The memory-links of the Changelings pass entire lives down from queen to queen, but every last hiveling has parts of her ancestors' memories inside her from the day she's born. Many are different, entirely unique to every last recorded thought; some are more common, essential parts of the changeling lore.

And then there are the Mercurial Archives; the bright, shining lights of history that every single changeling knows to heart. They are stored in every hive, and flow in the souls of every single individual like the blood in their veins and the quicksilver in their skin - some old, some new, and some predating the very existence of their species. This very first memory is where our story shall begin.

ARCHIVE #0 - In times ancient, before the founding of Equestria itself, the realms of the pony races were splintered and filled with conflict and mistrust. In all of this, the young Princess Mercuria is forced to make a hard decision. Should she follow her passion and dedication to magic and her master, duke Starswirl the Bearded of Cante-Wirl; or should she follow the path of her sister, queen consort Argentine of Unicornia, and assist King Platinum in forging a nation out of the disparate territories of ponykind?

The Mercurial Archives are a backstory/in-verse backdrop to Wandering, and reading it is highly recommended. Details on connections between individual entries will be given in the author's notes for each chapter.