//------------------------------// // Unity? // Story: Two Kings And A Queen // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// Once their visit came to an end, Thorax joined Sleight and Chrysalis's group outside the hive, ready to see them off. "Well, it was a real delight, finally seeing this old place." Sleight admitted. "Thanks for having us over, Thorax." "Thank you for coming." Thorax smiled. "And thank you, Chrysalis, for being willing to give us a chance after all these years." "I think I've lived in the past long enough." Chrysalis smiled. "Now it's time to look towards the future, a future where all Changelings stand united." "You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say those words." Thorax declared. "You're not the only one." Sleight nuzzled his wife. "Not even close." Wizel declared. "Enough muzzzh." Char snorted. "Time to head home." "Yep." Sazh nodded. "Gotta get the place ready for our new arrivals." "See you soon, Thorax." Sleight declared. "We'll be ready to receive our new residents whenever you're ready." Chrysalis added. "It shouldn't take more than a couple of days to everything ready." Thorax smiled. "I'll even escort them to your hive myself. Until then... goodbye, and good luck." "The same to you, big guy." Sleight smiled. "Here's hoping our little arrangement works out to everypony's satisfaction." "I suppose time will tell." Chrysalis mused. "But we'll do our best to be in time's favor." "I know you will." Thorax nodded. With that, Sleight and his group departed. Thorax watched them depart, hope and joy lighting up his face. Once they returned to their own hive, Sleight and Chrysalis broke the news to their subjects. Most were, naturally, stunned. Chrysalis had been telling them for years how Thorax and his hive were "filthy traitors" and not to be spoken of. But others were angry. "My Queen, how could you possibly allow this?" Fugax demanded. "After all the years of telling us Thorax and his hive were traitors, perversions of the true path of the Changeling, to be hated and despised, now you tell us we should accept them?" "I shan't mince words." Chrysalis said solemnly. "I was…” She let out a deep sigh. “...Wrong about our brightly-colored brethren. Wrong about King Thorax. They may be different from us, but they are still Changelings. And many of them are my children, which makes them your cousins. Your family." "But they betrayed you!" Bullet yelled. "Betrayed us! How can you let them rejoin the fold after that?" "Watch it there, pal." Sleight frowned. "Chrysalis is still your Queen. Show some respect." "It's okay, Sleight." Chrysalis declared. "They have a right to be angry. After all, I did fill their heads with my hatred towards Thorax and his hive for all these years." She turned to the gathered crowd. "My children, all the things I said to you about Thorax and his hive were a product of the anger and bitterness I had felt from what had transpired all those years ago. They may have chosen a new path in life and a new Changeling to follow, but in the end, they did so because that was what they decided they had to do in order to survive, not out of spite. But because I was too proud to admit it, I made it sound that way.” “So… you’re admitting you were wrong?” Fugax frowned. “In a sense, yes.” Chrysalis nodded. “While I will not forget what Thorax did all those years ago, I now see that I cannot hold onto this grudge forever… and neither should you.” "Atta girl..." Sleight said under his breath. Wizel was peeking his head out of the tower, listening to Chrysalis's every word. "I'm so proud of you, my dear niece." He smiled happily. “Okay, that is just messed up!” Hopper growled. “Our Queen, admitting she was wrong?! I see what’s going on here! Thorax must've brainwashed her when she went to his hive. Made her think he’s our friend!” "Okay, that's just crazy talk." Sleight declared. "Thorax would never do anything like that." "Who's to say he didn't do the same to King Sleight?" Fugax frowned. "Seriously?" Sleight scoffed. "Do I look like I'm being mind-controlled?" "Well you sound like it." Bullet sneered. "For all we know, this 'integration' is just a ploy for Thorax to get his forces into our hive, and destroy us from within!" "Thorax's hive out-number us greatly at the moment." Shed pointed out. "If they wanted to destroy us, they wouldn't bother with such an intricate strategy. They'd simply march right up to the gates, and attack without mercy. With our current diminished numbers, we wouldn't stand a chance." "Exactly." Hopper declared. "So why would we just let them in here?" "Because they don't want to hurt us." Maid answered. "They just want to live here, in peace." "Yeah, because they're desperate." Fugax spat. "Now that they're the ones in trouble, they've come crawling back." "In case you haven't noticed, we're not in the best of ways either at the moment." Slinker pointed out. "This place is like a ghost town, thanks to all the losses we got from that groady virus. I, for one, would appreciate some company... especially of the colorful variety." "Big surprise, fruitcake." Hopper rolled his eyes. "At least I'm open-minded, mister!" Slinker yelled. "A fool, more like." Bullet snarled. "Back off." Shed leapt to Slinker's defence. "Stay out of this, old timer!" Bullet growled. "ENOUGH!!" Chrysalis yelled. "Whether you support or condemn this decision matters not. What matters is that it is happening. Our cousin Changelings will be arriving by the end of the week. Sleight and I expect you to accept them as new members of our hive." "That means no giving any of them a hard time, just because." Sleight added. "Believe me, if it happens, we'll know about it. And we won’t be happy." "Indeed." Chrysalis agreed. "If this works, we will all become stronger. Do not make the same mistake I did, and allow old grudges to dictate your actions. Am I making myself clear?" "Yes, your highness." The assembled Changelings bowed. Though many voices spoke with a tone of agreement, several (such as Fugax, Bullet and Hopper) were highly resentful. "Excellent." Chrysalis smiled. "Come along, Sleight." "Right behind you, dear." Sleight nodded. As they returned to the tower, Sleight heard some muttering from the more outspoken of the dispersing Changelings. "Can't believe they're expecting us to play nice with those deserters..." "Has Chrysalis lost her mind?" "Talk about a flip-flop..." Wizel, Char and Sazh greeted them as they entered the tower. "So, how'd they take it?" Sazh asked. "Eh, it was kind of a mixed bag." Sleight shrugged. "A lot of our subjects seem willing to go along with it. But more than a few are a little ticked off about about it." "I had expected far more than for them to be simply 'ticked'." Chrysalis admitted. "After all the hate I poured into them over the years, I'm just grateful they don't all think I've lost my mind over this." "But why would any of them think that?" Sazh asked. "Because they believe Chrysalis has betrayed her own beliefs." Wizel sighed. "I can zzzympathize." Char shrugged. "I felt the zzzame way when Chryzzzalizzz allowed Zzzleight to be our King, remember?" "I think everyone in this room remembers." Sazh joked. "My point izzz..." Char said through gritted teeth. "...I managed to get over my rezzzentment, and zzzo will the otherzzz." "Considering it took you years to do that, I'm not exactly filled with confidence." Sazh mused. "At least it's not the entire hive that needs to be convinced." Wizel noted sagely. "That's right." Sleight nodded. "A lot of our subjects are already open to this. We've got the majority vote. How much trouble can a few naysayers cause anyway?" "We'll find out soon enough, my love." Chrysalis noted. "Soon enough..." A few days later, Thorax led a group of several of his subjects to the hive. Sleight, Chrysalis, and their council were there to greet them. The two sides had already agreed on how many members of Thorax's hive would join Chrysalis's. There had been a surprising amount of volunteers, though that was mostly because they were aware of the plentiful supplies there. And more than a few had genuinely wished to reconnect with their cousins after being apart for so long. Others had been hatched after the schism between Thorax and Chrysalis, and had volunteered out of curiosity over this other hive. "Welcome, Thorax." Chrysalis smiled. "And welcome to our new citizens." "It's certainly been a while, Chrysalis." A Changeling by the name of Scuttle declared. "I never imagined this day would come." "Neither did I... until my eyes were opened." Chrysalis nuzzled Sleight. "Quite a turn-out." Sleight noted. "I never quite saw so many of your hive coming over here." "I suppose you and Chrysalis made an impression on them." Thorax declared. "Here's hoping." Sleight smiled. "Come on in, guys! Come into your new home!" Thorax and his subjects followed Sleight and Chrysalis's group into their hive. "Interesting." Scuttle noted the number of dwellings. "Seems like you've taken some design cues from the ponies." "At first, it was simply due to a lack of resources." Wizel noted. "But now, we just like the style." "There are a lot of, er... vacant houses at the moment." Sazh admitted. "Feel free to choose any one you like." "It will be good to have this hive more densely populated... after everything that's happened." Chrysalis declared. "Yes, we heard about the troubles you've been having lately." A blue Changeling by the name of Carpenter noted. "I, for one, didn't like the idea of anyone suffering like that." "Be grateful you do not have to zzzuffer zzzuch pain." Char frowned. "Azzz it izzz, we were greatly weakened by the biological attack. With our numberzzz depleted azzz they are, we would not be able to withzzztand another attack. Not for long, at leazzzt..." "Well, this hive is going to be our home now." Carpenter declared. "And if these 'Forefathers' attack again, rest assured, we will defend it." "Thank you for that vote of confidence." Chrysalis smiled. "I just hope you have the strength and battle prowess to back it up." "Oh, don't worry, your highness." A dark yellow Changeling by the name of Bumble smiled. "We may not have had as many attacks upon our hive as you've had on yours, but that doesn't mean we've forgotten how to fight." "Good." Char smirked. "Nothing worzzze than a Changeling gone zzzoft." "Says the guy who melts whenever his marefriend whispers sweet nothings in his ear..." Sazh muttered. "What wazzz that?" Char frowned. "Nothing." Sazh smirked. "I believe now would be a good time to introduce you to your new neighbors." Sleight suggested. "Hello, cousins!" Slinker gleefully ran to greet a blue and a yellow Changeling. "Welcome to our hive! I'm Slinker, and I am sooo glad to meet you!" "Oh, you are?" The yellow Changeling asked. "Sure, why not?" Slinker grinned. "This old hive's been needing a splash of color. And now, here it is, splashing right by my doorstep! Speaking of, there's a vacant house just next to mine... hint, hint." "I'll... keep that in mind." The blue Changeling admitted. "I'm Sheen, by the way." "And I'm, er, Honeycomb." The yellow Changeling added. "Slinker." Slinker smiled, then let out a chuckle. "Look at us, getting to know each other! We're like best pals already!" "Yeah, sure." Sheen said awkwardly. "Maybe you can drop by my place later, and I can give you guys a proper welcome!" Slinker offered. "That sounds... nice." Honeycomb smiled. "Getting pally with the traitors already, Slinker?" Fugax approached, a sneer etched onto his face. "Oh, don't start that again." Slinker rolled his eyes. "Besides, you heard the King and Queen. These fine fellows are our new neighbors. Accept it." "That doesn't mean I have to like it." Fugax snarled, turning to Sheen and Honeycomb. "You pastel pansies just stay away from me, y'hear?" "Of course." Sheen frowned. "You don't have to tell me twice." Honeycomb growled. "Good." Fugax walked away. "Now there's the negative attitude I was expecting." Sheen snorted. "No offense, Slinker, but your welcoming attitude was a little confusing." "I was actually waiting for the other horseshoe to drop." Honeycomb added. "A little prejudice was to be expected." "Oh, don't mind Fugax." Maid joined them. "I'd be lying if I said there weren't other Changelings here who share his narrow world view. But most of us are perfectly happy to have you here." "Thank you." Sheen smiled. "Coming here seemed a little crazy at first. I thought King Thorax had lost it when he first brought up the idea." "But then Chrysalis came to our hive, and, well... we never imagined she'd open up to us like that." Honeycomb smiled. "I knew Chrysalis back when we were all like you, and I saw something in her last week I'd never seen before. I saw compassion, empathy, and caring. That was what convinced me to come here." "Me too." Sheen added. "Well, that, and I heard you've got more food here." "Sure do." Slinker nodded. "And what's ours is yours." "That's good." Honeycomb smiled. "I'm starving." "Well, don't eat too much." Slinker declared. "Don't want to ruin that trim figure of yours, am I right?" "Yeah, sure..." Honeycomb cringed, not liking the look Slinker was giving him. "What Slinker means is that you shouldn't gorge yourselves." Shed joined them. "There's plenty to go around. I know you've been starving lately, but everything in moderation." "Oh, don't worry." Sheen grinned. "I plan on keeping my trim figure." "Sounds good to me." Slinker winked. Thorax watched as his subjects intermingled with Sleight and Chrysalis's. While some of the hive members were standoffish, even harsh with his subjects, the majority at least greeted them with an air of civility. "This is going better than I'd hoped." Thorax smiled. "Yep." Sleight grinned. "Looks like most of our guys are jumpin' on the bandwagon." "Most, but all." Chrysalis, noting that Bullet and Hopper, among others, were stubbornly keeping their distance from the new arrivals. "They'll come around." Wizel smiled. "Sooner or later." "And if they don't, no worriezzz." Char declared. "I'll be happy to zzzet them zzztraight if they zzztep out of line." "Thank you all." Thorax smiled. "I'd like to stay, but I have to return to those subjects of mine who chose to stay at our hive." "Don't worry about things here." Sleight smiled. "We'll take good care of these guys." "I know you will." Thorax smiled. "And in time, perhaps more of our subjects will join you here." "Or maybe some of our guys will move in with you." Sleight suggested. "We'll see." Chrysalis mused. "As it is, having two separate but connected hives may provide us with a fanciable strategic advantage... but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it." "I'll check in as soon as I can." Thorax nodded. "Good luck." Thorax took off into the sky. "Well, here we go." Sleight smiled. "Yes, we do." Chrysalis nodded. "The integration begins..." Over the next few hours, the new Changelings settled into the homes of their choice. Char was overseeing some of the settling-in. 'All good zzzo far...' He noted. "Well, hello again." A strikingly familiar voice purred. 'Oh no...' Char cringed, as he turned around. As Char feared, Silkwing was standing before him. "Hey, handsome." Silkwing grinned. "Miss me?" "Oh, er... hello, Zzzilkwing." Char said awkwardly. "I didn't expect to zzzee you here." "Like I'd miss the opportunity to see you again." Silkwing declared. With unnerving speed, she slid over to Char's side, placing a hoof on his shoulder. "Ever since I saw you at our hive, I haven't been able to get you out of my mind. I was even one of the first to volunteer to come here. Now, there's nothing stopping us from getting to know each other." "Um... you do remember me zzzaying that I already have a lady friend, right?" Char asked. "I'll bet she isn't as unique as me." Silkwing scoffed. "You'd be zzzurprized." Char declared. "Zzzhe'zzz a pony, actually." "Oh, really?" Silkwing snorted. "Can't say I blame you. No Changeling gal here would be lady enough for you... until now." "We're actually quite happy together." Char insisted. "So you say." Silkwing smirked, undeterred, as she wrapped her hooves around him tightly. "Is this mare as vibrantly colorful as I am?" "No." Char admitted. He struggled to free himself without resorting to violent means (fearing it would damage the integration), but the mareling had a surprisingly tight grip. "But zzzhe's one of the greatezzzt flyerzzz known to ponykind." "Whoop-de-doo." Silkwing rolled her eyes. "But only a Changeling knows what a Changeling wants. That mare of yours can never really satisfy you. So why not ditch her, and shack up with me?" "I can't." Char shook his head. "For one very good reazzzon: I love her." "Oh, please." Silkwing smirked. "What does some soft-skin pony have that I don't?" "How about military training?" Char looked up with a fresh surge of horror as Fleetfoot descended upon them. The Wonderbolt had decided to drop by for a surprise visit... but it seemed like she was the one getting a surprise. A most unwelcome surprise, judging by the irate expression on her face. "Fl-Fleetfoot!" Char gulped. "Th-thizzz izzzn't what it lookzzz like..." "So this is the mare you were talking about?" Silkwing scoffed. "I'm not impressed." "You should be." Fleetfoot glared. "I'm a Wonderbolt, one of the best flyers in Equestria." "Good for you." Silkwing sneered. "And that just so happens to be my guy you've got your day-glo hooves all over." Fleetfoot snarled. "Why don't you just stick to your own kind, pony?" Silkwing gripped Char tightly. "And I'll stick to mine..." Fleetfoot's eye twitched, and her jaw clenched. Then, moving like lightning, she grabbed Silkwing's hoof and flipped her, causing her to release Char and land on her back. "Hey!" Silkwing yelped, getting to her hooves. "Why you soft-skinned-" Fleetfoot shoved her face into Silkwing's, glaring at her with such force, it almost seemed like she'd be set alight. Silkwing actually shrank back in fear. "Get this straight." Fleetfoot snarled. "You will stay away from Char. Because if I ever see you so much as glance in his direction again, then, peace treaty or no peace treaty, I'm going to tear off those sparkly wings of yours and make you eat them. Am I making myself clear?" "C-crystal." Silkwing trembled. "Good." Fleetfoot smiled. "Now, beat it." "Yes, ma'am." Silkwing nodded, fleeing as fast as she could. Fleetfoot turned in Char's direction. "Now, as for you..." She frowned. "I-I didn't... it wazzzn't..." Char spluttered. "Zzzhe came on to me!" "Obviously." Fleetfoot smirked. "But you know, you could have put up more of a fight." “I know.” Char sighed, “I wazzz juzzzt... a little unnerved by all that... affection. It wazzz freaking me out!" "Then it's a good thing I showed up, huh?" Fleetfoot smirked. "It zzzure wazzz." Char agreed. "I've never zzzeen you quite zzzo... ferociouzzz before. It wazzz actually kind of... enticing." "Oh, was it?" Fleetfoot purred. "Well, I hate to ruin a good enticement... C'mere." Fleetfoot pulled Char into a deep kiss. "And juzzzt zzzo we're clear, I would never betray you like that." Char assured her. "I would rather die a thouzzzand deaths than hurt you." "I may just hold you to that." Fleetfoot teased. "By all meanzzz." Char gave her a kiss of his own. The next day, Vito came by the hive. Glinda greeted him enthusiastically, having been informed of his arrival a couple of days ago. "I'm so glad you're here, V." She kissed him on the cheek. "Aren't you always?" Vito smirked. "Well, yeah." Glinda shrugged. "But I'm especially glad to have you here today." "Oh, really?" Vito noted the odd smile on Glinda's face. "Why is that, exactly?" "I'll explain soon enough." Glinda grinned. "Come on, follow me." "Okay." Vito nodded. Vito followed Glinda's lead, which brought them to the throne room, where Sleight and Chrysalis were sitting. "Morning, kid." Sleight greeted Vito. "So glad you could make it." Chrysalis smiled. "Um... what's this?" Vito frowned. "Glinda, is something up? Why are your folks sitting here like they've been waiting for me?" "Because they have." Glinda declared. "Once I got your message about coming to visit today, I figured now would be the perfect time." "Time?" Vito asked. "Time for what?" "For the metamorphosis." Glinda answered. "You mean... you're gonna do it?" Vito gasped. "That's right." Glinda nodded. "But I wanted all those I'm closest to to be there when it happened: You, Sleight, and Chrysalis. The three I love most in the whole world." "We love you too, baby girl." Sleight beamed. "No matter what." Chrysalis added. "Thank you." Glinda smiled. She turned to Vito. "Ready to see the new me?" "I am." Vito nodded. "And no matter what, I swear I'll love the new you as much as I do the you that's right in front of me." "I know." Glinda beamed. "Now, stand back..." As Vito complied, Glinda hovered upwards and held out her hooves, her head thrust back. Her chest glowed pink, and rings of energy flowed out of her. The force of the energy was so powerful, it shook the room, and cracked the windows that replaced the ones shattered by Chrysalis earlier. "Maybe doing this inside was a bad idea..." Sleight cringed. "How do you think the top of the old hive was destroyed?" Chrysalis said sarcastically. Once the rings had died down, streams of pink energy enveloped Glinda's body, forming a light blue cocoon, which slowly drifted back down to the floor. "Okay... now what?" Vito asked. "How long does thi-?" As if in response, the cocoon cracked open in a flash of light. As the light faded, the new Glinda emerged. Her new form was a pale pink with purple around her midsection, and her chest was studded with three gems. She had bright green eyes, and a matching shell over her wings. "Well, that's... different." Sleight mused, noting that Glinda didn't quite resemble any of the Changeling varieties in Thorax's hive. "Indeed it is." Chrysalis smiled. "I always knew this little one was special..." Vito gazed at Glinda's new form, his jaw hanging open. "Well?" Glinda said shyly. "What do you think?" "I... er..." Vito spluttered. "...You don't like it?" Glinda frowned. "Of course I do!" Vito smiled. "It's just... wow. You look really amazing." He then pulled out the pocket mirror he always kept handy for grooming emergencies (he was his father’s son after all), letting Glinda see herself. "Wow, I really do!" Glinda admired herself. "Especially the eyes." "Definitely." Vito smiled. "Did I ever tell you that green is my favorite color?" "Why no, I don't think you did." Glinda grinned. "Well, it's true." Vito held her closely. "I was already planning on looking lovingly into your eyes today, and now I have even more of a reason to." "Oh, V." Glinda sighed. The two of them kissed. Glinda immediately noted how her fangless new mouth allowed her lips to be more... flexible. "Yeah, I can definitely get used to this." Vito smiled as they parted. "Me too." Glinda agreed, moving in for another kiss. "Okay, simmer down, you two." Sleight frowned. "This isn't some kissing booth at the carnival, y'know." "Oh, hush." Chrysalis admonished him. "You two run along now." "Yes, ma'am." Vito nodded. "Let's go for a nice little walk, G. Just you and me." "Sounds perfect." Glinda beamed. The two left the throne room. Sleight was still glaring, his fatherly instincts still at work. "Come on, Sleight." Chrysalis nudged. "Must you be such a wet blanket?" "What do you want from me?" Sleight frowned. "It was getting a little too... heated for a couple of kids." "Really, Sleight?" Chrysalis scoffed. "Surely you remember the passionate flames of our early love?" "Sure do." Sleight nodded. "And I'm still feeling it after these years." "As am I." Chrysalis purred, nuzzling him. "So... does this mean I'm finally forgiven?" Sleight asked. "Does this answer your question?" Chrysalis moved in close. The two embraced in a kiss of their own. As they fell into the rapture of their fully-reignited love, Prometheus entered the throne room, saw what they were doing, then quickly turned around and left. 'You go, Sleight.' He smirked. 'That's my grandson...' Over the next few days, Thorax's Changelings continued to integrate themselves with the hive. While they were steadily gaining acceptance, there were still those who resented their very presence. One morning, Scuttle came out of his new home, and walked into the square, only to be greeted by Bullet. "Hey, neon-face." Bullet sneered. "Enjoying your new home?" "I am, actually." Scuttle nodded. “The fresh air, the plentiful food, the friendly neighbors. Why, I spent most of last night at Slinker's. Quite a friendly host, he was. So liberal with the bro hugs. I didn't plan to stay for too long, but he kept coming up with reasons for me to stick around. It was almost like he didn't want me to leave..." "How nice for you." Bullet growled. "You should know, that house you’re living in belonged to my buddy, Venom. He was killed when the Forefathers let that poison loose on us." "I'm sorry to hear that." Scuttle frowned. "Not as sorry as I am." Bullet spat. "Because I know my buddy wouldn't have liked a traitor like you living in his house." "In all fairness, I wasn't aware this was his house." Scuttle declared. "In all fairness, I don't care." Bullet growled. "You tell him, Bullet." Hopper joined him, flanked by Fugax and a couple of others. "These backstabbing turncoats don't belong here. And this guy's old enough to have actually been there when they all turned traitor." "Good point, Hopper." Fugax agreed. "He needs to pay for his crimes." "I have committed no crimes." Scuttle declared. "Chrysalis herself acknowledges this." "Only because your so-called King somehow managed to trick her into believing it." Bullet snarled. "But we're not so gullible." "We don't want you here." Hopper shoved Scuttle back. "So beat it!" “Hey, now.” Scuttle rubbed his chest. “There is no need for violence!” "Oh, I think there is." Bullet joined Hopper. "You made the need when you and the others came here, traitor!" As Glinda was passing by, she overheard Bullet's yell. 'What's going on over there?' She thought, turning in the direction of the commotion. Glinda came upon the developing situation, noting how Scuttle was outnumbered. "I know you think you're tough." Scuttle declared. "But I refuse to be intimidated by your strong-hoofed tactics!" "Who said anything about 'intimidated'?" Fugax smirked. "We're not here to intimidate. We're here to dish out a belated punishment." "And again, you act like I've committed a crime." Scuttle growled. "You have." Bullet sneered. "You betrayed the true way of the Changeling. I don't care what kind of hold your usurper King has on Sleight and Chrysalis, we won't stand for you and the others sullying our hive." "Well, too bad." Scuttle said boldly. "Because I and the others are here to stay. And there's nothing you can do about it." "Oh, I can think of one thing." Hopper declared... before punching Scuttle in the face. The surprise blow knocked Scuttle back a few feet. "What do you say, fellas?" Hopper smirked. "Shall we see if his blood is as colorful as his shell?" "Oh, yeah." Fugax nodded wickedly. "Save some for me." Bullet grinned. As the trio advanced on Scuttle, Glinda could take no more. "Leave him alone!" She leapt in front of Scuttle. "Oh, look." Fugax sneered. "One of your over-colored kin is trying to help out." He then glanced at her. “And a little girl at that. You guys really are pathetic.” “Um… she’s not from my hive.” Scuttle frowned. “At least I don’t think…” He stared at Glinda. “Have we met before, child?” “No… because I’m from this hive.” Glinda declared. “It’s me, Glinda.” “Glinda?” Bullet gaped. “As in the King and Queen’s…” His jaw dropped further. “No way… it can’t be…” "You're... one of them now?" Hopper grimaced. "No, I'm one of us." Glinda countered. "Just because I look a little different doesn't mean I'm not the same Glinda who was born and raised here." "Except you're not the same Glinda." Fugax growled. "You gave up your natural form to become a colorful abomination, like all those traitors." "This form is every bit as natural as my old one." Glinda insisted. "In fact, I'd say this is the real me. The me that's been waiting to come out all these years." "How?!" Bullet gaped, still dumbfounded by the revelation. "How could you have thrown aside all our proud ways and traditions?!” "I haven't thrown anything aside." Glinda frowned. "I thought this through many times over, and I wanted to do it. Chrysalis herself accepted the new me! All the ones I love do! In the end, isn’t that all that matters?" "Not to us, kid." Hopper spat. "You wanna be like them? Then you'll be treated the same… you traitor..." "What's going on here?" Honeycomb walked over, noting the gathering (and Scuttle's bruise). "Scuttle, what's wrong?" "These not-so-fine fellows think we don't belong here." Scuttle stated. "And they were about to physically express their disapproval." "Oh, really?" Sheen joined them. "They'll have to get through me first." Bumble added. "Gladly." Hopper spat. "You'll all get the same from us." "No, they won't." The antagonists turned to see Maid, Slinker, Shed and several others, glaring at them. "You leave those poor guys alone." Slinker declared. "These traitors aren't worthy of protection." Fugax snarled. "You should be with us, not them." "Except there's no 'us' or 'them'." Shed declared. "We're all Changelings, even if we look a little different. We're the same underneath it all." "Just look at Glinda." Maid smiled. "She started out one way, but embraced another. She's a living example of the best of both worlds. A bridge between us both." Glinda blushed with pride. "Spare us the sap." Bullet growled. "If you really think you're like them, you should suffer the same fate." "Just try it." Slinker smirked, as a large group of Changelings, both from their hive and Thorax's, stood up against them. "All of you?" Fugax growled. "Disgusting." "That izzz a matter of opinion." Char approached, leading a group of soldiers. "I heard zzzome kind of commotion. Fugax, I am dizzzappointed to see you azzz a part of thizzz." "And I'm disappointed that you're not." Fugax scowled. "I thought you, of all Changelings would understand what I'm getting at here!" "Enlighten me." Char declared. "There was a time when this hive was a haven of racial purity." Fugax declared. "One breed of Changelings, all striving for the same goal. Then came the false King Thorax, and the divide between us." "Zzzo?" Char snorted. "You weren't even around back then!" "True, but I've heard the stories of what our hive once was." Fugax growled. "Perhaps our methods were disagreeable, but we all stood as one, worked as one. Until Thorax convinced most of the hive to abandon all that!" "That'zzz a... jaundiced way of looking at thingzzz." Char declared. "I call it a grave misjustice." Fugax fumed. "All the Changeling who sought to follow Thorax turned their backs on the rest of us. That is unforgivable." "Izzz it now?" Char sneered. "I remember a time when I thought thizzz hive had turned itzzz back on me. On what I conzzzidered the true path of the Changeling. But I wazzz wrong. And I paid the price for my mizzzguided wayzzz." "But this is different." Fugax spat. "How zzzo?" Char inquired. "King Sleight always wanted to help us." Fugax retorted. "But Thorax's traitors abandoned Chrysalis, and those still loyal to her, and never looked back. But now, here they are, forcing their way into our hive. Like taking over one wasn't enough." "They're not 'taking over' anything." Char said sternly. "For now, perhaps." Fugax growled. "But what about tomorrow? Or the day after?" "Now you're juzzzt being paranoid." Black rolled his eyes. "There izzz no takeover, Zzzleight and Chryzzzalizzz are not under some kind of zzzpell. I know, I wazzz there." "Who's to say they didn't get you too?" Hopper butted in. "Pleazzze, give me zzzome credit." Char snorted. "I am well-trained in mental defenzzze. Look me in the eye if you don't believe me. I think you'll find the fire in them to be azzz zzztrong azzz ever." "A likely story." Bullet spat. "Better than believing in a deluzzzion." Char retorted. "Now, lezzzt I forget, I zzzay it'zzz time for you to move along, and leave our new neighborzzz alone... or zzzuffer the conzzzequencezzz." "These multi-colored freaks shouldn't be here!" Fugax insisted. "We should-" "Drop it." Char declared. "Or elzzze you'll be zzzent to the dungeonzzz. Any takerzzz?" Fugax's group backed away. "Juzzzt azzz I thought." Char smirked as they departed. "Thanks." Scuttle smiled. "Juzzzt doing my duty." Char grinned. "Let me know if they cauzzze you any more trouble." "And thank all of you for standing up for us." Bumble added turning to the crowd of "classic" Changelings. "Of course." Maid smiled. "Like I said, we're all Changelings." Shed declared. "And we should stick together." A short while later, Glinda and Char relayed the details of the altercation to Sleight and Chrysalis. "Now there's the kind of unity I was hoping for." Sleight smiled. "Indeed." Chrysalis agreed. "Thorax will be most pleased that the integration is going so well." "And you, young lady, were very brave out there." Sleight told Glinda. "Aw, thanks." Glinda smiled. "I just... you know... did what I knew was right. I couldn't let those bullies just get away with it." "As long as there are courageous, open-hearted Changelings like you around, I'm sure our union with Thorax's hive will prove to be a bountiful one." Chrysalis commended her. "Just doing what comes naturally." Glinda blushed again. "And doing it so well..." Chrysalis beamed. "Now, you go run along and enjoy the day, my dear." "Yeah, you've earned it." Sleight grinned. "Thanks." Glinda smiled, before trotting out of the throne room. "You did good out there too, Char." Sleight added. "Very good. A far cry from the intolerant Changeling you once were." Chrysalis smiled, before adding a chuckle. "Like I can talk..." "Thank you, my King." Char bowed. "My Queen. Now, I zzzhall return to roundzzzz." Char marched out of the throne room. Sleight and Chrysalis shared a contented smile. "I gotta say, I expected an incident like that to happen a little earlier." Sleight confessed. "So did I." Chrysalis nodded. "And I never expected such a situation to be defused so easily. A very promising omen..." Wizel then entered the throne room. "Sorry to interrupt, but we need your input on how to handle the food rations for our new intake." He declared. "Some of them have very varied diets..." "Be right with you." Sleight nodded. "We always have time for our subjects." Chrysalis nodded. "Even new subjects..." "Glad to hear it." Wizel smiled, as the King and Queen followed him out of the throne room. That night, Sleight and Chrysalis climbed into bed. "So, how's it feel to have a bunch of 'walking crayons' in the hive?" Sleight asked. "Quite good, actually." Chrysalis admitted. "It feels like a piece of myself I never knew I was missing has finally returned." "Guess unity is working after all." Sleight beamed. "Speaking of unity..." Chrysalis purred, wrapping her hooves around Sleight. "Better together than apart." Sleight smiled, returning the embrace. The two fell asleep in each others' hooves, full of renewed hope for the future.