Jachs paced to and fro along the interview room floor. Every second step he tapped his hoof against the carpet in an attempt to jog his memory. Butter Scotch watched on with a healthy mixture of amusement and curiosity. “So,” the reporter queried, breaking up the melodic tap-thump of changeling hooves on carpet, “the thestral jaegers…”

“Must we?” Jachs took hold of a whisky shot glass and downed it in one. “I’d rather not. It’s a bad memory.” He spoke aloud, trotting a circular pattern around the couch. “Much more interesting to skip ahead a bit.”

She tapped her pen to her chin. “Come now, Generalmajor. I’m old enough to know when somepony’s hiding something from me. How is Equestria going to trust you if you even keep secrets in your memoirs?”

This seemed to bring the changeling pause. In defeat, he climbed back upon the couch and let his head fall into the cushions. “Fine.” He stared to the ceiling and let out a long sigh. “But,” he started, “I can’t tell you every single thing. National security and all that.”

“Well now I’m really interested.” She leaned forward. “So, what can you tell me, within the bounds of legality?”

-From “Memoirs Of A Changed Changeling” by Herr Jachs, Canterlot press, Equestrian Protectorate, 1,045.

Blackness. A throbbing pain. A sudden jolt of burning light. All this met Generalmajor Jachs’ eyes as he awoke this morning. Somehow he’d managed to drag himself into his office, and if the stabbing pain in his back was any indication, he’d fallen asleep over his disk. The empty shot glass and bottle of vodka painted a more thorough picture.

Almost as bad as that night he’d fallen asleep against the throne a week ago. No-- he should not think of that night again.

His chitinous black hoof found his temple and he rubbed it solemnly. The morning light peeked in through his office window. Every ray of Celestial sun was a burning bolt of pain that shot right to his temples. The Generalmajor sighed; this was going to be a long, long day.

Jachs tried his best to clean himself up using the reflection of himself in an empty vodka bottle to at least give the impression he took care of himself. He was unsuccessful. His eyes drooped, he stared blankly forwards, and he bore a grimace from the dull pain. It would have to do.

The changeling generalmajor did a small breathing exercise, a slow intake of breath then an exhale, and again. Then, he opened his office door.

There, hoof raised and poised to knock, were the shining purple eyes of the oberstleutnant Alcippe. “Generalmajor!” She quickly drew her hoof down. “I’ve been looking for you sir! We expected you at-- oh goodness.” Noticing his bearing, she visibly recoiled, baring her fangs in a cringe. “By the queen, what happened to you?” Her voice dropped low. She spoke with a surprising amount of audible concern, like ones’ older sister might after she’d seen him come home from a fight with the schoolyard bully. Jachs found it touching despite it all.

“Bad night.” He answered simply, stepping out into the light of the throne room. The sunlight was mixing with the window mosaics casting the throne room in bright and royal reds and blues. “What time is it?” He managed, leaning against a column for support.

“Three. The Queen’s airship is due within the hour. Kommandant Second Wind expected you to inspect the volunteers--” Jachs craned his head skyward and made a sound somewhere between an exasperated ‘ugh’ and a whine. Alcippe arced a hoof behind her neck and gave it a nervous scratch.

“I slept through that didn’t I?” She grimaced, again, and Jachs had his answer.

“I’ll conduct the inspection,” she quickly added. “You need to go take a quick shower and get ready. You look as bad as you feel and it wouldn’t do for Her Majesty to see you like this.”

Jachs pushed off the column and cleared his throat. “Thank you, Alcippe, really. I’m sorry to…put this upon you, but I appreciate-”

“Think nothing of it.” She chuckled softly. “What are friends for, right?”

Jachs nodded respectfully, but privately he swore that one day he’d pay her back for this. A leader does not stumble, especially on a day as important as this. If she wasn’t going to hold him accountable for it he would hold himself accountable.

Thirty minutes later and the changeling Generalmajor was a new bug. Freshly showered, the first time in days, sporting a spiffy shine to his polished chitin and having dug out his dress uniform for just such an occasion. He checked himself in the mirror and a handsome green-eyed changeling stallion stared back. The dark of his carapace contrasted nicely with the royal reds of a Generalmajor’s uniform adornments. He made sure his medals and ribbons were all attached, and winked at himself. No amount of self-care would banish the headache. Luckily, he didn’t need to be at his best for the queen, he just needed to look his best. That, his reflection assured him, was true in spades.

The East wing of the palace had been converted into a pseudo officer’s quarters. Jachs technically had a room here but more often than not he’d slump against his desk before he even had the time to make it back here. One day, perhaps, he’d fall upon that royal pony bed and let bliss take him. Today, he had work to do. His reflection agreed.

Seeing as the pair were of one mind, Jachs turned. He had to make up for lost time.

Second Wind perched against a bannister overlooking the courtyard. The oberstleutnant Alcippe was making her way up and down the lines of pony volunteers who were dressed to the nines in royal guard armor adorned with changeling tridents. The kommandant was hoping she was as happy as he was with them. He tried to see her face but he couldn’t quite read her expression at this distance.

Not that he needed to. He had done the impossible and whipped a rag-tag band of brigands, deserters and civilians into solid soldiers. There were washouts, of course, but the ones that stayed showed true promise. Each one of those ponies he was proud of and he knew damn well they were, each and everyone, perfect.

Instead, he found himself paying attention to Alcippe herself. She was such a fascinating creature. Quite unlike the bugs who were so eager to stomp their boot into his neck and jeer at him for being on the losing side; She seemed to genuinely want to do right by his people and her own. Not to mention, she was intelligent and empathetic too. All that, and she still commanded the respect due of her rank. She paradoxically carried herself with the confidence and poise of an officer and an experienced soldier.

He heard her bark a couple orders. One of his ponies shifted his stance, barely, and she leaned in to glare at him. Second Wind chuckled as she, satisfied, backed away and checked a little box on her clipboard.

What he would have given to have a commander like that back in the guard. He let a little smile creep onto his face. She had quite a nice figure too. Gray wasn’t a particularly attractive colour, per se, but she wore the uniform with enough confidence he’d even call it ‘pretty’ on her.

Or was it just her that was pretty?

…That was a strange thought. Second Wind bit his inner lip and promptly banished it deep into the recesses of his mind. There, it would never be seen again and it would be entirely and completely forgotten.

“Everypony is perfect.”

Alcippe’s voice shook him from his inner contemplations. He turned and gave a perfunctory salute, which she immediately dissuaded with a casual hoof wave. “As expected, well done Kommandant. The queen will be pleased.”

How had she gotten here so quickly? How long was he staring? His hoof fell to his side and he cleared his throat, suddenly finding her piercing purple eyes to be intimidating. “Thank you, ma’am. May I ask about the Generalmajor’s condition?”

She shrugged nonchalantly. “Last minute paperwork I believe. He should be here about-- well, now.”

The changeling in question trotted up in a light jog. Seeing him, Second Wind gave a quick little nod of acknowledgement, and shouted. “Officer on deck!” Everypony in the courtyard below brought their hooves up in salute in unison. Jachs smiled, returned the salute, and propped himself up on the bannister by the uniformed pegasus. “Parade…rest!” shouted Second Wind, and everypony at once dropped their hooves to a rest stance.

“Sorry I’m late.” Jachs shrugged. “Looks like you did pretty well though.”

“You’re not.” Alcippe interjected, stepping between the two stallions. “Okay, as a refresher. The Queen’s airship will hover above the castle. She and her guard will fly down, they’ll conduct an inspection of her own, and then they’ll be off in a couple hours.”

“I read the itinerary.” Jachs returned with a quiet nod. “But we all know that isn’t how it’s gonna go. Eh, Kommandant?”

“I don’t know what you mean, Generalmajor. Our Queen Chrysalis is a precise and exacting lady.” Spoke Second Wind, saying somehow nothing at all and still managing to respond.

“Horrible.” The generalmajor’s eyes rolled. “Have you been giving this one royal etiquette training too, oberstleutnant?”

“Perhaps he’s learned from his superiors...sir.” She smirked.

“That was cruel.” Jachs made a show of holding his hoof over his heart in a dramatic fashion. “If I didn’t know better I’d say her majesty in chitin had taken the form of my second.”

Alcippe arched an eyeridge. She was about to cut in, no doubt to verbally eviscerate the Generalmajor, before Second Wind found himself speaking up in her defence. “If she were,” he began, “then I’m sure she’d find your lack of professionalism in this moment offensive, and correct it.” A bit more venom snuck into Second Wind’s tone than he’d intended, and he immediately looked ashamed.

“...Sorry.” Second Wind apologized, biting his lip after a second of uncomfortable silence permeated the balcony.

Jachs shrugged. “It’s stressful, I understand.”

Alcippe nodded in agreement. “We’re all a bit wound up, Kommandant. I’m sure the Generalmajor understands that, as you’re solely responsible for the view the Queen will have of the volunteer regiments, you are under a lot of pressure.” As she spoke, she glanced Jachs’ way, who returned a nod.

“Although,” the changeling general began, “I would-- oh.” A shadow fell upon the trio as all glanced upwards. The darkened hull of the royal changeling airship blackened the sky and brought itself to a hover above the courtyard. It was magnificent. A marvel, bristling with weapons and armour like a flying battleship. It was the only changeling zeppelin still in service. A colossal beast, adorned with the changeling trident on either side and painted a shining, pure white. Even from the ground Jachs could see the guns, built in turret-like bubbles along the hull. The cabin itself was nearly the size of the entire Canterlot castle. Massive cannons, anti air weapons. It was a mobile fortress.

Most interesting of all, though. If one paid attention-- at the little lightning-rod like protrusions along the hull, you could see a sparking, shimmering field. Powered by magical Equestrian crystals, they’d managed to give it a shield not unlike the kind capable of being cast by the best unicorn mages. A facsimile, huge in scale, but all together a fine spectacle. It was an awe-inspiring sight.

Jachs noticed he could hear the uniforms of the two soldiers behind him ruffle as they stood a little straighter. He allowed himself a tiny grin.

Every visit before this one had been informal, quick, and to the point. After the war had ended the changeling military machine in general was less inclined to stand on ceremony, but today they were pulling out all the stops. This was the first real visit.

Changeling tridents flew from above the courtyard, massive flags showcasing the Queendom’s majesty adorned the old castle, hung along the walls and covering old Equestrian harmonic murals. Changeling officers stood beneath them, their gaze cast upon the pony volunteers who in turn were at attention. There was not a movement between anypony or anyling.

“It seems they are ready for us.” Queen Chrysalis’s melodic voice announced to noling in particular as she stood upon the Zeppelin’s flight deck. At either side of her were her praetorian guard, two changelings adorned in chitin-black armour carrying expensive and beautiful ceremonial lance-rifles that were nearly the size of their body. Not practical, but Queen's mercy! Did the sheer size make her feel important! Better yet, it sent a message: ‘if her guards are strong enough to wield those monsters, they’re strong enough to do anything!’

Suddenly, a heaving, panting changeling ran to her side. He was small, about the size of a pony filly, but this was a full grown changeling. The Queen’s nose wrinkled. “You are late, Seneschal.”

“I--I--...innumerable pardons, your majesty!” He spoke between rapid intakes of breath, the small male wiping his forehead with a hoof. “I couldn’t-- ugh. There was an issue with the printers, your itinerary is--” She cocked an eyeridge of warning ’is-- will have to be figured out on the-- on the fly.” His eyes found the ground. Queen Chrysalis wondered how it comforted one’s anxiety to stare through the grated floor of a changeling zeppelin’s flight deck and at the ground far below.

“Fine,” she whined with a shrug. The Canterlonians would likely have their own plans anyway. She’d see the city on her own some other time. “I’m about to descend, is that all?”

“No!” the jumpy little male was quick to add. “Canterlot is still…nnh, unstable. There could be assassins or spies anywhere. You shouldn’t do this. You know how much the ponies hate--” for the second time today, the Seneschal caught one of the Queen’s death glares and found himself cowed. “...haven’t accepted you as their rightful Queen yet. You should be careful, there could be snipers around every corner! In every window! And poisonous, treasonous words on every lip!”

The Queen of the changelings felt her eyes roll so hard they were in danger of falling out of their sockets. “You’ve made your opinions clear time and again, Seneschal. As have I. Canterlot is mine, and I will not be afraid of it.” Royal indignation crept into her voice, and the Seneschal dipped his head in apology.

The Queen turned, extended her wings, and both praetorians mimicked her action. “I still think-” Chrysalis was vaguely aware of her servants' inane vacuity before the sky wrapped her in its cool blue embrace, and he was forgotten.

Queen Chrysalis landed on part of an open walkway overlooking the courtyard. It looked like the bottom of a gazebo without a roof. Round, and open to allow pegasi to land here. Perhaps, at one point, it was for pegasus couriers. Today, it bore the grandest visitor it would ever receive. She thumped down on the cold marble, and at either side of her landed her most loyal warriors. A pony pegasus, standing back away from the greeting pair of changelings shouted something, and the many ponies below all saluted at once.

“Canterlot welcomes her majesty, Queen Chrysalis!” A changeling bowed and lifted a forehoof to invite her further onto the walkway. That was Generalmajor Jachs voice, but at that moment Queen Chrysalis did not care who he was; her eyes were locked squarely upon the legion of pony volunteers beneath her. No, they were just volunteers-- that pegasus was a soldier.

She pressed past him, all but shoving him into the other officer, an oberstleutnant by rank, beside him. She approached the pegasus with a sudden, eager trot. Her hoofsteps ‘clicking’ on the marble floor like a society mare. What a strange pony! Her eyes ate him up. He brought up a hoof to salute her, but she didn’t bother to acknowledge it.

He had a soft yellow coat and a dark brown mane. His eyes were a gentle and light blue He was tall, for a pony, and with big feathery wings. Typical pegasus in every aspect, except for his uniform. It was the dark grey of a heer soldier and it bore the rank of ‘kommandant.’ He was wearing her colours! That was her rank! Oh…he was hers. Queen Chrysalis found herself smiling like she’d just won a jackpot.

“Your majesty?” The words shook her from her reverie. Crashing back down from her momentary high, she shot a glance over her shoulder. The Generalmajor again, of course.

“Oh, Jachs, you must introduce me to this one!” Chrysalis found herself almost giddy as she spoke. “Look at him-- so spiffy in that uniform! Handsome too!” The changeling Queen sat on her haunches, and lifted a couple forehooves to, unbelievably, pinch the cheek of the pegasus soldier.

Jachs threw a glance over at Second Wind who looked like he was about to collapse in on himself. Military training let him stand at attention and stare forwards through the Queen, but Jachs was afraid that wasn’t going to last.

He cleared his throat. “Kommandant Second Wind was in charge of the volunteer--”

“Yes!” Chrysalis immediately jumped up, cutting Jachs off. “Oh, yes. Command them. Kommandant! Command them to do something! Make them march!” She lifted a hoof to her fangs as she hopped up on the bannister. In tension, she placed the very tip of her hoof between her fangs and held it there. Her eyes were as wide as the Celestial sun itself.

Shaking himself awake and clearing the faint blush from his cheeks, Second Wind stepped up to the bannister, right beside the Queen herself.

“Don’t be shy,” she whispered into his ear, a look in her eyes that quite honestly made him feel uncomfortable. Well, now he feels shy.

“Right…face!” Everypony, with changeling military precision, turned on their hooves and faced to the right. It was one of the simplest marching orders ever, but from the ear-piercing squeal of Queen Chrysalis, you would think they’d just done the impossible.

She practically leapt upwards, her forehooves clapping together in glee-- her eyes closed in pure happiness. “Again!” she yelled. Another face in perfect unison. “Again!” Back to the right this time. “Now move them!” Forward, the lines of pony volunteers marched, and Queen Chrysalis looked like she’d just imbibed six ponies worth of purified ‘elation at cutiemark acquisition.’

What had begun as a perfunctory military visit blossomed into a proper Canterlonian ‘Pamper The Queen’ day. After pulling her from Second Wind’s side, which Jachs noted she was very reluctant to leave, she was led on a tour of the city. Rubble and blast marks had long been cleaned, and the old Canterlonian spirit of propriety was still intact. The streets shined, the buildings were beautiful in the old Equestrian style, and if you ignored the changeling military police still stationed on the street corners it was almost like the war never happened at all.

A local restaurant hosted her, one of the middle class places. She’d insisted on trying ‘workpony meals’ and though she’d stressed her preference for Changeling cuisine, the Generalmajor convinced her majesty that perhaps ‘the peasanty hayburger’ had some merits as a quick and filling meal. As one of the changelings closest to her, Jachs knew very well she loved the food, but was trying to keep up appearances. She’d sent her compliments to the chef after that. There was no chef, only a very nervous line cook.

Then, it was on to entertainment. She’d visited a local theatre, and the pony players were encouraged to put on a private show. A rendition of 'Hearts In Hooves- The Seaside Mare'. An enjoyable evening, although Chrysalis complained the main character was a bit ridiculous. "Imagine a unicorn knowing no spells but basic telekinesis, and being able to lift a ship with that? Absurd. Nopony beyond a princess could ever do such a feat." Regardless, she stomped and cheered when the curtain finally fell, and immediately tried to pretend she wasn't.

Changelings and ponies, though it was still early after the war, were getting along with each other. The scars of war were slow to heal but they were undeniably healing.

As the sun fell over Canterlot, Chrysalis took Celestia’s place upon the grand balcony overlooking the castle. Far, far below her pony volunteers continued their march. An inspection by changeling officers, this time, as both the Generalmajor and Kommandant were at either of her sides.

“Oh, if only all ponies were like you, Second Wind.” Chrysalis sipped gingerly from a kinetically lifted cup of warm ‘draconian blue mountain’ coffee, an Equestrian brew. She yawned, casting her gaze at the line of marching pony guards below her. “Respectful, loyal, mature, smart. Handsome.” There was a notable pause between the second-to-last and final word. “Honestly.”

Jachs snuck a glance at the pegasus. He was getting used to the absurd amounts of praise Chrysalis was heaping on him. The flush he’d originally worn was now but an echo on his furred cheeks. “Thank you, my Queen.” His voice was calm and practised.

From the moment she’d spotted the stallion she only had eyes for him and barely gave Jachs the time of day. To be honest, for the changeling, it was a little vexing. He had stumbled over himself to quickly prepare for the visit and she’d thrown his preparation to the (second) wind and just followed the pegasus around all day.

Well, Jachs pondered silently as he turned his gaze back to the courtyard below. Perhaps it didn’t matter then. Perhaps all truly is well that ends well?

“Come, Second Wind. Sit by me.” She’d stopped referring to him with his rank and started using his full name, Jachs noticed. The Queen drew back one of the fancy Equestrian chairs in her magic and invited him in. Second Wind glanced at Jachs, who gave him a nod, before he followed Chrysalis’s order. “I notice you’re a bit nervous.” She added, dropping her forehooves to rest upon the table.

He swallowed. “I admit I am, my queen. It’s uhh-- not everyday one meets the reigning monarch of a continent.” He chuckled, trying and failing to get her to laugh along with him. A moment of awkward silence followed.

“Have you ever had your love harvested?” the insectoid queen asked in perhaps the most tactless and brutish manner the Generalmajor had ever heard the topic broached.

Jachs’ eyes fell upon Chrysalis with a gaze that was so intense it threatened to commit regicide by look alone. He silently prayed to Celestia. “Please,” he asked the solar princess in his head. “Do not let her do what I think she’s about to do.”

Her silence was his answer.

“I-- no.” Second Wind fidgeted nervously, his wings fluttering. “I have an exemption due to my service.”

She clapped her hooves together. “Yes! Right, that’s the Generalmajor’s policy, yes? Serve the Queendom in one way or another.” He nodded. “Well…” Chrysalis’s magic took hold of Second Wind's chair and scooted him up to her side. She towered over the pegasus, being about as tall as two of him put together. “You know it’s really not so bad…”

“Celestia,” said Jachs in his mind. “I beg of you.”

“It can be of course,” the queen idly posited, flipping her mane with a fore. “We can get hungry and simply take what we need forcefully, which is just unpleasant. Sometimes, if there’s enough ponies around, we can passively absorb it from the air. Osmosis, if you recall that lesson in pony school?” Chrysalis’s hoof fell upon Second Wind’s own. She leaned down, whispering heated breaths into his ear. “Or, with a willing partner, it can be rather…enjoyable, for both parties. Tender. Sensual.” Chrysalis bared her fangs, taking the very points, and bracing them against Second Wind’s ear in a little nip. He shivered. “Even intimate…”

“Celestia damnit.”

“Ahem!” Jachs brusquely cleared his throat. “Kommandant would you fetch the E.L.F. situation reports from my desk? I must discuss the threat to our majesty while we still have time.” Chrysalis shot him a glare that put his own regicidal gaze to shame. Hers was closer to genocidal.

Second Wind practically jumped out of his chair and performed a salute. “Right away sir, Generalmajor sir!” He turned and almost sprinted off the balcony. Jachs sure hoped he had the key to get to his office, otherwise he might have to track down Alcippe, and who knew how long that could take?

"Ugh!" Chrysalis growled, crossing her forehooves, baring her fangs and spitting a curse the Generalmajors way. “You should know me well enough by now not to get between a huntress and her prey.” She spat the words over her shoulder, grinding her teeth so hard Jachs wondered if the fangs were about to snap.

“From what I saw you were more like a predator.” Jachs responded dispassionately, then immediately second guessed himself.

Green flame lit from Chrysalis’s eye as she turned her full attention to Jachs. She stood, towering over the smaller male changeling, stepping square in front of him. “You would do well to remember to whom you speak, little grub.” She stood with her snout only inches from his, daring him to meet her gaze.

Jachs stood his ground, meeting the beast head on. Green flame flitted across her carapace in anger, casting emerald shadows about the pair in the waning evening light. Jachs didn’t know what gave him this confidence, exactly. For all he knew, everyling was supposed to be terrified of the queen, but in that moment he saw something in her. It wasn’t like the cold calculating cruelty of a monarch, it was more the short-sighted cruelty of a child. A filly who just had their toy taken away, taking out their anger on the other children.

In that moment, Jachs decided that if she truly was this pathetic monster, then they’d both be better off if she killed him right there. If she was this small minded she’d kill the leader of the most stable Equestrian province because of a personal slight? It would save him the trouble of trying to change things only to be stabbed in the back by a V.O.P.S. agent down the line. In that moment, he didn’t care if he lived or died. Either he’d get what he deserved for his work in the war, or he’d get a chance to fix it later.

In his mind, this was a win-win. He stared her down, unflinching. “It’s my job to protect the ponies here.” He finally added. “You draining my Kommandant into a husk would drive them to a revolt.”

Chrysalis kept up her little show as green flames ensorcelled her body. Her snout twitched, and she huffed dramatically. “I would have left him alive.” At once, the flames dissipated, and she plopped back down in her chair, resting her chin on a forehoof. She almost looked bored, flitting as she did between white hot anger and royal apathy.

Seemed like it was going to be option two. “I believe you would have tried to.” Jachs took Second Wind’s old seat next to her, crossing his fores and sitting up straight.

“Hmm.” Chrysalis mused. “Tell me something, Generalmajor. I see pegasi down there. Unicorns, earth ponies. All of those have volunteered. Why are there no thestrals?”

Jachs was caught off guard momentarily. “Well--”

“I want thestral ponies in my army.”

“My queen,” Jachs began, in as diplomatic a tone as he could muster. “Bat ponies were solely loyal to Princess Luna. If we forced them to cooperate, there’s a chance they could--”

“I do not care.” Chrysalis had taken up her teaglass in her magic again. “You have already gotten under my chitin once today, Jachs. You will give me this. Consider it your apology.” She downed what was left in her glass, turned, and trotted back into the throne room, letting her tail smack him in the face as she went.

Jachs massaged his hooves against his temples. “Celestia, damnit.”

Author's Note

"I told you I'd be back."

As always, comments, likes, anything that triggers my dopamine and convinces me to keep writing.