Chapters Cadance's swollen belly wobbled as she settled into a comfortable position. These hospital beds are ungodly. Cadence thought to herself.
The doctor appeared in the doorway. "The foal should be coming soon, Princess."
Cadence chuckled. "Call me Cadence."
"Of course, Princess."
Cadence's body tightened as another contraction approached. "It's coming now!"
"We'll fetch Prince Shining Armor." The doctor streaked away, probably to tell some poor intern to inform Shining Armor.
A nurse whisked into the room. "It'll all be over soon, Princess. Just sit back and uh..."
Shining Armor rushed in the room. "I'm here," Captain Obvious announced.
"This foal better be worth it," Cadence ground her teeth.
"It's a filly!"
"That's great!"
"An alicorn?"
"Let me see her!"
The filly blinked her blue eyes at Cadence. Cadence cooed and snuggled the filly closer to her body while Shining Armor knelt near them, his eyes gleaming with pride. The unicorn nurse bustled in, walking into the room. She shut the door with green magic. Now the room was soundproof. Schoolfoals had a tendency to wander the halls and in birth rooms, many four-letter words were uttered.
"How is the little filly? Does she have a name yet?" the nurse questioned a very tired Cadence.
"No, not yet. And she's fine."
"Then I'll be able to do it." her horn lit up and bound Cadence to the bed.
"Hey! What are you-" Shining Armor protested.
The nurse was consumed by green flames. And in her place stood none other than the Changeling Queen.
Shining Armor rushed at her, only to be batted aside by a black hoof. His head collided with the wall and his vision went black. He could still hear, though.
"What are you doing here, Chrysalis?" Cadence fought the restraints. She was still too weak to actually break them.
"Oh, just stopping by to see the new alicorn and to put my revenge into action." Chrysalis said casually.
"What?" Cadence said, outraged.
Chrysalis picked up the filly. The Queen's erratic horn erupted a writhing mass of green haze and fire. The filly screamed and Cadence foamed at the mouth. Then the flare faded.
"What did you do?!" Cadence stared in horror at her nemesis.
"I cast a curse on her, Cadence. Heed this warning. On her thirteenth year, this filly will begin her transformation into a Changeling." Chrysalis said ominously. Green flames moved over her body, leaving her looking like the nurse. She smirked. "Have a nice life." She flung the door open and slammed it behind her. The restraints faded away when the door shut the second time.
"Did- did you hear her, Cadence?" Shining Armor's vision returned.
"Yes. I think she was telling the truth."
"Why would you ever believe her?"
"Our daughter's eyes turned green."
Jinx flew alone. Her cream coat gleamed in the cold winter sunlight. Her saddlebags were empty; Hearth's Warming Break had begun. Jinx had decent grades. After all, what else would come of having Equestria's official egghead an an aunt?
She sighed. Why doesn't anypony like me? she asked nopony in particular.
Jinx adjusted her flight towards the castle. The pegasi guards let her through to the castle.
Jinx landed near Luna's part of the castle. Secretly, she liked Aunt Luna better than Aunt Celestia. Not that she'd ever say outright. She cantered through the onyx arches to see Aunt Luna. The cat-eyed guards gazed coldly at the filly. Jinx's smile faltered when she caught sight of them.
"No admittance," one said, crossing one of his wings with the other guard.
Jinx stared at him. Her horn lit and she spread her wings as if to show the guards that she WAS a princess and she WILL get in.
The guard that spoke glanced at the other. The silent guard slightly nodded. The wings dropped and Jinx trotted smugly inside.
"I'm just saying we should tell her!" Jinx heard Luna say angrily.
"No, she would go out of her way to stop it!" Celestia responded.
Jinx froze.
"But we should tell her! Her life will be ruined!" Luna argued. "What are you gonna do when she realizes she's a Changeling? Send her to the moon?!"
"There was no other way! You were going to destroy Equestria! This conversation isn't about you!" Celestia said as if she was shocked.
"Yes, I know! But this concerns Jinx and she has to know about the curse!"
"I still say we ride it out."
"Think of how you would feel if one morning you woke up a Changeling!"
Celestia was silent for a moment. "You dare even think of..." she whispered fiercely.
"I do, sister! I've been thinking about what would happen if Chrysalis cursed you every day since Jinx was born!" Luna shouted.
"I'm done with you right now, Luna." Celestia spat and stormed out of the Night Princess's throne room. She stopped in shock, seeing the very filly they were talking about stood very wide eyed in front of her.
"Jinx!" Celestia called out after the young filly galloped in the opposite direction.
Jinx shed her saddlebag in the entrance. Her parents wouldn't care, anyway. They never did. She spread her black-tipped wings and flew. She flew to Ponyville, where Auntie Twilight lived. She wasn't taking any more lies and deception.
When Jinx arrived in Ponyville, the sun didn't explode with Celestia's wrath. Ponies just swiveled their heads to watch the black-and-white maned alicorn dash into the library.
"Auntie Twilight! Spike!" Jinx cried.
"What's wrong, Jinxie?" Twilight walked out of the foal's section.
"Did you know about the curse?" Jinx demanded.
Twilight sighed. "Yes. I'm sorry, Jinx. I was ordered by Celestia to never tell you."
"Wha- what's gonna happen to me? I heard something about a Changeling and my birthday." Jinx's lip quivered.
"Do you know the story of your parents wedding?"
"No, they never tell me anything." Jinx pouted.
"Well, your mom was imprisoned in the Canterlot Caves by the Changeling queen, Chrysalis. She was defeated, but at the time of your birth, she returned for revenge. She put a curse on you, and she told your mom that when you turn thirteen, you'll turn into a Changeling. I'm sorry." she put a hoof on Jinx's shoulder.
Jinx shrugged her aunt's hoof off. "I get a curse on me and you don't tell me? Excuse me, but that's bull."
"You should go home. Your parents are probably wondering where you are right now. They might want something to do with your birthday."
"Uh huh, sure. My thirteenth birthday."
Twilight looked shocked. "Thirteen? Already?"
"Uh, yeah. Remember, Changeling curse?"
"You need to leave. Now." Twilight pushed her toward the door.
"Why?"
"Because."
Jinx was lifted off the floor and dropped outside the door. It slammed in her face.
Tears sprung to Jinx's eyes. Once again, she fly away as fast as she could. This time toward the Everfree Forest. She flew over the treetops for a long time. So long she didn't notice the dark clouds gathering. A few raindrops plopped on her wings. Then it started to downpour. Jinx noticed, but didn't care. Before long, her mane and tail were soaking wet. The wind chilled Jinx. Her wings shook with the effort of staying aloft. The once bright day was now dark. So dark that Jinx didn't see the lone branch until it was too late. Her left wing slammed into the branch and Jinx heard something snap. An explosion of pain hit her and she blacked out.
Hours later, Jinx opened her eyes on the forest floor. She rubbed her head and winced. A large knot was forming behind her right ear. Pain shot down her wing. Such pure agony coming from a little fracture? Pfft, Auntie Rainbow Dash would not be amused.
Jinx stood up and comtemplated her surroundings. One side, trees. Next side, trees. Third side, trees. The last side, trees.
Jinx decided to walk off in the direction of the darker trees. They might harbor some Changelings.
* * *
Miles ahead, a Changeling patrol left the Hive. The Hive was actually a series of hexagon shaped houses hanging, actually hanging from thick vines in the trees.
One Changeling was different from the others. He had eyes much like a pony's, except for the pupil shaped like a cat's. The other patrol members had the uncharacteristic drone eyes.
"Venom, hurry up! Just because you're the prince doesn't mean that you get to lag!" the expedition leader barked.
"Sorry, Sargeant Trap." Venom muttered.
"We have a large area to patrol today, kiddies. Not the best to be learning on," Trap barked again. "We will be covering approximatly fifteen miles. Any lagging will result in being left behind."
The trainees shivered. Timberwolves ravaged the ground at night, and many young Changelings have mysteriously gone missing at night.
"Move out!" Trap ordered.
The trainees scrambled. If they didn't keep up...
"Now, maggots!"
* * *
Jinx was getting tired. Fatigue was climbing up her limbs, making them feel as heavy as steel. Her useless wing trailed in the dirt, turning the normally black tip brown. A loud crunching grew louder. Jinx paused and her good wing instictively spread. She swore. A white wing in a dark forest? Bad idea.
"Venom! I swear to Chrysalis, if you step on one more twig..."
"Sorry, Drillbit. I won't step on miniscule sticks." a voice sarcastically apologized.
"Another comment like that and it's food for a month."
"You suck. Hey, I think I see something!"
A series of loud cracks led up to the alicorn. Two teal eyes peered at Jinx from a bush.
"I can see you."
"No you can't. I'm inVISIBLE!" he said the last part of the word like he walks.
"Venom! Report!"
"It's a pony, sir. An alicorn."
"Oh, a princess! Let me see the earth pony, rat!"
"I'm positively quaking," Jinx told the larger eyes that appeared in the bush.
"Let me see!" many voices chimed in.
"You all suck at stealth." Jinx rolled her eyes.
"Hey Venom! Looks like a pony version of you!" a snide voice taunted.
"Shut up." the voice Jinx assumed to be Venom said.
Drillbit, as the-voice-Jinx-assumed-to-be-Venom called him, stepped out of the bushes. He was overweight and had strange holes in his hooves. The horn was weird, it looked like swiss cheese. He was black and had bug-like eyes. And fangs. He had fangs.
He judged Jinx. He took into account her broken wing and her horn. He seemed especially wary of her horn, even though she was in no state to use magic.
Finally, he said something. "Venom, I want you to take this alicorn to Queen Chrysalis."
"Yes, sir." Venom sounded grateful.
He trotted out of the bush. He, too, was like he other pony, except he was fit and had eyes similar to a normal pony's.
He levitated Jinx onto his back. His eyes glazed over. A moment later, they re back to normal. "Thanks for showing up randomly. It's six more miles to patrol." he whispered.
"What's your name? Just to make sure." Jinx whispered back.
"Venom. Yours?"
"Jinx."
"Let's just get you back to the Hive."
"So what exactly are you?" Jinx asked when they were far enough away from the patrol.
"I'm a Changeling. Unlucky enough to be prince." Venom responded.
"Unlucky? Is it really that bad being a Changeling?" Jinx asked, dreading the answer.
"Not really. But my mom is a bit... out there. She even once tried to take over Equestria," he laughed bitterly.
"Eh, what exactly is her name?" Jinx asked.
"Chrysalis. And that fat Changeling back there? His name is Trap."
Jinx's eyes widened. "You mean the Chrysalis? The one that impersonated mo- Cadence?"
"The one and only." he replied sardonically.
Jinx gulped. "My mom didn't exactly have the best experience with her. OW!!"
Jinx's uselesswing hit a tree. Sorry Fluttershy. she thought.
"Sorry." Venom apologized.
"S'okay."
"I've told you who my mom is. Now which Princess is your mom?" Venom asked.
"Um, Cadence." Jinx mumbled.
Venom's head swiveled. "Really? That's cool." he said.
"Not really. Your mom got my mom back."
"What did she do?"
"Cursed me so when I turn thirteen I turn into a Changeling."
"Uh huh. I have something to tell you, too."
"What is it?"
"I can see ponies pasts. Like I already knew about the curse before you told me."
"That's cool. Cursed? Not so much." Jinx compared the two abnormalities.
"No, I can't control it. When I touch a pony or Changeling, I automatically see into their past. Everpony hates me for that."
"I don't. It saves me a lot of talking." Jinx said.
"We're getting close. About a hundred yards ahead is the Hive." Venom announced.
Jinx squinted into the dim forest. "I don't see anything."
"It's in the trees. I'm taking you to the palace, though. Mommy dearest will want to see you." Venom said sourly.
"Lucky me. Flying with a broken wing." Jinx said sarcastically.
"You'll be sitting on my back."
"Oh joy. First time in town and I'll look like a lazy bi-"
"Shut up. We're here."
Jinx shut up.
Venom spread his dragonfly wings. He always loved them, they weren't ragged like all the other Changelings. Even his mom had torn wings.
His wings buzzed furiously, which only got him to the first branch. He clung to it and slowly stood up.
"Hang on, this'll be bumpy.
Jinx clung tighter to Venom's neck.
Venom's hind legs bunched and he leaped to a higher branch. He jumped to a higher branch after that. And so on.
Midway through the trees, they reached the middle class of Changelings. They lived in average sized hexagons and they were of the middle height.
"The higher a hexagon is off the ground, the higher class the Changeling," Venom explained. "Timberwolves prowl the ground at night, so the higher a Hexa, the safer you are"
Jinx nodded. "I see."
Many branch jumps later, they reached the treetops. A massive Hexa lay in front of them, guarded by the burliest Changelings in the Hive.
Venom buzzed his wings once again and landed in the palace gateway. They were allowed through after earning a few glares.
"You can walk from here, right?" Venom asked.
"Yeah, I can walk." Jinx responded.
Venom allowed her down. She stood shakily.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine," Jinx got her balance. "Mush!"
"What?"
"Forward!" Jinx commanded.
The pair wandered through a labyrinth of corridors.
Venom halted just short of a room that had strange green light flooding out.
"We're here. Do NOT talk about her failure in Equestria." Venom said seriously.
"Uh, okay." Jinx scrunched her eyebrows. "Why?"
"Just don't." Venom led her into the room.
Jinx gasped. This room was different from the corridors they were previously walking upon. The room's walls were almost seizure inducing; zebra striped, burst of green flames, scaly, green fire. Constantly changing walls heralded an obsidian throne lined with of course, green fire. And upon that throne sat the regal Changeling queen, Chrysalis.
"Hi, mom. Look who I found on patrol." Venom called.
"Very nice. Now go and do something." Chrysalis replied without glancing up from whatever she was doing.
"No, mom. It's an alicorn."
"Really?" Chrysalis leaned forward and examined Jinx. "Oh yes, I remember you. Cadence's, I presume?"
"She's my mom, but I'm pretty much on my own. Ma'am." Jinx added.
"Respectful. I like that. But why you here?" Chrysalis cocked her head to the side.
"You see my birthday's next week, and I can't go back home as a Changeling, and it'll take days for me to get even to Aunt Fluttershy's house, so I was hoping that you could reverse the curse?" Jinx asked hopefully.
Chrysalis chuckled. She actually chuckled. "No, I cannot 'reverse the curse' as you say it. I barely had enough energy to return to the Hive after I cast it. I am still recovering. Reversing takes much, much more energy than casting. I would probably die trying to reverse it and it still won't be broken. And I am not that selfless."
"Well that majorly sucks. Could you at least heal my wing? Please?"
"Hmm, let me think. No," Chrysalis laughed again. "But I do have cupcakes." she levitated a tray of rainbow colored cupcakes from behind the throne.
"Just leave. Don't respond, just leave." Venom whispered in Jinx's ear.
They left.
"Follow me. I'll take you to the hospital." Venom told Jinx.
"That sounds good. I think it's setting." Jinx glanced at her stiffening wing. "Lead the way."
View Online
[Random Comedy short] Curiosity isn't always best
Jinx threw the blanket off the hospital bed. The Hive was surprsingly... cozy. It's no Hoofton Hotel, but nicer than she expected.
She had learned that Changelings don't eat normal food, they eat love. And they're very, very generous. A nurse had left some toast for Jinx that morning. Her bad wing was bound to her body in a cobwebby bandage. Her scratches and small cut had been treated, too.
With some difficulty, Jinx levitated a brush to the bed and attempted to rid her mane of twigs and burrs. She winced at the first few strokes, but she pushed on. Slowly but surely, her mane became less of a squirrel nest. Once she tamed her mane back down to it's usual style, she proceeded to brush her tail.
When she finished, she put the brush back. Then Jinx just stared blackly at the dark walls. She slid out of bed and hesitantly stepped out into the hall. And ran into Venom.
"Hey!" I was looking for you!" he exclaimed upon collision.
"And I was looking for something to do," Jinx grumbled, lifting herself off the ground. "Do you guys have any books here?"
"Uh, no. We just settled here a few years ago after the Equestria thing."
"Damn. It's really boring here. I want a grand tour," Jinx said.
"I'm not sure that your wing..."
"Alicorns heal faster than normal ponies." Jinx reassured.
"Okay," Venom said doubtfully. "But if something goes wrong, your not pinning it on me."
"Deal. I need a change of scenery," Jinx walked further out of the room. "Where to?"
"And this is the bar, where Trap and Changelings like him come and get drunk." Venom gestured to a room with lauhgter and high pitched shattering could be heard.
"Lovely. What're those down the hall?" Jinx looked over Venom's shoulder.
Venom blushed, a deep rouge set against the black shell. "It's nothing. It's just-"
"Something I haven't seen." Jinx finished. She could feel less energy pulsing to her wounded wing and various scrapes. She might have enough to...
"You are not going back there." Venom said firmly.
"Oh really?" Jinx levitated him with teal magic. She trotted past, pulling him in tow.
"Stop! You can't go in-" he protested, his voice slightly warped from the magic field levitating him.
Jinx threw the door open and giggled. The room had pillows thrown all across the floor and blankets strewn everywhere. Posters of Chrysalis were plastered on every square inch the wall offered. They were red and blue pictures of the Changeling queen that had a single word captioned onto it: LOVE.
"I told you. My mom glued them to the walls." he sulked.
"It's hilarious," Jinx laughed. "Now what's in that next one?"
He shook his head. "I honestly don't know,"
Let's find out," Jinx left Venom's room and opened the other door. Her retina's seemed to burn themselves at the sight before them.
"I didn't know my mom was in porn, Jinx. I swear." Venom panicked.
"I didn't think that either," Jinx said in a daze. "Let's go."
"Yes, let's."
They left as fast as they could.
"We shall never speak of this again." Jinx murmured after minutes of silence between the pair.
"Agreed."
"WHAT?!" Chrysalis screeched as she trembled in rage.
"Your majesty, I speak only the truth. I have seen your son and that beastly alicorn enjoying each others company." a simple drone quaked at her hooves.
"If you're lying, I swear I will find your hexa and burn it to the ground, Arachne. Dismissed." Chrysalis waved the terrified drone away.
"VENOM!" she screamed in the Ancient Changeling Tongue.
Moments later, a changeling slunk into the throne room.
"What is it, mummy dearest?" he muttered.
Chrysalis raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Venom sighed and raised his head. "What do you need?" he said in a louder and stronger voice.
"I have heard that you and that Changeling wannabe have been 'hanging out'. Is this true?"
"Yes, I've been monitoring her behaviour for signs of spying." he answered.
Chrysalis narrowed her green eyes. "Is that so?"
"Yes. May I leave?" he asked.
"Yes." Chrysalis responded absent mindedly.
"She saw us hanging out, didn't she?" Jinx said wryly.
"Yep. She made me tell her what I was doing," he smiled. "That was a good safety answer you came up with. Brohoof."
They bumped hooves.
"Ugh, my back itches. Ow. OwowowowowowOW!" Jinx fell to the ground as the pain persisted. Minutes later, it subsided, but her back felt.... weird.
She turned her neck as far she could to see what happened. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
"No," she whispered. "Nonononononono!"
A silver sash was wrapped around her belly and sprouting from it were two iridescent wings. Just like Chrysalis'. On the edge of the sash was a thin line of black armor.
Venom put a comforting hoof on her shoulder. "Come on, it's okay. You knew it would happen anyway."
Jinx sniffled. "I know. But it's really happening. I half-expected it to be some sick joke."
Venom took his hoof off her shoulder. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"No, Changelings aren't bad. It's just..." her voice trailed off.
"Just what?" he snapped.
"I'm used to being a pony. What if you were turned into a pony?" she yelled.
"I can turn into a pony, if you haven't noticed!" Venom transformed into Jinx then back to himself.
"But permanantly?" her voice rose.
"Maybe. But you make being a Changeling sound bad!" he spat.
"Maybe it is bad for me! My mom is the freaking princess of love and she ignored me most of my life because of your mom!" Jinx's voice cracked.
"Really, then? I never knew my dad! He died in the Changeling Invasion!" he matched her volume.
"Uh huh, and whose fault is that? Let me think, your mom's!" she screamed with tears streaming down her face.
"Yeah, real mature." Venom spat and stalked away.
"Fine. Even more mature- running away," Jinx yelled down the hall. Her head drooped. "Who needs friends if they're all like you." a tear slowly made it's way down her face and fell, splashing on the wooden floor.
Two days. That's all she has. Forty-eight hours of alicornism. Twin fires circled around her midsection, slowly separating and changing her cream coat into black armor. Although, Jink reckoned that the most painful part is the hooves and Cutie Mark. Imagine your special talent, a proud symbol of what you're good at, gone forever. Jinx was a blank flank and proud of it.
She dragged her hooves down the corridor toward the exit. Jinx tested her new insect wings. Still too wet to attempt at flight. Too heavy to glide. She trudged toward her hospital room.
Tomorrow, tomorrow. Jinx thought as she laid down and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Jinx felt empowered. Fire swirled around her as Canterlot fell. Screaming ponies attempted to stop the gluttonous flames from consuming their bodies by jumping out of buildings. Cadence screamed, seeing Shining Armor pinned underneath a fallen pillar that blazed with silver fire. Cadence turned to her and her expression was on of anger mixed with fear.
"You," she hissed and lunged for her daughter.
Jinx woke up in a cold sweat. A strange light flickered faintly into her room. Getting up, she was dismayed to see that the Change had devoured where her Cutie Mark would be. The bottom of her tail was just turning silver, sending chills don't her back. Her dream had seemed like a dark omen. The distinct scent of something burning touched her nostrils. Suddenly the light made sense. Chrysalis wasn't kidding when she said she'd burn the Hexa down. But something was off about the fire. It was closer than the Hexas.
Jinx stretched her wings, finding them to be dry with a note of satisfaction.
She jumped off her bed, wincing as the Change made her legs permanently get pins and needles. Until it was over, anyway.
It was still early, really early. Jinx guessed about I-should-be-sleeping o'clock. She yawned and trotted into the doorway.
Freezing, she saw orange fire dancing in the palace. She turned tail and galloped down the hall in terror.
She saw a familiar door.
She flung it open. "Venom!" she yelled.
Smoke was really starting to pour into the palace. Jinx was already coughing.
Venom coughed and sat up. "What's that?" he asked loudly.
"Fire in the palace! We've got to get out!"
"Where're the guards?" Venom coughed.
"I think they left first. Come on, let's go!"
When they reached the wall of fire, Jinx halted.
"You go, I'll catch up later!" Jinx told him and bolted back down the hallway.
"What? This place is coming down! You'll be killed!" Venom protested.
"Just go and try to save the Changelings!" Jinx yelled.
A beam creaked above the spreading fire. Venom backed away and galloped out of the palace.
Eyes watering, Jinx searched the hallways. Nope, she wasn't there. Suddenly, an ebony door caught her eye.
She fumbled to open it, finally succeeding when she used magic. Rushing in, she found that Chrysalis' bedchamber wasn't clouded with smoke yet. She ran up to the side of the Queen's bed.
"Chrysalis! Get up!" she shook her enemy.
Chrysalis got up and looked around. Fire was gnawing at the doorway and the annoying alicorn was there.
"I think I'll stay." Chrysalis burrowed back under the covers.
"No you're not. You are going to get up and escape." Jinx corrected. She picked up the blanket and threw the into the doorway.
"I'm not leaving. This fire was set for me." Chrysalis said firmly.
Jinx lit her horn with her natural greenish blue magic. "You are leaving," she said and poked her horn to Chrysalis' shoulder.
Jinx and Chrysalis appeared over the roaring flames in a flash of light. Flailing, they fell into the fire. Jinx crashed into a bush where Chrysalis hit the ground. With a moan, Chrysalis got up. Jinx walked over to her.
"Are you al-" she began, but was interrupted by a deep moan, not from Chrysalis.
Looking up in horror, Jinx saw the palace beginning to lean toward them.
The Queen of the Changelings threw herself over Jinx as the palace came loose from the trees that secured it.
Everything went black.
Jinx woke up coughing. Her legs ached and her wings had holes singed in them. There was something on her back, something heavy.
She pushed it off and got up. The fire had died down and Jinx could see the full extent of the damage. There was not one Hexa left. Behind her, the palace had fallen.
Sweet Celestia, Chrysalis!
Jinx rushed up to see the weak Changeling trapped underneath a massive piece of smoldering wood.
"I'll try to help!" Jinx attempted to lift the huge piece of wood.
Chrysalis let out a hoarse laugh. "Don't wanna seethis bitch get what's coming to her, eh?"
"Er..."
"Exactly. Now, I going to tell you something, you might not want to believe it. That fire wasn't started by a Changeling. Our fire is green. The fire that almost killed my Changelings was set by a unicorn."
"Okay... but we have to get back to the Changelings. I told Venom to evacuate them." Jinx shifted her weight.
Chrysalis laughed again. "I'm afraid it's too late for me."
"No..."
"Yes. This situation reminds me of a lullaby I used to sing to Venom when he was little. My mother sang it to me, as did hers and so on. I suppose I have to teach it to you, as you're the only relatively Changeling in my presence. It goes like this:Hush, my little darling. Let your dreams take wing. One day when you're big and strong; you will be a queen. The past I've tried forgetting, and my foes I could forgive. Trouble is, I know it's petty, but I hate to let them win. Oh, the battle may be bloody, but that kind works for me. One day, when you're big and strong, you will be a queen. Payback time is nearing, and then our flag will fly against a blood-red sky! That's my lullaby. "
Jinx uneasily thought that she didn't sing that to Venom.
Chrysalis' breathing became labored. "Tell Venom... I.... love him." she panted.
With that, the Changeling Queen, Chrysalis, died leaving Jinx as her successor.
Jinx wandered the ash-laden forest, deep in thought.
The constant buzz of the Changeling's presence made her bite her lip at times. Thank Celestia that the Change hadn't yet reached her head. Y'know, the fangs part of being a Changeling?
She tried Changing like Venom or Chrysalis, but she felt like it had something to do with the shape of horn.
The smouldering fine line of fire had turned silvery when Chrysalis died, affirming what she had suspected.
Jinx really was the Changeling Queen.
The silver nibbled at her upper neck; it had already eaten holes in her now-black hooves. Her tail was silver, like the fire, and it too had holes in it.
Funny, Jinx thought. I never noticed that cheesy smell.
She yelped as she stepped on a still-hot ember hidden in the gray powder.
The buzzing quieted down a little bit. It was kind of like that Hot or Cold game you play when you're a foal. Quiet buzzing meant she was closer, loud meant far away.
Jinx came upon the husk of Chrysalis and shuddered. The body had lost all color and the spindly Changeling crown had appeared on Jinx's head, just behind her horn. In the spot where her disused Equestrian crown should be.
A blackened branch dropped down behind her and ash sprinkled on her back. Clouds rolled in the sky, blotting out the sun.
Good. jinx thought in sudden anger. She's the one who made this all happen! Venom's probably dead, and I should be lying under the Hexa with Chrysalis.
The buzzing quieted, giving her a small sliver of hope.
"All I'm saying is that even though she's pregnant, she has to keep moving. The unicorns might come back."
Jinx's heart sped up. Probably because she was so relieved to hear he's alive. Yes, definitely.
"Venom!" she squealed and rushed toward the familiar voice.
"Jinx?" Venom asked dubiously as she tackled him into the ash layer.
She hugged him. "What happened?"
"Can't... breathe..." he choked out.
Jinx released him. "Oh. Sorry."
"I managed to get most of the Changelings out. Taran over there was asking how fast we have to go." then he saw how far the Change had progressed. "Oh Chrysalis, I'm sorry, Jinx. I shouldn't have yelled at you before."
"It's okay now. We have bigger problems. Like the unicorns. Or the fact that Chrysalis died." Jinx said and bit her lip again.
"She WHAT?!" Venom shrieked in a very manly fashion.
"Shush, shush!" Jinx waved her holey hooves in his face.
"But Ji-" his eyes rose to her head. They spotted the ebony crown on her head.
"Yes, I know. 'Aieee, Jinx is a pony, but a Changeling Queen!'. But this has to stay under wraps until the Change is done. Which should be soon. I'll find you guys, just... I have to go. You get it?" she whispered furiously.
Venom nodded. "They probably won't like it."
Jinx turned and her eyes hardened when she saw the overweight Changeling.
"Nightey night," she whispered and knocked him out against a tree.
Venom looked on in horror. "Why would you do that?"
Jinx widened her eyes. "I-I don't know."
After bidding each other goodbye, Jinx flew above what was left of the nearby trees.
In the distance, she could see Canterlot. Which meant-
Ponyville was close. Very close.
Her wings hissed as she used Canterlot as a North Star. Snow began to fall, reminding her that Hearth's Warming Eve was near.
She stumbled a bit in the air. These wings will take some getting used to.
Twilight paced the library. She had felt terrible after Jinx visited, and desperately wanted to tell her how sorry she was. All she wanted for Hearth's Warming Day wasn't her two front teeth. She just wanted to see her niece again.
Not that she wouldn't blame her for never coming back. Twilight had been way too harsh last time she saw her.
"Spike!" she yelled. "Is the tree set up?"
"Decorating it right now," he called from Twilight's room.
For the first time all day, Twilight stole a glance at the clock. 11:30.
"Ugh, I have to go to bed." she grumbled. "Spike! Get in bed!"
She walked to her room, barely taking note of a butter-colored pegasus adorned with multicolored baubles.
The sky was inky black above Jinx; and snow still fell.
A flood of relief rivaling what she felt when she heard Venom's voice when she spotted Fluttershy's cottage rising out a the now-thick blanket of snow. No lights were on, showing that she wasn't home.
Jinx laid out her options. It was too cold now to sleep in the Everfree. And even if she did, the timberwolves.... okay. Fluttershy isn't an option, because a) she's gone and b) she would freak out and turn it into a huge misunderstanding resulting in her banishment to the moon. Rarity maybe, but she has Sweetie Belle. Sweetie would probably make like Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash was on Winter Tour with the Wonderbolts... Pinkie Pie was probably off at some wild party filled to the brim with cider. Applejack, Big Mac, and Applebloom were off in Appleloosa visiting Braeburn and his family. Which only left...
Twilight.
The very same Twilight that threw her out two weeks ago. The Twilight that taught her how to levitate things, to read, to organize. That Twilight.
And Spike, who was affectionately known as Butler, he tended to blow things way out of proportion.
She'll have to catch Twilight when Spike's not around.
Jinx landed in town, stumbling a bit and eventually planting her face in the thick snow. Thank Celestia that nopony was around to see that . Hey, wait a second...
Jinx rolled around in the snow, nearly jumping out of her skin when it touched her wings.
Damn , snow is cold.
She popped up and continued on to the library. She saw one light on in the library, one light that was Twilight's room. Jinx trotted faster and ran into the door.
Grumbling, she got back up and rubbed her head. She's being too clumsy for a secret-ninja-stealth-awesome mission.
A light turned on in the main floor of the library. Jinx rolled once again in the snow to repair her disguise.
The door opened. "H-hello?" Twilight blinked wearily out the door. Her eyes widened. "Oh thank Celestia, Jinx! I'm so, so sorry-"
Jinx had a sense of déjà vu. "Please, be quiet. We can talk inside, right?" her shoulder slumped with tiredness.
Twilight blinked again. "Of course, Jinx. Come on in."
Jinx walked inside with Twilight. Spike was nowhere to be seen.
"Sit down." Twilight instructed as she walked into the kitchen to make hot chocolate.
Jinx did as she was told.
"So..." she drew out.
"Jinx, where were you? I've been worried sick!" Twilight exclaimed from the kitchen.
"Int the Everfree," she replied.
"What?" Twilight reappeared levitating two mugs of steaming chocolat chaud .
"I've been living with the Changelings. They're not so bad once you get used to them," Jinx levitated a mug over and took a cautious sip.
"How are they not so bad?" Twilight wrinkled her nose for some reason.
"Well, they're not evil creatures that live only to feed off love. They have feelings and opinions." Jinx explained and took another sip. They snow began to melt.
"That's nice," Twilight said politely. "Why are you covered in snow?"
Jinx looked down. "Oh, yeah. I thought Spike would open the door and-"
"-write a letter to the Princess saying that Chrysalis is back and trying to enslave all ponykind." Twilight finished with a smile.
Jinx blushed. "Well, yeah."
"One thing, though. Is this your normal form, or just a disguise?" Twilight asked.
Jinx giggled. "No, the Change isn't done yet. It will be soon."
"Ah, okay." Twilight looked uncomfortable. "Then where's Chrysalis?"
"Why do you ask?" Jinx asked, alarmed.
"I was just curious as to why you have her tiara on," Twilight looked pointedly at her head.
"Oh. Right. Do you know anything about the recent Royal Guard activity?" Jinx asked.
Twilight opened her mouth to answer, but Jinx cut her off.
"A couple nights ago, the Hive caught on fire. A Changeling didn't set it." Jinx told her.
"How do you know?" Twilight asked Jinx.
"Because the fire was orange-y. Changeling fire is green. A saw some hoofprints before I left; they headed toward Canterlot."
"I was sleeping in the Palace when it started. I told Venom to get out and save the civilians. I shoved him out before the fire separated us," Jinx continued while Twilight looked intrigued. "I went back for Chrysalis because the Changelings need a leader and Venom isn't ready for that responsibility yet. I got to Chrysalis' room and she didn't want to leave. I sat there and tried talking her into coming with me. Then I remember this huge crack, like the earth itself was splitting open. We both looked up and the ceiling fell in. We got out, but not before she saved my life,"
Jinx's throat began to swell like it did before tears. "She protected me from all this burning wood and sacrificed herself. She sang a little song and made me Queen." she concluded.
Twilight was silent for a moment. "Who's Venom?"
Jinx blushed. "Oh, that's her son."
Twilight widened her eyes in triumph. "You finally have a crush!"
Jinx's cheeks heated, counteracting the welling tears. "No I don't!"
"You do too! Haha!" Twilight crowed.
Suddenly, Jinx felt exhausted. "Sure. I'm just gonna... lie here and take a nap..."
Twilight went quiet. She got up and levitated both half-full mugs into the kitchen for Butler to clean up in the morning.
She opened a closet and took a blanket out. She threw it out on her niece.
"Sleep tight," she murmured and blew out the candles.
"Baaaaaaaaaaah!"
Jinx awoke with a start as Butler dropped a pile of books near her head.
"Chrysalis! Have to- TWILIGHT!!" he screamed and scampered up the slowly sloping wooden stairs.
"Oh for the love of-," Jinx muttered. "Twilight, it's just me."
After several minutes of coaxing, blackmailing, and bribing, Spike agreed not to tattle to the Princess only after a large fire ruby was given to him. He sucked on it while suspiciously glaring at Jinx.
"Spike," she said sternly. "It's me, Jinx."
"Yeah, Chrysalis said she was Cadence, too."
"And you didn't believe her," Jinx said bluntly.
"Hey, I was busy planning a wild bachelor party." he protested, misgivings forgotten for the moment.
"Enough," Twilight appeared in the kitchen doorway. "Spike, that really is Jinx. She wandered in last night, I saw her. She was almost Changed and now..." her voice trailed off and Jinx noticed for the first time the pleasant tingling sensation in her horn.
"You hungry?" Twilight's words interrupted the sinking feeling in Jinx's stomach.
"Er, no." Jinx said truthfully.
"Spike, if you'd like I can grind up that fire ruby and put it in your pancake."
Spike obliged, licking his scaly lips.
When the Dynamic Duo was in the kitchen, Jinx fluttered to the bathroom, afraid of what she would find lurking in the mirror.
She landed on the oak floor with a clatter of ragged hooves. Her tattered wings remained parallel to the ground.
The bathroom was small. It could barely squeeze in one pony, and that wasn't saying much.
Jinx slid into the narrow passage between the sink and the toilet. Her reflection in the sink mirror stared back at her with wide green eyes with dragon pupils. Jinx slid her tongue over her teeth and the reflection mirrored her movement over two sharp, pointy canines.
The green fire Jinx had associated with the Change was licking greedily at the tip of her now-ebony horn. As she watched in horror, the fire crawled forward, finishing the Change. Green fireworks spurted from her horn like water from a fountain. A blindingly bright flash of emerald and she was lifted off the ground by the sheer amount of magic that Jinx was possessed by.
The walls splintered, the toilet and sink crumbled into dust and the mirror cracked down the middle. It fell to the floor, the crash lost in the whirling green cloud.
Through the opaque lens that were her eyes, Jinx saw a panicked Twilight attempting to contain the destruction.
And then it was over as suddenly as it began. She collapsed to the floor like a ragdoll among pipes, sharp pieces of glass on pottery, and fractured wall.
It was eerily silent. Jinx shakily stood up, though she felt rejuvenated inside. Once again, her reflection caught her eye.
She was white, though it was fading quickly, giving in to the frosting black lacing over her body, returning it to the jet hue she had grown accustomed to. The charcoal lacings knit together, forming a hard chitin shell over her pale cream coat.
"J-Jinx?" Twilight asked as the dust settled.
"I'm sososososososoSO sorry, Auntie Twilight." Jinx pleaded. "I'll fix it!"
Twilight clicked her tongue in disapproval. "I don't want you overexerting yourself. I've got this, just get out of the way," she waved Jinx aside.
"I knew it!" Spike yelled triumphantly. "That isn't Jinx!" he pointed a purple claw at the Changeling.
"Shut it, Spike." Jinx said tiredly, hooves clacking across the, erm, wall into the kitchen.
Twilight braced her own hooves squarely on the ground, horn beginning to glimmer with a faint violet sheen. The pieces of wall mimicked the purple aura. They righted themselves and fit into their own little place in the now-erected wall, like a jigsaw puzzle.
The toilet and the sink reappeared in a flash and the mirror mended. The light in Twilight's horn diminished until it was completely quenched of all magical light.
"Wow, Auntie Twilight. What spell was that?" Jinx asked in wonder.
Twilight turned, a warm smile on her face. "The one I used as Mare Do Well."
Jinx nodded. "When you fixed the dam?"
"Yup,"
To her surprise, Jinx felt a little more than the usual smug emotion when she was right. This new feeling... it was like nothing Jinx had ever experienced. It was like a hot cup of cocoa on a cold day, warmth shooting through every vein and tissue. Yet it was a popsicle on a summer day, sweetly frigid inside.
She moaned at the sudden pleasure of this... feeling.
Twilight looked at her oddly. "Are you all right?"
Jinx shuddered, trying to leave the feeling on a shelf for now. "Yeah," she said slowly. "I'm fine."
"I think you need to lay down for a while." Twilight said firmly. "You can go in my bed."
Left without a choice, Jinx the Changeling trudged to Twilight's bed as fell asleep immediately on the soft comforters.
o~O~V~O~o
"Come one, everyone," Venom called across the mass of Changelings. "This way."
They groaned. They were miles away from the smouldering remains of the Hive and they didn't know where they were going, let alone what they would do once they got there.
Venom knew. But it would take some serious planning with the Queen. He sent out a telepathic message saying You okay?
Within moments, he got a reply.
There were some minor explosions.
He sighed in relief. We need rest and I can see a cottage.
A pause. What's it look like?
Has a green thatched roof. Tan walls.
**Don't knock. * Skirt around town through the apple orchards; Applejack and her family are in Appleloosa, I think. Be careful and knock three times on a house in a tree.* she ordered.
He was taken aback. She even sounded like a queen now.
"Okay everyling," Venom called again. "I've talked with our eh, Queen, and she said to sneak across town to meet her in a treehouse. Change into the most forgettable pony you can think of,"
With several flashes of emerald light, every Changeling that could shift resembled a mint green unicorn mare.
Venom facehooved. "Different ponies, please."
For once, they were able to abide his command. There were pegasi, earth ponies and unicorns, there were fillies and colts. The mint green one smiled smugly.
Venom himself changed to a white coated pegasus with a windswept blonde mane.
"A'ight," it was then he realized he was a mare, given his melodic voice. "Let's go through the apple orchard up here."
There were some rasping snickers, but for the most part the drones remained silent. Soon all that was left in the newly fallen snow was hundreds of hoofprints.
o~O~J~O~o
"Come on, Auntie Twilight!" Jinx pleaded.
"No," Twilight said sternly. "You are not going to the play."
"But the Cutie Mark Crusaders are the main ponies!" she complained. "I would love to see Scoots as Commander Hurricane."
"But," Twilight said lightly while bundling up. "Key word being would . You are not going and that is that. I'll be back late. Pinkie'll make a huge deal about it and have a after-play-good-job party for the actors and actresses."
Twilight closed the door behind her and shivered as the cold wind bit at her. She had a sense of déjà vu and wondered if she had done the right thing. She shook her head. Of course, she was protecting Jinx. Twilight trotted away into the gray dusk that was descending.
Jinx kicked a book. It was a boring old tome, so Twilight wouldn't care about it. She thought.
Jinx groaned and fluttered her dry insect wings. She stopped. Thinking, she remembered the argument she and Venom had a few days before. How he changed into the former and back.
She had to try.
Jinx tidied the library up; she didn't know if it would make a mess. Glancing out the window, she rushed through the rest. Owloysius would come soon and he was stricter than Twilight.
She planted her hooves in the center of the room and lit her horn. It was stranger than the other feeling she had when talking to Twilight. It was like pins-and-needles in her horn, except warm. A faint circle of green light glowed around her and...
Three knocks interrupted. She whipped her head toward the door.
"Come on in!" she yelled.
Venom- she guessed- fumbled with the door for a second and she rolled her eyes. Jinx unlocked the door and let him inside.
Except it wasn't him. A white coated pegasus mare led about a hundred ponies inside.
"Who- what-?" she stammered.
"Hey Jinx," the mare said, flashing a toothy grin.
"And who are you?" she asked. "Why is there-"
"Alright, everyone. We're clear." the mare called and in a flash, returned to the form of Venom.
Everypony- as she should say- everyling changed back to Changeling drones. Jinx's jaw dropped.
"How did you-"
"Snuck through the orchards and then through town."
"I'm not sure that 'snuck' is a word," Jinx informed him.
Venom rolled his eyes. "Now it is," his gaze shifted to the rowdy Changelings. "Better tell them now."
She sighed. "Fine," Jinx fluttered up above everyling else and settled precariously on a teetering bookshelf. She cleared her throat. "Attention, please."
But her words just glanced off their armor.
"Attention," she said louder.
Nothing.
"ATTENTION!" she said in the powerful and regal voice of Chrysalis. "Thank you," she added when the drones stopped their chittering and directed their attention to Jinx.
"I have something to say. As you know, there was a fire at the Hive. From what I can tell, it was set by the Royal Guard. We've ha many losses," she paused to scrap together her strength before saying the next few words that will change the course of Changeling history. "Including that of former Queen Chrysalis."
As she had expected, the Changelings squabbled in confusion and dread.
"SILENCE!" she thundered. "Queen Chrysalis saved my life. She ought to be remembered for her courage and honor, not for her folly. I was the last one in her presence before she- passed on."
This new bit of information brought more chittering.
"Must I say it?" she asked coldly.
They quieted down.
"I am the new Queen of the Hive." Out of the corner of her eye, Jinx saw Venom wipe a tear away.
"Queen Jinx!" Venom called, though his voice cracked.
"Queen Jinx?" Trap asked.
"Queen Jinx." someone said sadly.
They chanted her name repeatedly, though her frantic motions told them to quiet down.
"LOVE!"
They shut up, eagerly craning their heads to look for it.
"Sorry 'bout this, but I need peace and quiet for a while to-" she paused. "Sort things out. Y'know, better leader and all that."
All was quiet until, surprisingly, a Changeling she recognized as Arianna stepped forth.
"You heard her, let's go," she pushed them toward the door.
Some were still muttering about Chrysalis, but they complied.
Venom stayed, even as the door shut.
"So how're you taking it," he said quietly.
"It'll be tough but I was around politics my whole life. It's better than if a dog was Queen," she said, gliding down to the floor.
He chuckled darkly. "But are you ready govern a hundred some subjects?"
Jinx snorted. "I've been *ahem* eavesdropping in on my mom's court. I'm pretty sure..."
Venom rolled his eyes. "Fine. But... just remember, if you need anything..." his voice trailed off.
"Venom, you are my best friend. You can be like, high adviser or something," Jinx said kindly. Then she added "If I remember correctly, Celestia mentioned somepony named Spell Nexus to be her adviser."
He laughed a short, brisk laugh. "I'll do military stuff, too. Mom taught me that when I was little."
Jinx smiled. "Yeah, you can do that if ya want."
Awkward silence befell the duo. After several seconds, Venom spoke up.
"I should probably..."
"Yeah, they'll need you soon. But before you leave, how do you... you know..."
"Change?"
"Yeah."
He laughed again. "Imagine yourself as the pony you want to look like. Then just use magic after and it should work."
She smiled gratefully. "Thanks."
"No prob." Venom walked out the door and took to the nearly-black sky.
Jinx started. Where was Owlo-
Owloysius soared through the open window and hooted a greeting.
Jinx hooted back.
"I cleaned up, so you can go read Anatomy of Draconequus . I have it upstairs for you."
Owloysius gave her a hard stare. He slowly lifted off his perch and flew upstairs.
She sighed in relief. Jinx imagined herself as well, herself, and closed her eyes in concentration. A tingling sensation grew in her horn as she channeled the magic and was soon tickled over her body. She shuddered with internal laughter.
Only when the tickling faded did Jinx dare open her eyes. Almost afraidof what she would find, Jinx tentatively raised a hoof to her line of sight. It was a soft cream.
It was strange, walking with solid legs again. Jinx had grown used to her legs with a more swiss-like quality. But she quickly regained composure.
Cracking the door open, Jinx peeked out into the night. No Changelings were to be seen. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Jinx nosed the door ajar and flinched at the creak. It seemed like an explosion in the silence of the library. She pushed withher hooves. Somepony just dropped a nuke. She winced and scampered out the door, closing it behind her. It closed quietly behind her.
Backstabber. Jinx thought toard the smug door. She glanced around the frozen landscape, shivering. She wished she had remembered to bring a coat.
A flickering light in the distance caught her eye.
"...and they were torn apart. By hate."
Jinx smiled. Spike always loved narrating the Hearth's Warming Eve play. He'd done this for over twelve years, and didn't plan on stopping.
She plodded on, pausing to hear key lines.
"All I wanna know is why the Earth Ponies are hogging all the food!" Scootaloo shouted.
The open-air theater came into sight now. It was particularly large, for an open-air, and made of weathered gray stone. Ponies were sitting on plush striped cushions, many sipping steaming hot cocoa. She walked in, taking a seat near the walkway from where she entered.
Sweetie Belle's eye brightened when she saw Jinx. She frowned as she slipped back into her character.
"Us?! We're not hoggin' all the food- oh wait. You right, we ARE hoggin' all th' food. But only 'cause you pegasi are makin' it snow like dandruff from a salespony." Applebloom shot back.
"For the millionth time, it's not us! It's those crazy unicorns, with their psycho magic!" Scootaloo shouted.
Sweetie gasped. "How dare you! Unlike you pegasus thugs, we unicorns would never stoop to that level!"
Jinx chuckled throughout this scene and felt slightly embarrassed. Even the Cutie Mark Crusaders got theirs before her.
"Ah was elected 'cause Ah cain think outside the box. Which means Ah can think inside the chimney. Can you think inside the chimney?" Applebloom asked Diamond Tiara.
The theater was enveloped in a rolling, soft laughter. The memorable line from the Canterlot play had become a must-have line in Hearth's Warming plays.
The pearly pink mare was about to reply when the nape of Jinx's neck tingled. She glanced around the amphitheater. Her heart sank as she saw Twilight shaking her head in disappointment.
Her face burned as she straightened up and continued to watch the play, ignoring the sense that her heart was slowly melting into green slime.
She tried to enjoy. It was near impossible, but she managed tight chuckles at the corresponding lines. But near the end, the unthinkable happened.
"EEEEEEQUESTRI-" the cast cheered. They were interrupted by a shriek of fear.
Jinx glanced around in confusion, only to find every pair of eyes in the amphitheater were trained on one thing.
Her.
A cold, slithering feeling slid down her back. She looked at her hooves. They shone brightly in the lighting of the theater. But one thing stood out. They were to exact hue of obsidian.
"Oh horseapples," Jinx said in a brilliant moment of word association.