Sombra's Bat

Moonlight's POV

As I walk around the Crystal Empire, I think about how the enchanted helmet could be beneficial to us and try to distract myself from how creepy it is. The looks on the faces of the Crystal Ponies does not help, and I am asked often what I have done to deserve the so-called "hat of shame." I have to explain to them that it doen't work in the same way as they think. I have to take the thing off and put it back on a lot; the elite guards are forced to wear them at all times in public under Sombra's rules, so removing it serves as proof that I'm not like them.

Eventually, I get fed up of being asked questions and make my way to a primary school so that I can educate the colts and fillies, since they are bound to pass on the message to their parents. I have to go there anyway to inspect the new roof, so there's not much point in stalling.

First I take to the air to look at the roof. No sign of damage; the opposite of the little huts in the Everfree Forest. They are only still standing because of ancient magic that was used when the Everfree Castle was first built. The Everfree Castle, where Nightmare Moon appeared, I think. It was a long time ago. How strange that I always end up helping those who all-out hate Celestia.

I walk into the office and take off the stupid helmet by way of introduction, holding it with my magic instead. I explain to the mare at the desk, "Sombra gave me a new uniform."

"So you aren't like the other guards then? The ones who are, you know..."

"No. Is the new roof all ok?"

"Yes, Commander. Are you here to go and see the foals?"

"Yes. Lead the way, please."

I follow her to the hall where the foals are all gathered for their daily assembly. I ask the mare, "Should I wait for the end of the assembly and visit the classes separately?"

"You can go in there if you wish." A polite, emotionless response.

I open the door, and the crowd look at me with surprise. "I hope I am not interrupting anything too important. Headstallion, please continue and I will talk to the students afterwards."

"I have just finished talking to them, actually," he replies in a gruff voice. He seems to be telling the truth, so I step forwards to address them all.

"Hello, everypony, it's Commander Moonlight again. I am here for two reasons. The first and most important thing is to ask if the new roof is doing its job. Have there been any leaks?"

"No," say the colts and fillies, shaking their heads.

"That's wonderful!" I reply, putting some enthusiasm into my voice and breaking out into a fanged smile. "Now, has anypony noticed something different about me?"

A few hooves shoot into the air. I point at a colt with a silver coat in the second row and ask, "What have you noticed?"

"Well, your armour looks different. It looks more like King Sombra's."

"Correct! King Sombra gifted me this new armour this morning. This is the second reason I am here because I have a new hat as well. There are different types of armour for the elite Crystal Guards to the regular Crystal Guards. Can somepony else tell me what the difference is?"

A pink filly puts her hoof in the air first. "The elite Crystal Guards have enchantments on their armour that makes them act differently. I think it's a bit creepy, but King Sombra tells the Crystal Guards to protect us, so it isn't all bad."

"You're about right, little one. King Sombra can communicate with the elite Crystal Guards much quicker. They make the guards act differently, which is a little strange at first, but I have grown used to it. In fact, the reason why I am here is because he has given me a helmet to match my new armour. It works in a similar way, but it isn't quite the same." I hold it up in the air with my front hooves. "This one doesn't change the way I act when I wear it, but we can still speak to each other over long distances. We can do this by using magic to read each other's minds." I put it on for all of them to see.

The crowd of young ponies are impressed. I hear shouts of "Cool!" and "That looks amazing!" from them all. Good. They at least have accepted Sombra as the true King of the Crystal Empire.

Good, Sombra says. Or thinks. It makes me jump. Everyone gives me a curious look.

"King Sombra is just talking to me," I explain.

"Wow, you're reading his mind right now?!" a colt exclaims.

"Yes. It's going to take a few days for me to get used to it," I reply, giggling. The foals are impressed by your magic, Sombra, I tell him.

It works over long distances, then.

Yes.

That's brilliant!

I know.

One thing. Could you get back to the castle?

Copy that.

I am not a military commander.

Technically you are, but never mind.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you all, but King Sombra says he needs me back at the Crystal Castle. I will visit again soon, though."

"Bye!" everypony says at once. The colts and fillies wave at me, and I wave back with an armour clad hoof. Then, just to impress them all, I use dark magic - if I can still call it that - to teleport to the small dining room of the Crystal Castle.

Where are you, Sombra?

"Right here."

I turn around and he is there. "How am I supposed to tell the difference between you talking and using telepathy?"

"Practice. Nothing else."

Let's practice then, shall we?

If you want to.

Why did you ask me to come back here? I sit down on a crystal chair, which fortunately has a cushion. Sombra makes himself comfortable next to me.

The secret location of Queen Chrysalis's hive has been compromised by Equestria. She is having to move all one thousand three hundred and twenty nine members of the hive, including herself.

Ouch. That's a lot of changelings. More than we can fit in this castle. Even if we had twenty to a bedroom we couldn't accommodate them all.

That is the problem. Is there anywhere else that they could go to?

I frown at him. Not many places I can think of on this side of the border. There isn't really a hotel or anything like that here. Unless we fill this dining room and the throne room with triple bunk beds there will never be enough space. Even then, we might have to ask some families to accept changelings into their homes, and where are over a thousand changelings supposed to wash and do their business?!

Chrysalis says that she will have to get them to build a new hive from scratch, but if they build their hive close to here-

They can help us sort out Equestria, I cut him off. Assuming that three hundred and twenty nine of them are hatchlings, how long does it take a thousand changelings to build a hive from scratch?

Not very long, I have heard.

Wait, is it warm enough for them this far north?

They say it is fine. Do we use a quill and ink or use magic to contact Queen Chrysalis?

Magic. This will be the first time I see Queen Chrysalis face to face.

"Fair enough."

While I remove that helmet so Chrysalis can see my face, he sets four obsidian orbs on the table in a square, and an image of the Changeling Queen appears, surrounded by blue fire that laps at the air. She has a dark grey coat, a blue-grey mane, glistening green eyes and a gnarled horn that must be a similar size to Celestia's. I also recognise a pair of translucent blue wings behind her. She seems to be in some sort of cave.

"Good afternoon, King Sombra and future queen Moonlight of the Crystal Empire," Chrysalis greets us. "How are you both?"

"Brilliant, thank you. There are only four days until old Celestia decides to send the Royal Guards here, but we already know how easily duped they are by the right disguise," I laugh. Chrysalis and Sombra laugh with me.

"Tut tut, even Celestia did not realise, the batty mare. No offence to you, Moonlight. Unfortunately, as you already know, I have had to abandon the current hive. I have no idea what I want to do: build a new hive not far away or move my whole family somewhere else."

"Sombra and I were discussing the benefits of you building the hive further north for all of us. We have found that there are issues with accommodating so many changelings at once, so we were wondering how long it would take to build a new hive."

"It depends on how hungry my brethren are. If you are willing to give some of your love to some very hungry changelings, then I can get them to build it within a week. In fact, it might only be three days before I can start moving some of them in."

I look at Sombra and raise an eyebrow. Do you think we can handle thirteen hundred changelings for a week?

He confirms, "I am confident that we can sort something out."

"Oh, that is brilliant! How wonderful! Ocellus, tell the others that we will be leaving at dawn for a place where the ponies love and appreciate us."

"Yes, Mother," a changeling replies from behind Chrysalis' huge wings.

Sombra says, "If you are not here by noon on Wednesday, we will assume that you have run into difficulties and contact you. Does that sound ok with you?"

"It is perfect. I hope I will see you before then." The flames disappear, along with the image of Chrysalis.

"Do you reckon she will help us if Celestia turns into some fire-maned beast?" I ask Sombra.

"She hates Celestia. Of course she will."