The next day passed by uneventfully, with Celestia staying in for the day, feeding and playing with her daughter. She couldn't help but marvel at her daughter's intelligence, the little grub quickly catching on to the things being said to her. That little mind was eagerly drinking in knowledge just as surely as she drank in the love that Celestia gave her. Their bond only continued to grow, and when Luna stopped by she even remarked as much.

The sun set and rose again, the dawning of her grub's third day starting off with a breakfast of oatmeal and fruit puree. The spoon alternated between her own mouth and that hungry, chirping maw, mother and daughter filling their bellies before their expected visitor arrived. Ocellus was due to arrive mid-morning by train, and Celestia was looking forward to both her help and her company.

After breakfast she amused herself by once more picking up the novel she'd started a few days prior. The grub, now full, fell into a soft doze, her sides gently rising and falling as she rested at her mother's side. It was in the midst of a particularly exciting scene where Huthinax was sneaking into Canterlot castle that a knock came on the door, breaking her from her reading reveree.

"Coming!" She called out, scrambling off of the bed and going to answer the door. Opening the door, she was greeted by the sight of not one but *two* visitors standing on her porch. There was Ocellus, the young changeling smiling up at her, and beside her stood Gallus, wearing his usual laidback expression.

"Hello there, Princess Celestia." Ocellus said in her sweet, soft voice, moving to bow, only for Celestia to still her with a touch of her hoof.

"Please, Ocellus, I'm no longer a princess anymore. You needn't bow to me. If anything, it should be me bowing to you, since you're here representing King Thorax."

"Yeah, Ocellus, you're a pretty big deal." Gallus said with a smirk, causing his friend to stutter and blush.

"I'm n-not th-that important," Ocellus protested.

"You are to me, dear." Celestia replied. "How good to see you as well, Gallus. Decided to accompany Ocellus at the last minute?"

"Something like that." He replied, rubbing the back of his neck. Ocellus blushed even more and made no comment.

"Ah, I see." Celestia giggled, beckoning them inside with a hoof. "Come, I'm sure my daughter would like to meet you two." The changeling and griffon stepped inside, and she closed the door behind them. "Can I get you anything? Tea, refreshments?"

"I think we're all right," Ocellus said, and Gallus nodded, the two exchanging a shy smile. "So...how are you holding up, Celestia? Has she been much trouble?"

"My dear little grub? Not at all. She's very curious and inquisitive, as all newborns are, but so far she's been very well behaved. It's only been a few days though." Celestia led them into her bedroom, where she'd left the grub sleeping. Said grub was now wide awake, tongue flicking at the air, tasting the emotions of the new creatures in front of her. "There she is, she must have woken up when she heard you."

"Awwww." Ocellus cooed, climbing up onto the bed and gently picking her up. "It's been a while since I've seen a grub like this. Ever since we embraced the change, our grubs look different too."

"*That's* what a baby changeling looks like?" Gallus asked, eyes wide. "She looks kinda..." Ocellus fixed him with a flat stare, as if to say 'choose your words carefully.' "...c-cute."

"Chrysalis did mention in her letter that she wanted to keep the old changeling form alive." She smiles, watching her grub nuzzle Ocellus affectionately, obviously recognizing one of its own kind. "I wonder if she'll want to remain as she is when she grows up, or if she'll want to embrace the change as you did. Part of me hopes she stays as she is."

"Why's that?" Gallus asked.

"I...hmm." She looked over her shoulder, checking to see if the coast is clear. "If I tell you something, do you swear not to tell anypony else?" They nodded. "Not even my sister." They nodded again. "All right. You see..." Celestia fidgeted, starting to blush. "I've always liked the way changelings looked, and I kinda...maybe...had a bit of a crush on Chrysalis?"

"Wow. I mean...wow." Gallus was at a loss for words, and Ocellus giggled. "Never would have guessed that with how the final battle went."

"I truly hoped that she might be redeemable." Celestia said with a sigh. "I fought her to protect Equestria, not because I wished to fight. When you live long enough and see a fair amount of wars and conflict, you soon see the wisdom of peace. I wanted peace with her, but she...did not want it. And thus she lost her hive and freedom of life."

"That's so sad." Ocellus murmured, petting the grub, who looked uncomfortable with the sad feelings floating about in the air. "I miss her too, you know? She may have been pretty awful, but she was still...family."

A painful silence hung in the air, and it was long moments before anything was said. Gallus, unable to take awkward silences for very long, broke the tension. "So uh...what's her name?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes." Celestia shook her head, coming back to the present. "Ah, you see, she hasn't got one yet. I was waiting to see another changeling to help me with that. My daughter is a changeling, and I want her to have a proper changeling name. It only seems fitting for a burgeoning changeling queen, no?"

"Makes sense to me." Gallus said with a nod. "Whaddaya think, Celly?" Both Celestia and Ocellus looked at him at the same time. "What? I was just trying it on...you know...pet names and all."

"Gallus!"

"Oh, you two are just adorable together." Celestia cooed, the two youths blushing and fidgeting awkwardly. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. Tell everypony when you're ready."

"Th-thank you, Celestia." Ocellus breathed a sigh of relief. "Now, little one..." She looked at the grub wiggling against her, its bright purple eyes looking at her in wonder. "Hmm, what would be a good name for a queen...something strong yet beautiful..." Ocellus trailed off, sitting in silence for a few minutes, Celestia and Gallus waiting quietly for her answer. "Ah! I've got it!"

"Yes? Pray, tell me." Celestia replied excitedly.

"Salmacis!" Ocellus said, nuzzling the grub. "It's a name from an old changeling story. Salmacis fell in love with a stallion and longed to be with him. When he didn't return her love, she prayed to the heavens and her wish was granted, the two being merged into one being." She looked up at Celestia. "Seems fitting as a way to symbolize her growing up with both pony and changeling heritage, the two mixing together into something new and wonderful."

"Salmacis." Celestia murmured, trying it out. "Salmacis. Yes, I quite like how that sounds."

"And you can shorten it to Sally!" Gallus piped up. Ocellus rolled her eyes at him. "What? It's true."

"Thank you, Gallus. Sally does sound like a nice informal name for friends and family to call her." She reached out, and Ocellus passed the newly christened grub into her hooves. "My little Salmacis, my cute little Sally." Ocellus and Gallus watched her cradle her daughter with a soft smile. "A perfect name for a perfect bug daughter."

* * *

"Salmacis?" Luna took a sip of her tea, looking at her niece. "I do like the sound of that. Very regal."

"I thought so too!" Celestia replied, breathing in the fragrant aroma rising from her jasmine tea. Gallus and Ocellus sat with them, Ocellus also enjoying some tea whilst Gallus played with Salmacis. Celestia looked over at the griffon, giving him a warm smile. "Seems like she likes you, Gallus."

"Yeah, I guess I'm good with kids." He replied with a shrug, tickling Salmacis, her chittering laugh making him smile. "And she's also very agreeable, so that helps. Not every kid is so sweet."

"I guess that bodes well for us." Ocellus said, her grin widening. "I bet you'll be a good father to our own brood."

"O-Ocellus!" The griffon squawked in protest.

"What, are you saying you don't want to have grubs with me?"

"N-no, I mean...yeah I'd like to, just..." He groaned and extended his wings, covering his face with them. "...just not yet, okay?" All three females chuckled at his embarrassment, and he groaned louder still.

"I like this one, Tia. She comes across as shy and sweet, but she knows how to tease a male and put him in his place." Luna pronounced, waggling her eyebrows at the changeling as she slurped on her earthy, ponerh tea.

"Could you girls, you know, not gang up on a guy?" He asked, peeking at them through his feathers.

"Hmm...no." Celestia replied playfully.

"Okay, okay, that's enough teasing, I think." Ocellus said, causing Gallus to breath a sigh of relief, returning his attention to the adoring little grub. "Celestia, a thought occurred to me just now. I'm here as Thorax's representative, yeah?"

"That is correct."

"I think that I will make you an offer on his behalf. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"And what, pray tell, is this offer?" Celestia asked, ears trained forward in interest.

"The bond between you and Salmacis is already strong and will only grow stronger, but you may find yourself wishing for some assistance with her. I'd like to offer you a place in the changeling hive for you and yours."

"You mean...leave here and move to the hive?"

"Exactly! You and Salmacis, and Luna too if she wishes. I know how important you are to each other."

"I...will have to give that some consideration, and confer with Luna." Celestia replied. Luna nodded, turning to gaze out the window, a pensive look on her face.

"Of course. I wouldn't expect you to make such a decision on the spot. However...you may wish to do so within the next few weeks."

"Why is that?"

"A few weeks after hatching, a grub will instinctively weave itself a cocoon. Once cocooned, it will metamorphize into its next form, looking like a proper foal, albeit with the changeling features you know and love."

"I see." Celestia stared into her tea, the cogs turning slowly in her head. Should she go? Would Luna want to go too, or stay at Silver Shoals?

"It was really nice seeing you again, and spending a little time with you, both of you." Ocellus inclined her head to the two sisters, beaming at them. "But now I think Gallus and I need to be going, or else we'll miss our train back."

"Oh, shoot, it is that time, isn't it?" He asked, jumping to his claws. "Thanks for having us!" Ocellus downed the rest of her tea, then stepped away from the tea table, moving to the door with Gallus in tow. Salmacis let out a sad hissing sound, seeing her new friends go. Celestia picked her up and nuzzled her, easing that ache with her love.

When the two were gone, Celestia sat down again, preparing another infusion of her tea leaves. "What do you think about that offer, Lulu?"

"I think you should take it, Tia."

"...really? Just like that?"

"Mmhmm." Luna followed suit, not yet finished imbibing her own tea. "I think it would be good for you, and for Salmacis." The lunar mare looked over at the grub snuggled against Celestia's chest, a loving smile spreading across her muzzle. "I admit, she is growing on me, and I want the best for her too. The changelings will know all about her development, and will be eager to help out."

"And what about you, Lulu? Would you be coming too?"

"Hmm...no, I think I'll stay here for now." Luna picked up her gaiwan, dribbling the infused tea into her cup. "I love being with you, Tia. You're the best sister a mare could ask for." Celestia awwwed at her, and Luna giggled. "But I think we needn't be attached at the flank. Our paths may diverge, but all diverging paths eventually converge again. I'll be sure to visit sometime."

"Y-you're sure?"

"Yes, Tia, I am sure." She leaned forward, fixing Salmacis with a serious stare. "Take good care of your mother, won't you, little grub?" Salmacis, as usual, responded in chirps and hisses, smiling at her aunt. "I guess that will suffice."

* * *

Later that night, Celestia retired to bed, placing her sleepy little grub beside her, watching as Salmacis gradually drifted off to sleep. Picking up and moving out of Canterlot castle to Silver Shoals had felt like a big change, and now here she was, about to move for the second time in months. It'd take a few days to get everything sorted, and then she'd be off, leaving her sister and the friendly residents behind, off to yet more adventure. "Heh, it's like they always say," she whispered to her daughter, softly stroking her. "You never really retire, you just change jobs."

Author's Note

Don't mind me, just doing some casual shipping. Gallus and Ocellus seemed an interesting choice so I went for it.

Also, have some music:
Lay down, Sally, and rest you in my arms