Princess Celestia sat next to her sister, listening to the gryphon ambassador squawk on. It had only been a handful of days since the failed invasion of Canterlot and already their neighbors were getting uppity. Didn't they know you were supposed to wait a week before showing up. She opened her mouth to interrupt when a scroll appeared in front of her face, trailing the familiar green flames of Spike's dragon breath. The ambassador looked over, "Please excuse me, this is likely important. Luna, sister, please speak what's on your mind."

The lunar princess nodded as Celestia unfurled the letter, "Ambassador Sharpclaw, I have not lived for millenia to be intimidated by you. Your leader has heard of the invasion on Canterlot, seen the damage, and has apparently decided that this would be a good time to send you with pompous boasts, outrageous demands, and subtle threats to the sanctity of our society. If you think for a moment that we will acquiesce to any of your demands or be intimidated by your threats, then you are wrong. Our relationship with the Empire has always been tenuous, but if you continue to make statements as you have, or perform any overt acts to threaten our borders, we will come down upon you with the full strength of the royal army and three alicorn princesses. Leave us."

The gryphon fluffed up his feathers and inhaled, apparently intending to respond, only to look into Luna's eyes and see the abyssal fire burning within. He clacked his beak shut and spun, leaving the hall in silence. The princess released a sigh and relaxed, turning to her sister, "Well, I think that went..." she began. Upon seeing her sister's expression, the tenseness in her shoulders returned, "Tia? What is it?"

Celestia floated the letter over to her sister with a frown, deep in thought as she scanned the crowd of ponies waiting to speak before the court. Luna read the letter and found it to be a wonderful lesson on friendship and rather heartwarming that her friend had found a coltfriend, "I don't see the problem, sister."

The solar diarch blinked, "Oh, that's right, I never taught you the code we use. There's a message hidden in the extra marks. I taught her so if she were ever in trouble but couldn't outright tell me, she'd be able to send for help."

"So what is the message she sends that has you so on edge?"

"There's a new changeling queen. She's sent an envoy to discuss the situation with us. Pegasus mare, blue coat, gray mane, three shooting stars for a cutie mark, named Starcast. Actually a changeling. I'm looking for her now."

"Ah, is that not her over there?" Luna said, gesturing subtly to the far corner, where a single pegasus sat eyeing all the ponies and occasionally smiling and nodding along with some unheard tune.

"You are right. Let me handle this," Celestia said, standing, "Starcast, pegasus envoy, approach the thrones. The rest of the assembly will have to wait outside as this involves a matter of national security. The guards will see to it that you are comfortable and will bring you anything to eat or drink that you desire, within reason."

There was much grumbling and groaning as the mass of ponies left, the lone pegasus sitting a respectable distance from the throne as everypony left. She smiled softly and waited until the throne room was completely empty save for herself, the princesses, and several dozen nervous guards.

"Changeling, this is no time for disguises," Luna said.

"As her highness wishes," Starcast spoke demurely, bowing and letting the green flames of her kind lick over her pony form, revealing the black carapace and sectioned eyes that lay beneath, "I thank you for not immediately imprisoning me upon receipt of the letter."

"Your kind nearly destroyed our capital, but we always prefer peace," said Celestia, looking over her guest.

Continuing to smile, which admittedly was rather creepy, the changeling continued, "My queen would like to speak with you personally, but determined it would be nearly suicidal to show up herself, instead, she has sent me as envoy and vessel of her majesty."

"Vessel? What do you mean?"

"As I said, my queen wishes to speak with you personally."

Luna and Celestia looked at each and the lunar princess nodded very slightly, "Very well, we'll speak with your queen."

Starcast nodded and then seized, her eyes going wide as they filled with light. Arcs of magical power crisscrossed her body as she ascended into the air briefly with a feminine and powerful voice filling the room, "Assuming direct control."

The glowing changeling slowly descended to the floor and blinked a bit, "Being in two places at once is interesting... Hello, Princesses, I am Queen Neoptera. I'm afraid I must be brief. This spell requires a lot of power and if I keep it up too long, it will burn out this changeling's brain."

"Very well..." Celestia said hesitantly while Luna looked on, fascinated.

"Thank you, Princess. My predecessor's attack upon your capital was an act of desperation due to the size of her brood and the lack of resources in the Wastes. I would like to extend my hoof in friendship to you and Equestria and request an actual meeting at a neutral location. Your student, Twilight Sparkle, has kindly offered her library, and I swear on my life I have not harmed her in any manner.

If we cannot reach an accord for a full alliance, then I will gladly take my guardians and flee far from this area and you will never hear from me again. Tomorrow at noon would be the best, according to Twilight, and has offered Spike's services as chef. Starcast here will be unconscious for several hours, but should be fine. I must release the spell shortly, please, I beg you to provide her a quiet place to recover and allow her to accompany you to the library tomorrow to be returned to us. I look forward to meeting you."

As the long-winded speech finished, the changeling flashed and collapsed, unconscious. Luna looked at her sister, "What is it?"

"That magic... I sensed something familiar about it..."

"Familiar? How so?"

"I'm not sure. It was just... familiar..."

Author's Note

Here's a question for all y'all: Do you prefer short chapters more often that end on "commercial breaks" like this one, or would you rather wait a week or more between chapters and have them be 5-6k words?