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// Going to the Outside 
// Story: The B-Side 
// by KnuxChangeling 
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A changeling with a light blue mane and strikingly bright cerulean eyes walked through the halls of the ever changing hive of the Changelings. The changeling was tall with a gnarled horn sprouting from her forehead and large dragonfly like wings buzzing a little from her back. She was on her way to see the Queen of the Changelings herself, Queen Chrysalis. Most of the Changelings who flew by bowed to her as she went by but only if they were in her direct line of sight. Otherwise the drones went on with their daily lives. To be polite the taller Changeling nodded her head to the bowing drones.

"Sometimes I hate being a princess", sighed the Changeling as she finally approached the large green covers that separated the Queen's chambers from the rest of the hive.

The guards in front bowed and pulled back the covers to allow the Changeling Princess to pass through. Holding her head high, the Princess approached the throne in which the Queen sat.

"Mother", the Princess said bowing.

"My daughter Aqua", the Queen said bowing her head slightly.

Aqua raised her head looking the Queen directly in the eye. Queen Chrysalis was feared throughout the hive and in the pony world. Queen Chrysalis knew, however, that her own daughter wouldn't fear her. Aqua knew that her mother had a soft spot. This meeting, which Aqua had finally gathered enough courage to hold, was about Aqua seeing the pony world. 

Aqua was always told about the ponies. They were food and foalish creatures. they were better off as food and slaves to Changelings to feed the hive. Aqua was never allowed out the hive for fear that one of the Princesses would find and kill her. That allowed Aqua more time to explore the hive and get familiar with the tunnels that'll appear every once and again to find her way. Queen Chrysalis soon spoke, pulling the Princess from her memory recall.

"Why have you called this meeting my child", the Queen asked softly.

"W-well", Aqua started. This wasn't time to back out now so she forced herself to push on. "I am almost 17 now and.......I want to see the world outside of the hive!''

Chrysalis frowned a little and Aqua almost flinched. Her mother always gets like this when she talks about the outside. Then she goes on a lecture about how dangerous the princesses are. Aqua braced herself for the speech but the Queen was silent. Aqua tilted her head in confusion expecting her mother to start rambling. The Queen sighed.

"Alright", Chrysalis said. "You can go to the outside world. Your magic is strong and you are old enough to handle yourself."

Aqua tried hard to contain her excitement. Her heart thudded in her chest and her eyes had a wicked gleam in them. She couldn't believe it! She was finally going to go beyond the walls of the hive and beyond Changeling borders into the pony world. She was finally going to explore and get to know the world. She stiffened as her mother spoke again.

"But, guards will go just in case", Queen Chrysalis stated then looked at the gleam of annoyance that flashed in her daughters eyes. "Only two guards not a while squadron."

The excitement returned to Aqua's eyes. Two guards was enough. She won't try to ditch them because they will tell her mother by the time they found her and returned. She wasn't going to waste this opportunity. Nodding and giving her thanks in many kisses to her mothers hooves and face, Aqua exited the throne room with a little spring in her step. She wasn't surprised to see two drones waiting outside. Of course her mother immediately went into the Hive Mind to summon these two to escort her. Her mother worked fast. Aqua had access to the Hive Mind but only her mother was allowed to control it until it was deemed necessary to promote Aqua. A few minutes later, Aqua was at the edge of changeling territory, at the edge of a large forest that teemed with life and flowed through her. Aqua took a step forward and her exploration began.