Equestria’s Changeling Princesses and the Kinsbane

Chapters

Prologue: Queens Past and Present
Chapter 1: An Unexpected Present
Chapter 2: Interrogations
Chapter 3: Dinner and Death
Chapter 4: A Posse of Queens
Chapter 5: Sisterly Screaming
Chapter 6: The Infiltrator
Chapter 7: Discussions
Chapter 8: Detective Work
Chapter 9: Old Wounds
Chapter 10: A Bad Day
Chapter 12: Stepping Up and Stepping Down
Chapter 13: Target Acquired
Chapter 14: On the Other Side
Chapter 15: Course Clear
Chapter 16: Tricks
Chapter 17: The Death of a Queen
Chapter 18: Kinsbane
Chapter 19: Full Circle
Chapter 20: Last Words
Author's Note
Chapter 11: The Empress and the Princess (Zervziel Guest Chapter)

Prologue: Queens Past and Present

1012 Common Era...
In a green and gold gilded room, in front of a roaring fire, two changeling queens snuggled into a mess of cushions and blankets. Their father, a slender, purple-eyed changeling missing his wings, bundled in beside them.

Their mother, a blue-maned changeling queen, did not quite look like others of her kind. Aside from how she seemed to have extra plates of carapace layered on her front, her legs, and barrel, she wore a silver tiara and silver peytral.

“Mama, mama, what story are you telling us tonight?” squeaked the youngest changeling queen, her violet eyes bright, and purple mane messy.

“Is it the one where you made up with Aunty Chrysalis? Is it the one about how you and dad found a long lost airship? Is it about the brave and daring Captain Voulge?” asked the older of the two queens, brushing a lock of her blue mane out of her sapphire eyes. She looked about ten, about five years older than the younger changeling, but her voice was just as eager.

Alternia smiled warmly at her children. “I’m telling you the story of your grandmother Chamelia, and the Unspeakable Times.”

“Oh that’s a good one,” said Harlequin, the male changeling.

“It is, dear. Now, let us begin.” Alternia took a deep breath. “Once upon a time, when the seven Great Hive Mothers of the changelings still lived, a young changeling queen was born to the oldest of the Great Hive Mothers, Queen Zagara.”

“Zagara the Far-Seeing!” squealed the younger queen.

“Yes, Kyria, Zagara the Far-seeing she was called, and the young changeling was Chamelia, your grandmother.” Alternia’s horn glowed and a young queen with a green mane appeared, first as a young changeling nymph.

“When Chamelia was born, the seven Great Hive Mothers were at the height of their power. Eldest was your great grandmother, Zagara the Far-Seeing, who ruled over the Evergreen hive of Equestria’s forests.” A vision of an even taller changeling queen with a turquoise mane that shimmered rose into the air.

“There was Borte the Black Hammer,” beside Zagara, an image of a yellow-eyed queen appeared, wielding what else but a black hammer, “Araneae the Silent Dagger—” purple eyed queen holding a long dagger in her magic appeared “—Therapthosia the Dragon-Hoofed,” a huge queen, towering over the rest of the illusions was summoned into existence.

“Why the dragon-hoofed?” Kyria asked.

“Because she was the strongest of them, Kyria!” exclaimed her older sister cheerfully.

“Yes, Mirage, it was said she beat a dragon at hoof-wrestling.”

“A medium dragon like Spike or a biiiiigg one like Garble?” Kyria asked.

“A biiig one,” exclaimed Alternia stretching her legs across. “Then, there was Latrodexa the sorceress—” a dark blue maned queen holding in her hoof a ball of glowing magic the color of the deepest ocean blinked into existence “—and Matari the Mischievous,” a smirking smaller queen with red hair danced around the queens.

“Finally, there was Atracina the Coral Snake, though, we have come to know her as “Kinsbane.”” From out of the fireplace, wreathed in smoke, the shadowy figure of a queen hissed at them. Kyria buried herself into her sister, who although older, quite quickly wrapped her hooves around her sibling, her eyes wide.

“At first, there was peace between the sisters.” The illusions of the long gone changeling queens, even the menacing visage of Atracina, danced alongside one another, whilst the child-image of Chamelia watched them. “But when their children began to fight… forgetting that they were family, that peace broke.”

The queens separated, with the queen with a dagger, slashing at the queen holding the ball of magic. “When the daughter of Queen Araneae killed a daughter of Queen Latrodexa in a dispute, and both mothers refused to budge, war broke out between the changeling hives. Thus began, the Unspeakable Times.”

The image of Queen Borte, wielding her hammer, stepped in on dagger-wielding queen’s side, along with the illusory Queen Theraphosia, who swooped in beside the magic-wielding queen. “And the war grew, with Queen Borte joining Queen Araneae and Queen Therapthosia siding with Queen Latrodexa.”

The four queens were whirling, weapons and magic clashing with one another, they were joined by hordes of changelings that swooped in out of the air, appearing in bursts of blue flame that coalesced into solid images. The sides clashed and the Alternia’s daughters looked in awe at the tableau.

“Your great grandmother, Zagara had tried to convince her sisters to stop fighting, but they would not listen to her words, and so she was forced to gather her forces. She and Matari formed an alliance and approached their sister, Atracina.”

The form of Zagara trotted up to the smaller Matari, and the pair nodded before trotting up to the shadowy queen.

“But Atracina betrayed them. She fed them and provided lodging, but at the dead of night, while her sisters were in bed, she and her daughters murdered Queen Matari. Only a warning from one of Atracina’s own daughters, Thera, let your great grandmother escape.”

As a small changeling appeared to call Zagara away, Atracina leapt onto Matari and stabbed her with her dagger. Meanwhile, more queens wreathed in shadow leapt in and slashed at Zagara.

“With mother wounded, her sisters and cousins in turmoil, Chamelia took up the banner as her mother’s heir and led their hives to stop the threat of her aunt.”

Chamelia, now a young queen, raised her axe and behind her, queens old and young of both Matari’s orange and Zagara’s green-turquoise coloring, rallied behind her. They charged at the shadowy forms of Atracina’s changelings, striking them down.

“But even as Atracina fled, and your grandmother rallied Araneae and Borte to her cause, the Kinsbane poisoned Latrodexa and Therapthosia, and enslaved their changelings with a combination of mind control and mind-altering potions. She also enslaved the animals of the Everfree forest, creating a deadly army like none had ever seen.”

“So… what did Grandma do?” Mirage asked in a tone that basically screamed ‘yeah, I heard this before, but tell more please!’

Alternia smiled. “With Zagara still recovering, your grandmother formed a war council and was elected by her sisters and cousins as its leader. She welcomed the wounded Therapthosia into her camp, mediating between her and Araneae. She and Borte then devised a masterful campaign to corner the Kinsbane.”

“Battle after battle, Chamelia led the changelings against Atracina’s monsters.” the illusory Chamelia charged forward, slashing with her axe. On several occasions, the smokey Atracina and Chamelia clashed, exchanging blasts of magic.

“Finally, Chamelia, her mother, and her aunts defeated Atracina and her army, tossing her into the Ghastly Gorge.”

Atracina’s illusory image gave a shriek as Chamelia and the other Great Hive Mothers blasted her with magic, pushing the wretched queen over the edge into an abyss.

“Only Thera, Atracina’s daughter, who was forced to support her mother, was spared.” Equestria’s changeling princess banished the images of the changelings and smiled brightly. “And now, it’s time for bed.”

“Awww…” Kyria groaned.

Mirage also sighed, but she had gotten up to hug her mother, who embraced her tightly. Kyria buzzed over, tiny wings flapping, and joined the hug. Harlequin finally embraced his daughters and his wife.

“Thanks mom. Um, I have a question,” said Mirage, as her father took her sister back to her room.

“Go on.”

Her daughter squirmed. “Why did Atracina betray our family? I can understand why Araneae and Latrodexa fought, but she… she just attacked without warning or reason.”

The question had bothered Alternia greatly as well, and she pursed her lips. “I’m afraid it happened so long ago that I’m not sure. Mom didn’t like to mention it, at least… from the little I can remember of her.”

The young queen stared at her. “You—you find it difficult to remember your mother?”

Alternia bit back the dull, hollow, ache she felt, but her daughter was already flinching at the sorrow she was undoubtedly sensing.

“You know I’ve had… memory issues for some time,” she glanced to see if Kyria was gone with her father. “And as I’ve told you not too long ago, the battle with Shi-Nihlar left… wounds in my mind, which are unlikely to heal.”

“But—”

“I’m alright, Mirage. I miss those old memories, but—” Alternia nuzzled her daughter’s forehead “—I’m more glad that I have the opportunity to make new ones.”

Mirage smiled. It wasn’t a full smile, but she clearly accepted her mother’s reasoning. Standing up, she wrapped her legs around her mom’s neck. “Okay mom. I love you.”

“Love you too, Mirage.”

Author's Note

And we are off to the races folks!

Chapter 1: An Unexpected Present

Year 1024 Alternia Regency AKA 24th Year of the Equestrian Triumvirate (ET) or 1024 Common Era, Her Majesty’s Airship (HMA) Voulge - Buzz class Cruiser

Since the Eastern Sea Crisis, Equestria had been expanding the Canterlot airship docks. Now, huge gantries stuck out from the side of the mountain, with hundreds of different airships—civilian and military—sitting atop them, secured by heavy ballast weights and ropes to their parking spots.

One of these vessels was the Buzz class cruiser, Her Majesties’ Airship (HMA) Voulge. With an aerodynamic gondola and a sleek, fish-shaped balloon, the ship looked a bit like a shark, with four large propellor engines strapped to the rear of its gondola.

Yet, the Voulge was clearly a battered shark. The front of the warship’s steel gondola gave way to a patchwork of wooden planking that covered where the bridge would have been. The guns on two of the ship’s six main turrets were mangled and twisted, with the turrets themselves being ripped apart, it’s armored steel torn open to reveal blackened interior. The rigid balloon that kept the airship afloat was patched in many places.

The ponies, changelings, griffons, hippogriffs, a few yaks and kirin that filed out of the ship over the gantry and onto solid ground were dead-eyed, and exhausted. Most were dragging their land bags over the ground, as if they didn’t notice.

The last figure off the ship turned around and gave the warship a forlorn gaze. She was a tall changeling queen wearing shoes of silver. A silver tiara studded with emeralds adorned her brow, whilst a pearl necklace held up her bun of blue hair. On her chest, she wore a wide, wing-patterned peytral that covered her shoulders and chest. Similar emeralds also gleamed in insets on the peytral.

“Captain.”

The changeling turned around and saluted a griffon. He wore a medal-studded jacket over his white and red plumage.

“Admiral Wandering Skies,” she glanced over his shoulder, and noticed that he didn’t have any guards with him—which was unusual.

“At ease, Captain. We need to talk.” He narrowed his eyes. “In private.”

Frozen in her seat, Mirage stared at the admiral, “You’re what?”

“I’m sorry, Captain, but we’re going to relegate you to administrative duties before standing you down, pending further evaluation,” said Wandering Skies, not unkindly, but in a firm tone.

“Sir—” Mirage bit her lip and putting one hand over her chest, she took a deep breath. “If I could have handled the hunt for the SS Shear better I would have, but we—”

“Princess, there was no other way for you to handle that operation better after it went sideways.” The griffon shook his head. “I’ve actually put in a commendation for you to be awarded a medal for rescuing a mission that had gone so wrong.”

The queen blinked and frowned. “Then why put me on desk duty and stand me down?”

“First, the after-action debriefing and psyche evals we conducted at Rainbow Falls aerodrome concerned us, as well as reports from your counsellor, Wisteria. We realized you and your crew are long overdue for leave and that to put it bluntly, you’re all exhausted.”

“How did you—right, I did give her permission to pass those reports onto to high command when absolutely necessary.” Mirage sighed. “Well, I can’t deny that desk duty and some leave would be very much appreciated.”

“That’s unfortunately, not the only reason.” Wandering Skies groaned and met Mirage’s eyes. “I’m sorry, but there’s no other way to say this. We believe you are in the early stages of developing PTSD. That possibility and your long overdue leave is why we are standing you down.”

Mirage stared at Wandering Skies. “What?”

“Wisteria is flying to Canterlot as we speak and will meet you later to explain why we reached that conclusion and your next steps forward. Your marefriend, Captain Furtiva, is also on her way so you can speak to her about this.” The admiral pursed his lips, looking at the silent, wide-eyed queen. “Take your time, Captain. If you have any questions, my office is always open.”

The princess took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes, sir. My family won’t be informed right?”

Wandering Skies frowned. “Under military regulations, we need to inform family members of serving members if they develop dangerous mental conditions whilst on service.”

Mirage stood up and shook her head. “You won’t.”

“I’m sorry?” asked the admiral.

“I’m using my authority as a Princess of Equestria to file this as royal business. Yes, I know I will be scrutinized later, but I promise you, I will tell my parents myself,” snapped Mirage.

“We have no guarantee that you will,” said Wandering Skies evenly.

“Then give me two months. I just—I just need to get my life back in order before I drop this on them.” She looked at her commanding officer, desperate. “Please sir.”

The admiral sighed. “Two months it is.”

Mirage sighed in relief. “Thank you, sir.

Later that night…

The formerly busy Canterlot airship docks were now empty, but for one figure approaching the Voulge. The figure was an equine heavy jacket; hood drawn over her head, so that only her crooked horn showed. It was a very cold night after all. Trotting up the gangway, she gingerly opened the reinforced door and entered the vessel.

Passing machine-gun emplacements and quickfire gun turrets, she walked toward the front of the ship, up to the door of the captain’s cabin, and knocked.

The door swung open, Mirage, with her tiara of, regarded the figure and smiled.

“Kyria?” Mirage asked.

“Who else?”

The figure yanked off her coat to reveal a much shorter changeling queen with purple hair. She wore silver regalia of the same kind as the larger changeling.

Chuckling, the pair embraced briefly, before Mirage stepped back and welcomed Kyria into her cabin.

“Nice digs sis,” said Kyria, looking around the room. It was cramped, but cozy, and it had its own bed, desk, and even washroom and shower off to the side. She spied a photo in a frame bolted to the wall and trotted up to it.

“Thank you. Being the captain has its perks. It’s been busy though. Bloody griffon pirates are always at it,” muttered Mirage.

Kyria nodded. “Oh… I remember that trip. You just made… Lieutenant?” she asked, gesturing to the photo.

“Mm hmm. How could I forget! After all, about a week after we arrived in the Crystal Empire, Mom got called away when Godmom - uh, I mean Godmother Tethys - and Novo got into a disagreement with the Flim Flam corporation,” said Mirage grumpily.

“Oh? I recall something where they were violating Mount Aris’s waters with some kind of oil-drilling thing and when they tried to do it all sneaky like, Queen Novo and Empress Tethys evicted them. What happened after that, and why was Empress Godmom involved anyway? It wasn’t in Aquestrian waters,” asked Kyria.

Mirage pursed her lips. “It goes back to when and why the Hippogriffs and Aquestrians signed their alliance and why. So, Mount Aris is isolated in the Eastern Sea, and so by necessity, they tried to get on Empress Tethys’s good side by offering to help take in some pollution-stricken seaponies. Tethys accepted the free medical care, but nobody really accounted for the Storm King.”

“Oh, him,” muttered Kyria with a grim look.

“Yeah, he’d been raiding Mount Aris, but he decided to launch a direct attack, right when mom and dad were visiting Mount Aris, probably because he wanted to capture mom—who was pregnant with me at the time—but also because the Hippogriffs had just discovered this strange pearl that could transform them into seaponies.”

Kyria blinked as a look of realization came over her face. “Ohhh but when his armada attacked, the hippogriffs defended the seaponies, and that’s why Tethys intervened.”

“It’s a little more complicated than that. She was already on her way with Aunt Luna to visit Alternia, and because Tethys wanted to discuss the pearl with Novo. Fizzlepop Berrytwist, who defected from the Storm King, found them en route and let them know about the attack. This led Tethys to race to Mount Aris and join in the defense.” Mirage sighed. “While that pearl was lost, and the Storm King did escape to cause more trouble, Novo and Tethys found common ground on that day and signed an alliance, with the agreement to share and protect the waters directly around Mount Aris.” Mirage chuckled. “And I got Empress Tethys as one of my many godmothers after she helped stabilize mom from going into premature labour.”

Kyria snorted. “She’s the weirdest of your godmothers isn’t she?”

“You don’t have to remind me! She’s very much on the tough love and she’s damn proud. Sometimes she mentions she’s going to eat me and I can’t tell if she’s lying or not.” Mirage snorted. “Hell, there’s still some bad blood between her and a few of our aunts. But well, I think that Tethys is making her amends. I mean, she’s healed Aunt Luna, Dad, cousin Lamia, and then shared kelpie medical discoveries with Equestria.”

“That is true.” Kyria coughed. “Anyway, I don’t think you asked me to sneak onto your ship to discuss the past, Mirage.”

“Okay... maybe a little.” Mirage took a deep breath and met her sister's eye. “How are mom and dad?”

Kyria sighed. “They miss you. Mom more than dad. I think it’s because dad gets it as a former soldier. Mom... you know how mom really wants her family to stay close.”

“After the free fall that her family took? Oh I completely understand,” said Mirage. She pursed her lips. “That’s... well it’s related to what I want to talk to you about. You know how Starlight—when she was crazy bad—tried to do a time spell to break up the Elements of Harmony, right?”

“Uh huh. Starlight... really hates to talk about that. Though, I swear some of it is because of how embarrassing it was for her to go a full year without magic,” said Kyria.

“Thank Equestria that Celestia had put homing beacons and warning spells on Starswirl’s old scrolls. If she hadn’t teleported in and cast a counterspell… can you imagine if she managed to screw with the timelines?” asked Mirage.

Kyria shuddered. “I don’t want to. But get to the point, Mirage.”

“Okay. Well, mom's birthday is coming up in a few months and the whole family—all of our aunts, their children, our cousins—they’ll be there.”

“Even Retariusil and her wife, Dogess Sebastiana?” asked Kyria.

“Even them! Anyway, I was thinking... we can create a time-observation spell.”

Kyria frowned. “Can you elaborate?”

Mirage nodded. “I want our family to see our grandmother. Actually see her.”

The younger changeling princess frowned. “Weren’t we just talking about messing with the timeline?”

“Hence, a time-observation spell. A spell that can let us go back in time to see as intransient, invisible, visitors, to our grandmother's era. We can see them, we can hear them, but we won't affect the timeline!” exclaimed Mirage.

“Is that even possible?” asked Kyria.

“I’ve been researching this for... well, a while, and have been corresponding with Moondancer, Sunset Shimmer, and Sunburst. I even asked Starswirl for advice—”Mirage chuckled “—He actually was the most enthusiastic about the project. Which I get, but seriously... hear a changeling out.”

“And you want me to ask Starlight if she knows anything about time travel, how she got that spell in the first place, and how did she figure out how to activate it?” asked Kyria.

“Why aren’t you a smart little sister!”

Kyria frowned, lips pursed in thought. “But... but why Mirage? Why this... I mean... I get why. Mother... Aunt Chrysalis, Aunt Simulacris and Aunt Belladonna... they all really miss Grandmother. But this seems... extreme.”

Mirage's smile faded. “You've... you've had a lot more time with mom than I ever had, Kyria. Mom got hit with a succession of crises shortly after I was born. You remember when the politician Cozy Glow tried to seize power, and when Tirek tried to steal all of Equestria’s magic. While mom and our aunts put a stop to both quickly enough, there was a lot of reconstruction work.”

Mirage took a deep breath. “My point is, and I bet you've seen this happen quite frequently. Mom loves us, and spends all the free time she has with us, but she always works for Equestria. I’ve lost count of how many family vacations have been interrupted, and her own personal retreats never running their course. She’s always working, spending time with dad, or teaching us. It’s gotten better with Aunt Celestia and Luna taking more duties, but she... she’s given so much to Equestria and to us... that I just want to give her something invaluable back.”

Kyria nodded. "Alright. I'll talk to Starlight.”

Mirage blinked. “That was fast.”

“You're not alone, Mirage. Mom's less overworked now, but she—she still feels guilty for missing parts of your life, sis.”

Mirage’s face fell. “I—she never mentioned—”

The younger queen grimaced. “Of course not. She’s Alternia, High Princess of Equestria and its Commonwealth. She's the most hard-working and wisest changeling in the land. She never feels guilty or worried.”

“Kyria!” Mirage hised.

“Sorry.” Kyria sighed. “Basically, I’m with you. Mom deserves something special every year. This year... we'll do the impossible, if that’s what it takes to bring another smile to her face.”

Mirage grinned. “Thanks sis.” She shifted in her chair, adjusting her posture. “How are you by the way? I heard you and your friends at the School of Friendship’s Mysteries club discovered another mystery.”

The younger queen blinked, looking a bit lost. “Mysteries club—Oh you mean our ‘Historical Investigations and Mythological Mysteries Club.’ Yes! We did find something weird.” Kyria winced. “Unfortunately, we’re kind of stuck on it at the moment. It’s a supposed map to the lost city of Mare-dorado, but we know that’s a legend made up by too greedy diamond dog prospectors who wanted to explain why they couldn’t find enough gold in the Maretania valley. Except… this map’s a bit too accurate to be a fake. It’s left us in a bit of a quandary. We might have to set out and follow the map’s clues ourselves and see where it leads us.”

“You’ll solve it. You’ve already found the ruins of Loamhedge. And you found the legendary sword of Rosewall. You’ll solve this one,” said Mirage.

“And hopefully it won’t unleash some calamity onto the world,” Kyria quipped. She sat down on the chair in the room and leaned back on it. ““By the way, before we get back to the palace, can you let me know about the hunt for the pirate ship Shear?”

Mirage blinked. “Surely you’ve read the news reports, Kyria? Besides, it’s a bit late isn’t it?”

There was also the matter that the older princess was worried she might tell her sister some of the… more unpleasant aspects of her most recent mission.

“Please, sis? They don’t really tell the full story,” begged Kyria, widening her eyes, puckering her lips, and flattening her ears like a kicked puppy.

The older changeling sister bit her lip, she spluttered, she winced and shut her eyes.

So Kyria added a whimper and to seal the deal.

“Oh alright alright! Just, oh just stop giving me that face!” groaned Mirage.

Kyria grinned and pumped one hoof. “Yes!”

Snorting, Mirage pursed her lips. “Where to start?”

“August 31. You set sail from Rainbow Falls,” said Kyria.

Mirage blinked and recognition dawned on her. “OH! Right. Well the wind was pretty good and....”

A month later...

“We all set?” asked Mirage.

Starlight Glimmer looked up from the scroll she’d been looking at. “Seems so. Safeguards in place, we’ve tested it out, we have the intent and incantation figured out. I say we’re good to go.”

“Awesome! Can we go again? I want to see Great Grandmother Zagara again!” squealed Kyria.

Years ago, Starlight would have asked Kyria if she could have joined her. Now, she arched an eyebrow. “Kyria, you should check the time, you need to go to the reunion.”

Kyria’s eyes widened. “Oh, right! Mirage, hurry!”

“We will, but first—” Mirage turned to Starlight “—Are you absolutely sure this will work? I mean I checked with Sunset, Sunburst and Starswirl and they all think it’ll work, but I want to hear it from you.”

“Yes, but be careful. We have thoroughly tested it, but it’s still technically experimental as it hasn’t been academically peer-reviewed.” She had a pensive look. “Based on all the tests we ran and the fact we could even see further back than a thousand years, I do think it’s safe, though, and I’m being honest here. It’d be a chance in a million if something actually went wrong.”

“Alright, thank you so much, Starlight,” said Mirage.

Starlight grinned, “You’re welcome, Mirage.” She checked the scroll again and hoofed it to Kyria. “Of course, show this to your mother, father, and aunts first. If they give the go ahead, then use it.”

Nodding, Kyria took it in her magic and tucked it in her peytral. “Thank you again Starlight.”

“You’re welcome. Say hi to Twilight for me,” said Starlight.

Mirage buzzed her wings furiously toward one of the peaks in Canterlot mountain, fighting the mountain’s blustery winds that not even a pegasi weather team could entirely stop.

The heavy peytral she wore was making her flight, and of her sister’s, quite difficult, but nobody in the line of succession was allowed to take theirs off as they contained important emergency safeguards.

Luckily, if she remembered correctly, the entrance to their family’s private retreat was—

“Mirage? Why are you flying up?” Kyria asked.

The princess blinked and turned to see her sister descending toward the foot of the mountain they were flying to.

“Um, because that’s how we’ve always gotten to the retreat,” Mirage frowned. She knew she hadn’t remembered that wrong because the retreat was built into one of Canterlot Mountain’s peaks.

“Oh! Right! You haven’t been there in a while. Queen Lamia’s expanded it and built tunnels connecting it.”

“What does she have to do with the family retreat?” Mirage asked, now completely confused.

“Well she’s not in the retreat. She’s under it in the old crystal mines under Canterlot, and while she was doing that, she also linked her hive the family retreat, ” Kyria said cheerfully, “We now have a nice elevator that can take us up there.”

In a deadpan voice, Mirage asked, “Sooo, she set up her hive in the crystal mines where aunty Chrysalis decided to trap aunty Cadance in during the Canterlot Wedding?’

“Yes that-one…” Kyria blinked, “Oh, wow that is awkward. Well, at least aunty Cadance is in the Crystal Empire at the moment.”

Mirage chuckled as they landed in front of an open vaulted oak door set into the mountain. She would normally admire the craftsponyship of the changeling figurines and images on the door, and the leaf patterns on the doorframe, but she was in a rush.

They trotted in a large welcoming hall, lit by torches. As her eyes adjusted, Mirage could spy a green-maned changeling queen trotting up to them.

“Lamia!” exclaimed Kyria. She flew forward and barreled into the older queen, wrapping both hooves around her.

“Hello Kyria. Hi Mirage,” said Lamia, looking up to Mirage.

“Hey Lamia.” To Mirage’s discomfort, the name felt a little odd on her tongue, but joy at seeing her cousin made her grin. “Is everyone here? How is your leg? I remember you telling me it was itchy after Godmother healed it.”

“Just about. Your mother and father said they’ll be running a bit late,” said Lamia. “As for my leg, Empress Tethys told me that the itching will fade in time.”

Kyria released Lamia, pouting just a bit, “Mom and dad are late again??”

Lamia sighed and led them down the hallway to an elevator, “Negotiations with the Queens Council. You know how it is.”

The unpleasant memory evoked by those words made Mirage hiss, “Do I ever,” as she followed Kyria and Lamia into the elevator.

Lamia shut the gate and pressed the button, “Oh? You sound like you had to talk to them recently.”

“One of their member’s hives suffered collateral damage while we were fighting against the pirates. How was I to know we shot down a pirate airship on their hidden hive? For crying out loud, we were fighting for our lives and they just stood there and watched us d—” Mirage opened her mouth to say more, but saw her sister and cousin’s looks of curious surprise, and swallowed, falling into silence.

Kyria frowned. “Mirage, you didn’t mention that when you were telling me the story—”

“They hadn’t mentioned it to us at the time.” The princess waved her hoof. Sorry, I really do not want to talk shop right now. Tell me about the changes you’ve made to the place. I mean, wow, a lift?”

Mirage could tell Lamia was giving her a ‘we’ll talk later look’ but her cousin nodded. “Well, our family keeps getting bigger, and we have a lot more children. There are four queen-daughters in our generation alone, not counting our more distant cousins.”

“Right, you, Mirage and I, Leticia, and—”

Just after they opened the elevator’s door and stepped out, a smaller changeling queen, about thirteen years old, trotted into view from the hallway. Like Lamia, she had green hair, but she also wore thick-framed purple glasses and carried a set of books in her magic.

The moment she saw the three, she froze and gave a sharp squeal.

“Kyria!”

“Melly!” cried Kyria, dashing past Lamia. She met the queen mid-air with a hug and the two spun around, giggling with glee.

Mirage blinked, staring at the queen her sister was hugging.

“Chamelia? Oh Celestia you’ve grown!” she gasped. But then again, as her mind reminded her, Chamelia II, or Melly to her family, was now thirteen years old. The last time she’d seen her aunt Chryssy’s second daughter was almost two years ago.

That realization made her heartstrings twang, but Mirage forced a smirk on her face, and burrowed that pain as Melly let go of Kyria.

“Mirage! Oh Creator you made it!” she squealed, hugging Mirage.

“I finally did,” Mirage quipped. Swallowing, she returned the hug. “So… How’s school?”

Melly squealed. “It’s been amazing! I loved Captain Gallus’s class on 'aggressive negotiations.' But I also really liked Professor Ocellus’s class on 'The History of the Unspeakable Times.' Though, it’s kinda weird that we’re actually all related to the participants of that changeling war.”

“It is rather odd,” said Lamia, picking up the books that her sister had set aside.

“Well hurry up, everybody’s here!” Melly exclaimed. She grabbed Mirage’s hoof and led her forward.

Mirage followed her cousins and sister into a large chamber shaped like a sphere, but with its top and bottom flattened. About three stories high, with railings fencing off two sets of circling balconies, the retreat’s newly renovated living room boasted a roaring fire on the ground level, a small kitchen on one of the levels, a radio, lots of comfortable couches and cushions, and a large round table for family game nights. Right now, it was packed with changelings, and the occasional pony.

As her sister and cousins rushed forward to greet their family members, Mirage found herself freezing in place.

There was so just… so much family. She’d seen them, on and off, in the breaks she managed to sneak. To see them all here, though. The joy she felt warmed her heart, and yet, the fact that she knew they were going to see her in a moment smashed down on her like a barbell crashing on her back.

Oh and there was also the fact she might have—oh who was she kidding—she probably had PTSD. How was she going to tell them? What would happen if they found out? What would they think of her? One of her two months was already up!

She was already turning around, and galloping back into the corridor, not really looking where she was going.

And immediately she slammed into a warm figure. Already muttering apologies, Mirage looked up and stared.

“Mom?” she glanced down, “Dad?” she croaked.

Before she knew it, Alternia had wrapped her legs around her and she was smelling her mane, and the flower-scented shampoo she used. Feeling like crying, but feeling too happy to cry, Mirage settled with hugging her mother and reaching out to hug Harlequin.

“It’s been too long,” Alternia said.

“I missed you,” whispered Mirage.

Kyria had a list of relatives to visit and first on them was aunty Chrysalis, who was sitting on a couch, quietly listening to the radio. Beside her was a changeling soldier, sleeping, head on her shoulder. She switched it off and gingerly got up to greet the sisters with an embrace. The changeling soldier's head smacked down, jaw-first into the couch when she did so, and yet somehow, he didn’t wake up.

“Getting up to mischief, you two?” Chrysalis asked.

“Not too much mischief!” said Kyria. She glanced at Scarab, Chrysalis’s mate, a former soldier, who still sleeping. “I’m tempted to play a prank on Scarab, though. You know… reenact that interrogation that mom put him through when she and aunty Luna caught him after the Canterlot Wedding.”

“That would actually terrify him. Is it bad that I’m considering it?” Chrysalis asked.

“Maybe? Mirage what do you—” Kyria turned around and frowned. Her sister was nowhere to be seen. “That’s weird, she was right behind me.”

Before she could go search for her sister, Queen Belladonna, their mother’s youngest sister, trotted up, her daughter Leticia sleeping on her back.

“Hello Kyria, I have heard rumors you and Mirage were working on something,” Belladonna said, giving her niece a knowing look.

“Secret!” Kyria hissed, sticking her tongue out. She looked over her other shoulder. “But seriously, where’s Mirage?”

Suddenly, there was a rap on the door and it swung open for Harlequin, dressed in a comfortable blue velvet jacket, to buzz in (his wings had been healed by Tethys as part of her efforts to bolster relations with Equestria). He looked a bit tired, but was smiling cheerfully.

He was followed by a blue-maned, green-eyed queen, whose eyes lit up the moment they saw Kyria. Behind them was Mirage.

Kyria zipped over and gave her mother and father both a quick hug, somehow at the same time. Her short legs somehow stretching across both of their necks. “Mom! Dad! You’re finally here! What kept you?”

“I’m so sorry dear. Negotiations with Queen Sarar of the Queens Council dragged on,” said Alternia quietly, nuzzling her younger daughter’s cheeks.

“You sure seem excited about something,” chuckled Harlequin as he kissed his daughter’s cheek.

“Oh yes! I can’t wait to tell you what Mirage and I managed to do!” exclaimed Kyria.

“First, though, why don’t we introduce your sister to her future niece or nephew?” Alternia said.

Mirage blinked. “New niece or nephew?”

Kyria stared at her sister, “Aunty Simulacris is pregnant, Mirage. We sent you a message.”

“We were maintaining radio silence protocols when we were hunting the SS Shear. It must not have been passed to me when we docked again,” said Mirage, her voice uncertain.

Alternia and Harlequin gave understanding nods, but Kyria frowned at her sister, briefly, but that look made Mirage avert her gaze.

“Well that explains it. Why don’t we move along to see your aunt, girls?” said Harlequin, cheerfully, breaking the silence.

The family trotted deeper into the room, greeting their friends and family as they went past them.

To Kyria’s own frustration, she felt a pang of jealousy as they all greeted her older sister with overwhelming enthusiasm. It didn’t help that Mirage looked a bit lost and responded to the embraces with a rather stilted—if sincere feeling—smile. It was as if her older sister didn’t appreciate that everybody missed her.

But finally, they made it to where a heavily pregnant Simulacris was resting on some pillows. She was being attended by her current mate, Pharynx, formerly one of Chrysalis’s changelings.

“I wonder if it’ll be a queen. If that’s the case, we’ll be having a bumper crop of changeling queens this decade,” mused Mirage.

“We theorized that it could be love related. We’ve never been able to harvest this much love so consistently before. Albeit, oddly enough, it’s now our workers and soldiers who are harvesting love either from changeling-centric industries like gel production or law enforcement,” said Alternia.

“We might have to factor in the increased birth rate of queens into our long term policy then,” Mirage mused. “Maybe we could…”

“Kyria, good to see you,” said a voice behind her.

Kyria jumped, startled, and spun around to see a unicorn with golden hair. “Oh! Uncle Blueblood! Sorry, I didn’t expect well—didn’t expect—”

“Anybody to ask how you were doing?” Blueblood asked, his voice understanding. He steered Kyria aside, away from the crowd around Simulacris and Mirage, and towards a batpony, who pushed a glass of water into her hoof.

“Oh, thanks aunty Romana. How are you?”

Her uncle Blueblood’s wife smiled. “We’re good. We heard that you took an emergency first aid training course. How was the test?”

“Oh, it was a breeze. How are you both?” Kyria asked.

Blueblood smiled. “We’re good. We were just visiting Bluebell in the hospital. She’s bored, but recovering.”

Kyria stared at her uncle and aunt. She had been wondering where their daughter, Bluebell was, but—“Wait, cousin Bluebell is still in the hospital? What happened? Mirage told me she was wounded in the hunt for the Shear, but that was a month ago!”

Her uncle and aunt exchanged looks with one another, a silent message passed between them, only possible thanks to the years of their secret courtship.

Blueblood sighed. “I think when Mirage was telling you the story, she downplayed just how dangerous the battle was and how severe Bluebell’s injuries were.”

Romana shivered. “And from what Bluebell told us, Mirage was nearly killed.”

Kyria stared at her uncle and aunt in horror. Her sister had never mentioned that in her story, but now that she thought about it, it made way too much sense. The Voulge did look a rather battered.

“She… she didn’t tell me that,” whispered Kyria.

“She probably didn’t want to scare you, Kyria. And as to why your parents didn’t tell you… I suspect it’s because they thought Mirage would tell you eventually. You see, the Voulge’s bridge sustained a direct hit. It was rapidly patched up, but… if it hadn’t been for the emergency shield spell in Mirage’s peytral…” Blueblood winced.

Kyria swallowed, but it did nothing to wash away how horrible she felt. Her sister could have died, and was probably just having a natural reaction to seeing family she hadn’t seen in ages, and here she was, feeling jealous of her.

Of course it was incredibly frustrating that Mirage didn’t say anything about this to her, but then again… that wasn’t entirely surprising.

“Hey there, it’s alright to feel a little jealous, just remember that your mother and aunts do know how close Mirage came to dying,” said Blueblood, hoof on his niece’s shoulder. “How’s school been?”

Thinking back to her classes, Kyria chuckled, and took the distraction. “Oh, well school’s been…”

Mirage sagged into a couch, feeling both exhilarated, and exhausted. After two hours of chatting with family she hadn’t seen in ages, she felt like she’d run several laps around an air base’s field. She just needed a moment to herself to feel better.

But then her sister, looking ready to explode, flew into the centre of the room.

“Right! I can’t hold it in any longer. Everypony and everyling! I have an announcement!” exclaimed Kyria.

“Really. Now?” asked Mirage, arching an eyebrow.

“When else?” asked Kyria.

Mirage nodded. “Oh alright,” she forced herself to rise to her hooves. “As some of you may have suspected, Kyria and I have been working on something.” She took a deep breath. “It’s a way to see grandmother Chamelia.”

No changeling or pony spoke as they stared at the two princesses.

Mirage grinned. “It’s true, and what’s more, we know it works. Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst, and Starswirl have all contributed to the spell matrix and we’ve tested it thoroughly, with no ill effects.”

Kyria nodded eagerly. “Mom, dad, with your permission, we’d like to let you all use it.” With that, she levitated the scroll out of her peytral and extended it to her mother.

Both sisters could feel the simultaneous apprehension, and joy bundled up in their mother, and see her look at the scroll with wide eyes. She examined it slowly, reading over the script and the spell. Then they saw her stand up and trot over.

“Mirage, Kyria this… I-”

She threw her legs around the both of them. Mirage smiled as she returned the embrace, whilst Kyria squealed in joy. Both were so close they could practically feel the joy and love their mother was radiating to them.

“I can’t thank you enough. I… I am just so proud of you.”

“Wait, Alternia, shouldn’t we think about this for a moment?”

A tall figure stepped forward, behind Alternia, one with a green mane.

Kyria and Alternia looked like they had been shot, and Mirage couldn’t help but glare at Chrysalis, even as she schooled her expression into a stony mask.

“Chryssy, can you explain?” Alternia asked.

Chrysalis swallowed, “How do we know if this spell even works?”

Kyria pointed to the signatures on the bottom of the spell. “Starswirl, Sunset, Sunburst and Starlight all worked on it with us, and performed the necessary tests. We’ve even saw Great Grandmother Zagara teaching our grandmother! Can you imagine, Great Grandmother Zagara!”

Chrysalis’s eyes widened and she frowned, but it was pensive, rather than apprehensive. “How does it work?”

“The spell’s a very advanced scrying spell that works with changeling portal magic to show the user that moment in time. It’s similar to how Starlight’s time spell creates this portal that takes the user back into time. Of course, this spell makes it so the user is only experiencing the moment, not actually affecting time itself, but it’s possible to cast the spell and not step into the portal for a glimpse,” said Mirage.

“Oh… that’s…” Chrysalis swallowed and hesitated and then sighed.

Mirage suspected she knew why. In the face of such evidence and arguments, Chrysalis’s fears had been placated, but she still felt guilty. Still, her aunt had probably caught her mother’s wide-eyed, pleading look, and the sheer hope that was emanating from her.

“Alright,” said Chrysalis.

“Good idea! Stand back evercreature!” instructed Kyria, taking the scroll out. As Mirage took her position, Kyria glanced at her and mouthed “thank you.”

“Anytime,” whispered Mirage. The pair took a deep breath and levitated the scroll together.

“On my mark, One.”

Kyria nodded. “Two.”

“Three, and mark,” said Mirage. With that, both changeling queens shot beams of blue and purple magic right at the scroll.

As Alternia’s heirs, Kyria and Mirage were public figures and beloved by most of Equestria. Mirage’s work as an Equestrian Airship captain, and Kyria’s charity work helped that even further, so Mirage knew they had enough love to fuel the spell.

But as they started to send their beams of magic at the scroll, she frowned. She could feel the spell taking effect and it drawing on her power, but… it was drawing a bit more magic than they had done previously.

Well, that wasn’t exactly unexpected. When they had seen Zagara training Chamelia, it had taken more power than usual. The spell seemed to be dependent on how far back they were trying to view. All they needed to do was adjust.

“Kyria—”

“I know, I’m pushing more in,” said Kyria grimacing.

As expected, though, perhaps a little later than last time, a circle of magic widened around the scroll. The wah-wah sound of the magic beams grew louder, with the odd sparks hissing and popping from it.

“Is that normal?” asked Chrysalis.

“Yes,” said Mirage, biting down with strain and concentration.

All of a sudden, the portal, now blazing blue-purple and the size of a changeling queen, let off a high pitched whine. It was as if a train at full speed had it’s brakes suddenly and ruthlessly applied.

A chance in a million that things could go wrong...

“Kyria, abort now!” snapped Mirage.

But it was too late. A crack like a whip cut through the air, and the beams of magic that connected the two young changeling queens to the portal suddenly reversed their flow. Magic now began to pour out of the portal, and for some reason, Kyria and Mirage found themselves dragged toward the gaping wound in time by their horns.

Mirage grabbed the nearest hoof, her mother’s. She was going to reach out her right hoof for Kyria, but her mother beat her to it.

“Kyria, Mirage! Hang on!” screamed Alternia. Her horn glowing, she wrapped them all in magic and cast what seemed to be a traction spell on herself. Harlequin addes his magic onto his two daughters, holding on for dear life.

“Trying!” Mirage grunted. She looked up and blinked. “Wait, it isn’t sucking anybody else in.”

Indeed the portal wasn’t. Her cousins, uncles and aunts were crowding around them, panic-stricken, but trying to help, some even trying to hold on. Some grabbed Kyria, whilst others grabbed Mirage. Those that were taking care of children had ducked for cover. The rest of them cast traction spells on themselves and held on, but even then they just managed to barely stop the pair from sliding forward.

“Mirage, what’s going on? Why aren’t the failsafes kicking in? We stopped providing it with magic!” screamed Kyria.

Her muscles straining, Mirage shook her head. “I don’t know! Someone fetch Starlight and Sunburst! They should still be in Canterlot!”

Chrysalis added her magic to the aura around Kyria and Mirage. “Our hives are on it! Murmillar! Do something about that damn portal!”

Murmillar, Simulacris’s granddaughter and one of the more learned queens in their family, shook her head and jumped back from the portal as it sparked. “I don’t know what it is doing! I’m not a temporal spell expert! Time magic is notoriously unpredictable in its effects!”

“Well we need to do something quickly! We can’t hold on forever! We’re playing tug of war with my daughters as ropes!” yelled Harlequin. He blinked and his jaw dropped. “Oh shit, Kyria, Mirage, how badly does it—

“It hurts worse than basic! How can it be worse than basic?” screamed Mirage.

Kyria was sobbing incoherently, her tears somehow dropping to the ground even as she inched forward, despite the best efforts of those holding onto her for dear life. “Mom, Dad… Everybody… please don’t let go?”

Alternia gritted her teeth. “We won’t let go.”

“You’re going to be alright,” hissed Harlequin, managing a smile.

Mirage felt her heart flutter with hope, until Sebastiana’s grip faltered for a second and she budged forward. For a moment, her head didn’t feel like it was going to be ripped off her neck, before those holding on quickly renewed their grip, and the agony returned.

And in that maelstrom of pain, she realized something, something from her training.

Must prioritize VIPs.

“You all need to let go.”

“What?” hissed Lamia.

“You need to let go! All of you! We can’t lose you as well!” snapped Mirage.

“Mirage, have you gone insane?” screamed Kyria.

“Do you want to risk Mom, Dad and our Aunts?!” roared Mirage.

“Mirage, this is no time to be playing the hero! I know you’re trained to protect us but you’re my daughter. I’m not letting go of you!” Alternia roared.

Mirage swallowed, but even that was an effort as her neck was that tightly stretched.

“I love you all. Save Kyria.”

Alternia’s eyes widened in horror and Mirage’s eyes instantly moistened as she felt the terror in her mother.

“No! Mirage, don’t—”

Although it was her horn being dragged, Mirage could still use magic. It was frightfully easy as all she had to do was cast a low-power electrical shock spell on those hanging on to her. They fell back reeling, and those trying to hold Mirage with her magic found her wrenched from their telekinetic grip.

The changeling shot forward, the ear-piercing scream of her mother ringing in her ears.

But even though Mirage disappeared into the portal, it showed no sign of shrinking.

Kyria, still whimpering from the pulling force on her horn, howled as somehow, the force yanking her forward increased.

“Kyria! You can hold on! We won’t let go!”

“Kyria! Sunburst and I are here, hold on!” yelled Starlight. The two unicorns raced up to the portal eyes narrowed.

“Hurry,” croaked Kyria, blinded by pain, not even able to scream anymore. Her throat was hoarse.

Starlight blinked. “Where’s Mirage?”

Alternia shut her eyes, “She’s gone.”

Sunburst’s eyes widened. “Oh no. Nononono.”

“If you don’t do anything, Kyria will be next, so do something!” hissed Retariusil.

Starlight swallowed as she stepped away. “We… we can’t.”

Everybody flinched as Harlequin - mild-mannered, dorky and even-tempered Harlequin- bellowed, “What do you mean you can’t! You made this happen!”

Staggering, Starlight sat down on her hindquarters, hooves trembling. “I don’t know why this is happening. It shouldn’t be possible. The spell’s opened a vortex in time to the targeted period that will drag anybody close enough. Because of this, a specific failsafe kicked in. The vortex will only drag the casters toward it.”

Nobody spoke, they either stared at Starlight in horror.

“What possessed you to do such a stupid failsafe!” screeched Diamondshell, the changeling currently the captain of the Royal Guard.

“Because you’d all be dragged in if we didn’t write it! But whatever happened to the portal, it’s warped the failsafe! When we wrote the spell matrix, we intended it to only draw the caster towards the vortex as long as the vortex is active. Time vortices are unstable after all and collapse easily. Within seconds in fact. However, somehow, whatever happened changed the intent of the failsafe. It will only be sealed if both casters are drawn in!”

The last of Kyria’s faint hope imploded, both by that statement, and by the sheering pain in her neck and legs. It didn’t help that her family was holding on to her as tightly as possible.

“Please, Starlight, Sunburst, there has to be another way. I can’t… I can’t lose both of my daughters,” whispered Alternia.

Harlequin said nothing, but despite her terror, Kyria could sense her father’s heart breaking. It felt horrible, like the smashing of stained glass windows.

“There… is some good news,” said Sunburst.

“What good news?” demanded Harlequin.

“They will end up at the target period. All they have to do is stay low and not disrupt the time stream. We can get them out!”

“But… we… aimed it at the Everfree Hive, at around 1000 years ago, not long after Mom was born, we’ll… we’ll affect the timeline,” croaked Kyria.

“Yes, that may happen, but it’s our only hope! We can’t hold Kyria like this, not without breaking her body! But if we let her go, we can get her back!” Starlight exclaimed.

Alternia turned to Harlequin with tear-filled eyes. He swallowed and nodded, before turning to his daughter. “Kyria, what do you think?”

She didn’t want to go into the past. It was filled with hundreds of unknown dangers. There would be no changeling tolerant Equestria. There’d be no changelings that would respect and work with ponies. There would be no advanced medicine, and so many useful spells hadn’t been invented yet. They were… they were going to be going into a very dangerous time.

The only thing she and Mirage had going for them was that their wise, and compassionate grandmother was in the past, but they couldn’t tell her. If they did...

But anything, anything had to be better than this agony.

“Okay.”

Harlequin nodded. “I’m giving you my revolver and ammunition. Everybody, hoof Kyria your Emergency Survival Kits.”

Eleven satchels with black crosses marked on them were hung around Kyria’s neck. Meanwhile, Harlequin produced a polished revolver from his jacket along with a belt of ammunition and put it into her peytral’s storage spell.

“But… what if someone takes off her peytral and notices the runes for the storage spell? They’d find the gun,” said Chamelia II nervously.

“It works by will. Kyria can prevent anybody from fishing around into the petyral’s storage spell,” said Cyndra (Lamia’s drone sister) gingerly.

Alternia wasn’t listening, gingerly, making sure she was braced, she kissed Kyria’s cheek. Harlequin did the same.

“Stay safe, we’ll come for you,” whispered Alternia.

“I will.” Kyria swallowed. “I love you all.”

Chrysalis swallowed. “On three, we let go. Ready... One… two… three!”

Alternia, Chamelia II, Cyndra, Diamondshell let go, whilst the queens holding onto Kyria with their magic let go of their grip. The changeling shot instantaneously into the portal, and vanished.

And immediately after Kyria’s hooves had disappeared, the portal snapped shut, like it was never there.

Alternia, stood, lifted the traction spell from herself, and walked to the spot where her daughters had disappeared, her eyes moist.

“Mom… they’re… they’re in your hooves now.”

The first thing Kyria hit was the ground. She slammed into it on four hooves and somehow managed to keep her balance as she slid across the… oddly earthy ground.

The second thing that hit her was how oddly earthy it smelt.

The third thing that hit her was Mirage’s backside.

“OUCH! Mirage!” she whined, now sprawled out on the floor, which seemed to be made out of packed earth.

“Quiet,” hissed Mirage as she sprang to her hooves. “Where in Tartarus are we-” Mirage froze, around the time that Kyria’s jaws dropped open.

They were in a long hall lit by pale flickering changeling flame lights ensconced in crystal braziers. There were roots hanging from the low ceiling, which was dimly lit, and gave it a rather dirty, but oddly primal atmosphere.

At the end of the great hall, was an upraised dais made from steps of packed earth, and on top of it, stood an obsidian chair.

Said obsidian chair was still there a thousand years later, but the earthy floor? A thousand years later, that floor was replaced with carpeted red tile. The roots? Still there, but encased in glass with metal and concrete supports to preserve the room’s longevity and structural integrity.

The most striking difference, though, was that instead of the obsidian throne being empty like it always was, it was filled with the seated form of the last changeling queen they simultaneously wanted to see, and really, really did not want to be seen by.

Queen Chamelia was nothing like her statue in her mausoleum. That was a cold, poor representation of the queen in front of her. That statue had been crafted to represent the queen as a caring mother, a great, but warm leader. Towering over them was Chamelia, the de facto leader of the Queens Council, the daughter of the Great Hive Mother Zagara. In her prime and currently looking down on them. In her magical grasp, she held a bearded axe with a wickedly sharp blade.

She wore an almost amused expression, her lips slightly curled, but her eyes... those brilliant green eyes, so much like Aunt Chrysalis's, were in some ways, scarier than the pitch-black eyes of Empress Tethys. For they belonged to someone who was incredibly intelligent.

It didn’t help that Chamelia was a character that their family had told hundreds of stories and legends of.

Oh, and they were also surrounded by narrow-eyed changelings, all armed with poleaxes, warhammers, and spears.

“I do not know who you two are, and I do not know the reason for why you are here, but I would advise you surrender, and disrobe your regalia,” said Chamelia in a stern voice.

Scrambling to her hooves, Kyria pressed up close to Mirage, who was standing shock-still. Chamelia… sounded eerily like their mother.

What do I do? What do I do? We can’t escape. We’re surrounded, and we can’t fight our way out! Not only can she counter it, we don’t know what kind of time travel we’ve done. If we change the past by hurting grandmother, or any changeling here… then the results could be catastrophic thought Kyria.

“Unless of course you would rather my guards undress you?” asked Chamelia wryly.

“No, of course not, Your Majesty,” stammered Mirage. She bowed her head. “We surrender.” She unbuckled her peytral, took off her tiara, and stepped out of her hoof shoes. Slowly, she set them on the ground, where they were pulled away by the changeling guards.

She glanced to her side. Kyria had done the same, albeit, with far more trembling.

“Good. Guards, blindfold them and escort them to the cells.”

Author's Note

Firimil's Reference Drawings of Mirage and Kyria. I also wrote this story as a wedding gift for her, particularly due to how much art she's done of my series over the years.

Mirage:

Kyria:

Mirage and Kyria:

Mirage, Kyria and Alternia

Chapter 2: Interrogations

Chamelia frowned as she examined the regalia she had taken from the two queens.

All she had wanted was to relax on her throne, away from her newest daughter Belladonna for a bit, when that massive vortex had appeared. She had gathered a company of guards, expecting some kind of invasion from a rival queen, possibly one who was not one of her allies on the council, but it had only deposited two young, unascended queens right in front of her. She’d immediately had them imprisoned in specially designed cells.

Although a mental link would have to be established first, changeling queens were capable of mental communication, even if they were unascended. These two cells were lined with enchanted gems that interfered with that mental link. Any attempt to communicate would lead to a buzzing sound in one’s head. This did mean that Chamelia had to bring out each queen individually to interrogate them, but the two wouldn’t be able to communicate and exchange notes.

Aside from this measure, the cells were buried far beneath the ground. Even IF the queens tried to escape, they’d have to somehow run through the maze of tunnels that made up her hive, and hundreds of guards. To prevent them from simply opening a portal, the changelings had fastened onto the queens two of their very rare magic suppression rings.

The cells were also designed with a small, cleverly disguised hole in the ceiling, so that the two could be watched. You could learn a lot from watching someone when they think they aren’t being monitored.

It was through this hole that Chamelia watched the older of the queens put her head down on the table and close her eyes. She wasn’t asleep, but from what Chamelia could feel from her emotional state, she was trying to stay calm, and succeeding. Once in a while, this older queen had got up, stretched her limbs, trotted around her room, and then promptly continued to rest.

A tap on her rear hoof brought Chamelia up from the hole, which she closed the shutter to. Trotting down, the changeling who alerted her showed her the regalia they had collected from the two queens.

“What are your conclusions?” she asked.

“We… we don’t know who made the medical and tool pouches, or the regalia. The markers don’t belong to any species we can recognize,” said the changeling, passing Chamelia one of them.

Chamelia frowned as she opened the satchel. It had some multi-colored vials in them with labels. They were medical potions, with ingredient lists. Some of the ingredients she recognized, like phoenix tears, but there were others that she failed to understand. Aside from that, there were bandages, compresses, and other objects labeled “Smoke Bomb”, “Flare” and “Emergency Barrier Gem”. It was essentially, a kind of emergency pack, similar to what her changelings would carry, but far more extensive than she had ever seen.

The strangest thing was that the labels were written in some kind of Equestrian script, but with an alien flourish to the syntax and the characters.

She set it down and brought the regalia over, focusing on the peytrals. They were exquisitely crafted from silver, and set with emeralds. To her surprise, there were also runes carved into them, artfully done so too, and these runes were sparkling with power. Looking for the maker’s mark, she found… it was illegible. It looked like Equestrian lettering, but not at the same time. What was clear was that these items were highly valuable, and definitely not something any changeling she knew of was capable of making. Rather, they almost seemed Equestrian in style.

“You did notice they were similar in style to the pony sisters’ regalia?” Chamelia asked.

“Yes, but neither of the sisters’ regalia are made of silver, and these pieces have a more angular… almost changeling-inspired aesthetic,” said the changeling.

Now that the guard mentioned it, Chamelia could see it now, but that only raised more questions. Still, it was something.

Luckily, Chamelia had better fortune watching the younger queen, because she had
—to put it bluntly—panicked. She’d tried the door, thought better of it, then started to pace around the room at a rapid trot, muttering to herself. The thought that she would be watched or overheard didn’t seem to even come to her mind.

Chamelia and her changelings hadn’t caught all of it, the younger changeling was almost ranting under her breath, but they had caught a few interesting phrases and words. The young kept mentioning “Kyria, what are you going to do now?” “What would Mirage do?” “timeline,” “future,” “by Luna we’re in so much trouble.” Once in a while, she’d glance at the door with a forlorn look and wonder about how her sister was.

Chamelia had no idea why did she keep mentioning Luna, Celestia’s sister, but the mention of timeline and future, in the context of the queen panicking about it spoke volumes. Moreover, she had names for the two queens now.

“I’ll interrogate the younger queen, this… Kyria, first.”

Chamelia sat at one of the two chairs at the wooden interrogation table, hooves crossed, as the door to it opened.

Her guards escorted Kyria queen into the interrogation room. They had fastened manacles around her legs, restricting her ability to gallop, and four of them held onto chains that bound a heavy ring around her neck. They secured these chains to rings in the wall, and with a bow, left the room.

The young queen was shivering, probably because of the cold of the manacles. They had a tendency to unsettle prisoners.

“So, what were you doing in my hive?” asked Chamelia. She could confront Kyria about her being from the future, but that was probably best saved for later.

Kyria swallowed. “Sorry, Your Majesty. We… My sister we’re… admirers of yours!” She groaned comically trying to bury her head in her hooves, only to find the manacles prevented her head moving that far, and Chamelia chuckled at the sight.

She was more intrigued at how honest the statement “we’re admirers of yours” sounded and the genuine respect she felt from Kyria.

The information that the two were sisters was also rather useful. She wouldn’t have though the pair was related otherwise.

“We um, we’re sorry for appearing in your throne room, but um, our spell backfired and we got stuck here,” Kyria said, smiling sheepishly.

Chamelia arched an eyebrow. “I understand, and your emotions and your expression suggest you are sincere on this, but I am going to need more proof of your intentions.”

Kyria nodded, “Yes, Your Majesty. I’m deeply sorry, please… forgive us for our disrespect.”

“Hm, if you truly respect me, you will tell me the truth, starting with what the spell was,” said Chamelia, firmly.

The younger queen shook her head. “I… I can’t tell you.”

Chamelia sighed, it was time to try to unbalance her. With the young queen being so afraid, she should be able to do this easily.

“Kyria, right? Mirage being your older sister?” she asked.

“How did you—”

“I have my ways, not particularly intrusive ways, but I know more painful ways to extract information,” said Chamelia, coolly. She leaned forward, fixing Kyria with her gaze.

Kyria stared at her eyes wide. This was actually a bit odd because the young queen was horrified, but not so much at Chamelia, but with the entire situation. “You… You can’t be serious.”

“I have to know who you are, why you showed up, and what your intentions are,” said Chamelia. And she was being entirely truthful this time.

“It was an accident! I swear!” Kyria exclaimed.

Chamelia gave one small, almost sad look at Kyria. “You’re going to have to do better than that Kyria. I don’t want to hurt you, but I need to protect my hive first.”

“But… but… you’re…aren’t you known for your mercy and wisdom?” Kyria asked. “Didn't you… didn’t you spare Queen Sarar when she tried to kill you?”

Interesting, I wonder where they heard that from? “I like to think I am, but you aren’t providing me any good reason.” She coughed officiously and called out, “Guards, execute her.” whilst also mentally sending the message, Come in, and start taking the chains from the walls, but don’t kill her.

As expected, Kyria froze as she heard the door swing open and saw the guards unlocking the chains to the walls.

“No. No this can’t be happening!” the younger queen stammered.

“I’m sorry Kyria,” said Chamelia coolly, her senses on Kyria. She could sense her panic and see her eyes dart from side to side. "Maybe after she finds out your fate, your sister will be more willing to share information."

“Grandmother, please don’t do this!”

Chamelia felt as if she’d been run through by a shock of lightning. She raised a hoof, and the guards stopped. Her eyes narrowing to hide her confusion, the queen leant forward onto the table so that she towered over Kyria.

“What did you just call me?”

Kyria gasped. “I said Your Majesty--”

“Liar! You called me Grandmother. Why? Whose daughter are you really?” demanded Chamelia.

The smaller queen shook her head. “I can’t tell. I’ve already said too much.” She cowered, hunkering down and trying to draw her limbs over herself in fear palpable enough to sense, “ Please… G-Ggrandmother, this is only for the good of our family!”

Chamelia stood up and strode out of the interrogation room. “Take her back to her cell,” she ordered.

Once outside, the queen started to pace, much to the nervous observation of her changelings.

She only had ever had four queen daughters. None of them were of the age to have children as they were children themselves, and yet this queen claimed that they were her granddaughters.

Of course, it was possible one of her drone sons or daughters in bygone decades had married or courted a changeling Queen then. She’d had a few over the centuries and many had set off on their own. Yet, if that was the case, then why didn’t they just tell her the whole story and whose daughter she was?

And if they did admire her, which she sensed the younger one did, then why not just tell her the full story?

Chamelia frowned. Then again, if the pair had come from the future, they might be reticent simply due to the fact they were worried about disruptions to the timeline. But even if they did, she needed to confirm they were not threats to her hive.

Taking a deep breath, Chamelia ordered her changelings to bring in Mirage.

Mirage stayed expressionless, and a momentary glimpse at her emotions revealed that… it was very much looking at a fairly calm lake. There were ripples of worry and fear on the outskirts, but Chamelia knew that was natural.

What she found that was not natural was the schooled expression Mirage was wearing, and how tight her control over her emotions was. Judging by how she acted when she was alone in her cell, and the state of her emotions now, Chamelia concluded that this queen, unlike the other, had to have received some degree of counter-interrogation training.

She was also—potentially—her granddaughter that she didn’t know existed. Chamelia frowned, there was… a familial resemblance in Mirage’s features, though, not so much with Kyria, the younger queen.

“So, young queen, let me get to the heart of the matter. You and your companion appeared in the middle of my throne room in a vortex of magic. I want to know who you are, why you came to my hive, and what was that magic trying to do.”

She nodded. “My name is Mirage, and my companion’s name is Kyria. The portal was a complete accident. We wish no quarrel with you.”

Chamelia nodded. Her possible granddaughter had said that succinctly and infused the statement with a degree of sincerity, but it was very much a prepared answer. Normal techniques weren’t going to work with her.

Oh, this is going to be intriguing. Chamelia smiled while focusing on Mirage, watching for the slightest lapse of control. “Well, Mirage, you must understand that your explanation is a bit difficult to believe. If you really want me to release you and Kyria, you will have to be a little more forthcoming.”

“How so?” Mirage asked.

“Well, you can start by telling me who your mother is,” said Chamelia.

The lake rippled, but that was to be expected.

“I don’t think I can tell you that,” Mirage said, coolly.

Chamelia grimaced. Seriously, who was their mother? She had to be a queen, but in that case, was she an enemy queen? Or more correctly, will she become an enemy queen?

“I understand, but the more questions you answer, Mirage, the better chance you and Kyria have at being released.” Chamelia smirked. “You really should treat your grandmother with more respect.”

Mirage flinched, eyes widening with shock. “Sorry?”

“I am your grandmother, am I not?”

Mirage clammed up, averting her gaze, but while she did a good job trying to look composed, her emotions were in flux. Ripples of fear, worry, confusion, and frustration, roiled the once tranquil lake.

“You are being very tight-lipped, and controlling your emotions very well. Who taught you?”

Mirage seemed to debate about how to answer this question, before she exhaled and said, “I… I am one of my hive’s soldiers. I was taught what to do when captured as part of my training.”

A lie, partially anyway. Chamelia thought. Oh, she believed Mirage’s claim to have received counter-interrogation training, but that was normally given to hive infiltrators. The queen also noticed how Mirage’s tone shifted when she said ‘hive’s soldiers’. She was downplaying that role, or that was at least not quite her full role. She was an officer in some capacity.

“What were you trying to do with the portal?”

Mirage grimaced. “It… it wasn’t meant to be one.”

“Oh? Then what was it supposed to be?”

That question was met by silence. Chamelia focused on Mirage’s emotions and was surprised to find a current of stoic determination.

“Mirage, you are really not giving me much good reason to release you and your sister,” Chamelia said, deliberately fading her smile. She stood up, hooves on the table, towering over Mirage. “I believe you know of my reputation. You know what I am capable of.”

The younger queen nodded, coolly. “Yes...”

“And what could be more important than you and your sister’s safety?” Chamelia pressed, hissing out sister very deliberately.

That made Mirage freeze for just a moment, and that was when Chamelia knew to ease back. It was a good thing to make the changeling interrogated feel vulnerable, but too much pressure and they would clam up and not say anything.

“Queen Chamelia… are you… threatening my sister’s life? She… she’s your granddaughter,” Mirage asked, eyes wide, and Chamelia could sense her growing horror.

“You are a warrior, and you know what queenship demands,” Chamelia pointed out.

“I… I will do my best,” Mirage said. She swallowed. “The portal was intended to be a kind of long-distance scrying spell, but our target wasn’t you, or at least, not specifically your hive.”

Chamelia decided to press on with a smile. “Thank you, Mirage. What kind of position do you occupy in your mother’s hive?”

“I am her heir,” Mirage admitted.

“Is your mother an enemy of mine?” Chamelia continued.

“Oh Celestia, no!” Mirage exclaimed. At Chamelia’s raised eyebrow, the young queen groaned. “She’s… she very much an admirer of yours.”

“That is comforting,” said Chamelia calmly, but she was growing more and more intrigued. If Mirage’s mother admired her, then why keep her identity a secret? Perhaps that may be revealed, with a few more probes.

Then there was her swearing by Celestia. Chamelia did meet with alicorn princess on occasion (mostly to appraise each other of pony and changeling issues), and they were acquaintances of a sort. Yet, that didn’t explain why changelings were swearing by Celestia. Not unless...

“I have a few more questions for you…”

Chamelia mentally went over what she had learned from Mirage as Kyria was brought in again.

She had a lot more information now, enough to probably find out everything she needed to know.

First off, whatever point in time they came from, it was probably not the near future. Both Mirage and Kyria seemed to revere her, but Chamelia had a sense that they didn’t actually know her well.

Secondly, Mirage and Kyria had sworn by one of the the alicorn sisters, the rulers of Equestria. That was odd, and it suggested that for whatever reason that the ponies of Equestria, or at the very least, Celestia, was a friend of the changelings in the future.

The revelation was… surprising, but not shocking. She and Celestia had once talked about that possibility, as a joke. Yet… to think that this became a reality in the future? Chamelia just had to know more. It seemed too unbelievable.

With all her gathered information, the Queen of the Everfree Hive smiled and asked, “So, you are both from the future?”

Completely flabbergasted, Kyria stared at her with dilated eyes, “Wait, what? How did you—”

“Oh, I talked to Mirage first. When I threatened your life, she got very talkative. But what she told me is nothing short of ludicrous. She insisted I talk to you to confirm her story.”

The little composure Kyria had was gone, she was shaking her head so quickly, her short purple mane was a blur. “But… no, she… why…”

Chamelia shrugged. “She had some very odd story about you both being my granddaughters, and that the portal you came through was actually some scrying spell. I think she was telling me the truth about being a commander, but the rest of her story just seems ridiculous. Point is, I think she’s lying to me, but I’m giving you the chance to prove that your sister is telling the truth.”

Kyria groaned and took a deep breath. “Well…oh Luna, where to start?”

Chamelia made sure she didn’t change her expression of laconic interest, but she was ecstatic under her layered mask. The idea that they were from the future was a guess based on Kyria’s words and Mirage’s reluctance. Now Kyria was going to confirm it to her.

“So, we are from about a thousand years into the future. And… I know this sounds crazy, but we are Alternia’s daughters, and in the future, she’s a princess, ruling with Celestia and Luna over the ponies and changelings of Equestria,” Kyria said.

Chamelia blinked. She initially was going to reply to Kyria that she was being crazy, but most creatures won’t tell a lie like that under such pressure. Most creatures weren’t changelings that had an uncanny resemblance to herself and her children. And the explanation… it made far too much sense.

It explained why they wouldn’t tell her about their mother’s identity, and that would be why they revered her, and were so horrified that she was threatening them. But still...

“Are you pulling on my leg?” she demanded.

“No, I’m telling the truth. I… do you have my peytral? I have evidence.”

Chamelia sent her changelings the message to bring them the peytral, and they did, trotting through the door and putting the silver piece on the table.

After they had left, Kyria tried to raise a manacled hoof and grunted as she found she couldn’t do so. “Oh, drat.”

Chamelia levitated the heavy silver piece into Kyria’s hoof, watching warily in case of trouble, and was astonished to see some glossy pieces of paper, suddenly appear in the younger queen’s hoof.

“Storage spell,” Kyria slid the photographs over to Chamelia who now saw that they contained… miniature, lifelike portraits.

She picked the one she had the most changelings on up.

It was a group of changelings posed under on the steps leading up to very throne that Chamelia usually sat. At the front sitting down, were Mirage and Kyria, slightly turned toward one another, grinning widely. They seemed about a year younger than they were now.

Behind them, also sitting, were four ascended queens, and a drone. The first from the left had turquoise-green hair. She was wearing a proud smile. It must be Chrysalis, or, whom she would become.

Chamelia gasped. Oh, Creator. She looks so much like Zagara. The thought nearly brought her to tears as she remembered her mother.

At the opposite end of the group a relatively short, but stocky queen with purple hair, was grinning.

That must be Belladonna. Chamelia thought wryly.

Next to Belladonna was the red-haired queen who must be Simulacris, wearing a more wry smile.

Simulacris… She rather resembles Aunt Araneae. She had been her mother’s younger sister and a great sorceress.

Finally, in the centre, was a blue-haired queen, the tallest of the group, who had to be Alternia, along with a drone with purple-eyes. He had to be her mate.

It took a moment for Chamelia to realize who Alternia was, though, as she looked nothing like a typical changeling queen. She did have the typical crooked horn, but it was now slightly curved and had a triangular cross-section. Her carapace seemed to have been… hardened, with additional overlapping plated ridges on her flanks, chest, and underside. The typical delicate crown antenna of an ascended queen was also larger than most and seemed more angular and almost… reinforced.

Alternia… does resemble me, but it’s as if someone layered several layers of extra chitin over her frame.

“Who is the drone, and… why does Alternia look… different?” Chamelia asked, narrowing her eyes at Kyria.

“The purple drone is our father. We can’t say his name I’m afraid. I don’t think we should let you know if you knew him or not,” said Kyria. She winced, “As to why does Mom looks different? Well, uh, the short of it is that she got badly wounded and needed significant… healing that ended up changing her appearance.”

Chamelia frowned. Truth… but only a half-truth, yet, I… I shouldn’t press further, but… oh, Great Creator… what happened to my daughter that required her appearance to be changed to such an extent?

She handed the picture and the photographs back, her eyes wide. That… but it didn’t necessarily prove that Alternia ruled with Celestia and Luna, she needed more proof. This… it could be some illusion.

She grabbed another photo, one where she could see Celestia and Luna. Upon closer inspection, she realized that the alicorns were sitting on color-coordinated gold and black thrones. Huge tapestries, the color of the night sky and the color of the dawn sun, hung behind them.

Between the two thrones was a third throne, silver, with green velvet cushions, and emeralds embedded into its arms and frame. A third tapestry of forest green depicting the ponies, changelings and other inhabitants of Equestria hung from behind the throne. Standing in front of both was Alternia, in her regalia, lifting a crown onto a bowing Kyria’s head. The one that she had worn when she had appeared through the portal. Kyria was also clothed in a rich purple cloak.

But the angle the photo also revealed the rest of the throne room. She could spy her other three daughters there, along with several other queens, and Mirage, proudly grinning. What was shocking was the wide assortment of ponies, unicorns, pegasi, and changelings, in the room, cheering. She could even spy yaks, griffons, zebras and hippogriffs, all rendered in stunning detail. It… it couldn’t possibly be an illusion.

Something clicked in Chamelia’s mind and she froze.

“Oh Great Creator, I must be dead. I would be in… in these portraits, if I was alive,” she said, quietly.

“Wait, how do you not know—” Kyria’s eyes widened “—wait, oh crapbaskets. Mirage didn’t tell you anything did she? I just… ohhhhhh—” her manacles jingled as she buried her head in her manacled hooves “—oh nonononononono.”

“Kyria, it is alright. You do not have to say anymore.” She sighed, using her magic to take the magic suppression ring off and unlock the chains. “The fault is mine.”

Her youngest granddaughter was too busy muttering into hooves to notice, and she stayed that way until Mirage was brought in, unchained and looking somewhat resigned.

“You pieced it together and got Kyria to confess?” Mirage asked.

Chamelia nodded. “Yes. Mirage, Kyria, I’m… so sorry. But I needed to know. There are still a few queens who are hostile to me and my allies on the Queens Council, and…” She gave Kyria back the pieces of glossy paper. “I had my suspicions you were from the future fairly early on, I listened into what you were saying in your cell, Kyria, but… I had to know more to confirm my guess, and so… I kept the interrogation going on. I’m sorry for putting you through this.”

Kyria wiped her eyes with a shaking hoof. “I… I’m alright and… I-I forgive you. I understand why. I…” She laughed weakly. “I did a lot of reading about the changeling queens of the past. It was pretty cutthroat.”

Mirage grimaced, rubbing her hooves where the chains had sat. “I get why you did it too. Just…” She couldn’t quite force a smile, and so settled for a half-wince. “Mom tended tell stories about your kind and caring side.”

Chamelia snorted, and sat back down on the chair. “I know how much of a problem time magic is and that I probably should not ask anything about the future, but why did you both try to keep so much from me?”

Mirage could not suppress her sadness, but she had enough presence of mind to take a moment to gather her thoughts.

“There are many critical and harrowing trials our Mother and our Aunts are going to have to face. Things that… while we wish for you to prepare them for, will not be able to happen if we tell you what happens next.”

Chamelia nodded. “And I imagine that those trials have to happen, or else something even worse will occur.”

Kyria and Mirage met each other’s eyes. The sisters weren’t even tempted to mention it. Both knew they were thinking about Chrysalis’s coup, how it ended in Chamelia’s accidental death, and weighing it against the possibility of having no Alternia moving the sun for a thousand years.

Chamelia heard none of these thoughts, but she could feel the sudden anguish and yet, resolve that the glance between the sisters conveyed.

“So, you got trapped here by this accident. Can your parents and aunts get you back to the future?” she asked, trying to change the subject.

“Yes.” Mirage blinked, turning to her sister, who smiled. “Mom and Dad promised. It’s why they gave me the Emergency Kits. Um, the black-crossed packets you took from me. We just need to sit tight,” said Kyria.

A little surprised by the young queen’s confidence, Chamelia was about to ask Kyria how she would know her parents would succeed until she recalled that Alternia… was, somehow, a princess of Equestria.

“I will hold you to that, but for the moment, and until you are rescued, you’re going to have to listen to me on how to survive in this time,” said Chamelia.

“Of course, Grandma,” piped up Kyria and Mirage in unison, glanced at each other, and grinned.

Chamelia blinked. “First things first, please don’t do that. Next, just refer to me as Chamelia. Grandma raises a bit too many questions. I’ll swear my drones to silence and say that you are changeling daughters from another queen who married one of my sons long ago to explain why you called me that. Otherwise, do not call me Grandma in front of anybody else.”

“Agreed, but how are you going to explain your treatment of us when you let us go?” Mirage asked.

“I will explain to my drones that you have been vetted, and are being escorted to guest rooms where… I think you would very much like something to eat and drink after all of this, maybe some love.”

“That would be very much welcome,” said Mirage smiling.

Kyria smiled too. “We’re good on love, though. I mean we are— well, I suppose you know. We are mom’s heirs and so we have a very public role in how Equestria’s being run. That and Mirage is an— ”

Mirage cut in, “I’m a soldier- A commander of sorts. The exact nature of my job is…”

“Future stuff?” asked Chamelia.

“Future stuff,” chorused both changelings.

Author's Note

If you want to know the background/process I took when writing this story, feel free to click below:
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/887146/writing-equestrias-changeling-princesses-and-the-kinsbane-part-1-background
Here, I explain my thought process for the chapters and the story as a whole. Other than that, feel free to ask questions!

Chapter 3: Dinner and Death

Chamelia allowed Mirage and Kyria to get settled into their new rooms before heading to the nursery to see her children. Although both Mirage and Kyria did want to see their aunts and mother, the ordeal they had been put through required some time to rest and recuperate.

About two hours later, Chamelia had them join her in her private chambers for dinner.

In the future… Mirage and Kyria knew that this comfortable, snug room adorned with cushions, cubby holes cut into the earthen walls for storage, and a bed basically shaped from earth and adorned with cushions, would become Chamelia’s mausoleum.

It was a sobering thought, which they knew their grandmother picked up on, but if she did, she kept her silence.

Instead, they were met with a nice supper that was quite intriguing to the two sisters.

“I’m sorry that my mate, your grandfather, Facere, cannot make it today. He’s returning on a mission and will be here tomorrow.” She paused, glancing at them. “I am going to tell him about where you are from, though.”

Kyria stuttered. “I… we prefer not, the timeline…”

“Facere is my trusted consort and a chevalier. He can keep a secret,” said the queen.

Seeing that Mirage and Kyria were still cringing, Chamelia sighed. “I will only be telling him, nobody else.”

Mirage took a deep breath. “If that’s the case, then that’s fine,” she said.

“Excellent. In the meantime, I hope some of these you recognize,” said Chamelia, gesturing to the spread.

Mirage and Kyria glanced at one another. The food looked good and hot, but they weren’t sure what to make of some of the odd shapes, colors, or… things, and the fact that they seemed to resemble certain animals of the Everfree forest.

Kyria bit her lip. “I’m sorry, but we honestly don’t.”

Chamelia frowned and murmured to herself. The sisters could just catch the words “not even the squirrels…”

“If it makes you feel better, honeyed fruit bats do very much survive into the future,” Mirage said, recalling the many times their family had gathered around a table, sharing platters of that snack.

The older changeling chuckled and shook her head. “Oh, of course the sweets would survive.” Straightening, she coughed officiously. “Well, we have changeling cave-bread, a nice flatbread we make from wild wheat harvested near the Everfree forest with fresh-picked apples and pears. Then we have squirrels smoked with Timberwolf shards, my personal favorite. There’s also Cockatrice sausage—you do know what a sausage is?”

Kyria, who had a penchant for trying out the weirdest and strangest cuisines in Canterlot’s Restaurant Row (she particularly liked Zesty Gourmand’s new restaurant after the latter stopped being a reviewer and gone into cooking to try to “rediscover her roots”) licked her lips, and nodded so fast, it was almost like she was in sugar high.

Mirage—who had been so traumatized by bad military rations that she had personally founded a new overseeing group to ensure the Equestrian Armed Forces had reasonable food— nodded, looking a bit pale, despite the fact that changelings couldn’t do such a thing without transforming.

Chamelia snickered at seeing the sisters’ differing reactions. “Good. Glad that invention hasn’t been lost in the future. We then have some boiled black beans, fresh hay, and cave moss for vegetables. Finally, some nicely aged cheese with almonds.”

Mirage heaved a sigh of relief and went for the more normal-sounding vegetables and cheese.

Kyria arched an eyebrow, “Coward.” She went right for the cockatrice sausage.

Chamelia took a smoked squirrel for herself. “So, I suppose you have some questions about me, your grandfather, and our children.”

Mirage nibbled on a wedge of cheese and swallowed to clear her throat. “Well now that you mention it, we heard fairly little about our grandfather.”

Chamelia blinked. “Tell me you knew his name at least.”

“Oh of course. It’s just that…” Mirage frowned. According to what Aunt Chrysalis recalled, their grandfather, Facere, had died fairly young in their lifetime. So young only Chrysalis had the most vivid recollections of him and even then… some of her recollections were actually educated guesses. “You were a fairly overwhelming presence in Mom’s and our Aunt’s lives. From what we were told, you took care of them while Facere was “away.” We think he was serving as a chevalier on missions.”

The older queen nodded. “You are right about him being away from the hive for a lot. Facere is… I trust him more than any other mate I have ever had in my life. He’s not only loyal, but highly capable, able to stay calm under situations where even I panic. He’s also highly respected amongst my drones.”

“Was he a good singer?” Kyria asked suddenly. “Our Aunts strongly remember a male changeling singing to them, but we’ve never been able to pinpoint who.”

“He’s not dead yet, young Kyria! But yes… he is an excellent singer. When he was courting me, he wrote me love songs, which he would sing, unabashedly, in front of every changeling. It’s one of the reasons I fell for him and took him as my mate for life.”

Kyria couldn’t help but squee at that, and even Mirage smiled wistfully.

“Speaking of which, how are my two granddaughters doing in that department? Assuming standards of beauty haven’t changed too drastically, I expect you two to be courted by some very handsome changelings.”

Changelings can’t blush, but the two sisters were… not very good at hiding their reactions to the question. Mirage’s prompt seizure of a piece of cave bread to fill her mouth was a dead giveaway. Kyria on the other hoof, moaned. “Grandma, really? You sound like… You sound like Dad!”

“Not your mother? I expect her to be eager for the continuation of her line,” Chamelia cackled.

Lips puckering into a pout, Kyria groaned. “Mom is used to having her relationships scrutinized by too many eyes and is very understanding. She doesn’t ask unless it’s important, or she notices something is wrong, and we don’t tell her unless we want to. Dad on the other hoof wants to be super-supportive. I mean… he snuck up on me during a date I had with Klause to ask if I needed insight into the male mind! I was so embarrassed!”

Chamelia could not help but cackle like a witch, which was only spurred on by Kyria’s attempts to burrow her head behind her hooves. Mirage couldn’t help but snigger as she recalled that memory.

“You can imagine how mortified I was when I found out he had ambushed Klause to ask if he needed advice on the female mind and on how to court changeling queens!” moaned Kyria.

Actively holding her stomach, Chamelia shook in mirth. “Oh, great Creator! My son-in-law sounds fantastic! Alternia, you chose excellently!” She smirked at Kyria. “So, tell me about Klause?”

“Well, he’s a…” Kyria abruptly clammed up, looking petrified and… from what Chamelia felt, a little more than scared.

Chamelia blinked. She wasn’t scared of whoever this “Klause” was. She could read when changelings were remembering someone they were scared of. No… if Chamelia had to guess, she had just realized something about her love.

“Oh, is he a pony?” asked Chamelia.

Kyria sighed and nodded because Klause was indeed a pony, a stallion she had met at Twilight’s School for Friendship. They’d hit it off right away and were soon about to celebrate their first anniversary.

“I am going to need some time to get used to this idea, but as long as he makes you happy, I am happy for you,” Chamelia said.

“Weren’t you considering integrating ponies and changelings with Celestia around this time?” Mirage asked.

Chamelia’s gaze whipped over to Mirage, eyes wide. “You know about that too?”

“Celestia is my godmother, well, one of them,” Mirage said, rather airily.

“Let’s not talk about that subject anymore because Celestia and I have only ever discussed that idea in jest just once,” Chamelia remarked. She took a sip from her drink. “Getting back to the topic at hoof, Mirage, tell me about your special changeling stallion,” she said, grinning, and looking increasingly like a fox.

Mirage swallowed, thought for a moment. “Mare actually.”

Chamelia blinked. “Pardon?”

“I am in a relationship with a changeling female. A very pretty female changeling called Furtiva,” Mirage said in a calm tone, glancing at her Grandmother. Her aunts and her Mother had told her that same-sex relations then were uncommon in the past, but accepted. Yet, the odd look her grandmother was giving her...

Chamelia seemed to realize that her granddaughter was staring at her, and shook her head. “Sorry, I have no qualms about your relationship. I am just extremely surprised because most young queens want to think about starting a family and securing their line early on, even before they ascend. In fact, the best way they can ensure they have the followers they need to start a new hive is by courting a male changeling and having a few changeling sons and daughters before leaving.”

“Oh, huh. I didn’t know that,” said Mirage. “But yeah… I am twenty-one now and Furtiva and I have been dating for five years. Ever since we finished—I mean, ever since we finished our warrior training.” Mirage pursed her lips. “I would like to show you my photo of her, but there are a few pieces of technology in it that would probably wreck the timestream.” This was because Mirage and Furtiva had taken the photograph in uniform, besides the airships that they commanded for the Royal Equestrian Airship Service.

“I can tell you that she has an infiltrators build, grey eyes and was quite a bit of a loner. She had difficulty trusting others and so was very shy. It took a while before she opened up to me.”

“Hence her name,” mused Chamelia.

“Yes, though, that was the name she chose for herself. Her parents were rogue changelings who lived alone until they were killed by pony fanatics.” Mirage cocked her head. “They called her Ophi, but we suspect that was a pet name.”

Chamelia sighed. “That’s unfortunate.” She frowned. “Hold on, if Alternia rules Equestria with Celestia and Luna… Oh Great Hive Mothers. How much love does she receive? How much love do you two receive?” Chamelia blinked and shook her head. “I think I will refrain from asking more questions, or thinking about the future for the moment.”

“How old are our Aunts, and Mother now?” Kyria blurted out.

The topic of her daughters made Chamelia smile contentedly. “Chrysalis is five years old now. Alternia is four and Simulacris and Belladonna are two and one respectively,” said Chamelia. “Chrysalis seems to be the bossiest daughter I have ever had. Even at five, she is already rounding them up, with Alternia as her loyal second in command.”

Mirage and Kyria shared a knowing glance. It was a little different in the future, but the two older sisters still tended to lead the pack.

“I suppose we could tell you this,” said Mirage. “As you know, all four of them are still alive and—” she blinked. “Chamelia?”

The older queen had risen to her hooves, her eyes wide.

“Grandmother? What's wrong?” asked Kyria, touching Chamelia's flank with a hoof.

“Follow me! Hurry!” screamed Chamelia. She opened a portal and galloped forward, diving in.

Kyria didn’t hesitate and dove in after her, Mirage following her closely. They arrived at what was a small nursery.

Was being the emphasis. It was ripped apart. Several changelings were dead, blood pooling into the carpeted floor. There were two cribs thrown aside, along with two beds whose sheets were flung away.

Crowding through the doorway were several changelings in mail. The changelings all had dark blue eyes and coal-colored carapaces. At the group’s head was a changeling queen with navy-blue hair and eyes. To Mirage and Kyria, she seemed older than Lamia, but younger than their mother and aunts. Not that that meant a lot due to how changeling queens age.

Facing them were the few turquoise-eyed changelings that were still standing, who had formed a line in front of a corner. They instantly brightened at the sight of Chamelia.

But for Mirage and Kyria, it was who was behind these changelings that held their attention. For in the corner, protected by their guards, and were four changeling queens.

Belladonna and Simulacris, still swathed in blankets were wailing uncontrollably, despite the best efforts of a four-year-old Alternia, who was frantically trying to hug and kiss them calm. Meanwhile, a five-year-old, Chrysalis, her green hair tied in an adorable braid, stood defensively between her sisters and the attackers.

It was she who screamed “Mom!” at the sight of Chamelia.

“It’s going to be alright,” said Chamelia, smiling grimly, her eyes fixed on the intruders. “As for you all, make your peace with the world, for I will remove you from it today.”

The queen sneered. “You will try, Chamelia.”

Bolts of blue magic struck Chamelia’s quickly-raised shield of green. Muttering murderously, Chamelia surrounded herself in a blaze of green magic and charged forward. The blue queen managed to just teleport aside, but a changeling who hadn’t managed to get out of the way was run over by the enraged mother, who trampled him under her hooves.

What was left wasn’t worth describing.

“Kyria, protect them, I’ll see if I can help,” hissed Mirage.

Kyria started. There was a detachment to her sister’s eyes. Her features were so cold, that she didn’t recognize her. It was so shocking, that Mirage had to give her a nudge.

“Move!” she hissed.

Nodding, Kyria galloped to the guards, who let her through to her younger aunts and mother.

“Hello, I’m… I’m your… I’m a friend of your mother’s,” said Kyria, smiling widely.

“You got Donna’s hair,” said Chrysalis, blinking.

“Yes I do,” said Kyria, glancing back to the battle raging behind her.

Chamelia and the strange queen were both surrounded by the blazing spheres of their own shields, throwing spells against one another. But the traitorous queen wasn’t fighting alone. Barrages of spells from the changelings smashed against Chamelia’s shield, which also had to hold against lances of white magic. It was keeping the scowling Chamelia fairly preoccupied.

Meanwhile, six changelings rushed Mirage, who moved forward, her horn blazing blue.

The princess was already thinking about her options and her next moves.

First, what were her weaknesses? The majority of her military training was either command or airship focused. Her peytral did have an emergency shield that would deploy automatically, but it could only activate twice a day before it drew on her love reserves, which were not infinite.

She was an excellent shot with her Wingcolt revolver and Lilyfield Carbine, but she didn’t have the carbine, and revealing the revolver was not a good idea at this time.

What did she have? Close Quarters Combat (CQC) and magic training developed in response to a series of catastrophic military failures that resulted in Equestria completely reevaluating, restructuring, and retraining their entire military. She wasn’t going to be winning any prolonged duels, but if she focused on taking her opponents out as quickly and as efficiently as she could…

The changelings were trying to come at her from different angles, and they all were putting up semi-circular magical shields in front of them. She had to wrong-foot them, and smash through their shields.

She leapt off of her right hooves, her wings gliding the rushing air, closing on the leading changeling to her right. His eyes widened, but in a practiced motion, he raised his shortsword to chop at her shoulder

As soon as he arched back, she fired a thin lance of magic right at his vulnerable head. It was simply a beam of force, but Mirage had practiced this spell many times, and had put a considerable amount of her power into it. She also had a very specific target.

The beam smashed through the shield, and slammed into the changeling’s head, whipping his head back and dispelling his shield. His eyes already rolling backward, and so he didn’t see her swing use her magic to swing her silver-handled cutlass.

The weapon’s honed edge smashed into his neck, and Mirage could hear the soft crunch of carapace giving way. It took little effort on her part to hack at his neck again, but she had to yank at the blade. It had got caught in the flesh and broken shell.

The changeling slumped to the ground with a thud, but the princess was already moving on the second changeling.

This changeling paused, eyes wide at what had happened to her comrade, but she was snarling and raising her short spear in front of her. Her shield glowed even brighter as she poured more magic into it.

Mirage didn’t try to duel her. She knew she didn’t have the more advanced weapons training they had.

Instead, she flexed the muscles in her right legs once again, and twisted her body at right angles to her momentum. Her target was one of the changelings trying to surround her, away from the spear-wielder. He’d just dropped his shield, his horn glowing as he was trying to cast some kind of spell. The changelings were yelling in warning, but Mirage didn’t listen. Her eyes were on the targeted changeling, who cut his spell off and used his magic to swing his axe, the blade scything through the air towards her barrel.

She’d intercepted his blow with her cutlass, pushing her blade downward to deflect the axehead away from her. The hit was hard, but she only momentarily felt a pinch at her horn’s base.

As she planned, she braced her rear legs, flapped her wings, and pushed herself off of the ground. One part of her mind focused on keeping her opponent’s axe pinned, as she breathed in, and pulled her forelegs back.

Before she suddenly snapped them forward with her exhale and felt her horse shoes briefly halt, before they suddenly overcame the soft resistance that was the smaller changeling’s face.

The changeling staggered back, its legs almost crumpling beneath it, whilst green blood poured from its noses. Moaning incoherently, the changeling backed away, the dark blue glow around his axe fading as it dropped toward the floor.

Mirage immediately seized the axe, surrounding it with her bright blue magic, and swung. The axehead curved upward in an arc, and came slicing down, into the changeling’s head. Mirage didn’t even need to use much of her magic to break through the carapace. Momentum and the sharpened axehead split the skull easily, though, it didn’t actually kill the changeling.

Still, he was screaming, backing away, but Mirage wouldn’t let him. It required a bit more power but she easily lifted the mortally wounded soldier up, and with a flick of her head, threw him at his comrades.

The four remaining changelings split. Two diving right, two diving left, buzzing their wings to get out of the way. They narrowly dodged the thrown changeling, and quickly landed, but didn’t charge her. Rather, they inched back together, slowly, all their weapons raised in guard. Their breaths were quick, eyes fixed on Mirage, and the princess could sense their trepidation, and fear.

“Group up! She’s not like other queens! She’s not going to go with fancy sorcery!” snapped one of the changelings, the spear wielder.

Mirage couldn’t help but smirk. Well that explained why they had split themselves up. They must have thought she was going to be fighting more like her aunts, or her mother, using powerful, area-of-effect spells to smash through their group.

“Get a group shield up, hurry!” snapped the changeling officer, and the four’s horns glowed as they layered semi-circular shields on top of one another.

Mirage took the opportunity to examine her remaining opponents. Two changelings had shortswords. One had a spear, and the other a short-hafted poleaxe. She could see them tense, and their eyes were on the spear-wielding changeling, who must be their group’s officer.

If they thought she couldn’t do fancy magic, well that was going to cost them dearly.

First, she had to take out the officer.

Luckily, modern experiments with shielding spells and layered shielding spells had revealed a weakness which Mirage could exploit. Semi-directional shielding spells, like the one that these changelings were employing against her, were easier to cast and so could be stronger against magical attacks. These changelings probably knew this, which is why they were casting these shields and layering them to try to block her piercing spells.

However, modern shield experiments had revealed that semi-directional shield spells didn’t actually block certain spells that didn’t require a physical magical connection.

To put it bluntly, Mirage could actually grab the caster behind an unenclosed shield with a levitation spell.

That, was precisely what Mirage did. Eyes focused on the changeling officer, she took a deep breath and focused her magic into her horn. A blue glow surrounded the officer, whose mouth opened to warn her comrades, but the princess wasn’t going to let them react.

She yanked the officer to the left, smashing her into the soldier to her right. He staggered, dropping his shield spell. The officer struggled against Mirage’s grip, and dropped her shield to try to surround herself with her own magic. The effort made Mirage grunt, but she managed to yank the officer right, pulling her into the rest of her group. They were moving, but flailing legs got tangled and they were flipped over.

Mirage dropped the officer back on the ground, and before they could all recover and put their shields back up, she fired another spell—an overcharged piercing spell—which smacked into the officer’s barrel.

The blue magic hit the changeling with a thunk and the officer screamed. Holding onto her forward barrel, she collapsed to the ground, dropping her spear.

Although Mirage winced at her opponent’s dying cry, she was already making her next move. Funnelling magic through her horn, she seized the changeling with her magic, and moved her to block two of the changelings. She briefly remembered how disgusted she once was when employing such a tactic, but the fact of the matter was, she was outnumbered and she could not afford to squander an advantage.

Still, Mirage felt a tremor of discomfort buzz through her as she faced the changeling on her exposed side. Said changeling was roaring in fury, and charged at Mirage, levelling a wickedly sharp, short-hafted poleaxe.

Mirage quickly seized the fallen officer’s spear with her magic, and swiped it at the changeling’s legs. To her credit, the charging changeling managed to jump into the air, her wings buzzing her over the spear.

However, Mirage scythed the spear’s head upward and back down, applying more magic onto the shaft of the weapon. The weapon slammed onto the changeling’s polearm and snapped in half, making Mirage grunt as the feedback pinged back into her horn.

Still, the weight of the blow also made the changeling stagger, and she stumbled back. The princess used that opening to throw a horrendous hack with her cutlass. The blade sank into the wide-eyed changeling’s side. Without hesitation, Mirage ripped the blade out and hacked again, this time at the changeling’s neck.

The blade shuddered, briefly, at the hit, and Mirage winced as she yanked it out, but she hadn’t the time to be remorseful. She moved, shifting her attention back to the last two soldiers. They were both armed with shortswords and were rushing her. One had raised their sword to hack at her.

Kyria had been staring at her sister with wide eyes and her mouth was agape. Not that she noticed. Most of her just felt… like she wanted to throw up.

She’d never seen her sister in combat before and now she saw it, she wished she hadn’t. There hadn’t been a moment of hesitation as Mirage either killed, or mauled every one of those changelings.

The sight of the two changelings rushing at Mirage made Kyria curse under her breath and she charged her horn. A flame spell would do, it would torch them and…

It might kill them.

Kyria hesitated watching as the changelings rushed her sister. Indecision gripped her muscles like ice.

“Mirage! Look out!”

But even before the first words of her warning were out, Mirage had grabbed the moaning changeling in her magic. Lifting the bleeding changeling, she threw him at one of the two remaining soldiers. For the other, she fired a fist of magic at the other changeling.

The magical “punch” was blocked by a hastily raised shield, which prompted Mirage to switch targets. She went for the entangled changeling, and began to hack, cutlass falling, and rising.

Kyria briefly shut her eyes as the changeling screamed for mercy, but Mirage ripped his now dead comrade off of him and finished him off with a brutal stab – somewhere into his head because Kyria had looked away— and her sister was now turning to face the last soldier.

The last soldier was hysterical. Being surrounded by the bodies of your dead comrades would do that to any creature. He was now throwing wild, desperate swings at her sister.

Mirage parried them with her cutlass, her features stoic as her blade blocked a slash, from the shortsword. She twisted her cutlass to block a second cut, then fired another beam of magic that hit the changeling’s shoulder and cut the soldier’s leg so deeply, Kyria swore she could see bone.

The changeling, roaring in agony, charged Mirage. She stepped in, and swung down with her cutlass, forcing the stabbing shortsword aside. She also, used her forehooves to frame off her opponent and guide her charge out of the way. Out of position, the soldier tried to spin around, but Mirage hacked down on the soldier’s back, once, twice.

Kyria stared as her sister trotted to her, green liquid dripping down her cutlass.

“Kyria, get back to the children,” Mirage ordered, a cold sharpness to her voice.

Kyria nearly did run to the children, but the magical battle behind Mirage… made her stand her ground. “But I want to help and Gr-Chamelia needs our help!”

Mirage grimaced and her eyes narrowed as she examined the battle once more.

Chamelia and the unknown queen were locked in a beam war. It wasn’t like the one their mother and Chrysalis had engaged in at the Canterlot wedding. Rather, the two queens (and the changelings trying to support the unknown queen) were throwing spells at each other to try to whittle each other’s shield down. Bolts of lightning. Fireballs. Beams of light. It looked like a fireworks display gone wild.

Yet, there was a degree of control to the fight. Chamelia was striking at both the changelings and the unknown queen, but all were avoiding hitting the cave. Nobody wanted to trigger a collapse.

Everything in Mirage’s training told her to order her sister out of here, but she knew that while she had spells, they’d need all the magical firepower they had for this.

“Do exactly what I say. You’re going to help me shield us because you can’t shield us and cast spells at the same time. The moment your emergency shield goes up, you disengage. Understood?” Mirage hissed.

“Yes, Mirage!” Kyria squeaked.

“Good.” A blue magical sphere surrounded them. Kyria did the same, putting her shield over Mirage’s. However, as Kyria stepped forward Mirage pushed her back.

“Stay behind me,” her sister ordered. Kyria nodded, and the two advanced.

Luckily, Chamelia and the unknown queen and her allies were so focused on trying to hit each other, and not the remnants of the nursery, they didn’t notice Mirage and Kyria advancing on them.

“Brace yourself,” whispered Mirage. Taking a breath, she conjured a fireball outside of their shields and fired it at the shield of the unknown queen and her allies.

The bolt hit the shield, but it held and while a few of the changelings winced, the queen gave the two an unamused look, before firing two bolts of lightning.

Kyria thought she was ready for this, but the force of the impacts drove spikes of pain into her forehead.

“Hold it, Kyria!” Mirage hissed.

“I know! The power of an ascended queen is not to be trifled with,” Kyria stammered.

Mirage’s reply was a humourless chuckle, and threw a beam of magic that slammed into unknown queen’s shield. It was unfortunately retaliated with two blasts of magic.

Kyria winced as the blasts slammed into her shield, but to her relief, Chamelia took the opportunity to return fire and force the queen to focus on her shield. This allowed Mirage to add another beam. Still, the unknown queen’s shield held, supported by the five changelings that backed her up.

Yet, they had bought themselves enough time. Turquoise-eyed changelings were pouring into the nursery. They immediately started throwing spells at the intruders’ shield.

The queen snarled and opened a portal in her shield. Chamelia, Mirage, Kyria, and the changeling guards continued to try to overwhelm the shields, causing it to crack, flake, but it held just long enough for the queen and her changelings to flee.

Chamelia fired one last spell that shot through the portal that hit the queen, but it didn’t stop her from racing through and snapping the portal shut.

“Is it over?” Kyria asked.

“No. Not in the slightest,” hissed Chamelia. Breathing out, she cantered to where her children were, huddling behind their remaining guards.

“Mommy!” cried Chrysalis, darting out past her niece - not that she knew about it - she barrelled into her mother.

Alternia was a little slower, and shakier, but she quickly threw her hooves around her mother.

“They’re not hurt,” said Kyria levitating a whimpering Belladonna and Simulacris into Chamelia’s magic. She coddled them, cooing at the babies, whilst nuzzling her daughters.

“We’ll find them, G-Camelia,” said Mirage.

“I know we will.” Chamelia let out a deep sigh, and glanced between her granddaughters. “Girls, this is Mirage and Kyria, they’re friends.”

Kyria’s eyes widened. “Chamelia, I don’t think that’s a-” Her grandmother silenced her by shoving Belladonna into Kyria’s grasp.

“Kyria and Mirage are very common changeling names, so you need not worry. In fact, one of my older sisters was called Mirage,” whispered Chamelia.

Mirage was honestly more surprised that Chamelia was introducing them to her precious daughters, and pursed her lips as she tried to digest this trust.

Kyria frowned. “Kyria’s a changeling name? Mom named me because she thought it sounded nice.”

Feeling a little odd, Mirage frowned. “That’s what I was told too. Mom said that she always thought those names felt comforting to her.”

The three glanced at each other, and then back to the children, who were looking awestruck at Mirage and Kyria’s silver regalia, and the two young queens.

“Ki… Kria?” asked Alternia, trying to sound the words.

“It’s Keer ria, Alternia,” said Chrysalis slowly, in a bossy tone.

“Ohhhh, thanks Chryssy,” said Alternia.

Chrysalis beamed, before rising to her hooves and bowing to Kyria and Mirage. “Thank you, Kyria, and Mi… Mirage.”

Mirage had to swallow at the sight, and avert her gaze. “Thank your guards little one.”

“Yes Mirage!” said Chrysalis, she trotted off to the exhausted changeling guards, whilst Mirage discreetly blocked the children from the view of the few dead changelings in the room.

“I’ll deal with this, you and Kyria comfort them,” said Mirage, a lump in her throat as she glanced at the corpses.

Chamelia, nodded tiredly, but her eyes were slightly narrowed. “We will talk later.”

The two sisters were sat back in Chamelia’s chambers. She had, after a lot of effort, put their future aunts and mother to bed, and was now pacing across her room.

Mirage and Kyria exchanged a look, it was eerie how much their mother was like her own mother, especially when they were pacing.

Chamelia suddenly met the sisters with a narrow-eyed look. “Mirage, Kyria, you need to tell me if something like this happened in the future. I know the timeline is at stake but—”

“That’s the thing, we haven’t heard of something like this happening from our parents. I’d think they would have told us if they remembered, but they never did,” Mirage said.

The elder queen nodded. “Alright, but I assume that you two aren’t averse to continue working with me to resolve this incident?”

Kyria sighed. “No, but… Grandmother, I’ve had no formal military training. I was taught to defend myself, and if necessary, survive hostile environments. I do know some attack spells, but they’re basic. My shields are better, and I know some medical-related spells, and I have a well… a special weapon for last resort. But I’m… there’s a reason Mirage told me to stay back.”

Mirage nudged her sister. “Kyria, don’t blame yourself for that. You’re a civvie-civilian, not a soldier. Besides, you did help me out when you could, and I also asked you to stay back I wanted the option of you casting a portal to get the young ones out.”

Kyria nodded and then frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me to open a portal immediately?”

Mirage arched an eyebrow. “Really. You really need to ask the dangers of being immobile in the middle of a battle after THAT you-know-what incident?”

Kyria frowned, thought for a moment, and remembered how her mother nearly died mid-portal because Chrysalis chucked a spear at her while she was forced to remain stationary. “Oh! Right, sorry.”

“No formal combat training? But you are nearly seventeen years old. Would you not need some military training to survive going out on your own?” Chamelia asked.

The younger changeling queen groaned. “Can’t say, future-stuff.”

“I do have formal military training,” said Mirage cooly.

“I noticed that. What manner of training?” Chamelia asked, her eyes narrowing.

“Sorcery, spellcasting, some close-quarters combat—” Mirage swallowed as her grandmother’s glare seemed to sharpen. “But mostly command training and training with a weapon that I can’t use in this time, unless in extreme situations. That same… special weapon Kyria mentioned.”

Chamelia frowned. “Your grandmother’s hive was under attack, your mother and aunts nearly kidnapped and that wasn’t extreme enough for you?”

Mirage took a deep breath and met her grandmother’s gaze. “Grandmother, as we’ve mentioned before, we are from far, far in the future. So far that weapons technology has advanced to such an extent that should we let you see our weapons… it’d rewrite the military paradigm.”

The older queen held the younger’s gaze for a moment, before nodding. “I understand. Still, that means you two are staying at the hive.”

Mirage grimaced but nodded.

“But grandmother! You’ll be—”

Chamelia sighed. “Kyria, I want you here to provide additional protection to your mothers and aunts while we are busy with this. Also, I know you may want to fight this intruder, but you have no formal combat training.” The elderly queen’s gaze rested on Mirage. “As for you, Mirage—”

“Oh, I understand why. I probably don’t have the right kind of training to participate in the battles of your era,” Mirage said quietly.

“That was not what I was going to say,” Chamelia said. Her eyes narrowed, and Mirage could sense her grandmother was feeling rather curious. “I was going to say I have never seen a changeling fight like you do. Where did you learn this… close-quarters-combat style of yours, and what exactly does it entail?”

Mirage blinked and averted her gaze. “I can’t tell you too much as it involves the future. I can tell you though that it was part of my formal military training. It focuses on disabling or killing an enemy as quickly as possible.”

Chamelia modded. “I noticed that. You cast spells but they were simple, and cast with a focus on speed.”

“I know more complex spells, but…I’m not an ascended queen. I don’t quite have that power to use, and… while I can fight in close quarters, it’s not my forte. If the battle is drawn out… I might have difficulties keeping up,” Mirage said.

Chamelia nodded. “Alright. If that is the case, and since you do have these… special weapons… I can think of no better place for you both to be than here, protecting your future.”

“Yes, Grandmother,” said Mirage.

“Yes, Grandma,” sighed Kyria.

“Thank you.” Chamelia frowned. “I do wonder how would you start a hive without being able to defend yourself from rival queens? I mean, just because your mother rules Equestria, doesn’t mean there won’t be any queens to challenge you, or any other manner of threats to contend with,” Chamelia said.

“Reasons. Future reasons,” said Kyria. She knew her smile was far too wide, and that her sister was groaning, but what could she do?

Their grandmother muttered mutinously, “I am getting rather tired of those words. Anyway, I’m calling a Queens Council meeting to mobilize my allies against this rogue queen. But right now, we should all get some sleep.”

Author's Note

Feel free to check out my blog on how I wrote the prologue to Equestria's Changeling Princesses:
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/887283/writing-equestrias-changeling-princesses-and-the-kinsbane-part-2-prologue

Chapter 4: A Posse of Queens

Sleep had not come easily to either Mirage or Kyria. It did come easier to the older changeling queen as she was used to getting sleep in tense situations. Still, the thought that her mother nearly fell into the hooves of some unknown changeling queen didn’t help.

The next day, after a quick breakfast, Chamelia had shown the pair to the hive’s armory. Which… well, Mirage couldn’t help but grimace at. The armory was fantastic, and just plain weird.

Oh, every weapon was polished, stored properly in a dry environment, and clearly well-kept, but to the young changeling queen, they all looked like... brilliant museum pieces.

“Is everything here to your satisfaction, young queens?” asked the changeling guard that had accompanied them, and stayed behind as Chamelia left.

“Kind of, I’m familiar with these, but I’m not sure what to choose,” said Mirage, examining a sword.

The changeling nodded, buzzed over and looked at it, before frowning. “What do you normally use.”

Mirage was about to say that she normally carried a Wingcolt revolver and a Lilyfield Carbine, but that would not have gone over well. It would probably blow this poor changeling’s mind.

Luckily, she did have her cutlass and taking it out from her peytral, she hoofed it over to him.

The changeling took one in his magic and stared at them, eyes wide. “Astounding craftsmanship and… it’s entirely of one steel piece. Some very nice spells too.” He glanced up. “I suppose this will be your main weapon.”

“Yes. I’m looking for something… to augment my arsenal. I mainly use spells and the cutlass, but something… a little more defensive perhaps?” asked Mirage.

“Why not wear more armor?” asked the changeling.

Mirage shook her head. “No time to get a set crafted. Besides, my peytral has got an emergency shield spell that wards against physical, temperature, mind control, and teleportation spells. But since it’s an emergency use only… I need something to help me protect others.”

“Well then, I have only one answer.” The changeling flew off for a moment, buzzing through the vast collection of weapons, he picked something up from the back and returned.

Mirage narrowed her eyes. “A shield.”

“Steel construction, with rawhide covering. It’ll deflect most crossbows and keep you safe. It’s also enchanted to resist damaging spells,” said the changeling brightly.

Mirage thought about it and nodded, taking the kite-shield in her magic and fastening it to her back. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. And what about you, young queen? You seem very interested in that halberd,” said the changeling.

Kyria nodded. “My… my mother uses one. I’m alright with it, but…” She levitated it and whirled it. “I’m not sure about the balance.”

“Hmm, why don’t you try this?” The changeling hefted over a short-hafted poleaxe, which Kyria gave an experimental twirl.

“Oh. Much better. Thank you very much! What’s your name by the way?”

“Facere, your highness.”

Both queens did a double-take.

“Sorry, did you say Facere?” asked Mirage.

“Mm-hmm. I’m Chamelia’s consort,” said the changeling.

Kyria stared. “How… how are you so… calm? Someone tried to kidnap your daughters.”

“Why thank you… That being said, I’m not taking this well at all. It’s why I’m smiling so widely,” said Facere.

Mirage and Kyria both glanced at each other, and back to the smiling changeling. He… He looked almost average, but his smile… his fanged smile, was just far too set. And once they focused their senses, they realized that the air in the armory wasn’t the chill they were feeling. It was Facere’s cold rage.

“That being said, my daughters are safe, and I’m very happy that Alternia’s daughters are such beautiful changeling queens,” said Facere, sincerely.

Kyria frowned. “How did you-, Oh, grandmother told you over your mental link?”

“Communication is the key to any relationship. Do tell me my daughter taught you that at least,” said Facere.

“Oh she did,” said Mirage. She gingerly flew closer to Facere and wrapped her hooves around him. “I’m very glad to finally meet you, grandfather.”

“Glad to meet you too, Mirage.” He glanced over his shoulder and extended a hoof, beckoning Kyria over. She didn’t hesitate.

“I must be very very dead in the future, right?” asked Facere, releasing the two.

Mirage and Kyria glanced at one another and sighed, simultaneously.

“Well, we were born… a long time after you died.”

“Well, yeah. Your cutlass and regalia are forged in a way I simply can’t pinpoint, and the enchantments are so advanced, it’s like looking at a different language,” said Facere. He shrugged. “That and considering how long changeling queens live… well my chances don’t look so good.”

“All the same, we’re really glad to have met you, grandfather,” said Kyria smiling.

“I can tell. Come here,” said Facere, looping his much smaller legs around the pair again.

Mirage and Kyria sat quietly behind Chamelia. They were disguised as ordinary drones, but they were in full “notice-me-not” mode.

Mirage had a “boulder” act was in full swing and was doing her best to remain completely forgettable. Kyria was smiling, acting a little more natural, but mostly just listening to those talking around her.

After all, they were witnessing… a council meeting of legends.

In their time, Chrysalis, Alternia, Simulacris, Belladonna, Murmillar, Retariusil, and six other queens that were daughters of Belladonna and Chrysalis (including Lamia), had formed the Queens Summit. They were all queens of hives that were part of the Commonwealth of Equestria, or affiliated with them. And they had all formed this new Queens Summit because the friction between her mother and her aunts and other relatives had grown so fierce that a separate council had been formed In total, they sported twelve members.

The Queens Council of the future, composed of the old guard of changeling queens, was composed of about twenty different queens, led by the elderly queen Sarar. It had once been a very powerful and influential body, but with the split, and the founding of the Queens Summit, the Council’s influence had waned. This wasn’t helped by the increased prosperity of the members of the Queens Summit, thanks to Equestrian backing. From what Kyria heard, the Council was on the verge of collapse and were constantly bickering.

Yet, in complete contrast to the present day, the current gathering was marked by a mutual respect that the sisters had never seen before. Yes, Chamelia was seated at the head of only around fifteen queens. According to their grandmother, their rivals didn’t often attend, though, they knew of the meeting. This could have explained the atmosphere.

Still, the gathering seemed intimate, a group of friends having a get-together. It was a serious one, but a get together regardless. Rather than the constant bickering that plagued the future Queens Council, they were quietly chatting with one another and partaking in the honeyed fruit bats, and other changeling snacks that were served.

“I call this meeting to session,” declared Chamelia.

Instantly, all the queens quieted and regarded her with silent respect. Mirage and Kyria had at first, wondered how was it possible for the Queens Council to meet so quickly. That was when they found out that the queens all traveled together, helping each other teleport across the vast distances through pre-set meeting points where they could combine their magic and travel together.

It was basically a massive teleportation carriage-pool that crisscrossed Equestria until all the queens who wanted to attend had arrived at Chamelia’s hive. A cooperative effort the future Queens Council would have been incapable of pulling off due to the mistrust between the members.

Both sisters listened quietly as Chamelia took a breath and glanced at the white-carapaced, pink-eyed changeling queen beside her.

Kyria frowned. The pink-eyed queen looked… familiar.

“I have terrible news. As I mentioned in the communication crystal. There was an attack on my hive and four of my newest queen-daughters were nearly killed. I am sure though that you all have noticed that I neglected to mention who was responsible.”

“Who was responsible, sister?” asked an older queen, who looked almost identical to Chamelia, aside from having black hair.

Chamelia grimaced. “That’s the problem Tomoe, I’m afraid we don’t know the answer. All I know is that I’ve yet to see this queen before.” Focusing her magic, she created a fiery image of the queen with blue hair.

The council broke out in whispers, but… oddly enough, there was no shouting. The room now reeked of muddled and swirling confusion.

“So, to confirm, nobody recognizes her?” Chamelia asked.

Every queen “ayed.”

“Thank you,” said Chamelia, without questioning or oddly enough to Mirage and Kyria, any hint of suspicion.

One of the queens raised her hoof. To Mirage, who had attended one of the Queens Council meetings before, she looked oddly like Kleis Patra, one of the other queens in her time. Perhaps she was an ancestor

“Nefertiti.”

“What aid can we lend you, cousin? I can mobilize a company of my best chevaliers, ready to move out at your request.”

“Here here! If you need the Horde, then you only need to ask,” yelled a muscular queen.

Chamelia smiled, and raised her hoof, quieting the group. “Borte, I don’t doubt that you would muster your hive.” She turned to the rest of the council. “As with all of you, friends, family, thank you. Your aid would be most welcome. However, since the threat seems to be from but one queen, I will only ask that Sarar and Thera assist me in tracking this queen down. In the meantime, you all should put your hives on alert, in case this queen switches targets.”

Sarar? Current leader of the Queens Council, Sarar? She’s here? Thought Mirage, searching the room. But before she could find her, a red-haired queen raised her hoof.

“Hatshepsut.”

The queen nodded in thanks. “With respect, Chamelia, Queen Sarar is…she tried to kill you once. Queen Thera is beyond reproach and skilled, but would Sarar be able to help you with such a delicate task?”

I heard something about Sarar not being trusted from aunty Chrysalis and mom… thought Kyria, her eyes searching the room. But try as she might, she couldn’t see any changeling that might resemble her.

“Which is why she serves under me, Hatshepsut. But I thank you for your concern.”

A white queen with pink eyes raised her hoof. She was seated directly to Chamelia’s right, and while she seemed shorter, and more slender than the other queens, Mirage found herself admiring her poise.

“Thera?” asked Chamelia.

Mirage and Kyria nearly started.

“Is that…” murmured Mirage.

“That’s Thera, the Great Hive Mother Atracina's daughter! Queen Kagura’s mother, and apparently one of grandmother’s best friends!” hissed Kyria.

“If it would comfort you, Hatshepsut, Queen Sarar has been a very willing vassal and has been working very hard to deal with the Diamond Dog incursions near the Ghastly Gorge. It’s why she couldn’t make it to this meeting.”

“And likely because she didn’t want to see your ugly mug, Hatshepsut!” cackled an even older queen with orange hair.

“Vittoria!” gasped Chamelia, in mock outrage.

“Whaaat,” whined Vittoria, “Hatshepsut knows I don’t mean it.” She batted her eyelashes at the red-haired queen.

“No goodbye kiss,” said Hatshepsut, in a mock pout.

The other queens snorted, chuckling to themselves.

After a moment, Borte raised her hoof. “Alright then, Chamelia, unless there is anything further to discuss, I vote that we shall mobilize our forces immediately and leave Chamelia to her preparations.”

All the other council members quickly and firmly said Yay. There were no abstentions or nays.

“So, Queen Chamelia, what is the plan?” Kyria asked, once they were alone in Chamelia’s private chambers.

The older queen chuckled. “All in good time. But first, I will be introducing you to Queen Thera and Queen Sarar, who are going to be integral parts of my strategy.”

Mirage blinked. “Would we be introduced as queens or drones? We… we know of Sarar from where we are from.”

Chamelia nodded, looking rather thoughtful. “As queens, but if that’s the case, you should remain in your drone disguise when in front of Sarar. I think the best cover story would be for you to say you are my granddaughters from one of my chevaliers, and were thrown out from your mother’s hive. Let’s call her… Queen Belinda.”

“Wait, thrown out? That seems oddly convenient,” Mirage said, frowning.

The expression, full of suppressed regret, that Chamelia showed the two sisters was not one they’d ever thought they would see. “It’s a far more common practice for less talented queen daughters than one might expect. After all, queen daughters do take a part of their mother’s hive with them when they ascend. They don’t have to, but changelings will undoubtedly swear their loyalty to even a talentless daughter in hopes of finding new feeding grounds and new positions of power.”

“What. Are you serious?” squeaked Kyria.

“I am afraid so. It would have been my first theory on why I have not heard of this blue-haired queen, but it would have been difficult for her to survive the first few years on her own,” said Chamelia.

There was a knock on the door, and Kyria and Mirage swallowed.

“Come in,” said Chamelia.

A changeling queen pushed through the door and stalked, much like a cat does to a mouse, into the room. Kyria shuffled behind her sister, whilst Mirage stiffened at the far younger future head of the Queens Council. To her surprise, she seemed just as large in size as she was in the future, but far younger. Her mane was cropped short, just under her jaw really. Her large wings looked far less ragged. Still, her carapace bore several white lines, old scars.

Chamelia smiled. “Sarar.”

“Queen Chamelia,” said Sarar, her tone unreadable. “You should ask these two to leave.”

“Sarar, these two changelings will be assisting us for this,” Chamelia said.

The queen fixed Mirage and Kyria with a glare. “These two grubs?”

Kyria merely averted her gaze, whilst Mirage couldn’t help but meet Sarar’s glare. Sometimes she really wished she had her sister’s disposition of laying low.

The older queen sighed. “I shall explain when Thera arrives.”

At that, Sarar nodded respectfully, just as there was another knock on the door.

“Thera, is that you?” Chamelia asked.

The white queen trotted in, shaking her pink hair out of her eyes. “Who else?” She met Chamelia with a tight embrace.

“So now that Thera is here, can you finally tell us why you have decided to include two drones in our discussion?” Sarar asked, glaring at the sisters.

Mirage bit the inside of her lip to keep her mouth shut, while she glanced at both queens. To be honest, she was more worried about Queen Thera. They would be spending the most time with her. To make matters worse, from the little their aunts and mother remembered about her, Thera was notoriously smart.

The old queen gestured to the two. “Thera, Sarar, these are my granddaughters, Mirage and Kyria. They were banished from their hive and in return for safe passage, will be assisting me.”

“It is very nice to meet you both,” said Kyria, bowing.

Mirage also bowed, she actually bowed so low she nearly kissed the ground, but she thought it was appropriate. Kyria, noticing her sister was doing so, mirrored her.

“How do you know you can trust them?” Sarar asked, frowning at the sisters.

“They helped me fight off the unknown queen and protected my daughters from her minions,” said Chamelia.

“Are they queen daughters?” Thera asked. “I suppose you disguised yourselves as drones to ensure you do not get spotted by the other queens.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” said Mirage, raising her head, just a little.

Sarar narrowed her eyes briefly at the pair, but turned her attention back to Chamelia. “So, what is the plan, Chamelia?”

“You and I will lead a force to search the unknown queen. I managed a last tracking spell on her. It will wear off in time, but given how young she seems to be, the portal exit she made couldn’t have been made too far away.” She turned to Mirage and Kyria. “You both in the meantime will stay with Queen Thera to guard my daughters.”

“Are you sure, grandmother? Would it not be safer to at least take me along?” Mirage asked.

“What can you do that Sarar would not be able to, Mirage?” Chamelia asked.

Mirage swallowed at the stern expression on her grandmother’s features and bowed her head. She could fight, but all of her training, it was for a war that would not be fought until more than a thousand years later.

“Sorry. I’m just worried.”

“And I appreciate that, but while I may be old, I have many, many years of combat experience, Mirage,” said Chamelia. She glanced at Sarar and Thera. “Are we in agreement, ladies?”

“I am,” said Sarar.

“I am,” said Thera.

Chamelia smirked, a smirk rather familiar to Mirage and Kyria, who for a moment, wondered if they were looking at their mother.

“Then we shall make this queen regret crossing us.”

Chapter 5: Sisterly Screaming

Chamelia and Sarar left the hive the very next day. They took with them nearly a thousand changelings, a good fourth of the hive’s fighting strength.

Kyria wasn’t sure what to think about it. Her grandmother had given her daughters a nuzzle and a brief hug before she went to her forces, but aside from that, seemed to give an almost casual goodbye. She had spent the night with Facere, but that seemed to be the only overt sign of worry.

“Why did she… why was grandmother so casual about saying goodbye?” Kyria asked Mirage later as they trotted to meet with Thera.

Mirage shrugged. “People have different ways of saying bye, Kyria. Some keep it casual as a promise that they will be back. Others want to keep it casual because they’d rather not be awkward about it. Then there are those who want to get a little teary-eyed.” She paused, lips curled. “For Furtiva and I, we sleep together.”

“Too much information, sister!”

“I am not referring to that kind of bedroom activity! I mean what I said. We just lie in bed together, talking until we fall asleep,” said Mirage, more than a little cross. Suddenly, she blinked and halted for a second, before continuing to walk.

“Mirage? Are you alright?” Kyria asked.

“No. I miss her, but there is nothing I can do about it.” Mirage blinked and wiped her eyes, before setting her gaze on the corridor in front of her. “Come on, we have a meeting with Thera and you best focus, or we will end up blabbing our shared secret.”

Kyria didn’t immediately follow her sister. She just stared at her marching forward,with her head held high.

“Mirage, perhaps we… we can talk about that though? In private? I mean… I miss Klause too.”

“There’s nothing to talk about, Kyria. We…” Mirage grumbled and yanked Kyria down the corridor until they reached one of the storage closets. Practically shoving Kyria in, she shut the door and cast charms to prevent them from being listened on.

The younger changeling princess glared at her sister. “Yes, I know we can’t do anything to get back to the future, but it’s not a bad idea to talk about what we miss.”

“Kyria, I do best by keeping busy. If you want to talk then find—Oh.” Mirage sighed. “You need to vent, don’t you?”

Kyria sniffled. “... Perhaps? I mean… you don’t have to listen to me now, I just… I well, ever since we got trapped here in the past we…”

“Kyria, we don’t have time to cry about it right now. Someone is trying to kill our mother and our aunts -” Mirage swallowed down her groan as her she saw tears leak down from her sister’s shut eyelids. “Kyria, please… keep it together. We can cry about it later, but Thera’s expecting us.”

“And some queen in the past is more important than your sister!”

“Yes! Because if we don’t work with her, our mother and our aunts might die! So stop being selfish and work with me here!” Mirage snapped.

Kyria glared at Mirage, not even bothering to wipe her tears. “Well if you’re so eager to work then just go! Leave us like you always do!”

“Leave? Leave you like -” Mirage growled under her breath. “I am a member of the Royal Equestrian Airship Navy, and mom’s heir! I have responsibilities like our mom! At least you got to spend time with her because you were born second!”

The younger princess blinked, “You’re… jealous of me because I was born second and got to spend more time with mom?”

“Of course! But right now, that is not as important as saving our future!” snapped Mirage. She gripped the door with her magic, but Kyria’s horn glowed and stopped her from opening it.

“Oh we are not finished yet! Do you think it was fun watching her worry about you? Do you think it was fun knowing that you are the spare in the family? That she loves your absent, more talented older sister better than she ever could love you?”

Mirage gaped at Kyria, because she honestly didn’t know how to respond, and because part of her knew her sister was right. For while Alternia always did her best to show she loved both of her daughters, Mirage knew that her mother did love her more.

She needed to get out.

“Kyria, you and I both need a moment. We’ll talk about this later,” said Mirage.

Kyria snorted at the repressed anger in her sister’s tone. “Oh go ahead, walk away. That’s all you’re good at. That and being a terrible liar—”

What little control that Mirage had snapped and she spun around and stomped right up to her sister, her nose so close it was practically touching.

“A liar? What in Tartarus are you talking about—”

“You nearly died when on that mission and you didn’t think to tell me? Your only sister!” Kyria screamed.

Mirage flinched her fury suddenly doused with cold shame. “I thought I could spare you that knowledge—”

Kyria could sense that shame, but she was far, far too angry to give two thoughts to it. “Spare me? You were afraid to tell me! I can sense that clear as day, and yet you still won’t tell me the truth! What are you trying to do? Be a poor impersonation of our mother and for what—”

“Will you, shut up!” roared Mirage. She advanced on her sister, all thoughts of guilt gone as she screamed at her so loudly, she felt her throat crack.

“Do have any idea of how much danger we are in? Chamelia is our grandmother but she’s also a changeling queen! If we embarrass or blow it in front of her allies—or worse—her rivals, who do you think she will choose? Then there’s the fact we know next to nothing about this goddamn time and my military training is practically useless! Oh and that’s not even mentioning someone’s out to kill our mother and our aunts, and if they succeed, the best case is that THEY DIE and the worst case is that we cease to fucking exist!”

“I know that too! I am here right now with you!” screamed Kyria.

“Then why aren’t you… URGH!” Mirage reached into her peytral, threw her kerchief into Kyrias face, and while her sister was trying to get it out of her eyes, wrenched the door open. Without another word, she stormed out and kicked the door so hard that it rattled the hinges.

Kyria heaved in deep breaths, trying to come up with a reply at the empty room.

“Go fuck yourself!” she screamed. Sitting herself down in a corner, she stared at the broom facing her for a moment, before reaching into her disguised peytral and pulling out a glowing crystal.

Before Chamelia had left, she had given Mirage and Kyria communication crystals. She had told them they were for emergencies.

But she also did say that they could contact her “if they really needed to talk.” It seems that this… was as good a reason as any.

Swallowing, Kyria pushed some magic into the crystal. “Chamelia?” she croaked.

“Ah, Kyria? Can you give me a few minutes?”

Kyria took a deep breath and sniffed. “Of course, I… is it a bad time? I know we aren’t supposed to use this for no reason, but I really needed to talk to-”

“I suspected something like that would happen, which is why I gave you these. Just give me a moment,” said Chamelia, in a patient tone. Still, Kyria could tell there was some strain in her voice so she said nothing.

“Alright, tell me what happened.”

Where to start? Kyria coughed, and wiped her nose. “I-I had an argument with my sister. She… she’s. Oh I don’t know. I shouldn’t have even called you. You have things to do.”

“Kyria, I am marching with my army, and am extremely busy, but you are my granddaughter. Even if I do not know you well, you are family and family always takes care of each other.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” Chamelia asked, clearly puzzled.

“I mean, alright. Sorry, future phrases.” Kyria took a deep breath. “We were going to a meeting with Thera, and I… Mirage made a off-hoof remark that she was missing her lover, which reminded me that we can’t see anybody from our time. But she… she told me to just… keep it together and we had an argument.”

“Can you clarify on what Mirage said?” Chamelia asked.

Kyria told her, as clearly as she could remember, whilst her grandmother listened, only quietly asking for greater detail on certain points.

When she had finally finished, Chamelia seemed… at least from her tone, rather worried. “Kyria, please. I do not think your sister is acting in a particularly healthy fashion.”

“I mean guess Mirage is stressed--”

“Kyria, the behaviour Mirage has displayed is disgraceful.”

The younger princess blinked. “Oh.”

“I do not mean to say that yours is to be complimented either, you provoked your sister by bringing up past grievances and escalated the situation. However, her behaviour is… also more concerning,” mused Chamelia.

Kyria grumbled. “Well, you said it yourself, her behaviour is disgraceful-”

“Indeed, but I am more concerned about the reasons behind it. May I ask, how long as Mirage served as a warrior for your mother’s hive… for Equestria?”

“Ever since she was sixteen,” said Kyria quickly.

“That… seems a bit late,” said Chamelia, frowning.

Kyria winced. Right, how much should I say? “I mean… I know it is a bit late for your time, but that is typical for the future. And the training is far more intensive. She was trained away from the hive, and went on very long deployments where she would command sai-soldiers. Large groups of soldiers, up to…”—Kyria pondered just how many crew served on Mirage’s airship and in her squadron —“Five hundred to a thousand.”

Chamelia didn’t reply, and so Kyria, swallowed and tried to fill the silence between them. “She’s… she’s usually very capable, smart, and decisive and calm and… nice to be around… a bit bossy but I mean that’s fine because--”

“Kyria, you said your sister goes on long missions. For how long, how frequently, and how much time does she spend with her family between missions?”

It took a moment for Kyria to recall that information. “Well first she was in basic training and then officer’s training for a total of a year, with about two months to see us. We visited her briefly of course. Then she was deployed for what was supposed to be six months, but got extended to eight because she got shot dow- I mean, she got lost. No I mean, she got shot down because she was flying and was lost for two months. She got three months rest and was redeployed for… a year, with two months-no, one month of shore leave because there were more pirate attacks. Uhh, geez, I think she’s been deployed on average about eleven months in the year, and only physically sees us in one month. She is standing down in about six months for a long overdue rest, but yeah...”

“What kind of military does your mother run that her daughter needs to be on missions for eleven months in a year?” demanded Chamelia.

“There were some… crises going on requiring a member of the R-our family’s personal attention, and several missions that ran over because of emergencies. I mean, we kept in contact with her with communication crystals and we later developed spells that allow us to use crystal balls to see each other face to face,” said Kyria, sounding and feeling oddly defensive about her sister all of a sudden.

After all, expanding the military a typically pacifist country meant that the Equestrian military had an amazing logistics base, but a lack of field officers and commanders. Many former navy ponies had transitioned to the Royal Airship Service, but the airship service had expanded so drastically as airships became so common that they still lacked skilled field officers. Mirage was made a captain of a cruiser after just two years as a junior officer. She’d then been put in charge of an ad-hoc cruiser flotilla at twenty, and commanded them through something like fifteen battles in the space of a year and a half.

Now that she thought about it… it certainly explained why her sister was away so often. To make matters worse, since Mirage had the diplomatic and political authority of a princess, and the training to command airships, she was sent nearly everywhere.

The elderly changeling sighed. “Kyria, I think we have identified the problem. Your sister is relying too heavily on her military training and habits she has acquired through serving in your mother’s military.”

“Oh… Ohhhh that’s why she asked me to keep it together…”

Kyria was sure Chamelia was nodding as she said, “You are correct.”

“Doesn’t excuse her acting so… argh I don’t know,” grumbled the princess.

“We are not having this discussion to assign blame, Kyria. We are having this discussion to find the cause of this problem and address it,” said Chamelia. The old queen took in a slow breath and sighed. “Go to Thera and Mirage now and wait outside of the door they are meeting. I will contact them.”

Getting up, the princess opened the door. “What are you planning, Grandmother?”

“You’ll see.”

Wiping her tears with her spare handkerchief, she stashed it in her peytral before entering the room.

“Queen Thera, ” she bowed, and as she raised her head, she blinked. “And chevalier Facere, I beg your forgiveness for my tardiness.” Because Facere was also there sitting beside Thera.

The white queen glanced at Mirage, “Oh, no forgiveness needed. Please, take a seat.”

Mirage looked up. She didn’t know this room, having only followed the directions of a helpful drone, but it seemed to be just a small dining room that was part of a larger guest chamber. It was mostly dominated by a low table in the centre, cushions beside it.

Facere and Thera were sitting on one of these cushions, sipping from wooden mugs. As Mirage sat down, she poured a yellow-ish liquid into one of the empty mugs.

“Thank you. This is?”

“Elderflower cordial,” said the queen. Mirage took a sip, found that she rather liked the sweet drink and put the cup down.

“Where’s your sister?” Facere asked.

Mirage knew she stiffened at the question. Forcing herself to keep breathing, she said, “She said she ate something that didn’t agree with her.”

“I am not a fool, Mirage, I am a changeling. I can sense your turmoil, and see your reddened eyes.” Thera gave Mirage a smile. “I will not pry into your personal business, but I suggest that after we finish our meeting, you work to resolve whatever problem you had between you and your sister.”

“I… I will try.” Mirage took another sip, trying to use the sweetness of the cordial to take her mind off of things. “I assume you asked us to come here to discuss the hive’s defense?”

“Indeed. It is my thought that we set up extra patrols…”

The three talked at length about the patrol system that Facere and Thera were following for the hive. Mirage made brief contributions, mostly as an outside observer, trying to point out ways one could infiltrate the hive.

On that note though, something was bothering Mirage as she listened to Thera and Facere discuss guard placement. However, she couldn’t quite pin the thought down, until they started to discuss how Chrysalis, Alternia, Simulacris and Belladonna would be guarded.

“Do we know how the unknown queen got into the Royal Nursery in the first place?” she asked.

Facere sighed. “From my guess and Chamelia’s, they probably tunnelled in and hid the entrance. It is a problem with hives this large, and is a very common changeling tactic. The extensive tunnel network means that it’s very easy to tunnel in and changeling goo, along with some well-prepared disguise material, can hide an entrance tunnel fairly easily. We have been searching for the tunnel’s entrance, but with no luck so far.”

“Perhaps they used a portal?” Mirage asked, but she shook her head. “Wait, nevermind, you would need a queen, or very skilled chevalier to infiltrate the hive and open the portal. That is far too risky.”

Thera nodded, but she was frowning. “You are right, but this queen has shown a significant degree of… daring, as she has attacked the largest hive in the world. She could have indeed used this strategy.”

It was at that moment that Thera and Mirage started. The older queen reached up to her crown antenna and levitated out a small crystal, which was glowing and vibrating. Mirage reached into her peytral and pulled out her crystal, a similar one to Thera’s.

“Ah, Thera, sorry for interrupting, but I need to speak to Mirage.”

“Oh? Regarding what?” Thera asked.

“Family matters.”

Mirage felt oddly empty as she heard that and she could just imagine Chamelia grinning as she said those words.

“Ah. In that case, Mirage should go. I will inform her of what she has missed later,” said Thera, smiling serenely.

She is far too much like Kagura… thought Mirage as she stood up and bowed to Thera. Knowing that the bow was probably far too mechanical, she forced a smile. “Excuse me, Queen Thera, and chevalier Facere.”

“You are excused,” said Facere, an unreadable smile on his features.

Mirage nodded, and left, lips pressed thinly together, a lump in her throat.

Chamelia directed Mirage to her personal chambers, which the changeling princess found quickly enough. Of course, as she approached the door to the chambers, she couldn’t help but brace herself for what was on the other side.

She couldn’t recall a time she had felt both so sick, and yet defensive. It was like she ate something foul, but there was no actual pain she could feel.

Sighing, Mirage opened the door. Chamelia had told her it would be unlocked.

“That was not so hard was it?” quipped said grandmother.

Mirage resisted the urge to grumble, and stepped in.

Kyria was sitting on some cushions facing Mirage, a hot pot of tea on the ground in front of her, and another pile of cushions. Mirage briefly glimpsed at her sister’s emotions before she did anything else.

Simmering anger, check. Acceptance, wait, that was odd. Frustration, okay check. It was a weird mix, but rather than stand at the door and analyze it, Mirage wordlessly trod over, took a seat, and poured herself a cup.

“So, Chamelia. What is your plan?” she asked.

“I would like to mend the divide in your relationship, or at least assist you two in doing so.”

Mirage sighed and nodded. “It is your prerogative.”

A flair of anger rose in Kyria at that, but was tamped down.

“My prerogative? Mirage, nobody has the right to mend your relationships with others,” said Chamelia.

The sharp, cold tone in the changeling’s voice made Mirage flinch and her eyes widen. “I meant no disrespect.”

“I know you do not, but Mirage, do you want me to help you or not? If you do not, you can leave this room. However, if you want to start mending your relationship with your sister, then you better make sure you are resolved to do so.”

The changeling princess swallowed. “Yes, ma’m.”

“Good. To start with, Mirage, tell us, why were you angry at your sister?”

“I…” she could feel her own anger return with a vengeance as she reviewed the still-fresh memory, and had to take a deep breath to calm herself. “I was angry because I wanted her to calm down and stay focused on the task at hoof, and—”

“You got angry at me because I was crying and needed your time?” Kyria asked, furious.

“Yes,” hissed Mirage. “We are in a hostile time and I had no idea if Thera is more like Sarar or cousin Lamia. Whether she would put us on the spot because we were a few minutes late, or be completely understanding that we each had our problems to deal with. You were putting us in danger of annoying one of grandmother’s key allies. So yes, I got frustrated that you had to cry right then right there. I don’t…” She pressed a hoof to her forehead. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to get angry, but I misjudged the situation and I thought we couldn’t afford it.”

“Mirage, Kyria… take a deep breath, both of you,” said Chamelia. They both did. “Mirage, what made you think I would ally myself with a changeling that would be so strict about attending a meeting?”

“I… I don’t know, but that’s the thing, I don’t know. And if I don’t know, I can’t risk it. You aren’t here right now. There’s a hostile changeling queen on the loose, and because I was trained to fight battles that won’t happen until years from now, I can’t protect myself, or Kyria without risking the future.”

Kyria blinked. “That’s… oh.” She swallowed. “Is that why you’ve been so scared of late, Mirage?”

The princess took a deep breath. “Yeah. I mean, yes. I have been scared.”

“But… why didn’t you tell me?”

Mirage gave Kyria a flat look. “And what can you do, Kyria? You can listen to me, and that may help, but then you’d get worried and that might make you make a mistake, and right now, we cannot afford to make mistakes.”

Kyria gasped. “But we are in grandmother’s hive, Mirage! Not in some hostile territory!”

“On the first day we arrived in this timeline, said grandmother captured and interrogated us for intel that we were manipulated to give up! Then just after we made up, a hostile changeling queen immediately attacked grandmother’s hive! We might be safer but we’re not safe until we get back! And I wouldn’t want to go back now anyway because that hostile changeling queen wants our mother and our aunts dead and if that happened- Equestria—no—the world is literally screwed!”

“Is that the only reason you were angry at Kyria, Mirage?” Chamelia asked.

“Because she accused me of being selfish and heading off to serve in our country’s military. How is that even being selfish! She made light about my responsibility to our military, to Equestria and our hive! She then had the cojones to mock our MOTHER’s sacrifices without having faced even a part of them and having had the most time to spend with her, and this wasn’t even the first time she’s done so!”

“Mirage, please, take a deep breath,” said Chamelia.

The princess took a deep breath and let it out in a groan. She just felt… drained… as if she’d flew several kilometers non-stop.

Wait, why did the room seemed filled with fear, and anger? Why was her sister was staring at her, eyes wide, mouth open and she was shaking. Shaking at the sight of her.

“What in Tartarus is wrong with me?” Mirage whispered. She touched back on the ground and realized she was trembling. “Kyria? Kyria I’m so sorry. I… I don’t know what came over me and—”

“You didn’t mean it. Grandma warned me you might get angry. I know you’re just trying to tell your side of it. I… oh Celestia. We are in huge danger,” whispered Kyria.

Mirage blinked. “Wait. You agree with me?”

The younger princess nodded fervently, one hoof fixing the tiara that sat on her head. “I think you are freaking out way too hard and it’s making you act like a hot mess but I’m beginning to realize you have a point.”

“But aren’t you scared and angry at me right now?”

Kyria frowned. “More shocked than scared. Why do you ask?”

“Can’t you sense the fear in the room?” It was practically cloying in it’s presence.

Kyrias eyes widened. “Mirage. That’s yours.”

Mirage stared at her sister, and focused on her, like really focused on her. She was surprised, and a bit scared, but nowhere in the way that would cause the room to fill with it, and there wasn’t the slightest bit of a lie in her voice and most of all… she just knew she was telling the truth.

“Grandmother. How-what’s-what’s happening to my sister?” demanded Kyria.

“A couple of things. But I think she needs a hug before I even try to delve into that.”

Mirage opened her mouth to say she was fine but Kyria was already wrapping her hooves around her.

“Mirage… you mentioned you feel afraid, why?” Chamelia asked.

Mirage clung to her sister, mostly because she just didn’t know what else to do. That and she felt so numb she felt as if she was going to topple over. “Everything,” she whispered.

Kyria stared at her sister. “What?”

“Why?” Chamelia asked.

Mirage was crying now. She actually wasn’t sure when she started. Tears were pouring down her cheeks. “I can’t do this. I’m so out of my depth. I’m terrified of what’s going to happen next and I don’t know if I should be worried or not and I can’t stop being angry and frustrated at this when I shouldn’t and I keep getting angry at my you… and I know the reasons but they don’t seem like good reasons.”

“I have an idea as to why, but I may be wrong. Would it be correct to say that when you got angry at your sister…. it is because she does not seem to understand what you are doing for her and how concerned you are for both of you?” Chamelia asked.

“... Yes.”

“Then why don’t you tell her?”

“Because I don’t want to worry her and I expect that she should understand our situation, except she doesn’t and I don’t know why,” Mirage croaked.

“Have you tried explaining it to her as warrior to warrior or sister to sister?”

“Warrior to- oh fuck.” Mirage looked down at Kyria. “I’ve been treating you as a soldier and not a civvie.”

“Civvie?” Chamelia asked.

“Civilian,” said Kyria. “We… well grandma figured that out… and now I know I didn’t realize how scared you were for us.” Kyria frowned. “But where did that come from?”

Mirage didn’t respond. Instead she found her jaw ground shut and her shoulders stiffening.

There was a whispered voice from Chamelia’s end of the crystal and she sighed. “I must go, granddaughters, I leave the rest to you. I believe you can resolve this yourselves?”

The sisters glanced at each other, both unsure, but Mirage forced herself to nod.

“You’re on the march, grandma, attend to that first. Though… can I talk to you later?”

“Of course, in fact, I insist,” said Chamelia. “Take care.” With that, she broke the link and the crystal dimmed, leaving the two sisters in silence.

“So. Yeah… mind letting go of me?” Kyria asked.

Mirage let go and shuffled back onto her cushions. “Sorry. I… ugh. Never wanted you to see me like this.”

The younger changeling shook her head. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have insulted you like that… it was petty and selfish, and I should have been more aware of what you were dealing with.”

“Sorry for just… not handling it well.” Mirage swallowed. “Kyria, you know I am being stood down right?”

“Yeah? You have long overdue extended leave and mom thought it was time for you to take a more active political role—”

“I was ordered to because I have PTSD!” Mirage blurted out. Immediately after that she shut her eyes and clamped both hooves over her mouth.

Kyria stared at her sister, her jaw falling open for like the ... she’s lost count of how many times it had happened in the past few days. Her mind was filled with so many questions she didn’t know what to say, so she just she stared at her sister, who was cringing, eyes shut, ears pinned against her head.

“But what. Why? How?” Kyria shook her head. “Sorry, I’m just…that isn’t possible. You’re you! You can’t get PTSD.”

Mirage snorted and opened her eyes slowly, rather relieved at her sister’s disbelief. “I can’t get PTSD because I’m me?”

“Well who told you that you have PTSD?” Kyria demanded.

“Airship Command’s psychologists and my counsellor. I’ve been seeing one for a while after Furtiva pushed me to do so. It’s helped, but…not enough clearly.” Mirage’s shoulders sagged. “Good enough for you?”

Kyria nodded, slowly. “Well, that explains a lot. I… I’m so sorry I didn’t realize—”

Mirage cut her sister off firmly. “Don’t be. I wasn’t telling you much. I… I didn’t know how to tell you, or mom and dad for that matter.”

Kyria frowned. “Wait, you haven’t told mom and dad? Why?”

Mirage sighed. “I feel like I failed them and I don’t want them to worry about me.”

“But what… you haven’t! They, and especially mom, would never think that! And they worry so much about you anyway! Just… tell them when we get back to our time, please?”

Mirage nodded, and Kyria sighed. “Did the counsellor… was she the one who suggested you try to create the time-scrying spell?”

“Not the spell specifically. I was already looking into that. But she said I should try to find more hobbies to spend more time with those I cared about.”

Kyria sighed. “Well, for what it’s worth, I still think it was a good idea. I… miss you and I know I’m… jealous about how much mom loves you, but… I wanted to spend time with you too.” Kyria touched Mirage’s hoof. “And I’m sorry, well, I understand why you wish you could have spent more time with her.”

Mirage grabbed one of the forgotten teacups and took a sip from it. “It did sometimes does annoy me, but I’ve tried to accept it” — she winced— “it’s just when you brought that up… it hurt.”

“I know. Just… just don’t think you’re sparing me from this, Mirage. Try to tell me, please? I might not be ready, but I want to help,” Kyria begged.

Because as much as she didn’t want to hear what her sister thought of herself, and her, she was much much more horrified of the idea of her sister saying nothing.

“I will,” said Mirage, managing a smile. She took a deep breath. “Where do I start?”

Kyria pursed her lips. “Well, what kind of PTSD do you have? I heard there were several forms.”

“Many in fact. My counsellor told me I’m showing the early signs of PTSD with anxiety and panic features,” recounted Mirage.

“Wait, but if you are showing early signs of PTSD… then isn’t this the worst time for you to be in?” Kyria exclaimed.

Her sister nodded, looking rather resigned

“You really should not get involved in any fighting, or high-stress activities,” said Kyria.

“I don’t think we have a choice at the moment, sis.” Mirage grimaced. “I should be fine for the moment. I’ve gone through worse.”

“Worse?” Kyria didn’t believe Mirage for a moment, but for a second, a haunted expression flashed over her sister’s features. “What haven’t you told me about the Shear’s destruction, Mirage? For that matter, what haven’t you told me about your other missions?”

Her eyes averted to the ground Mirage winced. “Kyria… there’s a long, long list that I’m pretty sure will horrify you. Mom and dad aware of most, and hell dad was the one who suggested I talk to a counsellor. I’m not sure why mom has never asked me.”

“Probably because she doesn’t want to press you until you are ready.” Kyria set her jaw. “But I’m not mom. Start with the Shear.”

Mirage nodded and opened her mouth, only to feel a choking feeling grip her throat. No sound exited. She tried again, but only managed a wheeze. She grabbed her teacup, emptied it and spat out, “We all nearly died several times. Cousin Bluebell’s ship, the Aventail, was dead in the air, engines destroyed, balloon leaking, it was crippled. Furtiva’s ship, the Blackfire, rammed the Shear, which managed to disable it, but she could have so easily been killed doing that. My ship…” Mirage shut her eyes. “The Voulge’s shields went down and the Shear targeted the bridge. A shell killed… half the bridge crew including: Ensign Flamewing, Ensign Raleigh and Ensign Mimic. I would have died without my peytral’s emergency shield.” The princess squeezed her eyes shut to try to stem the tears. “They were all such promising young officers. They had their whole life ahead of them and they died under my command. I don’t know how I could have done better. I keep thinking about what I could have done and part of me keeps telling me that it was an impossible situation, but I still can’t help but wonder what I could have done to prevent their deaths and those of the others that died in that operation.”

Kyria said nothing at first, but Mirage could tell her sister was examining her with new eyes. “But you did your best at the time, though, right?”

“I know I did, and the admiral, my marefriend, hell, I even mentioned it to dad and he said I did my best under trying circumstances.” Mirage felt her teeth grind together without her even trying. “But I can’t help but wonder. Maybe I made a mistake when I decided to continue the mission, despite our initial losses. What if I backed off and called for more reinforcements? I might have been able to save them!”

Kyria shook her head in disbelief. “You’re supposed to be better? You’re still just a changeling, sis.”

“Sis, when you make a mistake, you lose an artefact, when I make a mistake, creatures die!” Mirage hissed, her eyes wide and desperate. “And what if I had made another mistake? Furtiva would have died. Bluebell might have lost a leg instead of getting cut up! I might have died and broken mom’s heart and Equestria might go completely to war against South Griffonia because we know they’re sponsoring the pirates—”

“Mirage, stop! Just, STOP!” Kyria snapped, cutting her sister off. She grabbed Mirage, not shaking her, but holding her in place. “You can’t do this to yourself. Don’t you hear what you are asking yourself to do?”

“I know! But I’m mom’s heir. I just-- I just feel that I am supposed to do better than other creatures! And that’s not healthy, but it’s also not false!” Mirage groaned, burying her head in her hooves. “I don’t know, I just feel so tired and yet I feel so… worried at the same time!”

Kyria didn’t know what to say to that, and if she was being honest with herself, she was a bit scared. She’d always, consciously, and unconsciously, put Mirage up on a bit of a pedestal. It was an uncomfortable, gut-clenching feeling to see that pedestal come crashing down.

“Well, what do you think?” Mirage asked, a bitter tone in her voice.

Finding herself spluttering, Kyria winced. “I don’t know, Mirage. Well, not really. I just-, look, I don’t think even mom would try to hold herself up to the standards you’re trying to set for yourself.”

“Yeah, but I can’t help but feel this way, so what do I do to fix this?” Mirage asked.

“I don’t know, sis! I mean, I’m glad you told me, but I’m a diplomat-investigator in training! Not a counsellor. I’m sorry!” Kyria groaned and clonked a hoof onto her forehead. “I just want to give you a hug and tell you you’re going to be alright, but I’m not sure if that would help.”

Mirage snorted. “A hug would be nice.” She extended her legs, but didn’t wrap them around her sister. Kyria promptly embraced her older sibling. “Thanks for listening at least, and for asking. It’s just nice to know you care and you don’t think… think badly of me.”

Kyria looked Mirage in the eye. “Sis, you know I love you, and that mom and dad love you too.”

“I know. It’s just, I’ve been away so long and-- sometimes I just need a reminder.” The princess groaned. “It sounds silly doesn’t it?”

Her sister shook her head. “No-- after all you’ve been through, it isn’t silly at all. Just… tell mom and dad when we get back, okay?” Kyria narrowed her eyes. “And you better tell me about what you left out in your letters.”

Mirage hesitated, but forced herself to nod. “That… might take a while. Where do you want me to start?”

When Kyria finally let Mirage leave, the older princess made for her room and slammed into her bed, headfirst.

She’d forgotten her sister made it her hobby and drive to solve the mysteries of the present and past at Twilight’s School of Friendship. Kyria’s questions about the operations she had undertaken had peeled back all the layers of half-truths and lies she had fed her sister. The result was Mirage unloading all the things she had done in the past year, and all the doubts she had.

Some of things she’d told her sister, she hadn’t even told her counsellor. But Kyria had been insistent and… little by little, everything got laid out.

Did Mirage feel exhausted? Yes. Despite it being the afternoon, her eyes were now shut and she was just enjoying the feel of blanket against carapace. Did she feel like she’d been squeezed for information like a piece of dough fed into a pasta roller? Yes. Did she feel infinitely better and lighter somehow? Also very much yes.

I can’t believe I was so stupid not to tell Kyria earlier. Yes, she wasn’t able to provide much useful advice, but just telling her about it all was … nice.

The communication crystal tucked in Mirage’s peytral suddenly buzzed, shooting the princess’s eyes open. She grabbed the crystal and put it on her bed.

“Grandma?”

“Hello, Mirage. I can tell that talking with your sister has made you feel much better,” said Chamelia serenely, though, the princess could easily imagine that her grandmother was smiling on the other side of the line.

“Yes. It did.” She groaned, shaking her head. “I can’t believe I was so stupid not to tell her.”

“It’s not stupid to be afraid of revealing that you are battle fatigued, Mirage,” said Chamelia firmly. “Short-sighted perhaps, but even if your sister is a family member, admitting that you have a battle-fatigue is hard to do. Especially since you do have responsibilities that are based on changeling’s image of you.”

Mirage found herself slowly nodding to that. It made a lot of sense.

Something clicked in her mind and the princess stared at the crystal. “Wait, I didn’t tell you that I had PTSD—battle fatigue that is. And… wait, how do you even know what it is?

The crystal was silent, steadily glowing green, until Chamelia’s voice came through again, but this time there was a melancholic quality to it.

“Are you feeling confused as to why Kyria fails to understand your worries? Perhaps you feel suddenly worried, or panicky about things that nobody else seems to be as worried about as they should be? Are you feeling tired, like you are being stretched in all directions?” Chamelia asked.

She blinked and Mirage stared at the communication crystal on the covers of her bed. “Yes but… how did you know?”

Chamelia took a deep breath. “What did your mother and aunts tell you about the Unspeakable Times? What did she and her sisters tell you about what I did?”

Mirage took a moment to recall that story. “They said you were second-in-command to your mother Zagara, and that despite being her youngest daughter, you were appointed her heir. You were also one of the most capable frontline commanders and led the changeling forces to victory against the traitorous Great Hive Mother Atracina.” She frowned. “They did mention you didn’t like talking about the Unspeakable Times.”

“Huh-Oh…” The switch between confusion and then prompt acceptance in Chamelia’s voice made Mirage wonder… just what did her grandmother not tell her mother and aunts?

After a long sigh, Chamelia said, “The reason that I, the youngest of Zagara’s daughters, found myself in that role was more due to the fact that I was the only one that all my sisters trusted. You see, I was one of five far older half-sisters. Artemisia, Gorgo, Amaya, and Tomoe, who you saw in the meeting earlier. My four sisters had their own hives, whilst I was with my mother. They did not trust each other as a result. However, they all trusted me. Tomoe tells me it was because they knew that I would not harm them. But because of that… I was laboring under much expectation to succeed and assist our mother in leading our faction.”

The melancholy voice which Chamelia recounted this made Mirage stare at the crystal in surprise. It all made sense, but she never would have expected this.

“Needless to say. The war made those expectations weigh so much harder, especially after my mother was wounded in Atracina’s ambush. As the battles continued, the stress made me act…increasingly more volatile and irrational. I would challenge others if they even insinuated that I was not doing enough. I would spend days locked in my chambers, alternating between crying myself to sleep, or venting my frustration on training dummies.”

Mirage stared at the crystal, eyes dry. “You… saw in me—”

“Yes, I have seen similar behaviour. And I suppose it does not help that you expect much of yourself and others, Mirage?” Chamelia asked.

“Yes—”

“Because you are your mother’s heir? And because it seems crazy they do not see what you can so clearly see?” Chamelia said knowingly.

The princess’s eyes were wide, and filling with tears as she nodded emphatically.

“Does it get… how did you manage to recover?”

“With time, and help from my friends, and my family. It helped that we won the war, but I had changelings to confide in and although my sisters are a bit distant, they understood the pressure I was facing. Then there was Thera. I’m not sure how I could have gotten through without her.”

“Thera? I mean, I know you were friends, but during the war, weren’t you enemies? She fought against you. The only reason you spared her was because she saved Great-grandmother Zagara, and because…” Mirage winced. “Aunty Chrysalis told me later that her mother abused her, frequently.”

Chamelia sighed. “You’re right. But I suppose one thing that got missed was how much we—as in Therapthosia and I—took care of Thera after the war. Focusing on taking care of someone else… took my mind off of what I experienced during the war. Moreover, since Thera and I shared the same experience of being frontline commanders—we could talk to one another about our trauma, and share our experiences.”

“You’re saying I should talk to my mother and father about this I guess?” said Mirage.

“Not necessarily. They should know that you are going through a challenging time, but you should share your hardships with the creature that will best understand you, and can guide you onto a healthier path. Can you think of anybody?” Chamelia asked.

Her mom was actually one of the changelings Mirage immediately thought of, but a grey-eyed changeling also popped into the princess’s mind and she smiled wistfully. “Yes.”

“Thinking of your marefriend, Mirage?” the older changeling asked cheekily.

The princess spluttered. “How did you—Can you really feel our love from where you are?”

Chamelia chuckled. “Actually, that was a lucky guess.”

Mirage chuckled. “Ha, ha… it was that obvious?”

“Quite. I must talk to your sister now, Mirage. If you need anything, just call. I might be busy, but if that is the case, I will call you back,” said Chamelia.

“Thank you, Chamelia,” said Mirage, a wide smile on her lips.

In contrast to Mirage, who had been so tired she’d nearly gone to sleep. Kyria was pacing nervously in her room, awaiting her grandmother’s call. The moment her crystal started to glow she immediately grabbed it.

“Grandma?”

“Kyria. You seem... agitated.”

Kyria wrung her hooves in frustration. “You think? My sister has PTSD! I mean, the term hasn’t been invented yet—”

“Whatever you call PTSD, we call ‘battle fatigue.’ I would appreciate you explaining what the term means, though, and why you seem so agitated by your sister’s condition.”

The low tone of reproach in Chamelia’s voice cut through Kyria’s worry and arrested her in place. She took a deep breath, both to buy herself time, and because she realized she was out of breath.

“Grandma, PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It’s… one of the worst conditions someone can get and typically, we remove the creature from high stress environments. But we’re stuck here and Mirage—” Kyria sniffled and wiped a hoof across her eyes “—She told me everything she knew, and I—I couldn’t do anything for her. How am I going to be able to help her?”

“By listening to her, and by continuing to talk to her, Kyria,” said Chamelia.

Kyria looked up, frowning at the crystal. “That’s it? But what if that’s not enough? What if I’m disgusted by what she’s done? She’s my sister! I love her, but I don’t know if I’m strong enough. She’s the smart one, the strong one, the one who usually listens and just knows what to do!”

“And I have no doubt that you will be able to find that strength, Kyria.”

Something about Chamelia’s voice buoyed up the young princess’s spirit, and while she still felt nervous, the confidence her grandmother had with her eased it.

“Yes, you have relied on Mirage for support. And yes, you cannot rely on her to be both your emotional support and your commander, not when she’s in such a stressed state. Still, you are my granddaughter, and I have no doubt you have been taught well to prepare you for your future responsibilities. Moreover, you and your sister will not be alone, for Facere and I will always be ready and willing to lend you our ear.”

In her tent, Chamelia smiled and shut her eyes, sending a burst of love over the link.

The crystal shone ever-brighter, and the warm love that emanated from the stone enveloped the young changeling, much like a soft, thick blanket.

“Thank you, grandma.”

“You are most welcome, Kyria,” said Chamelia.

Author's Note

Feel free to check my Behind the Scenes blog for chapter 1 of this book here: https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/887645/part-3-chapter-1-the-hair-puller

Chapter 6: The Infiltrator

“And they lived happily ever after,” said Kyria to the wide-eyed changeling nymphs. She was just telling her aunts and her mother, a love story about a changeling queen who fell in love with a pony. As she finished, Alternia and Simulacris squealed with glee, while Chrysalis, who had long given up trying to look disinterested, raised her hoof.

“Really? But can ponies and changelings really live together?”

Considering that the story was drawn from the relationships between her aunt Sebastiana and Retariusil, her own mother and her past lover Voulge, and numerous other tales, Kyria nodded fervently. She had done research before she started dating Klaus after all.

“Yes! Well, maybe not right now, but someday,” said Kyria.

“Tell us another one!” begged the tiny Alternia, expanding her blue eyes so wide, that Kyria was wondering if she was going to have a cuteness overload. Oh how she wished she had a camera.

Chrysalis chuckled but got up and trotted across the nursery to where Mirage was gently humming to a sleeping Belladonna.

“Mirage?”

“Yes A-Chrysalis?” said the princess, smiling at her aunt.

“Is mommy going after the bad queen?”

“Yes.” Now completely focused on her aunt, Mirage studied the child queen’s face. “Any other questions, Chrysalis?”

“Who are you?”

“I’m sorry? Can you say that again?”

Chrysalis pursed her lips. “Mommy has friends, but they’re… older. Way older. I don’t get it.”

If I was in a mission… I’d just walk away, or tell Chrysalis to mind her own business, but…

“I promise to tell you one day, Chrysalis, but right now, I can’t. It’s very important that I don’t tell you.”

“But I can keep a secret!” insisted Chrysalis.

She looked so earnest, but Mirage couldn’t. Not to a child. Still, she smiled. “Oh Chrysalis, I know how badly you want to know. I remember when I wanted to ask my mother and my aunts' secrets. They wouldn’t tell me and only later did I realize why. But what about I tell you a small secret instead?”

“What?” asked Chrysalis, clearly not disappointed. Mirage wasn’t sure if it was because she was a child, and therefore easy to distract, or because she just wanted to know something.

“My peytral and Kyria’s peytral can store sooo many tools and weapons,” whispered Mirage, cheerfully.

“Really? What kind?”

“That’s a secret,” said Mirage, winking. Chrysalis puckered her lips in the most adorable pout, which the princess could only sigh at. “Sorry, Chrysalis, but maybe one day.”

“At least that’s not a no,” muttered Chrysalis.

“Mirage, Kyria, we need to talk,” said Facere trotting up to the two.

The princesses glanced at each other and nodded. They’d just put their aunts and mom to sleep. “Yes, Facere?” asked Kyria.

“First off, have you resolved your mutual problem?” he asked.

Mirage sighed, but she did manage a weak smile. “As much as we could.”

The changeling smiled, but almost immediately after, his face stiffened. “Unfortunately, we have a problem. Remember you mentioned that it was possible for a changeling to open a portal to let the enemy into the hive? Well my changelings have searched every inch of the hive and I think you are right, but that also means that they might have left an infiltrator in our hive before they made their escape.”

“Why- wait right.” Mirage cut herself off and nodded. “They wouldn’t have left a changeling behind if they were using a tunnel. You don’t guard a secret tunnel and it could be discovered at any moment. However, they can leave behind a changeling who knows how to open a portal and he or she can exit anytime they want.”

“But why stay? They’ve failed to go after m-the little queens,” said Kyria.

“Perhaps, but we can’t assume that Chamelia’s children were the only objectives, Kyria.” Mirage turned to Facere. “Does Queen Thera know?”

“We’re heading to report to her now.” He knocked on a wooden door to what Mirage thought was Thera’s chambers. “Your Majesty, it’s Facere. Sorry for interrupting, but may I come in?”

Nobody answered and Facere sighed. “Great, she must be asleep. Thera always liked to turn in early.”

Something about the scene didn’t make sense to Mirage, though. It took her a moment, before she suddenly realized it.

“Facere, where are the guards?” she asked.

The changeling blinked and the two princesses jumped as he started hammering on the door with his hoof. “Thera! Thera! Open up!” He twisted the doorknob but it didn’t open. “It’s locked… what the hell? She knows better than this!” He turned to the sisters. “Smash the door open, hurry!”

“Kyria, watch our rear,” snapped Mirage, her horn flaring. “CLEAR!” She hit the door with a blasting spell that shattered the lock and charged in, scanning the room.

Queen Thera was off her bed, writhing on the ground, her bedsheets tangling up in her limbs. Foam was bubbling around her mouth. Somehow she must have been inching to the door because she was halfway across her room.

“Shit! Kyria, emergency aid kits! Quickly! Facere, call for the medics!” screamed Mirage, crouching down next to Thera.

“But-”

Kyria felt numb, but she pushed past her grandfather and rushed to Mirage’s side, pulling out one of their emergency kits from her peytral. “Don’t worry, she won’t die! We have-we have stuff!”

Facere blinked, but nodded and took off, while Kyria turned to Mirage.

“Stuff?” Mirage asked, even as she unpacked her emergency kit.

Kyria opened her emergency kit. “Well do you want me to spoil the future with advanced medical tech that won’t be invented for a thousand years?”

Mirage shook her head and shrugged helplessly. “Stuff it is then!”

The assassination attempt during the signing of the Changeling-Equestria Non-Aggression Pact, and the events over the Eastern Sea had convinced Alternia, Celestia and Luna that their loved ones would need to carry top of the line emergency first aid kits. These kits proved useful, and were improved upon over the numerous crises and close calls over the years with the latest Equestrian—and later, Kelpie—medical technologies. Marked with a black cross, they contained bandages and numerous potions to at least save a changeling or pony’s life.

“Kyria, it’s been awhile since I’ve performed first aid, and you just re-certified. Can you take the lead on this one?” Mirage asked.

That question took Kyria aback, but she nodded. “Alright, first, we are going to give her the Life Potion. It will only suspend her condition by a few minutes, and buy us some time.”

“Got it,” said Mirage, pulling out a clear bottle of shimmering liquid. Every family member had one of these potions, which employed both Equestrian magic, Zebra alchemy, Kelpie medical insights, and changeling poison know-how. The issue was that this potion could only buy time for the user, and not heal their injuries.

Uncorking it, Kyria gestured for Mirage to hold Thera’s mouth open and emptied it, before forcing the queen’s mouth closed. Thera managed to swallow and she relaxed, but her eyes were rolled back and her breathing was faint.

“What next, Kyria?” Mirage asked.

“How long has it been? We might be able to make her throw it up—” Kyria frowned and pursed her lips “—If she was writhing… it could either be pain or a poison that attacks her nervous system.”

Mirage nodded. “Maybe both, but if it’s in her system it might be too late. We need to go for something drastic—”

“Bag,” wheezed the queen.

“Bag? What bag?” muttered Mirage, looking around.

Kyria thought for a moment, trotted over to the open door, but instead of walking through the frame, she looked left and right.

Sure enough there was a drawstring bag, slotted right in the corner of the room. It had been hidden from their view by a closet. Levitating it, she quickly brought it over and opened it. The bag was full of corked potions bottles of various colors, wrapped in cloth to protect them.

“Nice work, Kyria,” said Mirage, pulling out another emergency kit. She had another bottle of phoenix tears on standby. “Queen Thera, which bottle?”

Thera wheezed, trying to move her lips, but only foam weakly gurgled from her throat. She weekly gestured at Kyria’s hair and Mirage promptly pulled out the bottle with purple solution and held it up.

“Blink once if no. Twice if yes.” said Mirage. Thera blinked twice and Mirage uncorked the bottle and poured the viscous liquid into the queen’s mouth.

The effects were immediate, her breathing steadied, and the foam seemed to stop bubbling from her throat.

“Thanks,” wheezed Thera.

“You’re welcome,” managed Kyria, standing up as chevaliers, in the white of Thera’s hive, thundered into the room and surrounded their queen.

Of course, as soon as Kyria and Mirage were ushered out of the room, the younger changeling princess promptly sat down on her haunches, ears flopped down.

“Did that… is she going to be fine?”

Mirage forced herself to wear a calm mask, but also wrapped one leg over her sister’s shoulders. “Thera-Queen Thera’s a master potioneer. And she doesn’t die. Not until later,” she whispered, too softly for anybody to hear.

“But we don’t know if we are in closed or open time loop!” whispered Kyria.

Gritting her teeth, Mirage gave her sister another comforting squeeze. “I know, but we did our best.”

Suddenly, something seemed to have occurred to Facere, because he instantly stiffened.

“Mirage, or Kyria, open a portal to the nursery. Now!” he snapped.

“Wait, why—” Kyria froze. “Oh.” Mirage was already opening a portal to the nursery and had drawn her cutlass and shield.

“Some changelings get three squads to the nursery now! This could be a distraction!” Facere snapped.

Mirage was already through the portal, shield raised. Glancing over the edge, she scanned the room.

But all she could see were the ten, very surprised, guards and her mom and aunts in their beds, sound asleep.

“Did you see anything out of the ordinary?” she demanded.

“No, miss!” snapped one of the guards.

“Stay on alert. Queen Thera was poisoned. It might have been a distraction,” Mirage ordered.

The door to the nursery flew open and Facere ran in. “Oh, Mirage! Good job. Queen Thera-”

“Has been poisoned. I know. You—” Mirage blinked and froze. “Facere, how did you get here so quickly?”

The changeling frowned. “I got a report from a guard that Thera has been poisoned.”

Kyria, who had just gone through the portal, which was now closed, came up from behind Mirage and stared at him. “But you’re at Thera’s chambers. That means…”

“One of them is an imposter!” snapped Mirage. The changelings in the room leapt into action, forming a wall between the sleeping children and Facere.

“It must be the changeling at Thera’s chambers!” exclaimed the Facere in front of them. “We have to hurry back. He or she will try to kill Thera again!”

“We don’t know if you’re the infiltrator or not!” snapped Kyria drawing her short-hafted poleaxe from her peytral.

“Oh come on! If I was an infiltrator, I would have fled once I saw two queens standing in front of me!” hissed Facere.

Mirage tried to read the emotions of the changeling in front of her, but all she could feel was fairly warranted exasperation and frustration.

“Tell us something only the real Facere would know.”

“You’re Chamelia’s granddaughters and I gave you that shield and Kyria that poleaxe,” said Facere.

Mirage frowned. That wasn’t entirely well known information, but it wasn’t exactly private. Still, there wasn’t much Facere could really say… safely that is.

“Mirage, we don’t have time for this. We have to hurry back to Thera’s chambers!” hissed Facere.

“Facere, tell us how we are related to you,” said Kyria in a voice that stammered at first, but firmed up toward the end of her demand.

Facere frowned. “I am married to your grandmother.”

“No. Not that. The other one.”

Mirage glanced at her sister. “Kyria, what are you--”

Her sister gave her a look that basically screamed trust me.

Then she did something odd. With one hoof, she tapped her chest, just above her heart, then pointed at her eyes, and finally pointed back at Facere.

Heart… eyes… Facere- Ohhh nice, sis! Mirage nodded and braced herself.

Kyria looked Facere in the eye. “Tell us the secret that has wide-ranging consequences. I know it’s dangerous for you to say it, but we need to know.”

Mirage watched, all her senses on the changeling in front of her, watching his emotions and expression.

There! There was genuine confusion and curiosity from Facere, which meant-“He’s the imposter!” At the same time, Mirage fired a bolt of magic at the changeling.

Facere scowled and threw up a pink magic shield. Pink wasn’t her grandfather’s magic aura. Kyria fired a beam of magic at the imposter, which the changeling blocked again, before fleeing through the open door.

“Stay here! Reinforcements should be on the way!” snapped Mirage as she chased after the fake Facere. The dumbstruck guards nodded and the two queens raced through the door, but the imposter… whoever it was, had disappeared.

“He… or she must have used a portal to get out,” hissed Mirage.

“That or portaled to somewhere else in the hive,” muttered Kyria. “We can’t chase the imposter though. He… or she might double back on us.”

“Agreed. You let Grandmother know. I’ll stand watch,” said Mirage. She managed to grin at Kyria. “Nice job signalling me to watch his emotions to see how he’d react to the hint. Very intuitive of you.”

The younger sister chuckled. “Knew you’d figure it out.” Kyria let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. “I… that was close, though.”

“Too damn close,” muttered Mirage.

Author's Note

Check out the original scene for Chapter 2 that never saw the light of day until now, as well as the thinking behind chapter of Equestria's Changeling Princesses and the Kinsbane
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/887898/part-4-chapter-2-interrogating-the-sisters

Chapter 7: Discussions

In the privacy of her tent, Chamelia gritted her teeth as Mirage and Kyria recounted the events at the hive over the crystal.

“How hurt is Thera? And what happened to her guards?” Chamelia asked.

“The shift is missing. As a precaution, we’re implementing a code-phrase system. As for Thera… she needs bed rest. She recognized the poison the infiltrator used and had an antidote ready, but it hurt her before we could feed her it,” said Kyria.

On the other side of the crystal’s link, Mirage took a sip of her cup of water. “Thera told us that the poison was the White Death, which is an annoyingly common poison. It’s not the most deadly poison, but it causes a lot of pain. I suspect that is because the infiltrator simply wanted to get us focused on Thera before heading to the nursery.”

“I concur. I would also like to suggest that it is unlikely that this infiltrator will leave,” said Chamelia. She took a deep breath. “If we want to root the infiltrator out, I will have to return to my own hive and coordinate its members.”

“But can Sarar can take care of the rogue queen by herself?” Kyria asked.

Chamelia grimaced. “Therein lies my concern. We finally picked up the trail of the rogue queen’s forces. It is a large force.”

“How large?” Mirage asked.

“We cannot be certain, but from the number of tracks and the size of the camp, there appears to be eight hundred to one thousand changelings.”

“A thousand? But that means your forces are matched in parity. I -- I would like to respectfully suggest that you only shadow them, Chamelia,” said Mirage.

“But can you deal with this infiltrator and protect my daughters, and Thera, Mirage and Kyria?” Chamelia asked pointedly.

Mirage glanced at Kyria biting her lip. The younger changeling frowned, and gestured to the crystal. So Mirage nodded. “With Facere helping us we should be able to.”

On the other end, Chamelia pursed her lips. “Indeed, but what is your plan to capture or kill this infiltrator?”

Kyria shook her head, her mother had given her basic changeling infiltration and exfiltration tactics but extensive practices to root out enemy changelings? She glanced at Mirage, who seemed deep in thought, probably recalling her officer academy lessons.

“I have a few ideas but they are not yet fully developed. Right now, I would implement identity checkpoints at several locations in the hive to at least slow or restrict this infiltrator’s movements. I would also focus the hive’s garrison at certain points to protect our most important assets,” Mirage said.

“Sound measures, but do you have any long-term plan to root out this changeling?” Chamelia pressed.

“You mean trapping her or him? Isn’t that a bit risky, Grandmother? Especially since he or she is aiming specifically at our mother and aunts?” Mirage asked.

“You could prepare illusions or a substitute, whilst your mother and aunts are hidden away,” said Chamelia.

Mirage shook her head. “And what if she figures out where they are hiding? No. If we know her target, then our best option is to implement stringent security measures and wear the infiltrator down. Even if we send you an extra thousand changelings, we’ll still have two thousand combat-capable soldiers against one.”

It was at that moment that a stray thought passed through Kyria’s head and she put her hoof to her chin. “By the way… do we know why this queen wants your daughters dead?”

“No…we have been preoccupied with more pressing matters,” said Chamelia, but her granddaughter’s question was creasing her brow. “But that is an important question.”

Mirage turned to her sister, her eyes widening. “It does seem ludicrous that a rogue queen would just attack the most powerful hive in the world, and even more insane that an infiltrator would risk detection by staying around.”

Kyria didn’t respond immediately. However, from what Mirage could tell, her sister was deep in thought. She was in fact so deep in thought she had stood up, and started to pace around the table they had placed the crystal, whilst continuing to mutter to herself.

“I mean… killing your daughters would certainly hurt you personally, but it doesn’t affect the strategic strength of your hive. In fact, a far more effective strategy, if they wanted to bring about the downfall of your hive, would be to kill you. That way they would be truly deal a death blow to the hive and is just as equally risky. Besides this infiltrator was nearly able to achieve that by targeting Thera!” exclaimed Kyria.

“Assuming the infiltrator is working with the rogue queen… they must have known you are away from the hive.” Adjusting her tiara, Mirage groaned. “Again, that begs the question of why they seem to be retreating away to lure you away from the hive instead of targeting you?”

Chamelia grimaced, but part of her couldn’t help but nod at her granddaughter’s train of thought. “It could be that the attacks on my daughters are diversions and their real target is me. Armies can change direction after all and other forces can be waiting in wait.”

“Perhaps, but they’ve tried twice to go after our mother and aunts. And that first surprise attack was super risky. If we weren’t there, they might have succeeded,” pointed out Mirage.

Kyria froze in her tracks. “Exactly, they might have succeeded if we weren’t there.”

Both Mirage and Chamelia felt their hearts turn to ice at the dreadful finality of her words.

“Kyria? What do you mean?” Chamelia whispered.

Mirage gasped. “They had enough changelings to pin you down and probably enough to take out the guards. But then we… we arrived and tipped the scales just enough.”

“Oh Creator. That first attack must have been their first plan. Leaving an infiltrator behind and drawing me away from my hive was their backup,” hissed Chamelia.

Mirage’s eyes were widened and it was all she could do to not let her horror fill the room. They’re fully invested in targeting our future.

“It seems the question of why they are targeting my daughters has proven far more crucial than I expected. Kyria, Mirage, review the evidence leftover from both attacks and coordinate countermeasures with Facere. I will ensure that that rogue queen does not lure me farther away from my hive and pin their forced won as best as I can,” Chamelia ordered.

“Wouldn’t you need more help? Your numbers are close,” said Kyria.

Mirage nodded. “As I mentioned previously, it would be a good idea to send more changelings. After all, we will reduce the number of changelings the infiltrator can impersonate and put more pressure on our enemy to achieve results.”

“It would also weaken the soldiers you have in your command,” said Chamelia. She briefly pursed her lips. “But you are not wrong. I would like more soldiers to neutralize this enemy force safely.”

“An extra thousand?” Mirage suggested.

“Yes. And I will send Sarar back-”

Kyria inhaled sharply. “But Grandmother-”

“Thera was just poisoned. She should recover soon enough, but you need an ascended queen back at the hive. I could go back, but Sarar doesn’t have the full trust of my soldiers.”

“Can you not have her call on her hive?” Mirage asked.

Chamelia couldn’t help but muse. There she goes wondering about Sarar... “I am not sure how large her hive is in the future, but in this time, Sarar’s hive is miniscule, and she can field but a squad of soldiers.”

Mirage groaned. “Oh. I see, well then… we’ll get to it.”

Chamelia nodded, part of her wishing she could somehow see her granddaughters right now. “Stay safe, both of you.”

“We will try,” said Kyria her voice trembling with fragile hope.

Author's Note

Feel free to read the behind the scenes blog post here: https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/888236/part-5-chapter-3-the-dinner-death-and-decisions

Chapter 8: Detective Work

Facere and his escort trotted up to what had been Thera’s chambers, frowning at the most curious sight.

“Mirage, what are you doing?”

The queen glanced at her grandfather. “Hello Facere. We are trying to see if there is anything we have missed.”

Since Thera was now in a heavily guarded room in the infirmary, Mirage and Kyria had taken the time to essentially monopolize the room. Notes and little chess pieces adorned various locations in the room.

“So I suppose these pieces represent changelings?” he asked.

“So far as we can remember and from what we have gathered. Did you manage to find the missing guards?”

The chevalier winced. “Yes, we found their bodies.”

Kyria shuddered. “How did they die?”

Facere trotted over to Thera’s bed, his eyes narrowing at the notes on them. “That’s the intriguing part. Changeling chitin is not easy to penetrate, but this infiltrator was skillful and strong enough to plunge some kind of sharp weapon into their heads. Death was instant, quiet and their bodies were hidden in one of our disposal caverns, which masked their smell.”

“Given that level of skill, I would think the infiltrator was at least a chevalier,” said Mirage. She frowned. This was useful information, but it didn’t tell them why the rogue queen’s forces were targeting the children. She had considered if the attack was all just a distraction to get Chamelia out of the hive, but then why have an infiltrator attack the children again?

“Is there anything we can glean about this infiltrator’s character?” Kyria asked.

She glanced at her sister. “Character? Can you elaborate, Kyria?”

“I mean, so that we can try to predict her next move.”

Mirage nearly said that ‘it wasn’t so easy’ because frankly it was never that easy, and frankly it was dangerous to make combat deductions based on such little evidence. Yet, something about her sister’s suggestion made her initial reply hitch in her throat, giving her a moment to think about it.

“Perhaps we should start with not say motive, but say modus operandi. Uh, way of operating.” The elder princess looked over the room again. “From what we found out from Thera, the infiltrator poured the poison into her mouth while she was asleep. Thera saw the infiltrator leave by opening a portal.”

“Nothing much we can deduce from that,” said Facere. He put his hoof to his chin. “Although… I was wondering why try to poison Thera?”

“Because the infiltrator wanted her dead?” Mirage asked.

Kyria blinked. “Hold on, Facere’s right, Mirage. If the infiltrator wanted a distraction, he or she could have easily just stirred up a ruckus somewhere else. I mean, maybe she wanted to take out a powerful enemy—” Kyria shook her head “—No, attempting to kill a queen is extremely risky. She must have—she might have had another goal other than to kill Chamelia’s children.” The young princess regarded her grandddfathe with narrowed eyes. Facere, which queens have a grudge against Chamelia, and Thera for that matter?” she asked.

The chevalier looked up, brow furrowed in thought. “There are a number that are jealous of my wife’s influence and power. The problem is that there is not a queen we can think of that would go to the lengths this one has. I am not sure how much you know about your grandmother, but alone, her hive can destroy most hives, and with her many allies, she is considered unstoppable. It is why we consider this queen a ‘rogue queen.’ We could look into this further, but the political situation does not make sense for any queen we know of to confront Chamelia in such a direct manner.”

Mirage groaned. “But that is contrary to the evidence that suggests this queen clearly has a grudge against Chamelia, which would suggest that our grandmother and perhaps Thera has had interactions with her.”

Kyria suddenly straightened. “What hostile queens that our grandmother thought she had dealt with?”

Facere shook his head, giving his granddaughter an apologetic look. “We deal with hostile queens very permanently.”

“I am aware, but are there any whose bodies are unaccounted for? Or who have been simply sealed away?” Kyria asked.

“Bodies that are—” Facere frowned. “Let me ask your grandmother about that.” He gave his granddaughters an appraising look. “Good thinking both of you. Though, I am quite surprised by your insight Kyria. I thought you haven’t done any combat or advanced infiltrator training.”

Fondly recalling her days at Twilight’s School for Friendship, Kyria grinned sheepishly. “Well, let’s say I went to a school where diplomacy and solving thousand-year-old mysteries were essentially classroom activities.”

Canterlot Castle, Equestria, Present Time…

A pony paced nervously in front of the gatehouse to Canterlot castle, where the city ended and the residence of the Equestrian Royalty began. He was an earth pony with a blonde mane, which was slicked back, whether with gel or a nervous application of saliva and hoof, one couldn’t quite tell.

“Klause, right?”

The earth pony jumped a few inches off the ground, but managed to land and spin around to meet his questioner’s grey eyes.

“Uh, yes! Sorry.” He blinked. There was a coal-colored changeling standing in front of him, which wasn’t an uncommon sight. It was the sky-blue military jacket with silver tassels that took him aback. Klause’s mind ran through the possibilities and realized it was an Equestrian Airship Service dress uniform.

The changeling continued to smile. “I’m Furtiva. I’m Mirage’s fillyfriend.”

Klause managed a smile and shook Furtiva’s hoof. “Are you here to see Harlequin as well?”

Furtiva nodded, slowly, her eyes narrowed and not focused on Klause. “Something must have happened to Kyria and Mirage.”

“Have you heard from either of them?” Klause asked.

The changeling breathed out. “No.”

“The Prince Consort is ready for you,” said a Royal Guard.

Furtiva gestured to Klause to follow her and they trotted after the guard to the security checkpoint. After they were checked, they trotted into the castle grounds.

In light of the ancient monsters and enemies that seemed to constantly plague Equestria of late, Canterlot’s defenses had been upgraded. Anti-airship guns dotted the towers. Klause could see at least one patrolling airship circling overhead, and scores of guards in formation along the battlements.

Unlike Klause, Furtiva was also aware of the unseen defenses, which included reinforced walls, underground bunkers, and several batteries of howitzers ready to bombard approaching landborne threats.

The two guards escorting them left them at a door of silver and green, with a relief that depicted all the species of Equestria: ponies, changelings, minotaurs, zebras, horses, diamond dogs and dragons, playing in a peaceful field.

“So… do we knock or something?” Klause asked.

Furtiva nodded and rapped the cool metal with a hoof.

There was some scuffling before Harlequin pushed the door open. The changeling seemed to sag in his normal dress uniform, which looked wrinkled.

“Furtiva, Klause, please come in.”

“Your Highness? What happened?” Klause asked as he trotted in.

Harlequin shut the door behind him with his magic, but didn’t immediately turn to face them. He heaved a sigh, before slowly trotting around.

“Did you know that Mirage and Kyria were working on a spell to see the past? An advanced scrying spell of sorts?” he asked.

“Yes. She mentioned it many times,” said Furtiva.

“Yes, but I’m not too filled in on the details—” Klause’s eyes widened. “Oh Celestia. What happened? It malfunctioned didn’t it? Are they alright? What—”

“The spell did malfunction and from what we think we know, they’re over a thousand years in the past. We are consulting our experts and Alternia’s heading to the Western Sea to talk to Empress Tethys, but they’re out of reach at the moment.”

Klause sat down on his flank, jaw dropped open, shaking his head. Furtiva… she screwed her eyes shut for a moment and breathed out. “Is there anything we can do?” she asked.

“We need to ascertain how suited they are to dealing with the past to prepare for their return. We have their doctor’s records, well, as much as doctor-patient confidentiality allows us to access, but we need to know if they’ve developed anything recent.”

Klause frowned. “Ah, from what I know, I think Kyria’s fine.”

Just as he finished, Furtiva swallowed, gritting her teeth. “Can I tell you in private?”

The earth pony blinked but quickly trotted to the door and exited it. When they were alone, Harlequin gave Furtiva a worried look. “Is it that bad?”

“It is a potential problem.” Furtiva braced herself. “Sir, Mirage’s been seeing a counselor and has been ordered to stand down from frontline duty indefinitely. I can’t tell you without breaching Mirage’s trust, but she’s… she’s becoming increasingly stressed and—” Furtiva shrugged helplessly “—It’s become rather serious, sir.”

Harlequin groaned, transforming from a changeling that looked like in need of sleep to one that looked like the hope had been beaten out of him.

“Oh no. Did Mirage—oh my poor filly...”

“Sir, I know her mind is not in the best place right now, but she’s got a good head on her shoulders. She should be fine if she doesn’t get into too dangerous a situation,” said Furtiva, desperately, trying to alleviate the prince-consort’s misery.

Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to make the prince-consort feel better, and Furtiva sensed he only felt more miserable, and guilty.

“Sir, it isn’t—”

“Alright, it isn’t, but Alternia and I were worried about Mirage, and you, and Princess Bluebell burning out. Still—” Harlequin gritted his teeth and met Furtiva’s concerned gaze with one of honest shame. “I hate to say this, but your flotilla, the 110th, was the most useful formation we’ve had in the field this past year.”

Furtiva blinked. “Sir? I don’t quite understand. I mean, yes, we could do a lot, and so we did a lot, but how does that make it your fault?”

“I’m wondering if she and I could have demanded that the Airship Command reduce the numbers of missions you were given.” Harlequin grimaced. “You know the 110th was initially an ad-hoc formation of three of our newest cruisers that included you—a decorated officer—and two princesses, Mirage and Bluebell. What you might not have been entirely aware is that it was only supposed to be formed for public appearance purposes. Yet, once you three started to do good work across Equestria, and Griffonia, defending against pirates, fighting bandits, ferrying supplies into dangerous areas, mediating disputes, and showing how committed Equestria and its Royal Family were in supporting and protecting our allies, Airship Command found out they couldn’t stop deploying you to hotspots. You were all so good at your jobs. Alternia and I considered interfering, but it would have been seen as a conflict of interest.”

Furtiva nodded, feeling a strange mix of pride and apprehension. “What changed, sir?”

“The hunt for the Shear. That was too close. We nearly lost Bluebell and Mirage and Airship Command realized that the entire three crews of the ships were burning out. Alternia and I were about to slam down some doors and demand a long rest for you all, but Airship Command was already so alarmed they had stood you down.” The prince-consort sighed. “If only we had done so earlier.”

“I think… that we would have insisted until our hunt for the Shear to be kept on the front lines, sir. It wasn’t just the fleet who wanted us to keep fighting for Equestria, sir,” Furtiva admitted.

Harlequin managed a sheepish smile. “Thank you for listening, Furtiva.”

“Of course sir—”

At that moment the door slammed open and Klause burst in.

“Sorry to interrupt, but you—”

The earth pony squeaked as a purple-mained changeling queen with ragged wings brushed Klause aside. She stormed into the room, eyes searching wildly.

“Alternia! Where the hell is she?” demanded Sarar.

“Sarar? I mean Your Majesty. Alternia’s headed to the Western Sea to talk to the Empress. What are you doing here?” Harlequin asked, stiffening.

“I heard about the spell and Mirage and Kyria. How far did they go back?” demanded the head of the Queens Council.

Somewhat taken aback by the intensity in Sarar’s eyes, Harlequin did his best not to quiver. “A thousand years? They wanted to see Queen Chamelia and-”

Sarar lifted Harlequin off the ground with her magic so she could look him in the eye. “When and where in a thousand years?”

“Your Majesty! Please let the prince-consort go!” hissed Furtiva.

Sarar put Harlequin down and Furtiva could now sense and see that the queen wasn’t angry, but scared. “My apologies! But I think I might have met them!”

“What? You remember! You mean it’s a closed time loop? Then what happened to them?” demanded Harlequin, suddenly putting his face towards Sarar’s.

“That’s the problem, I’m not entirely sure. It’s been too long and the memory… it is unclear, and if it was them, Chamelia, and they—they made sure I only knew them by name. Alternia and her sisters were so young they must have forgotten. We need to contact Kagura and try to collect everything we know.”

“But what do you know?” demanded Furtiva.

Sarar’s face darkened and Furtiva and Harlequin flinched at the sudden onslaught of old anger.

“We were matching wits with a terrible, terrible foe.”

Author's Note

Blog post about the writing of Chapter 3 here: https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/888236/part-5-chapter-3-the-dinner-death-and-decisions

Chapter 9: Old Wounds

The Past...

Trotting through the Everfree hive’s tunnels, Sarar absently brushed what she was certain was a stray leaf out of her mane. The trek through the Everfree forest had been hard as she wanted to make as good as time as possible. Of course, that meant hacking their way through the forest as quickly as they could.

If she was being honest with herself, what most concerned Sarar wasn’t actually the assassin. She had no doubt they would defeat her or him, and the rogue queen that commanded their allegiance. However, Chamelia’s two queen granddaughters… their were far too many unanswered questions about them.

She knocked on the door to Thera’s chambers and after a moment, it swung open to reveal two drones, one with a blue eyes and the other with purple eyes.

“Mirage and Kyria?” Sarar asked, her eyes narrowed.

“Speaking, Queen Sarar. Password?” asked the blue eyed one.

“Your grandmother interrogated Mirage first when you arrived,” said Sarar.

“That’s wrong, because she interrogated Kyria first,” replied the blue-eyed changeling She bowed, “I’m Mirage."

The queen was fully aware that Mirage was in disguise, but something about her poise screamed “strange” and therefore “threat.”

“Where’s Thera?” she demanded.

The other purple-eyed changeling, Kyria, gestured to Sarar to follow her and the pair led her through the hive, through two different patrols of changelings, who they had to give different passwords to.

“At least you strengthened your security,” said Sarar coolly as they entered the chambers.

Thera was sitting by the fire, sipping some water. The white queen made to get up, but Sarar dashed quickly to her side and ‘helped’ her sit back down.

“Queen Thera, you really shouldn’t be exerting yourself.”

“Oh shush, Sarar. I—”

“You’re not well. You’ve never been well not since the Unspeakable Times and now...”

A bit farther back, Kyria and Mirage both stared as Sarar seemed to show, and emit, genuine unhidden distress towards Thera, who only shook her head and passed Sarar a cup of water.

“I have come to terms with what my mother did to me a long time ago, Sarar.” She glanced at Kyria and Mirage. “You know you two can drop the disguise.”

“Uh… no thanks,” said Kyria, smiling far too wide.

“If you wish.” Thera raised her communication crystal. “Chamelia, did you look into Facere’s inquiry?”

From what Kyria and Mirage could tell of Chamelia’s tone through the crystal, frustrated to the point that she sounded like someone had dragged her through a bunch of plunderseed vines.

“If you mean going through my long memory and trying to remember things I would rather forget? Then yes, I managed.”

“We’re very sorry for making you recall this grandmother, but did you manage to remember anything?” Mirage asked.

“A few queens bodies are unaccounted for, but I cannot see how they could have survived.” Chamelia heaved a deep breath. “First, my aunt, Atracina. One of the former Great Hive Mother and Thera’s mother, but I am sure she is dead.”

Mirage frowned. “...I do not recall you ever finding her body—”

“Mirage, Atracina is definitely dead. We poisoned her with her own poison, Torment of the Tortured, stabbed her through the neck, barrel, stomach, haunch and chest, then threw her into Ghastly Gorge. I remember, I stabbed her through the haunch.”

That’s more brutal than I remembered. Thought Kyria and Mirage.

“All the same, her body is unaccounted for… But let’s say it’s very unlikely she survived,” said Kyria. “Are there any other queens?”

“Queen Elphaba, a granddaughter to Queen Borte I. She took issue to me having to kill her sister, Nerissa when she attempted to assassinate me and usurp my hive. So, Elphaba ambushed me near Neighgra Falls, but I managed to shove her into the Falls.”

Sarar frowned. “So she could be alive—”

“Before that I buried a dagger in her shoulder. I then tried to take her alive, but she tried to stab me with her dagger, and so I threw her away from me.”

Mirage sighed. “So possible, but unlikely given her wound.”

Kyria frowned. Mom has survived worst, though, but let’s hear the other candidate first.

“I assume the next one is Queen Ranfeng?” Thera asked.

“Indeed. I believe she is the most likely culprit, precisely because we had issues dealing with her.”

“What do you mean?” Kyria asked.

Thera grimaced. “Ranfeng is our cousin and a daughter of Queen Aranae, and a long-time opponent of the Queens Council. We have fought her on and off for decades. When we formed the Council, Ranfeng was the most powerful of the queens that decided not to submit to its authority. She took her hive, and left. This would not be a problem by itself, but she has continued to defy the council’s rules regarding the conduct of changelings.”

Chamelia’s voice slid into a despondent tone, and for a moment, her voice hitched in her throat. “We know this mainly due to one of the queen daughters we found… Nevillia. Ranfeng… she abandoned her. One of Tomoe’s patrols found her half dead, starved of love, mauled by… all manner of beasts. She’d survived somehow. We… we helped her live comfortably for all the time she had left, but she lasted only a year.”

Mirage and Kyria winced at the wave of fury that rolled off of both the older queens. It was intense. Strangely enough, Sarar seemed almost melancholy.

Thera growled. “Needless to say, we searched for her hive. While Chamelia fought Sarar—”

“Wait, sorry, what does Sarar have to do with this?” Mirage asked.

Sarar averted her eyes. “Ranfeng is… my mother. She allowed me to live, on the condition that I assassinate Chamelia.”

Well that explains why Sarar tried to kill grandmother thought Mirage and Kyria.

“If I may continue, I managed to incapacitate Sarar and convince her to assist us in finding her mother. However, I was wounded while trying to spare Sarar, and so Thera and Tomoe had to pursue Ranfeng.” Chamelia bit back a growl but her tone grew hoarse. “Thera and Tomoe tracked her hive down but the battle was extremely bloody.”

Thera grimaced. “The hive was very well fortified and storming it was hell. In the chaos, Tomoe managed to cut one of Ranfeng’s legs off and she fled with her hive. We never saw her again for a hundred years and she’s never resurfaced despite our best efforts. So we thought she died.”

Chamelia coughed. “There’s one more clue that makes me believe that Ranfeng is the one responsible. She had a dark blue eyes and mane, with coal-colored carapace, the same as the queen who attacked us. So she could be Ranfeng’s queen-daughter.”

“Can we really go by that assumption? Sarar has purple mane and eyes, and of your daughters, only Chrysalis has your hair and eye color,” Mirage said.

“Which is why I said “could.” That being said, there is a higher chance that a queen-daughter has the same hair and eye color as their mother, which is why I suspect Ranfeng is responsible for this,” said Chamelia.

“But Grandmother, can this really be the case?” asked Kyria. “If Ranfeng is such a notoriously abusive mother, why would she work with her daughter?”

In her camp, Chamelia frowned. Kyria had a good point, but they didn’t have any other leads if Ranfeng wasn’t responsible.

“Abuse could be employed in different ways. She could be an unwilling participant in Ranfeng’s plans,” Thera said gently. “Admittedly, Ranfeng does not seem the type to… use this tactic.”

Sarar coughed. “Why don’t we keep an open mind and continue to try to gather evidence? It is true my mother is the most likely candidate, but I am in agreement with Kyria that she is unlikely to work with her daughter.”

“I think that would be wise,” said Thera. She turned to the crystal. “Chamelia, I know you want to apprehend this changeling, but it would be best if we act carefully and without making assumptions. We should also set up a joint link so we can share information in case of an emergency.”

Chamelia sighed. “Thank you for the advice, Thera. I think that would be the best course of action.”

Author's Note

See below for your behind the scenes blog post:
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/888848/part-7-sisterly-screaming

Chapter 10: A Bad Day

Although he was the queen’s consort, Facere loved his hive and frankly didn’t consider regular patrols to be too below his station. It was good for the morale of his fellow changelings and after all, the eyes he trusted most were his eyes.

It gladdened his heart to see that Mirage also agreed with his style of leadership and the two were now leading a squad in a circuit around the nursery’s corridors.

“How old are you anyway, Facere?” Mirage asked.

“I just reached fifty—”

The princess gawked at Facere. “Wait, you’re fifty?”

“Oh yes. I am not exactly young and spry anymore. But I can still do my part,” said the changeling.

Mirage frowned. “But… shouldn’t you spend more time with your children? I mean, you can right?”

Facere looked pensive. “I can, and Chamelia would let me, but even before this situation, there were too many threats to her and my children for me to rest. Perhaps I might regret this in the future, but I find it… difficult to just spend time with them. I mean, you also seem to enjoy your job as a warrior.”

Averting her gaze, the princess gritted her teeth. “I do, but… recently I’ve been wondering about it. I… I know I need a break from it, but I… I don’t know, I kind of feel ashamed that I need a break.”

“Don’t be. Being a warrior is stressful enough already. You don’t need to worry about whether or not you need a break hanging over your head as well,” said Facere.

“I suppose not--”

Facere cut in, a bit sharply, but not unkindly. “What is your body and mind telling you, Mirage?”

The changeling princess winced. “That I need to wind down… to step back from fighting, after this is over, of course.”

“Then you need to do that. There’s no shame in that.” He fixed his eyes back onto the corridor in front of him. “Speaking of things hanging over our heads, that’s odd.”

Mirage narrowed her eyes at what Facere was pointing to and immediately found herself wondering the same thing.

The Everfree hive’s corridors were normally reinforced with green changeling goo to safeguard against collapses. They were normally dimly lit by small candles placed in alcoves cut into the walls. This was what made the green glow lighting up the roof of the corridor so strange to Mirage and Facere’s eyes.

“Is it a trap?” Mirage asked.

Facere, and most of his patrol was already checking the walls around them.

“If it was it should have sprung and sometimes-Mirage?”

Mirage frowned and blinked as her flank touched something hard behind her. She glanced to her rear and found herself confronted with the puzzled look of the changeling behind her, who she had just bumped into.

“We need to stay still,” she said, and found herself surprised by the high pitch of her voice.

“Mirage, what’s wrong?” Facere asked.

The queen wasn’t sure why she did it, but she put a shield up, surrounding the patrol. “Facere contact Kyria, alert a medical team and a bomb disposal-, damnit, nevermind. Just keep your eyes peeled and don’t move, don’t touch anything. Get your strongest shields up and start… start making sure the area in the shield is safe and free of spells. We might be right over the trap.”

Facere glanced at his hooves with narrow eyes for a moment, before looking back up. “Mirage, I was just about to say that sometimes luminescent cave moss grows on top of our changeling goo, making an odd glow.”

Heart pounding in her chest, Mirage whirled around, horn lit for light, eyes searching, “But—”

“Mirage, if it was a trap, and I have faced a couple of these in my life, they would normally be put around a corner to take the patrol completely by surprise. We would not be having this conversation if it was a competent trap.”

Despite the cool, reassuring tone of Facere’s voice, the queen could not stop her eyes from searching. She remembered why now. She was conducting the procedures for roadside bombs, but… there were no bombs in this era. And yet she couldn’t stop herself from looking.

“But what if it was a trap meant to waylay competent soldiers? I mean—” She forced herself to take a longer breath. “This feels off to me.”

“Why does it feel off?” Facere asked.

“I don’t know!” Mirage wailed, glancing over her shoulder again. “I… my instincts are screaming at me, but my head… tells me to trust you so.” She fixed Facere with wide eyes. “Facere, am I going insane?”

“I think you need to lie down, Mirage,” said Facere. He smiled as disarmingly as he could, though, Mirage could feel the concern in his emotions. “Just take slow breaths, take down your shield and follow me.” He signalled with his hoof to the changelings and they took their shields down.

“No. I—I don’t want to take the shield down,” she gasped.

“Alright, just move with us,” he said, beckoning her with his hoof. Mirage nodded and the patrol turned around, though, Facere continued to back up, his eyes maintaining contact with hers.

She followed, her eyes on him, but her horn still blazing. Every part of her body was tensed, and trembling, ready to bolt. Only her grandfather’s voice kept her from throwing all her magic into her shield.

“That’s it, keep going. We’re going to be fine,” said Facere.

Mirage nodded, and she forced herself to breathe. Her grandfather was right, she was just panicking. There wasn’t anything wrong. It was just all in her head.

“Sorry, I… I don’t know what came over me.” She groaned. “I’m… I really need a break.”

“Oh you really do, but better safe than sorry. Misplaced instincts is better than having no instincts at all,” said Facere nonchalantly.

Mirage nodded and wiped a tear from her eye. “I… sorry. I… can we talk after we get to a safe place?”

“Of course Mirage,” said Facere, nodding, wide smile on his face. She returned his smile.

And that was when an ear-splitting pain burst into her horn and pitch darkness fell over them like a cape. The last thing she saw was the beginnings of a look of horror on her grandfather’s face, and him pouncing toward her.

Kyria was playing dolls with Chrysalis and Alternia when the ground seemed to jiggle under her flank. She thought for a moment she had sat down for too long, but the two sisters blinked at one another.

“The ground bounced?” squeaked Alternia, setting aside Mara, her changeling doll made of dyed cloth and stuffed with straw.

“It does that sometimes,” said Chrysalis self-assuredly, as only a child can be. She raised her changeling doll, Thorax, into the air and spun it around. “Whee!”

Kyria nodded. “Yes it sometimes-”

Kyria… Help…

She sprang to her hooves. Mirage!? Mirage! But all she could feel was shock and confusion. Putting her borrowed doll “Luna” down, Kyria smiled as calmly as she could to her aunt and mother. “Alternia, Chrysalis, sorry but I need to go.”

“What’s wrong—”

“Mirage is hurt. Sorry, I need to go!” Kyria gestured for a changeling to come over. “You, take care of them and be on the alert, this may be a distraction. I’ll look for them.” And she was through the door, running down the corridor, tracing the patrol route they had taken, her communication crystal in her magic.

Thera! Sarar! Mirage is hurt, there seems to be an explosion!

There was silence over the link before Sarar shrieked. What!

I’m looking into it! Sarar, Thera?

I am getting up, scrambling the infirmary, said Thera.

I am heading to the nursery, yelled Sarar.

Thanks.

Her eyes peeled, Kyria thundered through the corridors. In what seemed like hours, she searched the empty corridors, heart in her throat.

She didn’t so much as stumble on to them as she walked into the carnage. What looked like simple darkness ahead revealed itself to be crumpled dirt and sections of hardened green goo.

Trotting up, Kyria lit her horn, eyes wide as the light showed the earth shifting. Unthinking, she scrabbled at the dirt, brushing it behind her, hooves flailing and shoving hardened green goo aside.

“Mirage! Facere! Say something! Anything!”

She brushed by a hoof which grasped her. She daren’t yank on it, but she did her best to clear it out, revealing a choking changeling.

By now, more workers were here, drawn by the cave-in, they furiously brushed back earth with their hooves, extricating their fellows. She dug beside them, wiping aside tears with the back of her hoof, using her magic to help.

Some changeling dragged Kyria back, and she struggled against the hoof on her shoulder, until she realized it was Thera.

“You need to let them work!” snapped the white queen.

“But—”

“They know how to get changelings out of a cave in. Do you?” she demanded.

“Mirage and Facere are in there! I…” Kyria bit back her sob. “I… Okay.”

Some of the remaining suddenly shifted, surrounded by a blue glow, before settling back down.

“Mirage! That’s her magic-”

More dirt shifted and with the help of the workers present, they revealed Facere’s hindquarters, then the changeling himself. He was unconscious and there was a nasty gash on his forehead. Kyria winced as the changeling medics quickly lifted him onto a stretcher and took him away.

“Will he—”

“I don’t know,” said Thera.

And next was Mirage, who gasped as her face was revealed. The dirt seemed to have collapsed around her so it was easy to free her. But she was groggy and muttering incoherently.

“Good. You take care of her, I’m heading back to the nursery,” said Thera, opening a portal.

Kyria noded, and watched, tears in her eyes, as her sister was lifted onto a stretcher.

Alternia and Chrysalis were restless when Thera stepped through the portal. Sarar was looking out of the door, ignoring the two, and leaving their pleas for the sorry changeling guards trying to calm them down.

Rattling off the password, Thera got the affirmative response from Sarar and nodded.

“Did the infiltrator come by?” she asked.

“No. It’s been quiet,” said Sarar, tension clear in her voice.

Thera nodded, but didn’t approach Sarar, just in case. Long practiced caution made her send a message through the communication crystal. Sarar, are you in the nursery?

Yes. sent back Sarar, giving Thera a knowing look. “What happened?” she asked.

“The infiltrator triggered a cave-in. Or set up a trap to trigger a cave in. The patrol, including Mirage and Facere, are dazed or unconscious, but alive,” said Thera.

Sarar’s eyes widened with horror. “How? We patrol here fairly frequently and Facere is sharp.”

“I am not sure. I suspect the infiltrator was nearby to trigger the trap, but… it is too early to guess. Kyria’s with them.”

Sarar winced and glanced at Thera. “Do you think the infiltrator was targeting Mirage and Facere on purpose?”

The white queen shook her head. “He or she would target us, not a drone and an unascended Queen. What surprises me is that they’re alive.”

“I know. So… judging by their pattern of behaviour, they will be targeting the nursery.”

“Yes. Keep your wits about you, Sarar,” Thera muttered.

“Mirage… please… wake up….”

“Kyria?” Mirage groaned. Her horn hurt and her eyelids felt so damn heavy.

“Mirage! Oh thank Celestia!”

Alternia’s eldest daughter opened her eyes and immediately winced at the ear-splitting headache. “What…happened.”

“There was a trap that collapsed the corridor around you. Somehow you all survived, but grandfather’s unconscious.”

The princess groaned, trying to push herself up. “The nursery-”

“Sarar and Thera are watching it. You need to lie down!” snapped Kyria.

“How long was I out? I need to-” Mirage asked, but her younger sister pressed her firmly back into the bed.

“Can you stop thinking about your job and rest, Mirage?”

The princess groaned and let her head flop onto her pillow. “Alright alright, but tell me, has that damn infiltrator attacked us?”

Kyria shook her head. “Not yet. We’re not sure why, but it’s been quiet.”

Mirage frowned. “That’s… that’s ridiculous, he or she had the best distraction possible. Are you absolutely sure the infiltrator has not made a move?”

“Positive,” said Kyria. Her sister tried to get up, but found a glass of water in front of her. Sighing, Mirage took it and quietly sipped it.

“Mirage, can you not… go out again and just stay with mom and our aunts?”

The older changeling winced. “I… I don’t want to, but I think I need to… I think the only reason we didn’t die was because I was…” Mirage glanced at her sister. “I had a panic attack.”

Kyria didn’t say anything, she just kept watching Mirage with a level, unreadable gaze. So she continued.

“I had put a shield up because there was some green light on the ceiling and no trap. Grandfather was trying to calm me down, but my instincts and my training for hidden bombs, well I thought the trap was to fool us into a false sense of security. I… I panicked, I shouldn’t have done that, but I was right. I… I think I’m getting a better read on the infiltrator Kyria. If I can confront her a few more times--”

“Oh. I hear you, but you need to be extremely careful.” Kyria swallowed and wrapped her hooves around her sister. “Mirage, if we… if we lost you…”

“I know.” She slowly extricated herself from the hug and lay back in the cushions. “I will be as careful as I can.”

“Good. I’ll tell Sarar and Thera they probably should take a rest. The infiltrator doesn’t seem to be attacking.”

“Alright.” Mirage nestled herself into the bed and yawned, her exhaustion catching up to her.

Mirage woke up to a quiet infirmary at what seemed to be the dead of night. She blinked, looking around as she pushed the covers off of her.

Four guards were in the infirmary, and Kyria was sleeping in a small cot moved next to her bed. Her sister was sucking part of her hoof, which was a bad habit of hers when she slept.

Chuckling, Mirage pushed herself out of her bed. She needed a walk, as she knew she wasn’t sleeping any longer.

“I’m just heading to the nursery,” said Mirage, opening a portal. The guards nodded and she stepped through.

The guards at the entrance of the doorway braced themselves, but relaxed as she trotted through and gave the pass phrase. They did watch her as she went through the door and trotted to the beds of her mother and aunts.

Belladonna was tucked nicely into her crib, mouth slightly agape. In the larger crib next to her, was Simulacris, limbs askew, covers kicked half on and off. Mirage gave them a passing glance before heading to the beds.

Chrysalis had her hooves wrapped around a toy changeling of straw and wool. Of course, she had it the wrong way up so she was resting her cheek on the toy’s flank. Mirage dearly wished she could take a photograph, but that would wake up the sleeping changeling.

Taking a moment to brace herself, Mirage trotted over to her mother, and jumped a few inches into the air.

“OH! Mo-mghff!” Mirage managed to muffle her mouth in time with both hooves as she saw Alternia’s blue eyes peek through the dark.

“Eeep!” Alternia ducked back under her green blanket, forming a small green hill, which shuffled slightly as she peaked out from under the blanket.

“Mirage?”

“Oh, Alternia. I… sorry, I was just… I just wanted to see you.”

The little changeling frowned, “It’s very late.”

“I know. I…” Mirage shut her eyes, shaking her head. She knew what she really wanted. She wanted her mother to hug her and tell her, everything’s alright. She wanted to sit by her father’s side and listen to him read a story. She wanted…

“Mirage, what’s wrong?” asked the little changeling.

“I… I just miss my parents, Alternia.” Sitting down next to the bed, Mirage brushed a lock of her mother’s mane from her cheek. And for just a moment, she wanted to just tell her mother everything that she would face, everything she would go through. If only to protect the innocence staring up at her.

“Oh… do you want a hug, Mirage? Mom always says that hugs make changelings feel better.”

“I… yes.”

Small legs wrapped around Mirage’s barrel and she couldn’t help but bury her nose into her mother’s mane and hug back. It wasn’t like her mother’s hugs, but… for now, this was enough.

Too soon, Mirage had to let go and tuck Alternia back into bed. The little changeling was tired after all and she was yawning as Mirage pulled the covers over her.

Out of nowhere, mostly because it contrasted so suddenly with the reverie she felt, and the approval she sensed around her… she felt a flash of disdain. It was from a changeling behind her, one of those on guard.

Every sense screaming for her to run, Mirage stiffly stood up and turned around, composing herself. She smiled at the guards present. “Take good care of them.”

The watch captain smiled back. “Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of her.”

Mirage nodded. “I don’t doubt it- though…” she continued to smile. “If you pardon my paranoia, do you mind if you let me know who went in and out of the nursery today?”

“Apart from Sarar and Thera? Just the last shift. Taran over there is doing a double shift though. His replacement got caught in the trap.”

“Oh of course. Carry on—” Mirage blinked, her eyes and senses homing in on a changeling standing beside the watch captain, the one that had been identified as Taran. He was coal black with turquoise-green eyes, and seemed to be the perfect mirror of a changeling guard. He held a shortsword and a buckler at his side.

But all her senses were on alert, and… she was suspicious of something.

“Taran, I’m sorry, but… do you mind if I burn your carapace, just a bit?” Mirage asked, smiling brightly.

“Taran” frowned, as if considered his options for a moment, and bolted, running for the door, he slammed it open and raced away, far faster than any guard ought to have been.

Mirage tore after him, snapping an order for the guards to remain where they were whilst she drew both cutlass and shield.

It was a good thing she did, a spell slammed into her upraised shield, scorching the metal and throwing the device into her face. Redirecting the shield out of her way, Mirage fired a firebolt, which the infiltrator blocked.

The infiltrator is at the nursery! She sent down her mental link, before dodging the infiltrator’s second spell, and charged.

Her cutlass crashed down on the changeling’s buckler. Mirage drew her blade back, trying to get around the buckler, but had to duck as the changeling threw the metal disk at her head. As the princess recovered her balance, the changeling threw it’s sword at Mirage’s neck, forcing her to block it with her shield.

Mirage pushed her shield out of her vision, only to find the changeling gathering pink colored magic at its horn. It was so bright, it cast sharp jagged shadows along the floor, and sparks seemed to fly.

Taking this all in a moment, Mirage threw all her magic into her peytral in a desperate effort to bolster her emergency shield spell.

A beam of pink, tinged with blood-red, smashed into the shield which shone bright blue as it drew on her magic. A high pitched whine deafened the princess and she was thrown off her hooves. It was like she was being punched by some massive hoof the size of a changeling.

In a moment, she was flying, spinning through the air. In the next, she was smashing into the ground, flank-first. Her head slamming so hard into the ground so hard her tiara fell off. Somehow, Mirage managed to scramble to her hooves, to find the infiltrator, more than twenty meters away, glaring at her with narrowed “turquoise” eyes. Sparing a glance at her peytral, Mirage saw to her horror that the emeralds that powered the emergency shield spell were smoking in their insets. Several of them even had hairline cracks.

“Who in Tartarus are you?” whispered the princess.

The changeling, still in the guise of one of the Everfree hive’s guards, smirked and ran away, leaving the princess shaking in the dim hallway.

Chapter 12: Stepping Up and Stepping Down

Chamelia waited silently in the sky. Her eyes squinting, trying vainly to see the changelings she knew were below her. The only sign of they were there was a pillar of white smoke rising over the night greenery.

All around her, their wings buzzing furiously, were hundreds of changelings soaring above the treetops of the Everfree forest. For somewhere below the foliage was a battle.

With an additional thousand troops being sent to her for reinforcements, Chamelia had opted to spread her changelings out in one-hundred strong companies.

And after days of following tracks, one of these companies had finally just made contact with the enemy.

Companies A through C, prepare to dive on the white smoke. On my mark.

In response, her captains yelled out orders and the various changelings tightened their formations, their horns glowing green.

Mark!

Three hundred changelings wrapped themselves in magic and plunged, like a horde of comets crashing through the night air. Chamelia followed them, not as quickly, but with a barrier of her own.

Branches and leaves scratching past her shield, Chamelia emerged through the foliage and into the battlefield. Over craters left behind by her changelings plunging assault, blue-eyed and turquoise eyed changelings clashed. The numbers weren’t clear as the whirling melee had broken up into hundreds of individual duels between changelings, but their were far more of her changelings than that of the enemy’s.

Eyes scanning the field, Chamelia took in spears blocking blows from warhammers, poleaxes piercing carapace, shortswords cutting at limbs. She was not indifferent to them, especially when her changelings fell victim to them, but years of battle had hardened her to it and focused her attention on what was important.

There was no sign of the enemy queen. And from the movement of the blue-eyed changelings, they were trying to flee. Still, her fighters outnumbered them so if they were going to escape…

We see the queen. She’s laying down covering fire. Northwards of battlefield.

On my way. Companies G to I, I want you over here as soon as possible.

Chamelia winced as a bolt of magic slammed into her shield. Some changeling’s vain attempt to try to shoot her down. She didn’t even bother retaliating as she weaved through the trees.

Atop a knoll that rose ahead of her hostile queen was throwing everything she had in her arsenal. Fireballs, lightning bolts and beams of magic covered the headlong flight of the blue-eyed changelings that ran away, disengaging from the melee.

Chamelia, grimaced and transformed into a fly, and her vision expanded so she could see almost the entire battlefield around her. It was always a bit disorientating transforming into a species with a form so different from her own, which is why most changelings stuck to quadrapeds. Long practice and experience allowed her to easily accommodate to the shift, though, and she thrummed her wings.

Being a fly and fighting in dim light did mean that the hostile queen would have to squint to spot her, but Chamelia took no chances. She flew close to tree branches and often used the foliage to block the queen’s view of her. She zoomed so close to the wide-leafed boughs that she could see the crags of tree bark splitting.

Finally, she was in the perfect place, over the back of the enemy queen as she continued to fire. All she needed was to pounce.

Well, first she had to check her surroundings. It wouldn’t be the first time a queen had hidden guards watching for those that wanted to ambush her.

Luckily, Chamelia’s bug-eyed vision meant she had an excellent view of the squad of changelings hidden around the enemy queen. Chamelia could disable them, but it would be hard to do so.

No, she would try for a decapitating strike first and if that didn’t work, she’d engage them and then enemy queen.

Gathering her magic, Chamelia shed her disguise, which she imagined was quite a horrifying sight for the changeling queen’s guards. One doesn’t rarely see a full-grown ascended queen bursting out from nowhere.

Probably due to the mental link from her bodyguards, the queen reacted immediately, dodging sideways and throwing up a weak shield as Chamelia slammed down on her with a curse meant to cut through carapace. The shield shattered, but it did slow the slash of green down enough for the changeling queen to dodge. Another spell already charging on her horn, Chamelia summoned a wave of cold that caused frost to crystalize in the air and stuck the queen’s hair. With the queen moving sluggishly, Chamelia promptly formed her magic into a hard lance and stabbed it at the queen’s head.

A wide-eyed changeling slammed into his queen’s side, knocking her out of the way of the lance, which skewered him.

Chamelia cursed, but raised a shield around her as the bodyguards threw spears and spells at her. In that time, the queen ran away and disappeared into a portal.

The bodyguards were also fleeing too, pursued by yelling turquoise-eyed changelings. They had won the skirmish.

Yet, Chamelia could only feel bittersweet annoyance as she trotted to the dying changeling that had saved his queen.

“You have done well to protect your queen, and I am merciful. Tell me where is she heading to and I will try to save your life.”

The changeling spat at Chamelia’s hoof and sneered at her. “For… Queen… Ragnar.”

Ragnar? That wasn’t a name she had heard of before. Chamelia focused on her link with her hive. Did any of you hear the enemy mention a Queen Ragnar?

Yes, it appears to be their queen, mentioned one of the captains.

So that was true, but then who was she?

“Queen Ragnar… I have not heard of her,” said Sarar. “Then again, I was only one of several of Ranfeng’s daughters.”

“I’ll make inquiries with the Queens Council, but I think it’s unlikely she’ll show up. If her name meant any significance, no changeling would be stupid enough to reveal it,” said Thera.

Back in her tent, lying on her bedroll, Chamelia frowned. She could feel a… strained tension in Sarar and Thera’s voices.

Not to mention, her granddaughters and Facere hadn’t spoken yet.

“Thank you Thera, do you have anything to report?”

Silence and a mix of emotions seemed to course down the link between them. Chamelia could taste acrid fear, bitter sadness and searing rage, but the reason was unsaid.

“There was another attack,” said Sarar. Chamelia could hear her inhale. “Facere’s been wounded along with an entire squad of changelings when he went out patrolling with Mirage.”

She was on her hooves in an instant, every muscle in her body braced.

“How badly?” Chamelia demanded.

“Facere’s awake, but groggy. The infiltrator set a trap that collapsed part of a tunnel on the patrol. Luckily, Mirage suspected a trap and put up a shield, so he’s relatively unharmed, and the others just have various bruises and cuts in their carapaces. Mirage is fine too, but she’s…”

Chamelia heard Thera took a breath. “After the infiltrator set off their trap, it tried to go for the nursery. However, we managed to get there and stay on guard. So… it disguised itself as a changeling guard and assassinated the changeling who was supposed to replace its shift. Somehow it got the day’s pass phrases.”

“What happened? Are my daughters—”

“They’re fine. Mirage… well after the first attack, she was feeling nervous and so visited your daughters. Because of the attack, she was feeling on edge, so decided to do a disguise check on the guards when she sensed some changeling who disdained her cuddling Alternia. The infiltrator fled, and Mirage pursued and tried to engage.”

Sarar, sounding rather perplexed, cut in. “And somehow the infiltrator overpowered Mirage.”

“What?”

“Broke through her shield and threw her with a blast of magic.” Thera sighed. “Mirage is not taking the double attack well, especially since she apparently anticipated the trap and the infiltrator’s movement before we did.”

Setting aside her admiration for her granddaughter’s alertness aside, Chamelia frowned. “What do you mean she is not taking this well?”

“Mirage is terrified. She managed to explain what happened to us, but now she’s locked herself in her room without another word. Kyria’s trying to talk to her.” A frustrated growl from Sarar came over the link. “Chamelia, who exactly are Mirage and Kyria?”

“They’re my granddaughters—”

“Yes I know, but where do they come from? I cannot figure them out. Mirage is strategically minded and a competent fighter, but she seems… I’ve never seen a changeling queen so young suffer battle fatigue. Kyria seems far more level-headed, but she lacks much of the combat training you expect a queen her age to have.”

“Sarar, Thera, I know you are both curious, but I cannot disclose this information. I would like to but… no. I simply cannot. I can only ask that you both trust in my judgement.”

Chamelia heard Sarar grumble, but as she expected, the queen didn’t protest… too much.

“I understand.”

“Perhaps another day, Chamelia?” asked Thera cheerfully.

“Maybe,” said Chamelia, quietly. “This infiltrator is proving a far greater threat than we thought. Both the skill it’s displayed and the now… its power… we might need to change our strategy.”

Kyria’s voice cut in, quiet, but firm. “That’s probably because this infiltrator is a queen.”

A while ago…

The mouth-wateringly warm scent of fried sausage, the fruity smell of cave flatbread filled the corridor. Kyria also brought a platter of carrots and wild apples, which she knew her sister liked.

All of this was part of her fifth attempt to coax Mirage out of her room.

“Mirage? I brought you some food. If you want it, you’ll have to open the door.”

The door, remained, like all the other times she had approached, firmly shut and like all the other times wasn’t even a sound.

“Please?”

Kyria sat down in front of the door, the platter held in her magic.

Taking a deep breath, Kyria grit her teeth and took in a deep breath. If Mirage was going to force her to annoy her to open the door, she might as well do it well. “Do you want to build a snowpony—”

The door opened and Kyria’s voice trailed off as she stared at her sister.

Because Mirage looked fine, if frowning a bit from . Her hair was done, she was clean, there were no food scraps in her mane. And when Kyria looked past Mirage, she could see the bedsheets were tangled, but the room itself was in perfect condition.

“Ice? Really?”

“Well… yeah.” Kyria scratched behind her ear. Ice was her favorite musical. “Mirage, you look… good.”

Mirage snorted, and that was when Kyria felt the first hint of something was wrong. The emotions that her sister was projecting were repressed, but she could still feel that fear.

“Come in Kyria… I need to talk to you.”

The younger princess gulped, but trotted in. Her sister took a seat on the floor, next to her bed and so she sat in front of Mirage, setting the platter down between them.

The princess sighed. “Kyria… I’m a mess right now.”

“Mirage… I know, but you saved mom, our aunts, and grandfather. You’ve already done so much.”

“Kyria, I had a panic attack before the trap went off.” That widened Kyria’s eyes and all the assurances she said fell from her open mouth.

“My instincts were that the trap wasn’t what it appeared to be and I was right, but I didn’t act properly. I lost control of my emotions.”

“But you fought off the infiltrator when he or she tried to attack our mother,” Kyria protested.

“I barely did, Kyria, and… I’m terrified of facing him, or her, again. The infiltrator broke my shield and my peytral...it was smoking, and the crystals...well, several are cracked.” Mirage shuddered. “The infiltrator was strong enough that it could kill me. It probably ran because it knew reinforcements were on the way.”

“Wait, but your peytral… was designed by Twilight Sparkle with assistance from Starlight Glimmer, Sunset Shimmer, and Shining Armor. I know it contains limited power, but you’re saying an infiltrator damaged it?” Kyria asked.

“Yes! That’s why I… I need time to rest, Kyria. I’m… I don’t want to fight. Not now, maybe later, but I need time. Space. Just…” Shutting her eyes, Mirage started to tremble. “Right now, I feel like the next time I come into combat, I’m just going to fall apart and start crying.”

“That’s… I… but—” the younger queen swallowed. “Okay.”

Mirage looked up from the ground, “Kyria?”

“Just realizing I’ve been… relying on you a lot more than I thought.” Kyria smiled weakly. “It’s easy not to be scared when your sister is doing her best to take the fight to the enemy.”

“Oh… Kyria… I’m—”

“It’s alright, I… I am a princess too, Mirage.” She exhaled, slowly, thinking back to what her mother had taught her, recalling all her lessons at the School of Friendship. “I can do this. I can represent us.”

Mirage pushed the platter aside and pulled her sister into a hug. “If you need my help, I will do what I can. We’re in this together, Kyria.”

She leaned into her sister’s shoulder. “Thanks, Mirage.”

“Sorry for abandoning you like this. I just… I need a day.”

She squeezed her sister and smiled. “I can hold on until then. Don’t feel… don’t feel ashamed that you need a moment to collect yourself, Mirage. You were supposed to stand down after all, until this kerfuffle happened.”

Mirage smiled. “Okay. Thank you, Kyria, for understanding.”

Letting go of her sister, Kyria trotted to the door. “Enjoy the food.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Shutting the door behind her, Kyria made her way to the meeting. She knew she was going to be late, but honestly she didn’t expect she’d be able to attend. Mirage’s… acceptance of her own condition gave her a moment to walk and think.

The infiltrator was exceptionally cunning, skilled, and had significant magical power. It also seemed to have a vendetta against Chamelia, and possibly Thera, given that she was targeted for the diversion.

Yet, the… choice of diversions seemed a bit odd. Not quite paying attention to exactly where she was going, Kyria devoted her thoughts to recalling what her aunt Luna had taught her about looking at the bigger picture.

“Kyria, in looking at a mystery that seems to have no answer, you must first look at the wider context of a situation, then you must question all of your assumptions, and rely on reason. Making assumptions are necessary for making quick decisions, but they can hinder your path to the truth.”

Truth… huh. What did Rarity say about finding the truth? Oh right, she was recounting how she deduced the culprit to a mystery…right, it was Wind Rider’s attempt to frame Rainbow Dash.

Oh? How did I realize it was Wind Rider? I followed what the evidence dearie. I looked for what seemed out of place, abnormal, and I tried to see how they might fit together.

Alright, so what has this infiltrator done?

She turned over the facts in her head, the first attack on the nursery, the poisoning of Thera, the tunnel collapse, and Mirage fighting the infiltrator. She ignored what they suspected about the enemy queen’s identity, that could come later.

Something clicked in Kyria’s head and she froze.

“Oh shit.”

“We’re dealing with a queen infiltrator,” said Kyria to those in the room and into the linking crystal. She was panting slightly, from having ran to the room. Sarar was looking at her in puzzlement, probably because she had never seen her without a disguise before.

Thera wasn’t frowning, but she seemed rather wary of the suggestion. “Kyria, that seems rather unlikely as it would pose significant risk for the queen here, and it would suggest there are two queens working together. This isn’t impossible, but there is no faction opposed to us.”

Deciding not to mention the damage done to the magical artefact her sister wore, Kyria drew on some other, rather good reasons. “The fact is that Mirage is an unascended queen and she was somehow overpowered by the infiltrator. I know my sister. She’s not going to be magically overpowered by a mere infiltrator. Then there’s the skill this infiltrator has shown. A queen would be easily capable of that.”

“But why put herself in such a dangerous position? Queens are capable of infiltrating targets, but this is Chamelia’s hive we’re talking about. It’s suicide,” said Sarar.

“Did you not try to kill my grandmother?” Kyria asked.

Sarar bristled. “I had no choice—Ah, I see your point. There might be extenuating circumstances.”

“Yes. I suspect this infiltrator, this queen, has a personal stake in this vendetta.” Kyria grimaced. “You’re not going to like my theory, but… let’s consider Thera’s poisoning. What poison was used?”

Chamelia prompted, “White Death.”

“Painful killer, but there are deadlier, and more common poisons, right?”

Thera nodded. “Due to the torture my mother put me through, I am mostly immune to many of them, but yes, there are some deadlier poisons that might have worked.”

“Let’s hold that thought for a moment and consider the tunnel collapse. The queen set up a trap to kill, but… why collapse the tunnel?”

“Why not? It’s easy,” said Sarar.

“But it’s not easy to kill changelings unless you collapse a lot of tunnel. Yes, I know Mirage had a shield up, which is why the patrol was only injured, but why didn’t the infiltrator just set up an explosive spell at the hooves of the patrol? It would have severely injured most of them.”

Sarar’s eyes widened. “Kyria, are you trying to say that this queen… has been toying with us?”

The changeling princess pursed her lips. “Not in that she’s leaving us alive on purpose, but her priority is to inflict as much pain on us as possible, while going for grandmother’s daughters. This queen… this infiltrator, is as emotionally involved as the queen who is fighting Chamelia in the Everfree forest, maybe even more.”

“This… this is a good theory, but if it’s true, then… why? And how? And most of all, who? Who are there two queens who want to hurt us so badly?” muttered Chamelia.

“You don’t think it’s Ranfeng?” asked Thera.

Sarar piped up. “I definitely don’t think it’s my mother. I already doubted she would work with any of her queen daughters and frankly, she’s not the type to play with her food. She goes for the kill. That and if it was Ranfeng, why is she continuing to go after Chamelia and not you Thera?”

“Why indeed would she go after Chamelia,” muttered Thera.

For a moment, Kyria thought Thera seemed to be on the cusp of realizing something important, but then the older queen shook her head in dismissal.

“Then who would it be?” muttered Chamelia.

Cloying, was the word to describe the silence that descended upon the four queens, even as they were separated by miles.

“I… perhaps we should focus on what we can do rather than what the enemy might be doing,” Kyria said quietly. It seemed like something her aunts Luna or Belladonna might say.

“That is a good idea. Chamelia, you said you managed to bring the enemy queen into battle?” Thera asked.

“A brief skirmish. We managed to rout them,” said Chamelia.

“Then I think we should keep at it. The more pressure we apply to the forces outside, the more desperate this infiltrator is going to get, and the more mistakes they might make.”

“Alright, I will do that, but you all should be extremely careful. Especially you and your sister, Kyria.”

“We will. Oh and… Mirage is fine, but she needs a day to collect herself.”

“Alright, let me know if she would like to talk,” said Chamelia, but Kyria could tell that she and the others in the room sounded doubtful.

And if Kyria was honest with herself, she wasn’t sure when—or if—Mirage would recover.

She wasn’t really attempting to sneak to the training room in the hive, but Mirage really didn’t want company.

At this late hour, the long, low-ceilinged cavern where changelings could train was empty. The only sound was the trickle of water from a small fountain at the end of the hallway. Mirage noticed some dummies, racks of weapons, and practice swords and armor, but she put those aside in her mind. Instead, she found an empty space, dimly lit by green changeling lights and drew her cutlass from her peytral.

A long nap, some good food, and some hot tea made Mirage feel a lot better about herself, about fighting, about facing that terrifying infiltrator. And yet, the mere thought of fighting made her stomach roil with unease.

Taking a deep breath, Mirage glanced at the steel. It was unknicked, so she raised the blade and took a stance, the first part of a pattern.

Her mother preferred a good book and a nice cup of tea, which Mirage liked too. Yet, she had to admit to herself that her auntie Celestia was right to introduce her to Equestrian martial arts. Earth pony boxing styles, pegasi pattern dances, and unicorn forms that were once lost to time were being brought back through Celestia’s memory and tireless promotion. The more tense times also encouraged ponies and others to take up the study of martial arts.

With the drive to learn more from other species and their cultures, her aunts had also made public Changeling martial arts forms. Chrysalis and Belladonna, when they had time, had made it a special point to school Mirage in these forms.

Step, cut, spin, slash. Her cutlass, a birthday gift from her father, wasn’t an exact match for most Equestrian and changeling sword styles. So, Celestia and Chrysalis had taught her saber forms.

Mirage was out of practice, having needed to devote more time to command training in her teenage years. Yet, she had also found that performing the patterns of her childhood when she was stressed to be… calming, centering. With every turn and slash, every step and strike, she could put aside the stress, the worry.

She finished the final step of the pattern with a jump and stab, posing with her cutlass pointing upward a bit, her legs crouched slightly.

Someone thumped their hooves on the ground and Mirage slowly straightened, turning around to see Facere a bandage around the right part of his head. He was smiling broadly, though.

Before Mirage could speak, he gave the updated passphrase and she answered back. He then trotted up, eyes appreciative.

“The Dance of the Wolf. Huh, so a few things have survived to the future.”

Glancing to see nobody was looking, Mirage nodded. “Chrysalis taught it to me.”

“Ah, that explains it. What other patterns do you know?” Facere asked.

“Uh, some changeling, some Equestrian ones.” Mirage sighed. “I’m a bit out of practice.”

“Do you know the Dance of the Dragons?”

“Oh, that one? It’s been forgotten. We know fragments of it, but we can’t—” Mirage blinked and frowned. “You’re… not going to ask me how I’m doing?”

Her grandfather gave her a knowing look. “I could, but do you want me to?”

She gave it a thought and shook her head.

The changeling chuckled and picked up a practice sword for himself in his magic. “I know you use this cutlass, but we can make it work. First few steps are…”

And so he explained, going through the motions with the sword. They didn’t talk about the infiltrator, they didn’t mention Mirage’s panic attack, they just went through the motions of the pattern together. Facere corrected Mirage sometimes, but otherwise he just did the pattern with her.

It was only after both were covered in sweat and sitting down by the fountain, did the changeling finally ask, “Feeling better?”

“Much.” Mirage washed her face with the fountain's water and lay down on the ground. “Can we talk?”

“Of course. What do you want to talk about?” Facere asked.

Mirage swallowed. “Grandfather, I’m… I’m scared. I know it’s natural, but I’m… perhaps it’s because I need a break, but I don’t know what to do.”

“How do you normally try to control your fear?” Her grandfather’s tone didn’t have a hint of judgement. It was just quiet and questioning.

“Back at home… I have my friends to talk to, my dad, my marefriend Furtiva, and sometimes mom.”

Facere gave his granddaughter an odd look. “Sometimes mom?”

“Mom’s busy ruling Equestria, and it’s sometimes difficult to talk to her. I’ve been away from home so long.” She sighed. She seemed to be doing that quite a lot these days. “It’s another of the many reasons I have for wanting to stand down.”

“Ah. Honestly, I’m scared too.”

“You are?” Mirage sighed. “Well, yeah right, super-powerful infiltrator.”

“Oh, you haven’t heard?” Facere asked.

“What?”

“The infiltrator is a changeling queen, probably an ascended one. At least, that’s what we suspect now.”

Mirage stared at Facere. It was simultaneously the most horrifying news she had heard and the most relieving one.

“Celestia, a changeling queen. No wonder I lost.”

“I know Alternia rules Equestria with Celestia and Luna, but I still find it incredibly puzzling why you and Kyria occasionally swear by Celestia—but I digress—yes, no wonder you lost,” said Facere, giving his granddaughter a flat look. “Future stuff?”

“Future stuff.” Groaning, the princess shook her head. She turned to the elderly changeling. “So how do you deal with your fear?”

“Hug my wife, talk to my friends, get drunk, but it’s not really the time or place to do so right now. Same as you really,” he said matter-of-factly.

Mirage couldn’t face her grandfather now, the shame, the sheer worry… it made her drop her gaze to the ground. “But my fear isn’t… rational. I mean, not all fear is rational, or is it? I mean, it is… I just don’t know what’s going to happen next battle, what I will do and I’m… I’m worried I’ll freeze.”

“Hmm, a valid concern given you just had quite a fright, but I don’t think you will freeze. You don’t seem the kind of changeling to freeze in danger.”

“But what if I do?” Mirage asked morosely.

He locked his gaze with her, not harshly, but with a cool, calm look. “You stop thinking of what might happen and keep thinking of what you can do to stay alive, Mirage. Keep making decisions, and don’t stop moving. I assume that’s what you were trained to do?”

Yes, it was something she was trained to do. Yet, hearing it from Facere, her grandfather, did make her feel better.

“Oh, and don’t be afraid to run.”

That made Mirage pause. She took a glance around and cast a spell to muffle their conversation. Bringing her neck down so she was at Facere’s eye-level she asked, “Run? But what if I’m guarding your daughters, my mom and aunts?”

Facere snorted. “Well don’t leave them of course. Take them with you. I’m just reminding you that you need not face this queen directly.”

“Because what’s most important is our family,” Mirage said.

“Exactly.”

She took a deep breath and sheathed the cutlass back into her peytral. “Thank you, grandfather.” Her leg was thankfully not too sweaty so she wrapped both around Facere.

“Anytime, Mirage,” said Facere, hugging his granddaughter back.

Author's Note

The 1-2 day an update schedule got disrupted because I got slammed by the flu. Sorry all.

As to why ponies and changelings use weapons and have patterns when they’re holding them with magic, one, it’s cool. Two, my headcanon is that magic in Equestria also has muscular qualities. You can hone it and practice it through repetitive motion. As such, a weapon user who holds his sword with magic can become better through practice. Three, some ponies and changelings in particular use weapons telekinetically because they’re not powerful mages, but do have enough magic for a telekinesis spell.

Chapter 13: Target Acquired

Author's Note

Shorter update today, but it's a doozy.

Chapter 13: Target Acquired

The tension in the hive could be cut by a knife, or popped like a needle piercing a balloon. Chamelia’s hive was large and powerful, but the knowledge that amongst the changelings was a queen who had killed some of their number and was trying to kill more of them had them all understandably scared.

What none of them knew was that it was actually worse with Chamelia’s forces.

Ever since the first small battle, Ragnar’s hive had been fleeing, and Chamelia’s had been pursuing, but it also led to a series of small skirmishes between scouting parties from both forces.

Ragnar’s scouts would lay in the tree cover and jump out when Chamelia’s changelings passed. Or her scouts would hide in the underbrush and then surprise their trackers.

The Evergreen hive’s scouts were therefore extremely cautious, but that had paid dividends with bodies of enemy changelings dying on the spears and axes of her companies.

Yet, that caution had a risk.

“You mean we have lost Ragnar?” Sarar asked over the crystal.

“We have been trying to locate her forces over the past few days, but while we have tracks of their forces, they are heading in multiple directions and may be decoys,” said Chamelia. “I am certain we will find them, but with my tracking spell having worn off, it is a setback. Has there been any progress finding the infiltrator?”

“She hasn’t made a move recently. Then again, we have been on high alert with identity checks and patrols,” said Thera.

“And how is Mirage?” Chamelia asked.

“Staying with the children for the moment. She said she feels better, but would prefer to take a more passive role,” Kyria said.

“Alright, I think we need to continue with this defensive stance and provoke her to action by destroying the enemy force,” Chamelia said. “They are in retreat. I should be able to overpower them in a fortnight.”

“You are right. For us, we will continue to guard the nursery. I don’t doubt there will be casualties, but In the meantime, we can limit the queen’s actions,” Thera said.

“But would the two queens let us do this so easily?” Sarar asked, frowning.

“They will not, but the situation is against them in the long run,” pointed out Chamelia.

Kyria didn’t say anything. She privately believed Sarar was right, but she wasn’t sure what the enemy queens could possibly do.

Seven-year old Chrysalis practicing with a spear was the most adorable thing Mirage had ever seen. Well, right now it just a staff, but the older princess was slowly helping the changeling through the steps of one of the first patterns.

She could hear the irony ringing through her mind, but she didn’t think she would be affecting the timeline too much. After all, the little queen already liked the spear.

The fact that Alternia was thumping with her hooves as her sister finished the pattern simultaneously brought a grin to Mirage’s face, and a wince.

“That was amaaaazing Chryssy!”

Chrysalis tried to stand as tall as she can with the staff butt on the ground. “Thank you!” She levitated the staff over to Alternia. “Do you want to try?”

“I think Alternia’s a bit too young to start yet, Chrysalis. When her magic gets stronger, she can do it with you,” said Mirage, kindly. She passed Chrysalis a flask of water. “Perhaps a halberd pattern.”

“Halberd?” asked Alternia.

Mirage blinked, swallowed, hard, and chuckled weakly. “Or spear like your sister-”

“But I want a different one! What’s a halberd?” Alternia asked.

The princess, now really sweating, glanced at a guard who proffered his halberd.

Timeline shenanigans. TIMELINE SHENANIGANS. Was mom’s favorite weapon’s choice influenced by me????

Mirage took a deep breath. But… but a beginner pattern should be fine! I mean, this isn’t going to be completely paradoxical… is it? And so the princess went through the pattern, slowly, swinging the weapon in cuts, slashes, and stabs that one could use the weapon for.

When she finished, both Chrysalis thumped her hooves on the ground appreciatively, whilst Alternia looked almost beside herself.

“Can I? Can I?”

“In a few years, when you grow up, Alternia,” said Mirage. Slightly sweaty herself, she grabbed a flask and sipped it. “I need to go now, be good and get ready for lunch.”

The pair groaned, but after a brief hug, Mirage managed to extricate herself from the nursery.

Which was when she promptly ran into Kyria. Not literally, but they did nearly bump noses as they rounded the corner.

“Mirage!”

“Sister!”

Concentrating, Mirage focused on the link they had. You in front of me right now?

Yes. Kyria sent, along with quite a bit of worried emotions.

“Kyria? I can feel you’re worried. Is there something you’d like to talk about?”

The younger queen looked uncertain. “It’s related to the defense of the hive. I’m not sure if you want to hear it, especially since you should be trying to relax.”

“Oh, but…” Mirage groaned and settled herself with a resigned smile. “Oh alright. But if there is anything I can help you with, please, don’t hesitate.”

Kyria nodded and suddenly looked rather thoughtful. “There is actually. I… I have a suspicion about something… well. What have you done when you disagreed with your superior officer about something?”

Mirage narrowed her eyes, but decided that for her stress levels, she should simply answer the question, and not enquire more. “I would ask them for a private meeting, where I could inquire as to the reasons for their decision, and then explain that I disagreed with them, and why.”

“But what if you disagreed because you had a hunch? And… you need their help because you can’t figure out the conclusion on your own?” Kyria asked.

The older princess nodded, slowly. “Then I would specify to them, what was making me so nervous and why it was making me so nervous, and how would it benefit our side to rectify that issue.”

From how Kyria immediately smiled, her eyes wide, Mirage knew she’d said the right thing.

“Thanks Mirage! I’ll explain later. I need to go. Sorry!” she exclaimed, and she was off, buzzing down the corridor.

“You’re welcome!” Mirage called back.

“Kyria? Is there something wrong,” Chamelia asked. Kyria was filled with urgency, which to Chamelia, felt like a tangy, fluttering, wave through the link.

“Grandmother, I’m sorry I had to ask to talk to you, but I have an urgent concern regarding the enemy’s intentions and the situation at hand,” stammered the young queen.

“Go on, and slow down, Kyria.”

“You said that we would win the conflict in the end because the enemy queens have lower numbers than us, right?”

“Indeed.” Where are you going with this, Kyria? Wondered Chamelia privately.

“If we know this, then the enemy queens have to know this as well, and they will be formulating some plan to balance the scales. Should we not be more concerned that we’ve now lost contact with their forces?” Kyria asked.

“I am concerned, Kyria, which is why I am trying to find them,” said Chamelia patiently, but with the barest hint of exasperation pulsing down the link.

“But…” Kyria took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Remember what Mirage said, focus on what specifically is bothering you. “The thing is, Grandmother, I’m unsure as to why one of the queens is luring your forces away from the hive, when their goal is to kill your children, my aunts and my mother.”

“They’re doing this to reduce the number of forces that could track the enemy infiltrator,” Chamelia said.

“But you said it yourself, if we stay alert, we would win in the long term. They have to know that.” The princess’s mind hurt, as it thrummed through the scenarios, the possible reasons. “The only reason that their first attack on the nursery failed was because they didn’t expect Mirage and I to be there.”

Chamelia could feel the growing alarm in Kyria, and… she felt increasingly worried as well, but she wasn’t sure why. “That is true…”

“Which means that these two queens tend to create plans that are designed to maximize the probability of killing the young queens.” The young queen put her hoof on her chest, forcing down the panic. “Now, luring some of your soldiers away and leaving an infiltrator behind to attempt an assassionation could have worked, but they have lost the element of surprise by this point. Since they prefer plans with the highest probability of success, they will switch to a different plan. Something else, something new, with a higher chance of success.”

“Alright, I follow your reasoning, but do you know what will they do next?”

Back at the hive, Kyria threw up her hooves. “I don’t know! I… I’m not a military strategist. I just… I just try to read creatures. I mean… Huh.” The young queen blinked. “Grandmother, let’s say… imagine you were in the enemy queens position. What would you do to try to accomplish your goal?”

Chamelia frowned. “I would back off. At this point, it is too risky. I would lose far too many changelings if I engaged them in any way. Yes, I have a queen on the inside, but their movements are heavily restricted.”

“Okay, let’s say… you didn’t care about how many changelings died. You just want to kill the children, at any cost, to hurt Chamelia, Queen of the Everfree hive. What would you do? You’re being tracked by a superior force, your infiltrator is finding less and less openings to exploit in an increasingly alert hive. What would you do to try to… well not say even the odds, but just increase your chances?”

The younger changeling was speaking through the link so quickly now that Chamelia had to shut her eyes to process it all.

Do or die. Everything for the mission. The mission. I need to finish the mission. Well first, I’d lose the superior enemy force. They’re pinning me down. But what would I do next—

The solution hit Chamelia like a charging bugbear.

Kyria could feel the cold horror pouring through the mental link like the tsunami that had hit Venecia all those years ago. It actually threw her out of the mental link. She was about to refocus on her crystal to reestablish it, but Chamelia’s mental message hit her first.

Kyria! Thera! Sarar! Mirage! Ragnar’s attempting a strike at my hive! She lost my forces so she could launch a direct attack on the hive! Get every changeling to battlestations and protect my children! They will be there in less than three days!

Chapter 14: On the Other Side

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Chapter 15: Course Clear

“Kyria, can we talk after you finish playing?”

Mirage could see her sister blink in surprise, from where she was sitting, levitating pony dolls with Chrysalis and Mirage’s changeling dolls. Honestly, if it was any other circumstance, Mirage would laugh because Kyria was sitting amongst a bunch of blocks that were arranged in a sort of castle. They were “play infiltrating” the alicorn sister’s castle in the Everfree.

“Of course. I’ll be back Chrysalis, Alternia.”

“Okay!” said Alternia, though, Chrysalis looked rather disappointed.

Trotting to Mirage’s room, Kyria frowned as Mirage locked the door and put a spell on that from the silence that filled the room, seemed to be a noise-cancelling spell.

“Okay. First of all, we need a plan for if things go sideways, and second of all, I need to check if you know how to use dad’s gun.”

Kyria nodded, but also found herself frowning at her sister. “Uh… how are we going to shoot anything?”

That brought a chuckle from Mirage. “I don’t think we can actually do some shooting without some hard questions being asked, but I just want to make sure you know your basic gun safety and know how to shoot and reload. That, and I need to make sure the weapons are clean.”

“Oh, yeah… it’s been a while since I’ve shot a weapon.” She levitated the weapon out, making sure it was pointing down.

“A while?” asked Mirage with a smirk, as she held the gun with her magic and checked the safety.

“Uh… honestly about a year?”

“Well then little sister, first off, this is your safety…”

Kyria listened intently as Mirage went through the procedures, and explained the characteristics of her father’s revolver, which was an Equestria Detective Special typically employed by law enforcement. Mirage then promptly disassembled the revolver and started to clean it and examine the condition of Kyria’s .38 calibre ammunition.

“Mirage, you really do think we’ll be using our guns, don’t you?” Kyria asked.

The changeling gave the trigger mechanism of the now reassembled revolver—pointed at a wall—a pull, and the hammer made a sharp click as she did so. “I hope we don’t, but we honestly might. If this is a closed time-loop, Chamelia didn’t tell our mother and aunts about this incident for something other than the fact that we were involved. I mean, you would think this incident would be a very useful way to demonstrate counter-infiltration tactics, particularly against a queen, but it seems she spoke nothing of it to them.”

“You… huh, that’s a good point. What… when should we use them then?” Kyria asked.

Mirage, after flicking the safety on, loaded the revolver and gave it back to Kyria, who put it back in her peytral. “That’s what I want to talk to you about… Because I’m not entirely sure either.” The older princess pursed her lips. “We… we don’t know if we are in a closed-time loop like the one Twilight set herself up in by accident all those years ago. Or if we cast a spell like the one Starlight tried to do.”

Kyria nodded. “Right, because depending on that our priorities change… if it was a closed time loop we don’t need to worry so much, but if it was an open time loop, then we need to make doubly sure that what we do now doesn’t affect the timestream.” A thoughtful, but determined look spread across Kyria’s features. “I think we need to prioritize protecting mom and our aunts over everything else.”

There was a sudden worry that Kyria could feel from her sister after she said that, “Mirage?”

“I… I’m not so sure about that.”

The younger sister stared at the elder and for the first time, disgust flared in her. “What! But-”

“Kyria, we’re also part of Equestria’s future. If this is a closed time loop and we die before our family can get us back, mom and our aunts will still be alive and we’ll-”

“A closed time loop doesn’t necessarily mean that and what if it is an open one?” Kyria demanded heatedly.

“I… I don’t know.” Mirage’s shoulders slumped and Kyria blinked as she sensed the helplessness that her sister felt. “I don’t know what might happen if I need to choose between you and mom, Kyria,” she whispered. “Every battle I’ve fought, the ones I loved were relatively safe in their airships, or far away from the frontline. If the queen infiltrator puts me in that position...”

The thought of having to choose whether to save her sister or her mother sent a shiver up Kyria’s spine.

“That’s exactly why I wanted to make a plan,” said Mirage. “You and I aren’t going to be fighting in the front lines of this battle. We’re guarding mom and our aunts from that queen infiltrator and we need to think of a way so that we never have to choose.”

One hoof on her chest, Kyria took a deep breath, and nodded. “I agree, and I think I have an idea.”

Kyria and Mirage—back in their drone disguise—Sarar and Thera quietly watched the changelings prepare the front door of the Everfree Hive. Or to be more correct, they were preparing the siege entrance.

Essentially, Chamelia and Thera’s changelings had sealed all but two of the hidden entrances to the hive, to be used as sally ports. As for the main entrance to the hive, the changelings hadn’t set up fortifications for it, as much as they had started to prepare a fairly extensive existing fortification.

Mirage and Kyria was fairly shocked by this because this structure hadn’t survived to the present. Outside of the main tunnel entrance, the changelings had somehow assembled a wooden fort from prefabricated parts and changeling goo to stick it together. It featured a wooden palisade the height of three changelings, interspersed with towers with arrow slits. The palisade even featured a walkway and merlons. The palisade even had a iron-wrapped wooden gate that could be lifted by pulleys and counterweights.

“Why fight outside? Wouldn’t it be easier to just stay in the caves?” wondered Kyria.

Thera answered this question with an understanding smile. “Fighting in caves is brutal, and frankly it would negate the numbers advantage we have. We’ll keep forces in the caves of course, but it would be better for us to meet them on the surface. The fort can provide us with supporting fire and a place to treat our wounded.”

Mirage hmmed. “Since Ragnar and the queen she’s working with, have only up to a thousand changelings, we need to anticipate that she might have some trick or contingency to deal with our numbers and fortifications. Can we call on any other changeling queens for support?”

“I’ve asked Hatshepsut for reinforcements, but it will take her ten days to arrive. Chamelia is close behind, though,” said Thera. She took a deep breath. “If that is all, then we should get a good night’s sleep. They’re likely going to attack tomorrow.”

“One last thing… I’m a bit concerned about your plan to ensure that your grandmother’s children are safe,” said Sarar. She fixed Mirage and Kyria with a narrow-eyed look. “In the worst case scenario… you two will be the most in danger. And we can’t even send you reinforcements.”

“We can’t waste time identifying friendlies if the infiltrator makes an attempt, Sarar,” said Mirage. If they had the recipe to her aunt Belladonna’s new potion, which revealed changelings on contact, then they would actually use it, but Mirage and Kyria only knew the ingredient list vaguely.

“You are sure two squads are enough?” Thera asked.

“The nursery doesn’t have enough room for more than that.” Kyria forced a smile on her features. “Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.”

The crystals buzzed and the group focused on them as Chamelia made a mental link with them.

I am making best speed, but I can’t reach them until afternoon tomorrow, and my troops and I are going to be exhausted. They all could feel Chamelia heaving in a deep breath. I’m sorry, I… I wish I was there with you.

Grandmother, don’t worry, we are going to be fine. Said Kyria.

Please, stay safe, all of you. Mirage, Kyria, can we talk for a moment in your room after this?

Mirage and Kyria glanced at each other. Their grandmother seemed worried, but nothing that would indicate why she wanted to talk to them in private. Of course, said Mirage.

Once in the room, Mirage and Kyria reconnected to Chamelia who immediately asked, Are you absolutely sure you never heard about this in the future?

I’m afraid not, Grandmother, said Mirage.

Chamelia’s thoughts were emanating an increasingly desperate tension. You are not withholding it because of some worry about changing the future?

Kyria sighed. No. We really don’t know. We wish we could tell you.

I hate your plan. You both are going to be in incredible danger!

The frustration and alarm in Chamelia’s thoughts startled the sisters, who were only calmed by the fact they could sense the love behind it.

Grandma- said Kyria.

Kin of my kin should not be trying to confront such a dangerous enemy! You should be… spending time learning about our history, playing with your mother and aunts… Although Chamelia made no sound, the sisters could practically hear her grimace. Great Creator curse this Ragnar and her associate.

Mirage took a deep breath. Grandmother, if worst comes to worst, we have no intention of dying. We will use whatever tools necessary to survive.

You promise? Chamelia demanded.

Yes, said the two, simultaneously.

Love you, Grandma. Thought Kyria.

Love you too, Kyria, Mirage.

Chapter 16: Tricks

Thera and Sarar grimaced as the black cloud of what could only be Ragnar’s changelings rose over the forest canopy. The white queen had brought two hundred changelings herself, and with Chamelia’s changelings, they totaled three thousand two hundred. About a thousand of those changelings were dispersed in the hive to guard those that couldn’t fight.

Facing them from the looks of it, were the anticipated one thousand changelings, most clad in armour, some chain mail, some chitin, and some wore a combination of plate and mail.

And Ragnar was hovering in the centre of this horde. She didn’t wield any weapons, but then again, the queen seemed to prefer casting spells as opposed to swinging a weapon.

Sarar hefted her flanged mace. “Thera… are you sure you can fight this battle?”

“I can coordinate the troops.” She gestured with a hoof to the three squads of white-carapaced-pink-eyed changelings, “And I have guards.”

“Well then…” Sarar pointed her mace at Ragnar. “Queen Ragnar, this is your last warning. Surrender now and we will-”

“Oh spare me the pleasantries, sister,” bellowed Ragnar.

Thera’s eyes shot to Sarar, who looked as if she got bit by a bugbear.

“What.”

“Oh, you don’t see the family resemblance, Sarar? I mean I’m not sure how you ended up with purple hair, perhaps it was your unfortunate father. No matter. Mom’s dead by the way.”

Sarar was shaking, the mace long slowly dropping to the floor of the walkway. “You… you killed her?”

“Yes I did, and I made sure she suffered,” said Ragnar.

“Oh. That’s good—” Sarar froze, lips flared in disgust and she turned to Thera, shame and horror clear on her face.

“I will consider that a thank you. Or… might you do your sister a favor for taking revenge on our terrible mother?” Ragnar smiled. It looked almost sincere, but her wide eyes and the flared edge of her lips gave it a wild… unhinged look. “Just… stay out of the battle. I won’t ask you to turn on Queen Thera, and Chamelia, but you owe me.”

Ragnar sneered, just to emphasize the point. Yet, Queen Thera merely smiled, and at that, the blue-maned queen felt worry worm into her heart.

The reason why became very quickly evident as Sarar spat over the rampart. “I owe you? I owe you nothing! I owe Chamelia and Thera everything! I nearly killed her and she… she… she…” Sarar shook.

Sarar had ambushed Chamelia, who had been en route to some secret meeting near the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters. She had thought - no, then she had been certain she was going to die. But it was either die killing Chamelia, or go back to her mother, Ranfeng. Over the fourteen years of her life, her mother had given her little food or love, whose only reward was disdainful words, who punished her with days locked in a solitary, unlit cell, who would almost definitely send her out against another impossible mission, like clearing an area of manticores, or fighting a dragon.

Chamelia had immediately been wounded by Sarar's thrown spear, and she had charged at the queen, trying to overwhelm her, but despite the injury, it was hopeless. Sarar had been slammed into a tree, her leg broken, magic spent. Zagara’s eldest daughter had towered over her, ready to deliver the killing blow, only pausing to ask who sent her. Sarar… having nothing to lose, had confessed to her mother’s plan, and shut her eyes in despair.

And Chamelia had hugged her. She’d hugged her. The first changeling to ever touch her any kindness and it was the one she had been sent to kill.

The memory of that, the advice and the care Chamelia had given to her, for nothing but her friendship and support, those memory blazed bright in Sarar’s purple eyes as she raised her mace, which was another gift from her mentor.

“She saved me and if I have to fight you to protect her children… I will.”

Ragnar rolled her eyes. “Oh, it was worth a try, but you are going to die sc-- ”

A beam of pink magic made the queen yelp and dive to dodge it.

“You were saying?” Thera asked.

Seeing that the white queen wasn’t even looking at her, but actually inspecting her hoof, Ragnar hissed with fury. She didn’t care that Thera was trying to provoke her.

“That’s it! Special company, fire!”

Five year old Alternia looked up at her daughter with a frown, a bright blue cloak in her hooves. “Why do we have to wear these cloaks, Mirage?”

“Trust me. They’ll protect you,” said Mirage smiling.

Alternia still looked unsure, which was when Facere trotted up and brushed her mane with a hoof, whilst he used his magic to fasten the cloak around her shoulders. “There, look how nicely they fit you!”

“Thank you, dad,” said Alternia. She nuzzled Facere.

“It does suit me rather well,” said Chrysalis, giving a twirl in her bright green cloak.

Kyria trotted up behind them, carrying the quietly sleeping Simulacris and Belladonna, swaddled in red and purple cloth. Two guards out of the twenty they’d been assigned ushered Alternia and Chrysalis away to the back of the nursery, while Facere glared at his granddaughters.

“For the record, I like this plan of yours as much as your grandmother does. That means I absolutely detest it.”

Neither changeling princess reacted, other than to meet Facere’s glare with stoic determination.

“Do you have a better idea that protects the girls?” Kyria asked, not mockingly, but with an inquiring tone.

“No, and that annoys me greatly,” said Facere.

“Your input was still very helpful in ironing the details out, g-Facere,” said Mirage, catching herself.

He nodded. “Well, let’s activate those traps.”

Mirage and Kyria nodded and turned to the nursery entrance. Their horns glowed and a magic circle surrounded the door. They knew two more traps lined the hallways, one magical, the other physical - which had already been activated. They’d only had so much time to set up three in secrecy, along with their other preparations.

“And now we wait,” muttered Mirage as Kyria trotted to the back to join the children, who stood beside her, eyes wide. She also took the two babies in her magic.

Changelings formed up in two lines of ten in front of Kyria, but she was tall enough that she stood over them. Facere was right next to Kyria, grimly holding up a shortsword and dagger. Mirage took a deep breath and hefted her shield.

THUNK - KRAKOOM!

The changelings jumped, eyes wide, on the shut door, but there was no scream and in the silence after, they could hear trotting.

“We dropped a bunch of boulders on top of her and she survived that?” whispered Facere.

“We did expect that she would survive that, but that’s… did she blow the boulders apart?” wondered Kyria.

Mirage braced herself behind her shield. “No matter, ready your weapons.”

“Fire at will!” yelled Thera, not willing to give Ragnar and whatever her “Special Company” was the chance to use their weapons.

Arrows and magic spat upward, whilst Ragnar’s changelings ducked behind shields magical and physical. Most were fine, but Thera and Sarar’s spells managed to smash several out of the sky.

But from the flanks, spherical beige objects were rolling, falling from the sky. Someone had launched them from the cover of the forest.

Sarar managed to shoot a beam at one, which smashed it open.

White mist emerged and spread through the air. Others hit the fort and smashed open, leading to more gas to spread.

Thera didn’t need to give an order, the changelings dodged away from the gas, but many got caught in it. Their eyes immediately started to tear up, hissing as the gas stung their carapaces.

“Companies one through fifteen charge them! Sarar you take companies sixteen to eighteen and find those who threw those gas bombs!” ordered Thera.

Sarar hesitated for just a second, but the queen’s tone brooked no argument. So she jumped into the air, flying towards the uncleared area of the forest. Three hundred changelings followed her.

Meanwhile, white and coal-black changelings leapt into the air and charged up towards the blue-eyed changelings. Thera, more sedately, but with no less focus, hefted her warhammer, which had a metal spike on one end of the head, a armor-punching flat on the other and a spike in its handle, and buzzed her wings, eyes on Ragnar, who dived down at her.

The second trap that Mirage and Kyria had prepared, with Facere’s help, was a complicated piece of arcane magic. Twilight and Starlight had taught them how to cast a Blast Rune. It was an expensive magic spell that used powdered diamonds (which they had kept in their peytrals) to create a near-invisible rune, but only needed minimal magic. It did however contain an incredibly powerful explosive spell.

In theory, after activation, the Rune would explode if anybody neared it, unleashing an explosive spell that should smash the queen. It was far away enough from the nursery that they should be fine, and with the hive mostly empty, they weren’t worrying about a cave collapse.

But they didn’t hear an explosion. Instead, all the waiting changelings heard was a fizzling hiss.

“Damn, she must have disarmed it,” muttered Kyria.

She must have rolled a good investigation check. Said Mirage through the mental link, nervous laughter in that thought.

Despite the situation, that made Kyria chuckle. We should really play a game when we get back home, with dad planning and running the campaign.

Should we invite Discord, Big Mac, and Spike along? Mirage asked.

Yes! And aunt Chrysalis and Luna as well!

“Girls, I know you’re nervous, but please focus,” called out Facere.

Mirage nodded and took a deep breath, whilst Kyria blinked. “How do you-”

“Chamelia does it with Thera all the time,” said Facere grimly.

“Dad… are we going to be alright?” asked Chrysalis.

Facere nodded, smiling bravely, and Kyria did her best to mimic her grandfather.

“There’s nothing to worry about, Chryssy,” she said, smiling.

The door swung open, and all the changeling tensed. Horns glowed as shields raised over them.

The infiltrator, it could be nobody else, stood in the doorway, still disguised as one of the Everfree hive’s changelings. She was giving a flat, unamused stare at the group.

“Look, hand over the young queens and I won’t kill you horribly,” she said.

Mirage wondered how one could look so… bored, and yet, so menacing. It had to be the sheer… contempt that was flowing off of the disguised queen. Hatred didn’t even accurately describe how it felt, to meet this changeling’s eye and to realize that all she saw in front of her, were worthless obstacles to her goal.

“Go to Tartarus,” said Mirage.

The final trap activated and Mirage and Kyria’s purple and blue magic flames rose in a fire around the queen. Even as the trap activated, every changeling in the room dropped their shields and fired spells at the queen.

The trap spell wasn’t complicated. It was actually rather simple. It held whatever stepped in it down, freezing it. It was this trap that gave everybody in the room an opening to just blast the queen with everything they had. Several javelins were even added to the mix.

But to no avail. A blood-pink barrier, shaped like an archaic circular shield, appeared in front of the queen and met the assault. The magic splashed against the shield, which held, though, the shield itself was pushed back toward the grimacing infiltrator.

“We’re changing to the second plan!” yelled Mirage. Drawing on her love reserves, now rapidly dwindling due to all the combat she’d been involved in, she summoned several magical lances and threw them at the queen.

Meanwhile, Kyria pulled a smoke bomb from her peytral and threw it over the guards. It hit the ground in front of her sister and the cave slowly started to fill with grey smoke.

“Alternia, Chrysalis, come with me!” yelled the young princess. Quickly, before the smoke completely obscured her vision, she galloped to the side of the nursery, towards one of the walls. Mirage also followed her, whilst the changelings continued to fire at the queen.

Kyria reached the wall first, and pushed the hidden door open. She threw Alternia and Chrysalis’s forms, who yelped, onto Mirage’s back. Holding onto Belladonna and Simulacris’s swaddling, she tore down the hallway, whilst her sister shut the door.

“No!” The queen snarled and her horn burned a furious pink. A sphere of magic expanded, blowing out the blue and purple flames that surrounded her. The wave blasted the changelings off their hooves.

“STOP THEM!” yelled Facere.

Try as they might to scramble onto their feet, the guards were too late, as the “changeling” ran through the smoke, blasted the door open and raced after them.

In the tunnel that was sloping towards the surface, Mirage glanced back. “She’s following us!”

Shit! I hate this plan! Thought Kyria, not looking back as she pushed the hatch they had just built into the nursery and sprang into sunlight.

Mirage blinked at her sister swearing, even if it was in her mind. This was YOUR idea sister! She thought back as she made sure Alternia and Chrysalis were still on her back and slammed the hatch shut, casting a reinforcing spell on the hatch. The pair then shot into the air, buzzing through the skies as fast as they could.

I KNOW! Why didn’t you talk me out of this!

CRUNCH!

The hatch was blasted open and the infiltrator burst out from it, her eyes narrowed on the fleeing sisters. Hissing, she charged after them, wings buzzing furiously.

Because it was a damn good idea!

Facere peaked under Chrysalis’s bed to find his second daughter’s wide blue eyes looking back at him.

Alternia stammered, “Father? What happened, did we win? Where’s Mirage and Kyria-”

“They’ll be fine,” lied Facere, he gave Alternia a hoof and pulled her out from under the bed. One of his fellows pulled out the sleeping Belladonna and Simulacris, swaddled in plain white cloths. Chrysalis followed, frowning.

“Dad, why-” Chrysalis froze, a horrified look of realization spreading across her features. “Wait, the cloaks. They took our cloaks because-”

Facere nuzzled Chrysalis, unable to hide his worry. “We need to get moving, Chryssy. Please, help me with your sisters.”

Author's Note

According to Wanderer D... Mirage and Kyria pulled "A willow" XD

Chapter 17: The Death of a Queen

Thera winced as Ragnar fired a beam at her, forcing her to dive, and buzz backward. She knew she wasn’t an amazing fighter, and Ragnar’s assault was vicious.

The enemy queen kept firing beam after beam at her, forcing the older queen to weave and shield herself with pink magic. All the while, Thera watched, waiting for her opportunity.

The moment came when Ragnar paused, probably taking a breath from all her spellcasting. That was when Thera threw her hammer, her magic still surrounding the spinning weapon. It’s spiked handle scraped off the hastily raised shield, followed shortly by the flat head smashing into the magic barrier, throwing Ragnar back.

At the same time, the white changeling guards that had been trailing the fight, suddenly pounced, slamming weapons on Ragnar’s shield furiously, causing cracks to form. The queen managed to dive, trading height for speed, and escape the attack, but now Thera was hovering far above her, the hammer having returned to her side.

“Coward!” Ragnar hissed.

“I would prefer wise. And I am not the one who tried to kill children,” Thera said. She took a deep breath and fired a beam that Ragnar dodged.

Chamelia, how close are you? Thera asked through the link.

We are almost there! Hold on!

Thera winced as her guards rushed Ragnar, only to be engulfed in a fireball that sent one spiralling down. The rest managed to dodge the worst of it. Hurry, please.

Across the battlefield, Sarar growled as she swatted another changeling with dark blue eyes out of the sky. It was looking too perilously close to call. Most of the changelings in the fort had been hit by the gas, whatever it was, and were huddled as close as they can to whatever cover they could find.

Others were ducking from cover to cover, mostly behind tree stumps from the cleared area, and boulders, as they advanced on the treeline.

Diving onto the ground in order to dodge the numerous arrows and spells thrown at her, Sarar raised a shield in front of herself, visualizing a kite shield.

“Forward! Follow me!” Sarar roared, trotting forward, widening her shield as squads of changelings formed up behind her. The column advanced, raising magical and physical shields of their own. Others in the centre of the column returned fire when they could, but progress was slow.

“Hold! Hold on!” screamed Sarar, trembling as arrow after arrow struck her shield, every blow wavering her concentration.

Mirage was bringing up the rear and having a hell of a time as she kept her horn glowing to maintain the illusion that Chrysalis and Alternia were draped across her back. Things were made easier by the actual cloak she had brought and attached to half-filled sandbags. She thus needed to only partially overlay an illusion.

The issue was that it kept her dodging. Celestia had taught her how to cast spells in parallel, but there was in practice, and then there was in reality. Trying to run, dodge, and maintain an illusion whilst desperately keeping an eye on her sister ahead of her was doing nothing for her concentration.

“Kyria!” screamed Mirage as one of the pursuing queen’s spells slammed into the tree trunk ahead of her, cutting it, and causing it to topple in front of her.

Her little sister stopped buzzing, dropping to the ground, and using both wings and hooves to twist herself out of the way. Mirage, who was farther back, had more time to adjust her course, and the tree thudded with a shower of leaves.

We wanted to lure her to Chamelia’s army, but, I don’t know where we’re heading to now! Thought Kyria.

Mirage honestly wasn’t sure either, but she had to stay calm. Her sister was already panicked enough and she could see tears flying off the edge of her eyelashes.

Grandmother! Can you tell if we are headed to y- A scream was torn from the older princess’s mouth mid-pant as a spell slammed into the shield she had borrowed from Facere. Held by magic, the kite shield held, but it sent a spike of pain into her mind.

Far away, the furiously buzzing Chamelia swallowed at the fear in Mirage’s mind, but to her relief, she was so close now that could feel her granddaughters getting closer. You’re going the right way! Just go right by twenty degrees!

Mirage yelled, “Go right a bit, Kyria!”

Kyria heard her sister and once she leapt over a fallen log, she galloped right, chancing a glance at the infiltrator.

Their pursuer had dropped the disguise over her wings and they were large, as large as a queen’s. The changeling’s lips were curled and her horn shone a bloody pink that dyed the greenery of the Everfree Forest with a sickeningly unnatural autumn-like hue.

“Give up you two, and I will make your deaths quick!”

“Only if you can catch us!” snapped Kyria, racing forward. She just needed to keep putting one hoof over the other—

Her left hoof hit the leafy ground and rolled, eyes wide, Kyria had a second to form her mouth in a, “Oh Luna—” before the rock hidden by the leaves twisted her step and she lost her balance. Tumbling, she sprawled onto the ground. She somehow managed to scramble onto her hooves, just in time to see a beam of magic heading right at her.

She didn’t need to choose really, Mirage just acted. All her focus and the power in her love reserves was directed to making the strongest shield spell she could muster. Luckily, she was closer and her beam arched across Kyria and formed into a wall that the infiltrator’s beam splashed against in futility.

But as she did so, the illusions of Chrysalis and Alternia clinging to her back faded and nothing was left but cloaks wrapped around sandbags.

The unknown queen, horn still glowing, stared at Mirage for a moment. It was as if she just didn’t get what was happening in front of her.

“Oh… cunning. Very cunning indeed. If it were anybody else, I would almost be impressed, but you’ve wasted enough of my time.” The infiltrator hissed and turned around, flying back to the hive. “You are next after I deal with—”

A purple beam of Kyria’s magic flew past the enemy queen, making her pull up short and glare at the younger queen.

Mirage, Kyria! We’re at the battlefield! Just keep running!

Kyria took a deep breath, and dropped the illusion spell showing “Belladonna” and “Simulacris.” Grandma. We’ve been found out. There’s no running for us.

Mirage glanced at Kyria and the two sisters knew exactly what the other was thinking. In that moment, Mirage couldn’t be more proud and scared for her sister, and so she trotted up next to Kyria, her cutlass drawn and levelled at the queen.

For mom. Both thought at the same time, their horns glowing.

Chamelia wanted to scream at Mirage and Kyria to run, but the sheer determination she felt from them sent a freezing tingle of pride up the nape of her neck.

And she had a battle to run.

“First Battalion engage at will! Second Battalion you’re on reserve! Engage when Third Battalion arrives!” she ordered.

And as for herself, despite her hooves feeling like pins and needles were stabbing into them, despite sweat running down her carapace and a dry, sour taste in her mouth, Chamelia hefted her axe and galloped forward with the rest of her troops.

She could spy Thera fighting Ragnar, the pair wheeling and diving through the sky with their respective escorts exchanging blows as well as spellfire and arrows. Thera herself was dancing gracefully in the air like a particularly composed mosquito, dodging Ragnar’s attempts to swat her out with serene calm. Once in a while, the white queen would swing her hammer at Ragnar.

The fort was below them, white misty gas from whatever they had thrown at them still spiralling into the air. It was mostly evacuated of changelings now, the rest were duelling in the skies, whilst some on the ground waited, or hid under cover to exchange fire.

And there was Sarar advancing across the more clear area toward the treeline, a shield up, but she was being checked by the sheer volume of arrows and spells flying from the treeline.

Chamelia took a deep breath. This was going to take some love, but Sarar needed an opening. Focusing on the distance, she muttered under her breath the words to the spell, her horn glowing as she gathered her magic.

Sarar, I am giving you your chance. Do not waste it. She sent to her friend

The air in front of the treeline shimmered and shone with green magic as Chamelia’s illusion spell took effect. It was a massive spell, a mist of magic that essentially warped and blurred the sight of those changelings hidden under the trees.

Leaving those in the clearing free to advance as the spell and arrowfire suddenly ceased.

Sarar leapt forward, mace pointed ahead, galloping, despite panting heavily, exhausted from her earlier attempts to advance. But her column was charging now, giving a ragged cheer, whilst Chamelia’s First Battalion trotted in to provide covering fire for them against Ragnar’s changelings in the sky.

Sarar barely noticed, so focus on closing onto the treeline that she burst through the shimmering mist and smashed the first alien changeling-like form she saw the outline to.

The changeling went flying, it’s spine crumpled like wet paper from the blow. Sarar continued to wade into the fray, hitting out against her opponents who fled from her merciless hammering.

She only paused when she realized some of the changelings she was hitting at were white, with pink eyes. Most were still coal-black with blue eyes like Ragnar’s, but there were quite a few who were white with pink eyes.

Thera? I am fighting changelings with white carapaces and pink eyes! A lot of them!

Chamelia blinked, and the surprise and sheer tiredness from her march made her stop mid-step for a moment. That’s impossible. Only Thera’s changelings are white-colored! Thought the queen, but she could see the changelings too as they streamed away from her arriving forces in retreat.

I know Thera’s the only white-colored changeling queen alive, but there are white colored changelings attacking us! Sent back Sarar.

High in the air, Thera took in the conversation with growing confusion. She had brought no other changelings other than the ones with her and there were no other changelings with that coloration in the world other than those of her hive. Sure, she’d have a few who left for Sarar or Chamelia’s hive, but they’d been bred out. Granted, not all changelings or changeling queens were born with same coloration as their father or mother, but she’d not heard of another white queen with pink eyes. After all, she was the last alive.

And just like that, Thera knew who the infiltrator was, and that realization sent a muscle-freezing horror that fixed her in place and made her stare at Ragnar with wide pink eyes.

“You did not.”

Ragnar frowned. “What in the Great Creator do you mean?”

“Tell me you did not save her!” demanded Thera.

Ragnar blinked and for a moment, Thera felt recognition, worry, and a bit of smugness from the queen.

“I have no idea who you are talking about,” Ragnar lied.

The little hope- no, desperation that buoyed Thera’s denial collapsed and horrified rage boiled over into hot tears that soaked her eyes.

“You idiot! You Great Creator cursed idiot! How can you be so STUPID! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?”

Kyria and Mirage had hoped not to fight the infiltrator, whoever she was, but they had talked about what they might do if they did. So they immediately knew what to do.

Mirage took point, her kite shield up, her magic focused on it, whilst Kyria muttered under her breath as her horn glowed. Their goal was to survive, and while Mirage knew more damaging spells, they would be useless if their defense was overwhelmed.

Besides, Luna in particular had taught Kyria one or two spells that might prove useful in this situation.

The infiltrator responded by slamming beam after beam into Mirage’s upraised shield. Each blow fell like one of the steam-driven factory hammers that pounded on hardened steel, and they made Mirage grunt as she was physically forced back, her hooves digging ruts in the ground.

Kyria finished the last sequence in her spell and levelled her horn at the infiltrator. She could feel the magic draining on her love reserves, a gnawing, hungry feeling filled her stomach, as she sent three beams of shining purple at the infiltrator.

The infiltrator raised a shield, but instead of hitting her, one beam hit the ground and turned it into mud. The other slammed down not from below, but from above driving the infiltrator knee deep into the mud.

The final spell hit the mud, transmogrifying it into concrete, sealing the infiltrator where she stood.

A woozy feeling took over Kyria, who staggered, but Mirage had anticipated this and charged her own horn with a lightning spell. She unleashed it at the infiltrator who blocked with a conjured shield. The enemy queen attempted to free herself, but the older princess refused to let up the pressure and flames leapt from Mirage’s horn engulfing the enemy. Somehow, the disguised queen held her shield, but she was now busily trying to expand her shield to overpower the flames.

Kyria was panting, trying to recover from her spellcasting, so Mirage knew it was up to her to keep the pressure.

That was when the queen did something unexpected. Clearly biting her lip, one eye shut in concentration, the queen muttered words under her breath, and a portal opened.

But not under the queen, above her.

Moments ago…

Ragnar dodged Thera’s enraged beams of magic. Somehow the realization had caused the white queen to get a second wind, and to completely change her strategy. Instead of dodging and weaving, Thera was pouring spell after deadly spell at Ragnar. The young queen was panicking, and her heart pounded as Chamelia herself neared.

The battle is lost mother! Chamelia has arrived with reinforcements! What should we do?

Retreat! We need to go!

Ragnar nodded and sent a mental message to her army to run for their lives. Her changelings needed no second order, they ran, buzzing as fast as they could. But she didn’t, she needed to know where her mother was.

Retreat called! Where are you!

Those two cursed sister queens lured me away from Chamelia’s spawn and refuse to let me disengage!

Ragnar cursed. I’m on my way! Help me fix your location!

Ragnar, run! Ordered her mother.

The blue-eyed queen shook her head as she now turned around and fled from Thera, who was screaming something incoherent at her. She knew why, but she wasn’t going to spare her attention from dodging.

Chamelia and the others will be with you shortly! Let me help! We can overwhelm those two unascended queens quickly!

Alright. Thank you, my daughter.

Thera howled in fury as Ragnar—still zig-zagging—opened a portal in front of her and dived in. The white queen pulled up short, looking furiously around for her quarry, her eyes wide and wild.

“Thera! Calm down! She’s fled!” exclaimed Chamelia.

“You don’t understand! I know who she’s working with! Kyria was right! It was a changeling we thought was dead!”

“Who Thera? Which changeling queen is still alive?” demanded Chamelia.

Thera shook as Chamelia touched her shoulder, her eyes still filled with tears, and said a single name.

And when she spoke that single word, Zagara’s daughter knew why her cousin had been so enraged.

Present…

Mirage had been trying to break the still-disguised queen’s shield, but that goal flew out of her mind as the portal opened and Ragnar flew out, diving at the sisters.

“Shit!” yelled Mirage, tackling her sister. They were still knocked flying as Ragnar, surrounded in blue magic, rammed into the ground, sending a shockwave that bowled them over.

Kyria staggered to her hooves and in a single look, took in Ragnar, advancing on them, and the unknown queen, now trying to free herself from the concrete. Her mind was running a mile a minute, but everything seemed to move slowly for her.

Kyria knew she had nothing left that could affect the course of the battle. Running a constant illusion and then the three spell combination had taken a significant amount of the love she had, particularly the transmogrification spell. If she was a better spellcaster, she would have needed less energy, but she wasn’t. Her stomach now screamed in hunger and her sister…

The younger princess turned to Mirage, who was on her hooves. Yet, although she could feel her sister’s courage, and iron-willed determination, she could also feel Mirage’s despair.

“Mirage! Use your gun! Forget the timeline! We don’t have a choice!” she screamed, no—she ordered, with authority and a knowingness that she was not going to regret her choice.

Mirage’s slightly shockwave-addled mind processed the command in what seemed like an age, but must have been just a second. Then, realizing it was a command, she drew her service revolver from her peytral and cocked it.

The quiet click meant nothing to Ragnar, who saw the younger queen say something about the timeline, and the older queen pull out some strange metal object. She frowned and braced herself to shield, but from the exhaustion on the dirt-ridden faces of both queens, she doubted they were going to be able to do anything.

Unfortunately for Ragnar, Mirage’s Wingcolt was anything but harmless. It was Equestria’s standard issue service arm for actively serving officers that expected to see combat in the field. The weapon had an eight round magazine, and used circular clips for loading. Mirage knew that the rounds it fired (.45 calibre) could be heavy enough to pierce shield spells, but she wasn’t taking any chances.

She looked down the sights, and pulled the trigger twice.

The first round missed, whizzing right past Ragnar’s head into the forest. Mirage was dizzy from being thrown, and hadn’t had the opportunity to practice her marksmanship. The second slammed into the edge of Ragnar’s hurriedly raised shield, but a myriad web of cracks burst across its surface. The princess could just see shock flickering across Ragnar’s features before she fired again, twice.

The third bullet shattered the flaring shield, but it was deflected off course and grazed Ragnar’s shoulder. By this point, the queen was charging at her, her horn glowing for a spell.

So Mirage made sure she didn’t miss, and the fourth—aimed at the queen’s centre mass—slammed into Ragnar’s chest.

The blue-haired queen screamed, and fell to the ground, her legs barely arresting her forward momentum. She had to be in unimaginable pain, but the queen’s wings buzzed furiously, trying to lift herself up.

So, Mirage didn’t stop firing. Ragnar could overpower her. Ragnar had tried to kill her aunts. Ragnar had tried to kill her mother, and Ragnar was trying to kill her and her sister.

The fifth bullet pounded into the queen’s chest again, the round smashing the carapace in its way as it ploughed through. Ragnar’s wings froze in what Mirage knew was horrifying agony, and she collapsed to the ground, moaning pathetically.

And for a moment, Mirage wondered if she could spare Ragnar, she had tried to kill her mother and her aunts. She knew the queen was dying, but perhaps she could be saved.

“NO! NO! RAGNAR!” screamed the infiltrator.

Mirage turned to the frozen infiltrator and was about to fire the rest of her shots at her, but pink flames, the color of security flamingoes, if their blood was smeared all over their feathers, had engulfed the queen. It shattered the concrete, sending shrapnel flying.

A horrified Mirage fired, emptying the chamber, but the three remaining bullets exploded on contact with the flames with three screeching hisses. Practiced motions led her to empty the chamber, but as she fumbled for more ammo, a white-hot beam of fuschia magic seized her gun and crushed it, the hardened steel squished into a ball, as if it was paper.

And with a snap, the fires dissipated, revealing a site that would give both sisters nightmares for the nights to come.

The figure, or thing only loosely resembled a changeling queen. But neither Kyria or Mirage could quite believe it was. She was twisted, discolored. Not black, but sickly white with flecks of greens and blues that dotted her body. She was missing her foreleg, her horn was snapped off at the midpoint. One wing was torn half off. All of her remaining legs were crooked, with some of the hoof-holes forming jagged crag-like shapes.

But what made the sisters want to empty their breakfast on the forest floor was the pink eyes. The pink-eyed glare that fixed them was filled with such contempt, with such hatred that all the courage and determination they had just evaporated.

Kyria began to crawl back, whilst Mirage managed a second longer with her shield raised, before she galloped toward her sister.

But the queen’s eyes were completely fixed on Ragnar. Already, pink magic was pouring into the dying blue-manes queen.

Exhausted, the sisters could only stare. They knew either could attack, but their instincts were screaming at them to run. So they hesitated.

“Ragnar! Stay with me! Don’t close your eyes!” begged the queen.

“Mom… I’m… sorry.”

The queen nuzzled her, her eyes filling with tears. “Don’t be. You’re… you’re going to be fine.”

“Atracina… I… love-” Ragnar’s eyes shut and her muscles slowly relaxed, as if she was falling asleep.

Atracina? Did she just say, Atracina? Thought Mirage, helping Kyria up, eyes wide.

Kyria nodded, all attention on the mental link, desperately sending a message to her grandmother, Sarar and Thera. Hopefully they would get here before it was too late.

Grandma, Ragnar’s dead, but the Kinsbane, Atracina, is the infiltrator. She’s going to kill us if you don’t get here!

Atracina was standing up and was glaring at the sisters. The air crackled as pink sparks blinked and popped around her. Her horn was gleaming with sorcery and her moist eyes were fixed on the princesses.

“You killed her. How could you!”

“Kyria, run!” screamed Mirage throwing up Facere’s shield.

Author's Note

DUN DUN DUUUUUN

By the way all, I'm working on an original fantasy novel at the moment and would be interested if you would like to see the vomit draft of the first few chapters. Any takers?

Chapter 18: Kinsbane

Mirage’s attempt to block the blow saved her life, but just. The Kinsbane slammed what the princess suspected was some kind of superheated fire spell into the steel shield, blasting it apart. Her head felt like it was being squeezed in a vice, but from all sides and she screamed as her own magic was turned against her by the backlash.

“Mirage!” Kyria galloped to her sister, grabbed her and tried to hoist her half-limp form on her back. But unlike Mirage, she wasn’t militarily trained. She managed to get her sister on her back and take five paces, before a dreaded pink glow surrounded her, holding her in place.

“Aw, that’s adorable. Too bad you’re going to die with your sister,” Atracina hissed, trotting forward at a leisurely pace.

Grandma! Please! Help us! Begged Kyria,

Focus on your link! We’re coming! I just need to pinpoint your location!

Kyria was, but Atracina, the boogeypony of the changelings, the most famous traitor to their species, had turned her and her groaning sister around and was pulling them towards her.

What can I do? What can I-

Mirage, still groggy, blinked, eyes shooting to her sister’s peytral. “Kyria, your gun!”

As quickly as she could, Kyria whipped out her father’s revolver and pumped the trigger as fast as she could. Unfortunately, she took too long to aim and Atracina had thrown up two layers of magical shields to block the bullets, which pinged off the barrier, making whining screeches as their paths were forced off by the magic.

The focus Atracina needed to throw the shield up though led to her dropping the pair, and before they hit the ground, their wings were buzzing, taking them as far away as possible.

“Mirage! Do you have anything left?” Kyria begged.

Her elder sister shook her head. “Use the smoke!” she screamed, grabbing her cutlass as she ran, she threw it at Atracina and yanked a smoke bomb from the emergency packets in her peytral and threw it to the ground.

A cloud of smoke emerged behind the two sisters, but from nowhere, a strong, warm wind, blasted the smoke away, revealing the still-enraged Atracina in hot pursuit.

However, the green circle of flames that opened in front of the sisters and the queen that charged out of it wiped all the blood-cooling fear they felt.

“Atracina!” screamed Chamelia. Her magic screeched, deafening ears as the crackling bolt flew over Mirage and Kyria’s heads. It slammed into Atracina’s shield, and was immediately returned with a beam that slammed into her niece’s green shield.

Scrambling to her hooves, Mirage grabbed her sister and yanked her behind a tree stump. They were both screaming as magic crackled and exploded around the clearing.

“Kyria, your gun, and bullets!” Mirage managed to yell.

Kyria glanced around, and tried to find her weapon with her magic, but groaned as her horn fizzled weakly. “I… I think I dropped it, I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright.” Mirage shook her head to flick away a lone fly and peaked out from behind the stump. She narrowly dodged a deflected lightning bolt that seared a crater into the forest. Muttering to herself, Mirage poked her head back out, more cautiously this time.

The two queens had to be throwing everything they had at each other. Chamelia’s horn and Atracina’s jagged stump both seemed to glow red as bolt, beam, curse and ray slammed into one another’s shields. There was no rhyme or reason to this, it was a slugging match.

Chamelia staggered back as a particularly brutal lightning spell shattered her shield, but managed to dissipate most of it. “Why? Atracina? Why?” she hissed raising her shield up again. She ducked below a blood-pink beam and retaliated with one of her own.

Atracina didn’t block the beam so much as strike it with one of her own, knocking it off course. Spitting venom she screamed, “You led the army that killed my daughters and nearly killed me! You killed Ragnar!” She ripped several trees full out of the ground and slammed them on Chamelia.

Mirage and Kyria, watching from their cover, felt their hearts freeze mid-beat as their grandmother vanished beneath the pile of trees. And for a moment, everything was still, except for the lone persistent fly hovering above the pile.

But it was only for a moment because Chamelia teleported out, wincing, but firing rays of magic that seemed to cause the air itself to screech, while also scorching the ground they hit. Atracina blocked one, but dodged away from the others.

“You brought down all of this yourself! You tried to kill my mother! You murdered aunt Matari, and Latrodexa! You tried to kill my children, and my grandchildren!” Chamelia punctuated that with one last beam that Atracina tried to block, but wasn’t able to get her shield up in time. The beam shattered the pink magic like glass, and hit Atracina’s wing.

The Kinsbane screamed in agony as emerald flames turned her wing into ash. Somehow, she launched what could only be described as a hammer of magic at Chamelia, a huge, flatheaded bolt the size of a changeling. The queen tried to dodge, but already tired from a long march, her hind leg was caught by the hit.

“No! Grandma!” screamed Kyria as Chamelia was spun around by the blow. She was still spinning when she hit the ground headfirst. She struggled to her hooves, but the carapace around her head was cracked and she was groaning.

Atracina picked Chamelia up with her magic, sneering at the dazed-looking queen. “Latrodexa killed Araneae’s daughters. You’ve killed nieces or grand-nieces or tried to kill them! I did what’s necessary to survive!”

Mirage wanted to dash out, and… she swallowed. What could she do? Hit her great grand-aunt with her cutlass? No, that would get her killed. She had no magic left, and yes some modern tools, but nothing to hurt, or even distract the Kinsbane. She’d be no better than a fly trying to annoy an elephant.

She blinked, why the hell was a fly on the battlefield, flying behind Atracina.

Suddenly, pink flames whooshed into existence from behind the Kinsbane. Atracina heard it and tried to turn, but Chamelia, suddenly alert, seized the Kinsbane with her magic, fixing her in place, her lips curling into a grin.

Thera, the “fly” that had been loitering on the battlefield, appeared from the flames, and smashed her hammer onto Atracina’s spine, right between her neck and barrel. The blow drove the Kinsbane to the ground, snapping her spine.

Atracina’s head slammed into the ground, and her body lay crumpled behind her like a puppet that had its strings cut. Her breath came out, broken, wheezing.

Mirage and Kyria peeked out from behind their cover, watching as Thera faced her mother, her gaze calm.

“Thera. My daught—”

“I am no daughter of yours,” Thera said, her voice quiet. “You told me that yourself.” She sighed, both pity and old anger in the pink eyes that were an exact match for the dying queen in front of her. “And after all you did to me, why would I consider you my mother?”

Atracina winced, but she didn’t move. She probably couldn’t move, and her breaths were growing shallower.

“I… I’m sorry. That’s why I didn’t kill you…” she croaked.

Thera, eyes wide, stepped back. “You…” She swallowed, staring at her mother, who was still looking up at her, her eyes slowly closing.

“Goodbye. Atracina,” said Thera quietly.

And the Kinsbane shut her eyes.

Chapter 19: Full Circle

Present Era, Canterlot…

On and in front of the balcony of Alternia’s mountain retreat, there was a most strange gathering of creatures.

Most evident was Empress Tethys, sitting not on the balcony, but standing in the valley between the two mountains, bowed just low enough on the mountain so that her head was at the balcony’s level. The rest of her body towered upwards from where she stood, casting a huge shadow. To counter the bright sunlight that was practically anathema to kelpies, the Empress wore an immense set of wraparound sunglasses.

On the actual balcony was Alternia and Harlequin, both hovering just outside of a circle of unicorns that were discussing in hushed voices.

“But what about the field strength?”

“I think we are good there, but does the—”

Luna sighed, stepped past Alternia and Harlequin, and coughed, loudly. “Everypony, I think we have done our best, so let us not waste time reconsidering our course of action.”

“The good alicorn is correct. I understand the need for caution, but a decision must be made,” boomed Tethys.

Starswirl the Bearded, Twilight, Sunset Shimmer, Starlight, Archmage Meringue le Fay, and Sunburst all looked rather sheepish.

“We are ready,” said Twilight, she unfurled the long scroll they had been pouring over. “If everybody will prepare to channel their magic at the scroll on our mark, we should be able to open a portal to where Mirage and Kyria were sent to, and save them.”

“They’re going to be fine, Alternia,” said Belladonna in a confident tone.

“But what if they are not there?” Alternia asked morosely.

Simulacris braced herself. “Then we’ll try again, and keep trying.”

Celestia pursed her lips. “We will have to be careful, though. We want to limit our contamination to the timeline, but we know from Sarar that they are with changelings in the past.”

“You’re right, Celestia, but what option do we have?” Chrysalis asked.

The worried note in her sister’s voice made Alternia blink. “Chryssy?”

The green maned queen swallowed. “... I’m fine, Alternia. Let’s get this over with.”

Equestria’s changeling princess knew otherwise, but if her sister insisted… Alternia took a deep breath. “Okay, let’s do this.”

Mirage poured Kyria, Facere and Chamelia new cups of tea, which they took gratefully.

It had been several days after the battle. After making sure to retrieve Kyria’s lost gun, the sisters had spent very much of it with their grandmother and grandfather, talking to them, sharing stories, and learning about Chamelia’s history. Part of it was just figuring out what they should tell the little changeling queens about the incident. Part of it was comfort after such a traumatic experience.

Mirage shook her head. “I still cannot believe that… we were fighting Atracina.”

Chamelia took a sip of her tea. “It certainly explains why I never told your mothers. They would scarcely believe it and, well, whatever you used to kill Ragnar would have been extremely difficult to explain.”

The old queen put her half-empty cup down and fixed her gaze on the sisters. “But have you given some thought as to your current plans, Mirage, Kyria?”

The sisters glanced at each other, their shoulders sagging. For the final reason why they were talking so often was to figure out what the sisters could do next.

Kyria groaned. “I don’t know, Grandmother. If we… if mom and her friends haven’t been able to figure out a way to send us back, then we are stuck here, and… we’ll have to figure out how to proceed.”

“Especially with regarding mom’s future. If… some events need to happen, but…” Mirage felt as if she wanted to bury her head into her hooves. “Oh Celestia… I… I don’t think I can allow them to happen.”

Facere sighed. “Girls, it is your decision, so take your time to think about it. If we have time that is.”

Chamelia suddenly straightened, her eyes widening, and a smile sneaking its way onto her face. “Hold that thought, I think your parents are coming for you.”

As Kyria and Mirage bolted onto their hooves, Chamelia opened a portal to her throne room, whilst ordering her changelings to clear it over the link. They all then galloped through.

The portal, this time, a wash of colors, white, green, dark green, purple, gold and blue, swirled in front of the obsidian throne. It was exactly where the last portal had opened. This time, it thrummed, a low bass sound that was almost comforting.

As the last changelings cleared the room and slammed the doors shut, the portal stopped growing and the image within took shape.

“Mom! Dad!” screamed Kyria. Mirage just ran forward and jumped through the portal, followed shortly by her sister. Their wings buzzing them over the threshold, they threw themselves into the wide legs of the sobbing Alternia and the relieved Harlequin. The family huddled, their hooves tangled, and yet that didn’t matter, they were so filled with joy just to be able to touch one another.

“I do not want to interrupt, but I do not know how much time we have,” said a calm voice.

Unnoticed by most of the onlookers, who had been fixated on the reunion, Chamelia and Facere had trotted through the portal, and were standing on the balcony. Both were clearly puzzled by the massive form of Tethys, and her unreadable expression. Both were also blinking rapidly at the bright morning light that they needed to adjust to after the dim light of the hive, but otherwise their attention was on their daughters.

Their daughters, who were staring at them in varying forms of disbelief. Alternia was rubbing her eyes with a handkerchief. Belladonna was gawking, whilst Simulacris was shaking her head in disbelief..

And Chrysalis… tears were pouring from her eyes, and she was shaking. Her neck bent forward, as if she wanted to reach out for her mother, but her hooves were rooted to the ground as if they’d been nailed down.

“Hello, my daughters. It has been a long time,” said Chamelia. Her green eyes were filled with tears, but the smile she bore for four of them didn’t waver for a moment. “And this,” she nudged Facere, who was slightly behind her. “Is your father.”

“Hello. I uh, hmm.” He pointed at Tethys. “Do we want to know?”

“Not for now,” Tethys said, chuckling. She turned to Alternia. “How long do you want the portal open?”

Everybody looked to Starswirl, who stroked his beard. “We can close it for the moment. We know that this is a closed loop, so… we should be fine. Just don’t tell her too much about the future. We just need to reopen the portal, and since we clearly got the target time period down, we can return them when you’re done.”

“If… if that is alright with you, Empress?” Alternia asked.

Tethys nodded. “Don’t rush. I’ll tend to business in Canterlot then.” And with as much discretion as a being of her size could manage, she thundered out of the view of the balcony’s occupants. Before she left, though, Mirage gave her god-mother a wave of her hoof, which the Empress reciprocated with a tentacle.

Chamelia took a deep breath of the crisp and fresh morning air, so different from the earthy must of her hive. “Future stuff?” she asked, both eyebrows raised.

“Future stuff… She was essential to helping us get Mirage and Kyria back from the past,” said Alternia. She let go of her daughters and husband and realized… that she was slightly taller than her own mother. “Mom. I…” her voice trailed off and she just studied her mother, and the detail in her features. She didn’t realize her mother’s eyes were such a particular gold-flecked green, or that one ear stood straighter than the other.

She was so fixated, that when she, and her sisters were surrounded by green magic, they did nothing, until they were all wrapped in their mother, and father’s embrace.

“I… I am so proud of you all. You’ve… from the little Mirage and Kyria have revealed me, you’ve done so well for yourself, and for the changelings.”

The four sisters broke down into fresh tears as they embraced their parents, so long not seen, except for Chrysalis. She briefly hugged her parents, and then recoiled as if shocked. Shaking, she broke free of the embrace, eyes averted.

“Chryssy?” Chamelia asked, eyes wide. The shame, the guilt she felt from the brief touch… she couldn’t believe her proud, self-assured daughter felt that way.

“Mom, dad… You can’t be proud of me.” Chrysalis shut her eyes. “You can’t. I… I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I did something I… something you can’t ever forgive. I… I—”

Facere gently extricated himself from his daughters’ hug and trotted over to his eldest daughter. “Chrysalis, whatever you did, whatever you might, or will do, you know we will always forgive you.”

“But I—”

Chamelia, letting go of her younger daughters, stepped toward her eldest. Chrysalis continued to back away, her haunches scraping on the ground. It must have been painful, but she kept backing up, even as her parents trotted toward her, until she hit the rail of the balcony.

Chrysalis buzzed her wings, but before she could fly away, Chamelia’s hoof touched her cheek. In that touch, was a mother’s love, warm, caring, forgiving. It wrapped around her guilt and shame, soothing the neverending ache in her heart.

“We love you, Chryssy. That will never change,” said Chamelia.

Facere, not tall enough to touch his daughter’s cheek, nonetheless touched her shoulder, and Chrysalis felt it too, forgiveness, the balm that she had wanted and thought denied to her for so long.

Sobbing, apologizing incoherently, Chrysalis collapsed into her father and mother’s arms and cried tears of pained anguish, and yet of relief. And Chamelia and Facere held her, quietly, without judgement, pouring the love they felt for their daughter.

Once Chrysalis had stopped crying and managed to actually stand on her hooves again, Chamelia actually had a chance to look around where she was.

Some on the balcony were familiar. Her daughters, her granddaughters, Celestia, but others were unfamiliar. She guessed the dark blue alicorn was Luna, but there was a wide-eyed purple alicorn looking at her as if she was dying to interview her, and a number of unicorns, who were all smiling.

“So, why don’t you show us around, Kyria, Mirage?” Chamelia asked.

Kyria bit her lip. “Would that be alright?”

The unicorns and the purple alicorn exchanged glances and quickly huddled, quiet voices. After a moment, they looked up and nodded.

“I think we should be fine. Just be careful not to let them know how things work,” said the purple alicorn.

“Oh! Let’s show them Canterlot first!” Mirage said.

“Canterlot?” Facere asked. It was then that both he and Chamelia saw it, behind the group and the massive form of the Empress, a city on the cliffside of a mountain, lit by the gleaming sun, with the Everfree Forest stretching out below it. A palace with towers of gold, purple and white stood proudly over it.

“Oh. That Canterlot,” whispered Chamellia.

Chamelia’s head was actually beginning to hurt. They were in Canterlot, the capital of Equestria. She was in a castle, built by ponies, for ponies, walking undisguised, and the ponies there were actually bowing in respect.

Alternia ruled from here. Alternia ruled ponies from here, and from how the staff bowed to her, and how she chatted to them without even batting an eye at Chamelia’s presence, she ruled with the approval, even admiration from ponies.

They weren’t walking unescorted. A changeling chevalier—Alternia’s personal guard’s captain, Diamondshell—with a prosthetic leg led a small escort of pony and changeling guards—that was something else she had to wrap her head around— whilst Kyria and Mirage directed the tour, and told her about how they grew up in this grand palace.

“Uh, I think I can tell you this, but well… changelings are—oh—Lamia, Melly!”

Chamelia blinked as two queens, both with green manes buzzed up to them. One was an ascended queen who was much older, probably in her thirties, the other seemed only about twelve.

“Cuz! You’re back!” shrieked Melly slamming into Kyria and quickly wrapping a hoof around Mirage. She looked up. “Who is this?”

“Mother, father, this is two of your other granddaughters. Lamia and Chamelia,” said Chrysalis, quietly, now smiling proudly.

Lamia and Chamelia II stared as Chamelia chuckled. “It is a very long story. I am just here for a visit.” She glanced at Alternia. “There seems to be quite a few changeling queens being born.”

Alternia nodded. “Belladonna gave birth to queen to a daughter recently too. Including Mirage and Kyria’s births, in the past twenty or so years, we’ve celebrated the birth of five queen daughters from four of our family’s queens.”

“That’s… that is a lot of queen daughters,” said Chamelia.

“We have been harvesting love on an unprecedented scale,” remarked Chrysalis. “Changelings… well, why don’t we show you.”

While the technology was impressive, the sight of changelings undisguised, and as members of Equestrian society were what really shook Chamelia. She saw changeling cooks, changeling guards, changeling entertainers, changelings not doing what their birth afforded to them but doing… what they chose to do.

It was a novel concept, and while part of Chamelia questioned if this was the right order of things, she could also feel how happy everybody, pony, changeling, and other creatures, were.

Happy, prosperous… Chamelia stopped in the centre of the street, in front of their destination, a ‘donut’ shop, whatever that was. Her heart was pounding and she felt so… ecstatic and yet, overwhelmed, to be simply walking in the open without a disguise, and only having some people glance at her with curiosity. Most were actually eyeing her daughters and greeting them.

A squawk brought her out of her trance, and she saw a phoenix soaring through the air and landing on Alternia’s hoof.

“Oh, Philomena, you’ve come at the perfect time. Mother, this is Philomena, my animal companion for many years,” Alternia said. The phoenix smiled, and squawked cheerfully at Chamelia.

“You have a pet phoenix?” stammered Facere.

“Do you need a moment, dad?” Harlequin asked teasingly, but with a mote of understanding. “It is a lot to take in.”

“Oh shush you young troublemaker,” hissed Facere, though his hiss had no actual malice.

They filed in and as Chamelia ducked under the slightly too-low door, she saw a foppish looking white pony with a golden mane eating a stack of donuts with a bat pony mare. The white stallion instantly got up and trotted up to them.

“Aunty, oh, Mirage, Kyria! You’re safe!”

“Uncle Blueblood!” exclaimed Mirage, hugging the stallion. She was shortly followed by Kyria.

“Um, Alternia, can you explain how I am related to a pony?” Chamelia asked, this time not even bothering to hide her confusion.

“Blueblood is my adopted nephew, mother,” said Alternia gently.

“Mother—” Blueblood’s eyes widened, and he immediately bowed. “It is an honor to meet you, Queen Chamelia.”

“Ah, it is very nice to meet you too, grandson,” Chamelia said. She took the offered seat and glass of water, which she practically sucked down. “Now, what are these donuts you have told me about? I need something to steady my stomach.”

The donuts were truly delicious, so much so Chamelia was tempted to take a few back with her to the past, but that would perhaps be tempting fate.

The tour was also beginning to feel like a blur in her mind, and Chamelia had a suspicion as to why. So as the party trotted to the airship docks—whatever they were—Chamelia raised a hoof.

“Mirage, Kyria, I think… I think Facere and I… we’ve seen enough. I don’t think either of us should see such advanced technology, and I suspect that your… large friend cannot stay here forever.”

Kyria looked stricken, even as Mirage nodded with understanding. “But—”

“There is a time to say goodbye, and while I would love to learn more about the world… this bright future, I think we are learning… well we are about to learn more than necessary. Right now… I am content to knowing you all grow up so well,” said Chamelia.

“Mom would you at least like to stay for dinner?” Belladonna asked.

Facere glanced at Chamelia, who hesitated, but nodded. “We would love that,” he said, giving them all a wide grin.

Chamelia and Facere had hesitated on the offer of dinner because they were both afraid that their imminent departure would cast a pall over the occasion. Yet, a few factors put that knowledge behind them.

First, was Chrysalis’s drone daughter, Cyndra, Alternia’s personal assistant. She had ensured they were undisturbed during the event, and had served dinner at the private retreat, in a large room with a round table. Everybody gathered there, their daughters and their mates, Mirage, Kyria, Chamelia II, Lamia, Prince Blueblood and his wife, had a chance to speak with them. Over pony and changeling food. Chamelia lamented that changeling cuisine seems to have lacked some of the old delicacies of the past, but it was good food.

What they laughed and talked about was honestly a bit of a blur for Chamelia. She had seen so much already, and she was still trying to comprehend that her daughters, kids and toddlers, were full grown ascended queens with their own children. Yet, the night had its highlights. She was pretty sure that the child that Simulacris was carrying was actually a queen. Facere and her also cuddled Belladonna’s newest daughter, Leticia.

But after meeting so many family members that she could scarcely remember their names, Chamelia had quietly excused herself and found an empty balcony.

From where she stood she could see the glowing lights of Canterlot, and hear the night life—such a foreign concept to her—that ponies and changelings were enjoying.

“Feeling in need of a break, mom?”

Chamelia looked over her shoulder to see Alternia trotting up to her. A soft smile was on her lips and she was emanating warm, comforting, love.

“Yes.” She gestured Alternia to lean against the balcony rail with her and her daughter complied, standing just close enough that their carapaces were touching. Her daughter didn’t say anything. Instead, she simply stood beside her, eyes glancing sidelong at her.

“We have not had a chance to talk much, have we? There were so many… I never imagined I would have so much family living in this future of yours—” Chamelia smiled “— come on, Alternia, I can only imagine what you want to talk about, given how you seem to have raised Mirage and Kyria to worship me.”

Alternia chuckled but stayed silent, a pensive smile on her face. “To be honest, I don’t know what to say. I… I have wanted to tell you so much about my life, how I lived, how… helpful your lessons were, but… honestly I am just glad you are here, even if for this brief moment.” Swallowing, the princess blinked, her eyes moist. “I really missed you, mom.”

“Oh, Alternia,” Chamelia pulled her daughter into a hug, tucking her head under hers. It was a strange feeling to hug your daughter when she was taller than you were, but it also felt right, comforting, and when they finally released each other, Chamelia wished she held on just a bit longer.

“Alternia, was there any advice that helped you—”

“I wish I could tell you mom, but I think we both know that wouldn’t be a good idea. I think we are skirting the edge of a major paradox as it is,” Alternia said gently.

Chamelia sighed. “I know, but it’s just-” she took a deep breath “—as a parent, you know you want to do right by your children, and I… I—” she bit her lip, but a weak snort escaped her struggling composure. “I’m scared.”

Alternia stared at her mother, “But you know—”

She shook her head, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. “I do, but I don’t, Alternia. I know you think I taught you well, but I don’t know what I did t-to-to deserve-to have-to earn such a legacy. Most of all, I’m scared because I know that my five year old daughter is going to be facing trials that I won’t be there to help her with!”

“But you will—”

“I know I won’t!” Chamelia sobbed, and more quietly, said, “I can tell how long I have been gone from your lives. I know you are going to face your trials without me.”

“Perhaps, but that’s not what I mean, mom.”

Chamelia looked up at her daughter, whose smile, slightly teary, only spoke understanding, kindness, and the utmost loving admiration.

“Your example, your lessons, your love... they will help me—help us all—survive what is to come. You—your undying, uncompromising, love for us will guide us through all that we face.” Alternia took Chamelia’s hoof with both her hooves. “You know, for the longest time, I always wondered how I would live up to what you wanted for me. After Kyria was born, I realized that you would have been proud of me either way.” Equestria’s changeling princess shook her head. “My point is… you were the best mother we could have asked for.”

“That’s…” Chamelia sniffled and nuzzled Alternia’s forehead. “Thank you, dear.”

“You’re welcome, mom.”

Desert, honeyed fruit bats, was over too quickly, and they all, unicorns, alicorns, changelings, and massive kelpie empress, all met again at the retreat’s balcony, ready to cast the spell.

Facere suddenly raised his hoof, “Wait, hold on, before we leave, can you… can we take a um, you know, those really realistic portraits that Mirage and Kyria showed us? If it doesn’t take too long?”

Simulacris nodded. “Yes, but… you won’t be able to take it with you, dad.”

He sighed, eyes dropping to the balcony floor. “Just… I—we want something for you to remember us by.”

Belladonna nuzzled her father’s forehead. “We could do that, dad.”

It was a quick series of photographs, with Twilight taking the picture, and only the changelings participating. After that, the unicorns, alicorns and Tethys, opened the portal.

Chamelia took a deep breath. “Goodbye girls. We… we love you dearly.”

“And we are so proud of what you have accomplished,” Facere said.

Chrysalis, nodded, her cheeks wet, but her smile was grateful. Alternia was smiling too, a more contented smile, but both parents could tell she wanted to ask them to stay. Simulacris was beaming, and Belladonna was trying to smirk, but her moist eyes spoiled the attempt.

“And Mirage, Kyria, thank you for all of your help,” Chamelia said,

Mirage felt rather solemn, as if she was about to close a chapter in her life, but she forced a smile to her face. “It was our pleasure, grandmother, grandfather.”

“We’ll miss you,” croaked Kyria, sniffling as she tried to wipe the tears from her eyes.

“We’ll miss you too,” said Facere, his own eyes moist. He tried to blink it out, but was forced to wipe them.

Chamelia nodded. “Girls, since this is a closed time loop. I would like you to move my throne. I will have prepared one last gift for you all.” She turned to the unicorns, and to Empress Tethys. “Whoever you are, thank you for giving us this opportunity.”

Then without further ado, Chamelia and Facere trotted through the portal, which closed behind them.

Author's Note

I know people expected something ... a little more epic, but I always envisioned book 3 to be more of an epilogue to the series. So yeah.

If you do want something more epic, I am working on an original serial story to be published online (free). It's in vomit draft stages. I'm just deciding on which platform I should publish on.

Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 20: Last Words

“So, what did you find underneath the throne, mom?” Mirage asked.

Several days later, Mirage was taking tea with her mother. After she had been debriefed on their excursion to the past, her family had managed to wrangle out some leave for her to “recover after a traumatising ordeal.” It left some time for Mirage to start finally catching up with her mom, and for Alternia to start teaching her eldest daughter about how to rule Equestria.

Alternia shook her head, the amazement clear in her voice. “Mom… she must have guessed that we had forgotten a few of the legends and stories of the changelings from long ago. She had granite slabs carved with the legends of changeling queens, stories of the Unspeakable Times, stories of the Great Queens, cookbooks, and even firsthand accounts of regular changelings living in the hive… she left a treasure trove of changeling artefacts, just sitting under her throne.”

Her eyes bright, Mirage took a deep sip of her tea to try to steady herself. “Grandmother and grandfather… they were amazing. I… you told us stories, but to meet her in the flesh. To fight alongside them—” Mirage blinked “ —Oh, sorry mom, I… perhaps I shouldn’t bring them up—”

“I am only a little envious, Mirage.” Alternia leaned over the table and nuzzled her daughter’s forehead. “I miss them, but I am honestly just so glad you got home safely.”

A teenager Mirage would have resisted the nuzzle, but the older, wiser Mirage shut her eyes to savor it. “I made a lot of mistakes, though,” she said.

“You also saved my life. You saved our lives, and by doing so, saved our future.”

Mirage chuckled. “Kind of weird that it was a closed loop, isn’t it.”

“Mm hmm. It is, but Starswirl and our researchers confirmed it and—” Alternia grinned “—I had a chat with Celestia. We pulled some of the memories I implanted in her when she returned to ruling.”

“I thought you said your mind—because of Shi-Nihalar—was too unstable to have the memories in Celestia copied back to you,” Mirage said.

“My mind is too unstable to take back all of my memories, but we just needed to copy a few—” Alternia chuckled “—I can now distinctly recall two changeling queen babysitters, and a blue-haired queen who really inspired me to use the halberd.”

To Alternia’s surprise, her daughter’s eyes dropped to the table. “Mirage?”

“You do realize that we—we could have stayed, and intervened when aunty Chrysalis pulled her coup, and—offered to take Celestia’s place,” Mirage stammered. “We could have stayed, and helped you.”

Alternia pursed her lips for a moment, deep in thought. “You could, but it’s better that you didn’t.”

“But mom—”

“Mirage, I do regret some of my mistakes, but I would never have wanted you to sacrifice yourself to save me. Neither would the me of the past. Would I have appreciated the help? Of course. But I am satisfied with what I did, what I survived, and what I enjoyed during my rulership as ‘Celestia.’” Alternia touched Mirage’s hoof, allowing her daughter to feel her sincerity and her contentment. “So let this be your first lesson. A queen should regret her mistakes, and can ask how they could have done better, but they need to also accept what happened.”

Her daughter nodded, and managed a brief smile, but Alternia could still tell there was something she was holding back, something she needed to say.

And so Alternia simply waiting, letting her hoof rest on her daughter’s, and the ambience of the Canterlot morning rest in the room.

Mirage closed her eyes, “Mom… do you know I’m taking counselling because I-I am showing signs of PTSD and panic attacks?”

“I had my suspicions. Your fillyfriend was rather tight-lipped, but she only revealed that you were seeing a counsellor,” Alternia said.

Mirage took a deep breath, eyes opening to meet her mother’s. “You’re not disappointed in me?”

That question felt like a dagger had grazed Alternia’s heart. “Mirage… why would you feel that way? I mean—” the princess blinked furiously and wiped a hoof across her eyes “—how could I not be proud of you? You always work so hard, always trying to achieve the best grades at school, then at officer’s academy, and then as a princess and airship captain. In the last year and a half alone, you led more combat missions than I might have in fifty years of rule!” Alternia took a deep breath. “Honestly, your work ethic scares me sometimes.”

Her daughter nodded, slowly, her eyes now wide open. “I just-I just feel like I could always be doing more. Grandmother, grandfather, you, our aunts and hell my godmothers, you did so much for Equestria, and for us… you’re just… all so amazing. I just want to do even half of what you all do.”

“And would that make you happy, Mirage?” Alternia asked.

Her daughter blinked. “It-I think it did at one point, but not now. Now, thanks to grandfather and grandmother, I know I need to step back, to-rest, take care of myself, and be with those I love. At least, part of me knows that, but I-I wasn’t sure what you might think.” A smile returned to Mirage’s face. “I think I know now.”

Alternia buzzed over to her daughter, drawing her into a hug. “Oh Mirage, you silly mare. You make me proud every day.”

“I know, mom, I… I think I actually know now.” She glanced up and blinked at the time. “Oh, mom, may I be excused? I have an appointment with Furtiva.”

Alternia nodded and passed Mirage her teacup and two biscuits. Muttering a quick thanks, Mirage downed the tea and tucked the biscuits into her peytral. “See you tomorrow for my lesson?” she asked as she trotted to the door.

“Our lesson, Mirage.”

The young princess paused mid-step, “Uh, what?”

“Because I am always learning from you, my daughter,” said Alternia.

Mirage blinked at how the statement seemed to ring so true, and smiled. “Huh. That’s food for thought.” She grinned back. “Love you mom!”

Alternia waved her eldest off, and while she didn’t have a mirror, she knew she was grinning as well. Once the door shut, Alternia quietly took away Mirage’s tea set and heated up another pot, but didn’t put away the biscuits. She only wiped the table and arranged for a new tea set.

A few minutes after she finished pouring another cup of tea in the new set, Kyria knocked on the door and Alternia called her to enter.

“Hi mom. Was Mirage just with you?” Kyria asked.

“Yes. How did you know?”

“She always arranges the pillows just so.” Kyria pulled a few extra from the pile by the fireplace, her magic quickly replacing and re-shuffling the seat. “So, what’s the occasion mom? I mean, yeah of course a mother can ask her daughter to visit, but it’s in the middle of your work day, and while I don’t have school, it’s not like you to cut time out in the middle.”

Alternia’s smile faltered, but then again, she had long decided it wasn’t a good idea to keep up a smile for what she was going to talk about.

“Kyria… Mirage told me something I need to talk to you about.”

“Mm hmm?”

Equestria’s changeling princess sighed, “I’m sorry that I have favored your sister over you.”

Kyria stared at her mother, smile gone, but there was no anger from her, only surprise. The young queen swallowed, and said, “Mom. I know you’ve always loved Mirage more, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t love me. I know you do. There’s no need to say sorry.”

Alternia shook her head. That’s no excuse for my behavior. I know I never intended to treat you two differently, but I clearly have, and you have noticed it.” She met her daughter with a resolute look. “I will be better from now on out, and you should let me know if you notice my favoritism in the future.”

“Oh,” Kyria blinked owlishly, but found herself mirroring her mother’s smile. “Thank you mom, and you should know… I really don’t hold it against you. Some creatures are closer to certain creatures than they are with others. And you always have shown that you love me too.”

Alternia found herself staring at her daughter in awe. “When did you grow to be so gracious?”

Her daughter sheepishly scratched the back of her head. “I had a wise and caring mother.”

“And I have two very wise daughters indeed.” Alternia finished her tea and poured herself another cup. “By the way, do you know that among the relics left by your grandmother, she left us several books of changeling recipes with notes on the ones you loved the most when you were with her?”

“She did? Oh thank the Creator! I thought I would never taste those treats again!” Kyria exclaimed giddily.

The princess chuckled. “Well, I was wondering, would you like to cook some with me after we finish our talk?”

Kyria squealed, nodding eagerly. Her mom was not the best cook, but she kept a cool head and at least she had a sense of taste. That, and time spent with her busy mom was going to be time well spent.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” said Alternia. She took a sip of her teacup. “There was also another reason I wanted to ask you to visit me.” Half-lidded eyes examined Kyria’s bright smile. “I just want to give you an opportunity to just… talk about what you experienced, more than in your official debriefing.”

“You were there during the debriefing,” Kyria said, one eyebrow raised.

“And so were far too many ponies and changelings who were trying to figure out if the timeline was being thrown out of whack. This is just you, and me, and anything you have to say is staying in this room. Your father will also be talking to you and Mirage later tonight, but honestly I suspect he’s just going to play board games with you both to help you de-stress.”

“That’s dad, but then again… I’ve really missed playing board games with him,” Kyria said. She paused, looking down into her cup. “There is one thing.”

Alternia nodded, quietly waiting for her daughter to speak.

“I… I don’t know if I used my time well when staying with grandmother and grandfather,” admitted Kyria. Alternia nodded, feeling the sadness and guilt from her daughter flow through her hoof. “I did my best to enjoy and spend as much time with them as possible, but with Atracina’s attack, there was only so much time we could spend with them. And now… we’re never going to see them again.”

“I think there’s no need for regret, Kyria,” said Alternia. She nuzzled her daughter. “We will never spend enough time with our family, and with the ones we love. The only thing we can do is to make the most of the time we did spend with them. Did you feel that you did that with your grandmother?”

Kyria pursed her lips. She thought back on the meals they shared, the conversations they had. She remembered how Chamelia has mediated her and Mirage’s argument. She recalled the talks they had over the link.

The young princess nodded. “Yes. I did make the most of my time with them. Thanks mom.”

“Anytime.” Alternia passed Kyria a biscuit. Her daughter opened her mouth instead of taking it and so Alternia plopped it into her mouth. “Are you ready to go back to school?”

“Yes! Professor Ocellus assigned me some makeup homework, but…”

Lying in their shared bed, Facere rolled over to face his mate.

“Chamelia, how long do you think we have to prepare our daughters for their trials?” he asked.

The queen pursed her lips, and shrugged. “I’m not sure, Facere, so we will do everything we can.”

“You will prepare them,” the changeling chevalier nodded. “Yes, you will have to prepare them.”

The queen blinked. “Dear?”

Facere sighed, touching his wife’s hoof. “There are still many of Ragnar and Atracina’s changelings that have escaped. I suspect—no, I know I will have to hunt them down for our daughters to be safe. If they are to see this bright future.”

His wife didn’t say anything, but he could see that her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

“Facere, do you think that is why you weren’t around while they grew up?” Chamelia whispered.

“Don’t be sad my dearest. I know they will meet me again in the future. I know that they will have a bright future, even if there are trials along the way.” Facere chuckled. “I must admit, it is rather disconcerting that … well we have an idea as to how our own stories end.”

“But we also know that they are about to begin theirs, and that we, through them, because of our love for them, will help… so many.” Chamelia smiled. “Isn’t that comforting?”

Facere nodded and leaned forward to nuzzle his queen. “It is a rather nice thought, my dear.”

Fin

Author's Note

I definitely was listening to this... on repeat, while writing this chapter:

Author's Note

So, this is to be for the moment, my last long MLP fanfiction, as I am focusing more on original writing and real life commitments. I’ll finish/add to my other outstanding projects (Samudra’s Journal, and the Side Stories) and will probably will hang around on the site. I definitely will attend and speak at the writing panel of my local pony convention, the Vanhoover Pony Expo (in Vancouver, Canada lol). Maybe when I am more financially secure and we still have some conventions going… I’ll head to Everfree NW? We’ll see.

Still, I consider this story my last harrah and a wedding gift to my friend Firimil, who came up with the designs for Mirage and Kyria, Alternia’s daughters and has supported me in other writing projects for the past few years.

I would also like to thank Zervziel as always for his support and help with this story and others in this series. Aside from being a good critic and idea guy (particularly in Equestria’s Changeling Queen), he’s written a lovely chapter for this story as well.

Moreover, I would not have been able to bring this to fruition without my two pre-readers. They include Wanderer D, who as of now (March 2020) a long time supporter of my work, and really needs your help because he's run into some sudden financial straits. Please send him your love, or money, either helps.

Tarbtano was also invaluable in helping me edit and bounce ideas off of. He's... working on something in his massive kaiju crossover "The Bridge" that... let's say fans of this series will enjoy. Go to his story for the Godzilla though, because dayum that story has some amazing kaiju fights, and art. It's just really good writing.

As a note, this story was also a test of some new writing techniques I picked up in some of my original work, and the first time I’ve finished a MLP fimfic before publishing it online. I’ve forced myself to use more dialogue and less exposition, and finish the story first before publishing. Some of you have said I should have actually used more exposition... which I'd say--- fair enough because it came out sparse than I expected. Still, while I won’t say this is my magnum opus, but I think it’s a fine, perhaps even the best ending to the Alternia saga I could have written at this time.

Which of course, leads me to you, my longtime fans. I hope you enjoyed this extended epilogue of sorts to the Alternia saga. Above all else, I hope the drama, the thrills and the action in this story provided an excellent escape from the troubles and stresses of real life. I don’t profess to be a great writer, or a particularly talented one, but I’d like to think that the one thing I’m good at is making sure my readers can connect with my world and characters and live with them for a little while. Thanks for all your support and comments through my MLP fimfiction writing career. I wish you the best.

Sincerely,
vren55

P.S. March 6, 2022
Hey all, if you're interested, I just published my first original work!

Just because you’re transported to another world, doesn’t mean you’ll escape from your pain.

Abused by her parents, thirteen-year-old Frances only wants to be safe and not to hurt every day. When her class is transported to the magical world of Durannon to fight invading monsters and defeat an evil monster king, Frances is presented with a golden opportunity. If she succeeds, Frances will have the home she never had. If she fails, she will return to the home she escaped.

Trauma, however, is not so easily lost. Despite her newfound magic and her teacher’s support Frances is dogged by her parents’ abuse and its scars, both physical and invisible. Not only does she have to learn magic, she has to survive the nightmares of her past, and wrestle with her feelings of doubt and self-loathing.

If she can heal from her trauma, though, she might be able to defeat the Demon King and maybe, just maybe, she can find a home for herself.

Check it out if you're interested!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TYG62ZK

Chapter 11: The Empress and the Princess (Zervziel Guest Chapter)

A lone ship trekked across the heaving waters of the Western Ocean. Though years had passed since the sea ponies had started to tame the currents of the wild ocean, the process was gradual as the last bastion of the natural world fought against the imposed new order. The sky was dark with storm clouds as the ship cleaved through the waves.

Sailors, pony and changeling alike, battened down every hatch and doorway after securing what they could. The Neptune, Alternia’s favored diplomatic vessel heaved back and forth as she powered over wave after towering wave. Inside, several members of the reformed Mirror Guard tried their level best to keep their lunches down, while others struggled to just stand. Staggering over to Alternia, Diamondshell tried her very best not to slam into her queen to no avail. Wing stumps buzzing uselessly, she tumbled forward as the ship bucked once more on a particularly large wave only to be caught in a bluish magical aura.

“We picked a particularly lovely night to visit, your majesty,” Diamondshell grumbled as she was set on the floor.

Alternia laughed as she turned to the nearest porthole. The deck of the ship was now getting lashed with rain as well as the waves.

“Sadly, the reason the Empress couldn’t be contacted is that she has business to attend to. Which is why we have to come all the way out here.”

Diamondshell looked down at the table, strewn with maps, some new, others ancient, alight with preservation spells. On some of the newest maps were two dots marked Echinoi and Platonicus, locations absent from older maps. Confused she looked at her queen, “I thought the Aquestrians didn’t have any major cities or towns in the Western Ocean yet? What are those?”

A look of excitement crossed Alternia’s face. “Technically true. They have minor outposts scattered across the Northeastern region of the ocean, but those two are ancient sea pony cities. Abandoned at least four thousand years ago. The sea ponies pretty much were forced to drop everything and evacuate to the Eastern Ocean.”

Diamondshell blanched a bit. Only one thing in the Western Ocean could force a retreat like that and it was a painful subject for many, especially for her Queen. “Where did you learn that?” she asked. After the incident several years back, she had made a point to look up any old texts for myths and legends of mythical monsters, ancient beings and any sort of forgotten god. With the way ancient evils were rising in the last few years, she wanted to be forewarned on anything that might decide to return next.

“It was mentioned in an ancient journal of a dead ruler.”

Diamondshell blinked. A fairly cryptic answer for what had seemed like an inane question. Changing the subject, she refocused on the map. “So are we headed to one of those cities?”
With a slight hesitation, Alternia tapped her hoof on a seperate portion of the map. “No, we’re headed to the island of Karkanos.”

Diamondshell stared at the spot. Another modification to the newer maps. For a while, the island had disappeared from the maps, destroyed by the awakening of the primal god, Shi-Nihalar. Only in recent years, had it resurfaced, the rock of the ocean floor pulled up to recreate the barren island.

“Why? That thing is gone right?”

“Yes, but most of the other nations felt some extra precautions should be made. Magicians from around the world have congregated here at the World Seal, to study magic and perhaps strengthen it.”

Diamondshell nodded. It made sense. Ever since the Old God incursion decades before, there had been a scramble to prevent another such incident. Thus, the World Seal had been proposed. A massive spell, cast by dozens of the strongest magic users from around the world to seal off all outside influences. Special care had been made to prevent interfering with the Sun and Moon’s cycle as well as preventing separate schools of magic from conflicting.

The foundation of the World Seal was simple. Much like the spear created to slay gods decades before, the basis of the spell was set in metal. An immense heavily enchanted metal ring, over a kilometer across, laid across four massive pillars of basaltic rock called up from the depths. On it’s top and bottom surfaces laid inscribed arcane matrixes. Along its sides runes, talismans, and any other physical components needed for spellwork were affixed.

“With the seas this rough, it will probably take us at least till evening to reach the island, your majesty.”

Alternia stiffened a bit before relaxing. It was just one more delay between her and helping her daughters. Still anger and impatience would not help her now. She was here to ask the Empress’s aid in retrieving her daughters from the past and she intended to have it.

Due to the island’s unique nature and the fact it was frequently visited by a massive kelpie, the port on Karkanos was like no other. Normal ports have berths and piers for ships. This port had them, but it also had several large rails that ran into the water, drydocks and some truly impressive cranes. The cranes were intended to lift ships onto the rails, or if absolutely necessary, into the drydocks. This afforded the ships safety from large waves, an inevitability when a certain individual visited, causing tidal surges on par with or even surpassing the most powerful hurricanes. In fact, Alternia’s ship, the Neptune was being lifted onto the rials now.

Unfortunately, because of the World Seal’s nature as an international effort, Alternia found she still had certain duties to attend to the moment the Neptune was beached. She had to greet the current Seal Guardian, the deep pony, Archmagus Mareel, who essentially managed the seal and the various teams of mages monitoring it. She also had to at least greet the various attaches of the countries that had invested in the seal.

Thankfully, what diplomats that had recognized the approach of the Neptune were relatively few. Only a griffon and a kirin approached to exchange pleasantries, and even then she was able to end her conversations with them quickly.

However, one of the few beings she’d like to have avoided—if only for now—caught her by surprise as a hippogriff bedecked in jewels and a feathery crown, dropped in from above. It was Queen Novo, of the Hippogriff Kingdom.

Alternia was going to very quickly apologize for being in a rush, but she stopped, as the setting sun seemingly disappeared. Night fell briefly across the island before the sun re-emerged from behind it’s brief cover. As soon as she could see again, Alternia finally noticed the sky-engulfing Empress Tethys. The storm clouds that had been hanging overhead had moved off to the south leaving the monstrous kelpie’s stretching wings as the sole culprit for the temporary eclipse. Alternia watched as Tethys finally settled down, cruisings slowly towards the island. She pulled up on the shoreline.

“Queen Novo, Empress Tethys, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Alternia asked.

Queen Novo smiled. “Princess Alternia, the Empress and I have a bit of a disagreement we would like you to mediate. You see, a few months ago, we discovered an island in the Western Ocean and I requested the Empress allow me to settle. She disagreed and I have been unable to convince her otherwise.”

The Empress’s voice boomed loudly, as per usual. This time though, she was not projecting her stoic mask. Rather, there was evident exasperation in her tone.

“That’s because what she proposes will likely end in the death of the settlers. The Western Ocean is still being harnessed by my sea ponies, and it’s resisting. The storms it’s generating will easily swamp any vessel. Trying to cross now is suicidal and trying to build at the same time is equally dangerous.

“But once we establish the colony, there could be significant benefits. We can account for the storms hitting the island and build deep foundations. We can also work the land to create breakwaters for seaponies to rest. You’d be able to pacify the ocean easier with a base of operations in the Western Sea,” countered Novo.

“My sea ponies can go deep to avoid the storms. As of now, your ships would be lucky to make it close enough to the land without being grounded by random currents or slammed into shoals by waves,” Tethys said.

“If you accompany our ships with some leviathans, we’ll have the cover to achieve a successful landing!” Novo exclaimed.

“We don’t even have leviathans in the Western Ocean now. And taming the ones in the Western Ocean is proving difficult. I think the Old One (mah snack) may have affected them somehow. They are more aggressive than normal and more likely to attack ships. Oh Alternia, forgot to mention the Leviathans are more aggressive here so watch your ship, and make sure your vessel adheres to the cleared route,” said the Empress. Her tone was still reasonable, but Alternia could see Tethys’s massive eyes glancing over to her—a not so subtle request for assistance.

“I appreciate the warning, and I will inform my crew to not stray from the designated course—” Alternia smiled sincerely “— But please continue, I can see this issue is quite important to you both.”

Novo nodded, “But you are training leviathans, so why can’t we have a fleet set out when they’re finished training? The Hippogriffs have gotten long experience building storm-resistant structures at Mount Aris.”

Several large tentacles of the Empress smacked the water, throwing up a blinding curtain of spray. She had shown enough restraint so that tentacles were far enough away that none of the water hit either Alternia or Novo, but the Empress was clearly losing her patience. “You’re deliberately missing the point. There are too many threats facing your hippogriffs if you go through with this.”

Undeterred, Novo grimaced. “There are many threats, but many potential rewards. Alternia, please, can’t you see how the hippogriffs can contribute to this project if we get the go ahead? Maybe if we get Equestrian support—perhaps a flight of airships— we can further mitigate the risks.”

Alternia didn’t frown, but she allowed her smile to fade as she regarded Novo. “Having heard both of your points of view, and considering what my own meterologists and observers on Karkanos have mentioned, I also believe this project is too risky at the moment, for multiple reasons. For one, I concur with Tethys’s assessment of the weather situation. The Neptune was recently modified for high sea travel, set out during a more ‘calm’ season and even then it was an extraordinarily rough journey. On a poor season, say winter? Nevermind oceangoing vessels, such weather would wreck even our largest Geary class airships.”

“And even one missing supply vessel could prove an immense setback to the project. And moving materials underwater isn’t possible as the journey would ruin most of the supplies,” Tethys added.

Novo frowned. “I thought you had waterproofing spells.”

The Empress’s mane rippled slightly, “We do, but enchanting every single pallet and crate isn’t feasible. Not to mention move such items underwater is far more cumbersome than above, which makes my sea ponies more vulnerable to attack by rogue creatures.”

“Novo, it’s not that setting up a colony is something we can’t do, it’s that it’s something we can’t do right at the moment. I think that opening a base in the Western Sea is an excellent idea. We just need more time,” said Alternia. She smiled at the Hippogriff queen. “Is there any particular reason why you seem to be in such a hurry?”

Novo averted her gaze from both the Empress and the princess and it didn’t take a changeling for one to see her sheepishness.

“I have the feeling this has more to do with pride than logistics. Am I wrong?” Tethys asked.

The hippogriff’s feathers fluffed up. ““It has nothing to do with pride.”

“Novo, pride is not necessarily a bad reason. If you don’t mind me making a guess… you want to be able to contribute more to the Kelpie-Hippogriff alliance, is that correct? And you feel that the Hippogriffs have been relying a bit too much on the kelpies?” Alternia asked.

“ ... Yes,” admitted Novo.

The Empress didn’t smile, but her tone softened. “You don’t need to push so hard. Your kingdom has suffered from the Storm King's continued raids over the years. There’s no reason to thrust your hippogriffs into a dangerous situation to prove anything.”

Novo sighed. “But neither can we continue to keep relying on our friends to help us. I mean, the Hippogriff Kingdom has relied on the Aquestrian Empire and the Equestrian Triumvirate for decades. There has to be a point where we—we—can stop—can actually contribute to our allies.”

Alternia nodded. “I can understand your frustration, Novo, and again, I do think a colony would actually solve some of our problems. It would actually give the Hippogriffs a base to establish industries out of reach of the Storm King’s airships. However, I believe you are overlooking some of your kingdom’s own contributions. Don’t hippogriffs continue to take care of polluted seaponies and respond to sinking ships? Doesn’t the Hippogriff Coast guard continue to assist with western sea exploration and rescue Equestrian ships that run afoul in Western Sea and seaponies in Eastern Sea harmed by the Storm King’s raids?”

Novo seemed somewhat receptive to Alternia’s questioning, but as she went on, she gave the changeling a flat stare.

“And Equestria does what exactly?”

Alternia swallowed. “Um, that is—”

“The same thing,” said Tethys, firmly. “Which isn’t a bad thing. On a personal level, your restraint, Novo, has prevented needless casualties. Remember Stronkheim? Without your help, I’d have reduced it to a ruin out of anger due to the Storm King’s endless attacks regardless of what it might have cost the city. The lives of those griffons were spared due to your council.”

“Some of those griffons did prove rather useful to our intelligence network,” said Novo, a little more confidently this time.

Alternia smiled. “Exactly, the Hippogriff Kingdom may not contribute as much, but it has always proven to be reliable and a willing friend, and I think that is most important.” Alternia glanced at Tethys. “When the western seas calm, perhaps we can review the colony project then, Empress?”

The Empress nodded. “It will take some time. As I said, it’s resisting us. However we are making headway. Once we reach a safe enough threshold, you’ll have my support in the colonization.”

“I understand and I will be glad to have your support then.” She regarded Tethys with an apologetic gaze. “I’m sorry I have been so persistent on this.”

To that, Tethys nonchalantly flopped one of her tentacles.

Taking a deep breath, Alternia spoke up again. “If you don’t mind, Queen Novo, I need to have a quick word in private with Tethys.”

“Oh, of course,” said Novo. There must have been something in Alternia’s tone that made her leave.

And then they were alone, the changeling queen looking up to the Empress. Remembering the secrecy Tethys had shown when the Empress had mentioned the favor, Alternia ordered her guards to move back with a hoof, out of hearing range.

“Empress Tethys, I’ll get to the point. I have something I wish to ask.” She didn’t raise her voice, knowing from past experiences how good kelpie hearing was. She wasn’t too worried about the Empress’s mood. The decades of peace since the Kelpie Incident as some called it having done wonders in getting the titan to relax, and relax she had.

“ Alternia. How are things going in Equestria?”

The changeling shifted her wings. “They could be better. I’ll be brief. I’m here to call in that favor. My daughter’s Kyria and Mirage have been pulled into the past by a misfiring spell and I need more than just magical knowledge. I need your might. You’re the only one with the power to bore a large and stable enough hole into the time stream to retrieve my daughters.”

Alternia paused. She had planned on asking Tethys if she knew of another way to retrieve her daughters from the timestream, but over the years it had become apparent that while the Empress was knowledgeable about many things, the secret ins and outs of arcane magic was not one of them. Which made for an odd juxtaposition. She’d seen Tethys weave magics that sundered land, raised mountains, and could heal seaponies and changelings of grievous wounds. But then the Empress could prove wholly ignorant of basic tenants of arcane magic. Not that she’d admit it, but Alternia had been a teacher of magics long enough to know when a student was out of their depth. Still no harm in asking.

“Unless you know of any other way to retrieve something from the timestream?”

The Empress shook her head. “Sorry, but I’ve never even tried time magic. I’ve only moved forward in time the same way as anyone else.”

It was the answer she had expected, but Alternia still felt a little disappointed at the answer. Another potential avenue closed to her.

Tethys looked down upon the Princess. “Still, you ask for my aid and you will have it. You have a place in mind for this...spell? Or is it some sort of ritual?”

Alternia duck her head in thanks “We will be meeting at my retreat. It’s a mountain over from Canterlot. It’s where the spell first went awry. We’re hoping to link to any remnant of the original spell to get the right spot if not the right time.”

“Very well. Once I am finished here, I will make for the coast. You might want to get moving, to prepare the way.”

Alternia nodded. “That’s an excellent point. I assume you’ll be traveling by land like last time? If that’s so I’ll have notices sent to the nearby towns. That being said, last time you went to Canterlot there some ponies got spooked. I’m thinking an escort might be in order to expedite your passage.”

“At least this time we can anticipate the earthquakes. You have any systems in place to handle damages?”

The Changeling Princess chuckled. That the mere walk of the Empress caused the earth to shake had been a rather rueful discovery by both parties. “Ah, yes. We have a planned route that my staff will give to yours. We will also have mage teams and earth ponies on standby to handle the damage any vibrations cause.”

“Excellent. That said, what actual purpose will the escorts serve?” Tethys asked.

“On your last visit, we found out that some ponies in Equestria live in rather rural communities and while not completely uninformed, often have a lot of questions.” Alternia winced as she remembered, “Mirage proposed to me that the next time her godmother visited Canterlot, an escort should be provided. They would be able to pre-empt or answer any questions so that you wouldn’t be bothered.”

The Changeling took a deep breath, briefly closed her eyes, and then looked back up at the Empress. “I should get going. We are still investigating what spell to use and Canterlot is… not taking my daughter's disappearance well.”

Tethys flicked her tentacles dismissively. “Canterlot is not of any concern. That situation will resolve itself when we retrieve your daughters. Rest easy, Alternia. Mirage will take care of her sister and we will get them back.”

The Changeling Princess smiled. “Thank you, Tethys.”

“Also, I’m gonna need *that* to be ready for when I reach the shore.”

Author's Note

Chapter was courtesy of my long time pre-reader and co-author of book 2, Zervziel with some input and dialoguing from myself.