Twilight Sparkle Memory Lose

Chapter 2 - healing wounds

...

Queen Chrysalis and her subjects were searching everfree forest in the last location where she found her 4 subjects laying on the ground unconscious, it was actually a surprise that her subjects were still alive, in any other situations if her drones would cross into other changeling hive territory, changelings from the other hive would force them to leave they territory, kill as example, or capture and than exchange as last warning not to enter they territory.

But this situation was different, her changelings said that they will leave they territory after they kill unicorn, in normal situation changelings from other territory would let them do this and go away without a fight, but if what her drones said in Hive mind was true, those two changelings did not care to much about territory, instead they defended this unicorn and fought her childrens even with risk of provoking a war with other hive, it never happened before, and the fact that her children's were spared did not made sense, if Queen Rubyred wanted to show her strength by defying her, why would she spare lives of enemy soldiers ? it was like they goal was to safe this purple unicorn,.

' Even if they wanted to safe pony just to use her as food source, it is not worth the risk of getting into hostile relationships with other hive, do it was act of war, or maybe Queen Rubyred know about my failure in Canterlot and it is her way to send me message that I am not worth to be feared and respected, hmn....., it seems that my failure in Canterlot not only cost me hundreds of my subjects, but also my reputation ' thought Chrysalis as she was scanning the area, it would not be long before Celestia and Luna with they armies would come to search for Twilight Sparkle and destroy everything that gets in they way considering what just happened hours ago, there would not be much place for mercy and this time there would be no element of surprise in her advantage.

' My Queen, we tried our best to locate them but it seems that traces split up like they both went into two different directions, we tried to follow one of them but the traces cut off in this area ' reported changeling in mind hive to his Queen.

' The traces are getting weaker, but we should track second changeling at this rate ' reported changeling in different area as he with some other drones tried to locate second changeling.

' Split up all squads to search bigger area since we do not have much time to waste, but keep squads in at last one minute flying time close to one another, if one of you manage to find him, try to slow him down and call other squads for reinforcements ' ordered the Queen, everfree forest was not safe place and soon she would have Equestria army in here as well, no matter how much she wanted to avenge her subjects, as Queen she would not risk her subjects life's in battle they can not win.

...

Not too far from searched area, DonutJoe or rather changeling with code number 54 flew as fast as he could until he found a waterfall, he did not bother to cover traces behind him as his partner did, time was on the essence after all, his hive rarely need healing herbs since changelings regeneration is based on love they gathered, and it was supported by healing cocoons, so they never bothered to keep any of those herbs in hive.

Usually his partner came to this area to gather those herbs to make some very strong medicines, after all those herbs were extremely powerful and rare, they were gowning in the middle of everfree forest, a place no pony would dare to visit, and those herbs were important components of very powerful healing potions stronger than the most powerful healing magic spells unicorns could learn, he of course send them into hospital he worked in as anonymous gift, and it will not be the first time when they will save a pony live.

Slowly DonutJoe entered a cave hidden behind waterfall, it was a best way to clear some traces without losing much time

" it seems that I wont need to take a bath today, how convenient " said DonutJoe as he wipe water off his body and flew forward inside the cave, " lucky for me we have many camouflaged tunnels in this part of everfree forest, how else we would avoided detection from other hives for so long " said changeling with happy tone, as he knew that his Hive is safe.

Compared to Queen Chrysalis Hive, his hive was strong but greatly outnumbered, they would easy lose any open territory war, so to avoid it, they choices location avoided by both ponies and changelings, and focused on making it impossible to detect, there was no way Chrysalis would find his hive in normal search, the only way they would find it would be to follow him, and he was not going to let this happen.

' I am almost there, how is the unicorn felling ' asked DonutJoe in hive mind, as he tried to contact his partner.

...

Meanwhile in Queen Rubyred hive

...

' Sleeping like a filly ' reply changeling in a joking tone,

' Her condition is stable and I did all I could, the good news is that she will not die from injuries, but the bad news is that she may die from lack of water or food, and her body is no condition to accept it, what's more I am unable to heal most of her injuries and broken bones, those healing herbs are her only chance, so yea, no pressure at all ' answered changeling as he watched her patient in front of him.

In his life as pony doctor, life's and well being of many ponies were often in his full of holes hooves, and changelings who live as pony for very long get empathy sickness and stop thinking of ponies and other species as merely a food, so as most doctors he found out that best way to keep stress, fear and many negative emotions at bay is to laugh and joke about it, he did not mean it in ill will to his patients and he really care about them, it was just a way to not freak out under his responsibility, and old habits die hard.

As another hour passed and his partner was on the way back with herbs, many changelings from the hive visited this rather odd patient, all they knew was that the unicorn could be someone from Ponyvile or Canterlot and that she was important enough for Queen of other hive to kill for some reasons, but with all the bandages and injuries it was hard for them to identification the mare.

However as changelings who around 4 months ago were living a live of a pony in Ponyvile or Canterlot, they felt  very concerned that a pony what they would know was in so terrible stage.

After more time passed instead of visiting changeling, armoured drone entered this room, considering his smaller size, he was a guard drone, and those never leave hive and as result not get extra size and power buff, but are instead well trained in fight " Doctor Scalpel, her majesty Rubyred is asking for your presence in throne room, please follow me " said drone in professional tone.

Scalpel took a look on his patient once again, her condition seems to be stable, he was actually surprised how strong her body was, any other unicorn would already be dead in her place, " this unicorn seems stable at the moment, but i do not fell like leaving her alobe, maybe someone should .. " said Scalpel but another guard cut him off, " this is already taken care off, two guards outside and two guards inside, if something happen, we will report immediately ".

On those words of assurance, Doctor Scalpel made his way to Queen throne room, making Queen wait or leaving his patient for to long would not be wise so he decided to fly instead of walking, he did not flew to fast to not crash into a wall in those tunnels, but still he made guard drone follow him instead of other way around.

Finally both Doctor Scalpel and guard drone was in front of the throne room, in front of them was rather medium sized door made of metal and with some rubies as decoration, it was faaaar smaller than big doors in front of Princesses throne room, but it was still bigger than average door.

" Doctor Scalpel is here by her Majesty orders " said guard drone as two guards in front of throne room nod and opened the door, letting them in.

It is true that changelings could talk in hive mind, but it was not really to private talk, and was rather used for long range emergency communication, so most changelings, and Queen Rubyred herself prefer to talk directly with her subjects than with hive mind if she could help it.

As guard drone and Doctor Scalpel entered throne room, Scalpel walked slowly looking around, throne room itself was very small compared to the one in Canterlot, there were no windows since Rubyred hideout was underground, however it was not a problem since they could easy produce illuminate saliva or just use some gems and magic to make it shine in those dark caves, Rubyred hive usually mixed both they natural abilities and naturally made materials with metal, gems and magic, after all most of changeings were disguised as ponies in most of they lives, so they could mix technology, magic and organic material whenever they wanted.

On left and right side there were many pillows what played a role of chairs for changelings in case Queen would want to talk with them for a long time and keep them comfortable.

In front of them Doctor Scalpel saw throne made from organic materials and rubies, as well as many decorations in throne room, Queen name Rubyred was not without reasons after all, when last Queen found those caves left by Diamond Dogs, she found out that most popular gems in here were rubies, and so she named her daughter Ruby, once old Queen died from old age and princess Ruby took her place, she decided to add red into her name since red colour and red rubies were her favourite, well, Queen do what she wants.

On the throne was sitting rather big changeling, not as big as Chrysalis or Celestia, she was actually in the size of princess Cadance, and the reason for it was simple, as her hive was small and it could not gather much love for they queen, queen herself was smaller and weaker, but still she was very powerful and small size and power did not mean she lack of experience, she was Queen for over 350 years so far, for a changeling Queen she was young, but 350 years of experience is still a lot experience.

Queen Rubyred like every changeling Queen had a small crown think on her head as a symbol of being a royalty, however she was wearing some jewel made of red rubies, shoes made of red rubies, and her natural armor was pained into red colour, not that there was much of a fashion in changeling hive, Queen just liked rubies and red colour.

" Your Majesty, you called " said Scalpel as he bowed in front of his Queen trying to look as small as possible, as most of changelings in the hive, he was just little smaller from his Queen, but when it came to raw power and love reserves, there was always a big difference, and no matter the size, she was always respected.

" Thank you for coming my dear Scalpel, you can stand " said Queen with calm and motherly voice, " oh my, you really grown a lot the last time I saw you my dear Scalpel, I still remember you as a little cute drone when your parents came to me for my blessing " said Queen with amusing smile, as it made Doctor Scalpel blush, and red colour on dark changeling skin was very visible, and covering it with hoofs with holes in it was not really best way to hide it.

" My Queen, please " said Scalpel a little embarrassed, it did not matter do a changeling was born from egg made by Queen herself or was born from two changelings or even changeling and unaware male pony, they were always like a children's to her, and she often treat them as fillies..

" Oh, please do not be shy, when I hear that you became a hard working doctor and that you spent your free time to collect herbs to safe ponies even if you would not gain any extra love from it, you really made me proud, so much understanding for a species who would banish us for who we are is really something " said Queen with cheerful tone, also blushing a little, in a hive what was hardly 100 changelings in number, young Queen had no problem to care about every of her subjects on personal level.

But very soon after she said it, the mood darkened, and happiness turned into awkward silent, as Queen felt sad emotions coming from her subject, " oh, I am sorry, I did not mean it " said Queen but was cut off.

" Please your majesty, do not fell bad about it, your order to evacuate in advance and leave our lives behind was wise decision, it would not take long for guards to find us, and I am not sure do banishment out of Equestria would be always the way to deal with us after what happened in Canterlot " said Doctor Scalpel, it is true that he missed his live, but he would never blame his Queen for losing it, if someone was to blame, it was Chrysalis, her invasion not only showed existence of changelings, but also created a fear and hostility between ponies and changelings, and Rubyred hive was hurt the most by it.

" I am deeply sorry my Queen for my rudeness, but I fear of leaving my patient for to long without proper care, so with all due respect, I would like to ask for the reason you called me your Highness " said Doctor Scalpel with worry in his voice, as he bowed, even thought Queen Rubyred never made any tension between herself and her subjects, asking Queen to speed up is not something to be taken lightly.

" Oh right, I am really sorry my little Scalpel, I almost forgot about that pony and not considered that I was wasting your time, I will get to the point than " said Queen with apologetic tone, Queen was indeed still young and rather innocent, she would never be mad at her subjects even if they would be rude to her, but she also sometime forget priority.

" As you know, after my scouts have reported other hive activity near our territory, I send some spy's in disguise as royal guards to gather some informations in Ponyvile, and from data spy's and scouts gathered, it was clear that Chrysalis forces were provoking or even hypnotizing some creatures in everfree forest, it was like they wanted to provoke ponies to act " said Rubyred with calm but serious regal tone, now very serious on the matter.

" Before I continue, I would like to ask, did you or any other of my subjects found out the name or any informations about the pony you saved " asked Queen still with serious tone, but Scalpel could easy fell worry and concern in her emotions.

" No my queen, as it pains me to say it, poor pony was massacred, and after my healing attempts, it is to hard to recognize her under all those bandages, and all I figured out was that she was a mare, her fur had purple colour and her cutie mark was star or something like that " reply doctor with respect in his voice.

" Poor mare, do she will make it ? " asked Queen, her voice was still regal and neutral, but her emotions betrayed her feelings of pity, sadness and concern.

" Yes your Highness, right now her condition is stable and should not get worse any time soon, however I can not proceed with healing her until DonutJoe will come back with healing herbs, and once he will get back, healing this mare will be just a mater of time " said Doctor Scalpel as he tried to reassure his Queen that there is nothing to worry about.

" That's relief " said Queen closing her eyes for moment and letting out small sigh, " I am counting on you Doctor Scalpel, as our fate may rest in this mare hooves, once I found out that Chrysalis was preparing a trap for whoever was coming from Equestra to investigate everfree forest, I send some of my smaller children's to spy on her, as I expected Chrysalis was to busy with ambush preparation to notice a few more changelings who were not connected to her Hive mind, and I also send teams choice by me to take position around our territory " explained Queen as she tried to fill her subject with more information, Doctor Scalpel was rather stunned and shocked after what he hear, she knew that this mission may be important, but not that fate of the swarm depend on it.

" Sadly my spy's did not gather any information about the trap itself and who was the target, so I ordered them to sabotage it once targeted ponies will arrive, it turns out that changelings targeted small group of ponies, they had to be really important if Chrysalis made so much effort to kill them, however thanks to my children sabotage those ponies managed to escape this trap and run into my territory, sadly not everything went according to plan, in the end changelings cached up with them, I fear the worse about what happened with other ponies, but in the end only one mare your team rescued managed to get into our territory. "

Doctor Scalpel was listening very carefully, none of teams send by Queen Rubyred were informed about Queen plan, they were just ordered to do what they were told, and they did, for questions and answers was time after the mission, but why was this mare so important, that was question what was floating inside Scalpel head.

Queen could easy fell curiosity coming from Doctor so she continued " The goal of this mission was to interfere with Chrysalis plans and rescue as many ponies as possible since they had to be important if Queen Chrysalis targeted them personally, rescued ponies would become our bargaining chip, by interfering with Chrysalis plans and returning important ponies safely to Equestria, we would get favour in princesses eyes, we would negotiate with them, ask them to cease changeling hunting program, ask for protection for my subjects or anything what would improve our situation " explained the Queen as Doctor could once again fell sadness in her.

" All I can hope is that this one mare you rescued is important enough for a bargaining chip, so we wont be turned away with a laugh or that they will at last let us speak with them, that is why I hope you can heal her and find out who she is, now go my dear Scalpel, I believe in your skills to heal this mare, and do not hesitate to share what I just told you with your partner and whoever will be interested, and once there will be improvement in mare health or if you find out who she is, fell free to report to me directly, you are dismissed " Doctor Scalpel just bowed with respect and went on his way, usually he would like to spend more time with Queen or at last say proper good bye, but he did not wanted to make his patient wait for him.

" I wont fail you my Queen " said Doctor Scalpel as he was outside of throne room when guards started to close door.

' I am sure you wont my dear child, as for now I better continue to work on plan B just in case ' thought Queen Rubyred to herself as she went into her personal library, she still had love reserves to keep her subjects alive for some years at best, but if negotiations with Equestria would fall, she had to have more than just one plan to save her subjects, and best if this plan did not involve the same action what Chrysalis took.

...

Some hours later

...

Many hours passed as DonutJoe finally got back back with healing herbs, and as it was expected, Chrysalis drones were not even close in finding the hive, and with no more traces it would take them years of searching to do so, far to much effort only to get one pony.

Doctor Scalpel used those herbs to create medicines to start healing poor mare, and shared what Queen told him with his partner and other changelings involved in the operation.

Even so powerful medicine could not heal Twilight broken bones and heavy wounds right away, but helped to start a road into recovery.

The first effect was a fast recovery of worst wounds, healing potion of that calibre did wonders to outside wounds, the next magic effect of healing herbs was a strong magical aura what kept unicorn body stable for a limited time, long enough for Doctor Scalpel to make his operations on broken bones, that was exactly why those herbs were so extremely special, you could basically cut a pony in half and magic of those herbs would keep her working like she was not cut at all, not even fell any pain from it, same was in this case, Doctor could just make holes in unicorn, relocate broken bones, put part of bones back where they belong, surgical operations were far more easy, as magic aura kept unicorn body work like she was not operated at all, and it was a really strong painkiller too, sadly as powerful, this herb was very rare and limited.

The final step was just using standard magic potions to boots natural healing of this unicorn, close wounds with bandages, and leave body to recover itself.

After hours of operations, unicorn was finally on it is way to recovery with all broken bones back in place, and mare did not even fell any pain from the operation at all, if she could fell pain while being unconscious that is.

" Yaaaawwwwwwwww...... "

" Are you sleepy or just tired " asked DonutJoe as the last peace of bandage was in place.

" I guess both " reply Doctor Scalpel with little enthusiasm he had left after a long but successful surgical operation, or rather many surgical operations on many different parts, even if he did not had to be slow and careful in it thanks to healing aura of magical herb, there was so much to fix, that it end up to be multiple operations in many body parts at the same time.

" I think that next time I will see my Queen, I will ask her for a complete memory clean from this operation, because if I will see a bone or some inner organs again, I will faint in 10 seconds flat " reply Doctor Scalpel with tired joking tone as he remembered of DonutJoe telling him story about a blue pegasus who sometime bought some donut's from him and apparently was often saying that she can do stuff in 10 seconds flat.

" If I would get a hug worth love from a pony every-time you say something like that, I would already have more power than Queen Rubyred herself " DonutJoe reply with joke on his own, laughing a little, " even cutie mark on disguise you choice was scalpel, remember, when you was little changeling, you could watch insides of dead animals without blinking your eye, that is why you went into medicine, changeling, animal, even pony insides were fascinating to you ".

" Yaww.... even I can not go on watching it for 8 hours in a row, give me break, I am going to sleep " said Doctor Scalpel with annoyed tone as he went to sleep on a ground.

" You got a point, anyway I am going to sleep too, I will inform guards to take night shift and watch over the unicorn condition on the night, also you better get a bed or at last some grass tomorrow since your bed is already taken, good night " said DonutJoe as he waved good night to his friend and went to sleep in his own room.