Celestia’s sun rose slowly, bringing in the new day. Twilight and her friends had stayed at the castle and were now enjoying breakfast together. The crusaders, with Glimmer once again as Scootaloo, were having the time of their lives staying at the castle, even for one night. Luna had joined them after breakfast, along with Celestia and the queens. Wisp informed Glimmer she would be in charge of the hive until she got back, the queens would be staying in Canterlot with Celestia to work on a PR campaign to reduce any backlash towards changelings.
Soon the ten ponies were at the Canterlot station boarding a train to Ponyville, the trip to Ponyville was rather uneventful and filled with lite chatter among the friends. Pulling into Ponyville station the group disembarked making their way into town, while the group would normally not attract attention, having Luna along with turned more than a few heads in wonder as to what was going on. Arriving at the Golden Oaks library Twilight addressed the group.
“Alright everypony, let's meet back here in an hour, that should be enough time to get anything we all might need.”
Scootaloo raised her hoof. “Don’t worry about everyday items, we have more than enough of stuff like that at my place,” She paused turning to Rarity. “And only two suitcases for you, we're not going to be far and you don’t have to stay any longer than you like after the tour.”
Rarity huffed, making Applejack and Rainbow Dash chuckled.
“Very well darling, I will limit myself to your request, but if I desperately need something…”
“I’m sure we can make accommodations.” Scootaloo said with a flat look.
The group split up heading to their different homes to retrieve whatever they needed, Luna remained with Twilight in the Golden Oaks while the crusaders decided to just wander around until it was time to leave, as they did the three of them caught snippets of conversations here and there about yesterday's events.
“There are four of them, to think they have been here and nopony knew.”
“I heard that some are living among us.”
“I think Rose Luck might be a changeling.”
That last one grabbed Scootaloo, looking around she saw who was talking and deeply regretted it. Trotting along was the bane of her and her friends, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, they were absorbed in their own world and didn’t notice Scootaloo listening in.
“I mean she is like always acting weird, you might be right Silver we should make sure ponies know.”
Scootaloo might only be a princess, but she still had a duty to her hive and its allies, in this case, Ponyville and what might happen if some brat filly started stirring up trouble.
“Rose couldn’t be a changeling, not unless her sisters are also changelings.”
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon turned hearing Scootaloo, Diamond fixed her with a glare as she stuck her nose up in the air.
“And what would you know chicken? It's not like you would even know what a changeling is.”
Scootaloo gave an annoyed look. “We were in Canterlot during the attack, were we the flower fillies for the wedding.” Scootaloo gestured towards her friends.
“As if, like you three would be at something as important as a royal wedding.”
“Our sisters were helping out with the wedding, so ya we were there.” Applebloom interjected.
Diamond Tiara gave a dismissive wave. “The princess probably felt sorry for you three, but even if you were there, how would you three even know anything about changelings?”
Diamond Tiara's constant mentioning of changelings began to draw a few ponies attention.
“Well, I would know that as a race of shapeshifters, acting suspicious would make you more easily found out.”
“Ya well I still think she's weird, maybe if enough ponies think she is a changeling I can get her to leave, she always so annoying.”
Scootaloo facehoofed, there was going to be no way around this was there?
“Rose is not a changeling because I know every changeling in town.”
Before either of the bullies could make a reply, Scootaloo burst into a pillar of green light, revealing Glimmer in her full form.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! CHANGELING!” Shouted Diamond Tiara.
Several ponies around them jumped at Glimmers sudden transformation, a few of them started to run, only to be stopped by other ponies in the now growing crowd.
“Yes I am a changeling, but so are several ponies in Ponyville, many of us have lived here for years, we have made friends here and we defend this town, why do you think nothing from the Everfree ever seems to come near Ponyville?”
Diamond looked around at the crowd that was now gathering, even Mayor Mare had made her way into the crowd.
“What are you all doing? She’s an evil changeling, get rid of her!” Diamond shrieked.
Mayor Mare walked up next to Glimmer. “I assume you have a good reason for revealing yourself publicly like this.”
“She was talking about going around stirring up trouble by accusing random ponies of being changelings.”
“Yes, that would be a problem, even if she only managed to frighten a few ponies it would still put our agreement in a bad spot.” Mayor Mare nodded.
“What is going on?!” Dimond asked confused.
“We are discussing the potential problems you might cause for the Emerald hive,” Mayor Mare stated. “After all Glimmer is right, they keep the dangers of the Everfree in the Everfree rather than stomping out into our town.”
Diamond tilted her head. “Who is ‘Glimmer’?”
“That's me,” Glimmer answered. “It's my changeling name, we keep separate identities. As for damage control,” this directed back towards Mayor Mare. “This was going to come out regardless after yesterday, I hope you have an announcement you can put together because we shouldn’t let this sit too long.”
Mayor Mare looked around, seeing the now rather large crowd of ponies, she decided now was the best time.
“I have something I can do right now.” Turning to face the majority of the crowd Mayor Mare spoke loudly. “My fellow citizens, some of you know about the changelings living among us, but for those of you who do not, let me be perfectly clear. The changelings of the Emerald hive are our friends they live, work, laugh and play with all of us. Yes it is true they feed off emotions, and that is why they become our friends, every smile, every hug, every laugh is a meal to them. They help keep us safe from the Everfree, as well as any other changeling that might wish us harm.”
There were some murmurs from the crowd, most seemed to be in agreement, but there were a few questions.
“How do we know who is a changeling? Or that Mayor Mare isn’t a changeling just telling us what we want to hear?”
“I know every changeling in Ponyville, Mayor Mare isn’t one of them. And as part of our agreement, an Emerald will reveal that they are a changeling if asked.”
A few ponies asked those around them, a few answered with flashes of green in their eyes. There were a few gasps of surprise, and an eep or two, but most seemed to be taking the news rather well.
“Wait, why should we listen to you?”
And then there was Diamond Tiara, Glimmer got an evil idea and passed it to the changelings in the crowd, several agreed to her plan.
“Well, I am a rather important changeling.”
Diamond rolled her eyes.
Several ponies stepped forward, dropping their disguises the gave a bow to Glimmer with a respectful ‘Princess’. Glimmer looked back at Diamond Tiara, the look on her face was indeed priceless, the wide open mouth, the completely flabbergasted look on both bullies, it was worth every second of teasing.
“Yes, I am princes Glimmer of the Emerald hive, though I don’t often stand on titles I’ll make an exception for today. If you have any question you want to ask, I will do my best to answer them here and now.”
That was a mistake.
Over the next hour, Glimmer was flooded with questions, ranging from clearing up simple miss understandings, to nearly invasive questions. Her salvation came when Twilight came looking for the crusaders, finding them in the center of the now dwindling crowd. After the final few ponies left Glimmer turned back into Scootaloo and rubbed her head.
“I have no idea how Princess Celestia handles running Equestria, that was literally painful.”
“Well that's what you get for saying you would answer any questions,” Twilight quipped. “Though if you're going to be queen one day you will need to get used to it.”
Scootaloo groaned. “The hive is more organized than this, it's a lot easier and I’m not answering questions we teach in school.”
Twilight's eyes lit up at the thought of a highly organized society.
“Alright let's get going before something else happens, I’d like to get back home today.” Scootaloo lamented.
The six friends had gathered and their group made their way into the Everfree Forest, they stuck to the old path leading to the Castle of the Two Sisters for a while before veering off. Scootaloo transformed back into Glimmer and placed her friends onto her back when asked Glimmer said she wanted to make sure her friends were safe. They continued to walk for a time until they came to a low cliff, it was nothing interesting and looked like many of the other low-lying cliffs in the Everfree.
“Here we are.” Glimmer announced.
Everypony looked around.
“I don't see a hive or even an entrance.” Twilight pointed out.
Glimmer smirked. “Did you think we would have a big sign saying ‘Emerald hive entrance’?”
Before Twilight could respond, Glimmer flew up to the top of the cliff with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle on her back. “You guys coming?” Glimmer called back over the cliff.
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash flew up to the top of the cliff easily, Twilight teleported, Pinkie Pie bounced the entire way up and Applejack and Rarity were levitated to the top by Luna who followed them afterward. One they group was on the cliff they found an opening to a cave that was hidden from the ground and overgrown with vines hiding it further.
“Well, nopony is certainly going to find this place.” Rarity observed.
“Can’t attack something you can’t find, that the credo of changeling kind.” Glimmer said as she held open the vines to let everypony though.
Inside the cave was… nothing, it was a small cave with nothing special in it. The others were about to question Glimmer, until she walked to the back of the cave, and then through it. Everypony stared for a moment, Twilight rushed up to the back of the cave giving it a critical eye.
“Illusion magic combined with a perception filter, you wouldn’t know you could walk through it unless you already knew you could.”
“Yep,” Glimmer said sticking her head back out of the illusory cave wall. “That’s why I went first, come on lots more to see than just the fence.”
Everypony followed Glimmer through the illusion, beyond it the cave became a well-lit tunnel, the floor was cut paving stones while the walls and ceiling remained the natural formation. The tunnel had a gentle downslope leading the group deeper underground, here the cave became a dugout tunnel with carved pillars every few pony lengths. Twilight took note of the carvings recognizing them as magic runes of some kind, she wasn’t familiar with the kind of spells and wards they clearly made, but she knew they were very powerful.
The tunnel ended in a massive stone cut wall that was easily three times as tall as Luna, a large iron gate was set in the center of the wall a few hooves back from the outer edge, the gate was raised allowing Glimmer to walk through the opening. Luna took note of how thick both the wall and the gate where the wall was was four times her length from snout to tail and looked very solid with the cave being about a third as thick, clearly this place was built to withstand a significant siege. Beyond the wall was a small group of guards milling about, the area behind the wall was carved out into a large open area for the guard detail, complete with training ground, barracks, and what was most likely an armory. The walls here had large floor to ceiling recesses with equity large changeling statues in them, Twilight guessed they weren't just statuses.
“What in the hay are those for?” Applejack asked indicating one of the statuses.
“Those are defense golems, if anyone ever managed to break through the gate they would just be walking in a world of regret and pain.”
The group went wide-eyed, looking at the golems with new worries and respect.
“Come on, home is just around the corner.”
The open ground narrowed into another tunnel before turning sharply, around the corner was a short hall with a pair of double doors at the end. Glimmer went up to the doors, grabbed them in her magic and pushed them open while announcing.
“Welcome to the Emerald Hive!”