//------------------------------//
// Chapter 13: A New Age 
// Story: Picking Up The Pieces 
// by Silver Dragon Blade Wing 
//------------------------------//

The group made back to Ponyville without trouble. After introductions were made Jewelbeetle took full responsibility for the Timber Wolf crisis, surrendering herself to Celestia. After hearing what Jewel had been through and that she had a deadly Changeling only disease, Celestia decided her punishment would be to stay in Ponyville for one year under the watch of Twilight and her friends after a cure for her disease was found, til then she would remain in a special cocoon made by Nebula to keep that disease from ending her.

Jewel agreed to the terms, she wanted to redeem herself for the whole thing.
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Canterlot, Three months Later

"Two thousand ninety eight... Two thousand ninety nine... Three thousand."

Seeker set his quill down and leaned back in his chair. "Three thousand Changelings, wow."

Things had gone fairly well in the three mouths since the Ponies and Changeling had made peace and the Timber wolf crisis had ended. The Changelings from Canterlot had numbered one thousand but over time more had come out of hiding. As it turns out, there had been Changelings who had being living in Equestia long before the invasion.

Seeker had gotten an office in the castle, close to the Princesses and it had a really nice view of the city. Currently his office held two bookshelves filled with the appropriate books, and a nice but very messy desk with a few chairs around it. 

Leaning forward again he picked up the papers to check if he miscounted. "Three thousand Changelings. I never thought that many would turn up, that's just... wow."

"I'd say its a great milestone Seeker." The mare sitting next to him said. He looked over at his personal assistant, Rose Quill, a light blue Pegasus with ice blue mane and tail with a stripe of navy blue and pretty sapphire eyes. Her cutie mark was a red feather quill in an ink bottle over a red rose. Celestia had assigned her to him after he became ambassador for Dragonfly.

Rose was a very friendly Pony and had hit it off with not just him but with the rest of the hive quite well, Seeker had noted by her emotions that she was attracted to him, not that he minded as he had feelings developed for her.

Seeker couldn't help but wonder if Celestia had played matchmaker by having Ice work with him.

"I agree with that Rose, anything next on the list for today?"

Rose looked over the scroll she was holding. "Nothing else for today, its been a slow day."

Seeker thought for a second, then said, "Why don't we call it a day and go out for some lunch?"

"I'd like that, but what if someone needs to speak to while we're gone?"

"I'll leave a comm crystal for them." Seeker said picking up said crystal.

Before he set the crystal up a knock sounded from the door, Seeker facehoofed at that.

"I jinxed it didn't I, now I'm starting to sound like Rhino."

Rose giggled as she answered the door.  

"Good afternoon, what would you..." She paused than turned her head to Seeker. "You have a visitor."

Seeker raised an eyebrow. "Who is it?"

Rose opened the door further, allowing the visitor to step in. The visitor was a Changeling Commander with a horn shaped like that of a Rhinoceros Beetle.

Seeker blinked sin surprise. "Rhino?" He asked unsure.

"Yes, its me Seeker." The Commander said, he then turned to Rose. "And hello Rose, I see your looking well."

Rose smiled and nodded back.

"Wow... you've finally become a full Commander. I was wondering if that would ever happen."

"Well Empress Nebula brought a few things we needed to upgrade the hive. That and she, Saber and our Prince thought it was time I was fully promoted."

Rhino flitted his wings and shook a little.

"Those cocoons... they feel very weird when you emerge from them."

Seeker and Rose both chuckled.

"So what did you what? I get the felling this isn't a social visit." Seeker asked.

"Unfortunately not, Princess Celestia asked me to come get you. Some of the Nobles are whining and moaning, again." He said with a huff. "They still can't get it in their bloated heads that our hive has no quarrel with the Ponies."

An audible thud was heard as Seeker's head hit the desk.

"Can't rutting get a break, *sigh* at least the Love Donor Program got past."

The Love Donor Program was an idea Dragonfly had put forth to Celestia, it was basically a game of sorts where Ponies signed up to be "prey" to young Changelings who would prank, shapeshift, and hunt "within reason". The nymphs would use these things to catch the donors, who would then give the nymph a small amount of love as a reward. The donors would also search for the nymphs who, if caught, who buy the donor a treat. Both foals and adult Ponies could be donors and signing up was completely their choice.

Surprisingly, there had been talk about adding this game to Guard training.

Seeker stood up, "Best not keep them waiting." He said sarcastically.

He, Rose, and Rhino walked out of the office and down the hallways to the throne room.
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Canterlot

Hallway to throne room

Dragonfly had been a bit surprised that hadn't heard any, remarks, about him or his hive. There had been resistance to his hive staying in Equestia, he was a bit relieved that there had been, he would have been worried if there wasn't any.

As for the lack of remarks, Dragonfly believed it had to do with to factors; One: The fact that Black Death was his uncle. from what he had learned, the Nobles were downright terrified of Black Death. Apparently, He had once dangled one by his tail over the edge of the city threatening to "Send his to Faust personally" after the Noble in question had made some sort of nasty remark towards Black Death. Another made the mistake of insulting Black's family and the Thestral had dragged the Noble through the castle, threw the Noble out into the street, and threatened to tear the Noble's horn off and use it and his wing blades against the Noble in, questionable ways, among others.

Dragonfly had decided he didn't want to know.

The second fact was the giant 2 ton hulk of Changeling that was his bodyguard. Titan followed him every time Dragonfly had to leave Ponyville for one reason or another. Most Ponies outside of Ponyville, even the guards, kept their distance, or at least tried to, when ever they passed.

The Princesses nephew, Prince Blueblood, had said an insult to Dragonfly during a dinner between him, the prince, the bearers, and the princesses. In response, Titan had lifted Blueblood up to the Juggernaut's eye level and simply held him there and stared the Pony in the eye.

Blueblood, scared out of his wits, had ordered the Juggernaut to put him down, so Titan dispelled his magic, dropping him to the floor, landing on his head. To which Luna had said, "Good thing it was his head, other wise he might have hurt himself."

Blueblood demanded to know why Titan had dropped him, He said in response; "Because you told me to." in a deadpan tone.

The Pony then stormed out in a huff, only to run into Black Death who had said if Blueblood tried anything, He'd pesonally make sure there wouldn't be a "Blueblood junior".

Dragonfly had not heard anything from Blueblood since.

Jewel was still in stasis, the research into her disease hadn't turn up anything solid, but it was bearing fruit. The egg she had was thankfully doing well.

Overall, things had gone pretty well. Dragonfly wasn't sure what was next in his hive's future, but he looked forward to a new era of Ponies and Changeling living together in peace.

With a smile on his face, he approached the throne room as the guards opened it, allowing him and Titan entry. They stepped in where the Celestia, Seeker, Rose, and Rhino were waiting.

They greeted each other, when an Earth Pony guard suddenly burst though the door. "Princess!" He shouted.

"What's wrong? Report."

The guard took his helmet off and bowed.

"News from Northern Equestria! Uh... Your Highness."

"Yes?"

"I am simply to tell you that it has returned."

The three Changelings and the Pony with them looked at each other confused, what had returned?

Celestia gasped with a worried look on her face, she turned to the guard on her right.

"Find Princess Cadance and Shining Armor." She ordered.

"Yes, Your Highness." He took off running while Celestia pulled out a quill and scroll, sending it off with a puff of magic after she finished writing.

She then turned to group on her left. "Dragonfly, I may need you hive's help."

"What for Princess? What has returned? From your reaction it must be big and important."

"It is."

"Then what is it?"

"The Crystal Empire has returned."