//------------------------------// // Cost of the Crown // Story: Changelings of Harmony // by Prismfire Productions //------------------------------// The bustling city of Canterlot was one of the very few places Fluttershy loved to go outside of Ponyville or the hive. Being the unofficial capital of Equestria, there were many things that the queen could only get here, mainly medical supplies for her precious animal friends. The shopkeepers and everypony else, except the nobility, always greeted her with a wave and a smile, bringing joy to her heart that everypony trusted her in keeping them safe just as she and her friends had done countless times before. Today, however, none of those things were true. As Fluttershy walked down the cobblestone streets, worn smooth as glass by generations of ponies going about their everyday lives, the city seemed like a place she didn't recognize. The shops, normally alive with business, were locked up tight and the shutters closed as if preparing for an approaching storm. The normally-busy streets were abandoned like a ghost town, with the few who were trotting along giving Fluttershy a look of intense hatred; in fact, it seemed that her vibrant sunshine-yellow chitin was the only colorful thing, and even it was being dulled like rust to metal. "They don't want me here," Fluttershy thought, mentally noting how quickly she had been deemed an enemy to the very citizens she helped to protect. "Can't really blame them, but it hurts nonetheless…" As she neared the castle, the feeling only increased. Dozens of ponies, many of whom knew Flutters ever since the first time she became their customer, turned their heads away instead of giving her their normal cheerful greeting. At the entrance to the castle grounds, Sergeants Pokey and Clover were standing stock still as a pegasus in a deputized civilian guard uniform flew from the pair to back inside the castle. "Pokey, Clover," Fluttershy said, giving the two a gentle smile. "How are you two doing today?" "Being guards," Pokey said, making Fluttershy visibly flinch at both his tone and the conflict in his eyes. "Princess Celestia told us to halt all who do not have an appointment, and since we both have seen the list of scheduled visitors, we know you are not on it." "Which is why you must stay here until we receive word for you to enter," Clover said, continuing Pokey's statement. "Although, after the stunt you and your hive pulled to cause this mess to begin with, I am surprised you have not been run out of town." "You honestly think we did it?" Fluttershy's voice and mane fell once more, her wings dropping to her side as if they had been soaked in a thunderstorm. "You two have known us for years, why would we betray the ones we protect, when we have a thorn of a queen that we have to deal with on a continuous basis?" "You betrayed your species to side with another," Pokey said, leveling his spear at Fluttershy for emphasis. "So you could be pulling the fur over our eyes about having to deal with a rogue queen." "You know good and well the circumstances involved Pokey," Fluttershy was getting agitated, and she let it show by adding a little edge to her voice. "The whole guard ranks know, you mean that you would deny a death bed wish?" "Considering all that Chrysalis did, yes I would," Pokey's statement was met by not only a look of shock from Fluttershy, but also Clover. "What? Chrysalis was evil, a villain, why should she be given favor just because she was dying?" "I don't disagree with you much pal, but I do with that," Clover said making Pokey look at him with his head tilted. "Deathbed wishes, regardless of who it is, are expected to be honored and kept. In a way, that was Chrysalis coming to inner peace with her state, and redeeming herself for all the grief she caused us. That aside, even I have to question why you are here Fluttershy." "Well, I am here to-" "GUARDS! SIEZE HER!" The billowing voice caused Fluttershy and the two guards to look back towards the castle entrance, where Spoiled Rich stood while angrily waving a hoof at Fluttershy. "Her kind took my daughter, I want her bound, gagged, bridled, and cobbled while she is brought into the dungeons so she can be whipped until she returns my precious Diamond!" "Wow Mrs. Rich," Pokey grinned, must to the ire of the enraged noble. "I didn't know you were into that kind of thing, does your husband know about that fetish?" "Yeah," Clover said, both he and Fluttershy unable to stop their giggling. "Or is it that I have to tell Maud Pie that you have a fetish for hard rocks?" "Shut it!" Spoiled's face was red enough to pass for an apple and her scowl sour enough to make milk churn into butter as she stepped towards the trio. "I mean it! Either you arrest this parasite, or I will tell Princess Celestia that you are slacking on your duties. You were assigned to your post to be the first line of defense, so do your bucking jobs!" "Now Spoiled," Clover said, finally ceasing his chuckling so his words would sound more serious, yet his voice remained calm. "I know you are mad, but you know the law; unless Fluttershy does something that is a direct threat to the princess, I cannot arrest her." Fluttershy's horn flared to life, encasing Clover in its soft yellow hue. The guard squirmed as the spell went to work, lengthening his mane and tail, slimming his tone figure, and replacing three very important things of his with their counterparts. "Does flipping a guard's gender count?" Fluttershy said, giggling at how embarrassed Clover looked while Pokey gave his companion a catcall. "Or do I need to really make her defenseless?" "I-um," Pokey was conflicted. On one hoof, it was a very funny prank, one that he wouldn't mind learning himself for Spring Pranks Day. Yet, on the other, that was technically an attack on a guard, and with a very angry noble glaring at him, he knew what he had to do. "A-alright Fluttershy, I can't believe I am saying this, but you are under arrest for an attack on a member of the Solar Guard. Lower your horn and clasp your wings to your back." Fluttershy did as was told, lowering herself so the unicorn would have an easier reach as he levitated on the wing binder and horn suppressor onto the changeling. She felt the immediate effect, unable to call upon even a flicker of her magic as Pokey had her get up and led her inside the castle. "I just knew your kind couldn't be trusted," Spoiled said, following them inside before trotting in front to spit into Fluttershy's face. "I will make sure you are tortured beyond belief for what you have done." "Is that so?" Princess Celestia's voice was like water to Spoiled's emotional fire, the mare flinching before bowing to the alicorn. "I do not recall putting you in charge of court, so therefore your preference of judgment is lost upon me. Me and my sisters are the law, you going to deny that?" "N-no princess," Spoiled stuttered, avoiding looking at her ruler. "Its just that-" "I don't want to hear it Spoiled," Celestia said, stomping a hoof into the floor. "You have been in my ear since you found that note for me to banish the changelings from Equestria. Unless I deem it fit, it is not going to happen, do I make myself clear?" "B-but princess," Spoiled stammered, wilting under the raging inferno in Celestia's glare. "She attacked a guard! By attacking a member of your ranks, she is subject to punishment Your Highness." "Attacked a guard huh?" Celestia said, raising a skeptical eyebrow in Fluttershy's direction. "Is what she says true Fluttershy?" "Well, kinda," Fluttershy said, giving Spoiled a crude smirk that made the mare's skin crawl. "But less 'attacked', and more 'proved a point'. All I did was change Clover into a mare, which gave Pokey enough grounds to arrest me. In addition, as the dignitary leader of the Harmony Hive, by willingly turning myself into the authority of Equestria I am protected under the Ritus Solis that you put into law after the Great Griffin War. "Thus, I have the right to plead my innocence while being protected under the Crown against all forms of harsh behavior by members of your populace, including the Canterlot Nobility. Considering that Spoiled Rich spat in my face in your presence, the charges against me are to be dropped and she is, by law, to have the bottom of her hooves chopped off and cauterized to trot about as a lame for the rest of her days." "You clever changeling," Celestia said, giving Fluttershy a smile as she lightly chuckled, Spoiled paling at the very thought of that punishment. "You are correct in that regard, so you are free to go. As for you Spoiled, I'm sure that Pokey and Sergeant Spear will gladly escort you to the infirmary so your punishment can be carried out in full." "N-no wait, please!" Spoiled said, Pokey and Spear moving to both sides of her and started their march down the hallway. "I will do anything, just don't give me that punishment!" "A bit too late for that I am afraid," Celestia said, her face level in neither a smile nor frown. "You invoked the law, and the law must be followed. Carry on Sergeants." "Celestia," Fluttershy said, making sure that Spoiled was out of earshot as the noble's sobbing echoed down the corridor. "Correct me if I am wrong, but under the same law, isn't it my choice whether or not that punishment is carried out?" "It is indeed," Celestia said, a smile growing as she removed Fluttershy's bindings, knowing the mare had made her point. "Shall I recall them? I do believe Spoiled might be more open to listening to you now. That was brilliantly done by the way, really made her scared out her coat." "As soon as I detailed the first part of the law, I felt her whole emotion fetch shift," Fluttershy's tone remained leveled, but the faintest hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "Anger melted away, and fear rolled off her like a cold front in the Frozen North. Recall them, for time is of the essence Celestia, and I have already wasted enough of it. I will be waiting in the interrogation room for your arrival." "As you wish Queen of Kindness," Taking a courtesy bow, Celestia teleported down the hall, making Spoiled Rich recoil and yelp like a puppy getting tapped with a newspaper. "Pokey, Spear, please bring Spoiled to the interrogation room on the double. Queen Fluttershy has chosen for Spoiled to not go through with that torture, on the grounds she hears her case." "This has to be a trick," Spoiled said, earning a questionable look from Celestia. "Why would she choose to spare me, even after I just spat in her face?" "That will be a question for her to answer," Celestia said, heading for the interrogation room. "Come along Spoiled, it is rude to keep company waiting." Slowly the group went through the halls, Spoiled feeling like she was on her own funeral march as the interrogation room loomed ever closer. The pastel colors of the castle faded away into obsoletion in this part of the castle into cold grey, with every noble knowing that to avoid their own visit to the greyscale imprisonment. Yet, all the stories she had heard paled in comparison to seeing it with her own two eyes, and it gave her the creeps how such a dull place could exist I such a colorful land of rainbows and harmony. "Welcome," Fluttershy said, Spoiled freezing in place as they reached the interrogation room, the queen motioning to the seat across from her. "Please, sit, we have much to discuss." "You think I-" Spoiled's sentence was cut short by a well placed poke from Pokey's spear, making her gulp and swallow her pride. "I apologize for my rash behavior, but I do hope you can understand my behavior and doubt." "Fear is a powerful emotion," Fluttershy said, waiting for Spoiled to take her seat before speaking. "It can warp your very thought processes and make rational choices seem mute. You were acting out of fear, worry, and concern for your daughter, so it is perfectly forgivable." "Thank you," Spoiled said, doing her best to relax. "However, I am curious why you rebuked my sentence, Element of Kindness aside, you had no reason to." "Because I am not the monster you are looking for," Fluttershy said, moving over to lightly rub Spoiled's back. The noble flinched at the first contact, but soon was enjoying the feeling. "That monster is still out there, hoping to tear apart the peace between ponies and changelings, and hoping that me and my friends get stripped of our hive and ran off to Parts Unknown. That monster sees ponies as nothing but prey, and we are the only thing standing in her way from achieving her goal. "Tell me something Spoiled. Why, after all this time, would my friends and I turn our backs to Equestria? Through every trial and challenge, through fire and flame, we carried on until we won. Does us being a different species really matter? No, it doesn't, because deep down we are still the same ponies that the elements themselves chose for us to wield." "I suppose it doesn't matter then," Spoiled said, feeling a bit sullen after her hooves had been spared, and was willing to do whatever it took to avoid getting the punishment. "But after all what Chrys-" "Stop," Fluttershy's gaze went straight at Spoiled's soul, instantly shutting her up. "As my friend AJ says, all it takes is one bad apple to ruin a whole harvest. Now, Chrysalis was far from perfect, but she was far from being a mushy, rotten apple. The things she did were nice compared to the history me and my friends learned that prior queens used to do, and in the end she did make amends. As for Themis, she is a rotten and mushy apple that has been left in the summer sun for way to long. I may have reformed Discord, but I will not be giving Themis the same leniency." "You are being a bit of a hypocrite there Fluttershy," Celestia said, causing all heads to turn in her direction. "You can't give someone a second chance but deny another the same chance, that would be like inducting your brother Zephyr Breeze into the Fashion Hall of Fame but not Rarity. You are trodding a slippery slope Fluttershy, I saw it many moons ago with Sombra and my sister, so I know the signs. I don't have to be a changeling to see the thirst for vengeance in your eyes, and it is a raging inferno at the moment." "I'm sorry Celesta," Fluttershy said, taking a few minutes to cage the beast that threatened to take over her mind. "It's just that since they were taken, I have been having some pretty dark thoughts. Things that I would never do under normal circumstances have been sounding quite tempting." "That is something I have experience with," Celestia said, giving Fluttershy a knowing smile. "Shortly after me and Luna became rulers of Equestria, one of our advisors tried to undermine the effort into unification that we firmly believed in by trying to sneak in a bylaw that would make unicorns have all the authority. Luckily, Luna caught it before the resolution passed, and it led to a brutal fight in the courts. I thought about unleashing the power of the sun to force the measure into submission, but in the end I didn't and a compromise was reached that one pegasus and one Earth Pony will be on the sitting council, a tradition that continues to this day. Do you know why I didn't unleash my sun Fluttershy?" "Hmmm, because it would have done more harm than good?" Fluttershy said, tapping her chin in thought. "It would have got your point across, but it would also terrify everypony into thinking you were some sort of dictator like Sombra." "Very well done," Celestia chuckled, pointing to her crown as she continued. "My circlet proves I am the co-head of state, but to be truthful I am the furthest thing from it. Every action I make effects every citizen of Equestria, so to unleash my full power when there was still tension between the tribes would have been disastrous. The crown you bear Fluttershy is no different, your drones are your children and subjects, and a good queen makes sure her subjects are well fed before she can feast for herself. That balance may try to sway your moral compass, but only you can keep it aligned." "By trying to thwart Themis' goal," Flutteshy said, earning a nod from the Solar Princess as the Queen of Kindness' horn glowed, presenting the letter delivered to the hive. "And it starts with this. I have done enough business with Filthy Rich to know both his and Spoiled's writing style, and at first glance, it matches Spoiled's. However, there was one thing I thought about that Themis could have done, but I wanted to test it in front of you to prove my innocence once and for all." Fluttershy's horn glowed, her magic fully focused on the letter as Spoiled and Celestia watched. The script briefly quivered, like it had a mind of its own and was trying to fight back the spell, but it began to be and warp into a script that was less flowey and more jagged. "A coverscript spell," Celestia said, impressed at Fluttershy's creative problem solving. "How did you know that would work?" "I didn't," Fluttershy said,giving a sheepish giggle. "It was merely a theory, but it was likely since I don't believe Spoiled would want to foalnap the fillies herself due to how close Silver Spoon is to the Crusaders. Considering her parents are really influential nobles, it would have been disastrous for her and Filthy. "The first rule of a successful infiltration is to hide in plain sight, with rule two being don't get caught. I think Themis underestimated me since I am the quiet one of my friends, so she probably expected me to be the one panicking when in actuality I'm the one making sure none of my coqueens do anything rash that they will regret later." "Very noble of you," Spoiled said, looking up at Fluttershy on the verge of tears. "Do you think that you'll be able to find Diamond and return her safely? I just want my little filly back." "I will do my best," Fluttershy said, pulling Spoiled into a hug so the noble could have something to cry on. "Twilight and the others are having a meeting with the other members of the Collective as we speak, with a copy of this letter as a placeholder. I fully trust the Collective to find Themis guilty, and then we can proceed with a countermeasure… "I hope…" "Ok, lets go over the facts one more time…" Nobuggy was happy, each exhausted and down right bored with Twilight's lecturing, so when she made the call to go over the evidence for the seventh time, a collective groan rose through the chamber. "With all due respect Twilight," Glacial said, earning a confused chirp from the lavender queen. "Your case is sound, but all we have to go on is circumstantial timing and a note from Spoiled Rich. Now, I understand how personal this may be for the three of you, but we have to rule out all other possible alternatives before throwing the book at Themis. You wanted the rest of us to learn how to do things the pony way, so we are going to do this the pony way." "Fine," Twilight said, returning to her seat with a slight huff as she sat back down. "The Harmony Hive rests, do any of you have anything you wish to add?" "I request to have the floor," Queen Saphron said, standing up and moving to the front of the room after Twilight nodded. "My fellow queens, I know this may sound pointless, but I believe that we should bring in Mrs. Spoiled Rich for a joint questioning with Princess Celestia. With Queen Fluttershy acting as a deflective pawn, it will be easier to get some answers out of her." "That, to me, sounds like a form of peaceful yet tactful intimidation," Queen Obsidian said, her charcoal-colored magic levitating the letter. "Let's assume Themis did write this letter, in that case we would be punishing an innocent mare who is worried about her child. The backlash from that would be severe, and will knock our integration efforts back for years, let alone the breakdown of tolerance from the Canterlot Nobility. I can see why you wanted it, but in this situation it is not a wise choice." "I see," Saphron said, lowering her ears slightly as she sulked back to her seat. "Do you have a better choice then?" "I have one that might provide more damage control," Obsidian, at Twilight's interest, stood and moved to take her place at the head of the table. "Look, we all know Themis is likely guilty because of her grudge against the Harmony Hive and being stuck in her old fashioned ways, but I am thinking broader. Spoiled Rich has done everything in her power to ensure life for us in Equestria is as hard as possible. From blackmailing other nobles to try and enact laws restricting our rights, to full blown smear and propaganda techniques, she is not fully innocent in this case. Luckily, we have the princesses on our side, but they can only do so much when subjected to pressure from the citizens. "My point is simple, there is a slim chance Spoiled is pulling all the strings. She has the means and motive, and wouldn't take much keep Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's nuzzles shut. As for the Crusaders, there is no doubt in my mind that she has the connections to get a few horn binders made specifically to block changeling hivemindal communication." "I see one flaw," Queen Omenia, who had been quiet the whole meeting other than role call, said as she raised a hoof to speak. "Just as you shot down Glacial's idea with the reaction from the nobility, how do you think they would react to one of their own nymphnapping the sisters of three changeling queens as a means to push our species out? It would really put a black mark not only in her, but also turn the entire population against the nobility in a way that would force the princesses to redo the whole government." "Which will make them extremely vulnerable to any outside threats," Twilight said, looking to Obsidian after giving nodding at Omenia's explanation. "Even with the pull we have, the Harmony Hive, and by extension this Collective, can only do so much with how bad things are right now. I say we wait for Fluttershy to finish up in Canterlot before continuing, that way we have touched base with our Equestrian Ally before proceeding." "What if she doesn't rejoin us?" Queen Rhododendron said, making everyling look at her. "What are we going to do if she is taken captive as a result of the disappearances?" "Fluttershy put me in temporary command, so I would be the one you all will discuss business with," Twilight said, the other queens briefly tensing up at that thought. "That being said, I doubt she would be taken captive right now, because if she was then Celestia would have sent me an official notice." "Do you really think that?" All eyes turned to the source of the question, the feeling in the room turning hostile at Queen Themis standing in the door. "These are troubling times Queen Twilight, and Princess Celestia does have to ensure the best interests of her tasty subjects after all." "Why are you here?" Glacial Wind said, fighting the urge to make Themis go *SPLAT!* on the far wall of the chamber. "You are not a member of this Collective, and are a suspect of the foalnapplings, so you must be feeling pretty bucking bold to show your chitin to us under these circumstances." "She has the right to be," Twilight groaned, ignoring the looks the other queens were giving her. "Despite being an independent hive, she has the right to sit as representation for her drones. That being said, welcome to the meeting Queen Themis, how are your love stores holding up?" "Managing enough for now," Themis said, frowning as she glanced at the things that laid upon the table. "So I showed up late to my own kangaroo court, that's something… I may have misjudged you Twilight." "Misjudged me?" Twilight let out a confused chirp, which made the other queens giggle at Twilight's embarrassment. "Please, elaborate on that a bit." "Calling together an emergency meeting without letting me know? You're more of a changeling than I thought." Themis said, leaning up and putting her crossed forehooves on the table as she chuckled. "That is a very backhooved and very un-ponylike thing to do. I thought ponies beloved in being innocent until proven guilty? Yet here you are, trying to convince the other queens to indict me without any concrete evidence." "To be fair, this meeting was Fluttershy's idea," Twilight said, amazed that Themis even had the ability to be surprised, judging by the queen's slack jaw anyway. "So I deserve no credit." "Not only that Themis, you make it sound like you are innocent, when none of us have questioned you on the matter," Obsidian's statement made Themis sweatdrop, the other queens smirking at her as she tried to subtly shift in her seat. "What's the matter Themis? Ants get in your tail and making you squirm, or do you realize that you just busted yourself?" "I-um," Themis faltered, her smug expression gone from her face, and her outflow emotion shifted all the way to nervousness. "I am simply nervous about being under investigation. This is something that I have never been subjected to before, so I am unsure about how it will go. Does it involve me having my magic blocked and being dunked in a scorpion pit? Timberwolf lair? Cockatrice nest during breeding season?" "None of those things Themis," Twilight said, mentally noting how Themis visibly and emotionally relaxed at that news. "To simplify, we are going to gather as much evidence as we physically can, then move on to the interview phase. During that stage, all questioned parties will be held to the Meadowbrook Oath of Truth, and render them incapable of lying who they give their testimony, you included." "That is so I can prove my innocence, or, in your case, catch me in a lie?" Themis's question was greeted with a nod by all the other sitting queens, making her mentally start to reformulate her plan. Diamond Tiara's conversion and the Oath were two wild cards she had not expected to deal with, but she had a pre-planned wild card of her own. "Thanks for the advance warning, but I am curious, have any of your drones had an issue with stuffing themselves with friendship?" "Stuffing with friendship? You mean like a normal love feeding?" Every part of Twilight's brain was already ringing mental alarm bells and raising red flags as she asked the question, but the scientific part of her rebelled and made her continue on. "That is a very interesting question, one I will admit to have already mentally asked myself, but with the fillies gone I've been too busy to pursue that as a possible alternative to love. Why do you ask?" "May I have the floor?" Twilight's eagerness to approve the request made Themis want to smirk, but she knew she had to keep a level poker face for her gamble to bluff the house. "Considering that I am not part of your Collective, that has allowed me time to think things over myself about how my hive can adapt with the changing relations between changelings and other creatures. Although I do not agree with the principle, I've come to realize that I need to accept the new path the species is going to follow. "That being said, I decided to perform an experiment. Choosing a select group of my finest drones, I spread them out to different cities and regions within Equestria, Griffinstone, and the Dragon Lands to see how they would perform when compared to their usual emotion returns." "Smart," Obsidian said, humming in thought as she thought over Themis' words. "By not coming to the Collective meetings, you didn't have access to the information the rest of us have outside of the results that were given during the first official meeting after Chrysalis's death; therefore, you had to find out on your own the long term results we have collected." "That is where my initial question to Twilight comes into play," Themis said, her tone and facial features turning sullen. "Not even a week after I sent out the group, I get a frantic letter from the drone that I had stationed in Manehatten. Apparently, he got it into his head that since ponies are so full of friendship, he would try feasting off that instead of love." Themis couldn't feel more pleased with herself even if she tried. Not only had she diverted the meeting, she now had what she considered to be a captive audience laid out before her. She really didn't want to put one of her top fighters in the position, but if the planned worked she would more than make it up to him later. "What happened?" Twilight's demeanor spoke sincere concern, from her softened facial features to her calm tone. "The way you are talking, it sounds like the drone was gravely injured." "Err, in a manner of speaking, but maybe it will be best if you see the results yourselves," Themis leveled a deep frown before turning towards the doorway, clapping her forehooves together three times in rapid succession. "Thorax, you may come in and show the results of your experiment ". When the drone in question entered, every queen in the Collective was instantly spooked. The drone's chitin was completely solid, free of any holes to be seen,and had changed to a bright green instead of the characteristic black, with his barrel being a darker shade than the rest of his body. His wings and tail were a shining purple, and his eyes matched their new look like two panes of royal purple stained glass. However, those things, nor the three diamonds that rested on his chest that made Rarity burn with jealousy, were not what made the other queens recoil; what made them shudder like the chill of a Windego was the two antler-like appendages that rested above his head. Just seeing the combination of everything mashed together like something out of a filly's twisted fantasy prompted a range of reactions. "What the buck?!" "On the first mother's grave…" "May Gaia help his soul…" "By Luna's moon…" "Wha'n tarnation?!" "Oh! We need a party!" "Those lovely jewels…" "Sweet Celestia…" "As you can see," Themis said, clearing her throat to break the shock up and restore attention. "My poor drone was transformed into an abomination, a product of the foundation for which ponies have been able to thrive." "This is disturbing," Obsidian said, turning to stare down Twilight. "Is this why you keep postponing this field of research? Knowing this was going to happen, but keeping it away from us in order to keep us on your side." "Not at all," Twilight said, matching Obsidian's stare as her chitin went rigid in anger. "Remember, I have been personally involved with trying to break through the species barrier with the Canterlot Nobility to make changelings equally accepted amongst the populace. Then, on top of that, the fillynapping happened so I have had zero time to delve into it." Standing up and moving to where Thorax stood, she slowly circling the transformed drone as she scanned him with her magic. Her scans, revealing that he was not in disguise, made her confused at how such an odd change could have come from what she felt was a harmless mutual feeling between two ponies. All her life she had known friendship to only be a good thing, but as the Queen of Friendship, seeing Thorax in his current state made her realize it could be negative too. "Excuse me, Thorax isn't it?" Twilight said, causing the drone to nod at her question, the fact he reminded silent showing just how nervous he was. "How did you manage to absorb friendship? And how long did it take you to turn into… this?" "I was incredibly dumb with my choice," Thorax's somber tone, and the fact that he refused to look Twilight in the eyes, earned him a great deal of sympathy from the other queens. "I thought that if we were supposed to integrate, we should be able to absorb it, you know? It took a few tries, but when I found the right manalength for the harmonic waves friendship pulls off, I started to slowly feed. At first, I was fine, other than being a bit more helpful than normal there were no other effects. On the fifth day in my mission, I woke up looking like this, and I immediately notified my queen of what had transpired." "Well, at least you are not dying," Twilight's futile attempt at humor was accepted about as well as a beebear being accepted at the Meadowton Honey Festival, making her clear her throat after the moment of embarrassment. "Sorry, was just trying to point out the positives. If my scans are correct, you are now saturated with Harmony, to the point if another drone fed off you they would change as well." "WHAT?!" Thorax shrieked, his wings spreading in alarm as the other queens mirrored his concern with glances of their own. "I don't want to be stuck like this, surely you can come up with a cure! If what you say is true, then I will have to go into isolation for who knows how long. You're Magic incarnate for crying out loud!" "As much as that is true, magic is not a cure all for everything," Twilight said, her wings falling to her sides. "Diseases still kill, but this is something I want to have as a personal challenge to my abilities." "You make it sound like I am being used as a lab rat," Thorax hissed, only to drop his head in shame. "Sorry, but I don't want to feel like an animal, ya know?" "I can see the hesitation, but I promise no intentional harm will be done to you," With the delicateness of a mother tending to her foal to ward off their troubled thoughts, Twilight put a hoof under Thorax's chin so he could look into her deeply concerned pits of magenta that shone with hope. "Do me a favor, try and keep yourself together until after we find the fillies, ok? Once they are found and this mess is sorted, I will use all my free time to try and work on a cure." "Thank you so much Queen Twilight," Thorax said, taking a bow before teleporting away in a glistening swirl of magic. Once alone in his room, Thorax slumped against the wall looking up to the ceiling. "I hope this case is resolved soon, no matter which side will fall… I don't want to be this freak any longer than I have to." Little did he know, Harmony was feeling sympathetic towards him, and began to set the gears in motion for the next part of her objective. She hated that she had changed Thorax into what he now was, but she also knew that she had some old favors to collect from so very influential beings… The Badlands had not felt the same surge of bountifulness the rest of Equestria and its surrounding lands had felt since the Harmony Hive fully rose to prominence. Even with specially assigned weather patrols and seedings tended and organized by the best Earth Pony farmers around, the land refused to yield to the nourishment and remained vacant and barren landscape. Yet, in this hostile environment, a broken figure, left for obsoletion as a punishment for its crimes, stirred.