Star Date:87440.7826610859 (6/10/2410)
Canterlot Castle
Chrysalis's quarters
It had been a long day for the Queen of the Changeling's, from learning to why her race had been forcefully been the victims of attempted genocide, to nearly loosing her own daughter, to someone who was a complete nut case, she for one wanted just wanted time to relax. Sadly the same could not be said for Shiva, the poor royal nymph, was still badly shook up after the ordeal, refusing to come out of the small play house she'd made out of changeling resin. Chrysalis couldn't blame her, being already shy around ponies, what image she had of them had been shattered the previous day. Chrysalis was at a loss, she just didn't know what to do, she'd even thought about writing to her husband King Metalus, but figured maybe Shiva would come around on her own. Sighing to herself, The queen tried to think of how she could convince her daughter that not all ponies were bad. Her train of thought was interrupted by a light knocking on the door. sliding of the sofa and onto her hooves, she made her way to the door, pulling it open she saw nopony there, that is until she lowered her gaze, and there stood the source of the knocking. All four of the crusaders where they, and the downtrodden looks they had, were that of concern and fear.
"Oh" Chrysalis said with an amused tone "What is it you four want"
"Well miss chrysalis, we was wantin ta see if, if Shivy was alright" AppleBloom
"Yeah she's our friends, and we want her to be okay" Scootaloo said, buzzing her wings with excitement. A long sigh escaped from Chrysalis's lips, the fillies had her there, being her daughters first real friends, something she had wanted for Shiva to have for along time. Perhaps they were right and perhaps they would be able to coax the scared nymph from her hiding place. Then again maybe not the only time The changeling queen had managed to get her out was when she'd managed to bribe Shiva with a small bit of love to eat.
"Alright come in" Chrysalis said with an exasperated sigh, she herself needed this to now that the to the hive a future queen wouldn't be mentally scarred for life. stepping aside the four fillies piled into the ornate room that, had been provided for the changelings. The most noticeable feature was the large amount of hardened changeling resin in the corner, making it roughly twice the size of the crusaders club house. All four we in awe that a single nymph was able to build something like this in the short time they'd known Shiva.
"In there, she hasn't come out except to feed on love or use the bathroom" Chrysalis said, turning to face the fillies "Please, you four are my daughters first friends, perhaps you'll be able to triumph where I've failed"
The girls look up at the downtrodden queen, her cheeks moist with from fresh tears. The could roughly understand why, Chrysalis it seems had most likely been doubting herself at being a mother, feeling as if she's ruined her nymph's foalhood. Breaking down into tears she finally let the dam break.
"I'm a terrible mothe-he-he-herrr!"
She kept at this only a minute, tell she felt four sets of hooves wrap themselves around her barrel. wiping away her tears, she saw the crusaders hugging her, just like a mare would to comfort her own foals when they were emotionally distraught. Wiping away her tears, she returned the gesture in kind.
"Miss Chrysalis ah know ma sis aint got the best record with ya" AppleBloom stated "But, ah'm goin to say this ya aint a terrible mother, to shivy ya'll the best mom she could ever wish fer"
"Yeah I don't get to see my folks as often cause I live with Rarity all the time, but still my mom Cookie crumble is the best and I bet yah a bajillion bits that Shiva thinks the same way about you as well" Sweetie belle said ever full of excitement as she normally was. Taking a moment to reflect, Chrysalis thought back, to the many times, that she would be in an important meeting or dealing with other things, only to be interrupted by Shiva, The young nymph would come scampering into the room full boar, firing off sentences about something she'd learned in the school hive or some new discovery she made at school each one bringing a warm feeling to the queens aching heart. Perhaps these four were right.
"O-okay, you'll have to convince her, to come out" Chrysalis said pointing to the play house. "How you do this is up to you, please try to bring sense to her"
"Miss Chrysali ya can count on us" AppleBloom said "Come on y'all lets go see what Shiva's up ta"
"Yeah lets get our new bestie" Nyx said trotting over with them to the structure, there were a few holes near the base of it, that acted as doors. The resin was partially transparent letting in a little light, but not much. Seeing that they'd have a problem with this, it was Sweetie who'd came up with the idea of using some of the glow bugs she had with her. The small luminescent bugs were able to provide enough light that they could traverse the play house unimpeded. Choosing the entrance hole closet to the ground, the four fillies quickly scurried in side taking notice of the rather alien appearance.
"ew ew ew so gross" Nyx said kicking some slime of her hooves, making a grossed look on her muzzle. "Which way should we go?"
"We could go left or right or up" Sweetie Belle said or we could try and listen for Shiva that way we'd know exactly where she is in here"
"Now how's that gonna work this here place is huge how in the world are weh gonna find her" AppleBloom said huffing loudly. making they way further in, they heard a noise, at first low and quiet, following the sound, the closer they got the clearer the sound was.
"Does that sound like crying to you" Scootaloo asked flicking her ears to hear the supposed crying better earning marks of agreement from the others. "Come on girls let find our friend"
moving deeper within the small hive they eventually came to the only room it had, and there in a small pods bed was Shiva who looked as if she'd been crying her eyes out non-stop, ever since the events of yesterday. Taking a hesitant step forward Sweetie belle approached the bed and gently poked Shiva, to which the young queen reacted by squealing and flailing her limbs around and eneded up falling of the bed with a plop. The fillies winced before going to help her back to her hooves, but the young queen still cowered from them, as she was still somewhat traumatized from the previous days event.
Sweetie Belle being the kind pony she was, took the initiative to pull the scared nymph into a hug, followed shortly by AppleBloom, Scootaloo and Nyx, Shiva resisted at first trying to get away, but her friends were determined to help her no matter what.
"l-leave me alone p-please" Shiva squeaked through her tears still half heartedly trying to get free, yet her friends held fast as they had a job to do.
"No Shivy your our friend and we intend to make you happy and feel safe again so no I don't think we'll leave not just yet" Nyx said the Alicorn filly getting a collective agreement from her friends, but Shiva just whimpered more.
"Hey I got an Idea' Scootaloo said the other fillies gather around her as she whispered it into their ears, they nodded in agreement to the plan.
"Tell ya what Shivy we'll come bacl a lil later tonight when ya'll feelin better and show ya why weh believe yer in good hooves and why we still are ya friend m'kay" AppleBloom said with a smile
"O-okay" Shiva said in a quiet whisper. they left but not before giving Shiva a final hug and AppleBloom leaving an applefritter for Shiva to snack on.
Several hours later time 7pm Canterlot time
As the last vestiges of the setting sun, sank below the horizon and the day turned to night, four fillies made their way towards Chrysalis's quarters ready, to show Shiva how much of a friend they considered her, and that despite what had happened the previous day that not all ponies were bad, or evil.
"So we all set?" Sweetie Belle asked they had spent the last few hours preparing for this and they wanted to make sure it was perfect>
"As ready as we'll ever" Scootaloo, she knocked on the door and stood there waiting patiently, after a few moments the door slowly opened and Chrysalis peered down at them, seeing them formed a small smile on her muzzle.
"Hello again, Fillies I'm guessing your here to take Shiva out to show her what true friends are?" The changeling queen asked
"Uh We're gonna give her a right good time aint weh girls" AppleBloom said bouncing with excitement "And weh promise to make sure she's taken care miss Chrysalis"
Chrysalis smiled before being lightly shoved to the side as Shiva poked her head out of the room, upon seeing her friends she got a little excited.
"Is..is it time to go" Shiva asked shyly, the replies of her friend were instantaneous.
"just be safe my little ling, and don't get into trouble" Chrysalis said as she gave her daughter a hug goodbye.
"I will mama I promise" Shiva said before departing with her friends, as they walked around the corner, Chrysalis stood there alone before a magical pop went of next to her causing her to eep and visibly jump from being startled, turning to see who it was she was surprised to see Twilight standing there.
"Oh hello Sparkle, is there something I can help you with" Chrysalis asked dryly, thought twilight just rolled her eyes at the response.
"Sort of, I was going to discretely follow Nyx and her friends to make sure their little plan went smoothly, and thought since your daughter is with them perhaps you'd like to tag along?" Twilight said ruffling her wings a little. Chrysalis stood there for a time a hole filled hoof tapping her chin as she thought about Twilight proposal, after what seemed to be an age she closed her eyes and sigh.
"Alright I'll join you, plus this might give us a chance to make amends for any past hate between us and our species" She said with a hint of hope in her voice.
"Yeah considering now that we have an entire fleet of space ships from different galactic governments orbiting our planet" Twilight said with a giggle, which got the elder changeling to laugh a bit with her. To keep from being discovered both Alicorn and changeling applied an invisibility spell on themselves and followed their daughter and friends. Following the fillies led them outside to the castle gardens, were it seems the CMC had rallied some of the Canterlot foals and there parents into helping them throw a small party/carnival for everyone more specifically to enjoy. The sight of this and seeing the other foals not be frightened by her daughters appearance, brought a tear to her eyes.
The small event went on into the late hours of the night, at this point Shiva had a few new plushies and was now siting on her haunches staring with her mouth agape at the fire flies as the small insects floated about. The other fillies and colts giggled as it was clear, the small nymph had never seen fire flies before and had become so captivated by them. From their hiding place both Twilight and Chrysalis were smiling at how the whole thing had went down, though after about another half hour Chrysalis was forced to reveal herself as Shiva had fallen asleep on the grass, the small nymph looked rather cute curled up in a ball amongst the long blades of grass.
After everyone had gone home and said their goodbye's Chrysalis took her daughter back to their room and tucked her into a pod bed. Placing a kiss on her daughters forehead she went and sat by the large window, for a while she stared up at the star filled sky, catching glimpses of the flashing lights that marked where a starship was. It was then that a thought occurred to her, maybe this was supposed to happen not just for Equestria but for the whole planet maybe this was the second chance she had be searching for, for so long
"There shall be no more ponynapping, or replacing of others with drones after, this coming trial the changelings must change our ways for the betterment of ourselves and the bigger galactic community" She said with a firmness in her voice.
yet unknown to her, this was just one of many trials yet ahead, but as we all know all new things or ideas have a rocky start.