The golden, shimmering aura of magic surrounding the changeling retracted quickly upon contact with the black vile that she had expelled. Celestia hissed in irritation - it was cold, and it burned like ice, while also feeling unbearably hot. The sensation was kind of a magical feedback, but why?

"Oh my goodness! She's choking!" Fluttershy squeaked, hovering to the sputtering changeling and tilting her head to the side, allowing her to cough out all of the viscous substance.

"Ouch." Fluttershy said, more out of the unexpected irritation of her hoof than actual pain, upon getting some of it smeared on. It was like Pinkie's hot sauce, just chilled. She stuck out her tongue in disgust and wiped herself off on the bedsheets.

"Ow, burny!" Pinkie said, trying to help Fluttershy to clean the mess. "But cold at the same time! What's with that?"

Whatever complaint Shining Armor had planned was forgotten instantly as he stepped on a blob, replaced by a pained scream and frantic shaking of his stained hoof. Twilight tried using her magic to separate it, but the black substance dissipated into smoke as soon as she tried to get ahold of it. Not quite what she intended, but she would take her victories as they came.

The Captain huffed and tried to catch his breath as the pain receded.

"What was that? Why did it hurt so much?" He snorted, scowling.

"Well, she doesn't hate us!" Pinkie said, watching as Twilight's magic cleared the spills.

The princess stood there, slack-jawed, as her mind deciphered the meaning behind the implications. She - her actions... actions meant to keep everypony safe, had made the changeling on the bed hate her to the point she fell ill, throwing up a liquid that might just be concentrated hatred. Why? What was she missing? She was overlooking something, but what?

*****

"Making the final report is going to be a nightmare."

The doctor looked over another stack of notes taken on the changeling, adding one of his own; most of them had further annotations on the sides whenever something new popped up, often by different doctors.

One such note read: 'Subject changeling is covered in interlocking plates of durable organic armor, composition similar to chitin with trace amounts of magic - enough to point to innate structured flow. This would explain the flexibility of the armor when moving, yet becoming rigid when struck. Subject presents extensive injuries on left foreleg indicating main point of impact with the ground after crash-landing from Canterlot. Leg armor had to be reshaped and held together with magic until special bandages could be adhered - method of treatment unknown, as is recovery time; recommended to have patient stay off injured hoof with special equipment. Patient might know enough about own physiology to estimate time of recovery.'

A side-note adds: 'Changelings are reported to become stronger with energy gathered from ~~love~~ (evidence suggests all positive emotion). If not only spellwork, but all natural abilities are enhanced with the additional energy, then Subject's reserves might have reinforced the body to withstand the trauma in a similar manner to a pegasus's. Further injury is observed, however, Subject's survival would be unlikely in case of chest injury as extensive as the leg's.'

It connected to another: 'Subject regained consciousness on fifth day of stay. Initial reaction was apparently produced by exposure to empathetic energies upon removal of Royal Guard's Captain and Prince of Equestria Shining Armor's shield spell upon persuasion by resident Element of Harmony, Chevaleresse, and Local Wildlife Manager Fluttershy Thundergust (~~Additional observation:FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS SACRED NEVER ANGER FLUTTERSHY~~). Shield spells can stop this energy; evidence supporting this claim comes from observations made upon its removal - changeling patient reacted negatively to hatred when previously she had been unaffected by its presence, then stabilized upon having the source surrounded by another shield. IV removed; physical nourishment is stated to be 'secondary' in changelings, patient regained strength quickly from positive energy.'

The doctor wrote on the back of the note: 'Lack of energy affects the changeling mind negatively, stated to be happening across their entire race regardless of status. 'Starvation' said to turn the changeling into a 'drone' lacking a mind or will of their own - event described as the consumption and degradation of the changeling's 'Spark'. Perfectly smooth shield spells are to be avoided from now on, as Captain's Shining Armor's insistence of keeping the changeling under a shield 24/7 nearly 'killed' the patient before she even regained consciousness.'

Another note: 'Subject's horn presents significant fracture. Tests indicate the horn is composed of alicorn, the same as any unicorn horn. Treatment underway is standard procedure for such injury. Subject's magical capabilities are yet unconfirmed and are likely to remain so for a period of time, pending results of judgement by the Equestrian court.'

'Armor across the barrel is red in color. Color implied to reveal affiliation to a specific changeling 'house' and is implied to be altered by the house queen upon transferal, with reversal to natural-born color once queen's influence is removed. Green is representative of the house of the invader queen, Chrysalis. Name and number of different houses unknown.'

'Subject's legs and wings present the formation of holes, going through the appendages. Functionality is apparently unhindered. Purpose unknown. Further study required.'

'Subject's eyes are covered with a secondary eyelid, red in color, apparently transparent from their perspective. Eye underneath has red iris and reddened sclera, comparable to changeling queen's green-hued iris and sclera. Eyes have slits, like those of a feline or a dragon's, hinting at highly developed low-light vision.'

'Subject has no mane or tail hairs, however, close inspection reveals small growths. Subject may have removed own hair, though reasons are as of yet unknown and subject to speculation.'

'Broken fang healed successfully, recuperative spell restored it without causing further sickness.'

A note at the bottom had many parts struck out, and appeared like it had been through many attempts at rewriting it: 'Subject is female. Anatomy not that different. Catheter placed successfully. ~~Discussion of changeling reproduction with patent upon recovery.~~ Bad idea. Could get graphic. We are doctors, can't be that bad. ~~Just how graphic are we talking about?~~'

*****

"Oh, but Shiny is there... oh, but what if something happens to him?!" Princess Mi Amore Cadenza (or just 'Princess Cadence' to the those who aren't one of the pedantic fools of the 'high circles') paced around her room in the palace.

She was too distracted, wallowing in increasingly fatalistic scenarios, to see when a dark blue wing interposed in her path.

"Oof!" She was then unexpectedly taken in an embrace by the proprietor of the wing.

"Niece, you worry too much. 'Tis but a single changeling." Princess Luna said, feeling how the pink pony slowly stopped struggling.

"What if something happens? What if the changeling attacks? What if the other changelings try to rescue-..." She asked, only to be silenced by the tightening of the hug.

"Celestia herself is there, and the changeling is reported to be suffering from extensive injury. I would like to think my sister is not careless enough to allow the same mistake to happen twice, least of all with a convalescing opponent." Luna said quite resolutely, her neutral voice clashing somewhat with her action.

Cadence bit her lower lip - news of the changeling's capture traveled quickly, but those of the injury were a little fuzzy. There were those that said it wasn't that big of a wound. Some said the leg had all but exploded outright, blood everywhere and all that. She was still scared of changelings, but she wouldn't wish such things even on the changeling queen... she hoped. If the changeling in the hospital had been that queen instead of some random one... would she be able to wish for her safety? Or would she be wish her further harm?

She heard the rumors, of course, that changelings had been spotted fighting other changelings... but all they did was confuse her. She wanted answers.

She needed them. Only the truth, the full truth, would help her to even start to sort out her feelings.

*****

"Fleur? Fleur! Dear, where are- oh, there you are!" Fancy Pants walked into their room of the hotel that would host the night's party in honor of the quick reconstructions of the district, smiling at the white-coated, pink-maned unicorn model.

His smile faded when he saw her looking through the window with an expression of sorrow. The magnificent red curtains only highlighting her slumped figure, and the opulence of the decor only made her misery and loneliness more prominent and tragic.

"Oh, dear, what is wrong?" He trotted over and placed a hoof on her shoulder with all the care and grace of a true gentlecolt.

She turned at him, then she looked out the window once more.

"It's the changelings, isn't it?" He said.

"I... I'm afraid, Fancy." She said, eyes scanning through the streets. "You've heard, right? About the captured red one?"

He nodded, waiting for her to continue.

"I fear that all of this could start a war, or a hunt... I can't help but worry."

"My dear, I have taken... precautionary measures." Fancy Pants said. "We'll be safe."

Fleur de Lis shook her head.

"It's not us I'm worried about." She gestured outside. "It's the changelings out there, in the streets. I... they..."

Fancy Pants stroke her back reassuringly, kindly waiting for her to voice her thoughts.

"Fancy... they have to get out of Canterlot." Her gaze hardened. "They aren't safe here anymore, and I cannot rest knowing I'm being protected while they suffer. I have to do something."

He gave her a soft laugh, and with a tender hoof turned her head to face him.

"That is why I love you so, my beautiful, kind Glimmer."

"This is too much." She sighed. "First I learn of my mother's passing, and because the news was months late, I couldn't be there for her last rites... did I tell you she had another-?"

"Few more children, yes dear." He nuzzled her neck, soothing her, and chuckled. "Your kind can be a little more active in that front than us."

"The day before the... invasion... I learned that my youngest sister took her place." Tears started to run down her face. "What if she has to get involved in this conflict? I never met her, but she's far too young to have to deal with this! Hive Unity might just have made a great disaster, and even got a changeling from Hive Love captured somehow. I'm worried; she's still family..."

Fancy Pants closed the door and curtains with his hooves, rather than with magic, leaving them in half-light, and then he locked the access to prevent unwanted visitors.

"Please my dear, let me see you eyes... those eyes the color of your heart."

Fleur de Lis, rather, Glimmer Silk, blushed lightly, looking away for a moment before closing her eyes. When they opened again, they were a striking gold color, and the whites of her eyes had taken a yellow tint anypony but Fancy Pants would have considered unhealthy...

The blue-haired unicorn simply stared into them... admiring the waves of color and tiny sparkles that even in the diminished light reminded him so much of sunlight dancing on endless fields of golden wheat. Oh how he loved those eyes, loved gazing inside them, seeing the generous soul they belonged to. Sure, even with her pretend ones he could see the beauty of her heart, but only like this he could say he truly saw her Spark.

"My dear Silk, you have my word that I shall do everything in my power to aid your friends; I had foreseen you would say something like that." He drew her close, voice falling to a whisper. "I expected no less of a golden noble of Hive Charity."

"Thank you, Fancy." He pulled her closer still.

"And if there is something I can do for your sister... I'll gladly do so." He felt her hot breath on his face.

"I hope I can meet Laque under happy circumstances." She said, touching his nose to hers.

"Me too." Then they closed their eyes, and their lips met.

*****

Uhh... I heard venting hate 'wasn't pleasant'; I wasn't warned it felt like I got bucked in the head after getting wasted.

"Hey, she's waking up!" Thank you, rushing water, for informing me of my state... wait, I forgot I'm not alone... sheesh.

It took however long it took for the world to come back into focus, the too-short restraints making their presence known by preventing me from rubbing my eye. Flutter-something is next to me... how nice.

Flutter... Flutter... Fluttershy! Yes! And there's Pinkie, and-

"Celestia." Ugh, it hurts to knit my brows.

She looks... pensive. I can see it in her eyes; she's confused. I groan unintelligibly for a few seconds, so I take a few moments to compose myself.

"The Elements have been hidden here all along?" I ask.

"They faded into myth for a while." Dash said... they kinda did so too for changelings, but spending so much time at the hatcheries I ran out of interesting stories quickly, and I didn't like to repeat them too often, so I turned to the old tales. Heck, even Queen Concordia only listened to them because Queen Harmony was her ancestor - I think she might be mine too, then again, her heir had numerous offspring and made it so that half of hive Love can claim or suspect that; kind of difficult to track with certainty.

"And now? Your homes?"

"Uh... no, a vault in Canterlot."

Wait, what?

"Why? I mean, without their Bearers, they are shiny baubles, and the Bearers are... alright, they are very special by themselves, but you don't learn to use a sword just to leave it where you can't get to it. Seriously, it... no, it does make sense... you were hiding them from us."

Celestia nods, and I groan again.

"You don't know anything, Celestia." I barely managed to catch myself and stopped short of calling her an idiot... wait, I think I already insulted her to her face... "Ugh. Like it'd kill you to ask."

"But it doesn't matter." I say, the numbing effect of the emotional purge managing- wait, it's fading; I'm getting mad again. "I just hope that you got to use them even if you betrayed them, and that whatever you did with them was worth giving up authority second only to the house ruler and instead becoming responsible for every major disaster that has struck us for the past three thousand years."

Wait, why is Celestia crying? Why do I feel like I'm forgetting some-? Princess Luna! She's also involved!

I hope Celestia doesn't lash out and kills me for this.

Author's Note

First note: The things that can pop up huh? I didn't know Fleur was a changeling until I started to write it! That scene went through a couple of rewrites, and with the part where she waves at disguised changelings now gone the house colors aren't there. I'm going to put them here, along the name of the current Queen.

Trustfulness - Morphosai - Purple.

Empathy - Flitter - White.

Positivity - Joy - Blue.

Charity - Laque - Yellow.

Unity - Chrysalis - Green.

Love - Concordia - Red.

Note the second: I know 'that' sounds like an excuse to write something to justify the M rating, but it is part of her life.