Monk of Aura

Today was the day. The day the princess of love marries the captain of the royal guard. Every time I think or see those two ponies together, even after Chrysalis replaced Cadence, I feel the urge to cry. We changelings feed on love, yet I felt... disgusted when I fed. I instead opted to try and feed off other emotions. From the well known and easily felt happiness and rage, to the more obscure and harder to recognize such as guilt, conviction and even piety. Those emotions help satiate my hunger as best as I could manage and kept me full. Chrysalis saw this and felt pity, even sadness for me. It was strange. She didn't know how I turned out more like her yet at the same time, less. I was a Changeling that could one day be queen and my methods, while beneficial to me, could not be taught. I felt... hateful to myself and Chrysalis was there to comfort me. That was another thing that confused us. She laid the larva I was part of, even nursed me, but I never referred to her as 'mother'. I cried one day after trying, so desperately to call her mom, because she deserved it. Earned it. Yet I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Speaking of desperate, my hive family was above the city, waiting to start forcing our way in. We tried so hard to get the love we need to survive, but more of us died every day. I witness siblings die and had some lose their life in my arms. The first time it happened... I locked myself in my room. I cried so much the pillow was ruined. After that, I hugged every sibling that was part of my litter before they too were gone. They say 'death gets easier with each time it happens', but that doesn't make it hurt any less, damn it. I've been to so many burials because of our food shortage that I started having nightmares.

After some time, I felt a tapping on my shoulder. "I was lost again?" He just nodded, I even noticed my tears. "Sorry." He gave me a hug, and resumed his lookout from above. Chrysalis wasn't evil, but with each attempt to meet with the princesses getting worse, it eventually resorted to this. My thoughts were even invaded by a name. 'Allen.' I shoke my head trying to forget that name at the moment. It rang in my head occasionally and it felt.... warm. When I called out the name I felt warm, like something, or someone, was embracing me, covering me with wings so soft the pegasi wings were like urchin quills by comparison. The warmth I felt was so tender the sun truly felt distant and cold and my isolation melted away as I just sat and let my body be embraced by whatever was holding me.

I wanted to do that... but the mission came first. After the ponies were in the castle we started punching, ramming and blasting the shield to get in. I didn't want this. Chrysalis didn't want this. My hive didn't want this. What could we do? I started to choke on my cries trying to force myself to carry on the mission. My siblings were hungry, tired and overworking themselves to stay awake. If we didn't get any food... that would...

"Princess?" One of them came up to me.

"I'm fine. I just..." I just started to cry. "What's the use? You all need love to live. I don't." A few more looked at me, concerned. "Why can't I teach you? Why am I the only one?!" I then started wailing the barrier, breaking a few knuckles as I did. "This isn't fair! None of this is fair!"

==Chrysalis POV==

I had forgotten the reason I was in this wedding plan in the first place. My hunger... my exhaustion had gotten to me and I started talking like a villain. 'Devour'?! Really Chrissy? Well... too late to lament the past. My subjects need food. "Ever since taking your place, I've been feeding of the love your fiance feels for you. Their is so much it could feed at least half of my hive." Cadence looked concerned for her fiance. "But power without love only lasts for so long. His magic and his barrier, as a result of me feeding on both his magic and his love, have weakened it."

Cadence and Twilight both looked perplexed. I didn't want to do this. 'If anyone can hear me... if anything can hear me... help us. Help my hive. Help Alexie.' That was one thing that confused me. When changelings of potential royalty are born, they are given a name, yet I name that one Alexie, instead of something related to bug parts. Either way, when I look up it was clear she was upset. "Once my hive breaks through, we'll be able to feed off all the love hear to regain our strength and keep our power, forever."

"No." I look back to see an angered Celestia. I hope something heard my plea, otherwise I'll be one of Equestria's enemies.

==Alexie POV==

We were finally able to break through the barrier but only after six ponies left for who knows where. Whatever they were doing, we couldn't afford to let them go. Choking back my tears, I landed before them. "Please... don't fight us."

A rainbow-maned pegasus threw a punch to me and I was able to dodge. "Why not?! Because of some bargain that you'll say is good for us?!"

I kept my hands from balling up as I continued to plead. "Please listen, we didn't want this. Chrysalis-"

"Wanted to rule Equestria. What doesn't she want?" A purple unicorn fired a magic bolt that was a bit harder to dodge.

"I'm begging you we-"

==General POV==

Applejack had knocked the changeling out before fighting broke loose. Their goal was more to get the elements of harmony to repel the changelings. So they fought to repel them along their way to the elements. They had managed to make it inside the chambers, avoiding magic bolts along the way before being captured in the main hall.

They were brought back just after Celestia had awoke and Chrysalis, now feeling better but still tired, addressed the six. "It's almost pathetic really. Twilight hear was suspicious of me the whole time, yet none of you even bothered to confirm if her claims were correct or not." Alexie walked in, nursing her bruised cheek before feeling something in her that she couldn't describe. Rage and wrath were easy but none of those were even remotely accurate. Shaking the feeling, she looked back to her drones. "Go, and feed."

The changeling princess walked to Chrysalis. "... no choice?" Chrysalis knew what she meant and turned away, melancholy in her as as she sung to herself. Twilight took this chance to free Cadence as she was able to reach for her fiance's mind and strip away the mind control.

Shining, having just returned as if asleep, nursed his aching head. "Is... is the wedding over?"

==Alexie POV==

Chrysalis looked back and did nothing to intervene. "Your spell." Twilight called to her BBBFF. "Perform your spell." I shook my head. The changelings are already in the city, so what good would it do? He tried to use his spell, but all he could manage was a glow.

He was exhausted and Chrysalis had already given her closest drones everything. She had offered my some but I just couldn't. She was still nice enough to ask. "I don't have the strength to cast anything."

Cadence had come up, lifting his chin as I felt another pang of upsetting melancholy. "My love will give you the strength." Yeah Cadence. Tell that to me while I'm not puking at how corny that sentiment is. Chrysalis made a similar remark out loud before the two magic users touched their horns together.

My eyes went wide as I felt something I hadn't in a while. Fear. 'No.' I look outside and to my siblings. 'No.' We tried so hard to get here... to survive. Now I have to watch more die. I just collapsed to my knees as the others likely saw me thinking I was trying to disarm them. 'Please no.' This... is a nightmare. Isn't it? 'Help us. Help me. Please.' I held myself, ready for my fate. "Allen..." The energized barrier came roaring at us and I shielded myself with my arms in futility as the light got closer before it hit something. Or... something hit it. I open my eyes, looking before me and see... what I can only describe as armor, holding back the energized barrier. It had massive beads floating just off its back and the air around it was... familiar to me. Before I could ask any questions, it slowly walked to the couple as the barrier grew smaller, though not weaker. The couple and the six ponies tried to push it or knock it off balance but nothing made it give as it was a mere few meters before them.

It squeezed its hand as the barrier seemed to be shattered and it spoke. "Enough." The voice was... absent. As if a voice was resonant but not really present. I got up, walking to the standing armor before it slowly turned to me. The massive beads floated my way and circled around me before they came together in a loop, hanging on one of my shoulders. I look to the armor and before I could even speak it held a finger to where it's mouth would be. "All will be clear, in due time." It then did the strangest thing. The suit turned into a broad head sword and sliced the cocoon Celestia was held in before turning back and catching her, setting her down before she backed away, afriad.

She charged her magic and held her arms in front of the other six. "What... what are you."

It turned to her, holding itself with dignity as it answered plainly before turning back into the sword. "Cevetius." The sword then hovered over to me and held itself just off to the side of me. The strange thing is, it moved as if it were being carried, or wielded.

"Cle...vetiu-" I was then hit with a migraine that brought me to my knees as my screams turned to cries after minutes of it starting. It hurt. It hurt so much.

==General POV==

As Alexie cried in pain, the ponies were ready to move against the changelings before the doors burst open to five more, armored equines. Two of them were Thestrals with massive figures and leather wings that complimented their size. A third, equally massive pegasus, had wings that, if one were to focus, had wings that appeared to reflect and glow with light. The smaller of the two pegasi had a physique and wings that appeared well rounded, but his body was deceptive, holding more strength than it looked to possess. The fifth and final notable member looked to be a normal thestral, but years of magic practice, channeling magic through his wings and body, made his feathers emit grains of matter that glowed a vibrant purple.

The five looked to the changeling and the smaller thestral took her in his arms as a warm light came from him, as the grains of light appeared to penetrate her skin. "It's okay Alexie, you're fine." She look up and seemed to recognize the equines, despite having not met them before.

"Zara...fell." She look to the others, and called names that they answered to, no matter what. "Ralph." The larger pegasus nodded. "Johnathan." The smaller pegasus nodded. "V." The larger thestral, hailing with green irises nodded. "Urizen." The other thestal hailing lavender eyes nodded. As she was healing, she passed out, the sword remaining by her side as Zarafell picked her up, carrying her to the medical wing.

Celestia and the others were ready to give chase until V and Urizen blocked their path. "What is the meaning of this?" Celestia demanded, almost ready to attack.

"The meaning," Ralph spoke up, taking a tone that seemed to silence anger from the other equines, even the princess, "is that you and your subjects need a lesson in situational context." He turned to Chrysalis. "While I understand your desperation, I do not approve of you kidnapping someone and taking their place. Your lapse in judgement is forgive from your hunger, but not your methods young lady." Chrysalis almost shrank under his chaste. "You six," He pointed a finger, making the element bearers shrink, "I am more miffed with for trying to hurt and then knocking out someone who was begging you to listen."

"Yeah well we-"

"SILENCE!" Everyone felt small the second he used his own version of the royal canterlot voice as it rang and reverberated throughout the city. "You will neither disrespect not interrupt me when I am trying to tell you where you were wrong and how to do better." Rainbow Dash felt very small under Ralph's tone. "You think you know everything, then tell me why they were here. Why were the changelings attacking?"

Rainbow answer with a confident smirk. "To take over Equestria."

He started clapping and Rainbow puffed up. "Give the cocky lady some Victoria Secret panties for her smug attitude because that was brazenly wrong." The girls felt their cheeks heat up as Ralph continued. "The only people who attack for no reason or because they're bored are legitimate sociopaths."

"But then how do-"

"I SAID SILENCE!" Celestia felt smaller than before as the command felt even louder. "You may be a princess young lady but that doesn't mean I won't slap you upside the head! Now sit and be quiet!" Celestia felt uncharacteristically scared at a young looking pegasus as she just obeyed and sat like she was being chastised by her mother. "These changelings were attacking because they needed food. Not food like what you eat but emotion, specifically, love." Chrysalis felt... happy. Someone... knew. "Love is the best source, the only known food source they have right now and they stormed in because they were starving."

Chrysalis raised her hand and Ralph nodded after taking notice. "So... you knew?"

He folded his arms and she twiddled her thumbs bashfully before Ralph resumed. "Which bring me to you three." The princesses went and Shining went stiff. "You three are able to use magic. Twilight's lack of true experience withstanding, you three should have been able to sense and deduce that these creatures were nearly dry on magic, firing only a few bolt before getting a feeding before the bolt count went up." The three felt like they were children again. "So tell me how, without stopping long enough to calm down and assess the situation, did you not put those two facts together?" "He waited a few seconds before resuming. "You didn't. You heard a woman talk about power, labeled her a threat and rolled with it. You're own family could be a threat. Ever think of that?"

Ralph's chastising left the room, and the changelings who gathered outside the window after the first roaring command, speechless as he wasn't criticizing anyone's stance but their judgement of the situation or methods of action. Chrysalis was the first to speak up. "Will... my subjects be punished."

Before the elements answered, Ralph spoke up. "You might be, they won't be." He then looked to the six sternly. "And that's final." He then walked off, followed by the other three of his party as they joined Zarafell in the medical wing. "Any reports on the situation Victor?"

The emerald eye thestral spoke up. "We had the sword double checked as well as the case that held it."

"Massive aura resonance. He's still alive." Urizen added, confident in his and his brother's information. "The only question is-"

"Where?" Johnathan asked. "We met by chance and later found it was coincidence. Then we start having dreams of a human training in his own privacy and later, we find we were called here, as was he." The group was soon in medical, looking for Alexie's room. "So that beg's the question, how are we still with him?" Ralph smiled, the answer obvious as John just hid his face. "Right."

The four softly walked into the room Alexie was resting in, Clevetius hovering off to the side. Zarafell looked up and nodded before heading off. The black-winged pegasus was making sure the queen and both princesses would be negotiating peace and trade commissions instead of demands from one another. He entered the room that held the wedding to find Shining Armor being just barely held at bay by Twilight while Cadence was keeping an eye on Celestia while the other five elements were glaring at Chrysalis. 'This is going to be a long day.

Zarafell flared his wings as the feathered pop caught everyone's attention and he pulled two chairs and a small table before seating Celestia and Chrysalis, the former being more reluctant to do so. After they were dealt with, the other eight ponies were forced out. "Corporeal, you better have a good excuse for stallion-handling-"

Zarafell was quick to lock his stern gaze with Armor's eyes, making the captain zip his mouth. "First off, it's manhandling and two, shut up."

Shining looked about as offended as his sister did as she got in his face. "Shut up? Shut up?! My brother is captain of the royal guard and you tell him to-"

"Missy, I serve the Night guard and once served a great Magister so would you kindly stay out of this before I give you the run down on military rank?" Twilight was as lost for words as Shining with the sass this thestral. "And thirdly, I don't take orders from anyone who acts like a daft cunt. And before you even think about correcting my grammar it is anyone." Zarafell turned back to the door, closing the conversation to his opinion.

Rainbow Dash looked steamed as she got between the door and his face and tried getting his attention. "Who up and made you leader, mister cool beans?" He didn't answer, almost looking past her. "Hey I'm talking to - Hey!" She tried getting his attention with weird gestured before throwing the best punch she had. "ouch..." She squeaked as her fist gave far more than his face. Rainbow left his space as Fluttershy and Rainbow nursed the cyan mare's now tender fist.

Twilight was uncertain on how to handle the situation before walking off. Her friends noticed and walked in tow. The six friends walked to the medical wing and saw the two thestrals outside the door to Alexie. Twilight walked up, polite as could be with a gentle voice. "Excuse me sirs, could we go inside to see.... uhhh...." She couldn't remember or think of the name so the two just ignored her.

Fluttershy walked up and they gave her a passing glance. "Excuse me, what was the changeling's name?"

The two looked at her before they both answered. "Alexie."

Fluttershy, again the friendly pegasus, if she came out of her shell, spoke up. "May we see her?" They pointed at Fluttershy and the timid mare squeaked before speaking. "Just me?" They nodded and pulled their wings in enough to let one individual in. The others try to be cheeky but were stopped by a barrier. Fluttershy turned back to calm their fears. "I'll be fine girls."

After she entered the room the others got in their faces before an aura sat them down. They each pointed at the five present and said a few words, starting with Rainbow. "Easy to anger." Applejack. "Difficult to reason." Twilight. "Narrow-minded." Rarity. "Drama queen." Pinkie. ".....Unknown." The pink pony just giggled while the other's looked offended. "Each of you has a negative quality that balances your passive traits. Generosity is countered by greed. Loyalty by betrayal. Honesty by lies, Friendship by neglect and Laughter by sadness. But your more subtle personality traits make you less 'important' and more 'realistic." The girls looked almost studious and they went in the same order as before. "You, Rainbow Chroma Dashington, are quick to anger, difficult to calm andwish not to be tamed in any manner." The chromatic pegasus looked a might bashful.

"You, Apple Gala Jackson, are stubborn to what your believe to be the truth. The truth is something you discover everyday, not something that you know and think will remain the same." The farmpony pulled her hat in front of her face in embarrassment.

"You, Rarity Dame Belle, let your passion for tasteful artistry over look an over ride the seriousness of a situation. A trained eye must be temper by an open outlook." The fashionista, while red, was smiling since someone called out the flaw in her cut, as it were.

"You, Twilight Stardust Sparkle, are to rigid in your books. Many things in this world are more flexible and less clad than one may think. As the saying goes, "Nature has many rules that keep it in balance". One of those rules could be a flexible law or a strict code." Twilight started thinking of counters to their argument.

"As for you Pinkie... We suppose being your self is the best thing you can do." The party pony smiled brightly as the twins just smiled.

Twilight then started up with a counter argument. "Timberwolves don't answer to anything-"

"Except the trees that give birth to them. Manticore, regardless of their chimeric bodies, still have a primary base that feeds on said base's prey. Common animals will not eat their prey if the prey have no food unless they are starving and magic, for all it's 'infinite' flexibility has short comings of its own, such as refinement, practice, strength of the caster and so on. We know this stuff little lady, so don't try to play devil's advocate with the devil, okay?" They pat her cheek as she was left on a one-sided defeat and started fuming before sitting in a corner to cool off.

The girls present found it comical that Twilight was literally outsmarted by men who looked less educated than they actually were. After they had calmed down, Fluttershy and the other pegasi came out, leaving Alexie and the sword in the same room. They peaked in and the sword had turned into a scarf. As confusing as it was, Alexie was holding it close to her, like a lover. "Allen." Tears streamed from her eyes as she repeated the name ever so quietly. Who was 'Allen' and why where that name and that sword so familiar?