//------------------------------// // Baltimare Blitz // Story: Queen Chrysalis, Relationship Doctor // by Prismfire Productions //------------------------------// Queen Chrysalis was feeling regret. Not for getting the Wonderbolt tickets, not for having Sunburst come along, not for anything that had happened since she had “reformed” herself. However, having a terrified Flurry Heart that was in the middle of a meltdown over the carriage ride instead of teleporting straight to the stadium? That situation alone sunk deep into the old Queen’s chitin, and was the cause of her regret. “I am so sorry,” Chrysalis said, her eyes heavy with shame. “I should have suggested we teleport instead of trying to kill time by coming by carriage.” “It is alright,Your Highness,” Shining said, taking a turn in trying to calm down the infant alicorn. “Normally Flurry enjoys carriage rides, but I guess with so many of us in here is making her uncomfortable.” “May I try something?” Chrysalis asked, feeling a wave of nervousness swell from the ponies around her. “I know an old lullaby my mother used to sing to me, and my clutchmates when we were young nymphs and had trouble resting.” “Under any other circumstances I would say ‘no’, and I even brought that up before we left,” Cadance said, holding Flurry against her barrel. “But since everything we have tried has backfired on us, I think it is only fair that you have a turn.” “Do you really think that is a good idea?” Starlight said, still trying to fix Sunburst's mane from where Flurry had ignited it. “What if she drains Flurry's love to put her to sleep?” “I have no desire to do that, Starlight,” Chrysalis said, not hiding the agitation in her voice. “The love I receive as payment for my services is more than enough to sustain me and my drones. Heck, I'm actually having to store the excess since the hivemind is so saturated.” “Besides, Your Highness,” Cadance said, handing Flurry over to the changeling queen. “If you did try something that dumb, it would violate your conditions of surrender, and each of us here could beat your flank by attacking in unison.” “I know that,” Chrysalis retorted, choosing to ignore the adults and focus on Flurry as if the foal was one of her nymphs, before she started to softly sing. ”Hush little Flurry don't say a word, Chryssy's gonna buy you a mockingbird And if that mockingbird don't sing, Chryssy's gonna buy you a crystal ring. If that crystal ring gets broke, Chryssy's gonna buy you a goat. And if that billy goat runs away, Chryssy'll still love you for another day...“ The lullaby did the trick, and soon Flurry Heart stopping her whining after the second time of Chrysalis going through the song. The adorable ball of fluff gently rubbed against Chrysalis’s barrel, making a noise between a purr and a coo as she started to drift off to sleep. “C-Chryssy…” Flurry said, much to the shock of everypony and the lone changeling, before falling into a peaceful nap. “Her first word,” Shining and Cadance said, speaking at the exact same time. They looked to Chrysalis’s face, a mix of fear and shock flaming in her eyes. Letting Flurry sleep, Cadance leaned over to whisper so she could talk. “What is wrong Your Highness?” “That was a very bad thing I just did,” Chrysalis said, doing her best to keep her shaking to a minimum. “As a mother, I found great joy in having my nymphs’ first word being momma or mommy. The fact I just robbed you two of that feeling is something I will carry to my grave, please forgive me.” “Don't worry yourself, Your Highness,” Shining Armor said, petting the sleeping filly. “You managed to get her asleep when the rest of us failed, not to mention you have a lovely singing voice.” A fierce blush colored Chrysalis' cheeks, turning them a deep shade of pink, as she looked to the others in the carriage. Each of them nodded in return, the two guards pulling them along also tilting their heads in respect. “I honestly see myself as average,” Chrysalis said, relaxing a bit and leaning back in her seat. “I never had to lure ponies with my voice like a siren, I just had to feed off their love, and sometimes I had to resort to… drastic measures.” “The invasion,” Starlight said, a wave of uneasiness settling in, that each of them felt. “Although I can’t help but wonder, did you ever have a true family?” “Once,” the answer was soft, memories that the queen had long since locked away once again bubbling to the surface. “She was a lovely mare, one that didn't care about the fact that I was different from her. She loved me just the way I was, and I gladly returned it, but due to the customs at the time we had to either marry in secret or flee.” Despite the listening group’s own feelings of not giving in deeper into the story, it was clear they were hooked. Each pony leaned in, eager to hear more about the queen’s past, the guards slowing into a descent loop around Baltimare while the city and stadium came into sight. “Oh where to begin,” Chrysalis said, giving a heavy sigh at the part of her past she cherished the most, but was also the most painful. “I was a few hundred years old at the time, and it was a few decades after the Unification of the Tribes had happened. She was starting to come in the her own, with a nice body and carefree attitude, and was a joy to be around. We had met at an exploration summit looking for volunteers to chart the Amarezon Jungle, and as you ponies say, we fell in love at first sight.” A round of “d’awws” came from the group, once again falling silent as Chrysalis held up a hoof to continue. “Anyways, we both knew our parents would not approve, so we had the chaplin who accompanied the group perform a wedding ceremony. After charting the jungle, the two of us now happily married, we went our separate ways to return to our homes. We exchanged love letters frequently, and looked forward to the day that we could both settle down and give up our high status lifestyle and have our own stress free lives.” “I never knew you had this side to you, Your Highness,” Cadance said, surprised her one-time mortal enemy could be so affectionate. “So how did your respective parents react when the truth was uncovered?” “I was about to get to that actually,” Chrysalis said, no hint of agitation in her tone. “While I was away helping my mother negotiate with the Yaks, one of my sisters found a letter I had been in the middle of writing when she went to clean my room. That trip was miserable, and we got banished from Yakyakistan for life, but it was on that day I learned to never tempt Murphy Law. When we got back to the hive and my sister showed mom the letter… it got ugly at first.” “I can imagine so,” Sunburst said, his tone one of understanding. “Things were, and still are, pretty heated between mine and Starlight's parents over our relationship. We still love them, but until they simmer down and accept the truth we don't want their negativity in our lives.” “Then you understand our problem,” Chrysalis said, releasing a sigh she wasn't aware she had been holding in. “Well, things blew up in a hurry. Our parents demanded we get an annulment under threat of stripped titles, but they caved when we called their bluff and saw we were all too eager for them to do it. A few weeks passed, and a dinner was agreed upon to be held in an attempt to smooth things over. My mother actually warmed up to my wife, and by the end of it they were trading jokes and making me blush by exchanging embarrassing stories.” “I assume her parents were less open to the idea?” Starlight asked, but much to her shock Chrysalis shook her head no. “Well if not them, then who?” “It was her sister that caused the biggest stink,” The emphasis on 'her’ was potent, everypony shuddering with a recoil at the sharpness of the tone. “Sorry about that, but back to the story, her parents eventually agreed that they would tolerate the marriage for their daughter’s sake. Her sister was livid, calling me a leech that just wanted to roll in the hay and get changelings in good graces. Me and my wife gave her a good enough beating that she stayed out of my way, that is until their parents died and they took the throne, then my life became absolutely hellish. The sister tried everything in her power to legally break the agreement between her parents and my mother, and when that didn't work she tried numerous times to exile me. Her breaking point, however, was when it was discovered I was pregnant.” “Sounds like somepony who should run through barbed wire, then take a bath of lemon juice and salt,” Cadance said, everypony freezing at the cold-heartedness the Princess of Love was displaying. “True love always wins out, and I wish that I could have been around to give her a buck where Auntie Tia’s sun don't shine.” “Wow Cadance,” Chrysalis said, shuddering in fear at how bad the invasion could have been if she had caught Cadance in the mood she was in now. “I never thought you could be so bitter to speak of such torture.” “Trust me, Your Highness,” Cadance said, a deadly purr coming from her muzzle as she put a hoof under the changeling’s chin, her eyes lidden with traces of lust. “That doesn't even scratch the surface of what I wanted to do to you for all the things you did to me, including sleeping with my fiance. There were many a sweet, sweet night where I imagined tying you to a hitching post, gagging you, then beating your haunches with a leather whip until I tattooed the imprint of it into your chitin.” “For Celestia's sake Cady, our foal is right here.” Shining said, speaking in his captain tone, but still soft enough it didn't wake Flurry. “You could have left the exact details out you know.” “You have a point there,” Cadance said, sighing at her mistake. “Sorry about that Your Highness, you may continue the story.” “No further interruptions, please,” Chrysalis said, hiding the fact that what Cadance had said had made her hot under the collar. “The sister attacked me when my guard was down and I was all alone, and due to the fact I was in her land, everypony believed her side over mine. The foal, a beautiful little filly, was stillborn. That matter made me grieve, and caused both me and my wife to swear vengeance on what was taken from us. She became cold hearted towards her sister, numerous issues she had becoming major. I was able to conceive again, but the night before I was to tell her the good news, the two of them got into a blowout brawl that resulted in her defeat and banishment.” “Wait a minute…” Starlight said, a slow feeling of realization hitting each of them. “You mean-” “Yes, Starlight,” Chrysalis said, the ponies’ shocked reactions being no surprise to her. “The two sisters are exactly the two that you think they are. Think about it, why would Celestia paint me in such a bad light after I came back? I was hoping Luna would remember our fond past and restore our love, but every attempt I've made to get near her so far has ended in bitter pain.” “That is depressing, and I don't just mean for you either,” Cadance said, a bit of anger in her tone at the thought of her own aunt forcibly separating true love. Due to being the Princess of Love, it made her blood boil and she mentally noted to confront Celestia one on one. “You each had to spend a thousand years apart, and due to Luna not even being there for your attempt at my wedding, you missed out again.” “I think she doesn't even remember you two being together, Your Highness,” Shining said, Chrysalis’ mood instantly plummeting. “Keep in mind, for a thousand years she only had getting revenge on Celestia running through her brain, plenty of time for her to forget why she even wanted it in the first place. You really can't be mad at her for forgetting, but hopefully since you fixed Celestia's and Discord's marriage, Celestia will let you near Luna again.” “However,” Cadance quickly added, Chrysalis feeling more and more demoralized by the second. “Don't be surprised if she doesn't fully trust you until she remembers.” “I will keep that in-” Chrysalis started to reply, and a lightbulb went off in her head as a brilliant idea burst forward. Making sure there was no way Flurry could hear, even while asleep, she continued. “Actually, I just thought of something that might restore the missing relationship memories. Not going to lie, I've dreamed about the two of us rolling in the hay, and you admitted dreaming about what amounts to bondage to me. How about we give each other what we dreamed about?” “Now hold on a second,” Shining said, holding his hoof up in objection. “Both of you are married mares, and despite Luna having an excuse not to object, what makes you think I would agree to that?” “You have rutted us both,” Chrysalis and Cadance said in unison, much to the surprise of the other but it was Cadance who spoke up first. “Think about it, you will have two of us to play with, you can't say no to that macho colt now can you?” “I-I suppose not,” Shining said, his cheeks matching the color of his wife's coat. “I mean, I could, but they say angry sex is the best way to get out pent up aggression.” “Can we stop this Royal, literally, clusterbuck to point out the complete absurdity of what you are suggesting?” Starlight said straining her voice to keep it soft. “A foursome to restore Princess Luna’s long lost memories, what kind of nonsense is that? What more could you possibly add to that plan, a full tack and bridle?” “That would be nice,” Cadance said, the heaviness in her gaze being enough that Starlight realized too late that she had messed up. “And who are you to call such plans absurd Mrs. Glimmer? Did you or did you not make that stupid Equalist movement that nearly cost Equestria? That isn't even including what you did by trying to sabotage our very existence by time looping.” Starlight was absolutely crushed, managing to only mutter a soft 'sorry’ before the carriage landed, causing each of them to act like the conversation never happened as they got out to mingle with the crowd. The moment they stretched their sore legs they were swarmed, most of the attendees being curious as to see about their own therapy session before entering the stadium. Baltimare Stadium was massive, but still a breathtaking work of art. Home to the Baltimare Shadowcolts of the Equestrian Hoofball League, it was a large enough venue to hold concerts and airshows during the off-season without risking overcrowding. Various posters of the Wonderbolts, each featuring Rainbow as the headliner, decorated the finely polished marble walls. The walls themselves joined the royal-purple floor to the ink-black ceiling, both made to look like you were walking between two layers of Shadowcolts fabric. Leaving the entrance and emerging on the concourse, the place opened up to a large gathering/concessions area that had various vendors stationed to serve the large crowd. The smells teased at the group's noses, like a fine edible perfume, but on account of their recent supper none of them were hungry. Just when they were about to head to the lower level seating, a familiar voice caused Chrysalis to freeze in her tracks. “Well what do we have here,” Princess Luna said, joined by Celestia, Discord, and the former Element Bearers, as Luna eyed Chrysalis like a cat watches a mouse. “A bug lost from her nest?” “I am reformed now, Princess Luna,” Chrysalis said, her whole body aching. Every part of her mind screamed for her to kiss those deep blue lips, to show the alicorn just how much she missed her. In the end, she knew she had to keep it professional to avoid dealing with an enraged Sun of Chaos that went by the name Celestia, or even worse being trampled by an angry mob. “At least, I am on the road to being such.” “It will take a lot to prove that to me,” Princess Luna said sniffing Chrysalis’ mane, the changeling doing a good job of suppressing a shudder of pleasure. “Considering we are in public and you are being escorted by my niece, I won't give you such a hard time about being here in Equestria without any shackles or bindings.” “Thank you Princess,” Chrysalis said, dipping into a bow. Something caught her sense of smell, the concoction of a powerful changeling queen’s pheromones flooding her nostrils and making them flare. “Now if you all will excuse me for a moment, I need to talk to Twilight in private about something that was discussed during our session.” Luna raised an eyebrow, and Twilight's friends looked confused, and even Twilight herself briefly froze before addressing the situation. “Since I am her client, anything discussed between the two of us is confidential. No one is to know what we discuss, even under threat of death will the vow of silence be kept.” Everypony backed off, Twilight's horn glowing fully lavender as she teleported Chrysalis and herself to the Castle of Friendship's library, locking the door and putting up a bubble of silence. “Something wrong Your Highness? I don't recall setting up another appointment, but I have a strong suspicion that I already know the reason why you want to talk.” “Queens talk about matters on a first name basis Twilight,” Chrysalis said, making Twilight flinch. “Queens are different from drones, emitting a powerful pheromone that other queens can smell, and like honeybees it helps tell our drones that are not warriors apart. Drones that have earned the rank of warrior undergo a minor transformation, their chitin thickening and changing to a similar coloring to their queen, so they don't need the scent marker." Chrysalis allowed herself a moment of satisfaction as Twilight worked for words, her entire plan of conversation derailed at the familiarity Chrysalis addressed her with. Leaning forward, hooves under her chin, a playful smile, and partially lidded eyes just to disorient her further, Chrysalis asked another, totally different question. "So tell me Twilight, how does it feel?” “Different, but also exciting,” Twilight replied, her voice having a reverberation to it. “I'm still myself, but now I feel like I have unlocked magical possibilities that I could never fathom before. Even though I have been a changeling for just a short period of time, I truly see why you crave love. It is delicious and smooth like a cold mug of fresh cider, but also fills me like I'm at one of Pinkie's parties and gorged on cupcakes.” “It gets better Twilight,” Chrysalis said, a mirthful grin forming on her face. “As a queen, even without sex, you will lay eggs. How many per clutch depends on your love supply and how much your body can take. You are no longer Princess Twilight Sparkle the alicorn, but Queen Twilight Sparkle the changeling. I have to ask, only because I'm curious, did the process hurt?” “Other than my bones feeling like they were soaked in acid,” Twilight said, grimacing at the memory. “Them dissolving hurt, but the most pain was when my internal organs changed, that felt like I was being disemboweled with no painkillers.” “I warned you Twilight,” Chrysalis said, running a hoof over her client’s mane and getting a happy chirp in response. “I told you that you were messing with magic no alicorn was supposed to wield, so the magic changed you to fit.” “No regrets,” Twilight said, now emitting a mix of a chirp and purr at the petting. “Fun part is going to be how am I going to come out to everypony that trusts in me to protect them. I'm scared Chrysalis, and I am very fearful of being rejected just because of what I now am.” “Twilight, you're the Queen of Friendship, if anypony rejects you then they weren't a true friend to begin with,” Chrysalis said, causing Twilight to snap her head up in shock that her enemy-turned-therapist knew anything about the concept of true friendship. “It will take some time for them to adjust, just like the Crystal Ponies have about me trotting around the Empire a free mare, but once they come to terms with it everything will be fine.” “Can I ask you something Chrysalis?” Twilight asked, her irises changing to that of her new species. “Q-queen to queen?” “Of course Twilight,” Chrysalis said, softly chuckling. “What is on your mind?” “Can you teach me?” Twilight's question was more of a slight demand, her tone lightly quivering like a quill on sandpaper. “I don't want to make the same mistakes you made… no offense.” “Twilight,” Chrysalis said, doing her best to keep from crying. “It will be my honor to teach you the ways of a changeling queen. You gave me great happiness with the gift you gave me, and it is only fair that I return the favor to you. Changelings have been the outcasts, the bad guys, the monsters for the last millennia; as one of the oldest queens still alive, I swear on my hive I will do my best to teach the newest queen to break out of the shadow.” “Thank you Chrysalis,” Twilight said, pulling the older queen into a tight embrace. “Now come, I think Rainbow would be furious if we missed the airshow.” “She isn't the one I'm scared of,” Chrysalis said, suppressing a shiver at getting on Pinkie's bad side. “But yes, let's go.” With a pop of magic, the library was unlocked and silent once more as the two rulers returned to the stadium and took their seats. In another, less glamorous, part of town, the Shattered Chitin sat. Being on the corner of Cider Boulevard and Chariot Way, the dilapidated store had been there longer than anypony could remember. It was a normal store for this part of town; a simple mom and pop that served the townsponies a variety of goods to spare them the dangerous walk to the more upscale stores downtown. Since nopony knew how the store came to be, and the fact the interior was so outdated that dust bunnies used it as a breeding ground, rumors were spread. One clique said it was haunted; another, that it was an underground fight club; another still that it was a front for a secret changeling catacomb.  But the truth was far more surreal. Down in the basement, there was a smooth wall of loose soil. The building inspector had warned the shopkeepers not to hang anything there for fear of collapse, which would take out the store and the adjacent apartment complex. The shopkeepers agreed, and the inspector soon left, but they knew the wall's hidden purpose. The wall actually was an illusion spell, which could only be undone by answering two riddles correctly, followed by a trigger phrase. A lone unicorn with an orange coat and blue mane descended the rikkity steps, each creaking under the weight of the hoof that made contact with them. Upon reaching the bottom, a pulse of green filled the basement, revealing a warrior with dull orange chitin and enough holes that he could be used as a cheese grater. Moving up to the wall, just as he had many times before, he hit a certain spot and tapped it five times with two seconds between knocks. “What creature crawls at daybreak, walks during the day, and limps at night?” A voice asked from the other side of the door. “Pon.” the drone answered, and was immediately given the second question. “What does a queen keep close to her at all times, but is both inside and outside her body?” “A piece of obsidian in her body pocket, to be used as a last resort.” The drone said confidently. “Password is Macalate.” The moment the password was said, the wall seemed to ripple, signaling that it was safe for the drone to pass through. Once he entered the other side, the wall returned to its original solid looking state and could easily fool the untrained eye. “Damn, you look rougher than the last time you came here, Speckle Fire,” The barkeep, an Earth Pony named Tendergrass, said as she slid the arriving drone a drink. “No luck on your latest infiltration?” “Damn unicorns and their defense wards,” Speckle said, downing the drink as fast as he could to mellow his sorrows away. “Got uncovered the moment I entered that Pony’s front door, and she could freaking fight even with her small frame.” “I think a toast is in order,” A rough looking drone, with deep blue chitin and an aquamarine fin, said as he stopped the card game he was in the middle of dealing to. “With the exception of the Fallen One, every other queen has at least one drone here accounted for. Mares and Stallions, we all need to accept the reality that the changelings are a dying breed, and the toast should be in remembrance of those lost and the good times we once had.” “For the Swarm, Long live the Queen!”  Tendergrass said, raising a glass after pouring herself a glass of Grannyshine. “For the Swarm, Long live the Queen!” Each drone repeated in unison before clinking their glasses to complete the toast.  After drinking the cider, each of them settled into discussing how they could try to fight off starvation as long as possible until a new arrival entered the room. “Hello everyling,” Hindsight, one of Chrysalis' sanitation drones, said as he sat at the poker table. “How are you all doing?” None of the others answered, each too fixated on the fact Hindsight was hole free and saturated with love that was seeping from every pore. Hindsight, due to being so full of love, was blissfully unaware of the carnivorous stares he was getting. “By the Hive, Hindsight,” Crimson Streak, a drone with blood red chitin and an onix colored fin, said as she and the others got ready to start feeding. “Where did you get so much love? The rest of us are starving and yet you of all grubs hit the honeyhole, what gives?” “It isn't just me,” Hindsight said, dealing himself into the game as the other drones looked at him like a hyena watches an antelope. “My whole hive is full of it, and so is my queen. In fact, we have so much extra that we are trying to figure out what to do with it.” The others, who were about to sink their fangs into their target, paused. None of them were expecting the Fallen One, the one who was stripped of all standing within the Queen Council, to be the one who was love rich. Envy, jealousy, and anger burned like a forest fire as they contacted their queens through their respective hiveminds at the sudden revelation. “Where on Eques did she get that much love?!” The dark blue drone, who’s mother was Queen Nebula, exclaimed as he pinned Hindsight to the floor. “Only way for that to be possible is for a steady and willing supply, but the only places that exists are the ponies’ love of their Princesses and-” “The Crystal Empire…” Tendergrass said, amazed that Chrysalis had been foolish enough to try and invade the Frozen North again. “So humor us Hindsight, did your queen take it over from Shining Armor and Cadance?” “Nope!” Hindsight chirped, not letting anything spoil his mood as he looked at the others with a wide grin. “The three of them are actually good friends now, and my queen is practically reformed. All it took was her surrendering to Cadance and Shining and begging for mercy.” “Begging for mercy?” Chilam, a drone with cracked icy-blue chitin and a voice that chilled the room, said as she scoffed at the notion. “My my, your queen certainly has earned her name of being the Fallen One. Queens are supposed to be strong, resilient, confident, and defeat all lesser foes; yet, she went and threw herself at her enemy and made both herself and her drones, including you, look weak!” “Oh yeah!?” Hindsight said, powering up his horn as his buzz briefly subsided. “If I am so weak, then how come I can do this?” Tapping into the excess love that was flowing like honey through his hive’s hivemind, a bright pink mist started pouring out of his horn like a sprinkler.  Every drone, and the lone pony, was shocked as the mist settled into the empty glasses that were on the tables with the extra soaking into each drone. “I don't believe it,” Crimson Streak said, his anger mellowing out as his body absorbed the floating mist like a sponge, his holes shrinking slightly. “You were actually telling the truth. It has been a long time since I have been this satisfied with a meal.” “I told you so,” Hindsight said, smiling as he powered down his horn due to each glass being filled to the brim. “Now drink up before it sours, it's a big strain to funnel love like that even though there is a surplus in the hive.” A choir of happy chirping filled the room, each drone guzzling down the delicious necessity like it was going out of style. Over the next hour, stories were shared, mainly dealing with how Chrysalis managed to get a stable job and love supply as much merriment was exchanged. “Never thought I would live to see the day where Chrysalis would be the one who saved the species,” Chilam said, a small hiccup escaping her lips as she finally finished drinking her eighth love smoothie. “And thank you Hindsight, I think I'm speaking for all of us when I say that we really needed that.” “Lings gonna ling,” Hindsight said, chuckling like a lumberjack as he leaned back in his chair. “Rivalries aside, we are all the same species, so we all have to band together when times get tough.” “Noble statement,” Tendergrass said, calmly cleaning out a glass that had accidentally fallen in the tomato paste from Chilam's spaghetti. “However, I see one major flaw with it. Here is your queen, living the life of changeling luxury, and is including being protected by Cadance and Shining Armor.  Yet, look at the state your fellow species was when you entered, to me she is greedily keeping it all to herself.” “That's not true!” Hindsight said, jumping up into a defensive position. “My queen has-” “Tendergrass is right,” Speckle Fire said, slamming down his mug. “Why hasn't Chrysalis shared? I find it awfully smug that she is feasting like a pig while the rest of us are taking desperate measures for scraps.” "Please everyling, give me a chance to explain myself," Hindsight said, trying to calm the other drones before glaring at Tendergrass. "And what right do you have to much such a horrible claim?" "My grandmother was a changeling," Tendergrass said, putting Hindsight in his place with a smirk. "And I suggest you start talking because the others look hungry." One by one the others raised their concerns, backing Hindsight into the corner of the room. Having nowhere to run, due to the bar being lined with obsidian as a means to prevent magical duels, he was left to cower in fear as the other queens prepared their swarms for an attack on the stadium. Meanwhile, at the stadium, the airshow had just wrapped up its grand finale. Most of the Wonderbolts had retired to the locker room, the group receiving a standing ovation as they did, but Rainbow went to the announcement booth and grabbed a microphone. “Did y’all enjoy the show?” Rainbow said, a loud cheer greeting her question before she raised her hoof for silence, which the crowd followed. “As advertised, we are going on a two week tour once we leave here tonight. Thank you one and all for once again coming out to support and cheer for us, you have no idea how good it makes us feel to put a smile on everypony’s faces.” Chrysalis, and now Twilight, could feel it but they kept their mouths shut as Rainbow continued to speak. “Before I retire for the night, there is one that thing I want to do,” Rainbow said, motioning with a wing for Pinkie to join her at her side. The pink mare bounced to the pegasus’ side, Rainbow wrapping a wing around her as she continued . “Y’all also know that the two of us are in a relationship. Well, earlier today, I asked her to marry me and she said yes. Both of us are looking forward to that next chapter of our lives, but there is a very special someone here that deserves all the credit. Queen Chrysalis, will you please come and stand in front of us?” Suddenly, Chrysalis found 85,000 pairs of eyes focused only on her. Never before had she been put on the spot in such a large scale manner, even the wedding didn't have so many in attendance and her hive was just a few thousand. Nervously, she made her way over to where Rainbow and Pinkie were, and for a brief moment she questioned what had made her lose her nerve but found no answer. “Chrysalis,” Rainbow said, a smile on her face. “You have no idea just how much your advice meant to us. After leaving your office, we talked as I flew us back to Ponyville, and a lot of progress was made. We're going to make our relationship, our marriage, work and it is all thanks to you.” “We also agreed on something else,” Pinkie said, bouncing like a jumping bean. “Chrysalis, will you be our best mare?” “I-I would love that.” Chrysalis said, pulling the two of them into a hug. Crowd be damned, she was in a good enough mood that she ignored the shocked gasps. However, as she held the hug, she felt a sensation she never experienced start to build and quickly let go and sat down. “Sorry about that, but now I feel really strange.” “How so?” Pinkie asked, concern written all over her face. “Need to feed on some more love?” “No nothing like that,” Chrysalis said, dismissing the notion with a wave of a hoof as the sensation continued to build. “It is like a warm, pleasant pressure is building and needs to be released. In fact, it is almost got me wanting to sing.” Every dirty minded pony in the audience suddenly blushed, but the embarrassment and shame was quickly swept away by shock as Chrysalis began to sing. ”When she was just a foal, she had just one goal… To ascend to a queen, And be the best ever seen... But it was a sacra, sacra, sacrifice Sacra, sacra, sacrifice Sacra, sacra, sacrifice Paid with the loss of many lives... One day she hit her goal, But she knew the toll… Happiness drifted away, And from the light she did stray. But that was long ago in the past, And not all things are meant to last… For here I am standing on top, standing on top of the world. Life can throw at me everything it has But I'll still get off my back. Whether I stand or whether I fall, I will do my best and give my all. And at the light of each new day, I’ll head on my way. For here I am standing on top, standing on top of the world. I see now I was wrong, All my vengeance is gone. Now I'm going to spread my wings like a dove, And help fix lost love For here I am standing on top, standing on top of the world. Life can throw at me everything it has But I'll still get off my back. Whether I stand or whether I fall, I will do my best and give my all. And at the light of each new day, I’ll head on my way. For here I am standing on top, standing on top of the world. Oh yes, for here I standing on top… Standing on top of the world.” “Was that what I think it was?” Discord asked, whispering in Celestia's ear. “I have heard rumors of it happening before, I lost count at eleven, but this is the fifth I've seen in person.” “That was a heartsong, Dee Dee,” Celestia said, perplexed, but not so much as to drop the glare she was giving Chrysalis. “Very unusual, considering no Changeling I’ve ever encountered had one. Or proto-Changelings, for that matter.  I suppose this is a historical moment we just witnessed, if you’re one to care about such things.” “Too bad the party’s over,” A voice said, followed by a sinister laugh. Everypony froze, but Chrysalis looked down right fearful, as three changeling queens emerged from the entrance tunnel. “We really have to thank you, Fallen One, for leading us to such a…” The tallest queen said, pausing as she and her companions licked their fangs. “rich banquet.” “You know that isn't my name Deciduous,”  Chrysalis said, contemplating exit trajectories and how well she could throw Deciduous. “You should know better that that, sister.” “Sister?” Deciduous said, chuckling as vines whipped out of her mane like living tendrils. “You were never my sister to begin with. You merely had the fortune to be part of our clutch, nothing more. I can control plants, Glacial can control ice, and Firestorm can control heat. You, however, controlled nothing and yet Mother still considered you her favorite!” “Have you honestly forgot a key part of that Deci?” Chrysalis said, the queen with the burnt orange mane taking a step back. “I hated the fact I was the favorite. I knew, even when we got older, that I wasn't special like the three of you. Do you really think I enjoyed being bullied? Or how about the fact you tried to jeopardize my marriage?” “Please, you had every opportunity while dear Mother gave us nothing. Don’t act like you’re the victim, you spoiled brat.” Deciduous scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You need to realize that I was trying to do you a favor, that by not getting involved in such relations, it would have strengthened your hunting skills and abilities as a queen.” “Is that what you truly think?” Chrysalis said, pity and sadness gathering inside her. “The fact that you believe that shows how much you haven’t changed, and are the same nymph whining about not getting a new toy.” “Enough of this you grub!” Deciduous tensed, palpable rage boiling off her as she roared, a few thick vines springing up and snaring Chrysalis’ legs. That wasn't the worst part, the worst was the fact the vines soon morphed into thick oak limbs, leaving Chrysalis exposed. “This ends now, and make sure say hello to mother for me.” “I might not have the skills you three possess,” Chrysalis said, her voice starting soft before growing in volume. “I might not have the lands, drone numbers, or even a hive to call home. There is one thing I DO have that I always had the upper hoof on, and your constant bullying only strengthened.” Deciduous’ snarl faded into puzzlement as Chrysalis’ stance changed. Glacial and Firestorm sniffed the air, and Deciduous herself faltered. A glowing pink speck gathered at the tip of Chrysalis’ horn, which rapidly began gathering tendrils of energy into a brighter and brighter pink sun. In a flash, Chrysalis’ wooden prison incinerated and she stomped forward, the palpable ball of energy unleashing an unbearable pressure upon the three. Deciduous tried to keep herself strong even as she felt the pang of her plant extentions dying, but caved as Glacial and Firestorm backed up in palpable horror as Chrysalis descended upon them. “Now that I think about it, I have two things you three don't have.” Chrysalis said, her confidence returning like a flaming sun. “I have love, and I have a chaotic ally.” Celestia grinned, her horn glowing a soft teal as each of the three troublesome queens’ manes turned into a different flavor of bubblegum. “Is that chaotic enough for you Chrysalis?” Celestia said, taking great pleasure at the queens’ aggravation. “I can do their tails as well, or perhaps maybe their-” “Oh no, that was quite enough I think,” Chrysalis said, smiling as she turned back to her sisters. “So, are we going to settle our differences like adults or squabbling drones?” “Adults…” Glacier said, before starting to emit a soft chuckle. “Adult queens!” A low buzzing was off in the distance, one that quickly amplified as the twilight sky was bathed in a sheet of darkness. Most of the drones stayed in the air, but enough of them swarmed down to keep the screaming ponies shaking in their seats. “You aren't the only ones with drones you know,” Chrysalis said, and a quick summons over the hivemind brought her her most trusted fighters, minus Hindsight. “You want these ponies’ love, then you'll have to go through me to get them.” “And me!” Twilight said, leaping into the air and doing a barrel roll as she was engulfed in lavender and emerald flames. Chrysalis' sisters gulped as Twilight landed, each of them realizing just how much of a hornet nest they had stumbled into. Twilight was now just a half-hoof shorter than Chrysalis, but made up for it with her shapely body that made her absorb a sharp wave of lust. Her mane and tail, both retaining their original color scheme, were longer but now had several differences. The right strip of dark blue was so dark it was almost black, the edge being dotted with points of light similar to the stars in Luna's mane but less numerous. Closer to the center, the dark blue lightened, the lavender having deepened a few hues and softly lit like a sun glow. As it joined the strip on the left side of her mane, it brightened considerably, like a cascade of sunlight setting over a valley. The rest of her features were just as striking. The plumpness of her midsection that she had as a pony was gone, replaced by lean and powerful muscles that added to her look of her intimidation but also drew focus to her curvy hips and plot. Her chitin, flawless and at a master polish, gleamed under the stadium lights and was covered in an array of enchantment lines that meet in a focal point at the center of her cutie mark. “I am the balance between night and day,” Twilight said, standing confidently beside a very impressed Chrysalis. She could feel the love of the crowd focused on her, but amongst the delicious sea was one sour pearl. Much to Twilight's shock, she realized it was coming from Celestia, and she made a mental note to ask about that later before continuing. “In the absence of Celestia and Luna of Canterlot, I would be in control of ensuring everypony continued their daily lives unchanged. As such, I will forever serve to protect countless generations of ponies and changelings, as the Queen of Friendship. Chrysalis, and Thorax before her, realized the old ways of handling things are no longer resolute! We can be friends, not enemies, if you are willing to give friendship a try.” “Do you honestly think we care about your precious friendship?” Firestorm said, softly chuckling. “And just because you are now one of us, doesn't mean you are one of us. The way I see it, you could be a powerful queen, but only if you let go and embrace the hunger and let it drive you. You could be mighty, and show whelps like our unfortunate sister what it truly means to a queen of something.” “ENOUGH!” Chrysalis said, her ichor starting to feel like it was boiling from the build up of anger. “I've had it with you seeing me as lower than pond scum. You wanted a fight, well guess what, it is your Judgement Day.” “Everypony attack!” A voice in the crowd, who Twilight realized as Cherry Berry, said. Being a Ponyvilleite, Twilight knew what was coming next as everypony got in the face of the nearest changeling. “Goaded into striking first,” Celestia said, shaking her head. “Seems some things never change with age Dee Dee.” “No they don't my love,” Discord said, tempted to interfere but realized that it would have been pointless to try and contain such a large scale crowd by himself. “Although, I am curious as to how you know them so personally.” Celestia didn't answer, instead glancing between Luna and Chrysalis with a fierce glare at the changeling below them. For so long she had tried to keep them apart, the banishment to the moon being part of the reason why she chose that route, but would never admit it. She considered herself lucky that Luna didn't remember that part of her past, but deep down she started to mentally steel herself for the inevitable fight that was going to break loose when she did remember. “Well what do we have here?” A drone, one of Glacial’s by the coloring, said as he looked at the couple with hunger. “I am looking forward to draining you dry.” “As if you would succeed bug,” Celestia said, looking over her shoulder as her mane and tail seemed to burn hotter. “Your whole kind has always threatened the peace of Equestria, and are nothing more than pests!” Much to her chagrin, Twilight had heard, and the Queen of Friendship felt heartbroken as she looked at her former mentor in sadness while the conversation was taking place. “Pests huh?” The drone said, backing up a bit as he started to fly up into an attack position. “Yet the weakest and most pathetic queen in history defeated you. What does that say about your standing?” Every pony and changeling froze in place at the flare that erupted from the drone, nothing more than ash remaining in its’ place. “I'm still standing,” Celestia bitterly said, watching the ash fall to the stadium floor as her eyes slitted. “Which is more than most of you will be able to say by the end of this day.” “Well what are ya waiting for?” Apple Bloom, who was standing at the door leading to the bathrooms, said as she waved a hoof to the shocked crowd. “Come on now, fight some more! Everypony, defend everythin’ we know and love, we beat these bugs once and we’ll do it again!” The fighting resumed, but Celestia was now cornered by Luna, Twilight, Discord, Cadance, and a very pissed off Glacial. “Have you gone mad mare?!” Glacial said, getting in Celestia’s face. “I may not care about your race, but I know better than to commit cold blooded murder in front of young ones! Now, every single foal who witnessed that is going to be very afraid of you.” “I hate to admit it sister,” Luna said, nodding in agreement towards Glacial. “I never thought I would ever side with a changeling, but what you did went too far. Now I'm going to have long, rough nights trying to maintain the fillies’ and colts’ dreamscapes so you aren't made out to be a monster.” “Why did you do it…” Twilight said, anger in her tear-soaked eyes as she slapped the Chaos Alicorn. “What happened to cause you to hate changelings so much?” “WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!” A voice ,that sounded like an angry mother, said as a teleport flash died down in the middle of the arena making each queen’s eyes shrink to pinpricks. There stood a beautiful changeling queen, taller than any other and putting off an air of elegance. Her ivory white chitin pulsed with life, and her monarch butterfly wings glimmered like gold. The jagged horn on her head glowed like a rainbow, making Rainbow herself jealous. “It can't be…” Deciduous said, a soft whimper escaping her lips as she backed up and whispered in Chrysalis’ ear. “I thought she was just a myth.” “Rest assured, I am no myth,” The mysterious queen said, every drone hovering in place waiting for their queens’ orders. “And I am quite sore at you Deciduous, Firestorm, and Glacial for such an unwarranted attack. That has never been the changeling way. Even when times were at their hardest, a queen is supposed to still keep a level head, and one of Glacial's drones just paid the ultimate price for your greed youngling.” “How do ya know that?” Applejack questioned, raising her eyebrow. “You weren't even here, who are you anyway?” “The Hivemother,” Twilight said gliding down and bowing to the head queen. “The mother of all changelings. I suggest you all show respect and bow as well.” Celestia and Luna did, the older sister nearly shaking in her fur at seeing the ancient being. There were very, very few in existence that Celestia knew she had no chance of beating in a fight, but the Hivemother was one of them. “Queen Sparkle, arise,” The Hivemother said, speaking in a tone that took Twilight back to her most cherished moments with Celestia as she rose back straight. “I know of you and your friends’ legacy, told by countless changelings through the hiveminds in addition to my own research, and it is my pleasure to recognize you as a true changeling.” “You can't be serious Your Majesty,” Firestorm said, ignoring her sisters’ silent pleas to stand down. “She wasn't even born a changeling! Besides, why are you so mad at us for attacking when Chrysalis did the same thing to the Crystal Empire?” “A very good question, it is,” Hivemother said, making Chrysalis shuffle in place. “But, she has made great strides to amend her mistake, and learned her lesson. Also, does it matter if a changeling was born a changeling or wanted to be one? It was her choice, a rather stupid one in my opinion, but I respect it. She has values a queen should live by, yet you three ignore. She is loyal, puts others before herself, and in the heat of battle would put her own carapace on the line to ensure her subjects survived.” Twilight beamed with pride, and three heads dropped in shame as Hivemother walked passed them to head towards where Celestia was quivering. “Before I deal with you Celestia, I do believe I have a question to answer.” Hivemother said, looking back towards Applejack. “The simple answer is all hiveminds are connected, and there was a lot of panicked chatter over it after the stunt this filly pulled in a temper tantrum.” Several snickers were heard, but those were hushed as Hivemother turned her attention back to Celestia. “Am I a pest Celestia?” Hivemother asked, her tone an unnatural calm that made everypony and ling uneasy. “Is that what you see me as?” “No, not you,” Celestia said, her voice faltering slightly. “Just those who try and mess with my little pon-” “Shut up, right now,” Hivemother said, cutting the Alicorn off mid-sentence, nopony believing what they had just heard. “They never were just your little ponies. They are yours, Luna’s, and Discord’s and that’s the way it will remain until one of you step down. Changelings, as a race, always strived for peace and make alliances with other nations. It was a belief that Chrysalis’ mother tried her best to follow… with mixed results. What lays at the core of the issue is your inability to let your personal grudge go, and if you were a queen, I would have long since stripped you of that title.” “You don't understand Hivemother,” Celestia said, pointing an accusing hoof at Chrysalis in the process. “She corrupted my sister, the pony closest to me after our parents died, and I will never accept that bug as my in-law. She tried to rob my niece of her wedding, then tried to take over Canterlot, how do you justify that?” “And likewise, how do you justify your hatred?” Hivemother said, a bit of irritation creeping into her tone. “You do not understand the hunger Celestia, I may not feel it to the extent most do, but I still do feel it. It is consuming, and everyone including those close to you are nothing more than a food source. Chrysalis was just trying to feed her children, and as I said earlier, she is making amends for her actions. You however, are making no such attempt, in such that you failed the very principles of friendship and forgiveness you have instilled for generations.” Hivemother then turned her attention from Celestia, to Luna and Discord, holding her head up high before dropping into a respectful bow. “Lord Discord, Princess Luna,” Hivemother said, her voice almost Fluttershy-like in tone. “I, the Hivemother of the Changelings, request council in an attempt to patch relations between our nations, and hope a trade alliance can be forged from the meeting.” “We would be delighted to partake in such talks,” Discord said, giving his wife a serious glare. “And please, forgive my wife for her behavior towards you. I have no idea what has her so testy right now, or what she meant by Chrysalis causing Luna to betray her.” “That has me confused as well,” Luna said, directing her gaze at Celestia like she was about to activate a firing squad. “Please, do humor us as to what a changeling did back then to cause such an accusation.” “You really don't remember?” Hivemother asked, slightly amused until Luna shook her head no. “Luna, you and Chrysalis are married. In fact, I was having a nice tea date with your daughter until I had to come here and prevent a massacre from occurring.” “Tantabus, if this is one of your cruel, sick jokes, you got your point across.” Luna said, to nopony in particular as she did into denial. “There is no way I could have sired a foal, let alone with a changeling! Perhaps I am trapped by the Nightmare, that would explain everything perfectly, but I’m certainly not asleep right now.” “Lulu,” Celestia said, giving Luna a boop on the nose. “Do you think that you are overreacting a tad bit?” “Says the one who just incinerated a changeling,” Luna said, a dark edge on her voice that made Celestia gulp. “Changelings have done nothing but try and weasel their way into the Canterlot elite, but since the detection spells were made, those cases have stopped. Yet, even you are going along with the lies that they are trying to convince me are fact?” Celestia said nothing. “Calm yourself Luna,” Chrysalis said, hesitantly moving towards the confused alicorn in an effort to try and stabilize the situation. “This is no nightmare, and this is no dream, this is all happening for real. You are in denial due to a mix of memory loss and not wanting to believe what you are hearing. We were happy before your banishment, but unfortunately, that day you were sent to the moon is when I found out I was pregnant so I couldn't tell you.” Luna gave the changeling a long, hard look. There was a hint of hate, a touch of refusal, but the most powerful emotion coming off her was turmoil. For Chrysalis, she didn't have to reach out to feel those things, she could see them raging in Luna's beautiful moonlit eyes. It was like being trapped in deja vu. Just like when they arrived, Chrysalis wanted nothing more than to pull the Princess of the Night into a tight hug, but after witnessing what Celestia did to Glacial's drone, she knew that likely would have been a death sentence. Not only was it dejavu, to her it felt as if she foresaw her own demise. “When you come to the meeting, I will have your daughter come along and join me,” Hivemother said, much to Chrysalis’ shock. “That is the only way I can see you finally accepting the facts that have been told to you.” “Very well, now I’m going back to the castle and sleep,” Luna said, her horn starting to glow for a teleport spell. “Perhaps some clue will come to me in my dreams as to what path I should follow next, plus I need extra energy since a certain somepony, “ she said, with an accusing tone before continuing, “decided to make my job inadvertently harder for the foreseeable future.” In a flash, Luna was back in her bedroom at the castle. For several hours she tried resting, but sleep would not come to ease her troubled mind. One thing that had been told to her was plaguing her thoughts, the fact a key piece of memory from a joyous time in her life was not coming to her. “There must be something I can do that will help me remember,” Luna said, to the silence of her bedroom after another failed memory scrying spell turned up nothing. “There has to be…” A knock at the door gained her attention, and a moment later a batpony guard entered that looked like he had been through a war against a pack of cockatrice. Scars covered him like a barbed wire mesh from neck to flank, several fresh ones still shimmering with blood that had not quite dried. “I am back, Your Highness,” The stallion said, getting down into a deep bow. “The mission is complete, but it didn't come without casualties. Including myself, only four of the squadron were able to come back alive, but I'm the only one who can walk properly right now.” “That's a shame Borealis,” Luna said, sighing as she snuggled more into her covers, not wanting to do anything except stay in her comfortable place of fluffy solitude. “Seems I can't catch a break today, and if it wasn't for the fact I have to closely monitored the dream realm tonight I would take it off to clear my head.” “Is there anything I can do for you Night Mother?” Borealis asked, moving closer to the bed while keeping his tone just above a whisper. “As your Captain of the Noctrals, I am here to serve to the fullest capability possible.” “No offense, but you look like you couldn't beat a filly in a scooter race right now,” Luna said, admiring her Captain’s loyalty to his duty, but she also wanted her guard in top shape. “Take a month off to nurse your wounds, you deserve it for your bravery against the blasted Amarezons that confiscated the Lunar Fruitlands.” “Thank you, Your Highness,” Borealis said, giving a salute with his right wing, which made his face curl into a grimace. “Also, nopony is waiting for Night Court, so you have a few extra hours to yourself before it will be time for you to patrol the dream realm.” ““Good," Luna said, relieved that she didn't have to worry about rushing until the busiest part of her night hit. "If you have no other news to report, you are dismissed for the month unless the need arises to call upon you early. Use the time to be with your family, and go through resumés to pick out who will replace the troops you lost." Borealis bowed then departed, leaving Luna to stew on yet another thing that was ruffling her feathers. The Amarezon ponies were wild and uncultered by civilized standards, that much she knew from reading and scout teams that she had in place. The fact they somehow managed to raid the Lunar Fruitlands and defeat the guards stationed there baffled her, and also made things difficult for her batpony troops due to mangoes being in short supply elsewhere. "At least on the moon I had no issues to give me a headache," Luna said, bitterly muttering as she looked out the window to her celestial object. “I sure hope that I have enough energy to stay awake tomorrow, it would be rather rude to fall asleep during an important meeting.” A lightbulb went off in her head at the last remark, her muzzle curling into a smile that would make a possessed cat’s blood run cold and freeze any unfortunate Wendigo in its’ place. “The meeting, of course!” Luna said, now feeling giddy at the prospect of having two major thorns in her side removed at once. “In exchange for peace, I can have Chrysalis and her sisters reclaim the mango fields. My precious batponies will get their food supply back, and if I am lucky maybe one or two of them queens will not come back. Although, if Chrysalis and Hivemother were speaking the truth, I would prefer that she be one of the ones to come back alive.” Humming an old, but familiar tune, Luna skipped out the door to prepare for a run that had been a long time in the making.