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// Prologue:  Changing Winds 
// Story: The Capacity of Forgiveness 
// by Frenac 
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"Just like anypony can smell the sweet scent of Derpy's freshly baked muffins carried on the wind, some will say they can sense the agents of change like a cool autumn breeze." -Unknown


"There is hope yet of claiming Equestria," said the low female voice of a shadowed figure in the center of a dark, drab royal hall.
"What is it, my Queen?" another voice replied, belonging to a set of glowing blue eyes attached to a chitinous grey head.
The shadowed figure of the Queen paced back and forth a bit, rigid hooves clacking against the cracked stone floor. "I believe we will soon have a willing pawn to aid the changelings."
"But won't the barrier block this 'pawn' that you speak of, my Queen?"
The Queen chortled. "Not to worry.  This one won't be a changeling.  It will pass through without any indication of the malice in its heart."
"Of course, my Queen, but I still don't understand.  How do you know of the pawn, and how do you know it will help the changelings?"
"I may not be able to break the barrier, but my magic can reach into places where not even Celestia has ventured." The Queen paused, wide jade eyes shimmering. "Do you doubt me?" she retorted, raising her voice.
The blue-eyed creature's eyes flashed. "No, no, of course not, my dear Queen.  I was only expressing my concern—"
"Then go and bring the other captains.  Don't keep me waiting," the Queen added coldly with a glower.  The captain scampered away without a moment's hesitation.  He seems to question me more than usual.  I should put the fool in his place.
The Queen walked to a window and jolted aside a scarlet curtain with a green flash from her gnarled horn, revealing her cold grey form in the waning sunlight.  She was mainly equine in shape, although like her changeling subjects, she had a hard exoskeleton and a set of transparent and porous wings.  Her long blue-green mane, however, was said to be finer than that of anypony in Equestria.
Smiling devilishly and baring her whitish fangs, the changeling queen gazed out at the land before her.  Beyond the large swathe of rocky wasteland, Equestria taunted her with its bright green meadows and resplendent mountains.  Soon it will all be mine.
~When I was young, had love in my heart,
My hopes were dashed, my soul torn apart
I wanted to believe, know it was true,
But love has rent me through.

Soon they shall know pain,
As all their love we shall obtain.
Oh, how I dreamed since I was small,
To show that 'love truly conquers all'. ~

The changeling queen gave one last glance out the window, then turned away and shut the curtains. "But nopony will ever love a changeling."