//------------------------------// // 2 - VI - Drawing Lines in the Sand // Story: Friendship Bling and Changing Things // by PinkFluffyAlex //------------------------------// Part Two: Recollection Chapter VI - Drawing Lines in the Sand ====== The princesses were silent. Celestia was pondering recent events while pretending to listen to nobles trying to get some sort of money for the damages during the invasion. Cadence was distraught, thinking about the foal she once took care of and her would-be-husband. Luna was mad. Mad that her closest friend, the one who had saved her, had kept this from her. Mad that Twilight was a changeling, from the lavender hive, no less. Celestia told the noble in front of her that Canterlot would be repaired of all its damages from the invasion, just like all the nobles before. She waved the pony out politely. By standing up, taking hold of the unicorn in her grip, and placing her outside the door. Celestia told her guards to leave, as well. Though hesitant at first, in light of recent events, they exited and closed the doors behind them. Celestia's perception of the world decayed, giving way to a vast field of blue stars and gas. With a thought, numerous screens and images appeared. They were of Twilight and her friends, but never any changelings. They shifted, and Celestia looked closer for any sign of the creatures. The sun and moon showed Celestia many things as they circled the planet, but Twilight Sparkle's truth was not one of them. Celestia waved a hoof, shifting the images to that of her sister standing on her balcony, and Cadence looking at pictures of Shining and Twilight in her tower. Because of its lack of military force, Equestria had bountiful supplies of tenacity. They could pull through any situation, no matter how dire. That included one of the Elements of Harmony and the Captain of the Guard being revealed as changelings. A pony walked up beside Celestia in her realm. The Princess of the Sun looked over to see her faithful assistant, Raven Inkwell standing beside her. Celestia returned to her body in the waking world and gave Raven her attention. "Any news regarding Twilight Sparkle or Shining Armor, Raven?" Raven was holding a clipboard out in a crimson glow. She glanced at it, then nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty." Celestia's eyes widened. "Captain Shining Armor is actually requesting an audience, alongside a mare named Cavern Star. He said that he has news concerning the changeling Queen that escaped." Celestia smiled and nodded. "Gather my sister and Princess Cadence, then bring him in." Raven charged magic in her horn. "Yes, Your Majesty." She disappeared. A few moments later, she returned with the other princesses and walked towards the door. Luna turned to Celestia. "What is this about, sister? Your aide did not give any details." Cadence nodded in agreement. Celestia sighed. "Captain Shining Armor has returned with news of where Citlali went." Cadence inhaled sharply and Luna frowned. "She said he has a mare with him by the name of Cavern Star. I can only imagine she is Citlali or another changeling from the lavender hive. However, Luna, so long as they present themselves as ponies, we shall treat them as such. This is a matter of diplomacy: they came to us to talk, so we will talk." Luna grimaced. Cadence's wings fluttered. In a glow of blue and gold from the guards outside, the two doors swung open to reveal three ponies. Shining Armor, Cavern Star, and Raven Inkwell. Raven bowed to the princesses, then teleported elsewhere. Shining took one look at Cadence, gasped, then rushed to meet her. Cadence went to him as well, and the two of them held each other for the first time since the invasion. Eventually, Cadence pulled away as Celestia cleared her throat. "Captain Armor, Cavern Star. Raven told me that you have news concerning the whereabouts of a certain changeling Queen." She locked eyes with the very-obviously Queen Citlali, who smiled. "Since you came to us on this matter, we will hear you out." Celestia closed the doors. 'Cavern' stepped forwards, dropped her disguise, and bowed. "Princesses, I'm sorry it all had to fall apart like this. If I had known Chrysalis would..." She shook her head. "No, I should have just asked for your help from the start. As you may or may not know, Chrysalis and I have a history. Twenty years ago she all but obliterated my hive and left me for dead. I didn't have the resources to rebuild my family, so I released them into the world, into the care of various families. Vahan here is one of the fourteen that survived, including me." Cadence had a silent conversation with Shining as Celestia and Luna thought. The younger sister spoke. "And why are you telling us this?" Citlali gave a pleading look. "Because my hive is not your enemy. Chrysalis will return. Her invasion only failed because she did not count on Cadence or Shining being able to come together to create that spell. You won't be strong enough to defeat her alone, neither will I. We have to work together with this. I'm more than willing to help you, but I just ask that you trust me in return." Luna scoffed. "Why should we trust you? A Queen of your hive infiltrated our cities and attempted to kill my sister and me." Citlali shook her head. "Not a single pony was replaced by her changelings. Catalyst only attacked because his duty was to his mother first, his teacher second." Luna growled. "Lies. We found hundreds of ponies, all of which had been transformed into your kind. Your previous Queen warped the mind of Catalyst and turned him against us. Citlali shook her head with an exasperated sigh. "Princess Luna. Ponies cannot be transformed into changelings. They simply did not know what they truly were. As for Catalyst... if you had not killed him, he would have been exiled from the hive. He started a war that gravely damaged our hive's numbers, killed our Queen, and further exposed our kind to ponies." "By placing these agents, you would curse somebody in that fashion, to disallow them the privilege of ever truly being a pony?" Luna asked softly. Citlali's mouth dropped in awe. "Privilege? Privilege!? You slaughtered my people, killed my friends, demonize my race, and you have the nerve to call being a pony a privilege!? From the moment that you discovered the changeling race, you have hunted us, painted us as some kind of... parasitic bogeymare that replaces foals and steals love!" Celestia, sensing where the conversation was going between those two, tried to intervene. "Luna, Citlali, please calm yourselves." She was ignored as Luna gave a retort. "You take the emotions and freedom of ponies, and give nothing in return. Yes, you are a parasite to my fair ponies." "Give nothing? We temper your negative emotions and provide countless artistic and functional services. If anything, we should be getting praise for our--" Celestia silenced them both with a stomp of her hooves. "Enough!" The others flinched back from her as the floor cracked. "When I let the both of you speak in this room, I expected a civilized, diplomatic conversation. Instead, I get a contest of insults between my own sister, and somepony who came to me for help!" "But sister, she--" "I said enough!" Luna shrunk back as Celestia moved forwards. A moment passed before Celestia regained her composure. The ground that she had been standing on was slightly scorched. "Queen Citlali, what do you want?" Citlali stared at the floor, then snapped to Celestia with wide eyes. "I... uh. I need to know that I can begin rebuilding my hive without the Royal or Lunar Guard knocking on my front door. I am not your enemy, despite what my ancestors may or may not have done. Chrysalis and any who would side with her are the true enemy here. I can only speak for myself at the moment, but I'm sure that many of the other Queens would be willing to help us stop Chrysalis." Celestia nodded. She was silent for a few moments. "I'm not sure if I can trust you, Queen Citlali." Citlali tensed. "But, I would trust Twilight Sparkle with my throne. So long as you remain true to your words and exist as an ally of Equestria, then I have no option but to accept." Luna stared at Celestia in shock, Cadence and Shining let out a relieved sigh, and Citlali visibly relaxed. Celestia nodded. "Thank you for coming to me, Twilight. I also wish that it could have been under... simpler circumstances, but this will have to do. I'll send a message to the guards throughout the city that the two of you have returned." Citlali sighed while chuckling and sat down on the floor. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear that. Luna, I hope we can still be friends because of who we are, not what we are. I'm going to the library to sleep. I'm not going to be able to make the trip back to Nepthysis, regardless of how I travel." Luna looked at her sister, niece, and the changeling Queen in disbelief. "You're seriously going to let her... roam free in the city? She is a changeling, Celestia! Has time's power to erase knowledge become so strong that mine own sister has forgotten these monsters' secret combinations amongst our subjects?" Luna shook her head as Celestia gave her an almost... pitying look. "Luna, please! Even if you don't believe Citlali to be Twilight, She still came here under her own power, seeking peace! The least we can do is show her the same respect she now gives to us." Luna just glared at Celestia, sighed, then teleported away. Celestia sighed and bowed her head. "I'm sorry, Twilight. In Luna's perspective, it's only been a little over a dozen years since your grandmother ruled. Her mind was not her own while assaulted by the Nightmare." Citlali nodded, lit her horn, and descended into a portal of brilliant flame. Princess Cadence looked to her would-be husband after a few moments of awkward silence. "So. You're a changeling?" "Yep." "And, you feed off of love?" "I guess so." "Are you still the Shining Armor I proposed to?" "Absolutely." Cadence nodded, then grabbed Shining in her magic. "Then we are going to go to our bedroom, figure out how your shapeshifting works, and have a nice meal." Shining's eyes widened as he blushed and floated away beside Cadence, leaving Celestia to herself. She closed her eyes. "Ever the vigilant watcher, sister. I hope you see the truth." ====== Spike, the Bearers, and Guard Satomi turned down an alleyway. Spike motioned for them to stop, so they waited in silence. Spike spoke to the air. "So, who's the sneaky changeling who's been tailing me? Show yourself." A lamp attached to a building burst into iridescent flames to reveal a changeling Royal hanging upside down. A barrel nearby burst into flames as well to reveal a Queen. Spike tensed as he saw the two unfamiliar members of changeling Royalty. "Smokey Mountain Hive? Why were you following me today?" Spike asked plainly. Amortentia hummed a small jingle, then smiled. "We thought Whitetail was dead. Aphrodisia didn't, of course, but the rest of us did. So when I got reports of a lavender Royal flying from Neighagra to Canterlot, I got curious and decided to investigate. I just want to play a little bit of catch up. Ask where you've been, what happened to you." Elytra buzzed over to Spike. "I decided to tag along because, with a name like 'Spike', you've got to be an interesting Royal, hmm? And you six as well! I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you. Oh excellent, what fun this will be!" Pinkie Pie giggled. "Oooh, I like her! Oh, oh, do you like parties?" Elytra hummed and tilted her head. "Oh, when there's lots of food around and everypony is happy and having a wondrous time!" Pinkie laughed. "Excellent~!" She pulled a clipboard and pencil from somewhere. "So, a crowded party with lots of games. I hope you come visit Ponyville soon, so I can throw you a party!" Elytra trilled and turned to Amortentia. "Mother dear, can we keep this one?" Amortentia hummed quietly. "She is entertaining, but I don't think Citlali would appreciate us taking one of her changelings. Now, Spike, what happened to your hive?" The mood died. Spike flexed his claws. "Well, Citlali can probably give you a better answer, since I'm only 13. Chrysalis betrayed us, just after her last summit, and destroyed the hive. Citlali managed to escape with some eggs and nymphs. She hid them as sleepers and kept the eggs. Citlali has been living as Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's student. We haven't been able to harvest enough love to expand without drawing attention to ourselves." Amortentia closed her eyes and hummed. She locked eyes with Elytra for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. When you and your hive return to your home in Ponyville, we will visit in order to talk with Citlali, and..." She looked between Elytra and Pinkie. "Party." Somewhere, somehow, Cheese Sandwich began to breathe heavily as his nose bled. Spike nodded. "Great, but now we do have to go. One of our siblings is at Nepthysis' hive; we want to get there as fast as possible. It's been nice talking to you, I hope to see you later when things aren't so hectic." Amortentia gave a polite bow. "As do I. Travel safe, Whitetail." The pearlescent changelings took on basic disguises and walked away, towards the majority of Canterlot. Whitetail continued their journey to the train station when they saw something that put a damper in their plans. There was a unicorn guard stationed at the platform, casting a spell on everypony that walked by. One pony that was scanned exploded into yellow flames, revealing a yellow changeling. It yelped and tried to fly away before half a dozen stun spells knocked it out cold. Two guards took the changeling away. Spike frowned. "That guard is scanning everypony walking nearby, not just the ones trying to get on the train. I don't want to fight them, I'm sure you don't either, so we're going to need to find another way out. Any ideas?" AJ sighed. "I've got nothin'. I'll bet the other exits are blocked as well. Unless we just jump off, or you can teleport us to the ground. Unless you're packing nearly as much magic as Twilight, I don't think that's an option." Rarity's eyes lit up. "I have an idea. I don't like it one bit, but I do have an idea." Pinkie smiled. "We throw all the guards one massive party so they forget about scanning us for any signs of bugginess? Then, while they're distracted by the cake and games, we sneak aboard the train and ride to victory!" Rarity squinted. "I don't think that would work quite as well as you think, dear. I believe that Applejack is right; unless we jump off, we're stuck in the city." They all frowned. Fluttershy raised a hoof. "I'm the only one that can fly and I can't carry all of you. Uh, no offense." Rarity waved a hoof. "No offense was taken, darling. I mean if we're all shapeshifting... bugs..." Rarity shivered. "Then we can all fly, right?" Spike's eyes widened. "Of course! If we all make ourselves wings, we can at least glide to the bottom. Of course, new wings are going to be difficult to use, especially since they'll be avian, not insectoid." AJ gave Spike a questioning look. "What do you mean by that?" "Rarity, when Twilight used that spell to give you wings, she was actually just shifting your disguise a little bit. There aren't any wing spells, not that I know of at least. She made them butterfly wings because they are kinda close to our natural wings, while still avoiding the appearance of changeling wings. Hovering flight is one of the instincts that aren't overwritten when a sleeper is created. Had they been pegasus wings, I doubt you'd even be able to keep off the ground. No offense." Rarity twitched. "None taken, darling. I will admit that using those wings was almost as easy as using my magic. If those are so much easier to use than pegasus wings, then why are we considering an alternative?" "Because we're trying to be conspicuous and those wings aren't stealthy," Spike said in a deadpan voice. "Remember?" Rarity let out a heavy cough. "That is on the list of things you shall never mention EVER!" She composed herself. "But yes, I do unfortunately remember." They were quiet for a moment before Satomi, who had been quiet ever since their encounter with Smokey Mountain hive, spoke up. "Either way, pegasus, insect, or whatever, this plan is going to be awful unless we can see where we're landing. It's going to be pitch black down on the ground. I would recommend a light spell, but it would have to be extremely powerful to give us enough energy to reliably land. I vote we stay somewhere for the night, then go in the morning." Fluttershy nodded. "It would be much less scary to be able to see where we're flying." AJ agreed. "I don't want to... learn to fly in the dark. It's just askin' for an accident." "It does seem like the safest solution, though we will be easier to see in the sunlight. I say we carefully let ourselves down tonight." Rarity countered. "Rainbow will be waiting for us in an unfamiliar location, with an unfamiliar body. We shouldn't keep her waiting any longer than we have to." Spike added. They all turned to Pinkie, who suddenly shrunk back. She looked between Satomi, Fluttershy, and Applejack, then at Rarity and Spike. If she were to pick travelling tomorrow, it would avoid anybody getting hurt, which would be sad, but then it would leave Rainbow alone, which would be sad! Then an idea happened. Pinkie held up a single hoof. "Guys! What if... we simply walk to Neighagra?" The group looked at each other, then at Pinkie. Satomi shrugged. "We'd be able to use light spells since we wouldn't be illuminating as large an area." Spike nodded. "All in favor of walking down?" Everypony raised their hooves. "Alright then, let's go." Because the guard was closing every exit, the paths onto the Canterhorn were all blocked. However, Spike was able to use a fire portal to move past the guard, because of how short a distance it was. They continued making their way to Neighagra Falls. ====== Rainbow was more than happy to be flying again. From the constant worrying over Twilight to the checking on injured ponies, to running messages, she hadn't been able to simply fly as fast as she wanted for the past few days. She had begun to feel a little bit cramped. So, being asked to fly to Neighagra Falls as fast as she could, she couldn't stop laughing. Rainbow felt the air slam against her wings every time she made a turn, the wind in her mane as she dived, and the warmth of the air as she skipped over thermals. It was great to be finally free. The pegasus eventually found herself above Neighagra Falls, so she descended quickly and landed on the roof softly. "Alright, time to see if Twilight is crazy or not." She frowned. "I actually kinda hope she is crazy on this one." Rainbow blinked, then chuckled. "Aaand now I'm talking to myself. Guess I'm the cra-- Okay time to stop, I've got a mission." She closed her eyes and imagined a sick looking changeling, sleek and light, but not unarmored. She imagined that image becoming her and gasped when she felt a wave of... something travel down her body. Rainbow twitched her wings and shuddered when she felt two solid masses, not feathers, respond. She felt something sticking out of her forehead, so she moved a hoof up, still not looking. Her hoof stopped in the middle of the air, striking something instead of passing over her head. She felt some strange... scents? Tastes? Sounds? Somethings coming from below her, which then began to near her. "Sweet Celestia, Twilight was right." Rainbow opened her eyes and found a black mass of chitin in front of her. She considered the implications. Her parents, her extended family, her future career as a wonderbolt, her... everything. It was all gone. She heard a grating sound as the strange sensation moved to her same level. A large group of changelings flooded out from a rock, all black and blue in coloration. The ex-pegasus gave a stuttering breath as six lives worths of lies revealed themselves. "Oh sweet Celestia, Twilight was right!" She moved to cover her quivering jaw (it wouldn't do to let anybody know she was scared) but stopped when she saw the black chitin once again. The world flipped as Rainbow collapsed to the deck. ====== Thorax was pacing in the throne room, trying to keep himself from going into a panic. Never before had the Queen dropped out of the egregore like that. Was she ill? Was she in danger? Had a Queen taken hold of her mind? His thoughts returned to what his brother had told him. Should he start thinking of a fitting name for when he ascended into a Queen? Or should he trust what Chrysalis had said? Perhaps maybe he could keep his name when he ascended, like his own Queen? Queen Thorax? There was a beat. Thorax screamed out loud at the prospect of being Queen. He screamed even louder when someling behind him also screamed. He spun around to see his older-by-seconds (for Pharynx had stepped on Thorax's head to get out of his egg) twin brother, Pharynx, standing in the doorway with a lit horn and raised hoof. "What was that all about!? That was the most blood-curdling, un-Queenly scream I have ever had the displeasure to hear!" Thorax blinked. "Pharynx? What are you doing here?" Pharynx scoffed, then avoided Thorax's gaze. "Nothing for you to worry about! Definitely not thinking mushy thoughts about our Queen's safety, nope." He squinted. "What are you doing here?" Thorax scratched his horn with a hoof. "Well, I for one was worried about Queen Chrysalis. I don't know if I'm ready to be in charge. Of anything, really." He set his hoof down. "I wish Stigma was here." Pharynx scoffed. "If those wimpy ponies were able to kill Stigma, then she was never meant to rule." "But Pharynx, those ponies defeated our army: you saw the explosion from here, I saw your jaw drop." Thorax unhelpfully supplied. "I was just surprised that I wasn't there to help in the invasion! We would have won for sure if I was there. No wonder she left you here, though. You're awful at infiltration and combat! It's a wonder you're even the next in line at all!" Pharynx said while slowly getting louder. "Queen Chrysalis said I was next in line because I have a knack for organizing the hive," Thorax said with his eyes closed like he was reciting from a book. When he opened them again, they grew wide. Pharynx didn't notice and rolled his eyes. "Well, Queen Chrysalis is--" "Is what, Pharynx?" Came an ice cold voice from the doorway. The Royal froze, then suddenly turned around. Queen Chrysalis was standing in the doorway, staring at him with two very angry, very tired eyes. Her mane was ripped more than usual and there was a long scrape across in her chitin. There were numerous other cracks along her body, and one of her hooves showed signs of recently being regrown. Pharynx dropped to his knees in a bow. "My Queen, forgive me. I spoke out of line!" "Finish your sentence, then wait in the barracks so I can remind you where you stand." Pharynx thought of the last time a changeling had been personally called by the Queen to the barracks. Noling could sleep that night, on account of the sounds of steel-on-chitin, and the screams of the poor changeling that dared speak against his Queen. Pharynx was silent for a moment, still bowed. Chrysalis took a grip of his horn with her magic and pulled him up to look her in the eyes. Her voice was unnervingly soft. "Do as you are told, child." "Queen Chrysalis is... is..." He clenched his eyes shut. "Too old to rule." It was a much more tame version of what he was going to say and didn't even use the word senile, but it had the same effect. Chrysalis grit her teeth, swung the Royal around and into the doorframe, cracking both chitin and construct, then struck him in the muzzle. "I am far wiser and far stronger than you will ever hope to be. I defeated Celestia in a duel, I overcame the sun itself!" Chrysalis pushed the now-snivelling Pharynx out the door. "Now go, I will meet with you in a moment." As he began to leave, she stopped him. "And Pharynx? Start on your front right hoof." The Royal looked back, nodded, then stumbled out of sight. Thorax was silent the whole time as his brother was beaten. He held back any physical traces of emotion, though he knew the Queen still felt his sorrow, fury, and fear. He knew better to show it, however. Chrysalis looked back at him, then walked towards her throne. "Thorax, I believe you know of our failure in Canterlot." "Yes, my Queen." "The changeling Queen Citlali has returned. She somehow survived the siege upon her hive and assisted Princess Cadance in using her spell to defeat us. How Citlali has kept herself hidden all these years, I do not know. Needless to say, this cannot stand. You are to assist the hive in regrowing its numbers, then you are to discover where Citlali's hive is now located, take notes of everything, and return to me." "Yes, my Queen." Thorax began to leave the room. Chrysalis flew onto her thone and sat. "One last thing, Thorax." He stopped. "Am I too old to rule?" Thorax opened his mouth and paused for a moment too long. "As I thought. Go join your brother, start on your front left hoof." The Royal choked, shook, then slowly walked from the room. Thorax thought of the invasion, then of Chrysalis' methods of 'encouragement' in the hive. He agreed with his brother on one thing: Chrysalis was unfit to rule.