dC/dt ≠ 0

by I Thought I Was Toast


Meeting the Town (Twilight) Part 2

I admit, I’m being a bit unfair. A bit of doom and gloom was entirely appropriate given how events unfolded, but I also think most of Morpheus’ and Webber’s projections were self-fulfilling prophecies. By readying themselves for the worst, all changelings involved met the worst possible scenario for their various missions.

“Woah.” My head reared back as we exited Castle. “That’s a lot of ponies.”

The not-quite-a-mob had grown since I’d looked out the window. The small group of timid townsfolk had grown to become a sizable portion of the town. Glancing about, I managed to find the girls scattered about, and Lyra and Bon Bon were waving to me from the back, but I wasn’t sure that would be enough back up if the crowd actually did panic.

Errant had slipped away into the crowd already, using my own entrance as a distraction. I barely caught a glint of black chitin being swallowed by the crowd before I was bombarded everypony.

“Thank goodness, it’s Twilight.”

“Twilight?”

“Twilight!”

“Forget Twilight. That’s a changeling next to her!”

“The paper was right?”

“Why would we ever make peace with those monsters?”

“Maybe they’re not the same ones? They could be friendly.”

Then there were the reporters. Every paper from Manehatten to Las Pegasus must have wanted my side of the story, because the air was full of camera-toting pegasi. All of them swarmed upon seeing me, cameras flashing.

“Princess, how long have you secretly been spearheading the negotiations with changelings?”

“Is it true they no longer follow Queen Chrysalis?!”

“How are they eating while they stay with you?!”

“Do they pretend to be your coltfriend?”

“Do you have a secret dungeon full of criminals to feed them?!”

“Was the child that just snuck out of the castle your rumored secret lovechild, and is it true you’re dating a changeling?!” The reporter from earlier butted his way to the head of the flock.

The air around me was growing stuffy from all the photographs, and—while the townsponies were polite enough to talk civilly—the reporters were obnoxiously yelling at full volume as if more noise gave them a better chance of being noticed. It wasn’t long before my head was pounding and the world started to spin. I felt weak in the knees, and felt the telltale signs of a panic attack crawling up my chest.

“Enough.” When Morpheus—who had been silent up until this point—spoke, the entire town fell silent. The fractured echo of his voice came from everywhere and nowhere, and when I turned to look at him I saw him clenching and unclenching the rods in his legs.

“Give her some space so she can actually answer your questions.” When the crowd backed down, he sighed and nodded to me.

“Thank you.” I smiled at him before turning to address the crowd. “Alright, everypony, here’s the facts. About half a month ago the ruler of the changelings came to us in secret hoping to negotiate for peace.” I gestured to Morpheus. “Prince Morpheus here has been living under my roof for the past few weeks as we tried to determine the sincerity of his goodwill, and I am personally willing to attest to his character. He is cut of a different cloth than his mother, Queen Chrysalis, and I sincerely hope that you are all above holding him and his species accountable for the actions of one changeling.”

There was murmuring amidst the crowd, but no pony spoke out. The reporters were busy taking notes, and my friends were weaving their way through the crowd to diffuse those who seemed on the edge of panic.

I finally caught sight of Errant again, surrounded by a group of foals in red capes. I couldn’t see what they were doing, but Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were watching over them, and they gave me a wave as my gaze passed on by.

“That said, the reason for these negotiations—and even for the invasion—is that the changelings of the Hive of the First Father—" I looked to Morpheus. “Did I say that right?”

He nodded.

“The changelings of the Hive of the First Father,” I continued, “are on the brink of starvation. I need you to understand this, because their actions were not born of malice, but confusion and desperation.” I sighed. “At least, that seems to be the case for the majority of changelings involved. They were frightened and scared because their entire way of life was threatened. For the past few thousand years they have tried to live secretly among us—only taking what they need—but that way of life has become unsustainable. They’ve slowly been dying off for years, because, when they are eventually discovered, they are met with anger, fear, and mistrust, and the suspicion this generates is just as bad for the changelings as it is for us.”

Stepping closer to Morpheus, I put a foreleg over his shoulders. I looked out on the crowd trying to impress the fact that I was not scared onto them. “The changelings have run out of nations to hide in, and they can no longer remain myths and legends if they want to live. We are Equestrians, and we are known for our ability to forgive those who do us wrong. I cannot force you to do so, and I know many of you may be reluctant, but I ask everypony listening today to put aside your grievances to give the changelings a chance.”

I smiled at the crowd. “All they need is a friend willing to help them.”

There was silence except for the giggling of foals as they played with a ball. Then, the applause started. It was quiet at first—a single pony, maybe two—but as the silence was broken it grew until the whole town was cheering me for my speech. I wanted to blush, but I forced myself not to with every iota of will I’d gained from my princess lessons.

“And how do we know you aren’t mind-controlled or a changeling in disguise?” Some of the reporters were much less impressed—the one that had ambushed my window earlier, in particular.

The applause died in a heartbeat.

I glared at the reporter. “Really? You went from secret lovechild to changeling in disguise, just like that? I hate it when reporters do whatever it takes to get a bit of juicy gossip.”

“That wasn’t a no.” He grinned as the murmuring increased.

I squinted for a second—a peculiar hunch striking me—before I laughed. “And that was the most changeling thing I’ve heard all day.”

“Excuse me?!” he huffed.

My horn lit up—just to be sure. I got a positive ping back and laughed again. “You forget I’ve been living with a changeling for the past few weeks. I’ve picked up on a few things.” Casting a dispelling enchantment, I watched the reporter’s disguise burn away.

“Oh, no. You found me, Your Highness….” Glaring around, he bared his fangs in a grin, and the crowd quivered on the brink of panic. His long tapered legs seemed almost like blades or stingers, and his long wings buzzed harshly. “Plan B it is, then.”

He lunged towards me.

Ponies screamed.

I flinched.

And Hera came hurtling out of her disguise to pin the assailant before he could reach me.

Bladed legs failed to pierce her chitinous armor, and she turned his head farther than any head should go until there were cracks forming in the chitin. Turning, she looked to Morpheus. The Prince loomed above the poor changeling—his wings buzzing—for a very long time as the crowd and I held our breath. For an entire minute he stared, until he finally pulled in a deep ragged breath and shook his head.

“No.”

Hera eased her grip slightly before slamming my assailants head into the ground, knocking him out.

“Oh, come on!”

I blinked, looking to another one of the reporters.

“I hoof you the perfect opportunity to assert your rule, and you still decide to show mercy?!” A pillar of fire erupted around the pony to leave Chrysalis looming over everypony.

The screams were louder this time, and the Queen bared her fangs in a grin. “Really, maggot. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were going native. Too bad you’ve been weak and spineless since the moment I spawned you.” She cackled, and the ponies around us shivered, too terrified to run.

“Mother…” Morpheus hissed. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be looking in the mirror for your reflection?”

“A vampony barb? Really?” Chrysalis’s grin grew. “I thought even you were more creative than that.”

“As if.” Morpheus sniffed, lifting his snout haughtily in the air. “You’re just too vain to realize the thing looking back at you is actually you.”

“I hope she knows a doctor because she just got burned.” Pinkie stage-whispered, causing the some of the townsponies to snicker.

“Silence!” Chrysalis stomped. “I came here to make a point, my little meals. Not everyling wishes for peace like my darling son here. Some, like that little insect of an infiltrator, wish only to feed off you all—" She licked her chops. "—myself included.”

Several ponies fainted.

“Be careful who you trust, my little meals. It is only by my good grace—a gift for my son—that I stem the tide of dissenters.” She nodded to my assailant. “Remember well, what lurks in the shadows, waiting to strike should you displease—"

A beach ball thwapped her in the face.

Who is responsible for this?!” Chrysalis glared at the group of foals staring defiantly at her.

“I am, you meanie!” The ball chirped before the illusion around it vanished to reveal a highly compressed Errant. “It’s buttheads like you that make everypony scared of uncle Mo Mo when all he wants to do is help!”

“Oh, really?” Chrysalis cackled. “Uncle Mo Mo? Tell me, little nymph. What could your uncle Mo Mo possibly do to undo millennia worth of distrust and hatred?”

“I don’t know.” Errant smiled. “Why don’t you ask everypony else?”

The queen blinked, noticing for the first time that all the ponies cowed by her entrance were standing tall. Nostrils were flared. Hackles were raised. Ponies snorted and pawed at the ground.

All in defense of a nymph.

“Leave him alone!”

“Pick on somepony your own size!”

“Have you no shame?”

Above it all, Morpheus bared his fangs in a snarl. “I believe you’ve worn out your welcome, Mother.”

Chrysalis glared a moment before smiling viciously. “Like mother, like son. You’ll be tossed out of here by the end of the week. Just you watch.” A fiery portal opened up beneath her and she sank, cackling, into the abyss.

“Just. You. Watch.”

As the portal closed, the crowd looked to me, anger dissipating into fear once more. I tried to smile encouragingly, but it was hard even with Chrysalis gone.

“Well, she certainly knows how to have the last laugh. I know you probably all have even more questions now, but I need to discuss this most recent development with the Prince here, and I’m sure you all need time to recover from that as well. Pinkie!”

“Yes, Twilight?” The pink party pony pronked before me.

“You know what to do.” I nodded.

“Aye, aye, Captain Sparkle!” She dashed off to go begin preparations.

I turned back to the crowd. “Please relax at Pinkie’s party while I sort things out here. I promise I’ll be along as quickly as possible.”

The crowd grumbled but relented, following the sound of rave music and the budding smell of freshly baking pastries. Errant and the foals ran past them all giggling, causing several adults to pick up the pace, lest they lose sight of the children.

My smile felt a little more real at the sight, but it faded as I turned to Morpheus and pulled him into Castle. “What the hay was that?!”

He thrummed. “I didn’t want to believe it, but Mother is actually playing both sides of the game.”

“I— Wha— Huh?!” I sputtered. “How can you— I mean, she—"

“One of the greatest unifying factors in the world is a common foe.” He shrugged. “In terrifying the town, she allowed the townsponies to see me standing up to her. She allowed them to see Hera take down an assassin meant for you—their princess. It is not an action I support, but it is an effective tactic.”

I took a deep breath to try and settle my nerves. “And when she almost squashed Errant like a bug? I let him— her— them come out here. I was responsible for them.”

The Prince squirmed, looking to Castle where the others were watching from the window. “That… wasn’t going to happen.”

“How do you know?” I countered.

He sighed. “Because Mother was spoiling him.”

I blinked, opening my mouth once or twice before tilting my head to the side. “What?”

He tsked—an odd whistling click when tongue met chitin. “Mother has always respected those who openly oppose her even as she grinds them into dust. It’s a trait she tries to… encourage…. When Errant stood up to her, I tasted nothing but the electric tingle of pride emanating from her.”

“That—" I began.

“I know. I know.” He rolled his eyes. “It really sends mixed signals.”

“Urgh…” I began to massage my temples. “What do you suggest I do, then?”

“About Mother?” He tilted his head. “Nothing for now. She spins plans within plans within plans, and until ve know which side she is truly taking there is nothing we can do without potentially forcing her to play against us.” He shook his head and looked to Hera who was incarcerating my assailant in a cocoon. “It is far more important to deal with the other lords first. Doing so will prove my strength to Mother – hopefully circumventing any need to deal with her.”

“I don’t know….” I kicked the ground. “There must be something we can do.”

His eyes glossed over for a few seconds. “No. No. Trust me when ve say she’s the least of our worries. While she’s the biggest threat overall, it’s mostly in the long term. She won’t truly make a move until I have either proved myself to be a worthy adversary or proved myself to be someling so far beneath her station that I deserve to be ground into dust.”

“Wonderful….” I groused, pointing at the assassin. “What about him?”

Well…” he hesitated, “...ve are honestly surprised he is only the first.”

“You mean we’ll have to deal with more of them?” Deep breaths. Deep breaths. No need to panic quite yet.

“Perhaps?” He furrowed his brow,little plates clicking together. “Hard to say. It depends on how truthful Mother was about stemming the tide of dissenters.”

“Great! Just, great!” I was smiling in a far too manic manner for a princess. “So what do we do with him.”

“We keep him prisoner. Maybe try to turn him.” The Prince shrugged. “It’s actually a blessing in disguise. I know this particular infiltrator. He’s been a suspected assassin of House Flynn for a long time. I finally have evidence with which to move on the other lords. Honestly, ve don’t know what they were thinking, but the new house head must have gotten cocky with his rise to power to send such an important asset on such a high risk mission.”

He nodded to Hera. “Notice that Hera doesn’t have a scratch on her? As soon as the infiltrator saw her, he changed gears again—submitted in the combat with nothing more than what was needed to save face. He knew he couldn’t directly outmatch a warrior, and running would only delay the inevitable after making such a bold move. He threw himself at my mercy knowing it was his only hope. He’ll probably sing like a canary for sparing him.”

He tsked, shaking his head. “Regardless, given his appearance as a reporter, plan A was probably to create confusion such that the crowd charged you themselves. He didn’t expect you to expose him so quickly, though. Plan B was to attack you directly because there were no other options with how quickly you responded.”

He smiled at me. “Good job with that, by the way. The other lords aren’t expecting for you to learn from me. Most of them still think of you as nothing more than prey, and ve fully intend to take advantage of that.”

“So we’re keeping somepony who tried to kill me in Castle.” I deadpanned.

“Yes….” He squirmed. “It’ll only be temporary unless he’s willing to become a full turn-coat.”

“Whatever….” I sighed. “I suppose we should get back to the town then. Unless there’s some new doomsday prophecy of Webber’s you’d like to share?”

“No…” his eyes glossed over, “...but Webber is highlighting the fact that he predicted a variant of our current circumstances in a passive aggressive attempt to say ‘I told you so.’”

“You mean you knew this was going to happen, and you didn’t tell me!” Time for the ‘To the Sun’ voice.

The ground quaked, and everypony— everyling flew from their vantage points on the window to interpose themselves between me and Morpheus. Hera moved to loom above me with a very unconscious changeling gripped in her magic like a flail.

The Prince shooed them away with a wave of his hoof. “No. It was merely one possibility of many—a low chance one at that. If we had taken the time to tell all the specific ways events could have gone horribly wrong, then we would have been in Castle for hours letting the crowd fester.”

“But there’s that spell.” I glared. “The one that you showed me your first day that creates a temporary link to the hivemind? I know it can do more than let me taste emotions. Memory transfer. Web analysis. Anything you’ve told me you can do I should be able to do with it.”

“Ve didn’t think you’d want—"

“You thought wrong.” I growled. “If you all can honestly predict these kinds of events, I need to see them. I don’t want to get blindsided by Chrysalis like I just did.”

The Prince stared at me for a moment, eyes glassy, before bowing in the most grand, sweeping, and pompous matter possible. Tilting his head back up at me, he bared his fangs in a grin. “Understood, Your Highness. Ve believe you may be overestimating the precision of our predictions, but I am happy to oblige.”

I squinted. “Are you just trying to annoy me now?”

Me? Never.” His fangs seemed to grow as they glinted in the sun. “There’s simply something enchanting to seeing you truly wearing the mantle of ruler.”

I slugged him slightly with a hoof. “Stop.”

He cackled. “Too much?”

“What do you think?” I punched him again, slightly harder this time.

He stuck an exceedingly long tongue out at me. “I thought it was the coltfriend’s job to tell his mare she’s pretty.”

“Morpheus!” I began to assault him with both wings and hooves.

“Alright! Alright! I get it! It was just a joke!” His echo was full of deep thrumming laughter. “And here I thought you wanted me and Webber to lighten up.”

“Not at the expense of my dignity!” I ruffled my wings as the Prince continued to laugh. As he struggled to regain his composure, I bent down to preen the few feathers that had bent out of alignment. If only ignoring the others’ stares with my head in my wings would make them all disappear.

“This is… new…. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the boss laugh before.” Spi whispered far too loudly.

Hera grunted in response, and he shook his head. “Nope. That doesn’t count. He only giggled as a nymph. Giggles are not body shaking, gut wrenching, full belly laughs. This is a laugh. I mean, I will admit he occasionally chuckles or cackles now-a-days, yet what are chuckles but masculine giggles, and the less said about his cackling the better.”

“Ve… ve can’t find anything like it….” Webber murmured. “Ve’re going through all of our memories, and ve can’t find a single time.”

“You don’t think—" Spi began.

“It is not our place to think anything.” Hera droned.

Echo, Echoe, and Ekho chittered and tittered and whistled and whirred. “Yes,” they all chirped. “What is there to even think about?”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear any of that.” I grumbled as the final feather was straightened. “Pretty sure you all can tell we aren’t actually seeing each other.”

“Good.” Hera nodded. “As a royal, it’s your duty to ignore any incessant and inane chatter on our end, lest we foul your air with our language.”

I glared at the stoic warrior. “You see, I’d normally assume that was sarcasm, but I can’t actually tell if you’re joking.”

“Most likely a little of both columns A and B, knowing her.” Morpheus’ laughs had subsided to chuckles. “Forgive me, though. Ve honestly have no idea what I found so amusing.”

I squinted at him again, wings raised in warning. “Are you being serious?”

“Perhaps.” He grinned. “It could just be ve find my jokes utterly tasteless. I got no cotton candy from that coltfriend jab, after all.”