//------------------------------//
// Where We Began 
// Story: Trials of a Changeling Queen 
// by CTVulpin 
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	You don’t know who Queen Patch is?  Well, long story short, she’s a Changeling/Pony hybrid who was kicked out of the Changeling Hive because then-Queen Chrysalis didn’t want to accept that she was going to be replaced.  Cabbage Patch struggled to survive for several years, posing as a normal pony until she joined Trixie’s Traveling Thespians, where she lived happy and healthy for four good years.  Destiny finally stepped in, though, and despite her own wishes, Cabbage Patch ended up taking over as Queen of the Changelings.




A dark-purple unicorn mare with a midnight-black mane and gibbous moon cutie mark opened the doors to the main stage of the Shifting Perspectives Playhouse, carrying a heavy cardboard box behind her in a bubble of magic, and stepped into a scene that would give faint-hearted ponies nightmares.  A dozen Changelings stood on the stage around a pair of ponies – both of them pale blue unicorn mares with silvery-blue manes, but one had green eyes and the other had violet eyes – who were staring daggers at one another without apparent heed of their audience.  The purple unicorn barely blinked at the sight, although she did frown as she started toward the stage and listened to the heated argument the matching ponies were having.
“We are not replacing the Ursa Minor with anything!” the purple-eyed unicorn snapped, putting her hoof down firmly.  “Let alone windigoes!”
“Give me a good reason why not,” the green-eyed one shot back, her voice so close a match to the other’s that only an experienced ear could pick out the difference.
“Easy,” the first unicorn said, “our setting is Ponyville, modern day, not the Frozen North who-knows how many millennia ago.”
“Well,” the green-eyed unicorn said, “my Changelings can’t mimic a massive bear, but they can manage a passable windigo.”
“That’s where I come in, Chrysalis,” the first unicorn – Trixie Lulamoon – said, rolling her eyes.  “the Ursa will be an illusion, just like it always has been in my original retellings.  And they’re not your Changelings,” she added smugly.
The green-eyed doppelganger snorted, and a moment later her body was awash in green fire as she transformed from a pale blue unicorn to a slightly oversized Changeling with green eyes and a stubbly green Mohawk of a mane.  “As the Casting Director of this… circus, I do have some authority over the… talent, Trixie.  And speaking from that position, I’m having second thoughts about this self-aggrandizing play you’re foisting on us.”
“‘The Ursa of Ponyville’ is a proven crowd-pleaser,” Trixie said.
Chrysalis opened her mouth to retort, but found herself at a loss for words.  As her eyes darted around seeking inspiration or help from the Changelings around her, she spotted the dark-purple unicorn reaching the foot of the stage.  “Well, if it isn’t our biggest patron, ‘Stella Moon,’” Chrysalis said with mocking emphasis.  “What brings you here?”
Stella Moon climbed up onto the stage and set the box down in front of her.  “I have official business for your Queen,” she said, “but it appears I’m also just in time to offer an alternative to your problem with the headliner of the upcoming season.”  Conjuring up a pair of scissors made of magic light, Stella cut the tape on the box and opened it.  Trixie, Chrysalis, and the Changelings gathered around to look.
“Books?” one Changeling asked.
“Librettos,” Stella Moon said, levitating one copy out of the box, “containing the script and music for The Changeling of the Opera.”
Trixie’s eyes went wide.  “The latest musical sensation from Bridleway?” she exclaimed.  “How do you have these?”
“The show just closed on Bridleway,” Stella Moon said, “and I secured the first license to produce it outside of Manehatten.”
“Gee, I wonder how you managed that,” Chrysalis muttered.  She pulled a libretto out of the box and started flipping through it.  “Did you actually see this show, Princess?” she asked.
“Twice,” Stella answered.  “Princess Luna received a ticket to opening night, as did Celestia, and then Stella Moon pulled strings to get into the final performance.  It’s a bittersweet story, and the titular Changeling is not a harmful caricature of your species.”
Chrysalis gave Stella Moon a withering glance.  “I’ll be the judge of that, thank you.”  As she turned back to the first page and started reading, several looks were exchanged among the Changelings.  At some silent signal passed through their mental web, the group rushed the box and started pulling librettos out.  Trixie and Stella Moon were politely but firmly pushed out of the way, but Chrysalis was caught in the press and had to struggle to extract herself.  The former Queen glared daggers at the Changelings, but the swarm ignored her as they continued the rapid but orderly distribution of scripts.

Stella turned to Trixie and asked, “Do you know where I can find Cabbage Patch right now?”
“She’s in her office, last I checked,” Trixie answered.
“Thank you.”   Stella left the stage and entered the back offices area of the theater, still clutching a libretto in her magic.  Once she was in the hallway, her form shimmered as the illusion of a tall but otherwise unremarkable unicorn mare gave way to the true shape of Princess Luna.  While the persona of Stella Moon let Luna support the Shifting Perspectives Playhouse while still respecting Cabbage Patch’s wish to not openly rely on royal connections for its success, Luna’s current business with the young Changeling Queen was decidedly political in nature.
The approach and doorway to Cabbage’s office were both unadorned and not the least indicative that the room essentially doubled as Cabbage’s throne room, but it was perfectly fitting for the Queen’s extremely modest nature.  The image of normalcy was somewhat broken when Luna approached, however, when the door opened and a Changeling scurried out with a chastised expression.  The Changeling nearly ran into Luna, and when it recognized her it jumped to the other side of the hallway and scampered off, muttering apologies.  Luna frowned at the sight, then peered through the open door and saw that her concerns were probably well founded.
Queen Cabbage Patch still wore the form of a sea-green, blue-maned earth pony even in private and tried to keep herself at a size just slightly larger than the average pony, but when she was under stress she tended to lose control of her height.  To see Cabbage in her natural Changeling shape – half a head taller than Luna with a stringy blue mane, pony-like yellow eyes, and the incongruous image of a hole-studded black heart framed by green flames on her flank – as she was at this very moment, meant the Queen was truly out of sorts.
“Have I come at a bad time?” Luna asked, stepping into the office.
“Luna!” Cabbage exclaimed joyfully.  She leaped over the desk and flew across the room to hug Luna.  Luna returned the embrace with one of her wings, but after only a brief moment Cabbage pulled away with an embarrassed look.  “Oh, sorry,” she said, “I almost forgot myself there.  You’re full of affection for me, and I haven’t had anything but preserved love for almost a week and I… kinda started drawing it in faster than you your giving it out.”
“I didn’t even notice,” Luna assured the flustered Queen.  “You’ve only had preserved love energy lately?” Luna asked with concern.  “How is that?”
“We’re all too busy,” Cabbage sighed.  “I’m pretty much in this office all day, every day, so I only see Trixie when there’s a problem with the theater that Turnip or Chrysalis hasn’t already told me about for some reason.  Harlequin ad Barnacle have been on the road doing publicity work.  I see Maggie the most, but she’s always so stressed with our finances she doesn’t have much positivity to spare.”  She walked back to her desk, green flames licking across her chitin as she took on the appearance of her preferred pony form.  “It doesn’t help matters that I keep getting complaints of Changelings aggressively feeding on ponies.”
Luna frowned.  “I’ve heard no such complaints,” she said, “neither from the Guard reports nor in the Royal Courts.”
“Well, good,” Cabbage said, looking satisfied.  “That means everypony’s taking that policy of mine seriously.  I’ve put it out that since I’m in charge of rehabilitating the Changelings, it falls on my shoulders to handle any discipline problems a Changeling has.  There’s not much point in punishing a ‘ling twice, you know?”
Luna raised an eyebrow imperiously.  “I understand your position,” she said, “and while I do agree, you and your Changelings are legally subject to my pleasure and judgement.  You should have told me you wanted to take full responsibility for Changeling… misbehavior before now.”
“I… assumed that was just part of the deal,” Cabbage said, blushing through her sea-green fur.
“Never mind,” Luna said, “I know now, at least.  And I must admit I’m impressed; your efforts to lead the Changelings away from their old habits must be going well if ponies aren’t feeling the need to complain to Celestia and me.”
“I suppose,” Cabbage said with reluctance.  “I feel like I’m giving two or three lectures a day just to the Changelings I trust to wander outside the Hive Mind’s range alone.  The one that just left, Morph, just had his third incident in four days.  He did report himself the last two times though.  I guess that’s progress.”
“Equestria wasn’t built in a day, young Queen,” Luna said.  “Here,” she set the libretto on Cabbage’s desk, “let’s talk about something more pleasant.  I-”
“Oh!” Cabbage exclaimed, picking up the libretto.  “So this is what all the buzz is about out on stage.  The Changeling of the Opera.  A bittersweet tale of love and the clash between nature and desires.  The make-up for the title role was admirably realistic, aside from a noticeable lack of holes in the legs.”
Luna blinked.  “You’ve seen it?” she asked.
Cabbage shook her head.  “Nah, Lemon Zest did a few weeks ago.  She hasn’t had any trouble adapting to the ‘passive feeding only’ rule, so she earned the privilege of getting to leave Canterlot for a few days and ‘test the water’ in other places, as she put it.  She’s got a real clear memory too; images of Changeling of Opera are still echoing around the Hive Mind from her, and Turnip’s planning to groom Lemon as a new Lorekeeper.”  Cabbage set the libretto down and sighed.  “I wish I had more ‘lings like Turnip and Lemon, or just more like Morph for that matter.  Then I’d have the whole swarm trained up proper by now and ready to pass back to Chrysalis so I can get my life back.”
“Cabbage,” Luna said, raising an eyebrow again.
“Ah ha,” Cabbage chuckled nervously.  “Right, sorry, we’re not talking about my problems and doubts anymore.”  She opened the libretto and scanned the dramtis hipponae page.  “I’m going to need to recruit some more actors to fill some of these roles,” she said, “and probably hire some ponies to help with the stage work, get a mix of pony and Changeling in every aspect.  Orchestra will have to be all ponies for now…”
“Queen Cabbage Patch,” Luna said sharply, and then sighed and softened her tone.  “I’m sure you hear this often enough from your Lorekeeper and others, but you need to give up on the idea that Chrysalis will be able to take back the role of Changeling Queen.  That role has passed to you, and as I understand it that means the Changelings won’t follow anypony else.  Especially not a clearly inferior choice like Chrysalis.”
“I never asked to be Queen,” Cabbage grumbled.
“Celestia and I never asked to be Princesses,” Luna retorted.  “But with our talents for controlling the cycle of day and night coupled with our incredible magic and longevity, it was clear that destiny meant for us to take the leadership of pony-kind.  You are likewise a special kind of Changeling, too special to remain apart from them and still influence their collective fate.”  She leaned her head closer to Cabbage to add weight to her words.  “Destiny allows us a great deal of leeway in living up to the marks it has put on our flanks,” she said, “but if you try to subvert or escape from it, you’ll soon find yourself in the company of madness and sorrow.  I know that from personal experience.”
Cabbage wilted slightly under Luna’s gaze, but then gathered her courage and said, “I’m not trying to do this hastily, Princess.  I only have the Hive’s interests at heart.”
Luna’s eyebrow twitched with concealed incredulity.  “Ah,” she said evenly, “that reminds me why I came here in the first place: the Sub-council on land rights and city development is meeting in five days to vote on your request to build a Changeling Hive in the abandoned mines below Canterlot, and I have doubts you’ll hear about it through other channels.  I recommend you attend and argue your case, because there’s not much sympathy for Changelings among the nobility.”
“Five days?” Cabbage exclaimed.  “I… No, yeah, I’ll be there.  Thank you for letting me know, Princess Luna.”
“You’re welcome,” Luna said.  “I’ll see myself out so you can sort out everything I’ve just dumped on your plate.”  She cast her disguise spell, becoming Stella Moon again, and left the office.
Cabbage frowned down at the libretto on her desk, and then pushed it to the side and closed her eyes to focus on the buzzing cacophony of thoughts that was the Changeling Hive Mind.  She listened and sorted through the chatter for a bit, smiling slightly at the general excitement over The Changeling of the Opera, and then cast her own mental voice in.  Her announcement garnered instant, silent attention for the brief moment it took to reach its intended targets: Turnip, Chrysalis, I need to talk to you both when you have a moment.