APR 11 Wednesday.

As I slowly walk over to the carriage I bring my focus to a few things, the first being the overwhelming smell of blood.

I see Celestia looking at me, hiding her concern well. She's definitely going to have words with me later, but I can accept that and honestly, I'm too high on adrenaline to really care at the moment. Right now I'm just trying my best to not think about what I did and save it all for later.

I take a moment and form a small spell matrix inside my armor, casting a cleaning spell on myself to remove most of the blood and other bits of gore that are covering me. I sit a little away from the rest as they all watch me for a few moments before turning to each other.

The two guards pulling the carriage seem the most shocked at the sight of the wolf and I get some stares from them as I take a moment to breathe. Cricket doesn't look all that confident either, now openly giving me a wary stare but turning to Celestia as she casts two spells at once.

A moment later I can't smell blood anymore and there is a shield around the area, probably to keep the smell out as we talk. A table is conjured between the two groups and they all move to take seats. I don't move for the time being and try to feel around my body for any injuries.

I can feel some fairly large bruises but I wasn't cut and I can't feel anything broken so I'm mostly fine. Limiting myself like that was risky but I'm sure as hell not going to show off all my abilities around someone I don't fully trust, not unless I really need to at least.

That wolf was dangerous and took me by surprise with its magic, but compared to an adult Dragon it's a small foe to battle. I do feel a bit like shit honestly, the adrenaline is wearing off and the reality is sinking in, this day has been a fucking mess. I move over to the table after a few more moments and notice things have already started.

I've killed animals in my past life, mostly from fishing, and I've seen Entropy do it many times when we'd visit forests, but that seems different in a way. I don't know how intelligent this wolf was but with its ability to use magic and its obvious aberrations, I just don't know if it was sapient, and I never will know I suppose.

I move those thoughts to the side and sit down on the grass, staying a few feet further from the table than everypony else. There is a beat of silence before Celestia turns to me. "Are you alright, Sir. Shadow?" She shows a little concern but I can tell it's a lot more than she's letting on.

I nod. "A few bruises, nothing more." I am vague but truthful keeping in mind the company we have, she stares at me a moment longer before turning back to Chrysalis. It's roughly at this point that I focused enough to notice something odd, they have a tied-up Changeling with them being carried by one of them.

I thought she brought four guards but it seems this meeting really won't be a simple one. I notice the tied-up Changeling looking at me, clear fear on their face. Chrysalis is the first to speak up after a moment, she also turns to me. "Thank you for the help, Sir. Shadow. An impressive display." She is less formal than last time but seems to be truthful with her words.

I just nod back silently as I don't have much to say about helping them. I did notice she only tried to help once, maybe letting me weaken it and going for the kill if I failed to win? It's something I'd do in her position and not a bad strategy if done right.

Celestia shifts a bit and seems to finally start the meeting. "It is a pleasure to see you again Queen Chrysalis, you already know all of the ponies I have brought. And I assume this meeting is partly about your, guest." Celestia uses a slightly less formal tone than last time, taking a bit more of a direct approach.

The last time we met Celestia eventually ended up with a very blunt approach and things went well enough, it seems she's taken that as a lesson. Chrysalis looks over at them and smiles a little as the mood shifts to tense but not oppressive. "Yes, to an extent our guest is part of why I have asked for a meeting. Another is to improve relations, I find it difficult to do so through letters alone." She blatantly appeals to our tendency for friendship.

It does work for us though as that is our goal in the first place. Chrysalis takes out some papers from one of her guards, who has a small saddlebag on them. "There are a few things I thought were too important to discuss over a letter as well. We have been, observing some interesting movements among Hiveless Changelings. Along with who we assume are your guards." Chrysalis drops a good amount of her formality and speaks more plainly.

I can't read the papers but Celestia looks at them for a few moments. "Yes, it seems you came upon an aid mission." The two things click quickly and I realize this is about us feeding Hiveless Changelings. Celestia words it as aid and that seems to make Chrysalis pause a little. "Is there a reason you have taken note of it? I assumed none of them were your Changelings?" Celestia plays a little innocent.

Chrysalis takes the papers back after a moment, keeping her friendly expression even though she was given little context. "They aren't as far as I am aware, but a few of those groups are part of an agreement we have, they supply some food and we protect them from outside threats." She says and doesn't seem to have a problem with it.

Then again, why would she? Some of that love we are giving the Hiveless is probably ending up at her hive, but the Hiveless might drift away from such a deal if they don't feel like they need the protection anymore. Celestia nods and both seem to drop the topic for now, with the silent understanding that it will be something of a point of contention in the future.

Chrysalis turns to one of her guards and they bring the tied-up Changeling over with them. "It may be rather, unappealing, but this." She motions to the captured Changeling. "Is a captain of a smaller force inside of Cascadia's army. A small but better-trained team, not an elite though." She uses the name with no small amount of disdain.

The captured Changeling by this point has seen all of us and looks pretty scared. Chrysalis motions with her head, "We have been unable to, convince them to join us. We think they have useful information, but they remain quiet. I thought you may be interested in a trade, information for information along with another matter." She says slowly and I get the idea quickly.

It might seem a little messed up to use a living being as a bargaining chip, but Chrysalis has no use for them and it's likely they would just be executed. Both hives have food problems and feeding a useless prisoner is a bad idea, and if you can't recruit them or find someplace to send them you really don't have many other options.

War is a bloody and messed up thing, I see that the only Pony that looks at all disturbed is Ash Mark, and even then only a little bit. Celestia has lived long enough to have seen worse and Cricket came from this war. There is a long moment of silence as Celestia seems to think.

She nods to me and I look over at the Changeling holding the captive, The Changeling moves the captive over to me slowly and I bring them over with my field. "I can agree to something along those lines, although there are things I will not speak on, and an uncooperative captive is not likely to speak much. Shadow, please secure them."

She turns to me for a moment and I notice that her tone is more serious now, making it clear this captive isn't worth too much, I can see the hints of Celestia's harder side come through. Celestia may be the kind and loving Princess, but she's been around long enough to see worse and knows how to negotiate in a grim deal.

Honestly, this is not a bad outcome, this Changeling is probably going to be interrogated by us, but that's better than being executed. I do feel a little bad about them being in this situation, but I don't know them and for all I know they could have committed some pretty terrible crimes, if nothing else their hive has been ponynapping others.

I don't really know what to do with them, I just hold them in the air as they stare back at me, fear evident on their face. I think for a moment and pick up a pebble off the ground, I walk a few feet away and reach out with my hoof. Grabbing the Changeling and making a slight show of lifting them high in the air before sticking the pebble to them.

I do the same thing I did to Garble and stick them in the air with a Stasis spell, using my hoof to cover up the use of the two spells from sight. I walk back to the table and leave them there while both sides watch with some morbid curiosity, I make sure to keep my sense partly on them just in case they try anything.

Chrysalis turns back to Celestia and passes a second piece of paper over, seemingly anticipating Celestia's reasoning. "This is a list of a few locations we believe might contain a few gathering spots for Cascadia hive." Not the most useful, still something of value. "As for what information I want to trade for? I'd like any location you may have found, and I believe Sir. Shadow would be able to answer a question for me." She unexpectedly turns to me.

Celestia's face gets a little bit more focused at that, but she simply thinks about it for a few moments before continuing. "If, Sir. Shadow is in agreement." We didn't get a massive amount of information, but what we did get is useful to us so I nod in agreement as I can refuse to answer.

Chrysalis smiles a bit more and the mood is a mix of grim and tense now, with the Pony side being a bit more uncomfortable from what I can tell. "I also wish to inquire about what you learned from the captives of our last meeting. As for you Sir. Shadow, I am curious how you incapacitated them." She gets right to the point and I can tell what she wants.

I stay silent for a little bit and think on how best to answer her while Celestia pulls some papers from under her wings, probably the other information Chrysalis asked for. "Sticking spell, easy, quick, good for pinning an enemy down during a sneak attack." I once again be vague but honest about what I did.

Chrysalis looks a bit thoughtful at that, blinking as it seems to settle in. "Hmm, an interesting method, thank you. I was also curious about your ability to be aware of your surroundings without sight? It is rather impressive as well." She again digs for information in a polite way, while looking over a few papers Celestia passes her.

There is a long moment of silence before I answer. "I can see you just fine, Queen Chrysalis," I answer back, being honest as I can see her, in a sense of the word. Her face shifts a little as I basically give her a false answer, but she doesn't press the matter and turns back to Celestia.

Celestia glances at me but says nothing, probably just her checking on me, before turning back to face Chrysalis. "You mentioned a second topic?" Celestia seems to want to move us along as this isn't a very savory deal. Honestly, things have been a bit unproductive until now, all of us dancing around the actual reason she called for this meeting.

I think Celestia just wants to interact more, this meeting was never going to be as productive as the first, but relationships aren't built off of one meeting alone. Chrysalis passes the papers to a Changeling, "That involves something of a worrying situation." She seems to compose herself more.

She brings over a simple piece of paper and passes it. "A week ago, we raided a base, small and out of the way. And we recovered three captured Ponies." The news makes us all go silent, Celestia is now much more focused than before and Chrysalis now has our undivided attention.

"They are fine, but very, uncooperative from what they have been through. Holding them and keeping them safe has proven, difficult to work around and if we just release them, they will most certainly talk." I can sense Celestia's mind running a mile a minute as she tenses a bit. It seems Chrysalis has found something that does interest us.

Celestia has mentioned it before, but occasionally Ponies go missing, we're not sure if that's all Changelings but it definitely is them to some extent. Getting a few of them back is a great thing, and if Chrysalis gives them back willingly it goes a long way to building some trust.

I can also see why she wanted a meeting now, she's caring for some very hard-to-care-for guests and can't just release them. Celestia is silent for a long few moments, "I see, then I thank you on behalf of Equestria. I assume you need some assistance in keeping things quiet and bringing them home?" Celestia's voice holds a little edge to it, her tone getting defensive over her little Ponies.

Chrysalis knows as well as we do that her next words are very important, she tries to pull something... Celestia won't be happy, and neither will I. I spot that Ash Mark is tense and ready to move if needed. Chrysalis nods, "We do, this is the location we have them at, some guards to retrieve them would be sufficient." I nearly let out a sigh of relief as she didn't outright demand anything in return.

She could have demanded love, or something else, but that would not have gone well long-term. Celestia's face calms a bit at that and she nods, "It would be a pleasure, is there anything else you would need?" Chrysalis shakes her head. "Perfect, then I believe there is some, potential for cooperation here." She takes out a piece of blank paper and a quill.

Throwing Chrysalis a bone, or any reward really is a good move. Even if that's what Chrysalis was counting on to begin with, she still did us good, and building on that is a good idea. "We have been, improving our capability to gather love, but such things are far from being viable." She takes love out of the negotiations as a start but moves the paper over.

Chrysalis's face twitches a bit but she reads the paper, smiling more after a few moments before taking a quill a Changeling gives her and writing on the paper as well. What follows is a very close match to our first meeting, then swapping this new contract back and forth. "I will also be sending a message in the future if we find any more lost Ponies," Chrysalis adds more to bargain with while passing the contract back.

Celestia looks it over and again and changes things. As they do this I spend a moment looking over at the captured Changeling, I wonder what we'll do with them? Torture is not a common thing for ponies to do and I know for a fact that Celestia won't do it, but they could actually have useful information.

I don't think I'll be doing anything with them, that's not my specialty and I really don't like the idea of trying to convince someone to talk to me and spill secrets. I turn back as both of them sign the contract and reach an agreement. "I have nothing else to add if you have any questions or topics to bring up?" Chrysalis keeps the polite tone but is blunt about it.

There is a pause and I step forward, all eyes turning to me as I look over at Celestia, she nods and I speak up. "A few facts about this war have been hard to find. If you are willing to answer, Queen Chrysalis?" I ask as there is one fact about this war that I want some answer to.

She looks thoughtful for a moment and nods her agreement. "Why did this war start? What was the event that began it all?" That is something that no one has given us details on, only scraps of information and a few possibilities. A few of the other Changelings looked confused by the question, almost as if it was obvious.

Chrysalis is silent for a moment. "It is complicated, to simplify. The Monster, Cascadia, took more and more from her hive and the Hiveless, eventually I was born and took a few Hiveless under my rule. From that point on she started attacking us, and has never stopped. The original battle though, was in the Monster's hive." She does not go into detail but at least I get something of an answer.

That does bring up the question of where Chrysalis was born? Inside the Cascadia Hive or from some random Hiveless Changeling? Maybe she has parents still around? That's an odd thought. I nod and take a step back, "Thank you, Queen Chrysalis." I say without emotion.

After a few moments, Celestia brings out a map, simple but detailed enough. She marks a few locations and passes them over, "We have seen a few Changelings at this location, organized. We do not know if they are under Cascadia though, it is best to observe them first I believe." She gives them the last bit of information they bargained for.

It's clear that things are coming to an end for this meeting, both sides having walked away with something they wanted. It seems this was more productive than I thought it would be. Chrysalis seems happy enough with the unknown agreement they signed and the small bits of information. "It seems we are finished then, Princess Celestia. It has been productive, may we meet again." She shows a smile and keeps most of her teeth covered.

Chrysalis is even blunt now and even her formality is mostly slipping. Unlike last time though she didn't get frustrated about Celestia, she handled this meeting well enough. I can also see her intelligence again, getting some form of agreement by actively improving our relations, even when we didn't come up with the idea of a second agreement.

Using the recued Ponies and a captive as a way to get something while looking like they are helping us. And if Changelings ever become known to the public then it would be a good way to get the public on your side. To show them that you care about the innocents caught in the war.

Celestia smiles widely. "It was a pleasure, and I wish you safe travels home, Queen Chrysalis." A polite but standard way to say goodbye. Chrysalis doesn't waste time after that. She takes flight with the rest of her Changelings and we all wait in silence as they fly away.

A few minutes later I turn to Celestia, "They are gone, north, probably a fake direction, following them is unwise." I share my thoughts and look over to Ash Mark before motioning with my head to the captured Changeling. Celestia takes a glance at me and the large wolf as I take down the Changeling and pass them to Ash Mark.

Celestia looks at Cricket, who's been silent this entire time, mostly just here as a reassurance and a silent statement of cooperation. "Miss. Cricket. Please ride back with Captain Ash, I will be returning shortly." She says in a voice that leaves little room for argument but is not unkind in its intentions.

Cricket bows a little. "Yes, Your Highness." She turns around with one last glance at me and the dead wolf while I sit still, keeping my senses alert. There is a long stretch of silence as Ash Mark moves the Changeling into the carriage and is joined by Cricket before it takes off and leaves.

Only once it is out of my senses do I feel myself relax, finally in the presence of a Pony I trust and nopony else. The obvious question lingers unsaid as she walks over to me while I stare at the dead wolf. I reach out with my magic and grab the small gem the Changelings left to light up the area.

I bring it to me and throw it on the ground, cracking it and making the light go out. Celestia casts a light spell and raises a brow as I take off my helmet and sigh. "I don't think that could listen to us, but I'm in no mood to find out. Today has certainly been, something." I say and start to walk closer to the wolf.

A mix of brown and grey fur, a body that dwarfs mine in every way, and a lot of blood. The ground is seeped through with it and at this point the smell overpowers everything. Celestia walks up next to me and just sits, silently being there for me as I finally let myself think.

Death is an unpleasant thing, something many fear, and that I personally got to experience. I wonder if this wolf had something like a soul? If I do as well? Maybe it too will find itself waking up in a new life, somewhere so very different from everything it has ever known or seen.

I didn't have much of a choice, this thing was really aggressive and I doubt it would refrain from attacking others that wandered into this forest. Even in a land as peaceful as Equestria, there are places where the wild rules, uncontested and untamed by all.

Ponies mostly live in towns and cities, it's not common to build new ones and not often needed due to the small population in relation to a large amount of land. Ponies also tend to explore less than humans, they still do but it's far more likely that they find out that a location is dangerous and just avoid it from then on.

So throughout Equestria there are locations like this forest, and the Everfree Forest, places where nopony goes and where nature is the only ruler. Even then things like this wolf aren't commonly encountered, they normally stick to their territory unless disturbed or forced out by something bigger.

I look at the eyes of the wolf, cold and lifeless and also bloody and cut open from my dagger. I'm reminded of a simple custom among humans, sometimes it is dramatized but it feels, right. I walk over to the head, walking through the bloody quagmire that surrounds it.

I stand on my hind legs and reach out, lowering the eyelid closest to me and closing one of the dinner plate-sized eyes. I move to the other side and do the same thing with the other. Celestia watches with interest and worry, but doesn't interrupt me as I go about my simple ritual.

As a last part, I walk to its maw, partly open from when it died. I reach out with my space magic and with a soft pop one of its large canine teeth separates smoothly at the base, I catch it before it can fall to the forest floor. I look at the tooth the size of one of my legs and move it back with me, ignoring the blood leaking from inside it.

Taking part of a kill, to remember what they offered in death and who they were in life. A tradition so old no human could really name when exactly it started. Celestia looks a little disturbed and downright concerned by this point as I move to stand next to her again. I sit a little closer than necessary as I look at the wolf and close my eyes for a moment, trying to think of something to say.

"Some say the eyes are the window to the soul, that window should not be left open. Some Griffons and even Dragons take a piece of a hunt, to remember and learn a lesson from it all." I try to give some explanation to her before falling silent for a moment and taking a deep breath. "There is peace in silence, and silence in death. Your hunt is over, rest well." I finish my word to a foe already dead.

A moment later Celestia stretches a wing out and around me, pulling me a little closer and trying her best to be comforting. I smile a bit despite everything, because things will be ok.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. :}
Current year is 996

First, I am continuing this next chapter. Second, I struggled a bit more in this one, I wanted to show that while Chrysalis wasn't an amazing diplomat, she at least has some experience frow dealing with Hiveless Changeling.

She may not fully know how to deal with Ponies, but she's at least somewhat capable and can pull off some political maneuvers. Or at least that's what I tried to do, not sure how it will come off.