//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: Introductions 
// Story: Obsidian Reflections 
// by Obsidian Shard 
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"Good morning Reflection how... vas... last... night?" Ersatz had just gotten to Reflections room to see Reflection in her room pacing back and forth so furiously that a track of her walk pattern began to form upon the floor. 

"ARGH, I can't believe I'm going to be leading 5 of the most elite changelings in the hive, why didn't I remember their names, what is wrong with me!" Reflection said in panic, as it was only moments ago that she realized just how much of a promotion she had gotten.

"Vhat are you talking about Reflection, calm down talk to me." Ersatz said now worried for his friend. 

"Your never going to believe how much of an idiot I was!" Reflection stammered out. 

"Ha...try me." Ersatz said, then waited to see what had her so worked up. 

"Last night the Queen had me go with a couple of guards to take the creature to its room, and I had a nice chat with the guards, you know try to get to know them, as the Queen had said that they were under my command, I didn't get much but i got their names ...Syn and Replica..."

Before Reflection could say anymore Ersatz cut in. "Vait vait vait , hold on you mean ZE Syn and Replica, two of ze most vell known changelings in ze whole hive!" 

He paused for a breath and continued. "Replica ze changeling revered for her advanced skills in changing, ze only recorded member of ze hive to be able to turn into ze form of a manticore!" Reflection nodded and Ersatz went on. 

"And Syn or better known as Lastsyn ze changeling said to have killed an entire pack of timbervolves single hoofedly, zey say he returned covered in blood in sap just smiling as none of ze blood vas his, a master of hoof to hoof combat and a master of combat strategy, ZAT Syn?" Reflection nodded again this time a horrible frown across her face as she decided to speak. 

"And that's not all, their only two of the members, theres supposed to be three more that make up the Black Swarm chosen by Queen Chrysalis herself!" Reflection stopped now waiting for an answer from Ersatz. 

"Vell normally I'd just say zat your screwed, but seeing as your ze commander, zer might just be a silver lining in all zis." 

Reflection looked at her friend confused. "How so?"

Ersatz continued "Vell you see if zis team is all picked by ze Queen and is made up of some of ze best of ze best in ze hive zen she MUST sink pretty highly of you, I mean she chose you to lead them." He stopped, awaiting her response.

"How is that a Silver lining, one little Mistake and it's all over, why in the coocoon mother would she choose me!" She took a deep breath and went back to her rant not yelling this time.

"Think about it the only thing I'v ever been know for is that damn creature I lead in the creation of." She stopped, listening to her own words as Ersatz started to speak. 

"Vell you just answered your own question, zat sing as you call it really seems to have made an impact on ze Queen and alzough you don't seem to be happy vis zis, I mean it is still pretty impressive, from what I hear you took up ze main spell pedestal right? Zat means you were ze one keeping ze spell stable you vere in control, ze rest vere just like extra power right? I mean I'm no master of magic, but vell you kinda are, you know your known for more zan just zat, now zat I sink about it, don't you know more zan a few really difficult spells?"

Reflection stood staring, finally getting the nerve to speak "Well yeah but most of those spells are just theoretical just because I'm pretty sure I could teleport a full size dragon doesn't mean I can, almost everything I know is untested, I don't think the Queen picked me for this just because I like to read allot." 

Ersatz laughed and began to speak. "Do you even listen to yourself, zat in and of itself is a feat for a changeling remember, compound eyes, I get a headache ven I read, almost all changelings do, but there you are in ze Queens personal library just reading avay like you got nozing better to do, and you know vhat, I zink ze queen is right, I heard about zat spell you guys vere verking vith, most of ze Vhite Swarm gave up, even ze last captain stepped down pointing you as his replacement, you vere ze only one in ze Vhite Swarm zat didn't seem to doubt ze Queen."

Reflections eyes were watering she looked like she was gonna cry. "But I do now..." Reflection said quietly.  

"Vhat did you say I didn't hear you?" Ersatz stepped closer to Reflection.

"Oh nothing I'm feeling better now, thanks Ersatz." Reflection said as she hurried for the door only to run into someone in the doorway falling to her rear. 

"The Queen wishes to see you in the command room, I suggest you make haste." A large guard said to Reflection.

"Oh yeah okay I'l go right there." She said as she ran down the hall. 

"Reflection vait I need to tell you somezing!" Ersatz said but she was already too far away to hear him. 

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"I wonder what the Queen wants to see me for, I hope its nothing bad." Reflection said to herself as she approached the door to the command room and began to open it.

She stepped into the command room marveling at the many maps and flags that littered the walls of the large room big enough to hold at least 20 changelings comfortably, but there wasn't 20, there was five, three of which she recognized. At the head of a large map table stood queen Chrysalis. 

To her left was Syn looking surprisingly chipper, surprising indeed knowing who he is, and beside him stood Replica wearing a face of true blank emotionlessness. 

On the other side of the Queen stood the other two changelings, yet again one male one female, the female looking surprisingly beatiful with unusually shiny skin, as most changelings are very similar physically but can easily be told apart from one another through a certain hive sense, it also helps tell a changeling when the "Pony" nearby is one of there own.

"Reflection it is nice of you to join us." Queen Chrysalis said with an awkward smile. 

"Oh the pleasure is all mine my Queen for what reason did you request me?" Reflection said with a little bit of uncertainty. 

"Oh do not worry, nothing bad just would like to personally make sure that you and your subordinates are introduced more properly, now you already know Syn and Replica correct?" 

Replica nodded and the Changeling Queen continued. "Well I would like to introduce two other members of the Black Swarm, to my right is Gemini, I would be surprised if you've heard of her she is a personal spy of mine if you don't mind the term." 

The one know as Gemini spoke up for herself.  "I prefer the term Espionage Emissary if its all the same to you my Queen." 

"Of course." The Queen said and Gemini returned to her introduction. 

"Commander Reflection I have heard much about you." 

"You have?" Reflection responded surprised as Gemini continued.

"Why of course I wouldn't be very good at my job if it was otherwise now would I?"

Reflection  answered. "I guess not, but what have you heard, something good I hope?"

Gemini continued with glee. "Why of course. You are well known for being the member of the White Swarm that demonstrated an advance prowess of magic amongst many with far more experience, and lead in the creation of the cute little Obsidian Shard that is the very reason for the Black Swarm, But after a little digging I learned of an incident where you were practicing magic in your private quarters and caused the area of your entire room to have its gravity reversed. I wonder how fun it would be to walk on the celing?" 

Reflection response was in shock. "HOW...how could you know about that, I was the only one who was in the room and the spell didn't affect any area outside my room, I checked!?"

Gemini giggled and said. "Oh, only one in the room eh? Oh you, your so funny... No one is ever alone..." 

With that the Queen cut in. "That should be enough Gemini, your scaring her, now Parallel if you would be so kind as to introduce yourself."

The male changeling beside Gemini stood slowly, turning to face Reflection. "Commander Reflection you may call me Lell if it pleases you, and I would like to say that it is an honor to serve you in our task to teach obsidian, I would like you to relax as it is hard to keep myself calm with you so tense."

Reflection tensed up further as she spoke. "W-what do you mean, I'm relaxed."

Lell looked sad as he spoke. "Commander, I would like to let you know that I have a skill with knowing the true emotions of those around me, I notice small things with body language, as an example I'd like to point out that you are sweating and it is quite cold in here, also your standing unnaturally ridged, and your back left hoof is shaking, I do not like seeing an ally so uncomfortable so... Please relax..."

With his words was a certain level of emotion that seemed to force Reflection to let her worries go as her body loosened and her muscles relaxed, she spoke slowly. 

"I... I'm okay now thank you its just that I don't quite know very much about the Black Swarm and I'm the one that is supposed to be commanding it..." 

The Queen spoke next a certain calmness to her voice. "Well allow me to explain this to you then, as I have yet to explain this to you all in detail, I have assembled you all, for the fact that you accel in certain tasks to the utmost, and I would like you to pass your skills on to the child, Obsidian Shard. Replica, I would like you to teach him to master his ability to change if he has the ability to do so. Syn you shall teach him physical combat and strategy. Gemini I would like you to pass on your talents of hiding amongst the obvious to be unseen in an empty room."

Gemini broke in. "I am sorry to interrupt my queen but I am not quite a teacher, most of what I can do isn't something I learned, I just know how." 

The Queen returned to her explanation. "Gemini I know your skills are not something you use naturally, but I ask that you figure out exactly what it is you are capable of, for this child and for me, now I will continue. Lell I ask that you teach the child your gift, get him to focus on the little things, to see every twitch and tension, and of course. Reflection I ask that you teach him magic, although this is another thing I do not know if he is capable of, the fact that he has a horn and the process of his creation, I would have to assume that he is capable of magic. Now just before you entered the command room I had asked for someone to get the last member of the Black Swarm, he should be here soon but, he has certain talents, with deception, and knowledge of multiple languages. Although he turned from his dark skills from his past I ask that he be watched I do not want any harm to come to Obsidian." 

With that the doors opened and a certain small changeling walked in... 

"Hi zer reflection, how are you doing?" 

Reflection turned to the queen. "What is Ersatz doing here?"

The Queen Responded. "I believe I already told you." 

Reflection stood staring, looking for the words to ask her friend. "Ersatz what is the Queen talking about, what dark past, what skills, I know you know other languages your from Germaneigh but what is she talking about?"

Ersatz looked at her Sadly and said. "It vould be better to show you." 

Before Reflection could blink Ersatz was behind her, his hoof around her neck only for a second as he put it to the ground, Reflection turned quickly to face him as he spoke. 

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I vanted to tell you as soon as I remembered but ze Queen said I shouldn't, zat you vould not trust a monster zat had killed many in cold blood, but at my old hive I vas ...an assassin. Vhen I'd gotten in zat storm I got hurt, bad, not just physically but mentally. I didn't remember anything, I verked at ze hive to help for the healing they did for me, and eventually I met you, it wasn't until around a month ago zat I got my memories back. I vent crazy I vanted to kill myself but the Queen helped me. I'm still me, I just have some issues with my past and present I can't seem to tie up." 

Reflection stared at Ersatz for only a second before grabbing him in a hug, she looked at him and said. "Don't be such an idiot, I know the queen was trying to help but your my friend and its not like you knew in advance. I wish I was there to help you, I don't know what you've been through but you'll always be someone I'l trust with my life..." 

Ersatz stood in shock looking at his friend, finally returning the hug, he looked at the Queen and she said. 

"Well it looks like I was wrong, I'm sorry Ersatz. Now if you would all follow me I need to make sure of something." 

After an awkward moment of separation, they all walked alongside the Queen to the very room of Obsidian Shard.

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"Syn would you please open the door." The Queen said as he went to do just that, with the door opened they all entered the room to see a the child with a nursery changeling teaching him simple movement, trying to get him to walk. 

Gemini spoke first. "Um... If I'm not mistaken it might be a little early to teach him anything let alone advanced combat and stealth tactics."

The Queen spoke next. "I just want to check something then the nursery workers will return to his basic training, you will take turns guarding this room in pairs, on days that you are not on guard you will study as a group as you all have a full five years of study to prepare for his teaching. Just be sure to prepare as a group so as not to deter each others teaching methods."

At that the Black Swarm spoke in unison. "FIVE YEARS!" 

The Queen laughed and spoke. "Did you think that a child born only yesterday would be ready for an kind of physical or mental training, the training is not just for him but for you, my Black Swarm, as well many of you already know each other but I want a true familial bond not just a group with the same goal. Which to let you know is that on Obsidians 18 birthday we will attack Canterlot, you 6, myself and Obsidian will strike terror into them all, and they will remember us as the ones that killed their Princess Celestia." A horribly monstrous smile now stretched across her face. 

The Black Swarm all looked on in worry but only one chose to speak, Lell. "My Queen about this plan might I ask what brought all this on, we have lived a coexisting life with the ponys, very few of them know of are existence and even fewer believe them as anything more than just old mares tales, so why would we endanger this system?" 

The Queen looked at him like he had just spit in her face as she shouted. "That is exactly the reason, for too long have we been a myth, for too long an empty threat we changelings are strong, and by the name of the Grand Cocoon Mother we will be  known!"

With this the Queen looked at Obsidian and said. "Now Lell if you do not mind I need you to tell me something about your allies and commander. I would like you all to look at Obsidian and tell me what you think of him." 

One by one they answered, first Syn. "A child, a strange boy indeed and possibly our future." 

Then Replica. "I know nothing of him he is but an infant, and is to be my trainee." 

Next Gemini. "Cute little guy just needs to grow a little and I expect to see a smart handsome member of the swarm"

Next Ersatz. "A mystery and an unknown I vill have to learn much to teach him comfortably."

The Queen looked at Ersatz crookedly at his answer and let them continue as Reflection spoke. "It is a creature of my own creation and the reason I am here, I will teach it to the best of my ability." 

The Queen spoke. "Reflection will you tell me and Lell here why it is that you seem to refuse to call Obsidian he, or even his name?" 

Reflection looked at the ground then looked back up to her Queen. "I... I am..."   She stopped, afraid to answer her Queen, as the Queen spoke. 

"Reflection any bad feelings you have with Obsidian you will need to deal with post haste, I had hoped it would not be necessary but if I find that you would cause harm to Obsidian in any way I will not only remove you from command but remove you from the hive... Permanently..." 

There was an eerie silence in the room and Reflection spoke again. "I am still not comfortable that I brought about its existence, I created its life and had ended the life that could have been, I don't know if I will ever be able to see it as any more than a monster, but for you my Queen I will have to try." 

With this Lell spoke. "My Queen I will make the assumption that you would like to know if they are lying, and I am pleased to say that they are not."

Queen Chrysalis spoke. "Good, now Lell, what is your opinion on Obsidian?" 

Lell answered with a slight frown. "He is of great interest to me and I will do all I can to teach him to understand my gift." 

The Queen pleased with that answer, spoke yet again. "I am glad to hear that I chose the right changelings from my swarm and I would like you all to rest, you have five years of study to look forward to." And with that Queen Chrysalis walked away. 

They all gave each other one last look as they all began to walk to their respective rooms Lell and Reflection were the last to leave the room as Lell decided it was time for him to speak.

"Reflection I would like you to think about the so called creature before you, and remember, that spell did not kill the changeling in the egg it just gave it a new form more like the essence of the being instilled into it, you might have caused an unnatural change, but the child still lives do not take your Rage out on him."  

There was a pause as Reflection walked over to obsidian knelt down to him and looked at Lell tears down her face. 

"Thank you." she looked at Obsidian, and for the first time saw a child not a monster, she stood and walked out of the room as she and Lell went their separate ways to their rooms, at her room Reflection laid down on her bed one last thing to say. 

"I know what I'v done..."

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Yay! chapter 3 is done and my longest one yet, the next chap will probably take a little while as it is going to be written in a journal style which I'm not so great at, but I would like to let people know that the main char is actually Obsidian Shard so the story will soon switch to his perspective...