Godly

Godly
Chapter 14: Dinner at the Empire

Three days later

Queen Shyla has taken the south eastern most segment and after telling her I grew the grass here, she asked me to grow a small forest so she could find and bring animals to live in it.

I saw no harm in it so half of her segment is now a small woodland area. She's also very happy with how nice everyone is being with her and her changelings as she admitted she was terrified we would somehow attack her when she least expected it.

Chrysalis and Dragana have sent some of their changelings to help Shyla dig out her new Hive while the Queens got together and discussed what to name our City.

They decided on Khepria City, in honour of me bringing them hope and a place they can live without fear of being hunted or starving, and due to it's the form I take most of the time. It touched me and while Dragana isn't the touchy feely type, I still gave her and the other Queens a hug. But I told them they have to come up with a name for their new nation without using anything about me as a reference.

I've also spent the last two days mostly making more and more hearts to be converted into liquid love, even the honey changelings have a team to make some for their Hive now.

So at the end of the second day, I've managed to make enough hearts for three months for everyone to feed from, so I don't have to make anymore for a while.

Tahway managed to break free from his pod and started killing any changeling in his way barehanded. The armed and armoured guards managed to bring him to his knees after wounding him, but after what he did, Chrysalis was so enraged to the point she blew a foot wide hole through his chest and killed him on sight without warning. While Dragana wasn't happy about it, she understood that it's what had to be done.

Damn minotaur killed the four caretaker or jailer changelings as I liked to call them before he was put down. Chrysalis cried herself to sleep after she performed another changeling burial for them. I just hope she'll feel better before we have to go to the Empire for that dinner date with Cadence. Just means from now on minotaur prisoners will have to be bound with resin.

It's now the day that we head to the Empire and Chrysalis, while still glum, is well enough to go. So while we waited we decided to start building houses up on the surface. I used Janus to make portals to both the quarry and the forest to get more timber and stone, I've learnt I can make more than one portal at a time but it's more stressful on me the more I make and the size of each one, so I'll need to practice a lot more. At least the storehouse is getting used as the spare materials are stored inside.

Now it's late in the evening and Dragana wants to come as well to find a willing mate among the crystal ponies since Tahway is now dead.

"Shyla? Would you like to come as well?" I ask the timid Queen.

"Um... I don't know... W-What if they don't like me?" she asks me.

"Amore and Cadence are the nicest ponies you'll ever meet, this will also give you the chance to possibly find a mate as well," I tell her making her blush yellow. I find it amusing that the colour of a changeling's blush is the same colour as their shell.

"I-I-I'm not sure I'm r-ready for a m-mate again yet," she replies and stutters.

"Then just come along and meet Amore and Cadence. They'll adore you," I say making her look to her three changelings who are nodding at her.

"Oh... Okay then..." she says and I raise an eyebrow. I'm surprised she survived as long as she did being this timid and easy to convince.

"Great. Let's get going then, it's almost time," I tell her and we take off towards the central segment.

Shyla smiles as we fly past her woodland area as birds have begun to show up and started building nests in the trees.

We land in front of the Jade Hive Keep and see Chrysalis and Dragana who has come out of her Hive just for this dinner. She's got a swollen belly just like Chrysalis had and has two of her changelings with her.

"So, you ladies ready to go?" I ask them.

"Of course. I'm looking forward to talking with Cadence," Chrysalis replies.

"Yes, well. I'm just going to find a mate," Dragana says bluntly making me chuckle.

"Okay then. Let's go," I say and change to Janus and open a Portal to the Empire's Throne Room.

I look in to see Amore and Cadence on their thrones talking to an elderly looking zebra stallion. I step through getting a surprised look from the zebra who then glares at the Queens behind me.

"Empress Amore, why are there changelings here in your Empire?" he asks her with thick accent.

"They art our friends and allies, High-Shaman Banawey. And we ask thee to show respect," she replies calmly as Cadence gets up off her throne before walking over and giving Chrysalis a hug, as well as me.

"Tis good to see thee both. And congratulations Dragana, we hope thou art well? We were not expecting thee to come along, especially in thine condition," she says and then asks the red Queen.

"I'm fine. Though I require a new mate and have come looking for one," she bluntly says making Cadence blush slightly and raise an eyebrow at her.

"Oh... Well we hope thou shall find somepony who would like to court thee," Cadence replies before looking at Shyla who is nervously hiding behind her mane. "And who is this? We don't remember seeing her last time we visited," she asks with confusion.

"This is Queen Shyla. We found her Hive in poor condition and brought her back to our City where we helped her recover," I reply getting a big smile from Cadence.

"Thou art a blessing, Sir Carl. We hope thou find more Hives and help them as well," the pink alicorn says and walks up to Shyla who nervously looks back at her.

"Greetings, Queen Shyla. We art princess Cadenza, but thou may just call us Cadence. We hope that thee shall enjoy thine time in the Crystal Empire," Cadence tells her getting a small smile in return.

"Erm... T-Thank you," Shyla replies.

"Now then. Let us head for the dining hall, ye all arrived early so we still hast half an hour before dinner is served," Amore tells us and looks to the zebra who looks uncomfortable. "High-Shaman. Thou art welcome to join us if thou wishes, we would like to introduce thee to our friends," she tells him, getting a slight frown from him.

"Very well, Empress. We still have much to discuss," he replies and we all follow her to the dining hall, though the zebra keeps his distance from us.

We arrive and I remember the table being too small for me to sit at properly, so I change into Ratatoskr and sit on a cushion next to Chrysalis and Shyla who looks like she wants to glomp me. Though that only lasted for a few seconds before Cadence pulls me with her magic for a hug.

"Oh we hoped thou would change into this form again!" she tells me and I wheeze slightly as she tightens her hug.

I glance at Chrysalis who has wide eyes and a small smile forming on her face. Is she finding my predicament amusing?

"Cadence, I would like you to let my mate breath as we still need him," Chrysalis tells her.

I gasp as Cadence blushes in embarrassment and lets me go where I cough a few times. "I saw my life flash before my eyes!" I say dramatically and slump onto my back on the table.

I hear Dragana giggling as Chrysalis levitates me back to my cushion where I just lay there.

"Now then, Empress. As I was saying before your... guests arrived, our land has come under a drought that is starting to effect our crops. I've been sent to ask you to send some of your pegasi to provide some rain. In return we are willing to compensate you with herbs, extracts, or silk that you can't find here," the Zebra says to Cadence.

"What kind of herbs and Extracts?" I ask getting a narrow eyed look from him.

"That is none of your concern changeling," he tells me in a hostile tone getting me to frown.

"Okay, one, I'm not a changeling. Two, I might be able to help you with your rain problem. And three, keep up that attitude and you can expect no help from me. While you are a guest of Empress Amore, I won't tolerate you insulting my mate or her race," I tell him sternly, which is ruined by my high pitched tone and cute appearance.

"We too ask not to insult our friends, High-Shaman Banawey," Cadence says making the zebra's frown lessen. "Now, Carl. What is this idea thou hast for the High-Shaman's problem?" she asks me.

"I can just be Chaac the rain god and make it rain over his lands," I reply getting a raised brow from the zebra.

"A rain god? You speak as if you are a divine," he says disbelievingly.

I groan as I'm getting tired of explaining myself every time. "Yes, I can become over eighty different gods and goddesses from my old world. One of them being a god named Chaac who can summon rain," I tell him and change into said god.

I stand up and rest my massive axe's pommel on the floor while holding it up. "If you want a demonstration then just look out the window," I reply with my own slight accent and raise my axe above my head and focus my energy.

Clouds begin to gather above the Crystal Palace and thunder roars around us as after a minute or two, rain begins to descend and hit the clear crystal windows.

The zebra gawks outside and quickly makes his way over to the window and watches the rain fall from the clouds above. Cadence gives me an unamused expression.

"Please stop it, Sir Carl. We don't want the rain to freeze over on everything," she tells me and I disperse the clouds making the rain stop.

The zebra looks back at me with wide eyes and after a few seconds of hesitation, walks over to me.

"You have gained my interest. If you are not a changeling, but truly a god, why are you with the changelings?" he asks me with curiosity.

I change back into Ratatoskr and sit back down at the table. I then tell him of when I first arrived and killed Sombra and saved Amore, then of Celestia trying to kill or seal me as for some insane reason she only saw me as a threat, which got a surprised reaction from him. Next of how the changelings found me and in return for taking me in, I decided to help them recover. Then finally of Celestia's attack on our barely started City where I sent her back to Equestria wounded.

"So I'm gathering any Hive willing to work together. So far we have three Hives, one confirmed dead, and another that could possibly still be out there. You wouldn't happen to know of any Hives near your lands would you?" I ask him.

"Not that we know of," he replies and hums in thought. "If you can bring rain to our lands, then the shaman council is willing to listen to anything you would like in return within reason," he tells me.

"One thing I would like is to have your nation as friends and allies to the changelings of the Badlands, which will be renamed once we think of a good name for it," I reply making him raise an eyebrow.

"That's all?" he asks surprised.

"We already have everything we need to prosper, but anything new and useful would be welcome. Does your nation have some form of currency?" I ask him.

"We trade food and resources with other races for what we need, if you are referring to the crystal coins the ponies use, then no, we do not," he replies.

"I see. I would be interested in seeds for different herbs, or fruit and vegetables that we can grow ourselves," I tell him.

"That can be easily arranged," he says and returns to the table. "After our meal, I would like to discuss what you would like exactly in exchange for you providing us with rain," he tells me.

"I can do more than that, I can even make a few lakes if you want," I reply and before he can speak, the doors open and crystal carts are pushed in with crystal plates covered with different fruits, vegetables, and cooked vegetarian dishes.

"What are these?" I ask as a plate with what look like light blue berries made of crystal or ice is placed down.

"Oh, those are crystal berries, tis one of our main exports," Amore replies.

I have to lean over the table just to reach them and gather a few before putting them on my plate. I take a bite of one and chew slowly. It's tangy and it's like a combination of strawberry and watermelon.

"Not bad, I may have to buy some from you later... Speaking of buying things, how much would that crystal heart replica cost?" I ask Amore.

"Oh, don't worry about that. If it helps our friends and her race thrive, then we art happy to provide it," she replies.

I smile at her generosity and then get an idea. "Then perhaps you would like to build an embassy within our City? This way you can send messages to and from Khepria without waiting for me to open a portal," I offer her.

"Thou would allow us to?" she asks with a smile.

"Sure, just gather whatever you want to build it with and I'll open a portal to where you can build it," I reply and take another bite of the berries.

"We thank thee, Sir Carl for thine generous offer. We shall have what we need for the building within a week's time. In return, the changelings of the Badlands may build their own embassy here in the Empire," she tells me.

"Thank you, Amore," I reply and I don't know why but I get the urge to stuff my face with more berries and without thinking, I start shovelling berry after berry into my cheeks which quickly expand.

I stop to see everyone staring at me while Chrysalis is trying not to laugh.

"Whapf?" I ask making my Queen burst into laughter.

"Squirrels do that to carry food back to their burrows for winter," Shyla then says with a smile on her face.

I frown and quickly swallow the berries one by one. Once done, I cross my little arms and pout at Chrysalis.

"Oh stop being a party pooper, Carl. It was funny," she tells me and I sigh before taking a piece of lettuce and just nibble on it. At least she's feeling better now.

Dinner goes by quickly and Dragana excuses herself to begin her search for a mate.

Banawey and I talked about what he wants me to do in Zebrica. He wants me to make it rain at each major plantation, and fill a few lakes so they can have enough water for drinking and to continue watering their crops until the drought has ended. Simple enough.

In return, I wanted seeds for different fruits and vegetables that only grow there, along with some seeds of medicinal herbs as well. I also asked for a meeting with his leaders to meet the Queens, which he tells me is made up of a council of elders from different tribes as they don't have royalty.

I plan to help them see that the changelings are not dangerous and that what Celestia told them was a lie.

While not happy about letting changelings near their land, he agreed to it if I can really do as I said I can.

I asked how he got here and he tells me he came here with a group of ten warriors from his tribe, which took two weeks of constant travel.

"So we'll be walking back?" I ask him.

"Correct. Zebrica is quite far and we'll also need to take our boat across the sea. Normally we wouldn't take such a long journey unless it was important, but our crops dying is such a time," he replies.

"Hmmm. What if I say I could fly us there quicker? Your warriors would have to travel back on foot... er, hoof while I carry you," I tell him making him raise an eyebrow.

"You can fly?" he asks surprised.

I change into Khepri making him back up a few steps due to my size. I then open the shell on my back and flutter my wings a bit.

"I can carry you with my legs while you give me directions," I reply and close my shell.

"I...see," he says and frowns.

"You did say time is short, I believe I can get you back within a few days instead of weeks," I tell him making him hesitant. "You have my word that no harm will come to you."

"Very well... I will have to inform my warriors first," he says.

"If it makes you feel better, I can carry one of your warriors as well. I shall wait for you outside the palace," I tell him and look to Chrysalis. "Once I've done my end of the deal, I'll open a portal to the Hive so you and the others can come through to talk to this council. Hopefully we can make friends with the zebras as well," I tell my Queen.

"Very well, we'll need to wait for Dragana to return so you can send us back to Khepria," she replies with a smile.

"Alright. I doubt she'll find a mate today anyway," I say and turn back to Banawey as Chrysalis and Shyla leave the Dining Hall with a couple of crystal guards escorting them. "Alright then. So how much land am I expected to cover?" I ask him.

"Whilst not as large as Equestria, we have a City and a good number of villages around. While hard to grow crops in the arid landscape, we manage to grow what we need. It's just we've never seen a drought this long and bad before, and we barely have enough water left to drink," he replies.

"Hmmm. Well, I'll do the best I can to help. Though I will need to take some breaks now and then and this may take me a few days to finish," I tell him.

"That is acceptable. I shall go inform my warriors and wait for you beneath the Palace," he tells me and gets up from the table.

"Okay. I need to send the Queens back to Khepria first before we go," I reply and change into Janus before turning to Amore and Cadence. "Thank you for the delightful meal, my dears. I'll be sure to buy some of those crystal berries from you when I get back," I tell her.

"Thou art welcome, Sir Carl. And we look forward to thy return," Amore replies and stands up. "But now we must return to our duties, we hope that thee canst solve High-Shaman Banawey's plight."

With a nod we all head out our own ways. I arrive at the base of the Palace and see Chrysalis and Shyla there.

"I take it Dragana is still somewhere else?" I ask them.

"Oh... yes, but w-we've only been waiting for a f-few minutes," Shyla replies still looking adorable and I just want to hug her.

"Well, Banawey will meet up with us here and after I send you all back, I'll take him to Zebrica and try to help them out. I'll visit now and then as well since I can just portal back instantly," I say.

"Very well, my love. I'll hold you to that as you need to fertilise my eggs again soon," Chrysalis tells me making Shyla blush slightly.

I chuckle and just chat with them until Dragana returns.