinkie could feel disregard, and underlying envy in Chrysalis stream. But there was something more... "But how?" "Dreamcocoons. We would create one shared dreamspace for all of them, imitating this world. They wouldn't know that they are in our power or that there was Invasion. They would exists peacefully in their dream of perfect world, when we would take real Equestria." "It's... not bad idea." It was to some extent evil, but it weren't half of it what Discord or Nightmare Moon could do to Equestria. It was just stealing your real world and some of your Love, in exchange for other world. Maybe even better one. "I may be evil in their eyes but I'm not stupid. That's why I ordered our soldiers to use non-lethal tactics when dealing with resistance from ponies. We could use everypony. Maybe some ponies would join us, when they understood that we don't want their doom... I was hoping that we could convert Celestia or Luna to our side." "To control Sun and Moon?" "This too. But if they would joined us, taking over Equestria would be easier, they would keep under control ponies trying to break from dreamspace, and, to be honest, they are good leaders. I hate to say that, but this land is in better condition than any other place where my scouts reached. It's like Utopia." Chrysalis was silent for a while, but Pinkie could feel she was thinking seriously about something. "Sis, could you point me to Fluttershy?" "No biggie, but why?" "I... made some mistake. I accidentally said that I know Fluttershy. So, I think I need to work out some backstory with her." "Great!" "Great?! Are you mad?" "Nope! Well, maybe yes, but it is great anyway! Because you had to train you social skills among ponies!" "I don't want to..." stated quietly Chrysalis. "I know, and that is why it's great! Because you had to!" "...It makes sense. So, how to get there?" "Give me a second." Pinkie displayed on her left internal eyelid schematic representation of Ponyville from pegasi eye view. In center of her view was simple blue dot symbolizing her, and around were other symbols symbolizing other ponies she could sense. Ponies were usually symbolized by their Cutie Mark and initials. Her mental map was joined with other information like who lived where and basic information about inhabitants. She just had to focus on one home to get all information she learned about ponies living there. She could did it other way, too, thinking about where pony lived would return this place spotted on her mental map. Ponies often wondered how Pinkie could remember almost everything about anypony; She just had whole catalogs about them inside her mind, like in some library. "Okay, Chrys, where are you?" Green dot lighted up inside park of Ponyville. When Pinkie focused on it she started to "digest" more information. Changeling, Queen, Chrysalis... Yup, she needed no more. In no time Pinkie marked few possible routes to Fluttershy cottage from Chrysalis current location. But how she could send it her? She was out of practice in such thing. How she did it before? She was doing something like this without problem but it was ten years ago. Back then it was natural, she didn't had to think, it was like flying for pegasi, magic for unicorn, or walking for anypony. She knew it was time to use her imagination. She thought about sending a mail. First, write it down. Done. Second, pack it in envelope. Something "clicked" inside Pinkie's mind, so it was probably done. Third, address it. It was simple, she knew where she wanted to sent it. Again, something happened and Pinkie wasn't sure what was it. Fourth and last step, send it. Map disappeared, Pinkie had short black out on her both eyelids. Did something went wrong? "Why it took so long?" "I wasn't honing my mind link lately. Did you get it?" "Um... yes... Well, thanks... I will go to Fluttershy now." Chrysalis felt suddenly very stupid, maybe it was remorse too and shortly after that she broke down her stream. Pinkie turned down map and displayed her task list for today. Point one, two, three and probably four was done... So point five. Pinkie looked around, looking for some place where she could create her new disguise. Pinkie felt that if she only could transform into Celestia, or someone from Twilight family, she could get any information she wanted from this intelligent unicorn, but it would be too risky as she didn't knew enough them to behave like them. New pony then it is. Gender: mare, Pinkie never really tried to behave like stallion, or male of any species. Species, it was too obvious: unicorn. Twilight wouldn't be very interested in explaining spells to earth pony or pegasi, simply, there was no point in doing it. Unicorn mare, next, cutie mark... Who would want to knew such spells... Either pony with knack into magic, or... idea! But how would cutie mark of sightseer look like? Binoculars? Map? Nope, too adventure related. Luggage? Closer, still not this... Camera! Often related to such professions as photographer or journalist but it can be interpreted into sightseeing. Yes, it can work... Colors, mane... Fur - light bluish, mane - darker blue, falling into purple, eyes... let them be yellow bright. Mane, simple ponytail. Tail not too long, not combed. Last part... Name. Something related to her talent, or something general... Most ponies changed name after founding their talent. Something related to camera or tourism... Snapshot? Sounds good. Surname will come later as for now it wasn't necessary. Pony known now as Snapshot was off to Twilight Library. She quickly regretted that she changed so early. She couldn't feed by the way going to Twilight. Reason was simple, ponies liked Pinkie's avatar, when Snapshot was unknown to them, so they felt almost nothing toward her. Yes, Snapshot could gather some background Love, but it would worsen mood of ponies around. Every place had it own emotional background, and every living being could feel it. If place was liked, it was giving back it's likeness to beings around like hot sand on desert was giving back heat... Maybe not so much and fast, but general idea was the same. Changelings were immune to such things, not like they didn't sense it, feel it, but it wasn't overriding them such strongly like ponies. It was only reason why Pinkie could raise up spirits of her friends in scary forest. She was simply unaffected and aware what really is going on. Finally, Snapshot reached Ponyville Library. She raised her hoof and knocked few times. There was no response. After few seconds more, she cautiously opened door, and sneaked her head inside. What she saw made her flinch. It wasn't darkness inside. It wasn't mess what made her afraid. It wasn't that she saw stacks of empty coffee mugs. It wasn't that Twilight was on verge of "mad Doctor" judging from her look. It was topic she dedicated herself to study. Changelings! Fairy tales, biology books, old history books, legends, bestiaries, even few new newspapers were lying on every available table. On black boards were scrambling of Celestia's prize student. Questions like "How to detect Changeling?", "Discorded Flutterponies?", "Unity or Individuality?" were scribbled down along her suspicions and ideas for spells. But it wasn't worst thing. Even anatomy charts hanging in few places weren't the worst thing. They looked new, like made only few days ago; they were showing internals. The worst thing were parts of chitin armor and shells. Somepony ripped them from someling... Snapshot heart started beating loudly. She was afraid that Twilight might hear it. Twilight turned her head to Snapshot and smiled. Snapshot couldn't make out if it was evil or good smile... but it definitely gave her creep along her back. "SPIKE! WE HAVE ONE HERE!" Twilight yelled with her horn glowing up. Snapshot jumped up, and hit frame of door with her head. She landed hard on her belly, tried to raise herself up supporting on her forehooves. Her eyes were perplexed, vision blurry and her eyes were ringing, recovering from Twilight yell, her heart thudding irregularly, lungs running almost out of oxygen, blood in her veins feeling cold. Pain was something abstract, she felt nothing, only that her body should rest now, that something is wrong. She realized that she can't run in this condition. She slipped, and hit floor with her jaw. She saw last one big blink of white light, and then... she was done.
Unexcepted visitorWorking out convincing story how Charming Stories met Fluttershy went great, especially when Fluttershy convinced Chrysalis that overcomplicated story will be more likely to be exposed as a lie. When Chrysalis tried to create alibi what could cover all possibilities, and it turned out to be almost impossible, Fluttershy proposed the simplest possible explanation: Charming Stories accidentally reached her cottage yesterday and Fluttershy agreed to take her in for a while. Then they talked a bit with each other, and that's how Charming Stories know a bit of her, and Ponyville. Fluttershy version had only one flaw: why such a shy and fearful pony did this? When Chrysalis voiced it aloud, and maybe a bit rudely, Fluttershy looked down at the ground, probably hurt by harsh words of Changeling Queen, and answered her concerns with a bit of malice in her voice: "And do you have better idea, Queen?" Chrysalis felt touched by Fluttershy answer, but not in "What did you say, you puny pony?!" way, more in "I did something wrong" way. And when she realized she felt a bit sorry for her words toward Fluttershy, she was a bit scared. She felt sorry towards pony. It was wrong. Ponies should only be providers of Love, nothing more. ...but doesn't gardener love plants which give them fruits? Doesn't good shepard care for his flock? ...doesn't Pinkie care for ponies of the Ponyville? Chrysalis sighed. She felt conflicted. Few days ago, it was so simple. She hated ponies, and wanted them under her hoof, robbed from their Love, and land. Now, she felt sorry for one of the weakest and most pathetic ponies in the world... ...and this pathetic and weak pony was so brave and devoted to her job so she willingly went through Everfree Forest in the night, then went down into old, narrow dungeons full of Changelings, the same which attacked Canterlot two weeks ago... Because she believed that everyone hurting deserves help, and everyone have some good inside... She wasn't weak idiotic pony, she was more a saint. 'Do I have some good left inside me?' wondered Chrysalis, looking at Fluttershy. She felt her gaze softened, and her heart fluttered a bit. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but it need to be done anyway. "Fluttershy, I'm sorry." Chrysalis felt weird. For first time she said she was sorry to pony... and she really meant it. Fluttershy raised up her head and looked toward Chrysalis. Her eyes were hypnotizing, there was something inside what told 'Go on... if you okay with this...'. And it was enough to break from Chrysalis more words. "I'm sorry for harsh words I used, and I'm thankful for help. What you proposed is better than any of mine concepts." Fluttershy kept her encouraging look. Chrysalis started to feel uncomfortable. What she could say more? She opened her mouth... And then Fluttershy smiled with closing her eyes. "It's okay, Chrysalis. You are not bad person, you just forgets how to be nice. You are scared, too. I understand." "I... thank you." They stared awkwardly for a few seconds at each other. Chrysalis wondered what she should do now. Should she left? And do what? She really didn't want go back to cramped camp... She was happy to see sun again, and feel more optimistic about future outside. When she was in camp, and saw her hungry, mangled, wounded subjects, it was hard too keep her hopes high. And she really wasn't feeling that going back to Ponyville was good idea. She could meet that mint unicorn who recognized her... or something. No, Chrysalis was scared a bit about exposition. But then Fluttershy came with solution. "Would you stay for the tea and cookies?" It was ridiculous idea, tea for changeling was just flavoured water. Cookies were just like sandstone, or mud, or something, but with flavour. No nourishment, only flavour. "What? It is foolish, I can't feed on this..." She began, but then realization hit her. She made same mistake again in few minutes. She looked sheepishly toward Fluttershy. "I'll gladly drink tea with you, even if it isn't feeding me..." Fluttershy again slightly smiled toward Chrysalis. "You are making progress." Chrysalis was wondering why it felt so good to be praised for such nothingness. She was suspecting the answer, but it was too scary for her. But she couldn't ignore proofs. She was trying not to hurt her, she was caring what she was thinking about her... It wasn't like she liked her, right? Proud Changeling Queen don't need pony friends, right? But Chrysalis knew that she already lost it, that it was only matter of time when she start wanting to have good relations with her, or maybe other ponies... Because she made one exception. And this mare was unique. She weren't prejudiced toward her kind, even after Canterlot Invasion. Yes, she was afraid. But she was afraid of most ponies, and most ponies were kind toward her, or good looking... when her changelings attacked her yesterday and looked like army of skeletons, or other zombies, with wretched holes in their bodies. If this pegasi drew hoof toward her and her kind... Shouldn't Chrysalis do the same? Chrysalis turned toward main room of Fluttershy cottage, and laid her eyes on the table. There was already pot full of tea, and two cups. Chrysalis could smell aroma of black tea, and freshly baked cookies. She turned her look toward kitchen and she saw that Fluttershy was trotting with plate of cookies in her mouth. She flapped with her wing, like she was asking Chrysalis to take a seat. All this together was giving such homely atmosphere which would melt heart of most ponies. Chrysalis was about to oblige toward Fluttershy gesture, when she sensed in her horn that huge amounts were building up somewhere near, somewhere in the house. She turned toward Fluttershy, and wanted to warn her. Too late, with big pink blast of magic, on top of the table a unicorn appeared. Chrysalis eyes locked themselves on one of cups, and she saw wonderful spectacle how white, simple cup transformed into white mist and porcelain shards. When every piece stopped moving, then Chrysalis broke her gaze from broken cup, and scanned room. She saw broken plate and scattered cookies on the floor. She saw tea, slowly flowing from remains of pot, and dripping onto wooden floor. She saw toppled chair, where Fluttershy was supposed to sit. She saw Fluttershy, crouching low on her legs, hiding her eyes with her wings, shaking with fear, her back against wooden wall of her home. And then Chrysalis saw who caused all this mess. She was purple. She was unicorn. She had dishevelled dark purple short mane with pink streak. Her eyes were similar in colour to her fur, and they were full of panicked madness. Her horn was glowing with magic, when she tried to force Fluttershy wings from her face. She was yelling something, pledge of help or painful confession, Chrysalis couldn't catch on. Inside Chrysalis mind everything went quiet. Everything become simple and focused. It was this unicorn. This one who failed her plans to conquer Equestria. It was mare who caused her army to hide and hope for salvation, or slowly die from starvation and wounds. It was her who called her evil, even when she couldn't give convincing proof. She was everything what went wrong. She was unaware tormentor of Chrysalis subjects. And now she was unaware that there is Changeling Queen with desire for revenge in room... Chrysalis felt like everything was calming down, when her brain started to analyse how to kill Twilight Sparkle. Blast of magic? Buck in side? In neck? Maybe simple horn pierce through head or neck? Strangling? One was sure - Twilight Sparkle will pay for her... ...her what? She didn't do anything wrong. She protected her country... ...which was what Changelings army did everyday against Gryphons... ...who wanted territory of Swarm for own gain... ...what Chrysalis wanted for her kind... ...what she wanted to achieve with Invasion... ...which was method Gryphons used to deal with Changelings... ...she did similar thing to Equestria, like Gryphons did to Swarm... ...but she did it only because her kind was threatened by extinction... ...and it wasn't changing a bit that what Twilight Sparkle did was admissible thing, from Equestria point of view. Chrysalis lost her certainty. She wasn't sure before that her Invasion had chance of success, but now she wasn't even sure that it was right thing to do. She should try to establish relations with Equestria. She should try to make alliance beetwen Equestria and Swarm. She should make a contact with other countries than Griffin Kingdoms, and Zebra Empire, or Zebra Tribes. She should keep defending borders of her country, and her infiltrators in Griffin Kingdoms and Zebra Empire should spread propaganda, or more so, truth about her kind. But what if it all fail? Would it made her right to invade other country? She knew answer. It was yes. Because it was matter of survival. But she would be only morally allowed to do so after trying other ways to save her species. And then, when she heard panicked squeal of Fluttershy, Chrysalis realized that this mad purple unicorn was still scaring her... ally. She knew now that she wasn't allowed to kill her. Twilight Sparkle was still friend of Fluttershy and Metamorphosis. And killing Celestia's personal student would probably made negotiations harder or rather impossible. But Chrysalis would be damned if she wasn't going to enjoy this. She trotted to side of Twilight Sparkle with evil smile, still disguised as Charming Stories. Purple mare realized someone was standing by her, and her eyes widened with shock, when she turned her head to face unfamiliar unicorn. Chrysalis wasn't wasting time, and when she saw that Twilight horn was glowing up with magic, she did most instinctive thing to her. She attacked Twilight with her head, and when spell of distracted unicorn went fizzle, then she turned herself frontally against her, stand on her back legs, and aimed one powerful front hoof kick straight in her face. Twilight head hit wooden floor first. There was moment when her body stand firmly on the hooves, when her head was lying on the floor, but then her body collapsed on her side. Not so far from her head were fragments of cup that her teleportation threw away from table. Chrysalis observed her for a while. She was breathing, so she was alive. It was all she cared for. Oh, how hot was her desire to be allowed to kill this defenceless unicorn... ...but Chrysalis was sure now, she shouldn't think that way. But when she saw small droplet of blood in unicorn's nose, she gave small smile of joy. It was low and bad, but she enjoyed this. She turned to Fluttershy. She was still trembling and hiding her face away from horrors what happened in her room. "D-d-did you k-ki... killed her?" she asked. Chrysalis turned her head toward Twilight again. "No, I knocked out her. She looks okay." Fluttershy slowly took away wings from her eyes, and when she saw that what Chrysalis said was true she raised herself up. She was visibly shaken be events of few last minutes, but with power of will she trotted to Twilight, and started to checking her head for damages. Chrysalis noticed how Fluttershy stare was similar to this of young changeling soldiers after battle. It was called "Thousands yards stare". "What was that about?" Chrysalis asked Fluttershy after few long seconds. Fluttershy murmured something. Chrysalis wasn't sure what she said. "Fluttershy? What she yelled?" "She..." yellow mare was breaking down again, clearly sobbing "...she said she murdered someone." And then fear stricken Chrysalis heart. Metamorphosis. She was going to get information from Twilight. Did Twilight... Chrysalis couldn't believe it. She didn't want to. She tried to establish mindlink with her sister, time after time, but it was like there was no Metamorphosis. Just emptiness on other side. Like she was... ...dead. Legs under Chrysalis failed, and she was there, lying without care for world. She heard her heart slowly and deeply pounding. She was feeling like her brain was on fire, and her stomach turned into rock. She wanted to destroy something. She wanted to kill somepony. She wanted so many things, but now she felt like she was sinking. She was sinking in sorrow. Her sister, with who she finally regained contact... dead. She was no more. It was such alien concept. It was such impossible concept. Her sister, no more. It was true that Chrysalis lived without thought about her for years, but now, after reunion... She regained her sister for only few days. Her sister who turned out to be wiser, more successful than her, happier... She gave Chrysalis hope and optimism for days to come and... She was dead now. And why?! Because her stupid sister, inept leader, had to meddle in her life with her problems. And then she felt someone poking her in her side. She tried to ignore. But then she heard quiet, soft voice of Fluttershy. "Chrysalis...? Pinkie..." "She's dead." "You can't be sure..." "Her mindlink is dead." Fluttershy was silent for a while, thinking how she could counter it. She was hoping that Pinkie is okay. "She may be wounded and unconscious." And this simple statement was enough to lift hope of Chrysalis again. Fluttershy could be right. Maybe she was so deeply unconscious, that Changeling Queen couldn't sense her. She stand up. "Then we need to hurry!" "U-um... what about Twilight..?" "I don't care!" Well, if she really killed her sister, then Chrysalis would care about Twilight. She would bother about her swift execution. But this statement caused Fluttershy to back off with scared face. Chrysalis looked toward her. She wanted to shout, yell, she wanted to force that stupid pegasi to run with her. But she knew that would be effortless. "She's safe, she's alive. This is what I'm not sure about my sister. So please, could you forget about Twilight, who can possibly be murder of my sister?" Chrysalis explained with not so hidden annoyance in her voice. Fluttershy was torn. She looked toward Chrysalis and Twilight alternately. She should take care about Twilight, she may have some hidden damage. She should run to library and check out if Pinkie is alive. She should do both of this at the same time. Her fear muddied what was more important. She just couldn't decide. "OH, SO BE THAT WAY!" Chrysalis yelled, her anger mixed with disappointment, and shortly after she run out from cottage. It snapped Fluttershy from her dilemma, she realized what she should do. But Chrysalis was already running away and couldn't hear Fluttershy shouting to her to wait.
Host(ility)Voices. So many voices that it wasn't possible to distinguish one individual voice. There was so much of them it wasn't even possible to say that they were voices at all. It was more like ocean. Quiet, almost dead, murmur of the ocean of voices was something interrupted by roar of waves of screams and cries. But even if voices were indistinguishable from each other there was few words repeated so often. But they were less words and more grunts of stranded animals. "...hungry..." "...weak..." "...hopeless..." "...struggle..." "...cold..." Sometimes it was possible to hear melodic prayers rising above sound of ocean. "...ancestors, let her join and live beetwen you, as her mortal self dies..." "...Queens and Mothers, I hope you'll find me worthy..." "...Mother, Father, we will be seeing soon..." And in roars of occasional billow, roars and cries of dying, fighting, and hurt could be heard. "Take some more!" "Don't leave me..." "For Swarm! For Queen!" "...is that it? Is it end?... I'm feeling fine... too fine... my legs... MY LEGS!!!" Pinkie/Metamorphosis was afraid to open her eyes. She remembered something bad happened to her in Twilight's Library. She wasn't sure what Twilight was going to do to her. Maybe her disguise fell? Maybe now Twilight is mad sciencing her body to discover changeling secrets? Or maybe she is slowly dying... But then Metamorphosis recalled something from book she read - when you are dying, or you are in bad shape, your brain creates pleasant dreams... and it wasn't pleasant at all. And she felt it wasn't dream either. It was somehow too real. She decided to slowly open her eyes. She saw blackness beneath her, like she was levitating above it. And then she saw trulyand her eyes shot wide open. That were changelings. Thousands of them. Hundred thousands. And she saw them true. She wasn't seeing their shells, their masks. Her vision wasn't obstructed by unreliability of her senses. She saw them as they saw themselves. And it was frightening. She wasn't only seeing them. It was more like becoming them. When she started to hear someling thoughts, fully understanding why he or she thought that way, gaining their memories, experiences, hearing what they hear, seeing what they see, feeling their body... She was starting to lose feeling of herself. It was sucking her self-awarness more and more. It was like sea whirl. It was like abyss. Was she Metamorphosis, or someling else? And who was Metamorphosis, what it meant to be her? She was someling else. She always was. But who? /// Chair she was sitting on was surely created to torture with discomfort. Only way to be it hardly endurable was sitting on it was by method of Griffins, sitting on flank, letting her hind legs dangling in front of her and front lying on chair arms. "What's your name, you moron? Or maybe you don't have any? Fucking drone..." On opposite of small room was pegasus in uniform unknown to her, but it had Equestrian Guard symbols on chest. He was sitting behind desk in typical pony manner, and held pencil in his right wing. He was actually trying to kill her by power of his furious glance but fortunately it had no effect on her. "Khatriii Bzzihoov" "What was that? I can't write down you retarded clicks, hisses and buzzes!" "Catherine Busyhoof" "Yeah, right, I'll believe in bug with Griffin name... And show your gross eyes!" He took pencil from his wing to his mouth, wrote down something on form in front of him, and the again he took pencil in his wing. It was surely frustrating to have repeat it every time. "It's..." "I wasn't asking about your opinion! Rank? Cannon fodder? And what I said about your eyes?! Show them!" He barked to her with contempt in his voice. There was something about this stallion what was making her hate him more and more, and it wasn't only his behaviour. 'Manners' he showed were absolutely excepted in talking with enemy. "Corporal." She lifted her external eyelids. "Like savages like you had ranks..." He looked into her eyes and muttered "...disgusting... Breed?" Maybe it was how he raised his nose after each insult? Or this how he squinted eyes, like he wanted to non verbally tell her 'Ha, I'm so sharp. How are you taking it, huh?!'. "Gatherer." "What was your orders during Invasion? Except buzzing around like bunch of handicapped bugs and trying to score a kill on unprotected ponies? Even that you fucked up..." It was definitely how he was thinking about how ingenious he was, when he was basically a simpleton. "My orders were to pacify any resistance that could emerge. We were only allowed to use non-lethal grade spells..." "Another one with same story! I won't believe any longer in this shit! I want to hear truth about your orders... And maybe I'll go soft on you..." She had this enough. Why she had to play this act, when she was unquestionably getting killed after it? It didn't made any sense. At least they could do their part quick enough, and do not attempt to perform such tomfoolery. "Our task was to eliminate resistance with casualties as low it was possible. Dead ponies doesn't generate Love.... but maybe in your case it wouldn't made a difference." She decided to speed things up a bit. "What did you say?!" Nostrils of military stallion flared angrily. He changed a bit his position, preparing himself to jump. Pencil slipped from his wing, he didn't even notice. It was obvious that interrogation was over. "Maaare, did Chrysalis laid her hoof on you? No, even her can't create such miserable creature..." "I'll rip you to pieces!" Pegasus jumped, easily flying over desk and in one fluid motion tackling Catherine. She was thrown away from chair, and crashed hard on wooden floor. She heard crack behind her back. Probably her back shell was damaged a bit by impact, she concluded. It wasn't important now. "Last words?" Asked pegasus, his eyes full of unrestrained hate. "Shut up!" And then storm of blows toward her face. She tried to protect her face, but his hits with front hooves were simply too strong. First hit connected her face, then another, and another... Her vision started to blur from pain. She tried to lift herself from him, but she couldn't turn around to get her hooves on the ground, and her wing were unresponsive. She attempted to charge spell, but another hit went straight into her eye, and her spell discharged without effect. She tried to hit him with her right front hoof, but he effortlessly blocked it, and then hit with another hoof. She heard loud crack, saw broken shell on her leg, orange blood dripping from cracks, and realized her leg shouldn't bend like that. And then pain hit her. This bastard broke her leg! Loud scream escaped her lungs. He stopped his attacks for a moment, took few deep breaths. He raised his right front hoof to straight punch, final blow. She saw determination in his face. 'That's how my life ends...' She realized and closed her eyes. She heard loud crash, she wondered for a second if it was sound of her face crushed under hooves of hostile pony, but then she heard new voice. "Sergant Strikes!" "Captain Armor, I... She attacked me!" "Is that so? Dozen of beaten prisoners states otherwise!" She opened her eyes and turned her head toward source of new voice. She saw strong, well built white stallion with blue mane. His cutie mark was representing shield with pink star inside. She knew who was this pony, and she was now sure she was dead. If there was anypony deserving to get revenge on changelings, it was him. His wife captured, and thrown to caves under Canterlot for few days. He himself, tricked and almost turned to "vegetable" by Chrysalis feeding upon him. Panic and pain made her stare into him with wide eyes. Her mind, dulled by pain and engulfed by panic wasn't really processing what was happening around her. "Sir! They are enemy, we shouldn't treat them as Celestia-damnded guests!" "Would you let them starve?! What with your honour?" "Sir, I would kill them! None of this monsters should live, when he..." answered angrily pegasus. "Sergant, you are off duty, report to my office!" "Captain, you are the one who should bring justice to this monsters! They kidnapped your wife! They brainwashed you!" "Guards!" Called Shining Armor outside. Two armoured guard earth ponies walked inside and stand behind Shining Armor. "Are you all mad? Brainwashed?! They are our enemy!" "Guards, capture Sergeant Strikes and bring him to my office, he is currently under charge of insubordination." Shinning voice was calm, powerful. It was voice of somepony used to ordering, and seeing his orders carried out. "No, we have to kill them! They are monsters!" Strikes stand on his hind legs and striked with both front legs toward changeling head, hopping to stomp it. Hooves of rebelious guard were inches away when strong magic bolt from Shining Armor horn struck him, and made his attack missing her head. Snap! Khatrii realized, pain of broken leg was gone. She turned her head toward her damaged leg. She noticed how weirdly her leg was ending slightly before elbow. It was ridiculous! And then she saw rest of her leg lying not so far from her. Realization hadn't hit her yet. Her brain was still insisting that everything is alright with her missing part of leg, that she still had it. Captain of guard was first to react. "Somepony, fetch here a medic!" Khatrii was fully focused on her leg, so she didn't pay attention to two earth pony guards beating military pegasus into submission, or Shining Armor calling medical aid. She lifted her right leg close to her eyes. It was impossible. She was feeling that her foreleg, hoof, everything under her elbow was here. But her eyes were telling her otherwise. She tried to bend her fetlock. Her brain was telling her she did it, and she saw how her disconnected muscles under her ripped shell flexed. She knew the truth, but she wasn't accepting it yet. She couldn't lost her foreleg. It was impossible. But when she saw her orange blood slowly dripping from her detached foreleg, she couldn't longer deny it. She started to scream, and it wasn't scream of pain. It was scream of fear and disbelief. When she was no longer able to scream she started to sob. "Calm down, help is coming." She ignored it, she was staring at her leg, as it could change something. Minute later someone else entered room. Somepony obscured her foreleg. She lifted her head. Before her stand male unicorn. He had small iron ring on his horn, and his mane was cut really short, like he was shaved to bald skin few days ago. His cutie mark was picture of syringe and red cross behind it. He grabbed her detached foreleg in his magic and started to examine it. "We'll see what we can do about it... Nurse Honeycomb, please, make her sleep at ease." And then in Khatrii's vision entered another female changeling. She was Gatherer. She had her "mane" cut like unicorn did. She had iron ring on her horn too. Even more, her wings were forced to stay closed by iron chain around her waist. But she was looking healthier than anyling Khatrii saw in few last years. Her shell was snowy grey, with details, like backshell or wings on her back almost white. Her holes were small, placed along her forelegs creating pattern of dotted line. On top of her head was nurse cap. She turned her head toward crippled changeling. Nurse horn glowed up and then she put it down on Khatrii's head. Khatrii suddenly started to feel... relaxed and sleepy. "Which one bastard did it to her?!" Was last words she heard, muttered angrily by other female changeling. -- Khatrii waked up. She instantly raised her front right leg in front of her eyes, to confirm her worst fears. She was absolutely shocked when in front of her eyes her leg appeared like it wasn't crippled before. She was dumbfounded. It shouldn't be there. She tried to bend her fetlock, and quickly was assured it was bad idea by pain what shout through her almost whole right side, and in react she shrieked. Only after it she noticed she had place of her former wound bandaged. She heard rapid knocks of hooves against wooden floor. She turned her head toward source of sound... And she saw white sheet in front of her, hang on steel frame by small rings. She turned her head right, she saw same structure what was in front of her. She turned her head left, again, same white sheet. But there was also small wooden table, and on top of it was standing small bottle with simple label around it neck. She wasn't trained in reading Equestrian alphabet, so she couldn't decipher what was written on label. Then, under bottle was lying paper note, written in Changeling writing system. "Love potion. Drink it up. Nurse Honeycomb." Then she noticed she was actually lying in simple pony bed, than rather on floor. There were even bedclothes. What the...? It's not the way how prisoners are supposed to be treated. "Corporal Bziihoov?" White sheet in front of her moved, and revealed same snowy grey changeling who put her to sleep. Khatrii decided to not answer. She wasn't sure how she should behave. Was she allowed to talk on of her kind, not part of invasion army? Maybe this female ling was traitor? Maybe she was spying for the enemy? "Corporal Khatrii Bziihoov?" And then she noticed again iron ring on her horn, and chains around her wings. She was probably in same situation as she was. She wasn't sure what kind of situation it was but this other ling was in it too. But she wasn't quite sure, she had to play it safe. "Yes, it's me..." "Well, I was kind of suspecting it. Usually we don't deal with legs ripped off by some..." She swallowed down a curse. "Anyway! Doctor Killer connected your foreleg again, but we are not sure if it will fully heal. He did everything what was possible, but you overall condition isn't giving a good prognosis... but at worst you won't be looking as cripple." "Killer?" "Doctor Killer. Pain Killer. He was trying to be cool, so he changed his name when he was eighteen, but he didn't quite grasped that 'Doctor Killer' will scare most of patients..." she laughed a bit. "What they are going to do to us?" "Basically we are now prisoners of war. It means they are not longer allowed to hurt us, and had to provide food, aid, and shelter for us. In exchange, we are not longer fighting and cooperate in camp works. Think about is as jail for soldiers. Then they are going to give us trial." "It makes no sense..." "Ponies are different. And hopefully Sergeant Dick will be sent to martial court. This son of... beaten at least ten lings before! But he never went so far before, so we couldn't prove he hurt prisoners. He always stated that they were in this shape before they came here... And every Celesta-damned guard was sticking to his version. But most of personnel was changed, and Shining Armor was sent to personally carry out of inspection." "Celestia-damned? Are you on pony side?" "It depends on how are you seeing it. I was sent here by Queen Imago almost twenty years ago. How old are you?" "Twenty four." "So you don't remember old Queen Imago... right? We were installed here to gain information about Equestria and to, possibly, conduct further actions.They weren't stated but Queen in her speeches for us ordered us to keep low profile and blend into pony society. She had some long term strategy in mind... But then she died, and Queen Chrysalis exiled her sister, who was wishing for making peace beetwen Swarm and Equestria, and maybe Zebras..." "Queen Metamorphosis was traitor!" "I heard from group what was captured two days ago, that Queen Chrysalis has contacted Queen Metamorphosis, and considered her innocent... How it look for you? Because for me it looks like from cheap novel. Anyway, Queen Metamorphosis will be joining in ruling over Swarm." "But..." "Anyway, I was following original orders by Queen Imago, and Chrysalis broke her promise toward her mother. I'm not considering myself a traitor. And I consider Equestria as my second homeland." "Then... why are you there?" Khatrii waved with her light foreleg, meaning this prison. "Because after Invasion every changeling is considered to be a enemy to Equestria, or at least accused of espionage. Big thanks, Chrysalis!" Angry frown appeared on face of white ling. "And why is this Doctor Killer here?" "Accused of pro-changeling sympathies. Being married to one for almost ten years and knowing this causes such suspicions." "He knew?!" "I told him few weeks before marriage." "But... why? Why you told him? Why he didn't told the guards?" Nurse ling smiled happily. "Some poet said, 'Love conquers all'. I was afraid he will turn out me to guards. Funny thing was that he wasn't even considering that, but he was more conflicted that he should love someone outside of his kind, and someone who was lying to him for few last years..." Small glint of shame shined in her eyes. "After all it worked out. Do you know what is most ironic about it? He was fully convinced after he received reply to his letter to Princess Cadance. Of course he omitted some details, but he described her general idea... big thanks again, Chrysalis!" White ling sighed, and added in somber voice. "Killie ensures me that everything will be like before... But it's impossible, even if I know there are still few friends of mine out there who don't care about my origin." "Pony Friends?" "Most of them are ponies, but there is also one other changeling and griffoness." "What?! Griffins are..." "You don't know her, so don't call her names, understood?" Medical changeling interrupted her, giving her stern gaze. "She was one of few who stand up against guards who came for me." Suddenly nurse voice gained characteristic griffin growl and screech used when user was furious. "She's good monster! Let her go! Or I will have to patch up you sorry flanks!" Honeycomb smiled a bit and continued normally. "She knocked out one guard but his companions get her. She's awaiting trial now, but she sent this..." She touched her nurse cap "...to Killie with letter. She wrote she knew there was something weird about me, but I was one of best nurses she met, so she doesn't care." "And when we are about nursing... You had to drink this potion." Telekinetic grasp of nurse gatherer appeared on the bottle, and it levitated in front of Khatrii, and it uncorked itself. "It's real Love potion, so it will feed you. So... Will you?" Khatrii nodded and grabbed bottle and started to drink from it. At first it's taste was sweet but then it gained a bitter undertone, and when it reached her belly, she felt a warmness spread through every part of her body. It was very concentrated dose of Love, she never felt something like that before. It wasn't enough to cover her deficiencies of nourishment in few last years... But maybe in few weeks she will even regain her colour... She closed her eyes, and started to daydream how wonderful it would be to look healthy, well-fed again... to be again dusty orange, not black, and her holes again fitting her pattern... It did not take her long to fell asleep. /// She regained her awareness. But immediately two voices started to yell to her who she was. Metamorphosis! Metamorphosis was her name! She was daughter of Queen Imago from lineage of Changeling royalty! She was sister to Queen Chrysalis! She was destined to rule over Swarm, together with her sister! She was Pinkie Pie! Pink party pony! Element of Laughter! Pony who knew everypony in Ponyville! Pony who saved world twice! Pony who had friends such as Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy! Both voices yelled they are the true one. But then third voice joined in. You are both. Queen Metamorphosis of Swarm, Pinkie Pie of Equestria, Element of Laughter. And you are my daughter. It was voice unheard at least for fifteen years. Metamorphosis felt two legs wrapped around her chest, and head on her left shoulder. And then she felt she was dropped down, but she wasn't really falling down. She was actually more like hovering. And then she felt ground under her hooves. Young Queen decided it's good time to open her eyes. In front of her was sitting her Mother. She looked almost exactly how she remembered her. Shorter than any Queen before her. She was only slightly bigger than average Worker. Her shell was only thick in few places, like her chest, legs, in other she was almost without chitin. It looked like she was born with armor under her skin, but nothing else. Colour of her shell was between gray and sea green. Her teal mane was kept in topknot. She had almost non-exsistent fangs, barely visible. And then Morpha saw her eyes. Full of joy shadowed only by underlying concern. "I found you, nymphie." And then Morpha was overflowed by conflicting emotions, which caused that her mouth was overflowed by her words. "How! You! Am I! Where! I was! You!..." Her mother laid hoof on mouth of her daughter and gave her small smile. "Morpha, I always loved how vivid you are, but could you slow a bit? You are missing whole sentences." "Am I dead...?" "No. You are just... lost." "Are you?" "Yes. I am dead." "Wow... Chrysalis, you... Talk about awkward family reunions..." Morpha joked half heartily. Absurdity of situation forced her to somehow relieve it. Her mother laughed. Her mother voice was almost a bit of crackling so her laughter wasn't one of the most enjoyable ones... But for Morpha it was one of the most desired sounds to heard again. "Should I ask how is Chrysalis doing to make you feeling better? She never visits me. She's always so busy..." Morpha smiled. "Only because you quite went west." "But she knows where I am, doesn't she? It's not like I'm living on some dead end..." "Yes, but trip here is quite killing." Morpha was trying very much to stifle a chuckle. "Oh, be careful or you will knock me dead with your wits." It was too much for younger ling. She chuckled, and then mother and daughter shared a laugh. After their laughter died down, Morhpa had to get answers for some questions. "What it is what I looked at? Into? I was someling else for a moment." "Changelings. Every alive ling is down there. From here you have unlimited, absolute access to every mind." "But... what happened?" "Connection beetwen your mind and your body is broken. If it wasn't damaged, you couldn't get pulled into someling like this..." "I don't understand..." "You mind accidentally reached too high levels of hivemind. It's rare phenomenon to non-dying changeling reach this place... Think about your body as anchor. Your binding beetwen mind and body was broken. Your mind reached levels where wasn't supposed to be, without place to come back and it started to fall down at first possible place." "It's like somepony who forget way to home, decided to move into some other pony home?" "More like... becoming one with this other pony..." Realization hit Metamorphosis. She could cease to exists, not even die...Her terrible visions were interrupted by calming words of her mother. "Morpha, don't worry about it... I wouldn't let it happen..." "And... how are we...?" "I'm... not quite dead. Neither anyling who is remembered by anyling..." "I always thought it's only saying..." "Not in our case. After death our minds stays for some time in part of hivemind created by shared memories of changelings... These memories are like anchors, keeping our minds in this plane of existence. We are just here, in plane of hivemind above yours, observing how are you handling your lives, and "living" in copy of your world based on your memories..." "Ancestors are really above us, guiding us..." "Yes. And it's also true that sometimes somelings can be helped by their ancestors... But it is like whispering, rarely heard." "But what if someling is forgotten? What if everling from family died?" "Then this changeling will die here too. Forever." "So... what then?" "Noling knows. Most of us wonder what is beyond. Many of us are awaiting this." "Why? It sounds like heaven..." "You'll understand one day. I know that my mother was happy when lings who remembered her personally, died. She was free to go further." "I don't understand..." "I know. I wasn't either. Now I do. But enough about such gravely matter. Morphie, I'm so proud of you..." "Why? I didn't achieved anything... I left my responsibilities away..." "Do you know what would probably happened if you decided to stay?" "I didn't thought about it..." "Rift beetwen and your sister will grow. You would seen each other more and more as political enemies than sisters. And then, one day, you would clash with each other, sending your country into civil war. Sister against sister, and brother against brother, our empire would drown under this bloodshed. Griffin Kingdoms would certainly used this mayhem to attack us... and who know if it wouldn't be last campaign against bug monster from the east..." Imago stared for a while in distant space, letting her words sink into her daughter. "By leaving without conflict, you gave your sister time to realize she needs help in ruling over our empire." "But..." "That you could appeal to her reason was unlikely. We both know she is a bit... thick-headed." Old Queen sighed with weariness. "And I'm rather proud of Chrysalis as well. She made many mistakes, it's true. On the other hoof, she managed to avoid worse mistakes, such as full open war with Griffin Kingdoms, or allowance to create drones, to mention few. First would cause destruction of our bodies, latter, of our souls. And she had courage to admit before herself she made a mistakes, or plainly failed, that her way wasn't the one what could save her subjects... And finally to admit it all before her sister who maybe was right all along... It's what I'm proud about in her." "Mother... What were you plans for Equestria? Changeling I, she, it gets confusing, was talking with said you had long term plans for Equestria." Imago sighed heavily. "First step of my plan was to contact them using changelings who were already living for years among ponies as our ambassadors. If they would consider us as friends, I would try to negotiate with them to allow us build at least one of our hives on their territory and citizenship for our subjects... This hive would be last hope of our kind if Griffins would conquer our land. But if they would consider us as enemies... Then I would order changelings blended among ponies to wreak panic and havoc, destabilize the country, and when Equestria would be on the verge of disintegration I would order similar attack to this of Chrysalis. I'm not proud of this second solution, but Queen's have to always consider well-being of her subjects first, and her conscience second..." "Is there anything you can tell me, what could help us?" "Funny thing, how different you are as Pinkie and Metamorphosis..." Just when Morpha was about to ask what her mother had in mind, she continued "I can give you few advices. You need to regain recognition among your subjects. Don't be afraid to give a few speeches. I know the few first ones will be hard, but you need to clarify that you are really back, and they need something to give them hope. They don't trust your sister so much, so they need to hear it for themselves from you. You should try gain contact with changelings who lived here for years. Their support could be crucial in long term strategy, and they could provide help for survivors of Invasion. You absolutely need to look out what rebelling lings are up to. Their actions can wreck our hopes for negotiations with Equestria. Help Chrysalis to regain confidence. Anything more... No, I think it's all. You are doing good, Morphie, and you know situation better than me. Well... I'm glad we could meet. I was really missing you. But I believe we should cut our meeting short..." "Why? Can't I stay a little bit longer? I wanted to talk with you more..." Morpha asked pleadingly. "Chryssie is seriously considering to unleash hell on you purple friend. Her patience is wearing thin." "But... How long I was out?" "You arrived here by early afternoon, and now we have late evening, so she is fully excused in her barely herd anger." "But how I can come back if my connection was broken?" "Let me help you..." Her mother closed to her and crossed her horn with Metamorphosis horn. "I'll send you back to your body... I hope we won't be seeing soon." She smiled sincerely. "What, why? Oh... I get it..." "Farewell, Morphie." "Goodbye, Mom..." And then Metamorphosis felt in blackness again. Author's Note Amount of words has been doubled! Only if quality could went the same...
Hop, Skip and Jump (unrev...)Few hours ago: Cocktail of anger, fear and adrenaline and magic flowed through Chrysalis when she ran toward Ponyville. She ran like mad mare, not allowing any obstacle to slow her down. She jumped over, ducked under, rammed through or passed by any object in her way, no matter it was pony, cart, bush, or anything else. To anypony who watched it with friendly eye, it was amazing exhibit of agility and tenacity transformed into incredible row of stunts. For her it was just blur of actions and fast thinking. For her it probably went like this: Cart standing across the bridge. Ponies arguing about something. Too high to jump over. It's gonna hurt. Skid on belly under cart. Again on hooves. Run. Ignore surprised yells. Town hall far in front. Fountain is next to town hall. Gotta turn left near fountain. So many ponies in a way. Too many to ram through. Look around, keep speed. Stack of boxes on the left near wall. High enough to jump on balcony. From balcony to another one, and then to ground. Filly on the way, jump over! Jump on the boxes. Jump on balcony! Ignore surprised yells of ponies. "What the hay?!" It doesn't matter. Jump on another! Not losing speed. Jump down, trying to land sideways. Brace for impact. Roll over. Get up. Legs? Still working, hurt. Gallop forward. Group of ponies talking, blocking the way. Too high speed to turn or halt. Barrel with trash nearby, before them. Jump on barrel. Jump over ponies. Barrel overturns, spilling it contents onto ponies. Don't waste breath on saying "sorry". Doesn't matter now. Turn left or right?! Display map. Left. Evade ponies, bump and ram some. Look back. Anyone wounded? Okay, faster! Market. Market day. Too many ponies. Too many market stalls. Stalls? Jump on apple cart hauled by big red stallion. "What in tarnation...?!" Jump on stand of mare with orange hair. She yells. Ignore. Where next? She throws carrots. Jump on another stand. Another yell. All market ponies stares. Jump on another stand. Another orange mare yells. She wears hat. She looks familiar. She kicks apples in direction of stranger. Stand cracks. Jump on statue of the fountain. Stand collapsed. Jump was too short. Hop out from water. Look around. Few angry ponies approaching. Where to run!? Nowhere to run! Time to fight through! Too weak... Too low on magic to fight all of them... everything hurts. Her legs are surely wounded. Heart beats fast and shallow. Vision blurs. Chrysalis felt sudden chill from head to her hooves. So, that's it. End of line. They are going to finish her, or at least capture, and then they will found out who is she and execute her. There is nothing she can do, she failed everyling, she failed her sister. Orange mare with hat on top trots toward her angrily. Chrysalis can't make out what she was yelling, too much ringing in her ears. Chrysalis took firm stance on her shaking hooves. Last Queen won't go without fight! She will take few ponies with her. Ponyville will burn to the ground. "Camp commander?" She tries to maintain mindlink. It's too wavy, and therefore it couldn't reach it's destination. Chrysalis tries to aim her horn toward orange mare. She should have still enough magic for few killing shots but it's hard to aim when her head floats. Orange mare looks even more angered but backtrots a bit. Vicious chaneling spots this as ocasion, jumps forward to charge through earth mare... but her hooves never touched ground. Even more, she felt tightness against her ribs, feeling of sudden acceleration... and ground was moving away from her. She heard flapping of feathery wings, and surprised yell. "RAINBOW DASH!" Chrysalis felt like her head was getting airy... -- Chrysalis gasped with loud wheeze and opened her eyes. She saw blue, clear sky. It meant she was lying on her back. "Where was she", was a question pounding through her head. But it wasn't only thing what was pounding inside her. Her heart had jumpy, weak rhythm. Her lungs wheezed heavily with each breath. She remembered that she tried to reach library, but she wasn't sure what happened after she run out from Fluttershy cottage. She was sure she made dash toward library through Ponyvile. She remembered flashes of her crazy gallop, and she wasn't sure if she really did all this jumps, she never was a athlete. It was more like her sister thing. She raised her legs... Ouch, they were hurting so much from exhaustion. She noticed few fresh stabbings. It wasn't from any severe wounds, only from grazes... still, she should later do something about it. It would be stupid to let her mask rot away. "If I were you, I wouldn't try that." She heard unknown to her voice. "Is it a threat?" Chrysalis snapped and tried to move her head toward source of voice. Even her neck was burning from exhaustion. She was able to take a look of her surroundings, but she couldn't see owner of this cracking voice. They were on some kind of balcony, but more like terrace. "Naaah, more like friendly advice. I bet that you won't be able to stand even for minute." Chrysalis saw blue pegasus mare with rainbow mane and tail closing in to her. It had to be Rainbow Dash. There was no other possibility with this mane. "What happened?" "It was nice running you did down there, but it made upset some stiff ponies... So, I swooped down and saved you from furious mob!" She puffed out proudly her chest and rubbed her hoof against her chest with smile toward disguised Chrysalis like she was awaiting for something. "Well... thanks. Could you tell me wh..." "So! What's your name?" Rainbow Dash interrupted her with barely contained curiosity. "Charming Stories... And I was..." "Such egghead name for such awesome runner? Are you sure you didn't missed you destiny? I mean, those long le..." "RAINBOW DASH!" Chrysalis yelled, and regretted this second later. She felt like her lungs were bursting at seams. She wondered what part of her body wasn't overtaxed with strain. Her painful yell worked - Rainbow Dash was silent for a two or so seconds. "Hey, you are even yelling like my egghead friend!" Rainbow Dash suddenly realized something, and shot a confused look toward Chrysalis. "Wait, how do you know my name? Are you a chan..." Chrysalis groaned. "You are famous. Twice saviour of Equestria. Only pegasus alive able to pull of Sonic Rainboom. Hell, you was mentioned in few newspapers!" "Oh... yeah." Rainbow Dash replied sheepishly. Unicorn rolled over by flailing her legs, and was currently trying to stand up. She was able to raise her flank, but her chest was still lying on the ground, her forelegs too weak to push up her weigth. Rainbow Dash chuckled at this sight. "Need help?" "Are you blind?!" Chrysalis snapped, frustated with her lack of ability to even stand up. "Jeeez... All you need is to ask." Rainbow Dash took in to air, flew over Charming Stories, grabbed her by hers shoulders and went up. Chrysalis stood shakily. Rainbow landed in front of tall unicorn. "Thank you..." "So... Where you were trying to get? You was running like it was matter of life and death." Chrysalis weren't fond to idea of telling her truth. But on other hoof, she had problems with even standing. And she was lost, she realized when she displayrd map - it wasn't useful anymore, itlost track of her place. And Morpha said Rainbow Dash really cares about her friends. It could be used for her advantage. Somepony need to give her a lift to library, and somepony needs to check on Twilight and maybe made her reasonable. Rainbow Dash looked like pony who won't budge to use force against friend for her own good. Who knows what Twilight will do when wakes up. "Rainbow, listen. I need to get to library..." "No can do. Twilight, librarian, I meant, barricaded herself with studies or something... she only sends Spike for food or something. Unless it's emergency..." "That's it! Something bad happened there!" "What do you mean?" Rainbow Dash tilted her head to the side with confusion. "When I was meeting with Fluttershy... Don't interrupt! I met her only two days ago!" Chrysalis snapped when Rainbow was about to interrupt her. "When I was meeting with Fluttershy, she, Twilight I mean, teleported from thin air, and started to yell that she murdered somepony. I knocked her out, and then I galloped out looking for library. Fluttershy is probably on her way too. Somepony need to check on Twilight if she's still crazy. Fluttershy and I will check out what really happened. Are you in for help?!" Rainbow Dash had a grimace of utter shock. She shook her head, and shot glare of animosity toward Chrysalis. "I don't believe you. Twilight would never..." "Then fly to Fluttershy and ask her herself! I know you are fast, It will take you one minute flat! Just point me to the library!" "Stay right here! If you lied to me..." Rainbow Dash soared straight in direction of Fluttershy cottage. "Great" Chrysalis muttered. She could finally took better look at surroundings. She was on a terrace of... a tree? It was house inside the tree. Pony who lived here had a good taste in Chrysalis opinion. Changelings always preferred their houses alive and organic. Very expensive but easy in maintain, comfortable, self repairing and easily expandable. Tree wasn't as great as changeling building biomatter, but still it was better in eyes of Chrysalis than any other pony building made from stone or wood. Chrysalis felt incoming mindlink transmission. It was from camp commander. "Majesty?" "Yes, commander?" "Queen Metamorphosis is unreachable. What we are supposed to do?" "I'm researching why my sister is silent. I need someling to observe Fluttershy cottage. Inside is very powerful unicorn... in not right state of mind. Description: Twilight Sparkle. Chinch-tier stealth." "Right away, my Queen." Commander wanted to add something, but abandoned the thought. "I need also my location on mental map." "Sending to you. Anything more, majesty?" Chrysalis displayed map again. She saw one ray running through Ponyville, beginning in abandoned castle, then appeared another one, beginning at swamps near Ponyville, when she felt another mind link opening. Both lines crossed in middle of Ponyville. It was location where Chrysalis was. "It's all. Thank you, commander." Mindlinks cut down. Chrysalis would laugh, if even breathing wasn't hurtful. She was where she wanted to be. Library. She was on terrace of library. She even didn't need Rainbow to give her a lift, because she was already there. She trotted toward wooden door, leading inside. She reached it with her magic, but door didn't moved a bit, locked from inside. She looked around for a window to break open and slip through. Unfortunately, they were too small to let her do that. Chrysalis was again getting irritated, she went so far, one door shouldn't stop her. She lowered her horn and prepared to strike door with a powerful magic beam, the same she used to best Celestia. Chrysalis closed her eyes, and tried to cast the spell. Her horn glowered... and spell fizzled with few green sparks. Her magic was almost completly deplated. Disguised Queen dropped to her haunches. She felt like she hit the wall. She could transform some of her Love into magic, but her reserves of Love were low, and it would take time, time she wasn't having too much. Rainbow Dash could be back any minute, and Chrysalis preferred that she would be first to inspect library, if her sister disguised broken down or... False unicorn gulped, and tried to convince herself that it was not a option. She raised again, and trotted toward the door, wondering what she could do now. She wasn't burglar so she didn't know any method to deal with locks. Changeling method to deal with closed door was to destroy said doors, or transform into someone who is allowed to get through. Maybe there was some other approaches... She looked at metal hinges and lock. If she could use her flameless burning spell around them, she could then buck door open easily. She thought again. It would be enough if she could burn out the wood around lock. She clapped her hooves happily, and she began to prepare spell, when sudden spark of insight come to her head. She realized that this spell was common among changelings, but to ponies it was probably unknown. She almost blew her cover, again! Chrysalis hit door furiously with her foreleg, wanting to somehow dispose her arising anger with that. She was furiously punching door, when she suddenly heard small voice behind the unsolvable obstacle. "T-twilight, is that you?" Chrysalis knew this voice, but at first she couldn't pinpoint who was the owner. "Twilight? Answer me, please?" Fright was easy to sense in voice of... Spike, it was Twilight dragon assistant, Chrysalis realized suddenly. Finally, a glimmer of hope. She tried to remember how Twilight sounded like. "Spike! Open the door, please!" Spike could hear exhausted, and a bit terrified about Twilight outside. It shouldn't be surprise he unlocked door without hesitation. Chrysalis jumped through almost immediately after she heard click of unlocking lock. "Who are you!? You are not Twilight!" She heard shocked voice, and she turned to the owner of the voice. Spike was small purple bipedal dragon with green underbelly, chest, and spines. Unfortunately, Chrysalis couldn't take a good look at his face, because Spike decided it was good time to turn out and try to make a dash deeper inside library. Fake unicorn quickly grasped baby dragon in her telekinesis, and levitaded him toward her. Small dragon was trembilng in her force. "Twilight...?" he asked fearfully. "She's safe, knocked out but safe." "Are you going to.. arrest her? It was accident!" If I could I would have her head on silver plate, thought angered Changeling Queen. "What happened? I'm not guard, but if she really killed somepony..." she decided to answer with not-so-well hidden threat. "She's okay! She's breathing!" Quickly replied frightened baby dragon, nervously clenching his fists. "You can see her!" Chrysalis took a look around. She was in somepony bedroom. Desk with few quills and inkpots, and opened diary on it. Few shelves with books on them, a small chest on the end of the bed... and on the bed pony with bandage on her head. She trotted quickly toward her, blinded with hope and barely noticing bowl with water, opened first aid book, and small opened chest with bandages, and some drugs in it. When she was next to head of the pony she was sure of three things. It was her sister. She didn't had any proof, it was more hope than knowledge... but it had to be her. She was alive, her chest was rising and falling with each breath. And somepony cleaned and bandaged her head. Finally she was able to notice all small things around bed. Somepony helped her disguised sister. But if it wasn't Twilight... "You did this?" She asked small dragon, pointing with her hoof to pony and all thing around bed. "Y-yes?" Spike answered fearfully. Many thoughts how to show her joy and thankfulness toward young dragon has flashed through Chrysalis mind. She wanted to jump, yelling her sister is alive. She wanted to at least hug dragon for his effort. But Chrysalis, being Chrysalis... "You did splendid job. I was afraid..." She sighed, putting dragon down. Spike eyed her unsure, but he finally managed to stammer "Is Twilight okay? She..." "She went crazy, and I had to knock her out... but Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash should calm her down when she wake up. She bloody scared us!" Chrysalis violent emotions were slightly giving away. "Is it her first time? I meant...!" She wanted to correct herself realizing how it sounded. "She never did something like that. She..." Spike gulped and contiuned "Twilight had freak outs before, but nothing like this. She is... There is something wrong with her! And she doesn't want to say what it is..." Chrysalis shot a glance at Spike. She didn't need a second look, she saw such fear many times before. Fear born from lack of knowldge what's happening to friend. In last few days she saw it too often in her camp. Everyling was hoping for precise information from other camps, to confirm fears or hopes about close ones. So often few lings came to her and asked kindly if Queen knew anything about some ling... and she had to answer that she wasn't able to manage stable communication with other camps, so she was only able to do only highest priority calls. They always looked so dejected and sadly understanding when they left her. Or lings which friends were suffering from traumatic events of Canterlot and after. Unresponsive shells of lings, or only shadows of they former selfs, drowning in their pain. Chrysalis actually really felt bad for Spike. He was only a kid, and for some reason his friend... maybe even mother figure just went crazy, believing she murdered a pony. Probably there was more to that. This green dragon eyes full of fear... She trotted closer to Spike and kneeled. He needed some help, she felt it. Some kind soul to listen to him or something. Maybe it will make something better... "Hey... Twilight is okay. Nothing bad happened. She just..." "She freaked out! She didn't even stop to check her breath..." Spike pointed at pony in the bed. "She wasn't in right state of mind. Something is probably troubling her..." Spike once again interrupted her. "But, she should tell me! I am her number one assitant! I was always able to help her. I heard her cry in sleep three days ago. And she was mumbling something like... like..." Spike couldn't force himself to finish thought. "Like?" "Like they made her into muderer! But she would never kill anypony! It's some fat lie!" Chrysalis had to fought urge to snap. Yes, Twilight would never kill a pony. Probably not even a pet or something. But her actions during Invasion caused unknown, yet high casualties among changelings. But nooo, lings are not ponies, and they'll never be. ...could it be that Sparkle had some gulit inside? That she felt bad she caused such pain? It... complicated... things for older Queen. She wanted to blindly hate Twilight for crossing her plans... but yet, again she did something that anyling was doing during griffin attacks. And she had gulit trips in effect... But it didn't sounded like she was regreting that what she did caused death, more like she was forced to cause these deaths. She was probably regreting that her hooves became dirty, Chrysalis thought cynically. But some seed of doubt was planted. And Morpha was great pony... She saw strained expression of young dragon. She decided she won't share her suspicons about source of Twilight ramblings. He was hurted enough. "Listen... I believe you could ask her when it's over. She wil realize she have some problem, and needs friends help." After second of doubt she decided to grab dragon in small hug. He flinched, but shortly quickly returned gesture. Chrysalis felt dragon was giving some positive emotions... some hope, some grattidute, maybe something friendship-like. She inhaled it with every part of her body. Was it that what Morpha was talking about? Help them and they'll feed you? It was ridicolous, but it was feeling right. "Thanks... Heh, just realized I don't know your name." "Charming Stories." "I'm Spike. You are good pony." Chrysalis for once felt good with such statement. Author's Note I'm aware it will probably be medicore... But I have to post it anyway. This chapter was scrapped... seven times if I recal. Frustated seven times. Once I scrapped when I reached 4000 words mark...
Wake up, sleepyhead!"Listen, you imbecile, we shouldn't move her! We don't know how badly she wounded her head and you don't want to see you stupid friend in the jail!" Charming Stories shouted angrily at Rainbow Dash. She stood low on her hooves, with horn aimed at opponent in argument, preparing herself for incoming rumble. "Nopony insults my friends! Back it off or else...!" Rainbow Dash flew up, and cracked her front hooves menacingly. Before she could use them, she was brought to the ground by strong tug of her tail. Rainbow snorted at reason of her unexpected landing, Applejack. "Cut it out ya'll! Fluttershy, what's wrong with her?" Applejack was only pony in room who kept her nerves calm under pressure, maybe except the unconscious pony in a bed, who didn't so much of choice in this matter. Spike was trying to help Twilight who seemed to suffer another emotional breakdown, when other unicorn in the room, Rarity, looked like she was about to faint or fight with strange unicorn. Fluttershy said something but nopony paid attention, especially Applejack and Rainbow Dash who were arguing. When Applejack seemed to stay calm, even if quite irritated, Rainbow Dash wasn't holding out her anger. Chrysalis own anger wasn't fading too fast, as her fear was great fuel for that. She had reasons to be afraid. First and foremost her sister wasn't waking up, even after few hours passed. Chrysalis tried everything she could, but it was like noling was inside. It wasn't hard to imagine that Metamorphosis was braindead or her soul left her... even if the body was still alive. Another problem was her mindlink with the camp - it was dead since she talked with commander after a short examination of her sister. She told them that Metamorphosis had minor accident and she is simply sleeping to heal off. He sounded like he bought it, but it was a few hours ago... Chrysalis knew orders she gave him if she won't be reachable. First they will send a single scout to make out situation of the Queen, and reasons of her silence. Then, basing on observation of said scout, commander will have to send rescue squad or wait for a better situation to contact Queen. Of course, there was a third option, if risk was too high, commander was forced to abandon his Queen, and hope she will fend for herself... But knowing Commander Shard's naivety and loyalty, it wasn't hard to imagine him sending everyling to save the Queen. Chrysalis tried to find a reason for sudden death silence. There wasn't too much options. There could be some spell casted by Twilight which rendered Chrysalis mindlink useless. Chrysalis crossed it out by casting a simple unicorn spell, magic detection. It rendered the library free of any spells except maybe telekinesis Twilight used. That left another option open, her lings get captured or killed, but then she would heard something from them about this... Even if dying screams. Chrysalis shuddered. Last signals of dying ling were terrible experience. Influx of various memories, a screeching scream, dying background signals of mind, and this long cheep, abruptly ended in a crackle. She heard that too often in the last few weeks... And that how she was left with the last option: Someling was messing with the link between the Queen and the camp. Skilled changeling in mindlink based spells was able to interrupt or alter communication between other lings and even more. They were called lurkers and stealing memories, mind breaking, snooping, or masking their mind-pattern was their game. They were able to do with minds and links connecting them whatever they want, so it shouldn't be surprising that most of such skilled lurkers were employed by the Crown and used to countermeasure those who used it for their own good or hurt lings. Chrysalis was sure she took for the Invasion only six of them, solely for communication reasons and detecting former spies. She knew that one of them, Clear Signal missed, or more probably died with two other lings during the Canterlot Invasion (she sent her to intercept Cadance and Twilight), another one was captured after the wedding fiasco, and served as a irregular source of information from Canterlot, another two died not long ago from wounds, and last two were currently unreachable but alive. It left her with three lurkers, and one of them was currently in a prison in Canterlot. Other two were probably still loyal to her, or at least to their cause... So it had to be one of agents sent to Equestria by her mother. Could they really hate her so much that they are willing to cause an extinction of their very own kind? Chrysalis was almost sure that was not a option, many of these lings left families behind. No ling, maybe except a monster would doom own family. That left her with possibility was that they would just try to eliminate her and then deal with Equestria. Executing their own Queen could be quite convincing that they weren't following her orders. Chrysalis for a minute wondered if it wouldn't be for the best, but then she noticed a small smile on face of her sister. Maybe she could somehow convince them... if she could wake up. She was the reason they turned against her, aren't she? Chrysalis kicked herself internally. Rebellion of spies against her was her fault. Twilight Sparkle obsession with research about changelings, which caused current state of Metamorphosis, was her fault. Chrysalis tried to fought returning thought that maybe it would be better that she weren't been hatched. Morhpie would be better Queen than her... if she only had a chance to become one. If she only wasn't always pushed away from it by her older sister. Chrysalis always said her that she will take care of everything, and Morhpie wouldn't have to worry about all this boring royal stuff. She always tried to protect her, and it made her worst friend, and then enemy. Sudden silence jerked her to attention. Everypony was staring at Fluttershy who tried to back off despite a wall behind her. "S-she have slightly damaged skull, b-but other..." Fluttershy took a painful breath. "But otherwise she's okay... ...just isn't waking up." "Is she okay to took her to hospital?" Applejack kept her questions simple. She learned that it was often best way to deal with problems and panic, not fuss around them, keep it simple and focused. Fluttershy shot an apologetic glance at Chrysalis, which just shook her head objectionably. "I-it seems so..." Chrysalis felt betrayed by only pony she respected. But how could she do otherwise? Fluttershy probably wanted the best for Morphie... Pinkie Pie too. Applejack nodded and turned toward Charming Stories. "Is there anything you can do to wake her up?" She wasn't angry, it was matter-of-fact question. Chrysalis just knew that lying under this stern gaze is bad idea. She just couldn't imagine what would happen if Applejack found out that she was lied to... And Chrysalis felt it was rather big chance she could sense her lies. The only safe way out was truth. "There left only one thing to do... Pray. Give me a moment..." It wasn't quite a lie, it was rather a half-truth. Chrysalis wasn't a religious ling, hardships of her life destroyed any belief in god or force above her wanting her good. Of course, she still talked to the mother, but a changeling cult of ancestors wasn't a true religion. Applejack seemed to understand this as a valid reason, even if her eyes showed doubt. She turned to the rest of the ponies and gestured them to leave. Rainbow Dash wasn't one to oblige without another argument. "AJ, seriously, you trust her?! Girls, c'mon!" Rainbow Dash took a disgusted look at Rarity leading broken Twilight out. "Ah don't have reason to not." "But, but she can kidnap her or something!" RD flailed her forehooves into air while flowing up. "Then why would she try to save her and protect Twilight? RD, trust me." Applejack words were nothing but rational and honest. Chrysalis didn't cared for Twilight at all and she liked idea that she would be imprisoned in Equestrian jail. Unfortunately, Twilight will be useful for her sister later plans... and she was her friend. Applejack and Rainbow stared at each other for few moments. Chrysalis could sense how Rainbow's anger started to cool off in contact with Applejack certainty and calmness. RD landed on the ground and flared her nostrils one more time. "Allright, AJ, you won. I just hope you know what are you doing. I just don't like this madness." She trotted toward the door. "Ah don't like this at all too, sugarcube... Fluttershy, are ya comin'?" Orange pony stopped before leaving, turning her head to pegasi who tried to hide in her own mane. Chrysalis turned toward Fluttershy and mouthed "Go away you idiot". Fluttershy winced like a beaten dog, and walked away with her head low. "I'm sorry..." she whispered with her quiet voice. Chrysalis just turned away her eyes from traitor, and sat before the bed. She heard loud click of a latch inside door. She was left alone. Alone. Thousands of thoughts run through her head. Alone - she could take Morphie with her and run away. Alone - she wouldn't make more than hundred meters with her on back. Alone - is she even still here? In her head? Alone - is there anyling alive anymore? Alone - noling on other end of the mindlink. This silence was eerily. Alone - no help would come. Alone - she even lost an ally in Fluttershy. Alone - why she even cared for others? Alone at the throne as they say. Alone - maybe she should just... No, she wasn't alone, sudden thought attacked her. She was feeling so alone because someling make her feel like that. No, not that Lurker, she realized in sudden clarity, that was her self-loathing and sadness. For a moment her treacherous parts of mind tried to use it for more self-loathing, but something in Chrysalis mind made her realize it would be a vicious cycle. She had no time for such nonsense. She should realize this earlier. There were still lings out here who needed to be saved. There was still Morhpie... Chrysalis was sure of it somehow. She knew she should focus at things at hoof now. Lurker who separated her from her subjects was probably also listening to any attempts of communications. Of course, there was a option that he or she somehow just blocked links without trying to gather any information, but Chrysalis knew she had to try. She started to open her link again, but she decided to went with full power, without any masking, on any possible channel that could exist. "I don't know who you are. I tried to deduce it, and I came to three possible options. First, you could be one from my army who rebelled against me. If it's truth, then only thing I'm going to ask you for is: Do not doom our kind. Do not seek a vengeance for all cost. If your leaders have plan which considers following a path of peace and it have any chance of success - I'm ready to began my abdication if it's what are you looking for. Second, you could be one of agents installed by my mother in Equestria. You betrayed... no, you stopped following me when I wrongfully banished my sister. You were allowed to do so by orders of my Mother if I guess correctly. Banishment of Queen Metamorphosis was... wrong." Chrysalis paused. Thinking about something was one thing. Talking, or streaming it was different thing. "My fear that Equestria will be another enemy, lack of faith in my sister, my stupidity caused her exile, and therefore the Invasion. Invasion which probably destroyed anything that you could achieve, any long term plan of yours, maybe even tear apart families. I... For all it's worth, I apologize. My only intent was saving my subjects. My only result is dooming them. I'm not good Queen of the Swarm. Fortunately, I'm not the only one who can fulfil this position. Queen Metamorphosis is alive and informed of current situation. I contacted her in person. She... She will be restored to her old position. If she allows, she will be sole Queen of Swarm. I think you will found it favourable. But... But there was a small accident during her quest in finding some short-time salvation for still-my subjects which ended with her in coma-like state. I can't sense her in her body. I can't even found any trace of her mind. Her body is breathing, but... she's not waking up. I'm... I'm afraid. I don't want to lose her. Not like this... not after... Excuse my slip. I need help. Survivors of the Invasion need help. I'm not looking for fight with Equestria, I mean harm no longer. I'm not even able to. Now, I'm asking only to abolish this ban on link with my lings and... help my sister, please... I... There's a third option. You can work for Celestia or Luna. If you are going to bring justice on my head... do it. I know ponies of Equestria demands it. I wouldn't be surprised if your own heart wants it. I have to beg, just send them my wishes for peace. There is nothing more I could be asking for." Chrysalis listened into silence, awaiting for any signal, any voice. If she could only heard what was happening in this silence... -- "Surveillance." "Authorization." "...do we have to go through this? You have my mind signature." "Authorization." "T14, 7UN4-N0T-NNM" "Affirmative, link clear and loud, come in." "I have an unexpected situation development. Open your link more, I'll sent package." "Wilco, send you traffic..." "Awaiting confirmation." "Solid copy. I... Can you confirm this bit about Queen Metamorhposis." "That's what she said." "Heh. It's not time for joking. We need to keep focused." "You chuckled, and really, we are not military. Anyway, I can't locate Queen Metamorphosis. Instead I'm tracking few lings from Chrysalis army. They seem to be part of a bigger group. We have to scratch off mission." "Why?" "First, there are her lings nearby, and with them it can go ugly. We don't want any casualties, right?" "But they don't know what's going on with her." "Exactly, so they will scout Ponyville, and try to find her. There are few commanders in her army who would consider "burning down Ponyville" a valid solution for getting their Queen to safety, and you know who lives in Ponyville." "Elements Of Harmony." "I won't put them on the line of fire. Our cause it's not worth destruction of the world." "I still believe Princess Celestia have back-up plans for everything. Our agents in Canterlot seemed to confirm that." "If you say so, anyway..." "Understood. I'll call off the mission. Still, I need you to get any information which could confirm your findings." "I need an authorization for a snoop." "You can do anything you can. We need as much information is possible about Queen Metamorphosis." "Allright, I'm going in. Synthesis, out." -- Chrysalis still heard silence, but she felt it changed somehow. She tried to reestablish connection with her subjects, but then... Her senses blacked out. Only because her attacker take control over her body, she didn't gasped or yelled. Chrysalis wasn't trained in countermeasures for such things, she always had ling for this. She was on absolute mercy of her attacker. She quickly realized that her aggressor didn't seemed to try to kill her, or destroy her mind. At once she understood what was target of his attack. He wanted to access her memories. Chrysalis started to think frantically what she should do, and realized any her action will be known by her tormentor. She only could wait helplessly in silence and darkness of her mind... Could she? She knew there were few memories she should protect at all cost such as Metamorphosis disguise in Ponyville. She was... a white pegasus with blond mane! Yeah, Surprise! She used this even back in the Swarm, when she played with her sister. Chrysalis felt her mind separating in two streams of consciousness, one focused on making as much false information was possible about Pin... Suprise! ... when second was trying to make out any way to throw out her invader. She couldn't cut off her link. She couldn't use her magic to shield herself. She was never trained to protect herself from Lurkers.... "I cannot hide, I cannot run, I cannot fight..." She listed her options. Sudden memory of P... Suprise occurred to Chrysalis. Her motor mouth, which made almost everyone puzzled about inner workings of her mind. Chrysalis would smile if she could, if her ability to move any muscle weren't taken from her. She had an idea. -- "Rorr'rt!" "..." "I know you are here, stop playing games!" "What's going on, Synthesis?" "I need mind bleach, is there something like that?!" "What happened?" "This crazy mare... She showed me... No, you really don't want to know." "Oooo-h... You are tempting me to snoop you." "No, really... Did you know that... nevermind. I got some information." "Awww... I was hoping you will say something more. Go ahead." "This part about Queen Metamorphosis is true and she's alive. Chrysalis really contacted her, and it seems that Queen Metamorphosis forgave her and is currently working together with Chrysalis to save our kind." "Is she stupid?!" "Naive maybe. Stupid - not. Otherwise Chrysalis seems to really care about her, but... we know Chrysalis, it could be just another trick. Anyway, I couldn't work out Queen Metamorphosis true disguise. Chrysalis memories are true... But she muddled it with other memories. I could only get that Queen Metamorphosis is not a white pegasi with blond mane named Surprise, a supposed Cutie Mark shape, and a possibly first name of her pony form. It is P. Oh, and she have tendency to speak very fast and very excited." "Did we had anyling in Ponyville?" "Yes, librarian, but she moved to Trottingham over two years ago. Celestia indirect actions." "Hell... I'll contact First. We have to change our plans." "What's my orders?" "Observe them, and keep me informed." "Comm-ban?" "Abort it." "Allright, I'm out." -- Chrysalis shook her head. With that simple gesture she was almost sure Lurker left her head. And then she felt tingling of someling trying to reach her. It was Commander. "Queen Chrysalis, are you okay?" "I'm fine." "We suppose some Lurker disrupted our links..." "I know it, Commander. Anything more?" "Yes, lings are asking about Queen Metamorphosis." "I can't provide more information about her. Situation is under development." "Should I prepare Hit and Rescue squad, my Queen?" "Put them in standby, but I believe it won't be necessary." "Understood. It's only suggestion, but lings are worried. It could be wise to enlighten them about situation later." "Noted, Commander." "Commander Shard, out." She was surprised that Shard didn't mobilized any soldiers earlier. She even wanted to call out him and ask about it, but then she heard a single knock at the door. She turned towards entering Applejack. "Have ya finished?" Chrysalis nodded. "Don't feel bad about it. Prayers don't work too often." Applejack sat next to Charming Stories. Both ponies sat in the silence, stared into the unconscious unicorn. "It's just stupid." Chrysalis broke the silence. "She's not dead, ya know." "But it's still stupid. She went in, panicked and knocked herself out." "Huh. Twilight can be mighty scary when she have her episodes." "I guess this happens often ." "Not really. Once or twice." "How she is holding up?" Painful sigh was Applejack's answer, and for Chrysalis it was more explanatory than any words. "Darn. We could use Pinkie around... Ah sent Rainbow to look out for her." "Who is she?" Chrysalis asked innocently, and she was honestly curious how Pinkie's friends saw her. "Ah tell ya, she's craziest mare ah have met. Not that she's some screw loose. Nah, she's plain crazy. We, in Ponyville, say about her she's "Just Pinkie"." "Then why you want her here?" "Because sometimes you need corkscrew, not regular old pony like me. She may be ... Pinkie, but she knows how to put pony from dumps." Applejack chuckled. Chrysalis only humphed and arched her eyebrow. "If she would be around she would throw welcoming party for both of ya. Shucks... Ah just realized we didn't trade our names. My name is Applejack." Applejack draw her hoof. "Charming Stories." Chrysalis just bumped extended hoof. She felt small spark between her and Applejack. It wasn't friendship, not yet, it was more like promise... "So, Charming, would ya help girls and me?" Applejack asked, standing up. "Yes, I'm already invested in this..." Chrysalis followed apparently pony-in-charge. "Great to hear that. Could ya make a stretcher from this bedsheet? I'll go organize girls..." Applejack left her and Chrysalis could hear a muffled conservation. She tried to eavesdrop, but it was too quiet to make anything out of it. With nothing more to do she focused on task at hoof. If she could bind corners of the sheet with something than she could make a hammock carriable by two ponies, one at the front and second on the end. It will be troubling to carry it downstairs, but it's some solution... she got to work without further ado. -- "She is not breathing. I killed her. She's not breathing. What will Princess Celestia do? She'll banish me. Or execute me. Or execute me and banish my body. Or..." Twilight monotone, emotionless ramblings quickly started to annoy her former nemesis. "Shut up." "Or she'll banish me, a then execute me..." Twilight mind seemed to be blocked in stable loops of unresponsive insanity. She claimed that she killed a pony, said pony is not breathing, and reflections how Princess Celestia is going to punish her. It seemed that everypony gave up at trying to reason with Twilight, and at the moment when Chrysalis came down, only Spike was actually doing something to pull out her from stupor. "Careful, sugarcube, keep it steady." Chrysalis heard Applejack from stairs. Applejack and Fluttershy were carefully carrying down wounded pony. Fluttershy was flying at front of stretcher to keep it levelled. Chrysalis wondered if it wouldn't be better to wait for Rainbow Dash, as two pegasi could make it much easier than earth pony and pegasus. Chrysalis heard sob, and when she turned toward source of sound, she saw that even Spike gave up. Rarity comforted him with kind words and tight hug. Chrysalis felt Love from these two... "She's not breathing. Where are you carrying her?" Even if it was a question, Twilight voice was monotonous and uninterested. It was probably her way of noticing that Applejack and Fluttershy were already in main room of library. Chrysalis decided to take a better look at hated unicorn. Bloodshot eyes, dishevelled mane, unkempt coat were quite obvious evidence that Twilight hadn't slept well or at all in last few days. "Why she's like that? Why she ignores us? I'm useless..." "Spike, dear, I don't want to hear such words from you ever again. You are wonderful dragon, and a great friend. Twilight is just... not herself as you see. Excuse me for a moment, as Applejack and Fluttershy will need my help." Rarity broke hug and trotted toward door. She stopped in her tracks, she seemed worried about something. "I hate to ask you for this, but unfortunately I have to... Could you look out for Twilight and... you new friend?" This word hit Chrysalis. She didn't want to be a friend with anypony or anydragon. But... Morphie would like it, didn't she? It was she was about. Make some friends. She's not dead! "She's not breathing. Death from suffocation happens after..." Chrysalis shoot a look at Twilight. She found some book on biology and was now reading it aloud. In any other circumstances, seeing hated unicorn in such broken state would cause a joy in heart of Changeling Queen. But now she hated Twilight for her egoistic delusions. She bordered herself with self-told lies and was only focusing on her fate, forgetting about her friends and hurt she caused. She took a look at Twilight friends. Did she even realized how much she hurt them? No, her mind was galloping in circle containing delusion, fear, self-hate... but friends were not included in her thinking. Chrysalis blood boiled in anger. She hated Twilight. She should enjoy that, and she had no reason to care about those ponies. But... she saw Spike, and he aroused her compassion. He was just a kid who couldn't help, who couldn't fully understand what's happening. On other hoof, he knew what to do with wounded pony, which was quite surprising for Chrysalis. Chrysalis wasn't sure what was real cause what made her do what she did. Anger? Compassion? She grabbed Twilight in telekinesis, and lifted toward supposed Morphie and her shocked friends. Twilight didn't even react, and everypony freeze uncertain how to react. Chrysalis made Twilight head touch chest of unconscious pony. "Listen! What you hear!?" Chrysalis shouted. Carriers trotted in place unsure what they should do. "She's not breathing." Twilight answered without hint of emotion in her voice. Chrysalis hit Twilight head in chest of her victim. "LISTEN!" Rarity horn bristled with magic, Chrysalis was sure she will be hit in few seconds by something... She started to regret her decision. "She's..." Applejack flared nostrils, preparing herself mentally to attack strange unicorn. Chrysalis noticed that small glow of unicorn magic enveloped Applejack's grip of stretcher. Chrysalis wondered how they could communicate that fast without mind-linking... And then everyone in the room could hear a groan escaping mouth of wounded pony with small frown forming on her face. "...few more minutes..." she said in quiet voice. Everyone stared with wide eyes. Chrysalis, surpassing initial shock, tried to establish connection with her, or at least to sense if it was really her sister. Her spirits were already high when it seemed connection was picked up. "Chryssie... wake me later, 'kay?...". When Chrysalis heard that, and sensed it come from pony next to her, she almost screamed from joy. Small yawn escaped her sister's mouth. "She's breathing..." Twilight voice was shaking, as her belief she killed somepony. Everyone seemed to still be dumbfounded by a scene playing in front of their eyes. "She's alive!" And with these words Twilight's blindness and stupor vanished. Chrysalis dropped Twilight, shocked from unexpected joyful scream of Twilight. She even backed up a few steps. And then for Chrysalis everything exploded. When Chrysalis found herself few minutes later, she was hugged by Fluttershy and Spike, and dazed by sudden influx of positive emotions toward her. Twilight was talking with Applejack. She looked quite ashamed, when earth pony seemed to be relieved and scornful at the same time. Rarity was helping Morphie with getting up who still seemed to be sleepy, but yet in character. Nopony noticed Rainbow Dash sitting in the window. She smiled. "Have I missed anything?" Author's Note I need proofreader... Argh, somepony, pleaaase? And 116/5? Guys, really? IMHO it's too good rating for this.
Changing Mind pt.1Chrysalis was afraid that her sister will slip to her Pinkie persona after waking up. Gladly, she was proven wrong, as Metamorphosis immediately picked up her act of tourist pony, Snapshot. Everypony focused at her, asking her various questions, or in Twilight's case, asking for forgiveness. Chrysalis considered to leave discreetly, but she opted against it; her sister could need her. Snapshot answered few questions and quite easily (too easily in Chrysalis opinion) forgave Twilight. She even said that it was her fault, because it was her who panicked in the first place. After few minutes of making acquaintances with "new" friends, Snapshot said that she have terrible headache and needs to rest somewhere. In effect, everypony offered her a place to stay. Chrysalis blinked, as once again her beliefs about ponies were challenged. She always believed that ponies were only concerned about families and small circles of friends, working together with anypony else only for material profit. Yet, neither Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity or Twilight mentioned anything about payment, like they really cared about stranger pony. Chrysalis didn't want to acknowledge this, but she felt she could be a bit prejudiced about ponies; It was another crack in her perfect, simple vision of world. "...so, thanks for offer everypony, but I think it would be best if I will stay in Fluttershy's place." Chrysalis jerked, hearing that, it was unwelcome change of her plans. "But..." She began, looking at her sister and Fluttershy. Everypony turned their attention to tall unicorn. Chrysalis shut her mouth, and immediately tried to make a call to her sister. It took a few seconds for Metamorphosis to pick up the connection, during Chrysalis finished awkwardly, "...I thought I'm staying in your house." Chrysalis instantly regretted connecting with her sister. Chrysalis knew that her sister had to lost some skills in link management. Yet, she would never suspect that Metamorphosis would forget or wouldn't be able to tune out pain. What Chrysalis felt was worse than any migraine she suffered. She could swear that veins of her head were full with small shards of ice and her head was going to pop from pressure inside. It was painful enough without mentioning that everything was flowing, light was too bright, and voices were crystal sharp and painful as such. She could barely make out what Fluttershy was saying to her. Chrysalis almost threw up from terrible sensation; she decided to disconnect immediately. "Snapshot needs quiet place to rest. I hope you are not angry..." Fluttershy noticed pained Chrysalis pained scowl what she took as disappointment, so she quickly added. "Of course I can sleep on the ground and offer you a couch..." "Yes, I see... NO! You won't sleep on the ground! I will just find some other place. I can even sleep in the forest, It wouldn't be the first time when I have to wing it." It was true, Chrysalis journey to Equestria was rough; she slept with her lings on simple rugs under a starry sky; only way to survive cold of the night was to pile up with other lings. She was sure that any place in Equestria was easier to survive than Transirebla Desert. "Oh, I'm certain somepony will take you in. Ponyville is full of good ponies..." Fluttershy added helpfully, and nodded toward her friends. They seemed to understand it immediately. Chrysalis didn't want attention of these ponies, but she knew she had to play it cool, even if for her own safety. "Well, I don't want to be burden..." Even if she tried to sound sure, her fear made her sound uncertain. It was welcomed with hearty guffaw of Rainbow Dash and Applejack. Chrysalis shoot them anxious glance. "It seems that Shy really rubbed of on you, Charming." Applejack explained with wide smile. "Yeah! I mean, woah, one moment you are awesome runner, next you are jerk, and then you are... well, like Fluttershy." Fluttershy and Snapshot bid their farewells and left. It seemed that pain was taking better of Metamorphosis, as pained scowl was still attached to her face. Something clicked in Chrysalis brain, as she focused on Applejack. She knew this pony from somewhere... Her eyes widened with sudden realization. She destroyed Applejack cart during her mad run toward library. "Uh, do ya need something?" Applejack wasn't feeling comfortable with green unicorn focused on her. Especially if it seemed that she was afraid. "I... destroyed you cart...?" "Yup. Ya did." Applejack nodded. "And you threw a rubbish on me!" chimed in Rarity "It wasn't easy to clean off it at such hurry..." Chrysalis gulped. These ponies had any right to be angry. Applejack could even call guards on her for material losses. Her only hope was in minimizing anger, even if they hidden it well. She cursed that her magic was so low that she couldn't risk casting even simplest emotion detection spell. If other party was changelings, it would be easier too... "I'm sorry. I didn't want to. Please, don't..." "Don't worry ya head about it. Ah'm sure ya didn't, ya had other problems on your head." Applejack smiled, it seemed that this pony valued integrity. Chrysalis offered a small smile of gratitude, she never suspected it will be so easy. Naive ponies, she thought. Or maybe just kind... "Don't worry, Ah'll let ya make up for it." Applejack added with slow nod. Chrysalis smile fell. "Make up...? How?" "Ya will help me on farm. Ya know anything about apples?" "Um... They are tasty?" Chrysalis answered hesitantly. "Darn right they are! But Ah was asking; Do ya know anything about working on apple farm?" Chrysalis knew many thing about agriculture. She knew what soil was perfect to what produce. She knew which products of her nation could be traded to which goods of their few trading partners. To improve commerce she even learned how to store and transport them. She knew how her subjects provided water for their farms without pegasi blessing of weather manipulation. She was aware how much it cost to produce a one sack of grain, one bushel of corn, or other goods of her kingdom. She set prices Crown was offering to farmers for their work. But beside that, she didn't know first thing about farmers work. She probably couldn't distinguish apple from pear. "I'm afraid that answer is no." "Well, what about magic?" "Such as?" Applejack paused, mouthing word, and finally finished "Telekinesis, girl!" "I'm no better than average pony." "Shoot... Well, ya seem sturdy for unicorn, but... I think ya won't be useful." Chrysalis blinked, surprised. She never excepted that Applejack could be a racist. She felt disappointed in Applejack, she seemed to be a good person... for a pony, Chrysalis added. She couldn't stop herself from asking, "What do you mean by that?" "Ugh, don't be angry, but you are not farm pony, and you don't seem to be cut out for that..." Chrysalis realized that she could bail out from paying out her damages on farm, but her pride took better of her. She had to prove something to that pony. "Because I'm a unicorn?" She deadpanned. Temperature in room dropped down a few degrees. "Kind of. Don't get me wrong here, but unicorns usually aren't so tough as earth ponies or pegasi are. It just the way it is. If ya had magic like Twi here..." It only irked Chrysalis further. Maybe it was that it seemed to her that ponies were caste driven society, with strict boundaries what race can do. Maybe it was mentioning Twilight Sparkle as someone better than her. "So, you are racist." Celestia own sun couldn't heat atmosphere in the the room as these few simple words. "Wait a darn tootin minute!" Applejack was obviously outraged by Chrysalis statement. Chrysalis noticed rage painted on Rainbow Dash face, and utter shock of rest of ponies and one dragon. "No, you listen. You just said unicorns are not good enough to work on farm, just because they sport a horn! I may not bee such skilled magician like Twilight, but just show me what I need to do, and I will, in any way I can! I may not be as good at you, fine, but I'm not so retarded to not even pay off my debt! I don't want to get easy way out, because you think I can't manage!" Applejack rage seemed to subdue slowly. After few seconds more, she slowly nodded her head. "Alright. Ah can give ya a chance, just don't cry to me later about it." "I won't." Applejack spit on her hoof and extended it toward Chrysalis, who did the same. Two hooves bumped. "Deal." Both ponies said at same time. Applejack chuckled. Chrysalis arched her brow, confused by sudden improvement in mood of orange pony. "Ya have spirit, I have to give ya that. Maybe ya will prove me wrong." "Well... Thanks. You may not be racist, just practical... So I'm kind of... sorry?" Chrysalis finished sheepishly. She wasn't sure how she should play it off from this moment. "Naaah, it's fine. Water under bridge. It doesn't mean Ah will go easy on ya, and Ah reckon ya wouldn't want it other way... I think Rarity want something from ya too." White unicorn stepped in. "Of course I want something! I want satisfaction!," she raised her hoof dramatically, "...or rather I would want if your reasons weren't right, darling. Still, crime is crime..." "...Crime?" Chrysalis asked; she knew that pony laws and customs were different, but it seemed to be quite absurd; staining one's coat being a crime. "Of course! To destroy masterwork of Aloe and Lotus is serious offense! To make me take a emergency bath is only slightly less serious crime." Chrysalis noticed how Rainbow rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Aren't you exaggerating a bit?" Chrysalis asked to confirm her suspicions. "No, I'm certain I'm not!" "Rare, you are. Can't you just say what do you want from her? Just look like pro does it!" Rainbow Dash threw herself in conversation and turned to Chrysalis. "Yo, I want to beat you for things you said about my friends!" "...Beat? Like in fight?" Chrysalis grinned. Blue pegasus was starting to play on her nerves with her brash behavior. Chrysalis was sure that smashing her face to dirt will calm her nerves. "Yeah, If you want to. Race, fight, which one you prefer. You better not chose to fight with me. I have black belt in karate, kung-fu and few other martial arts." Chrysalis wasn't honestly sure if Rainbow was really such skilled fighter or just so full of herself. She saw how she fought and it seemed to be more of a improvisation than actual style. "Rainbow, that is too much!" Twilight interjected. "Fight, until one side gives up or is unconscious. Two seconds." Chrysalis stated in even cold voice. "Seconds?" Rainbow tilted her head in misunderstanding. "She meant a pony who is selected by a participant of the duel to observe and interfere when life is in danger or rules are broken." Twilight explained, strain of previous events still audible in her voice. "So, something like judge? I call dibs on AJ!" Chrysalis winced; AJ was her preferred choice. Rainbow Dash choice left her with Fluttershy, Rarity or Twilight. Fluttershy was good pony in Chrysalis book, but she couldn't imagine how shy pony could be a good choice for such matter. Rarity she didn't know, but she seemed to be shady type, and was wronged by Chrysalis. ...it meant she had to choose Twilight. "Then I'm choosing Twilight as my second." "When?" Chrysalis hesitated. She wanted to beat Rainbow here and now, but she had to admit she was exhausted and her Love was running too low to give her any edge. "Three days from today." "Will do. It won't change a thing, I'm still gonna kick you sorry flank." Rainbow Dash bragged, smashing her forehooves together. "We'll see." Chrysalis gave her mischievous smile, trying to plant worry in pegasus heart. "Don't fool yourself." Rainbow Dash was practically butting in Chrysalis face. Chrysalis opened her mouth to retort, but polite cough broke apart two opponents from each other. She turned her head to Rarity. "Please, I understand you two have to... 'went off' as they say, but could I have you attention?" "Yeah?" Rainbow answered for both of them. "Charming, am I right?" Chrysalis nodded. "I think I found a way for you to pay for you crimes. You see..." Rarity raised her hoof dramatically. Chrysalis sighed and realized she wasn't only one. It seemed that everypony one way or another showed their distaste for Rarity drama. "To the point." Chrysalis suggested with unamused voice. "Why yes, I would want to use as model. You see, I have order from Fancy Pants consort, Fleur De Lis. You are similar height and body build... well, you are more athletic than her, but it won't be a problem. And who knows, maybe even princess Cadance or Luna will be interested in these dresses?" "So... You want me to wear clothes?" Chrysalis asked doubtfully. "Yes, is it a problem? If you are not used to clothes, I understand, I will find another use for you..." "Well, no, it's not the problem. It just doesn't seem to be hard..." Chrysalis voiced her doubt; it seemed to be too easy. She was sure there had to be some catch. Rainbow guffaw broke her train of thoughts. Chrysalis noticed worried faces of Twilight and Applejack. Applejack even took down her hat. "Okay, you are so screwed that I'm even sorry for you!" "Rainbow!" Rarity fumed. Chrysalis yet again wanted to smack pegasus. "Ugh, why everyli..." Chrysalis sneezed to hide her error "...sorry, why everypony seems to be afraid of this?" "She tried to crush my organs into pulp!" Twilight zoned out and come down on Equs when she noticed horrified grimace of Chrysalis. Twilight smiled sheepishly. "Corset." She turned to hurt Rarity "Sorry... I know you didn't meant to..." "Darling it was only corset..." Rarity tried to explain her actions but Rainbow Dash interrupted her, "She ripped half of my mane!" "Darling, you are quite over dramatizing, and if you only brushed it more often, you wouldn't have so many terrible tangles..." "Well, to be honest, ya made me to not move a muscle for few hours when ya were fussing about some details." "AJ, but... It was worth it?" Rarity smiled faintly. "Sure it was, sugarcube, still..." Everypony broke into discussion about their dealing with Rarity wish to make everypony fabulous. Chrysalis wasn't afraid to be a model; It couldn't be half bad as these ponies portrayed. They were pathetic ponies in her eyes but then she reminded herself who they really were. They were ponies who faced a crazy royalty, dragon, god of chaos, and fought their way through her subjects. She recalled how they fought. It was like they were one, it was like they were changelings Insync, it was harmonious. Twilight Sparkle mowing down changeling rag-tag army with stunning spells, Applejack bucking out anyling who tried to put down her purple friend. Rainbow Dash was recklessly dashing through small groups when Rarity style of fight could be considered a dance, dance in which partner after partner is biting the dust. Chrysalis was suspecting that Fluttershy could be trained in Zebrican martial art, Aikido, she knocked out few lings when seemingly avoiding the fight. She shook her head; Those ponies were crazy. They are afraid of their dressmaking friend but facing a danger of live and limb was no problem for them. Chrysalis sighed, she knew she had to be on their good side. "Rarity? Tell me when you will need my help, I'll gladly pay off my debts." Chrysalis tried to smile honestly. "I want to finish this order as early is possible. Still, I have to consider you arrangements... What would you say, 5 days from now?" "It's fine for me." "Ugh, Ah don't wanna to be doubtful, but how are ya gonna to do it all? Fight, farm, posing..." asked Applejack. Chrysalis realized how many obligations she gave to ponies around her. ...ponies who made her plans undone. Ponies who were friends of her sister. Chrysalis felt better when she put this in that perspective. ...but still some parts of her were rebelling. Some parts of her mind were even afraid that she will really befriend some ponies. And yet again Chrysalis was asking herself if it wasn't the point of following her sister ideas. "Tartarus if I know. If everything is done and said, I will excuse myself and make some place for me to stay." Chrysalis wanted to say her goodbyes and leave; she had to talk with few lings and think about few things. "You don't have to leave, you can stay here." She heard voice she hated so much. Chrysalis turned to face Twilight. She seemed to have only good will in her eyes, even if her smile was strained and nervous. She wasn't such a wreck like hour ago, yet she still seemed to be broken in some way. "It's great idea, Twi! Ah'm sure it will be better than my barn." Applejack happily agreed. "No." Everypony focused on Chrysalis. She knew she had to play it safe, yet wanted to hurt Twilight. She noticed Spike clinging to leg of hatred pony. Seeing his thankful and hoping eyes caused a small change in her heart; she found a new way to hurt Twilight. "I appreciate the offer, but no. Forgive me to be straight, I don't trust you too much and we deserve some explanation for you actions." Chrysalis was straining to gave it neutral tone, yet it seemed that her friends were offended. "Hey!," 'Who else than Rainbow Dash'; Chrysalis chuckled internally. Twilight head turned down in shame. "She is right, Rainbow. You all deserve some explanation. You too, I caused too much stress for you..." Twilight looked Chrysalis in eye. Chrysalis realized she saw eyes like that; she saw them in her lings. Broken, tired, kind of lifeless eyes of someone who was trapped in their own personal hell. Chrysalis wanted to turned away her eyes, guilt was finding a way to her heart, yet these purple eyes were to captivating... and then she saw a small sparkle of hope deep inside them. "You see... It's about what happened in Canterlot." Confessions are similar to avalanches; Chrysalis already knew how it will went, from small opening up to whole revelation. "When we were in Canterlot, before Invasion, I met few ponies from my school.... most of them were... well, they were all about me being Bearer of Harmony and such. All of them, except one pony. Moondancer. Do you know what she did say? 'Twilight! I'm so happy for you!" 'Why, because I'm Bearer?" I was kind of tired by then. You know, all that atmosphere and all of you ignoring my suspicions. Nevermind, it's fine girls, you were all worked up, and I... Well, I will better continue; she said 'No, of course no! You made friends. You know, I was always hoping I could reach you and be your friend, but hey, I'm so glad for you!'. She wanted to be my friend when I was closed for others, not considering friendship as something valuable. We talked for a bit. She was quite like Pinkie, maybe less..." Twilight gave strained chuckle "Pinkie, but you know what I mean. Friend to everpony. We promised to write to each other. ...I thought I made a first friend in Canterlot. You know, a friend who I rejected before. It doesn't matter now." "Why it is?" Applejack asked, worry painted on her face. "She is dead. Killed by a changeling. Not in Invasion. Later. Some of them survived in caves or such places..." Chrysalis believed she skipped a beat. Changeling outright ignoring her orders? Of course it could be ling who did not get any update of orders. Still, even in original orders killing a pony was considered to be a last option. Could it be some of lings who decided to disobey their Queen? What purpose could serve killing a random pony? Chrysalis needed to know more; if it was one rebeling lings, they could plan something vile to Chrysalis and Metamorphosis plans.. "She wanted to be actor, you know? She went to AlTeRnation, one of the finest acting school in Equestria. Few days ago a changeling suddenly attacked her professor during lecture. Moondancer... she barged into fight. She bought enough time for her teacher and other students to escape. She... you know the rest. Changeling didn't survived too. Guards killed him on spot." "These monsters..." Rainbow clenched her teeth. "I- Princess Luna asked me if I wanted to help Equestria in research about changelings. Obviously I answered yes. You know, I saw them only as bugs, threat. Luna sent me reports of other researches. That pieces of shell?" She pointed with her hoof to small pile of shard of changeling shells "This is their skin. Yes, I have parts of their body. To study them. Ponies ripped their bodies apart to study them. For a while it didn't bothered me. You know, I thought they are just mindless bugs. But...", Twilight eyes glistened. 'They are not'; Chrysalis finished in her mind. 'Is it it what is hurting her?' "They have names. Families. They had dreams and hopes. They are like other sentient races. I... read reports from Luna researches. Some of captured changelings lived here for over ten years. They are reports of mixed pairings with them! Ponies who lived with changelings, knowing what they are ...they are not monsters I wanted them to see. You know why I wanted them to be monsters?" Everypony nodded in silence. "We killed them. We killed hundreds of them. Not with our own hooves, but... Shining spell smashed many of them against walls, many of them didn't survived being thrown away. We found hundred of bodies. I have blood on my hooves. Blood of sentients." Tear escaped Twilight eye and dropped to the ground.. "They made me a murderer! I pity and hate them at the same time! They..." "Sugarcube..." Applejack trotted softly to her friend. "Sometimes, ya have to kill someone who's threating ya family and friends." "Applejack, what - what would you do if you family were starving and somepony around had abundance of food, and you were sure that they won't share? What would do if Apple Bloom was dying from hunger? Could you just say her that is the way it is? Be honest with me." Applejack gulped and focused on floor below her. "Ah... Ah reckon Ah would rob them. Raid their farm. Family and friends come first. Granny told stories what ponies can do when they starve..." "Changelings did it for some reason. They are dying race. They are starving and fighting lost war. They believed that is their only chance. We doomed them." Even Rainbow Dash seemed to be taken back by such statement, and she only asked, "But... they attacked us?" "Their Queen decided it's only course of action what had any chance of success. If Princess Celestia and Luna asked you to kill some griffins to save everypony you know, would you do it?" Rainbow Dash was silent. Chrysalis even more so, as even her mind was blank. That pony what she hated so much was crying both for her lost innocence and changelings she believed she doomed. "We had every right to defend ourselves." Applejack objected. "I know, Applejack!" Twilight snapped suddenly. "I know... sorry for my outburst. It is what it hurts me so much. Every side of conflict wanted good for their people. Everyone thought they have the right to do what they did. If only their Queen would tried to talk with us..." "So, it's their Queen fault, big deal. Can't we just make peace with them?" "It's more complicated... We have to deal with two different groups of changelings, one of them are Chrysalis soldiers, and they are not talking too much. Other group are changelings who were sent to Equestria by previous Queen to serve as their agents. She wished to contact Equestria and depending on our reaction either destroy or befriend us. There are hundred of them, maybe more. They broke their loyalty to Queen Chrysalis after she exiled her sister. Some of they even say that Chrysalis killed her own mother." Chrysalis wanted to drop to her knees, she heard this lie thousands time before, but it was still hurting each time she heard it. She would never killed her mother! She loved her, yet Chrysalis was sometimes haunted by thought that death of her Mother was her fault. If she did not asked her to come visit father's grave... Chrysalis stopped her thoughts, she couldn't break down, not now, not here. "Most of these 'old' changelings are considering themselves loyal to Equestria and Princesses. I even have a report of a changeling who was disguised as guard and fought against Chrysalis changelings. He freed his team and they were one of few units still fighting during Invasion. Few of them were the ones who informed that danger was coming to Canterlot. They couldn't specify anything, because they were killed by Chrysalis." Chrysalis noticed a change in Twilight's behavior. She became more focused and she stopped sobbing. It was like chance of sharing her knowledge make her calmer, more happy. 'Appleloosa Chase'; Chrysalis remembered how it went. In Appleloosa lived two Lurkers loyal to Equestria and they discovered that Chrysalis is coming. They tried to reach other changelings via mindlink but only thanks to Chrysalis own Lurkers communication couldn't be established. She wanted to spare them, but they tried different methods to inform Equestria. Chrysalis didn't had other choice to kill them and their pony friends. "There may be few thousands of them around all of Equestria. They didn't contacted Princesses before, because they were afraid. How could they not? They were sent here to be spies and possible agents of destruction. Even more, they are broken in two major political groups. One group want to call Luna and Celestia their Queens. They want to be citizens of Equestria like ponies. Other group wants to live in system of their own design, direct democracy. ...anyway, about changelings of Chrysalis we know only tidbits. They are hungry, many of them are sick and their home is ever so often ravished by west Griffin Kingdoms." "Darling, can't Princesses allow these lings who are loyal to Equestria to just live here and... well, reproduce?" "...changelings don't breed like us. Yes, they have genders, but they are infertile. They have centralized system of breeding. There are special kind of changelings, Mothers. They hatch eggs, who were later given to chosen changelings." "It's dreadful!" Rarirty seemed to be disgusted by mere thought. Chrysalis sighed, she saw other species way of breeding as inefficient, but not disgusting; maybe even more romantic some way, their children were in straight way fruit of love. 'Yeah, right, if most of them weren't knock ups or accidents.', added her cynical side of mind. "It's quite smart solution to deal with overpopulation or irresponsible parents. They can't breed like us and it's not possible to transform normal ling into Mother without Queen or without special conditions. Queen Chrysalis is out of question, and where-about of younger Queen is unknown. Special conditions means that they would need to erect special buildings. Simply - not possible without contact with rest of their nation." "Okay, so the Queen is problem. Can't we catch her and make her surrender, then offer them peace and place to stay.. somewhere?" "It's not possible with current moods in Equestria. Too many ponies wants them dead. Princess Celestia sent to Griffin Kingdoms a question about changelings; they suggested a joint operation to solve the changeling problem once for all. Princess Luna said that Princess Celestia is seriously considering to re-establish Royal Army and take their offer. Things the Griffin ambassadors said... I don't know what to think." "What do you mean, 'solve the changeling problem once for all'?" Rainbow Dash asked, suspicion audible in her voice. "It's euphemism for 'Kill them all', darling." "Sugarcube, what about Princess Luna?" "Princess Luna wants to allow changelings who lived here citizenry, if they prove they weren't part of Chrysalis attack. About Chrysalis... she wants her dead. She believes that then it could be possible to make other changelings reasonable, and accept Princesses rule." Chrysalis gulped. One princess wanted her species extinct, when the other wanted her dead and try her subjects to accept new rulers. Could she not realize it would start war at best and civil war at worst? "Wait, it doesn't add up. Princess Celestia can't just simply want to kill every one of them..." "Rainbow, I couldn't believe this too but then I looked in older history books. What do you know about Independence War in Griffin Kingdoms?" Indepence War happened over seventy years ago and it gave The Swarm a few years of a breather. If not for this unexpected cease of fire, changelings would be probably extinct by now. Irony wasn't lost on Chrysalis; Celestia who wanted her subjects dead accidentally bought them a time. "Ugh, not a bit, you know I'm not such egghead." "She practically orchestrated a civil war there, because she was afraid that Griffin Kingdoms united under one king will be dangerous in ambitious claws. They outnumbers us 11 to 3. They can fit out more soldiers than we could. They have better sense of technology. If united kingdoms would decide to invade us... they would won someday, after long and terrible war. Celestia considered it all and she cause war because she wanted the best of Equestria. Sometimes best for Equestria means the worst for others. Did you know that Equestria is considered isolationist by other nations? We have only 18% of other races in our population when 31% population of Griffin Kingdoms is not-griffins and Euponia have 44% of ponies, 27% of griffins and 29% of others sapient races. Do you know why? Because Princess Celestia made it difficult to immigrate here. Yet again, for good reasons. She chooses who can come in and who not, she doesn't want problem stirrers here. Princess Celestia always want the best for us, but her ways are sometimes less than noble. Did you know that Windigoes..." Twilight seemed to be again breaking down; Chrysalis wondered what Princess Celestia did in past what could have such effect on her student. Windigoes? If Chrysalis recalled correctly, they were considered to be extinct. Could be it that Celestia made them extinct? ...could it be that changelings will be next? Chrysalis hoped that it won't be the case. "Okay, sugarcube, it doesn't matter what Princess Celestia does. What's is important, what do you think about it." "I don't know. I hate and pity changelings. I hate them because what they did, they attacked us, they made me kill them! They killed Moondancer! But... they believed they had no other option, that it was their only way to be saved. I-I can imagine doing the same in their place; if Celestia would say that I need to kill some strangers to save everypony... I think I would follow her orders. I don't know. I want to blindly hate them, but I can't, I know too much about them. I would want to forgive them if I did not hate them so much for what they did. I'm torn apart and it's why I f-freaked out. I can't sleep because in my dreams I see me, crushing their heads with my hooves, and..." Twilight was outright crying, nothing could stop shaking in her voice and tears from her eyes. Applejack could only carefully hug her to provide some closure "Celestia... They-they are begging for mercy. They lift up their eyelids, and I see their fear in their dying eyes and I-... enjoy it in this dream for a moment!" Broken unicorn wailed. "And then I'm crying, I'm ashamed of myself, and I try to help them... Those who are still alive, but they use it to attack me, and then I see how we all die, Canterlot burning, b-but I know they did what they had to do... I-I understand them, and if I understand h-how I can hate them? How..." Twilight was sobbing for a few long minutes, everypony was patiently waiting. Chrysalis couldn't make out her own emotions. Was it shame? Compassion? Guilt? Only thing she was sure of - she felt bad. She thought seeing Twilight Sparkle crying would give her satisfaction, but she was wrong; she felt pathetic instead. Everypony and everyling who was touched by her actions was hurt. She tried to reason that the mare in front of her was enemy, but she know the truth: the mare in her front was her enemy because she made her. Twilight voice was cracking from exhaustion. "Other times I dream that anypony can be a changeling, and kill me suddenly, like Moondancer was killed! I dream that nowhere Is safe, that anypony face can suddenly change into insect-like head... Luna visited me in dreams, but this didn't helped! She turned into Chrysalis, she tried to fool me, to trap me in my dreams. I..." Twilight couldn't cry anymore. Applejack was slowly stroking sobbing pony along her back. "Hey, Twi, it's okay. Ah had nightmares too, ya know? Ah... Ah was dreaming what could happen if they won. It wasn't pretty, Ah tell ya. But then... Apple Bloom told me what few changelings did with foals. They took them to safe place, and tried to calm them down. They promised that if this will be all over, there will be peace and everypony will be happy. Ya know, Apple Bloom is good judge of characters; she said these few who tried to calm down were kind to them, she said they even argued with other changelings to ensure safety of foals and ponies. Probably they didn't want to damage livestock, if ah think about it. Bloom said they were good ponies inside, just doing wrong things. Ah couldn't believe that. They were just bugponies, Ah get ya when ya wanted them to be monsters. So Ah told Apple Bloom that they tried to trick her." Applejack turned to her friends "Rarity, Rainbow, Ah'm sure Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo told ya the same story." "Well, no... Sweetie didn't mention that..." Rarity slowly closed in. Rainbow Dash sighed, it was only answer Applejack could get. "So ya know, one night Ah heard Apple Bloom wailing. Ah went to her and asked her what happened. She said Ah won't trust her. Ah managed to make her talk finally, and... she told me few details she omitted. Most of them are not important, not now. But... she told that one of these bugs, nurse Something-Someling suddenly bid her farewell and best wishes, ya know, all these things ya say to foals if ya are going to not see them for long time and moved closer to window. Apple Bloom said she had calm, sad eyes, and then love barrier washed away her. Window was gone, bug nurse was gone... or most of her gone. Apple Bloom saw blood. Blood on what left of window. Blood and some pieces of her wing. Apple Bloom took these pieces with her. Ah hated that nurse, ya know? She robbed Apple Bloom of innocence by dying or getting terrible wounded on her eyes. Apple Bloom was torn. She wanted that we would won, ya know, to be safe, free and all but she was afraid that this bug nurse was dead. Ah was enraged. How could she care about enemy? Then..." Applejack paused staring into darkness. "H-how you dealt with it?" Twilight asked. "I reminded myself what my Pa said. He was a guard, ya know. Farm needed extra money, so he enlisted. He was put on south frontier. There were sometimes small skirmishes of buffaloes or other bandits; Mild west wasn't always mild. Few of his friends died on his eyes and yet He told me that we should remember that our enemies, even if we have to kill them, they can be a decent ponies, buffaloes or griffins. That sometimes just people who any other day could be friends, have to kill each other, because world is just like that. My Pa maybe wasn't educated too much, but he was wise enough to somehow make sense of this mess. For years Ah couldn't understand that. But that one night, when Apple Bloom was crying, Ah understood." Applejack paused, like she had confession to make "We buried that few parts of that changeling. It calmed down Apple Bloom." "Why... Why it can't be simple? Why there is such things.." "Twi, world we living in is not perfect. That's the way it is." Applejack words were honest, and nothing else, and it made them even worse. Words of Applejack were taking accusatory tone in Chrysalis mind. 'That sometimes just people who any other day could be friends, have to kill each other, because world is just like that.' No, world isn't just like that, it is like that because someponies, somelings, somegriffins made crap decisions, and Chrysalis was the one of them. Yet again Chrysalis wondered if world wouldn't be better if she hadn't hatched. She knew there was no point in such musings. She knew she screwed up and now she had to live with consequences. She wanted to surrender, to be taken, to be undone, but she couldn't do it to lings who were looking up for her or to her sister. "I-it's not all." Twilight added quietly. "When I saw Snapshot bleeding from her head... I didn't stopped to check her pulse, I just took her in, and I was watching her bleed. Only when I heard Spike going downstairs I started to thinking again... I knew I had to dispose a corpse. I never questioned that she could be alive." "Why Fluttershy?", Rainbow Dash asked. "Because she knows animals which require meat. Because she lives far from Ponyville. Because I could force her to do what I wanted, broke her." "What would you..." Rainbow tried to ask more questions, but she noticed Applejack glance. "I don't know, Rainbow. Probably I wouldn't try to k-kill her..." Twilight guessed question what Rainbow wanted to ask. Applejack sighed. "Thanks to Charming I couldn't go so far." Small weary chuckle escaped her lips, and she turned her head to Chrysalis. "Charming... When I saw you... I was ready to try to hurt you. Maybe even..." "I understand." "Just like that?" Rainbow seemed to be unconvinced. "Yes, I would probably do something like that too." 'Well, I did; Appleloosa Chase. Same idea, but better planed and executed.' "Thank you, Charming. Thank you for stopping me. If you weren't there..." 'If I weren't in Equestria, all of that wouldn't happen.' Chrysalis thought sourly. Chrysalis was thinking how to answer when Twilight suddenly yawned. "Sorry, girls... I think I'm exhausted. Thank you for listening, I feel slightly better." Twilight give them first happy, yet weary smile. "...maybe I will sleep today." "Twilight, you neglected yourself. I hope I can encourage you to go to SPA with us." Rarity suggested. "Well, I..." Twilight tried to oppose but Rainbow interrupted. Chrysalis wanted to listen to the rest of conservation, but tug of tail distracted her. She turned to Spike who was tugging her tail. "Yes, Spike?" "Please, stay." Chrysalis tilted her head quizzically. Spike didn't break his eye contact, she could see hope in his eyes. "I couldn't make her to open up. You did. You stopped her when she went crazy, and... please, just stay. She needs everypony help." Chrysalis considered situation yet again. On the one hoof, she couldn't say she like Twilight, she only stopped to hate her and living with someone researching changeling was tempting fate. On the other hoof, Spike seemed to start to like her, library was full of books and Twilight research could get Chrysalis a good understanding of current situation and it seemed to be a good gesture toward other Bearers and Twilight. "Please?" Spike repeated his plead. "Well... It wouldn't be my first time sleeping in library." Chrysalis gave him small smile.
Changing Mind pt.2 (Raw version)Fluttershy was concerned. Of course one could say that Fluttershy was always concerned but it wouldn't be true. Instead, Fluttershy was afraid most of the time. Afraid how the other ponies will react, what they will say to her, what they will say behind back. For Fluttershy any social activity beyond circle of her friends was marked with fear, fear of being hurt or hurting somepony. Only thanks to help of her friends she was able to subdue it enough to interact with ponies of Ponyville; before becoming Bearer of Kindness she rarely left her cottage to visit Ponyville. Of course it was inevitable because sometimes her medical cabinet and pantry ran low on supplies. If such need arose she preferred to sent out Angel or other known animal to make her shopping but it wasn't always possible. Some shops were suspicious about bunny with shopping list and basket. Even more when some less honest shopkeepers discovered that rabbit wasn't stupid and was able to sense when they tried to cheat him. Fluttershy didn't volunteered to create music for Summer Sun Celebration but she was too afraid to correct it so she went with it. Sometimes she suspected it could be Rainbow Dash work, but she fiercely denied it. However, at this very moment Fluttershy wasn't scared, frightened or horrified. No, she was merely concerned, and it was somehow worse. Fear often simplified situations to either running or fighting, neither reaction suitable for situation what Fluttershy was facing. Fluttershy was concerned about her pink friend, who turned out to be a Queen of changelings. Said friend wasn't even pink at this very moment, as she was wearing disguise of a tourist pony, Snapshot. Poor pegasus wasn't even sure how to call out her friend. Metamorphosis, publicly known as Pinkie Pie The Queen of Parties was concerned too. Amazed. Concezed. Amarned. She wasn't sure how to call this emotion, yet she knew reason of it. She was feeling different, yet she couldn't point out any major difference. A some time has passed since their return. During this time Fluttershy put her wounded friend to bed, cleaned mess made by Twilight, fed her animals, made herself dinner, and cleaned herself. She was quite surprised to saw her friend out of her bed, sitting on the couch in the saloon. "Pinkie, are you feeling better? Did you headache stopped?" She called her out back then. "I think... yes." Came an answer from Pinkie but it wasn't voice of Pinkie. Tone was the same, but manner of speak and articulation was much more mature and calm. Then Pinkie giggled, Pinkie-like, and Fluttershy decided she was truly concerned. It was few minutes ago. Fluttershy had no real experience with changelings and she wasn't sure how wounds taken under disguise could be affecting changeling, however Pinkie's head injury was just flesh wound. She was reasoning that disguise used by Pinkie wasn't a illusion, more like a transformation and in effect this wound should be sustained to her changeling form too. Still, this thoughts of Fluttershy were only attempts to take her mind from major concern: Pinkie was surprisingly quiet. Pinkie wasn't sure why she was calm; she had memories that she was always active, maybe even hyperactive, always interested in everything, yet... at this moment she just didn't felt like it. And it was surprising her, amazing her, yet concerning. Fluttershy realized that Pinkie could be just talking with other changelings, however it didn't seem to be in character for Pinkie to just sit and pointlessly observe surroundings. No, Pinkie Fluttershy remembered was always moving, always doing something, making weird remarks or no sense at all. If Pinkie was quiet that meant she was either sad, sick, or maybe really focused on something but it was really rare. Everything Pinkie did was slightly... well, Pinkie-sh. And now Pinkie was sitting quiet with small frown on her face. Metamorphosis was confused by memories she had. She remembered being a crazy pink pony but couldn't understand why she was behaving that way; she loved jokes, she loved to laugh, but her behavior in last years was excessive to say the least. She was puzzled, her past seemed to be fun, but now she felt like she couldn't behave that no more. She felt... mature. And it was surprising her, amazing her, yet concerning. Fluttershy was considering that her friend was traumatized by the recent events. Everything what happened in few last days had to take effect on the poor pony... changeling... friend. Fluttershy for a moment felt real fear; How good she knew Pinkie? They were friends but always distant ones. Could she trust her? How could she? Whole life of person in front of her was a lie. Maybe so called 'friendship' was just a mean to survive for her? Maybe she was a fake friend? Maybe that's why she was laughing so easily; she really did not cared for other ponies, they were just food sources to her? Or maybe real Pinkie was captured somewhere by changelings? Fluttershy was conflicted about what she should be thinking until she noticed a small smile on her friend face. It was Pinkie's genuine smile. Any doubt and any fear she had, just vanished at this simple sight. Pinkie smile was one of thing Fluttershy was sure; it was smile brightening anypony day. Fluttershy sighed happily and went to kitchen with clear mind. She was still concerned about well being of her friend, but at least she wasn't afraid of her. Pinkie/Metamorphosis realized her problem; she wasn't herself. For other ponies/lings these could sound like a first sing of craziness, but craziness was a bread and butter of Pinkie. For Pinkie it was reasonable enough to call out her other self. "Hi!" "Hello. It seems we are We." "Me, we are not like Princess Luna, we-I don't use that silly royal We." "Well, We have rather sound reason to do that. Maybe Luna uses We because she is as crazy as We?" "Do you think she have, I dunno, Nightmare Moon as her other-I?" "Who knows?" "I can imagine that!" Pinkie voice changed into that of Luna "No, Nightie, we don't want everlasting night no more. Oh, and we can't threat ponies like we used to." "But, Lu...!" Metamorphosis answered with spot-on Nightmare Moon impression. "Neigh, Nightie, I said neigh! And please, be a good evil side." "Grump-grump... Future is not fun and you are not my mom!" "What did you heard about your mother?" "Ugh, I don't have one? I'm just a..." "Wrong! Nightmare.... I'm your MOTHER!" "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Metamorphosis/Pinkie for a moment was in perfect unison of laughter as they were one, but then it ended abruptly. "It seems we have a problem with Ourselves. We are not We." "Pffft..." "Okay, lt is ridiculous. We are not we, we are not I, I'm sure I'm not we." "And I'm not me. Mind equals blown." "Better not, we still need it. Actually, it's not true what I said. Not entirely true, as We are I." "We-we or we-you? We-we, it sounds silly. Like Weeeeeeeeeeee..." "I meant we are a singular person, not two sharing a body. Well, or rather we used to be." "I'm sure I don't remember you with me in my head. But hey, I think we can share! I mean, the more the merrier?" "Well, we could throw a tea or party with ourselves, couldn't we? Maybe we should invite Pinkamina? She feels left out so often..." "Better nor... hey, it's that what you meant? That you are my other side, like her?" "Something like that but with a twist; you are my other side, not other way around." "What?!" "When I left The Swarm and traveled through desert I was in control. Situation changed when I reached Equestria. My personality, my behavior would be problematic for me so I started to act differently, think differently. At some point you became an other me and shortly after, major personality." "So... You are like my past me? And I'm current me?" "You could say so. It would correspond with popular theory that every person is really a medley of few differentiating personalities. Such theory would explain why people are able to feel conflicted or literally arguing with themselves. Unfortunately, anypony or anyling never said that there was any other voice, except those with mental problems, so it seems we are unique. Shame it doesn't explain why I was awoken." "Geez, you are smart." "Well, I was often ushered to learn by Mother and we have a pretty good brain in this head. It's quite a shame that you decided make a shield from your ignorance." "Hey!" "I'm not calling you stupid; the one who is responsible is me. It was me who decided to play it out that way. It seemed to be a perfect solution. When a young filly shows up and doesn't know two bits about common facts, there is no better way to explain it than that she preferred to play than to learn. It's shame that it really became a trait of you." "What do you mean? And how could it be me, if you are keeping saying it was you." "Fair point; I made you that way. The point when you became you and I lost control is not clear. Back to your objection; I believe that most of ponies think that you are irresponsible, weird, maybe even crazy." "I make them laugh! It's better than be..." "Don't be so defensive, I know what you mean. Still, you could be something more. You could be considered responsible, intelligent and funny." "I don't want to." "Why?" "I'm me, I don't want to be something more. I'm happy as myself. There is no one else..." "Pinkie, I'm you too. Or rather you are me." "You can't be. You are.." "What, serious? Mature? Calm? ...boring?" "Yeah." "Pinkie, look in your memories. Me? Boring? You have to be joking! I just wasn't bristling with energy like you, knew when to stop bothering others and had better sense how to not offense someone privacy. Okay, maybe except trying to get Chrys diary. And Mother regals. ...and, I'm sure bakers weren't too mad about my pantry raids... Anyway! My point still stands. We are the same, but different. We both love to laugh, joke, see other lings, or in your case, ponies happy, and we both love sweets." "Butm you are so serious, how could you be me?" "Pinkie, we are older than any of your friends, and it's not like we could be always so... youthful and immature. It's time to grow up, Pinkie." "I'm afraid." "I know." "I'm happy. I'm safe. I can be me. I don't want to lose it. I don't want to be someone important, someone like..." "Like Queen?" "...yeah. It's so responsible, so stressful, so organized, so... unfunny. I want to be me, not some kind of doll, like Princesses are. I don't want to lose my friends. If they still will be my friends, then I will have to leave Ponyville to rule The Swarm, and they will be so far..." "Pinkie? Don't despair, I understand your fears. I don't want to lose them too." "Too?" "Well, I have your memories, and I decided I like them. But it's not the point. The point is; we don't know what will future bring, but we can shape it. Maybe you won't have to leave Ponyville and you will keep your friends. Maybe they will never forgive you. Maybe you will have to leave Equestria... FOREVER!" "That wasn't funny." "Yeah, I know. We can't ignore our subjects. Can we ignore them for our selfish desires? Would you ignore some pony because you was afraid what will happen?" "It's not the same and you know it! You are asking me to throw my life away! When I help somepony I don't risk everything I have!" "...except when you decided to help Twilight during return of Nightmare Moon? Didn't you risked your life? Did you were not afraid when you discovered that you became Bearer of Laughter? Didn't it changed your life? Just look how it turned out! You never had so close friends as these six. You never went to Galloping Gala, you never traveled so much, you never played a major role in act on Canterlot stage. So many wonderfulthings came out of it... and few which caused you harm. Did you not faced dragon and hydra? Did you not panicked over you friendships? Did you not felt disappointed by Gala?" "But..." "Everything have good and bad sides. Everything will turn out fine in long run." "But it's more than that! I... you want me to face Princesses, my friends, my... subjects, Equestria. That's too much. I don't know how to talk with princesses, I don't know how my friends will react... and I don't want, I don't know how to rule! I'm... I'm not the right pony to do it." "That's where I come in. And don't forget: as long we live, there is hope. Or how it father put: As long as I can fight, I'm victorious. Pinkie, what happened to pony who few days ago was able to withstand our sister lack of hope? What happened to changeling who traversed whole desert alone, only on wings of hope?" "I don't know. I just don't have it! I feel like I'm Pinkamina, but I'm not. Could I be starting to stop being me?" "Pinkie, your train of thoughts..." "What about it?" "Terribly put." "You are the smart one. I'm the funny one." "Yeah, and I have more optimism than you." "Shame we can't... hey! HEEEY!... are you pondering what I'm pondering?" "How to take over the world?" Um... no. Maybe Chryssi, not me. Do you want to take over the world too?" "No... Well, maybe. If everyone would agree." "...fine enough for me~! I won't turn you out. Em... me. It would be crazy, even for me. 'Voices in my head want to take over the world!' " "Just tell what you you come up with." "You said I'm the major me, and you were like some background character, so I think you were giving me advice and hopes and such in the past. That's why I had sometimes bright ideas and hope." "Makes sense..." "Of course it makes sense, Especially if you agree with it, my smartie side." "So, to restore your hope and gave you any chance to fulfill your destiny, I need to return to my previous state. ...I don't think it's possible." "Why? ...you don't want to have a battle in center of the mind, like in the comics?" "No. I just don't know how to do it." "So we will have to share the body or what?" "It's not a solution." "Yeah, I'm crazy enough without some kind of mind-mate." "Quite. And throwing me out is not a option too." "Hey, I wouldn't throw myself out of my mind. I mean, I do it sometimes, but..." "Just give me a few seconds to see what I can do." "Okie-dokie-lokie." For a moment Pinkie felt like everything was fading away like she was just fading into dream. She yawned, shook her head and waited for response from her other side. "Pinkie, I believe I have a solution. Our problem is that as two personalities, each working independently from other one, we can't be working efficiently. Preferred solution would be that one of would became dominant and other dormant. I tried to achieve it in two ways, both failed. Neither of us can't became dormant personality. Neither of us can't force other to became dormant. We are equals in rights and power. That leaves with last option." "And that is?" "Became one. Fuse ourselves. Then we will have my intelligence and optimism, your charisma and sense of humor, and few other traits." "But... I will stop being me." "Same here, but not really. You will be me and I will be you. We will be singular I. I know it's complicated, but... I know! Pinkie, think about taste. Imagine that you have two tastes and when you mix them you get another one, which is both of former two, and yet something new. It is going happen to us." "It's weird..." "Just trust me. If you can't trust yourself, then who could be trusted?" "Okie-dokie but how we can do it? It's not like there is some kind of fusion dance." "Unfortunately, it's not a Japonese comic... I think the problem is we perceive ourselves too differently." "What do you mean?" "We are different. Maybe if we admit our differences, we can overcome them." "But how we can see them?" "I don't know, you are the pony one." "Hey, It sounds mean." "Well, ponies are better at spotting differences than changelings, aren't they?" "I think so but you could say it different." "It's not a bad thing. Ability to see differences between similar things is as useful as noticing similarities at differing things. I mean..." "Like sugar and salt? They are white and shining, but one of them is salty and other sweet! ...other way around, sugar is sweet, not salty. Weird, salt is sweet too, if not eating too much of it." "Yes, something like that. So it means I'm well, you pure changeling, and you are, well..." "Ponyling? Changeony?"" "First one sounds better. Let's call you ponyling then." "Okay, other one! You are thinking things out, when I have feelings and hunches." "Do you realize that I was probably these haunches, right? " "Shhhh, me. You know what I'm thinking." "Hm... sounds about right. You are basing your actions on emotions and intuition when I prefer to think out solution, and then call out to intuition or feelings. So, using my 'smartness' I noticed some strange pattern in you behavior. When somepony wants an explanation of your action you gave them a whole bunch of nonsense mixed with sensible explanation. You don't lie, you just confuse them. I would understand using this to protect our identity, but..." "Non sequitur." "Why you are suddenly using Latin? I mean, what you said could be used to describe what I just described... Ancestors!" "What?" "If I'm correct, and I think I am because I'm 'smartie' one... Yes, I think it's working. You are getting pieces of me, and vice versa." "I'm not feeling any different. Nevertheless, to answer you question, I dunno. It just feels safer to answer them like that. I mean, It's 'just Pinkie Pie'. If I suddenly started to make sense, they would be thinking some changeling took my place." "Ironic, isn't it?" "Not my sense of humor." "Neither mine. Chryssi was ironic and sarcastic type when I preferred practical jokes and general mischief." "Noling was safe." "And nopony is safe. Well, I don't see too many differences here... except you are more absurd." "What fun is there in making sense?" "Please, don't quote him." "Well, he did had a point." "Don't be silly pants! ...did I just said that?" "Oh, I spotted another disparity! Hey, these new words are funny! I mean, they are so smart, and stuffy, and they make sense!" "New words? I think you just absorbed parts of my knowledge as I took few of you catchphrases. It seems the differences between me... us are vanishing. We are becoming more and more alike. I wonder... By the way, what's the point of word without sense? It would be only hollow sound. Silly." "Not really, because it could have emotion in it. Squee is not a real word, and you can feel meaning of it. Anyway, I spotted another difference, and it's related to what I was talking about. You are hiding your emotions." "Don't you? Pinkamena..." "It's different. You are just... restrained, I think?" "And you are showing your excitement too often. It can be irritating and nopony will treat you seriously." "Right! But I discovered that controlling your emotions is not fun and nopony trusts somepony who isn't behaving like next pony. Wait, I complicated it too much. Ponies, and probably all of the sentients believe someone who is someone like them... Still too..." "I get it. So, We... I should be more open with showing emotions." "Well, and I should try to be not too excited. Anything more?" "I... I'm not sure. I have hard time to differ myself from you. I think that when we are becoming so close I are... Our streams of thoughts are crossing each other and merging. I think I am close." "It's funny! I was afraid about this, and now I feel... good. Better than ever even. Like there was something I never realized I was missing. It's like... I know. You know what I'm talking about." "How do I feel about Chrysalis?" "Weird question, she is my sister!" "Yes, but she exiled me!" "She did it for the good reasons." "Really? I don't think so." "She did. At least she thought she did. I can't hate her..." "I can." "Not really." "No, but I feel resentment." "I forgave her." "I will remember what she did it to me." "I forgave her." "Yes, to forgive but not to forget. I can stand behind it." "I... Who am I?" "Pinkie Pie and Metamorphosis." "It's too mouthful." "Morph Pie?" "Nah, punny. Pink Metamorhphosis." "Too long." "Metamorphosis Pinkamina Diana Pie." "Long, but... sounds good. Proper form would be Methamorphosis The Second Pinkamina Diana Pie. It sounds royal." "I am me. Still me. New olds me." "Metamorphosis is complet~e!"
Intermission: It was under E! aka Changeling writing systemCurrently I'm stuck up in next chapter but for now I want to show some small idea about Changelings. Their alphabet. For now it looks pretty simple. Different letters, but that's all. Well, it's not quite true. There are Symbols. And they are often used to replace the words written with letters. Why? Symbols are using less space, sometimes faster to write, and some are fast to recognize. Few examples (there are more, much more of them). You could ask: What Symbols and letters have in common? Letters of said word are written in Symbol. Okay, so again few examples. For start "zebra". It looks easy, doesn't it? And all letters are in symbol as said. But it is weird why it's written from right to left. Does Changelings read from right to left? No. Symbols can be created from any side to any side. Let's look at sun. Sooo, symbols can be written from left to right, up to down, right to left, down to up... And they can be rotated by 90 degrees clockwise too. And even worse, some lines, letters can be omitted during creation of symbol. It's making quite a feat deciphering them. It's all for the moment, maybe I'll extend topic later, if you all will be interested. I'm not sure it'll be used in story later, just part of world building.
