//------------------------------//
// Wake-up Call 
// Story: Integration 
// by CoAlFire 
//------------------------------//

	King Tarsus walked toward the castle as the smoke rose toward the sky. He smirked with self-satisfaction as he surveyed the damage done to the city. True, more ponies had been killed than he'd hoped, but they just wouldn't stop resisting, and he had told his soldiers that any ponies who resisted were to be dealt with harshly. His hope was that once the ponies saw resistance would be met with merciless and unmeasured force, they would surrender themselves peacefully. After all, corpses were no use to him. 

Still, this invasion was a success. The ponies' government was about to be decapitated. He had just received word from his scouts that they had broken through the primary barrier surrounding the castle, and that the secondary barrier would soon be breached. 

At this point, only five percent of the population of this city had been captured. Another ten percent had been dispatched, and the remaining eighty five percent were currently seeking shelter in the castle. These ponies were weak and cowardly, hiding behind their monarch with no ability to fend for themselves. Still, they were quite full of love, and would serve his kingdom well.

As he came up on the castle's wall, he heard a tremendous sound. A blinding flame erupted from the front of the building, and extended out far into the distance. He could tell that blast had cost him quite a substantial portion of his forces, and for just a moment counted his lucky stars that he'd not been standing in the path of that blast. He snorted angrily and began to trot toward the blast. 

"Get the lead out, you lot!" He shouted at a few of his soldiers who seemed apprehensive about advancing. They quickly obeyed, knowing that the penalty for disobeying him would be a swift death. 

A flood of black carapaces swarmed into the castle through the newly melted entrance, and he followed directly behind. He could hear one of their females ahead, speaking in that incomprehensible gibberish that every sentient creature on the continent seemed to speak. He would have to teach a translator. Soon, as he flew over the molten ground, he saw the source of the voice. He recognized her regal bearing even in the prostrate position she currently found herself. His soldiers began to set upon her when he called to them. "Stand down, all of you!"

His soldiers obeyed without question, clearing the way for him to approach at the same time as preventing the pony from escaping. He trotted decisively up toward her and smirked again. He kicked her over onto her side and put a hoof to her ribcage. "So, I presume you're the former ruler of this city? You're fortunate I came along when I did, or my soldiers would have torn you apart." He looked around, gesturing to the army around him with the hoof he hadn't placed on her side. "Of course, you don't understand a word I'm saying, do you?"

He was waiting for her gibberish response when a concussive force rocked the entire building. It's booby trapped. I should have known better! He snarled down at the crafty pony below him. He believed his suspicions confirmed when she smiled up at him and blathered on about something.

"You five!" He barked to a few soldiers. "Investigate to the west. You five, investigate to the east. Find the source of that sound!" His lip curled up as he looked back down to the former regent below him. His anger boiled over, and he lifted his hoof as high as he could before dropping it onto her head. The helmet she was wearing dented slightly, and she quickly fell silent. "I've heard enough of your nonsense."

He stepped down from his conquest and motioned to a few of the more burly soldiers. "You three. Take her and find this castle's dungeon. Put her in a cell, wrap her up in a cocoon, and don't let her out of your sight for so much as a second, do you understand?"

"Yes, King Tarsus!" They saluted him and moved to drag the unconscious mare out of the room. 

Tarsus straightened his crown and walked over to the taller of the two thrones that stood in this room. He sat and looked out at the remains of his army. "Well... what are you waiting for? Gather the prisoners and start transforming this city. The ponies' sense of decor sickens me." He leaned back into the chair and smiled. "Oh, and bring me the two lovebirds. The pink one and the white one. I'm hungry."

*    *    *

Luna and Chrysalis walked through the halls of the deserted castle, far from the prying eyes and ears of the Canterlot refugees. They found their way to a room lined with bookshelves, in which two stained glass windows could be seen. One had a Lunar theme, the other Solar. 

Luna looked at the Solar window for a moment. Her face was somber and sullen. She reached up and pulled the helmet from her head. Lighting her horn, she began to pull the other pieces of armor from her body, and discarded them haphazardly. "I do not know if I can do this."

"... what exactly happened?" Chrysalis raised an eyebrow, bewildered by the Princess' change in demeanor. Granted, she knew how it was; a ruler presented a different bearing in view of her subjects than she did in private. 

"Moonsong, Chrysalis... there were two plans that we have had since before I had my... episode. They were called Moonsong and Solar Storm." She shook her head slowly. 

"Okay... that tells me nothing, continue."

Luna glared at Chrysalis a little, but continued regardless. "The plans were mirror images of each other. In the event of our capital city was overrun, whomever was closest to the enemy would enact either Moonsong or Solar Storm. In both plans, whomever it was that took the survivors to safety was supposed to remain hidden, build up a resistance, and eventually take Equestria back. If it had been I in my sister's place, guarding the throne room, she would have been the one to take everypony to safety, not me. That's how it should have been. She should be here. She still knew how to rule. I'm afraid my knowledge is still... severely dated. At any rate, I fear my abilities may not be enough to see this plan through. Equestria... may be lost to us forever." Luna sat in front of the window with the solar motif and stared, lost in thought.

Chrysalis smiled mischievously as she sensed the power vacuum. Quickly, though, she shook her head and cleared that thought from her mind. This was not the time or the place for a takeover. She let a more concerned expression cross her face as she sauntered over to the sulking diarch-turned-monarch. "Well, my dear Luna... I am afraid I am not even as well acquainted with ruling over ponies as you are... but perhaps the two of us together can make for a halfway decent ruling pair?"

"Excuse me?" She tilted her head. "What are you suggesting?"

Chrysalis rolled her head and eyes simultaneously in a grand show of exasperation. "I'm saying I'll help you hold this group together."

"Why? With Equestria dissolved, you're effectively freed from the Court's punishment imposed on you."

"Ah yes. That's true, isn't it? I'm completely free from consequence! Nothing can be done to me now. So... where will I go? What should I do? The area that used to be mine in which to roam has been taken over by another much more powerful and hostile force than I ever had. In the Changeling world, my significance has now been diminished to barely more than a drone. If I went and tried to live ... anywhere but here, really ... I wouldn't survive. I might as well stay here, given the alternative. Considering that fact, why shouldn't I put some of my talents to work keeping this group of ponies together?"

"I... see your point, I suppose. Still, I somehow doubt that my subjects will be keen to follow your lead."

Chrysalis nodded, conceding that point. "Granted. Who's to say I can't operate behind the scenes? After all..." She cloaked herself in green flames, which revealed a new, unassuming mare standing in her place. She had a dark gray mane and tail, brown eyes, and an eggshell-white coat. With a quick flare of green magic from her horn, a set of glasses popped into existence. Chrysalis placed them smartly on her muzzle and smiled. "Call me Raven Inkwell, former adviser to your sister, here now to assist you, your Highness."

Luna's eyes widened a little, but after a moment she smiled gently. "I ... I suppose that could work, yes. Thank you, Chrysalis. I think I could probably use the help."

Another flash of light returned the changeling Queen to her natural form. She tossed the glasses over her shoulder, and they disappeared in a green puff of smoke before they could hit the ground. "Of course. It's not like I have anything better to do with my time and talents."

"Should we go back and see how everypony is doing?"

"Hmm. I suppose so. They'll need direction, of that I'm certain. I confess I'm also concerned about my daughter's wellbeing."

Luna nodded gently, turning and heading back toward the clearing out front of the castle. "If I may be so bold, Chrysalis, I have to say that I've been somewhat impressed by your dedication to her. It seems out of character for you to care about anyone but yourself, honestly."

"Do you think I'm a monster, Luna?" Chrysalis huffed a single laugh. "Life for my hive was never easy. You ponies tend not to like anyone who doesn't look like you. Do you recall how the fools in Ponyville responded to a zebra? Pandemonium. The truth is, my predecessor tried to get us integrated with your society. Sharing love is objectively easier than stealing it, and ... well, using Occam's Razor as a governing principle, she probed at the concept. It turns out that while sharing love is easier than stealing it, actually getting you ponies to accept us and share love with us is anything but the easiest solution, although it is the simplest. For all of your talk of love and tolerance, Luna, you have some prejudiced predispositions."

Luna gave a sage nod as they walked, and paused for a moment to consider her reply. "I am well acquainted with that less-than-admirable trait of my species. When I returned from my banishment, I was met with fear and, at times, even panic. Only recently have ponies begun to treat me with admiration rather than apprehension. For whatever it may be worth to you, Chrysalis, I apologize for any harm we have caused your kind over the years. Regardless, though, you must concede that your act of aggression in invading Canterlot was hardly defensible."

"Did you hear me defending it? It was an act of desperation, Luna, not one of logic. My hive was starving. Tell me, honestly... if your subjects were starving to death, and invading a neighbor was the only way you could see to feed them and keep them from dying, wouldn't you do it?"

Again, Luna carefully considered her words before speaking. "I can see your side of things. I suppose we should move forward, and let the past remain in the past, no?"

"I agree wholeheartedly." The castle's exit was now in sight. With another flash of magic, she again took on her disguise as Raven Inkwell, and conjured her glasses once again.

*    *    *

"Ricky," Scootaloo rushed up to him, while he tried his best to use a stick he found to sketch some basic blueprints in a patch of damp clay he had found. "What happened to Mom?" The filly had tears running down her cheeks. She was in a full-blown panic. "She isn't waking up. Is she going to be okay?"

Ricochet put the stick down and turned. "She was injured when we were escaping from Mrs. Velvet's house, Scootaloo. She stayed there to keep the changelings from coming upstairs and hurting any of us. As far as whether or not she'll be okay... Princess Luna and all the doctors seem to think she will be. I trust them... and I think you should too."

"I... I do trust Princess Luna, but... but she just..." Scootaloo's lip quivered and she hid her face behind her hooves. A few choked sobs escaped her lips. 

Ricochet looked at her sadly. Should I put a hoof over her shoulder to comfort her? I... I don't really know what to do right now. He thought to himself. Eventually, he decided it would be appropriate, and reached out his hoof. He set it across her shoulders and gently pulled her over to him. She tensed up a little, but didn't object. "I'm worried too, Scootaloo, but she'll be okay. I bet she's made it through worse... and there's no force on this planet that could keep her from you." He smiled softly.

Scootaloo sniffled into her hooves, looking down at the ground away from Ricochet. Still, she was beginning to calm down. After another moment, she turned toward him, eyes red and cheeks damp. "I don't want to lose her."

"You won't."

"... but what if I do? You can't know that for sure, she could... she could... die." Her lip quivered again. "I've been so mean to her, and she might die now... Ricky, what if she dies?"

"Scootaloo, stop talking like that. She's going to be fine."

"But you don't know that, Ricky! You can't know that! She might die, she might never wake up! I'd... I'd be an orphan... again."

His ears swiveled forward and he spoke quickly. "That will never happen, Scootaloo. Your mother is going to make it, and she's going to be fine, but... if she weren't, I know Chrysalis would take care of you. She'd never leave you alone. If Chrysalis couldn't do it for some reason, then... well, then I would. No matter what. No questions asked."

"Do you really mean that?" 

"Absolutely. I know you don't like me a whole lot, but you'll never have to be alone, no matter what happens. Okay?"

"... I don't hate you, Ricky."

"I know."

"I mean it. I just... I was angry. I felt like you were taking Mom away from me."

"Scoot--"

"I mean, you were pretending to be her for two years. You lied to my friends saying I went to boarding school. You stole her life for that whole time!

"I know, and I'm s--"

"Then the fact that she was just so totally cool with it... it was so... ugh! It pissed me off!"

"Hey, language... I get it, Scootaloo, and I'm sor--"

"I know that you two are in love though."

"Wait, what?"

"I know it. You're gonna get married to her, right?"

"Scootaloo..."

"Come on, don't lead Mom on, it's not fair."

"Scootaloo, she doesn't feel that way about me."

"... what do you mean?"

He sighed deeply and shook his head. "She told me. She doesn't feel that way about me. I'm not going to marry your Mom."

"... Then why are you so protective over her? I saw how you looked at her on that bed, I saw how much you fought to go find her back in Canterlot... why do you keep acting that way if she doesn't love you?"

"Because... she's my friend. I want to see her safe." 

"... do you love her?"

His eyes widened at that, and he stammered. "Scootaloo... well... I --"

"Scootaloo?!" Mrs. Velvet's called out, her voice carrying across the flat grass. "Where did you go? Scootaloo, come back!"

"I'm over here, Mrs. Velvet!" Scootaloo called.

Mrs. Velvet galloped over and wrapped Scootaloo in a hug. "You scared me, sweetheart. Don't run away like that, okay? It's me and my husband's responsibility to keep you safe."

"Yeah, sorry, Mrs. Velvet... I just wanted to talk to Ricky."

"I kept her safe for you, Mrs. Velvet."

"Thank you, Ricochet. Come on, Scootaloo. I think Mr. Ricochet has some work to do."

"Okay... I'll talk to you later, Ricky."

"Bye, Scootaloo." He waved and smiled gently, picking the stick back up and slowly turning back to his blueprints in the clay. What a crazy life I'm living...

*    *    *

The sudden return of consciousness shocked Echo's senses. Just a moment ago, she had been looking up at her mother trying to speak to her in the caverns below Canterlot. Then everything just went black, and now... she was somewhere else. It was still dark, but she could see clouds and stars above her. She felt a foreign object attached to her muzzle and fought to pull it off. Her whole body felt heavy and numb. She couldn't tell how much strength she was using to pull on the thing that was stuck over her muzzle, but it felt to her like she was weaker than usual. Suddenly, ponies in white coats were surrounding her. Their voices were clear, but somehow felt distant. She heard the words but couldn't make sense of them. 

"Where am I?" She tried to speak. Her own voice was muffled, and seemed to reverberate in her own ears. She blinked slowly, hoping in vain that it would clear her mind. "What happened, who are you?" 

"Please... relax..." One of the ponies, a mare, spoke slowly. That helped. "Just stay calm. You've been hurt. We're doctors. We're helping you."

As the fog around her mind began to clear, sensation slowly returned to her body. Her left foreleg felt heavy, and her back, which was against the mattress, felt like it was propped up to an unusual height. All over her body, strange sensations of pressure spoke to her brain. Then, the pain began. Her wings felt like they were on fire. Her eyes widened and she screamed into the mask. The pain was blinding.

"It hurts! Stop it! What are you doing to me? Stop it! It hurts so much!"

"Did anypony bring morphine?!" One of the doctors shouted. In the distance, another doctor replied in the affirmative, and brought over a bag. 

Echo was still writhing and screaming. With every second that passed, a new pain made itself known. Her foreleg felt like it had been ripped off, her back was on fire, and her wings now felt like they were being torn off of her body. Her screams became a gargle as her lungs emptied themselves. She hesitated to breathe in, still trying to scream on empty lungs, but eventually her brain forced her to. Inhaling was agonizing, and her head flung backwards against the pillow as she began to scream again.

The doctors started a drip of morphine into the fluids that were already being infused into the distraught mare, but the effect was far from instantaneous. 

Echo clenched her jaw together with such force that a part of her was worried she would break her own teeth. She clutched at her face with her forehooves in a futile struggle to protect herself from an imagined foe, and she began to sob. "Make it stop. Please make it stop."

A few minutes later, the drugs began to kick in. While the pain was still excruciating, she wasn't screaming anymore. 

"Miss Echo, are you feeling any better?" The mare from before asked, concern evident on her face.

Echo didn't respond to the question. "What happened to me?"

"I don't know how you got in this state, but I can tell you what we did. When we found you, you were bleeding out. We repaired as many of the cracks in your chitin as we could. The smaller ones we filled in and sealed with a magical amalgam. The larger ones were patched over with the best synthetic chitin we could find, though I'm afraid it's still quite primitive."

"Why do my wings hurt so much?" She clenched her jaw again. 

"... I'm sorry, but in order to patch the most severe wound, which you sustained to your back, we had to amputate your wings. Hopefully, the pain will go away eventually, but... it is possible you may continue to have phantom sensations."

"My wings are gone? You took my wings?" The drugs were beginning to make her loopy. "I want them back... put them back on..."

"I'm sorry, Miss Echo."

"Where... where's Scootaloo?"

"Scootaloo?" The doctor asked.

"My daughter... my daughter, Scootaloo!" She was becoming agitated again. "I want to know where she is!"

"Okay, okay." She turned and called a pony over. Echo could tell it wasn't another doctor, since there was no coat. Just some bystander. "Could you please ask around and see if anypony can find a filly named Scootaloo? If you can, please bring her here." The stallion she was talking to nodded and galloped off.

"Thank you... Where are we?"

"We don't know right now. Princess Luna evacuated us from Canterlot, and she went off to survey the area. We're all waiting here for her to return.

"Can... I please go to sleep?"

"If you feel tired, go ahead and close your eyes. We'll be right here to make sure you're okay."

"What's your name?" Echo asked lazily as she began to drift off.

"I'm Doctor Blue Shield." She smiled. "I'll be right here with you, okay?"

"Thank... you..." Echo trailed off as the drugs lulled her to sleep.

"It's my job, sweetheart. Rest well." Blue Shield turned to her brother, Blue Cross. "Cross, can you go find Ricochet and tell him that she woke up? He said he wanted to know. I'll wait here with the others until Princess Luna returns, okay?"

"You got it, Sis." He took off, leaving the crowd in silence. 

Blue Shield finally noticed that the crowd of ponies around them had been staring. She supposed Echo's howls of agony drew a lot of attention. A few of the ponies in the crowd were tearing up, and almost all of them were visibly sympathetic to the mare's suffering. "Hey, come on, everypony. She's gonna be fine, give her some privacy."

Silently, the crowd turned and went back to their various tasks of attempting to make sense of where they were.

It was another few minutes before the silence was broken again, this time by Luna's voice. 

"My subjects!" A silver glow came from the direction of the derelict castle. Luna was casting herself in a spotlight by focusing moonlight onto herself. A new mare stood next to her, holding a clipboard. "Please, gather around. It's time that I filled you in on where we will go from here."