The Secret of the Everfree forest

Chapters

Fifth Instar
Mud Dabbing
Helpful Scutelleridae
Diapause
Meanwhile . . . At The Ranch
Hemolymph

Fifth Instar

Chapter one – Fifth Instar

The wedding was beautiful. The real wedding that is. Fluttershy shivered, not from any night chill, but from the vision of Queen Chrysalis as she showed her natural form at the wedding altar that was still fresh in her mind. A vision she hoped with all her might that she would never again witness. Settling herself, she looked across the party. All these ponies celebrating the royal union, none of them seemed the worse for wear from the Canterlot Invasion, as it was already being called, but she knew more than most how some damage never showed on the outside.

Finally she spotted Princess Celestia for once without anypony crowding around her. Fluttershy reminded herself who she needed to do this for, and approached the Princess. Speaking loudly to be heard over the party, “Um . . . Princess Celestia . . .” Not even an ear twitch. She thought she was talking loudly? Trying again, trying to remember Rainbow Dashes cheering lessons, “Um, Princess Celestia? Could I talk to you?”

“Oh, Fluttershy. You and your songbirds were lovely earlier. I thank you again for providing such lovely music on such short notice.” The Solar Diarch responded with a genuine smile.

“Well, it was such an honor to even be asked in the first place, we did try our best. The ceremony you performed was lovely too . . . Um, I did actually have a favor to ask of your Highness. Well, if it is OK with you that is.”, Oh my, she could hardly believe that she was really doing this.

Princess Celestia chuckled, “My little pony, you, both by yourself and with your friends, have served, and saved, Equestria and Crowns several times over. Ask me for anything, and if it is within my power, it is yours but for the asking.”

Fluttershy looked up at the kind smile and took a quick breath. This was it, after this there would be no turning back, not for anypony, “Could I please have a private audience with you, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadence? Tonight? I promise I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t super important!”

Princess Celestia blinked. This was not a request she had anticipated, “Could you tell me what this is about?”

Fluttershy shook her head, “I really need to talk to you all at the same time.” She looked out through her long, soft bangs, “Please Princess?”

The tallest mare in the land smiled again, “Of course, Fluttershy. It really is a modest request, considering all you have done, you just took me off guard is all. Allow me a bit to talk to the other Princesses, shall we meet in the throne room is thirty minutes? There will be no issue with privacy there tonight, everypony is out here.” Seeing Flutter shy’s tiny nod at this, she walked off into the party.

‘Well,’ Fluttershy thought as she watched Princess Celestia be absorbed by the crowd, ‘The Throne Room is appropriate, that is where sentences and pardons are both given out, after all.’ With that glass containing 50% water by volume thought, she began to slowly walk towards the palace.

She passed the luxuriant architecture without a glance. Works of art that had brought critics to tears of joy went by unnoticed. She had eyes only for the floor beneath her hooves, watching the mirror polished marble tiles pass as she moved her heavy limbs to the meeting that she had asked for, and dreaded. Come what may, she had chosen this. In her heart she knew that choosing to have this conversation was the most important, and the most right, decision she could ever make.

All too quickly the tiles led her to the open doors of the Throne Room. As she hesitated at the threshold, she knew that she didn’t need more time to prepare, she just wanted more time to delay. Her time was up, however, for as soon as she passed the elaborate entryway, she saw Princess Cadence and the new Prince Shining Armor come in from the side to join Princess Celestia and Princess Luna whom were already standing together at the hoof of the dais before the thrones. As the five gathered, a blue glow pushed the doors closed, then flashed. Princess Luna explaining that it was a simple anti-eavesdropping spell.

“I hope that it’s OK Shinny is here too, anything you want to say to me, you can say to him. I know he can keep your confidence, if you want.” Princess Cadence looked bashful, and a slight blush darkened her cheeks, “It’s just that after everything today, we really don’t want to separate right now.”

Fluttershy winced, “No, it’s fine. Really.” Again she took a bracing breath, “I’m sorry, I really should have thought about that.” She looked at the newly minted Prince, “And this involves you too Prince Shining Armor, so it is good you are here anyway.” All eyes were on her now, and under their kind, understanding gaze, she felt the words that she had rehearsed in her head dozens of times over the past few hours, simplify evaporate from her tongue. Reflexively from the sudden awkwardness, she closed her eyes and withdrew under her mane.

“Dearest Fluttershy, whatever is the matter? Please, talk to us. Why have you asked for us all?” Luna softly implored, doing her best to put into practice the lessons taught to her by the very pony before her.

“Well your Royaltiesness, um . . . Magistrates? . . . Highnessessesss?” She puttered out, staring at her hooves. How was she going to tell them when she couldn’t even address them? Why did this have to be so hard?

She saw a pink hoof shod in gold lift her chin, “How about friends? I know that I feel that I think of you as a friend, and from what Aunties have talked about you, they feel the same way.” The Princess of Love smiled and looked at her new husband, who, being well trained, took the hint, smiling “Of course I consider you a friend too, Fluttershy. We may not have had a chance to hang out yet, but from everything Twilly has written about you in her letters, I think I would like to some time.”

They were all confused by her wincing at these kind words. Her form shrinking like one of Pinkies balloons with a leak. Before anypony could speak their concern, Fluttershy seemed to shake it off, and stood herself straight before the powerful ponies before her, “No.” This single word was spoken with a confident strength she could never gather on her own, but this was not about her by herself, and she *could* be strong for the sake of others, “I need to talk to you all as rulers of this land, not as friends.” She softened her voice for a moment, “Although, if you still want to be friends later, I would like to be able to be a friend to you all.”

Now the assembled royalty was thoroughly confused, but Princess Celestia fell back on good old reliable protocol to mask this. After all, a Princess should never appear befuddled, “Very well Lady Fluttershy. Please, share with us just what is it that requires the attendance of three Princesses and a Prince?”

As her preparation (all four hours of it) had evaporated, she had no fancy words to use, not that they would make any difference. So all that was left, was the truth. The truth, and whatever they decide to do after. She reminded herself again who she was doing this for, and again spoke with a confidence she really did not feel, “While I will always be grateful for the title you bestowed upon me, after today I do not think I can use it,” she finally raised her eyes from the floor, and stood to her full height, “For I am truly a Queen. Queen Fluttershy of the Everfree Hive.”

Their reactions did not disappoint, and for a moment she wished that Pinkie, or Dashie were here. For she doubted either of them had ever had a prank get responses half as impressive. Shock was on every muzzle, with confusion following on all save Prince Shining Armor. He had ignited his horn to a triple corona in preparation of a defensive spell . . . she hoped it was for a defensive spell. Only Princess Luna lacked any fear, and she stepped forward, just as the others stepped back, her curiosity battling the befuddlement in her eyes.

Queen Fluttershy, (for she could no longer run from the title, not even in her own mind) forcing herself not to cower before them again, continued with a sigh, “To get the obvious out of the way; No this is not a joke or prank, yes I am a changeling, and the Queen of my own Hive, yes I am the same pony who is the Element of Kindness, No I did not know about the invasion until Moth-Queen Chrysalis revealed herself, the four of you are the only ponies who know what I am. I mean no ill-will towards anypony, and never have. I really am nothing like Mo-Queen Chrysalis at all!” She relapsed a little now that it was all out and squeaked, “Please don’t hate me.”

The last request shook the four royals, and Princess Celestia broke free first, “This is something I believe nopony expected, and because it is such an incredible revelation, I fear I must ask you for some kind of proof.” She looked at the self-declared Queen with trepidation, hoping that, despite her words, this was a poorly conceived prank.

Queen Fluttershy sighed, she had known all along that her desire to avoid this step was always going to go unfulfilled, “Very well. Prince Shining Armor,” the stallion jerked at the sound of his name, “Please try to stay calm, I am going to transform into my . . . ‘natural’ form.”

At this, the Princesses made note of the prince’s readied magic, but despite the faux-pax of Unicorn etiquette, the said nothing, and quickly returned their gazes to the Pegasus a few paces before them. Her face tightened in concentration for several heartbeats before a soft pink fire ringed her hooves. Slowly the flames worked their way over her body. The movement of the magic more akin to the rolling of a cloud front, than a roaring blaze.

The span of a half-minute later and the deed was accomplished, laying her bare before them. No longer the soft, butterscotch yellow Pegasus, her body was now a glossy black chitin. Reminiscent of a beetle one might find crawling through the forest leaf litter. With each of her limbs, including the stiff iridescent wings that had replaced her soft feathers, now sported several holes. The soft mane and tail that had brought her celebrity as a fashion model were gone. In their place were a sort of frill, looking like nothing so much as the flowing fins of a fancy fish. The color, too, was changed. Though they were still pink, they had taken a hue closer to a fuchsia, than the bubblegum pink that they had been. With the exception of the new horn atop her head, and what appeared to be a modest black crown behind it, she remained the same height as before, if much thinner. In fact, compared to her sleight Pegasus form, she now looked emaciated. Noticeably thinner than even the one who had tried to replace Princess Cadence.

Throughout the transformation she had kept her eyelids shut, in seeming concentration. Only now that she had finished, did she force herself to open them. Her eye color had remained the same turquoise it had been, but her whites now had a subtle green tint to them as well. Her pupils had also changed, not in color, but shape. The black of her eyes now narrow and pointed, counterpoint to the two sharp fangs protruding hesitantly from under her upper lip.

The room was quiet, save for the sound of breathing ponies. After a full minute of pregnant silence, the Captain of the Royal Guard, his horn still aglow with his magical field, harshly shattered the false calm, “Where is the real Fluttershy!”

Author's Note

Finally got off my flank and started writing one of the dozens of story ideas I have jotted down. This one has a full outline (unlike Green Acres), so it WILL be finished in a timly manner. Updates may be a little sporatic, since I have to use Library internet to post, but I hope y'all enjoy it as much as I am enjoying writing it. :twilightsmile:

Mud Dabbing

Chapter 2 – Mud Dabbing

“Where is the real Fluttershy?” Captain Shining Armor’s tone was that of steel, and barely restrained violence. Again, the other ponies made no comment on his behavior, wrapped as they were in their own astonishment. Queen Fluttershy seemingly ignored the question as she addressed Princess Celestia, “Do you recall the letter that Twilight wrote you about how all of the Elements got our Cutie Marks?

Though now more befuddled than before, the Princess shook herself and responded, “Of course, they had all been triggered by Rainbow Dash’s first Sonic Rainboom.”

Queen Fluttershy nodded sadly, “Part of the story in that letter was made up. I have kept this hidden, not just for me, but to keep pain from others as well.” She closed her eyes, replaying the events in her mind, both hers as well as her namesake’s, before continuing, “Fluttershy waved the starter flag for the race where Rainbow Dash performed the Sonic Rainboom, but as the racers flew past her she was knocked off the cloud. In the version I told others, she was saved from her fall by a kaleidoscope of butterflies . . . the truth is that they didn’t catch her.” A gasp of realization came from the Princesses, “I was wandering nearby and heard the impact. When I arrived, I found her completely covered by butterflies. Most ponies only think of them as feeding from flowers or fruit, but they will also feed from other things that they find, like dung . . . or spilled blood. She was still alive, somehow, when I waved them away from her, but,” She shuddered, seeing the event again in perfect clarity in her closed eyes. “She was Shattered.”

Opening her eyes, she looked at the celestial Diarchs, “Even if you both had been on the spot when it happened, I doubt you could have done anything. I . . . I did the only thing I could. I took the pain from her. I opened my mind to her, as I would to a newly hatched changeling, and invited her in. In a real way, she was the first hive member I ever had. Through this, I was able to block her from sensing her wounds and instead felt them for her.” She shivered, her folded wings rustling against each other, feeling the shadow of the agony once again, “Even before I did this, though, she had looked on me in this form, and she did so without hate or fear, only hope. “She knew that she was dying, even in the absence of the pain, and she looked at me and smiled. She smiled while she was dying, and thanked me. Not for taking her suffering, I don’t think that she knew I did that. No, she thanked me for just being there. She had been so isolated most of her life, and she thanked me for not letting her pass alone. I was very young, only a few months out of the egg, I had just been banished from my birth Hive. I didn’t have the experience or control that I needed. When she said that, I opened my MindGates fully, and, as the Rainboom signaled her passing, she . . . she became a part of me.”

The Queen saw the shock deepen on her audience’s faces, and quickly tried to clarify, “No, No! I didn’t feed on her, or steal her essence, or anything like that!” The expressions of incredulity were not encouraging, “Um, think of it like a Gramophone record. The orchestra isn’t diminished when the record is made. In my case it was like . . . two musicians playing separately, her mind, and mine. When my MindGates opened, a new record was made of both songs together, a duet. When her eyes closed for the last time, she was still Fluttershy that she had always been. Me, on the other hoof, I became somepony new. No longer was I just a disappointing offspring, but neither was I the young filly who had just passed before me either. I took her name, yes and her form, as a tribute, a memorial of thanks to the one who had allowed me to grow beyond what I was hatched for.” She felt both lighter, and heavier as she revealed this, but she knew she had to finish, “I built her a cairn in the Everfree, so we could visit her, but the . . . pony Fluttershy has always been with us. Since that day, neither I, nor any of my Hive, have taken the place of another pony.”

Her tale complete, Queen Fluttershy again searched the faces that surrounded her. All the Princesses eyes glistened with emotion, damp tracks lay on either side of Princess Cadence’s muzzle. The stallion alone seemed unmoved, “We will see what we find when you take us to this ‘cairn’. Forensic pathology spells can tell us more than you know.”

“Shinny!” Cadence exclaimed, “Things may have changed,” She glanced at the obviously frightened pink and black being, “. . . a lot. But this is still Fluttershy. The Element of Kindness, for goodness sakes!”

Captain Shining Armor never took his eyes off the changeling while cutting his wife off, “No, that is only what this thing has told us. All we know is what it has told us, and that is that this is not the real Fluttershy.”

Queen Fluttershy reacted to the words as if they were physical blows, softly stating, “I am telling the truth, I just wanted to stop hiding what we were.”

The Prince did not let up, “We will find the truth, creature.” He spat, “Don’t you worry. Or maybe you should, since we will be finding out what you have been hiding.” His horn, having never faltered since he first ignited it, now acted. Pink, magical bands flashed into existence, binding her wings painfully against her body. As well, mystic chains hobbled her legs so suddenly that she toppled onto her side. Before the Princesses could respond, he declared in an officious tone, “Queen Fluttershy, you are hereby under arrest for suspicion of kidnapping, abiding a terrorist action against the crown, violation of the sanctity of the mind, and murder.”

Queen Fluttershy no longer had the strength to be strong. She curled up on her side and began sobbing. She had known that something like this might happen, but she had hoped so hard against it, “Please,” She whimpered, “I never meant to do anything wrong. We just wanted to live in peace with ponies!” Then she continued sobbing again.

Princess Celestia stepped forward, “I understand your fervor, Captain, but I am unsure that all this is necessary.”

“And I am unsure it will be enough,” Captain Shining Armor stood firm, “We know very little about their abilities, but what we do know is terrifying, Princess. They can change their shapes skillfully enough to deceive family members, and I know just how well they can influence the minds of ponies directly. We saw the drones slam so hard into the cobblestone that they left craters in the streets, they feed on ponies emotions like Vampiric Jackalopes, they can secrete some kind of resin and form cocoons strong enough to keep Alicorns hostage. As well, Princess Celestia, let us not forget that Queen Chrysalis was able to overpower you yourself in a direct magical force duel!”

This time, Princess Luna interjected, “I doubt my sister will be forgetting today’s events anytime soon, Captain. While you do raise good points, and I will be joining the investigation to combat some of them, you will remember to treat the accused with respect, ‘Captain’.” She looked at the weeping form on the ground, “If she is being truthful, then this is the same . . . being who helped defeat Discord scant months past. Helped to purge the Nightmare from my very form, and even helped me this recent holiday past to learn how to better relate with our subjects.” Her face became sterner, “We also realize that it is possible that the pony Fluttershy could be else ware, and in need of rescue. We shall work with you, Captain, and together we shall uncover the truth.”

Princess Cadence, having overcome some of the shock brought on by the situation, now approached the magically bound monarch. Her instincts told her that she could trust this creature, but . . . she couldn’t risk being wrong, “Please cooperate,” she prompted, getting those strange, tear swollen eyes to look up from its bizarrely hole filled hooves, “If what you have told us is true, help us prove it so we can move forward. Shinny is only doing his job, he just wants to make sure everypony is safe.”

Queen Fluttershy nodded, stifling another sob. This could still work out, she brightened. Prince Shining Armor was just trying to protect those he loved, just as she was. Once she showed that her Hive was not like Mother’s, they could move on, and things would get better for everypony, and everyling. This would improve things for other Hives, not just for Everfree Hive. She had to be strong for them all. She resolved herself then and there to hold nothing back, it would likely not be enjoyable anytime soon, if the Prince’s attitude was anything to go by, but as Applejack has said, “The Truth shall set you free, Sugar cube.” She just hoped it would be more than just a metaphor.

Struggling to bring herself to a sitting position, Queen Fluttershy looked at her captors, and with as steady a voice as she could muster, she asked, “OK, what do you want me to tell you?”

Questions, unfortunately, were not the first thing on the Captain of the guards mind. His first priority was *security*, “Princess Celestia, Permission to transport the prisoner to Detention Level A?

The Diarch in question started, then nodded her head sadly, “As you see fit, Captain.” She then looked at the newly revealed Changeling Queen, “I am sorry it has come to this, and I do hope that we can continue this under better circumstances,” Then she abruptly turned and walked out of the throne room.

“Cadence, I want you to return to the party, try to enjoy yourself, but I think it best to keep the revelations on a need to know basis. Until we have more information, nopony else should be told about this.” Princess Luna nodded her agreement with the Prince, and dispelled her magic from the room. The Prince then shot a bolt of magic into the night, “Two of my most trusted guards are on their way to meet you here. Please don’t try to ditch them this time.”

The Princess of Love glanced again at Fluttershy, even revealed as she was, she still seemed like the Fluttershy she had only meet briefly, “I won’t, but please Shinny, I know how you feel about what happened, but try not to be too hard on her. She isn’t Queen Chrysalis. Allow her a chance to prove herself.”

“Her treatment will depend on her behavior. Compliance will be rewarded.” Despite the neutral tone, Fluttershy couldn’t help but feel a chill down her carapace.

Nopony else reacted however, and so she was led, shuffling, towards the dungeons.

Author's Note

I admit it. I felt like a bad pony when I made FlutterCry :fluttercry:

But things will get better. Right?

Helpful Scutelleridae

Cadance hated being alone. Shiny had disappeared to the dungeons with Auntie Luna, and Auntie Celestia had just plain disappeared. Leaving her by herself, just twiddling her hooves waiting for chaperones to show up before she could return to a party like nothing had happened.

Like nothing had happened?! This wasn’t some scandal like a Noble’s business benefiting from a bill they were lobbying, or a servant pocketing a set of antique, dragon forged, one-of-a-kind, Spiral Heart earrings, (‘I really miss those earrings . . .’), No, this was big. Elements of Harmony big, literally since Kindness was directly involved. No matter what the outcome, this couldn’t be covered up. . . Or could it? Should it be? This was so far beyond her league, she just didn’t have the faintest clue of what she should do.

What she needed to do was to talk to somepony about this. Shiny and Auntie Luna were obviously occupied, and since she needed to talk to somepony about whether she should talk to about the ‘situation’ to others, that left only Auntie Celestia.

As she heard the regulation quick march clopping of the guards Shiny had sort of ordered her to stick with (She frowned a little at this. She knew he cared about her, and just wanted to keep her safe, but it rankled that nopony had thought to ask her opinion.), she made up her mind on what to do.

Once they entered the throne room, she announced, “Gentlestallions,” giving them a small nod in acknowledgement of their quick salute, “I appreciate your escort, but I will not be immediately returning to the festivities. Please take me to Princess Celestia’s study.” She knew the way well, of course, but Shiny’s troops were sticklers for protocol, no matter how many times she tried to get them to loosen up. Plus, she had sort of promised Shiny not to ditch them. Again.

The three sets of hooves echoing through the grand hallway began to make her feel agoraphobic. The background hustle and bustle of an active palace, the well-oiled hum of the hundreds of servants that always darted about in the background was absent. All the staff that wasn’t absolutely necessary had been given the night off in recognition of the victory over the invasion and in celebration of the royal wedding. With no sounds to distract from the staccato clopping of their hooves, she could feel what little confidence she retained being chipped away like shards of marble beneath a sophomore sculptors chisel.

None too soon did they arrive at the modest (for Canterlot Castle anyways) gilded door of her Aunt’s study. Telling the guards to remain outside, she slipped through the door, and secured it behind her. As she had expected, Auntie Celestia was seated inside. Unlike what she expected, there was no hint of the baked goods that were usually broken out when the solar princess was stressed. Instead, the one who had quietly adopted her after her surprise ascension was laying in the familiar sphinx pose, staring into the cold fireplace. The white ears had reflexively turned towards the door, but otherwise her aunt had not acknowledged her intrusion into the private sanctum.

“Auntie, I need to talk about earlier,” Cadance began lamely, “What is going to happen? Or what should happen? Goodness I am just so overwhelmed by everything that has happened today.” She sat down roughly on her haunches, her formally exquisite mane now showing her frazzlement by releasing several of its strands randomly.

Her Aunt remained silent for a time, continuing to stare into the ashes before her. Then, finally responding, “I . . . I have no words of comfort Caddy. I never foresaw any situation remotely like this. Even to me, changelings were half myth.” She turned her head, looking at her niece for the first time, revealing the reddened eyes, as well as the unfamiliar look of fear on the normally stoic face.

Cadance was beyond shocked. She had never heard of Princess Celestia being scared of anything, let alone seen evidence of it with her own eyes. Breaking through her shock, she continued, “But what are we to do? The story of what just happened will get out. You know Ponies, even if we think we are the only ones who know what’s going on, somehow a story will get out. I mean, this is Fluttershy! There is no way that this will stay quiet. And I don’t know if it should be kept quiet. It just seems like our world just got a lot bigger.”

After a long pause, Celestia replied, “I know this well, young one, however we can’t jump to decisions without knowing what we are leaping from. Right now I feel that all we can do is wait for Shining Armor and my sister to give us some facts to work with.”

“That’s not true,” Cadance interrupted, “We can look into the evidence we already have.”

“To what evidence do you refer?”

“Well, what do we know for sure? The force-field Shiny and I created was basically the same, if stronger, selective spell as the one that had been protecting Canterlot. A spell that first was a sphere that prevented enemies from entering, then, because it was cast as an expanding bubble the second time, it catapulted the invading Changelings out of Canterlot. Yet, despite throwing Queen Chrysalis into the sky, Queen Fluttershy,” Her pink muzzle scrunched a bit at the title, “Was unaffected, as near as we can tell. You know magic isn’t really my thing, but do you know how Shiny’s shield worked?”

Celestia’s eyes widened at her niece’s observation, “Well, yes, I do. The warning we received was frustratingly vague, though it contained details enough to be taken seriously, so it was decided that the shield was not to be attuned to any creature specifically, but rather to emotional intent. ‘Shiny’ and I designed the shield to block malice and violent intentions. Hence why the train and passengers were able to easily enter. They, and it, were benign.” She paused, “In fact, we actually arrested several ponies during this period because they were unable to enter the shield, and after questioning them we discovered that they were actually members of an aggressive criminal organization based in Manehatten seeking to expand here in Canterlot. Since they were actively planning to use violence to intimidate their victims, the shield refused them. Bad timing on their part.”

“So, if a creature had any ill intentions, there should be no way to get through it while it was at full power.” Cadance pondered, “Even when he was weakened, it took an army to break through it. I know that Chrysalis kidnapped and imprisoned me before he started casting the shield, so she was already inside Canterlot. So that means one of two things, either: 1) a Changeling was able to enter Canterlot, infiltrate and replace Fluttershy in the hours following the Love powered blast the two of us created, or 2) that Queen Fluttershy arrived with the other Elements, and held no malice or ill intent in her heart that could trigger the shield.”

“But how do you suggest we determine which is correct? We are still at an impasse as to what happened to Kindness.” They both leapt to their hooves as one, “The Element of Kindness. If it is bonded to her, then . . . “

“Then she was Fluttershy, at the very least since they battled Discord.” Cadance finished, “That was the last time they were out, right?”

“Yes, the Elements were immediately returned to the vault after his reimprisonment. While they tried valiantly, the six were overwhelmed before they could reach the vault earlier today. If it does not react to her, then Fluttershy would have to be nearby. Likely hidden in a cocoon somewhere.” Celestia then used some of her magic to put a glamour over her puffy eyes, regaining the mask of the implacable Solar Princess once again, “Come, let us retrieve the Element of Kindness so that we can begin moving things in the correct direction."

That decided, the two Princesses exited the Study, and began heading for the Element's Vault. Upon seeing the purposefulness of their stride, Cadance’s two guards knew better than to ask where they were going, and simply fell into step, following a few strides behind their charge. Their keen eyes were able to tell that her demeanor had vastly improved since the walk to the study, and were heartened. Nopony likes to see their leader despondent, after all.

Author's Note

Took a bit of time, but I am finally back to writing. I won't make promises on release times, but I am going to be aiming at posting once a week. Unless Life interferes again . . . Nah, that could never happen.

(I am pretty sure my stories look at me like the Monster in the clip :pinkiecrazy: )

Diapause

As she was led down increasingly gloomier hallways, the gold flecked marble beginning to transition into dark granite blocks, Queen Fluttershy reflected. Where mere hours ago she was amongst friends and being hailed once again as a heroine, now she was magically shackled and being levitated alongside her captors towards an unknown destination. She realized that if she had taken the time to imagine the possible outcomes to her coming out to the Royal Ponies, this would probably have been one of her worst-case scenarios.

It had taken barely long enough to exit the throne room for Prince Shining Armor to lose his patience for her slow hobbled shuffle, and he begin to levitate her. Her experience with his sister allowed her to avoid panicking at the marehandling, and she simply folded her legs beneath herself, resigned to enduring the trip as baggage. She didn't need any changeling tricks to realize that any attempt at making small talk during the journey would not be received well by him. Between the prince’s angry grimace, and Princess Luna's coldly impassive bearing, she decided it was wisest to hold her tongue for now.

Eventually they reach the dungeons. Despite their purpose, and the reputation given to them by stories, the harsh stone was just as clean as any other part of the castle. she was startled, however, as her floating form was brought past the entrance and carried further down the passageway to a dead end. Her question about this faded from her tongue as Prince Shining Armor’s already glowing horn flared brighter and sent an undulating wave of magic into a into a stone block near the ceiling. The wall then lowered itself into the floor showing the trio the guarded passageway beyond.

Never having broken stride all three Royal beings received a quick magical scan by a royal lunar unicorn guard, but were otherwise seemingly ignored by the guards who kept the faces on the hallway beyond them. She held no illusions about their focus, and knew that even had she been so inclined, attempting escape would be rather ill advised. Their loyalty to the Crown rolled outward from their hearts as determinedly as lava flowing down a volcano. If all of the Royal Guard were as bone deep dedicated as the four behind this wall obviously were, Queen Chrysalis would have been discovered within an hour of entering the city. Sadly, she knew most guards didn't have a cutie mark in guard duties, and simply enrolled for the regular pay and benefits. Not that she thought there was anything wrong with that, but it certainly made those with a special talent for the service stand out by contrast.

The corridor began to slope downward in a spiral. No longer was it fitted stone, it now was carved into the bedrock itself. After a minute Fluttershy was startled by speech shattering the silence as unprompted, Princess Luna started to explain their new surroundings, "These are the cells for holding threats above that of average beings. Normally, prisoners of the Crown are housed in the upper cells. Down here in the heart of the mountain we have installed housing of a more specialized kind, for special 'guests'."

Fluttershy hesitated but her curiosity was peaked, ". . . But . . . Isn't that what Tartarus is for?" She was almost proud of herself for being able to ask out loud, but she immediately began second guessing the decision.

Fortunately Princess Luna responded before she could began blabbering apologies, “Aye, my sister and I both have spent many creatures to Tartarus. It is true that its security is nigh absolute; however, the very nature of its restraints is what makes it useful only for the irredeemable. The . . . Reality is different there, making it simple to go deeper, but near impossible to return past a certain point." Seeing the captives confused expression, the scholar in her drove her to explain further, despite the listener’s circumstances, “To put it into animal terms: Tartarus is an ant-lion trap. The gates are at the edge and once you are over the edge you can easily walk down deeper, or even horizontally, but as soon as you try to climb out, a force kicks you back. Just like the ant-lion, Tartarus can feel when a being tries to go up, or rather out, and punishment is swift. So you see, Queen Fluttershy, upon Our return, We felt we had something of an insight into, shall we say, the mindset of villains. From my own experience, despite the severity of my actions as Nightmare Moon, the truth was that We were simply alone. Our thought, and hope, is that having a secure area for safe housing of beings with unusual power, there could be attempts for rehabilitation that, without these facilities, could otherwise risk in damage to land and life. We are taking you to a room whose walls, ceiling, floor, and all seams, are infused with a material which inhibits magic as we know it. Thus hobbled, no need of physical restraint would remain necessary, and an evaluation could be made with concern of harm removed.”

Princess Luna looked at her charge and saw the unexpected expression of awkwardness upon her, “Well, the thing is . . . that won't really work on me . . . I'm sorry.”

It was the Prince’s turn to be surprised, barking, “What do you mean won't work? Explain yourself. Quickly.” He didn't raise his voice but his tone was solid steel as he stopped and floated her around to face him, his blue eyes as cold and unemotional as sapphires.

She braced herself against the anger that came from him in waves as she tried to explain, “Um, well, I don't know many details, or how it works, but I do know that what changelings do works differently from unicorn magic. I know that some of what we do is biology, but the Changeling magic we use isn't blocked by the throne in the Badlands hive.” At her captor’s blank looks of incomprehension she continued, “The throne is made of a single piece of stone that sucks in non-changing magic. I'm sorry I don't know why but any Pony that is brought within about 2 miles of it, cannot use their magic. Though I think the effect isn't supposed to be permanent.” She wilted even further under their glares as they learned about abducted citizens, “I never had anything to do with ponies until I was forced to run away from the hive.” Their looks did not soften but at least she didn't feel any hatred from them right now. Anger, frustration, sadness, a bit of fear, and surprisingly, she thought she sensed a hair of regret, but no outright hatred. For now at least.

Blinded as she was by focusing on the emotions, she hadn't noticed that they had been standing outside a cell. Shining armor spoke up, “Well this claim shall be simple to verify at least.” He set her on the ground and, nodding towards the princess, removed his magical bindings from her form, though his horn never darkened. Pointing his hoof, he instructed, “Enter the cell slowly, then attempt to use levitation to lift the cup from the shelf. Any threatening behavior, or magic sensed other than this, will be appropriately dealt with.”

She was left with no illusions of his being gentle if this were to happen, so slowly, and with the liberate movements she would have used as if she were trying to help an injured predator, she entered the cell and turned to face the bars. The last thing needed right now was a surprise so she calmly announced, "I am lighting my horn now to move the cup." And then she did just that, lifting the simple ceramic cup a hooves-length before setting it back down. Yet despite the warning she saw his horn flare briefly.

Princess Luna merely raised an eyebrow, stating, “This does complicate matters slightly”, she paused, near certain she had heard something like ‘I'm sorry', come from the strange frill the queen now had instead of mane, that the Queen was hiding her face behind, “However, there is another option still left to us.” She motioned to their captive to walk ahead of them down the corridor’s spiral ramp deeper under the mountain, whilst also silently conveying to Captain Armor that the continued magical restraints were unnecessary.

At length the spiral evened out into a passageway, which could only be labeled a tunnel at this point. Then, roughly hewn from the very stone surrounding them, and lacking any dressing or polish, a large pit gaped ahead of them. Lacking any bars, the force field barred entrance to it was blocked by 10 elite guards, two of each race including lunar pegasi and lunar unicorns. Only one pair of eyes met theirs though the others remain focused upon the room ahead of them. She couldn’t see the bottom of the room from where she stood, but it looked at least as big as the room the Grand Galloping Gala was held.

“. . . Princess Luna, if it is not too much to ask, what is this place?” Her fear was soaked into her words as she spoke.

While Shining Armor was giving the signs and counter signs to the guard, once again the Princess exposited, “This is something we dearly wish was thought of a years ago. It is a chamber bound with a Protean Stasis Lock upon it. Anything within its boundary is locked within Reality as it was when first it enters. No magic can be worked, wounds will neither heal nor worsen, ice would not melt, ageing itself even stops. Simply put, this chamber stops change, though by design, no effect upon the mind occurs.”

Fluttershy gassed, “Oh my, that sounds incredibly useful! Why haven't I heard about these being used in hospitals?”

“Simply put, it is far too expensive. Both in the materials needed for enchanting, and in magical upkeep, to be used for mundane purposes. However useful it might be in theory. It is buried this far into the heart of the Canterhorn, not just for security, but to but to lessen the magical cost by surrounding it with as much stability as possible. It is only for the purpose it has been dedicated, that its cost is justified.” The guards, their gaze remaining focused into the chamber, stepped aside to allow the visitors access to the entryway.

As they approached, Fluttershy's eyes finally saw the contents awaiting her joining it. A figure, all in white, frozen in a pose of terror. Her membranous wings vibrated against her carapace as she tried to recoil away, instead bumping against princess Luna's petrol. “No. Please. Please don't put me in there with Him!”

Her cries were not met with sympathy as a pink field once again enveloped her “You already demonstrated that you require extraordinary lodgings. It is just too bad you will have a roommate.” He set her down just before the magical membrane, but kept his horn lit as he gave her the ultimatum, “You can either walk down the stairs into your lodging, 'Queen’, or be tossed in. Your choice.” The newly minted Prince's tone left no illusion on his preference, an inflection which brought a look of shock to the lunar diarch's muzzle, but no comment.

Whimpering, she reluctantly shuffled through the barrier to join the other inmate. She immediately felt an odd, though not painful, sensation flow through her. She immediately knew, without attempting to do so, that the modest magical skills she possessed were now beyond her reach. She barely made it to the bottom of the stairs before she collapsed and began sobbing. Only now, locked up with the most dangerous threat Equestria had ever faced, did it finally sink in that’s what she was now seen as. A threat. Something to fear. She barely registered the voices of her jailers informing her that they would return in the morning to begin questioning her. So deep into her breakdown that the nine sets of the silent eyes upon her went unregistered. So too did the brush of curiosity against her mind go unacknowledged.

'Interesting . . .'

Author's Note

I will be frank with y'all, I got distracted because I have been working on three other stories besides this. one will be pretty short, but he other two are going to be a trip, since they are going to start at the same point, with the same characters, but the character motivations are going to lead to completely different paths. (Basically I was writing the outline, and realized that many of the plot points I wanted to see in the story were just a smidge contradictory. So I am going to try to write them simultaneously.)

I don't think I will try to publish them until I have a few chapters completed, so as not to overshadow this story. Just when I started getting ideas for the new tales, the initial rush got me setting this aside briefly. I have the next chapter here mapped out already, though, so updates should be speeding up.

Just a warning, I am writing characters as realistically as I can, but this means they will be a bit more three-dimensional than they are in the show, with lasting repercussions for actions. I'm not saying that some characters won't have happy endings, but I am realizing that there will be some beings with unhappy endings too.

Meanwhile . . . At The Ranch

The door to the Sweet Apple Acres barn slowly opened, pushed by the shadowed muzzle of Winona. As she retreated, a small white bunny, and a very large brown bear quickly scooted inside, closing the door quietly behind them.

Once the three had gathered in the center of the darkened space, Angel began, "Well we all got Mama's message, so how are we going to do this?"

Raising a paw, "I can sneak out tomorrow and check out the town," Winona offered.

“Won't Big Mac go looking for you then?” Asked Harry, the whisper surprising to hear from his large form.

"Nah, he is doing double the apple bucking tomorrow, since Applejack is still going to be in Canterlot, and no worries about the little one since she is still there too.” Her tail wagged at the ease of her task.

“That's good,” agreed Angel, “I will make sure the Home Hive is keeping alert,” she sighed, “And try to keep them all calm too. But aside from Harry's area, it is going to be tricky to do what Mama wants if they don't want to cooperate.”

“Suuure,” said Harry as he rolled his eyes, “Because the Everfree is synonymous with easy. But I agree that it will be easier without worrying about Pony eyes . . . I am worried about Mama though. I know it is important to try to help the poor changelings blasted from Canterlot, I just wish Mama wasn't there all alone."

“You know as well as I that Ponies are scared of new and different things,” reminded Angel, “If Mama had anybuggy with her, it might well make things worse. Like she said, this is the best time for her to come forward, before they start getting all paranoid and start searching for us. If she can get them to see that not everybuggy is like the Mean Queen, things could get better for everyone!”

“But, I've never felt her broadcast that much fear before,” Winona whined, “She was trying so hard to keep it to herself, but I could taste the sour so much."

“We all tasted it, Winona, but that is all the more reason to do our best until Mama comes back... “

"But what if,” Winona tried to interrupt.

“No buts,” Harry continued, “You will go through the town tomorrow, and look for any Pony that you can't taste. Make note, and tell one of the Chirps to follow any that you find. Angel, you try to keep order in the hive, and be ready to send out reinforcements if needed. I, of course, will patrol the Everfree and Whitetail Woods. The Squeakers and Barks will help me. Remember, we offer help, medicine, shelter, and Love first. Only resin them if they refuse to listen. We want them to cooperate, but we are going to help them whether they want it or not. Mama told us all about the Mean Queen, but they might not know that there even is a better way.”

Angel's eyes dropped as she shuffled her paws, “I know, sometimes you have to be forceful to help someone. That doesn't mean I like it any more than when Mama makes me throw tantrums in front of ponies.”

“Winona nuzzled the sad bunny, “Yeah, but just think, if everything goes all right, then you won't have to help Mama with her timid cover anymore.”

This had the desired effect and the bunny brightened, "Oh, I almost forgot, the Chirps Mama took with her came back to the Hive just before I came over here. They were tired as all get out from the flight, but they were okay. They didn't see any of the attack, though, Mama just told them to hide before anything actually happened, and then came and got them after it was all done. The only thing they said they saw was a wave of pink a couple of minutes before Mama returned,” She paused thinking, "Oh yeah, and they said that the real bride was very nice, and very tasty with all the love she leaked.”

“Anything else?” Harry asked, and after their negative responses, "Okay then, everybody be careful now. Safety first, Second, and Third, just like Mama taught us.”

Their meeting done, the three went their separate ways. Winona back to the farmhouse to sleep on Applejack's bed as usual, Angel back to Fluttershy's cottage, and Harry back to his cave (Which was fixed up so nice, that it felt like a house.)

None of the three saw the glint of small blue eyes from a hay filled corner as the door swung silently shut again.

The eyes glistened with apprehension. They wanted to come out, but held no delusion on why they had remained hidden. To their shame, they were scared. Scared of change.

Author's Note

Just a quick interlude to tide y'all over until my next work break.

You know, I never understood before why so many Authors use the phrase "Comments Feed Me". It is because it is true. When I see that someone has not only read my story, but was interested enough to leave a comment, it make me want to write more. I have been churning out outlines up the wazzoo for future chapters, but once i saw a new comment, I popped this chapter out in a day.

So be sure to feed your favorite authors today . . or whenever you feel like it really.

Hemolymph

The Princess of Love and the Princess of the Sun eventually arrived at the recently revamped Vault of the Elements. After Discord had breached her previous model at the Canterlot Tower, Princess Celestia had listened to her sister's suggestions, and made many improvements. Not just magically, but physically as well. The Canterlot Tower had been a beautiful location, but the Vault lacked its weaknesses. Such as windows. Celestia was certain that if Queen Chrysalis had not influenced the Royal Guard, the front doors would had never fallen.

As it was, the small courtyard abutting the entrance was vacant. The guard roster being short due to injuries, to both body and mind, its inner strongroom's security spells had been determined adequate enough to keep the content safe without Pony presence. Thus the four Ponies approached the grand entrance unimpeded, the two guards staying the ceremonial two body lengths behind the charge as they walked up the short flight of stairs.

Princess Celestia used a forehoof to open the massive doors, explaining with some pride how she herself had designed them to resist magical forces This revealed a large dark chamber. Only a sheen glistening to the left could be seen within, along with an odd grassy odor.

"Hmm, the lighting conduits must have been damaged in the attack," remarked Celestia offhoofedly as she entered, immediately lighting her horn with a glow spell. As she did this, they were all confused by what was illuminated. The right side of the inner chamber was just as it had been when the Elements had been entrusted to it. The light purple and pink stone columns flanking the murals that replicated the stained glass of Canterlot Tower, then ascended far above to the elegant vaulted ceiling. The tapestries there hanging, more symbolic than descriptive, yet tasteful all the same.

As their gaze was drawn to the left, a sense of confusion was shared by all. From the molding at the height of the wall, coating the wall entire, to a gloopy accumulation at the floors edge, was a strange viscous substance.

The light from Celestia's horn made it seem to be clear, yet infused with small flecks throughout. The flecks adding an attractive sparkle to the near opalescent reflected glow from the illuminating spell, as if reminiscent of an expensive potter's glaze.

Cadance walked over to the left wall, where she could make out that the flecks were actually two colors. With a greenish/turquoise that accented the more numerous black pieces. None of these seemed to be larger than a daisy petal. Sniffing, she confirmed that the material was definitely the origin of the mild grassy scent the permeated the area, "Do you think this is some kind of secretion left by the Changelings?" She took a step back at the idea, "Do you think it is safe to be in here Auntie?"

Celestia approached her niece as she went to get a closer look as well, casting an identification spell as she inspected the gloop. Sad resignation encompassed her features as she received the spells results, speaking softly, "There is no need to be afraid of this, Cadance. The Changelings did not place this here. Rather, this seems to be the remains of the Changelings themselves."

A loud, moist, plop punctuated her statement, as some of the glistening semi-fluid fell from the ceiling into the growing syrupy puddle. Horror dawned across Cadance's muzzle, "What . . . but, how.. how could this be the Changelings?"

Celestia glanced up to look at where the wet line began, and thought about what was in the opposite direction. Her eyes widened at the realization, "Cadance," she spoke softly, "I believe that this is the result of the shield spell that you and Shining Armor released. We saw how Queen Chrysalis was launched by the shield. Here there was no path for them to be moved, so the bubble pushed them against the wall until, well, until they were no longer considered a threat by the spell."

"But, this is just goo," Cadance's voice trembled as she backed towards the door, "This couldn't have been Ponies!" She insisted.

The carnage affecting even her composure, Princess Celestia fell back to lecture mode by reflex, "It seems that Changelings are closer to insects then to Ponies, anatomically at least. Beneath their hard black shells they don't have blood and tissue as we do. Rather they have this goo, which lets them move similar to how hydraulics work. Anything that's softer than their exoskeleton must have been liquefied by the crushing power of the force field expanding." Only now did she look up from the scene and over to her niece. Just in time to see her bolt out of the doors, and to the side of the stairs.

Realizing now the impact of the carnage that had been revealed, Celestia quickly trotted over to the vault door, released the spells that sealed it shut, and retrieved the Element of Kindness from within. Then, just as quickly, she resecured the vault and joined the other three ponies outside. Shining Armors guards, while a bit green around the muzzle, we're trying to support Princess Cadance while she tossed her cookies. And apple fritters. And wedding cake.

Princess Celestia addressed them, "Guard Bright, go immediately to the senior cleaning staff's office. Tell Mr. Span that there is a code 84-b at the Vault of the Elements. Then immediately return here and ensure that they work undisturbed. Guard Stone, head to Captain Moonglow in the Lunar barracks, inform him of what happened, and that he needs to investigate any buildings near the castle where the force field could have similarly trapped other combatants. She is to look for traces like what happened here. Any locations discovered, have him relate to myself and Mr. Span. Neither of you are to tell anypony else any details of what you have seen or heard here today." At their frozen forms she added, "Go. I will care for Princess Cadance." At this reassurance, they finally took their leave.

After a couple of minutes of Celestia resting her wing over Cadance's dry-heaving form, the Princess of Love started to calm enough to speak, "How could our love have done that?" She wiped her muzzle with a wing, "I only wanted them to leave us alone. Not to do that to them." Her eyes got even wetter, the tears now flowing freely.

Celestia drew her niece closer with her large wing, "I know Caddy, I know. But that was powerful and unique magic. The two of you had no way to know what might have happened, even had you the luxury of time to think about it. You were desperate, and as a result of your actions the pair of you saved all of Equestria. I know it may sound callous coming from this old mare, but the reality is that it was us or them." She then hugged the smaller Alicorn tightly, "As regrettable as it is that this was a consequence, your actions are why your loved ones, as well as all of Canterlot, are free tonight. The reason that I am not still imprisoned inside of that cocoon." She sighed, "Yes, you should always grieve for the enemies that you could not save, but please, do not forget to rejoice in the lives of all of those that you did save."

Cadance looked up at the mare who was like a second adoptive mother to her, blinking the tears out of her eyes, "I think I need Shiny. . . I need to hold Shiny right now."

Nodding, Celestia guided her back to her feet, and the two began walking back to the main palace. Cadence oblivious, as a small group of cleaning staff led by Guard Bight passed them, headed to the source of their mutual discomfort. Nor did Cadance register when Celestia gave some quick words to the head of the crew. In fact Cadance did not register much of anything as they traveled. Not until she felt familiar hooves wrap around her did she rouse from her catatonia.

She then realized that she was now in a private study, along with Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and most importantly, her husband. Into whose warm embrace she released herself fully.

Princess Luna released the flow of mana from her horn, "There, sister, we are secure from curious ears. Now tell us what occurred to make you so grim. Do you have news of other victims of the Changelings?"

Celestia sighed, "Victims, yes. But not of the Changelings." She then related what they had observed in the vault, as well as her deductions about what had caused it. She had expectations for Prince Shining Armor's reaction, but mirth was not among them.

"Ha!" He blurted, "At least some of that filth didn't get away scott free."

At this even Luna's eyebrow was raised, "Defeating an enemy in honorable battle is one thing, Captain, but indiscriminate killing is not something to revel in."

Cadance looked at her husband's face, distracted as she said, "They weren't just killed. They were liquefied! Who knows how many of them. All just mangled into one huge soup of offal." Her eyes closed, then quickly opened to escape the image seared into her mind, "No way to tell the remains apart, nothing for their loved ones to bury."

Shining Armor scoffed dismissively, "As if those creatures could form bonds. You heard Princess Celestia, they were bugs, not Ponies. And bugs deserve to be crushed."

Cadance couldn't believe what he was saying, "You can't mean that Shiny? Everything deserves to live. I certainly have legitimate reasons to dislike them for what they have done to me. To us. But they deserved better than that."

Shining Armor pulled away from her, and looked askance at her, "Apparently we are of different minds on this subject." He turned to the stunned Diarchs, "Forgive me Princesses, but I must take my leave and check in with the security details. I'll see you later Cadance." With that cool farewell, he departed the three stunned mares and closed the door behind him as he left.

Author's Note

Submitted without comment.