//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: The Eternal Night // by unicorn724 //------------------------------// The next morning Star left to see Cadence and Shining Armor, leaving the sleeping queen a note. She was able to convince the soon-to-be-married pair to move up the wedding to a week after the nobles arrived. On her way back to the Princess's chambers she told a guard she had passed that she would be in her study for the rest of the day and that she was not to be disturbed. Star took the rest of the day to inform Luna of what she would need to know while she was gone. By the end of the day, Luna was able to act just like Celestia. The pair had agreed that Luna would talk to discord while Star was gone. Luna figured the God of Chaos would be more willing to talk to her since they had once been friends. The next morning Star prepared to go meet the changelings. She had set up for her top guards to be there for Luna if she needed them. Star was currently disguised as Lieutenant Stella, she had told Shining Armor that the princess had sent her on a mission and that she would be back in a week. Star teleported to the badlands, the last known hiding place of the changelings, grateful for the extra magical power being an alicorn gave her. Having made it there safely she checked her things before walking into the unforgiving wasteland. Star had been walking for almost a day and a half. She knew she was being watched and had been for the last few hours. Finally, she got tired of their antics and called out, "I know you are there, there is no use hiding. I come on behalf of my queen and wish to make a deal with your hive." The changelings that had been following were shocked to have been discovered. They contacted their queen to inform her of what had happened. She agreed to meet with the pony, curious to see who could have discovered her drones and to see what she had to trade.The changelings had escorted Star to their hive and were currently leading her to the throne room. "Ah, here is the little pony that wished to see me." The changeling queen said, lounging on her throne. "Your Majesty." Star nodded, refusing to bow to anyone but Luna."My Queen has sent me on her behalf, she wishes to make a deal." "Go on then. I have other duties to attend to." "I would rather we discuss this in private, Your Majesty," Star said glancing at the drones around the room. "No. Say what you have to say now or leave. I will not take any suggests from you." The Queen practically spat staring at the pony before her." "Perhaps you didn't hear me," Star growled. "I said we should move to a private location or at the very least you should remove your guards." "Guards, remove this pony from my sight." The queen snarled. The guards moved towards Star, intending to follow her orders. Before the guards could pounce on her. Star teleported to another spot in the room. She then grabbed the guards in her magic and changed to her alicorn self. The guards in her grasp gasped before they were thrown out of the room, the doors behind them. "I want this conversation to be done in private. Now that we are alone we may continue." Star spoke in a clam even tone glaring down the queen who sat silently on her throne. "Fine. Now that you have disrespected me in my own home, please tell me what this deal is that you are proposing." "My name is Shooting Star. My Queen, Nightmare Moon, is working on plans to overthrow Celestia of Equestria. She would like for you to participate. Should you except we will grant you access to the population to collect food, if all goes as planned we may even give you the princess of love." "I must say. You have caught my attention. I would be willing to accept. Before I do however I would like to know exactly what part I will play in this." "I would be happy to tell you more. But before I do I must contact my queen to let her know of this. Do you have a room I could use during my stay?" "One of the guards will escort you to a room. Please inform the guard when you will be ready to discuss things further. and you may address me as Queen Chrysalis." The queen said, then motioned to the guard that had entered the room. After receiving the reply to her letter Star informed the guard that she to speak to the queen. The guard then lead her down several halls to a room with a large table in it, waiting for her there was the queen. The guard quickly left the room not wanting a repeat of what happened earlier. Sitting down across from the changeling Star started what was sure to be a long conversation. "My Queen has accepted your request and had given me permission to further discuss our plans." The queen nodded, signaling for the alicorn to continue. "In about one month the youngest princess is to be married. You are to infiltrate the castle and stop the wedding during the ceremony. Once done, you will fight Celestia and lose. After that you must disappear, whether you return to your hive or hide in Canterlot is up to you. As well as how you plan on stopping the wedding. During your mission, you may choose what to do with the bride. I would suggest that you replace her, that way she is out of the way. My Queen would like to be informed of your exact plans beforehand." "You dare to order me." The queen snarled. Thus causing the talk to go on for several hours. The queen mostly snarled and screamed while Star sat there calmly waiting for the queen to settle before continuing. After two more days of the queen bickering with her guest, they finally agreed on a plan very similar to what Star had said in the beginning. She also agreed to send on of her drones to this Queen Nightmare Moon. Once Star and the drone were ready Queen Chrysalis escorted them out of the hive where star teleported herself and her guest back to the Canterlot Castle. Star resumed her guard disguise and told the drone to change as well. She then showed the drone to his room and placed two of the thestral guards outside the doors telling them to alert her if the visitor needed anything. She then went to find Luna and inform her of the good news.