//------------------------------// // Ch.23 - Change Back to Normal // Story: The Witching Hour - Chaos is Change // by Chaotic Ink //------------------------------// Midnight jerked, only to stiffen and hiss as pain shot through her. Holy smokes did she feel like Tartarus. ‘That’s twice now,’ she mentally grumbled. At least this time there wasn’t any nightmare and she hadn’t lost control when she’d gone wyvern. She could finally check that off her worry list; if nothing else had kicked in this time, it most likely never would. Then her mind caught up with her. The invasion, fending off the changeling army so the others could get the Elements, her fight with the changeling queen Chrysalis. Panic surged but she quickly fought it down. She felt pain, which meant she was alive. She was on her back and felt sheets around her and a bed underneath cushioning her, which meant that she wasn’t still in the chapel or stuck in another crystal cell. That could only mean that they’d won and she was in a hospital bed. The sound of soft hoof-steps and the occasional moan of pain helped with the conclusion. She took a deep breath and felt a comforting hoof on her foreleg. “You’re alright; you’re in the castle infirmary,” came Sapphire’s soft voice. Carefully, Midnight turned her head and cracked open her eyes. Sapphire’s blue face and orange eyes filled her vision and the kirin gave her a weak smile. “We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” she said in a quiet voice. The pegasus offered her a cup of water which the kirin took readily. “You’ve only been in the hospital once before, thank the makers,” Sapphire told her as she drank. “Twice too many,” Midnight grumbled when she was finished. “So, did we win, or is this all some kind of illusion to keep me placated?” “We won,” Sapphire said, smiling. “If changelings could do the kind of magic you’re talking about, I think we would have been their batteries a long time ago.” “Sounds fair.” She winced as she tried to push herself up into a sitting position. Sapphire immediately put her hooves on her chest. “You need to rest.” “When I get comfortable,” Midnight said, ignoring the hooves and pain and pushing herself up, only to compromise and settle for an inclined position. She would have stretched her wings out as well, but they were bandaged to her barrel. Probably for the best. Beds with mares, stallions, and even the odd foal were arranged throughout the very large room while nurses and doctors filed around them, stopping at this patient or that, checking the clipboards and talking with the pony for a minute before moving on. Many she recognized, thankfully none were her family or immediate friends. “Most are the ones you, Twilight, and Shining rescued from the caverns,” Sapphire confirmed. “The rest were either found in pods or got hurt fighting the changelings off.” A doctor, seeing Midnight was awake, hurried over. “Glad to see you’re awake, Captain Storm. How are you feeling?” “Like a train hit me,” she said. The doctor nodded. “Makes sense; you took a beating, not to mention the magic beam point-blank to the face and being slammed into a column hard enough to crack it. The good news is that, most likely thanks to your half-dragon biology, the injuries weren’t as bad as they could have been and you should be back in your own bed by tomorrow night; we’d like to keep you here for observation just in case since you’ve been out since yesterday. The bad news is that you’ll be sore for almost a month at our best guess, so you might want to talk to the princesses about a temporary replacement while you take it easy. Other than that, you should be able to make the wedding. Don’t hesitate to wave somepony down if you need anything.” Midnight nodded, not bothering to correct him on her biology and waiting until he was a few beds away before snorting at his back. “A month? A broken leg didn’t even take that long…” Then something clicked. “Wait, how did he know I was a captain? And the wedding is still happening?” “Practically everypony knows by now,” Sapphire said, shuffling a bit. “Twilight clarified it for the other bearers and, of course, everypony was down here getting looked over when she told them, so Summer, Orange, and Autumn also heard, and then Windrunner and Scarlet came clean…” She bit her lip and gave her an apologetic look. “As for the wedding, well…” She nodded off to the side. Midnight rested a hoof on her’s. “It was bound to come out sooner or later and I knew the jig was up when we went after the Elements. I’m just surprised it’s filtered down so far.” “Soldiers talk,” said a familiar voice from her other side. “As for the wedding, we agreed morale needed a boost, plus I did propose to her and everything is already set up.” Midnight looked over to find Shining Armor in the next bed over. In the bed next to his was Princess Cadance and the bed after that had Captain Night Skimmer. All three looked in much better condition than when she’d last seen them. Midnight grunted. “Didn’t see you take a hit, and what happened with Princess Luna?” she asked Skimmer. “They had changelings posted outside of her room and knocked her out with spiked milk,” Skimmer said. “By the time we finally got her up, it had been over for a while.” “And I was down in those caverns for a month,” Shining retorted. “I’d like to see you do any better.” They held a level gaze for a few more seconds, then both of them grinned. “Thanks. For everything,” Shining said. “Just doing my job,” Midnight responded, “though I’m glad to see everyone’s alright.” Sapphire and Cadance shared a smile. It might have taken an invasion, but the two captains seemed to finally be getting along. “So, how did we get out of this one?” Midnight asked, laying back with a sigh. “Cadance and I blasted them all out of Canterlot,” Shining said proudly. Midnight raised an eyebrow at him. “How? You were still barely on your hooves from being imprisoned so long and she practically had all her magic drained.” “Alicorns bounce back a lot faster than normal ponies,” Cadance clarified, “As for Shining, I was able to share my magic with him. We were just so happy to be together again that, well, we just kind of focused on that and our magic surged and became a shield that blasted all the changelings out of Canterlot.” “Magic wall of love. Heh, like being pummeled with a deer leg,” Midnight chuckled. Shining grimaced. “Not all the changelings. A lot went flying because they were out in the open, but others were smacked into buildings and walls. The guards who are still on their hooves are rounding them up now.” “Actually...” Sapphire said hesitantly, wincing, “that’s why Squeaks isn’t here right now.” Midnight had noticed the lack of a young thestral at her bedside but had chalked it up to her resting as well. “You know how close she was with Honeysuckle; when it turned out she was one of them…” “That’s something else we’re going to have to do,” Shining interrupted. “We need to find everypony the changelings impersonated. Can you think of any point that Honeysuckle suddenly changed, even just a little bit? A personality quirk that came or went out of the blue?” “Not now Shining,” Cadance chided. “Midnight’s still recovering and the guard has her downstairs with the other changelings; we’ve got plenty of time to talk with her at our leisure.” “Yeah, but Honeysuckle might not,” he said, a hard light in his eyes. Midnight’s eyes, in contrast, became thoughtful. Yes, Honeysuckle, or Honeycomb, if Chrysalis was at all to be believed, was indeed a changeling, or at least had been impersonating the unicorn. That said, she’d never seen Squeaks, Sapphire, or Windrunner look as haggard as Cadance had. And Chrysalis had seemed pretty venomous towards her once her disguise was gone. And she had protected Squeaks and the others when Chrysalis had attacked them. Or was she just protecting her food source? Her train of thought was interrupted by a commotion at the infirmary entrance. Looking up, she could see her mother, Squeaks on her back, the bearers, Ember, Forest, Spine, and the entire bearer guard outside and arguing with the guards on duty. She was about to call out for the guard to let them in when she saw the doorway had odd-looking, faintly green lanterns near the top of it. “What are those?” she asked the room in general. “Lanterns with an anti-disguise spell on them,” Night Skimmer explained. “If a changeling in disguise gets too close, it shorts it out. Every doorway has them and the ward for the changeling prisoners has one on every bed. This way none of them can sneak out or any remaining outside get in.” Midnight hummed to herself thoughtfully, then noticed the doctor coming by again. “Hey, doc,” she called out, “are we allowed visitors now?” “Of course,” he said. “I suppose the crowd outside is here to see you?” “I’d bet money.” “Then I’ll let the guard know to let them in. I’d ask that they not stay too long though… oh…” he bowed, and they all looked back to the doorway to see Celestia and Luna leading the others inside. “Your majesties,” all three captains, Sapphire, and the doctor said. “Aunties,” Cadance added. “Hello everypony; it’s good to see you all doing so well,” Celestia said with a nod. “Had worse,” Midnight said with a shrug as she ran a hoof through Squeaks’ mane. The filly had her head propped over the bed side while Sapphire held her up. She looked as worried as when she’d seen Midnight after the hydra attack. “Not something I’d like to hear,” Summer said, disapprovingly, “Captain.” ‘Oh pony-feathers.’ “I didn’t exactly like keeping it a secret…” Midnight started lamely, wincing a bit at her mother’s glare. “Then when were y’all gonna tell us?” Applejack asked, giving her a penetrating stare of her own. Of course it would be the Bearer of Honesty who’d be the most ticked off. “My little ponies, please,” Celestia said, cutting off any further questions or points, “I was the one who told her to keep the bearer guard secret. I was concerned that if the guard was known things might change dramatically between you all. It was felt that a secret guard could better protect you from unforeseen dangers and help tremendously with others.” “Such as Discord,” Midnight clarified, “or bunyips,” she gave AJ a look and the apple farmer looked away. “Or diamond dogs.” It was Rarity’s turn to blush. “Or hydras, or potential war with the buffalo…” “Alright, alright, we get the picture,” Rainbow said. “Still sucks you didn’t tell us.” “Actually, I’m surprised it isn’t bigger, now that I think about it,” Twilight said, looking around. “That’s a very good point, Twily,” Shining said, shooting Midnight a smirk. “Shining,” Cadance warned. Darn it, they were finally getting along! “Because,” Midnight growled out, sending him back a death-glare, “the criteria for induction into the Bearer Guard, which Captain Armor knew about, was that they couldn’t be existing guards you could recognize and who could become friends with at least one of you so they could stay close.” “Wait, so Windrunner hangs out with me because you ordered her to?” Dash asked with a betrayed tone, looking over at the other pegasus. Windrunner winced. “No,” Midnight said for her. “I asked her to become part of the guard and she agreed. I asked her because she was getting along so well with you. No-one was ordered to like anyone else.” “Okay,” AJ spoke up, mollified. “So when did Scarlet and Tight join in?” It was Midnight’s turn to wince. “The same time as Night Sky, Star Claw, Dark Cleaver, Wild Mane, Hazelnut, Blackberry, Dandelion, and Spread Eagle.” “Wait, it was only you and Windrunner for that whole time!?” Twilight yelp. “Yeah… I’ll admit to there being some flaws with the whole thing,” Midnight shot another look at Shining, “but it wasn’t all cut and dry like the other guard branches; we couldn’t just openly ask for recruits.” “Which is probably going to change now,” Scarlet amended. Midnight nodded, her face becoming thoughtful. “So, um, does this mean there’s going to be guards following us around from now on?” Fluttershy asked nervously. “No…” Midnight said slowly, eyeing Celestia and Luna. When neither contradicted her, she continued. “The whole point of keeping the guard a secret was to not disrupt your lives, which, seeing how the Elements work, is still a priority. They might follow you but nowhere near as close as they do for the Princesses. Your friends are still your friends, they just know what to do if things go sideways.” “Truth,” Princess Luna added. “The six of thee create Equestria’s strongest defense and have already faced such level of crisis thrice. It would be folly not to have others making sure thou art safe and not brought low when the realm would have need of thee the most.” “Well, when you put it that way…” Twilight said. “So does that mean we just lost two work-hooves for the farm?” AJ asked. “I don’t see why they can’t still work on the farm,” Midnight said. “The whole point was to be discrete and it would be best if they stayed on the farm.” “But if everypony has another job, how can they be effective guards?” Twilight asked. “Again, we needed cover,” Midnight pointed out “and I already had a job. Sapphire was the one who made sure everyone was informed. Now, however,” she turned to the princesses, “I think it would be best, now that everyone knows and won’t ask awkward questions, that we all have some dragon fire to help stay in touch, maybe even use colored paper as codes for even quicker response.” “Does that mean you’ll finally let Princess Celestia teach you how to use flame mail?” Spike asked. Midnight snorted. “Tartarus no. Remember how you said Garble threw away that letter from Celestia? The one that would have told us about this particular wedding?” “Oh, yeah,” Spike said with a wince. “Well, it would be kinda bad if, say, I got captured and I coughed up a note with our battle plan right into the enemy’s hooves. It would also screw up my hunting. No, I’ll take a dragon fire lighter as well, thanks.” “Also,” Night Sky spoke up, “now that the guard is no longer secret, we can be full-time guards. Our families can run those businesses without us.” “And since you’re in the Everfree a lot anyway, you’ll be the first one to run into any trouble out there, which leaves us free to keep an eye on things in town,” Hazelnut added. That was true. Even if she stopped being a woodcutter, she’d still spend time in there hunting. That would make her the buffer for Fluttershy. Windrunner would still hang out with Rainbow, Scarlet and Tight would be able to cover AJ, the other three would be kept an eye on by the five truly trained guards, and the thestrals could be on patrol all night. It was effective cover for what they had now and would be the basis for how any new guards, and there would be after this, were stationed. As she mulled the idea around, she looked down and saw Squeaks still looked distressed. “Hey, what’s with the long face?” she asked, rubbing her cheek gently. “I’ll be out of here by tomorrow.” Squeaks’ ears wilted. “Honey won’t.” “We’ll find her soon,” Midnight assured her. She hoped that the changeling had taken her after they had met her, otherwise Squeaks would really have lost a friend. However, Squeaks just wilted further at Midnight’s words. Midnight looked up at Sapphire with a raised eyebrow. The pegasus bit her lip but refused to say anything. A quick look at Summer showed the unicorn with the same exasperated look she had given her at times now aimed at Squeaks. The bit dropped. ‘Oh, horse apples’ “Squeaks,” Midnight said slowly, “there’s no proof that the changeling downstairs is-” “She protected us!” Squeaks piped up suddenly. “She kept us safe when the queen attacked us! She didn’t let any changelings get us!” “Probably just protecting her food,” Shining snarled. “She wasn’t!” Squeaks insisted. “Squeaks,” Midnight said, calmly but firmly and deliberately ignoring Shining. “We don’t know why she did what she did but she is a changeling, which means she took someone’s place, which means she foalnapped someone and hid them away somewhere. We have to find that someone and she has to be punished for it.” She could see Squeaks’ eyes getting wet and she pulled the filly up onto the bed with her, where she silently curled into her side, looking even smaller than usual. “She protected us,” she said, quietly and pleadingly. “After you, she’s been asking about her all day,” Sapphire told her. She glanced over at Summer and Shining. “You can imagine how some ponies are taking that.” “She’s probably under some kind of spell to make her sympathize with it,” Shining said. “The sooner we snap her out of it, the better.” “Shining!” Cadance snapped. “Enough! She’s confused and scared enough as it is!” “She’s defending a changeling!” He hissed back. “Because everyone of the same race is exactly the same,” Midnight huffed. “Just like Spike and Spine are jerks because they’re dragons-” Said dragons huffed. “I’m not a jerk like Grable was!” Spine said. “Yeah!” Spike agreed. “- and Gilda was a jerk because all griffons are jerks-” “I said I was sorry,” Rainbow shot back. “- and all phoenixes love to make mischief.” “She’s always been a bit of a trouble maker,” Celestia admitted. “I believe the point you’re trying to make is that just because she’s a changeling doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt?” Midnight nodded. “I will admit that she most likely took the real Honeysuckle’s place. However, I also haven’t seen any of us look as haggard as Cadance since she started living with us and there IS the matter of her defending everyone when she could have simply ran off or helped the invasion. The way Chrysalis acted towards her I really don’t think she was part of it; more likely she was from a different group or even a rogue on her own and got caught in the mix. Of course,” she looked pointedly at the princesses, “we won’t know anything until someone speaks with her; loosens her lips and everything.” Celestia and Luna shared a quick glance. “We will look into arranging the matter,” Celestia said. “In the meantime, please relax and focus on getting better.” Midnight nodded. “Of course and thank you for visiting us.” Both princesses smiled and nodded before turning back towards the doorway. “Well, ponies keepin’ an eye on us’ll take some gettin’ used to,” AJ said, “but I think we know now why ya did it. Thanks for helpin’ us out when ya did.” “No charge,” Midnight said with a grin. “Don’t be afraid to give us some feedback, either. Now that you know we’re around, we need to work together to make things comfortable.” The bearers all said agreements and goodbyes before filing out of the room after the princesses. “Well, it’s not the most reckless thing you’ve done,” Summer said with a sigh. “Then again, you never had to go to the hospital,” her eyes narrowed, “twice.” “Mom…” Midnight started, then sighed as well. “I know this might sound weird, especially how exasperated I get with how things go sometimes, but… it just feels right, almost like it would be my cutie mark if I didn’t already have one.” Her eyes tabled. “And it’s not like I deliberately throw myself in the meat grinder, I’m just more durable than others and survive worse.” “That doesn’t mean I have to like it,” Summer said, “but… I can respect how you feel about it.” She looked up at the ceiling and let out a long breath. “Just… promise me you’ll be careful and not do anything reckless?” Midnight raised an eyebrow. “Again, you think I’m a masochist?” Summer rolled her eyes and nuzzled her. “Get well soon,” she looked down at Squeaks, “and please help her understand.” “I will, now go on, shoo! I need my beauty sleep, according to everyone.” Summer stuck her tongue at her but turned away with a smile. Forest and Ember, after a quick, hushed word with Spine, also said their goodbyes and left, leaving Spine behind. Once the three were out of earshot, Sapphire turned back to her. “What are you up to?” Midnight blinked innocently. “What?” “Don’t “what” me; I saw the look you gave the princesses. You’re up to something and I want to know. I’ve been worried about you and it ends now.” “Sapphire,” Midnight started, then stopped. Sapphire looked to be on the verge of tears and she realized just how upset she’d made her marefriend. Sighing, she motioned for Sapphire to lean in close. When she did, she whispered her plan. “Midnight…” Sapphire said, disapproval clear on her face, but then she just shrugged. “Fine, just promise me you’ll have others there with you!” Midnight leaned over and nuzzled her. “Don’t worry, it’s simple, straightforward, and everything is already taken care of, plus I already planned to have a few of the guard with me, just in case.” She looked down at Squeaks. “Just stay with her tonight, okay?” Sapphire nuzzled her back. “Of course.” “And what can I do for you, Spine?” Midnight asked, turning her attention to the dragon. Spine twitched his wings. “How much is a guard paid?” ----------------------------- “Are you sure about this?” Windrunner asked quietly as she, Night Sky, and Wild Mane followed Midnight down the stairwell. The empty and dark halls of the castle during the night were rather foreboding. The thoughts of changelings hiding in the shadows ready to pounce didn’t help. “I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t,” Midnight said, eyes fixed ahead determinedly. “Lucky break the other captains and princess were already released by the time we came,” Mane noted, “or that none of the doctors saw us leave.” Midnight’s ear flicked. “Anypony ever tell you you’re too observant, sergeant?” Mane smiled. “Once or twice.” The smile fell. “Captain, permission to speak freely.” “Granted.” “Aren’t you taking this a little personally? Wouldn’t it be better for somepony else to do this?” Midnight slowed. “Possibly, but I was also the one who came up with this plan-” “After barely a minute,” Sky pointed out, fiddling with the pouch fastened around her neck. “-and I’m going to see it enacted properly. Tell me something sergeant: if we saw a draconequus, not Discord but a new one entirely, around the bend right now, what would you do? What would you think?” Mane blinked. “Call an alarm, keep it pinned if I could until reinforcements arrive.” “Why?” “Because it’s a draconequus. I can see what you’re getting at, ma’am, but at the same time, to continue with your imagined situation, the only draconequus we’ve ever met was Discord. This is the first time most ponies have ever even heard of changelings, much less met any, and they didn’t exactly cover themselves with good cheer when they dropped out of the sky.” “And all of Honeycomb’s actions up to and during the invasion run counter to what Chrysalis was doing,” Midnight said as they rounded another corner and the entrance to the changeling ward came into view. “It could still be a ruse; a backup plan,” Windrunner said. “I get the feeling that Chrysalis was already using several back up plans,” Midnight said, “Either way, there is such a thing as being so clever you outsmart yourself and I don’t think her snarling at Honeycomb was acting.” They reached the two guards blocking the entrance way. “Captain Storm, First Lieutenant Windrunner, Sergeant Night Sky, and Sergeant Wild Mane of the Bearer Guard,” Midnight announced as she and the other three snapped salutes. “We’re here to conduct an interrogation.” The two privates saluted as well but looked at each other. “We weren’t told anything about an interrogation, ma’am,” the left one said, his eyes sliding towards the two lanterns hanging above the doorway. Midnight mentally sighed. She couldn’t blame them for being on alert. She stepped further into the lanterns’ light, making sure their light gleamed on her fur. Both guards visibly relaxed. “The decision was made last minute,” Midnight admitted. “I’ve already informed the princesses, however if there is anyone else you can spare, you can have them confirm that with the princesses while we wait.” The two guards looked at each other again. “We’re not concerned that you don’t have clearance, ma’am,” the one on the right said, “just that, given what you were able to do to their queen, your presence might agitate the prisoners to the point of riot.” “I understand the concern,” Midnight agreed with a nod, “and if things start to get out of hoof, I can assure you, not only will I leave immediately, but I will send the rest of the bearer guard down to assist you in regaining control of the situation.” The guards hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Is there a particular prisoner you wish to see?” the left one asked. “Perhaps we can direct you to them.” Midnight nodded. “I’m looking for the female changeling with the honey-colored mane.” The right guard nodded. “Half way down and against the right-hoof wall. Shouldn’t be hard to miss since she’s the only one in there with an actual mane.” “Thank you,” Midnight nodded, slipping through the doorway with Windrunner, Sky, and Mane close behind. The ward was about the same size as the one she’d been in with what looked like just as many beds. Two nurses, a pegasus and a unicorn, wound their way through the sea of beds. They looked up, caught Midnight’s eye, then went back to their work. The difference here was that each bed had a changeling in it and a lantern hanging off it, the lanterns being the only sources of light in the nighttime darkness. Some gnawed at the restraints on their front legs securing them to their beds, others tried disguising themselves, only to flash back to their original forms. Some of those were going at it constantly, possibly in some kind of attempt to overwhelm the lanterns. The rest, however, laid still, asleep, too injured to even move, or just lying awake and seemed to be lost in thought. Honeycomb was one of those. She sat up straight in her bed but her eyes were down and staring at nothing. Midnight slowed as they approached, her coat letting her stay more or less hidden from the changeling’s sight. She had only gotten a glance at her when she’d been revealed, focused as she was on tearing Chrysalis’ throat out, and she only knew she was larger than the other changelings save the queen and had the same honey-colored mane her unicorn disguise had. Face-wise, she looked like any normal pony with the same kind of muzzle, if a bit more square-shaped like Celestia’s or Luna’s with two small fangs sticking out. Her fur… chitin… skin, whatever, was the same jet black as the other changelings but at the same time seemed softer. Her mane, kept straight and at a modest length in her pony disguise, was long and voluminous and seemed to glow in the light from the lantern. The horn sticking out of her head had, like her legs, holes in them but possibly not as many as Chrysalis had. It was shaped like a kukri knife with the point aimed towards her back. Her wings were just as insect-like as Chrysalis’ but they came out of a spot on her back that was just as honey-gold in color as her mane, as were her eyes. That pattern of coloration had been the same as Chrysalis only the queen’s had been a blue-green color. Midnight could only imagine her tail was the same as her mane. As Midnight got closer, Honeycomb finally looked up at the sound of approaching hoofsteps. The moment she saw who it was she looked away quickly, trying to hide her face with her mane. ‘No wonder she and Fluttershy got along so well together’ Midnight thought as she reached the side of the bed and sat down, Windrunner, Sky, and Mane taking up positions behind her. It was then she realized that Fluttershy also never looked like Cadance had when Chrysalis had been feeding on her love. Maybe she’d been feeding off a cocooned Honeysuckle? A shiver ran up the kirin’s spine. It didn’t seem like the question to start with, nor could she think of just what to get things moving. She felt betrayed, sure, but also confused and curious. She didn’t even know what tone she wanted to use. They stayed there for a few minutes in silence. “How long?” Midnight finally said, her voice low but sharp with accusation. Honeycomb flinched like Midnight had just cut her but stayed silent. “How long have you been impersonating Honeysuckle? Was it even her decision to come to Ponyville, or was that you fleeing the scene… or escaping with your larder?” Again, Honeycomb flinched. Midnight suspected that was going to happen a lot tonight. “Well?” “There…” she finally spoke up, then swallowed. “There never was a… a Honeysuckle,” Honeycomb said quietly. “I… I created her.” Her voice had almost that same duel-voice effect Chrysalis had but it was also distinctly Honeysuckle’s. Midnight snorted. She was tempted to say “liar” to see how she would react but bit it back. “From what I understand, changelings take the place of a pony to feed off the love for that pony.” “Not all of us.” “Explain.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw Windrunner discreetly scribbling into a notepad. That bit of paper would be the key to her whole plan, after what was in the pouch Night was carrying anyway. ‘One point for her being different’ she thought. “I…” Honeycomb began, then swallowed. “We’re not supposed to talk about ourselves with other races.” “A good way to let others think the worst of you,” Midnight snapped. “You want to put your species into our good graces? You want us to not throw any of your kind in jail just for being what you are? Look me in the eye and explain it to me!” Honeycomb jumped at the sudden raise in volume and looked up at the kirn. To her surprise, Midnight’s eyes weren’t ice cold, nor did they look accusing. They were twin pools of blue fire, searching for something only she had the answers to and she would grill her until she got those answers. Fire could be warm and comforting or burning and painful; right now she couldn’t tell which kind of fire burned in the kirin’s eyes. “I… I don’t know where to start,” she admitted. The fire in Midnight’s eyes lost some of their intensity. “Why did Queen Chrysalis and her army come to Canterlot? If all they were looking for was food, why didn’t they start with a town on the edge of Equestria? You were trying to tell me something the day I got captured and Sapphire said you tried again right before the wedding. Were you trying to warn us about the invasion? Why did you insist how important that was?” Honeycomb shook her head. “I don’t know. I was banished from… from Aunt Chrysalis’ hive four or five years ago.” That made all the bearer guards present raise an eyebrow. “Aunt Chrysalis?” Midnight repeated. Honeycomb nodded. “Yes. I ended up living with her for nearly a year after…” she trailed off, her golden eyes beginning to shine with wetness. “Actually, I think I know where to start,” she said. “As for what I was trying to say, I was trying to warn you that changelings were in the castle but then I didn’t think you’d believe me unless I showed you what I was and… I was scared you’d throw me in prison or banish me. I didn’t want to be alone again.” Midnight only nodded for her to continue. Honeycomb took a deep breath. “My grandmother, Queen Monarch, had three daughters; my oldest aunt, Spinneret, my second aunt, Chrysalis, and my mother, Ambrosia. All three eventually left her hive and created hives of their own.” “Wait a second,” Midnight interrupted, “if both your grandmother and aunt were, are, queens, then does that mean your mother was a queen, too?” Honeycomb nodded. “Yes, that makes me a princess, in a sense.” Midnight looked back at the other three, who were giving her equally surprisingly, confused stares. The two nurses, who were much closer now, also raised their eyebrows. “Just so you know, the terms “queen” and “hive” don’t exactly mean the same thing for us as they do for insects,” Honeycomb clarified. “A “hive” for us is something other races would call a “city-state”, although its structure could resemble something of a hive. Each one is ruled by their own queen, which I guess is straightforward enough, since they really do rule, unlike a mayor. Changelings live and work within the hive like regular ponies do.” “Then why attack us?” Midnight repeated. “It started soon after my grandmother passed. The badlands have always been tough to live in but the hives prospered. Then, without warning, our crops just started to die off.” “Crops?” Midnight asked. For the first time Honeycomb actually smiled. “Changelings don’t feed off love exclusively; we only use it to help with digestion. Other than that, we can eat anything any other race can eat. It wouldn’t help to replace somepony, only to be outed because we didn’t like their favorite food.” She took a breath, and her eyes became distant. “All three hives began to panic as year after year the harvest became less and less fruitful. Finally, Aunt Spinneret called for an invasion of Equestria, arguing that why should we starve while the ponies, our prey…” she stopped, swallowed, then continued, “while the ponies got fat off their own land which seemed to become more bountiful every year. Aunt Chrysalis and my mother kept meeting with her, kept reminding her that we couldn’t reveal ourselves, kept telling her that even if she succeeded, her method of collecting love would bring the full might of Equestria down on us…” she trailed off. “Her… method?” Midnight prodded. Honeycomb smiled again but it was an unamused one. “It’s funny; three hives each practicing different ways to gather love. You’ve seen how Aunt Chrysalis does it; replacing a pony and putting them in a cocoon. The thing is, if things were fine back home, the changelings of her hive would still have replaced a victim, but kept the pony in the cocoon alive and simply switched them back after a week or two. It would be like the pony just hit their heads and forgot the time they were captive. You could say she was the middle ground. Aunt Spinnerets’ method was… her changelings would immediately and forcefully drain a pony of their love, which more often than not… killed them. Then they would take their place and actively drain the ponies around them. When they finally felt they’d collected enough love, they often left behind a few more dead or dying ponies. If Aunt Spinneret had her way, it would have been a massacre and Equestria would not only know of us but declare war on us as well. So, my mother and Aunt Chrysalis went to war with her. As bad as things were, the war made it even worse. In the end mother and Aunt Chrysalis won but Aunt Spinneret and most of her hive were dead, as were many of our own dedicated warriors.” “The ones with armor,” Midnight noted. Honey nodded. “Even warrior changelings are weaker than pony guards but didn’t it seem strange that the bearers and the rest of the guard were able to fight the other changelings so easily?” “That was weird,” Mane spoke up. “We blew through them like wet paper, even when they ganged up on us. Only thing that stopped us were those stunning spells.” “Starved and without training; of course they would be,” Honeycomb said. “Wait, so those were civilian changelings fighting out there?” Midnight asked. Honeycomb nodded. “It’s obviously so bad that Aunt Chrysalis led every changeling from the hive on this invasion; the hive is most likely empty right now.” So, Chrysalis wasn’t lying about coming here for food. This wasn’t even a real invasion; it was last, desperate food raid centered on where they believed the most love was. With the alicorn of love, a virtual unending fount of the stuff, and a royal wedding, it was practically impossible for them to pass it up. All that talk of further invading Equestria must have been the adrenaline talking. “So, your mother and Chrysalis won; what happened next?” Midnight asked, gentler than before. “Things actually got better for a time but that was because there were fewer mouths to feed. Soon enough, though, we were all starving again.” “You told us how your aunts collected love,” Midnight interrupted. “How did your mom do it?” Honeycomb smiled. “The hardest and least productive way but with better long-term results. Her way was to study the ponies of an area, then tailor our magic to disguise us as a whole new pony who would “just recently arrive in town”. Of course they’d be disguised as a pony who would be loved by as many as possible but they would only collect love that was sent their way, not drain it if at all possible and even then only small sips the pony wouldn’t even notice. That way they could eventually slip in and out whenever they wanted to, even a different changeling each time as long as they had the same disguise. I think my mother was actually trying to get away from us living in hives. She often said it would be better if we just integrated with pony society, one or two families to a town.” She frowned. “Aunt Chrysalis disagreed, saying that it would be the end of us as a species if we did that. Both my mother and I thought she was exaggerating because supposedly grandmother had sisters of her own somewhere else. “It didn’t matter. Aunt Chrysalis refused to listen and even threatened to declare war on our hive, too, if we tried to leave the badlands en masse. I think mom told any changeling going on a collection run to find someplace to stay and not come back since fewer and fewer of them ever did. I don’t know if Aunt Chrysalis knew and her threat was an empty one or if she truly didn’t know but it was easy to see that our hive was steadily shrinking.” Honeycomb took a deep breath and steadied herself. “Then one day, my mother wasn’t able to get out of bed. I hadn’t noticed until then but she kept taking smaller and smaller portions of food and love for herself and had her tenders give them to me. At that point, she practically refused either, only taking enough until Aunt Chrysalis could arrive.” Her voice began to waiver and her eyes became wet. “She… she was so fragile-looking that day, laying in bed, barely able to move and thin… she almost looked like a completely different changeling…” She took another deep breath. “When Aunt Chrysalis arrived, my mother begged her to take me and the rest of the changelings remaining in the hive into her own, like they’d done with what had been left of Aunt Spinnerets’. Aunt Chrysalis agreed, then mother turned to me, said she loved me, and then… and then…” None of the others pressed her to continue as she quietly cried. Midnight even fidgeted like she wanted to comfort Honeycomb. The pegasus nurse with the pink mane came over with a cup of water, which she pressed into Honeycomb’s hooves when she’d calmed down enough. She nodded the nurse her thanks when she finished the water, took several ragged but steadying breaths, then continued. “We left the hive the next day, after we… after the funeral. Things seemed better at Aunt Chrysalis’ hive but not by much. Things continued to get worse and as they did so, she started to say things to me. Little things at first, like how much food and love I was taking and how I might consider giving some to the hive’s foals. Then… then she started saying other things. Like, how it was odd I seemed as healthy as I was when other changeling from my hive weren’t, how mother had been wasting away while I continued to “prance about without a care in the world”.” Honeycomb paused again, then continued, confirming what Midnight had already guessed at. “Eventually, she just came out and said it: I was the reason my mother died. I had greedily eaten my fill while she had barely anything. It didn’t matter that she’d given me it willingly and hadn’t let me know, I was supposed to have divined it and convinced her to let me starve so she could keep the hive going. It was my fault the hive itself was gone. “One day she had me brought to her throne room and told me she was banishing me from the hive. She said such a greedy worm that destroyed hives wasn’t to be tolerated and that she wasn’t simply executing me because I was my mother’s daughter and the last thing she could do to honor her sister’s memory was allow me to leave the hive alive. That was that; I was thrown out with only a few things to my name and no idea where to go. It took me a day to remember that my mother had sent changeling up into Equestria to live among the ponies, so, in the end, that’s what I did. I flew north until I left the badlands, then flew towards the ocean. I’d always wanted to see it and I soon came upon a small fishing village. After a few days there, acting like a shipwreck victim who’d lost her memory, I overheard one of the ponies talk about how one could lose themselves in a big city. Once I learned about Baltimare, I took off and the rest… the rest you know.” Midnight nodded slowly. If her story was true, then it meant that she was right and, more importantly, it painted the “invasion” and changelings in general in a better light. They might even manage to save some lives. “Well there it is,” a voice said. They all looked up at the changeling glaring at them from the next bed down. “Queen Chrysalis was right; you are a traitor.” “Even if that means your species won’t starve?” Midnight asked. “I’d think you’d treat her more as a hero than a traitor.” “She IS a hero,” another voice said, and they turned to the bed on the other side. “Do you really think Queen Chrysalis is going to somehow bounce back from this, free us all, and take over Equestria?” She, it sounded more like a she, scoffed. “The hives are finished; Queen Ambrosia was right the whole time.” “So we’re to just bow to our food!?” The first changeling shot back. “We beg another species for forgiveness and mercy for our poor decisions!” The second snapped. She looked at Honeycomb. “Princess Honeycomb, do you remember me?” Honeycomb squinted in the dull light, then her eyes widened in recognition. “Verpine?” When the changeling nodded, she turned back to Midnight. “She was one of the royal tenders for my mother.” “I can corroborate her story,” Verpine said, shifting in her bed. “We should have ignored Chrysalis and left when we could; there would have been no way she could have followed all of us and without our numbers she might not have done this!” Midnight raised a hoof and Verpine fell silent. “I appreciate your input and I want to believe your story, really I do.” She sighed heavily. “However, and you have no idea how much it pains me to say it, by your very nature I can’t. Trust is a two way street and you’ve broken that trust very badly.” Honeycomb nodded slowly, finally leaning back into her bed. “That said, I’m not done here,” Midnight continued. She gestured to Sky, who opened the pouch around her neck and produced a vial of unbelievably clear liquid. It looked like the bottle wasn’t even there if it wasn’t for the cork and the top of the liquid sloshing around as Sky hoofed it to Midnight. “Drink this,” she said, holding the vial up. Honeycomb looked between the vial and Midnight’s face, trying to determine what the liquid was. “If you want me to trust your story is true, then I need you to trust me.” Midnight told her, giving the vile a gentle shake. “Do you?” Honeycomb silently stared at the vile for a second, two, three… “Yes,” she finally said, reaching out for the vial. Midnight nodded and gently put the vial into Honeycomb’s hoof. The changeling uncorked it, stared at it again for another second, then drank it. The best way she could describe it was like cold, liquid glass running down her throat and coating it. She shivered. “Now,” Midnight said, and Honeycomb couldn’t help but notice a small smile playing at the corners of her lips as Windrunner hoofed her the pad. “Where is Honeysuckle?” ----------------------------- As it was, the week getting ready for the real wedding was equal parts hectic and mind-numbingly boring. On the hectic side was obviously putting together a wedding in only a week, even with a lot already set up, but there was also the matter of organizing the guards (the ones that could stand and were released from doctors) into manageable shifts and arguing with practically every pony who brought the subject up why Honeycomb should be released immediately. The veritum serum had proved Honey had been telling the truth. That meant that, changeling or not, Honeycomb was indeed one of her housemates and a very close friend. Her own guard, Sapphire, and especially Squeaks, stood with her that Honey wasn’t a danger and needed to be among friends. Summer, Orange, Autumn, Forest, Ember, Spine, and the bearers were at least willing to give her the benefit of the doubt when Midnight explained about the truth serum. Shining was not. Serum or not, in his mind any and all changelings were guilty and he and Midnight were back to fighting until she was practically spitting fire and his horn was vibrating. At that point the princesses themselves intervened. “Captain Armor,” Celestia had said while Cadance had shot him a disapproving look, “the veritum serum has proven that Princess Honeycomb is telling the truth about her involvement. Both Princess Luna and myself can attest to the serum’s power.” Before the smug look on Midnight’s face could get any bigger, Celestia had turned to her. “Captain Storm, although Princess Honeycomb is indeed not a criminal, she is, unfortunately, still guilty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She will be released,” she assured the kirin, who’d begun to protest, “but only after going through official channels. That being said, the matter is closed. Is that understood by you both?” Midnight and Shining both unhappily nodded. In a show of what she had to admit later was petty prodding on her part, Midnight had allowed Squeaks to visit Honey in the changeling ward every day for as long and often as she wished. Shining had countered by having a guard with them at all times. Thus the argument continued, albeit in a more polite fashion. On the mind-numbingly boring side was the time she had to spend “recuperating” (laying around for hours on end, often while everyone was out getting the wedding ready) or on actual guard duty, which meant standing around rigidly and silently for hours on end. It was getting so bad she almost wished Chrysalis would come back for revenge. It would be SOMETHING productive to do, in any case. Something did finally happen the day before the wedding, however. Honey’s official release had finally come down and Midnight, Sapphire, and Squeaks were there to pick her up and bring her back to their guest suite to talk about what to do next. As they were about to leave, twenty changelings, mostly centered around where Honey’s bed had been, flashed white instead of the usual green and their originally blue-ish-green colors became the same honey color as Honeycomb’s. The changeling princess stared dumbfounded at them as the guards on duty raced into the wing, weapons drawn. “Wait!” Honey called out, and Midnight physically put herself between the guards and changelings when they ignored her. “What’s going on?” Midnight asked, watching both sides carefully. “No two living queens have the same color,” Honeycomb said quietly, still staring at the newly colored changelings. “A changeling’s allegiance is shown by what colors they sport. Mother was blue, Aunt Spinneret was blood red, and Aunt Chrysalis is blue-green.” “And you’re honey-colored,” Midnight said, realization dawning. “That means…” Honey swallowed. “That means they’ve just proclaimed me their new queen.” “We’ll have to tell the princesses about this,” Midnight said. When Honey looked back to her, she was surprised that she didn’t look concerned. She looked thoughtful. “Does that mean you’ve got your own army now?” Squeaks asked. “I…” Honey looked back up at the now honey-colored changelings smiling back at her. “Maybe, in a complicated way.” “We’ll get it sorted out,” Midnight assured her, laying a comforting wing across her back. “Right now, we need to get you to Rarity so she can get your dress together for tomorrow.” Honey blinked. “Tomorrow? But… that’s-” “Eeyup,” Midnight said, imitating Big Mac. “You had an invitation, too, you recall.” “But… but… after everything that’s happened?” Honey stammered. Midnight shrugged. “So? You’re a friend; what other reason do we need?” Honey stared at Midnight, then grinned meekly. “Thank you,” she said quietly. “Sweet makers above it’s no wonder you and Fluttershy get along so well,” Midnight said with a roll of her eyes as she turned to leave. “The two of you are timid to a fault!” Sapphire smacked her with a wing. ----------------------------- Honeycomb shuffled nervously as she stood between Squeaks and Long Spine. While a part of her was relieved and honored that she was even allowed to be there, she also just wanted to leave. The amount of angry glares she was getting made it clear what most ponies thought of her being in attendance. Then again, that might have been why Midnight had set her where she was; Squeaks on one side for a friendly and comforting hoof and Spine on the other to intimidate anypony who might get ideas. Honey felt that possibility was remote with Midnight and her entire guard decked out in their formal uniforms all around. They weren’t on duty, the day guard having filled back out, but most had been invited as guests and Midnight had been told that extra security couldn’t hurt. Much to Summer’s chagrin, of course. “And I had the dress all ready to go!” “And Princess Celestia asked that I come in uniform and heavens forbid I disobey the princess!” At Summer’s look, Midnight rolled her eyes and sighed. “Mom, I was looking forward to the dress! Really!” Summer just turned her nose up with a huff. There had been some debate over the uniforms between Rarity and Midnight while the unicorn had been fitting Honey and working on her dress. She agreed that silver complimented the kirin nicely, although it did clash with the epaulets adorned with the bearers’ coat colors. Further, silver wasn’t the best color to match with the rest of the Bearer Guard. Midnight agreed with the epaulets but pointed out that, out of the gold armor the day guards wore, the red of their dress uniforms didn’t go well with many of their colors and dark purple didn’t go well with most natural coat colors of the night guard. They finally reached an agreement, with Celestia’s blessings when they brought her into the conversation. Midnight’s dress uniform would remain silver but the epaulets would be bordered with gold, complementing both the silver of the uniform and the coat colors on the epaulets. Windrunner’s dress uniform, a dark blue with the same epaulets, would have the same gold embroidered onto the epaulets and be the standard dress uniform color for the rest of the Bearer Guard, leaving the silver of Midnight’s uniform as a symbol of her rank as head of the guard. Since the entirety of said guard would be in attendance for the wedding the following day, Rarity had Midnight gather up the rest of the guard for fittings so she could have all the uniforms done by the next morning. As the guards filed in to be fitted, Celestia sat down next to Honey, making the changeling fidget uncomfortably. The leader of the race her kind had used as a food source and had so recently tried to take over and here she was, relaxing next to her as if nothing had happened. It made Honey wonder just how well the alicorn of the sun could mask her true feelings. “Queen Chrysalis is the only face of the changelings my little ponies know right now,” she’d finally said. “Y-yes?” Honey answered back, not knowing what else to say to that. “It would be better, for the ponies of Equestria and the remaining changelings of the Badlands to have another public face to counteract Chrysalis’, don’t you agree?” Honey’s face flushed. “I-I don’t think I’m…” She trailed off as Celestia laid an ivory wing on her back, silencing her. “You are stronger than you realize and already some are turning to you for guidance, Princess Honeycomb.” She smiled. “Or should I say Queen Honeycomb, after the display in the changeling ward?” Honey ducked her head. “I’m not a leader; I don’t even know where to start!” “Would you like to know a secret, from one ruler to another?” Celestia asked, still smiling. Honey nodded and the alicorn leaned over conspiratorially. “When Luna and I first started, we had no idea what we were doing either.” Honey blinked, trying to imagine the two alicorns looking as lost and unsure of themselves as she felt now. “What did you do?” “We surrounded ourselves with those we trusted who we knew would get the job done while we smiled and waved. We watched and learned from them until we were confident we could make our own decisions while still keeping their councils for the times we were still unsure. You must do the same, seeking advice from those you trust have your best interest at heart and continue to listen to them even when you’re confident enough to make your own judgments.” Honey nodded, taking Celestia’s words in and mulling them over. Like it or not, the changelings in the ward had decreed that she was their new queen and she had to step up to that role. She could ask to stay in Canterlot and shadow the princesses, see how they ran things, but looking over at Midnight and the others gathered around her, she didn’t want to stay in Canterlot. Midnight, Squeaks, Sapphire, and Windrunner had all become like family to her and Midnight was a great matriarch and captain of the guard, someone she could learn from and ask for advice when she fully took that role for her changelings. Honey nodded. “I think I know where to start.” Celestia had only smiled. With that memory at the forefront of her mind, she straightened up and tried to look like she belonged. Her gown, a simple black that faded to a honey yellow around the edges and was open at the back to allow her wings to move, fit her and fit the occasion; elegant but not trying to compete with the bride’s gown. In an effort to subdue the holey nature of her limbs, Rarity had made hoof-shoes for her, also honey-yellow in color, with bands that wrapped up to her knees. Her insect-like wings had long veils on them that waved gently in the soft breeze blowing through the chapel or whenever she vibrated her wings. Her mane had been done up in a similar fashion to what Sapphire wore on a daily basis with only a single black band keeping the end of her mane in place and allowing the rest to bounce with its natural volume. The dress itself was enough to make Honey blush but Celestia had visited their suite that morning and presented Honey with a small, black, three tipped tiara, similar to her own and Princess Luna’s, with a small canary yellow tourmaline set in the middle. It was so small it was barely noticeable in her mane when she’d finally and reluctantly put it on. “A queen should be in her formal best at times like these,” Celestia had said, “and what is a princess or a queen without her crown?” Squeaks had gushed, Sapphire had complimented her, and Midnight had simply shrugged and said “it fits you”. That alone was why Honey hadn’t “accidently” left it behind on her bed. She was just about to ask Midnight what time Squeaks should be in bed that night, an attempt at trying to get things back to normal, when Shining Armor stepped up to the top of the altar steps and the wedding music began to play. This time, the wedding went off without a hitch. The CMC showered the velvet carpet with flowers for Cadance to walk across before ascending to the top of the altar steps with her fiancé. Celestia led the ceremony, announcing how the couple has shown true love and commitment to one another and how the whole of Equestria would gain from the love they shared. Each proclaimed their vows to continue to love one another no matter what might happen and as the rings slid onto their horns and they kissed, sealing their vows, Honey could feel a wave of love emanate from them and the entire chapel. Nervously, she gathered the free-flowing love, only the bits floating her way, as was her nature, and stored the energy in her reserves. The changelings that had announced her as their queen would be released tomorrow and this would help them get back on their hooves. It was a shame that so much love would go to waste and she was tempted to siphon a bit more but stopped herself. This was not the time or the place. However, instead of leaving the altar after their kiss, the newlyweds waited for the cheers to die down somewhat before Princess Cadance raised a wing for silence. “We again want to thank all of you for sharing this special day with us. However, before we can begin to celebrate it properly, we first must acknowledge those who, without their help and sacrifices, would not have made this day possible.” “Would Captain Midnight Storm, Captain Night Skimmer, First Lieutenant Windrunner, First Lieutenant Holly, First Sergeant Hazelnut, Sergeant Wild Mane, Sergeant Night Sky, Corporal Blackberry, Corporal Star Claw, Private Dandelion, Private Spread Eagle, Private Dark Cleaver, Private Scarlet Claw, and Private Tight Fit please come forward,” Celestia asked. Those called out respectfully made their way to the steps of the altar, looking just as confused as the rest of the crowd. “First, we wish to acknowledge Captain Night Skimmer and First Lieutenant Holly for their efforts in rallying the remaining guards once the changeling plot had been discovered,” Shining announced. “With the troops they lead into the fight and trying to free Princess Luna, it became that much harder for the invaders and prevented a complete route. For this, we are pleased to honor you both with the Defense of Ponydom medal, the highest award a serving guard can receive.” Skimmer and Holly just stood there, saluting and, in Skimmer’s case, wide-eyed as Shining placed the medal around their necks. “And nice two-weeks paid vacation bonus,” he stage-whispered. “T-thank you, sir! Uh,Your highness- sir!” Skimmer sputtered out, to the general amusement of all. “”Sir” is fine captain,” Shining chuckled, saluting back. “Thank you, sir!” Holly said with a salute, then both backed down to the bottom of the steps. Celestia raised her wings for quiet. “A short while after the defeat of Nightmare Moon, the return of Princess Luna, and the revelation of the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony, I realized that these new bearers would need a guardian, somepony to watch over them and help keep our greatest defense from falling apart at the seams. That pony was Midnight Storm, the first kirin to be born in Equestria in over one thousand years.” There was a general murmuring at that and Midnight’s wings twitched. “I dubbed her the captain of the new, and at that time secret, Bearer Guard. Secrecy was needed because it was felt that an open, visible guard would counteract the very thing they were meant to protect: the unity of the bearers. It is clear now that such secrecy has served its purpose and is no longer necessary. With that in mind, I wish to formally announce and honor the Bearer Guard. Captain Storm, please step forward.” With a nod of her head, Midnight did so. “For everything your guard has done for the bearers and Equestria, I bestow on you and all the guards under your command the Defense of Ponydom medal.” Twelve medals similar to the one Skimmer now wore floated forward in a golden glow to each member of the Bearer Guard. All twelve lowered their heads and accepted them around their necks to cheering from the crowd, with especially loud cheers from the section they’d been standing in. “With these medals, I am also proud to bestow upon each of you the insignia of your guard. Wear them with pride.” Once again, twelve objects flew out to them in a golden glow. These, however, were pins, shaped in a wheel with five spokes with a gem at the end of each and one in the center. They looked like a picture of the Elements Midnight had once seen on one of Twilight’s books. Celestia’s magic pinned the pins on the right side of their uniforms, above their name tags. Another round of cheers was silenced by Celestia’s wings. “First Sergeant Hazelnut, step forward and be recognized.” Slightly puzzled, already being recognized twice now, he stepped forward and salute. “Your highness!” “For your loyalty to your comrades, kindness to others, and honest resolve in the face of danger, I am honored to promote you to Lieutenant.” Her horn glowed again, and the gold pins on Hazelnut’s collar glowed until they solidified into a single silver bar on either collar. “I will wear them with pride and honor, ma’am,” Hazelnut said, bowing low. The rest of the bearer guard, sans Midnight and Windrunner, were also promoted. Now they were Lieutenant Hazelnut, First Sergeant Wild Mane, First Sergeant Night Sky, Sergeant Blackberry, Sergeant Star Claw, Corporal Dandelion, Corporal Spread Eagle, Corporal Dark Cleaver, Corporal Scarlet Claw, and Supply Sergeant Tight Fit. “We all appreciate your service and sacrifices and hope we will continue to be worthy of them,” Celestia said, finally nodding that they could return to their places. Before she could turn, Midnight found Cadance’s wing blocking her path. “One more thing,” she whispered, then announced to the crowd, “Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Long Spine, and Queen Honeycomb, please come forward.” The announcement of the last name stunted the cheer the crowd had been ready to give at the first seven names and all eyes immediately glued themselves to the lone changeling in the chapel. Honey visibly wilted at the stares aimed her way and only Sapphire’s, Windrunner’s, and Squeaks’ prodding finally got her to move towards the altar. The entire time she kept her head down, not meeting anypony’s eye until she stood, almost quivering, next to Midnight. Only then did she look up to find only Captain, though now probably Prince, Shining Armor giving her anything like a disapproving look. All the rest, the princesses, the bearers, Spine, and especially Midnight, were smiling at her. Slightly emboldened by this, Honey stood straighter. “For taking action in the face of danger and putting the well being of Equestria above yourselves, we are pleased to award Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Long Spine the Citizen of Equestria award, the highest award a civilian can be given.” “Wait,” Twilight whispered to Shining as the medal floated over and came down around her head, “I thought you can earn this only once?” “It’s rare, but both the Citizen of Equestria and Defense of Ponydom can be earned a second time,” Shining whispered back. “And trust me, Twily; you earned it.” Twilight blushed and stepped back into place. “Queen Honeycomb,” Cadance continued and the chapel grew quiet. Honey’s wing’s flickered nervously. “It was observed during the invasion that you did not aid your fellow changelings in their attack but instead defended ponies against your kind that tried to attack them. After the attack had failed, you gave us detailed knowledge of your species, not to place or divert blame, but to teach us why the invasion happened in the first place and with the hope that both our species could become friends in the future. Because of this, the Royal Diarchy is pleased to grant you citizenship of Equestria.” She leaned in close so only those immediately around them could hear, “and your changelings as well.” This time the crowd answered this declaration with cries of protest, many calling for the changeling to be imprisoned with the rest or banished. One or two loud voices were even calling for… worse. Before Celestia could raise her own wings for silence, Midnight’s own shot out, the leather making a sharp, loud *SNAP* sound that instantly silenced everypony. As her wings lowered back into position, the crowd caught her single, blue, draconic eyes staring them all down, daring anypony to say anything else, her fangs clearly visible. The kirin counted a full ten seconds before turning back and nodding at the princesses. They nodded back. “With this union and recognitions of the ponies we owe this glorious day to,” Celestia announced, “let us celebrate!” ----------------------------- “So, what do we do now that we’re out in the open?” Hazelnut asked as he drank some punch. “Eat, drink, and be merry,” Midnight responded, popping another gemstone into her mouth. “Then go home and sleep for a day.” When nopony except Squeaks and a polite Honeycomb chuckled she rolled her eyes and sighed. “We keep doing what we did before: guarding the bearers. Stuff is bound to change but right now I don’t know what.” She took a sip of her own drink. “Actually, that’s not true; Celestia’s already given me the okay to talk with Mayor Mare about expanding the barracks and possibly set up some outposts around and maybe even in the Everfree. I asked about maybe sending a crew over to that castle in the forest and rebuilding it into a proper training facility or forward fort but she only said she’d think about it.” “Expand the barracks?” Mane repeated. “You mean there’s already a line to get in?” “That or she thinks one will form up pretty quick,” Midnight said, then sighed. “Speaking of plans, I need to see Eden Rose tomorrow about that promise I made her. Apparently, the payment was considered “up front”.” She groaned. “We should focus on recruiting unicorns,” Hazelnut put in. “We’ve got plenty of flyers and muscle, but only one magic user, which leaves us pretty weak to magical attacks or situations where magic is the only realistic option. We could have lasted longer against the changelings, for example, if we had a few more unicorns casting defensive spells.” “Agreed,” Midnight said. “Maybe you could make Honey and her changelings part of the guard,” Squeaks piped up. “They can use magic!” All the adults stiffened and exchanged glances. “Ah… well…” Midnight tried, catching Honeycomb’s eye. The changeling’s eyes were just as surprised as her own. “It’s just that… it doesn’t seem like the changelings who’ve pledged themselves to Honey are the kind who want to be guards, Squeaks,” Midnight said. “Oh,” the little thestral said, ears wilting slightly as she looked back at Honeycomb. “It was a nice idea, Squeaky,” Honey consoled her, “but it’s true that the others just want to live in peace right now and they can’t do that if they’re in the guard.” “We’ll find some unicorns, don’t you worry,” Sapphire added. “Okay,” Squeaks said, mollified and took a sip of her punch. The music the DJ was playing (the DJ was Vinyl Scratch, recommended by both Pinkie and Midnight) switched from the usual party mix to another slow dance. “Alright everypony, let’s show the newlyweds some company on the dance floor! This one is for all the couples!” Midnight chugged the last of her own punch and set the cup on a nearby table. “Well, I suppose that means us,” Midnight said with mock resignation, lifting an eyebrow suggestively at Sapphire. “I suppose it does,” Sapphire agreed with a giggle. Midnight raised a hoof. “Shall we?” Sapphire took it. “We shall.” Squeaks giggled loudly as her mom and might-as-well-be other mom entered the dance floor together and began to slow-dance. “They do make a nice couple,” Honey said as Hazelnut and Mane split off to do their own things. “Now we just need to find you and Windrunner special someponies!” Squeaks said. “Starting matchmaking young, are we?” Honey asked, tussling the filly’s mane. Squeaks playfully swatted at the offending hoof. “Honeeeey! Sapphire spent a lot of time on that!” They both laughed and Honey looked back up at the dancers. She owed them, for this moment, for her race, and for being a second family to her. For the first time she could remember since she was a foal, she didn’t have to think about what tomorrow would bring; she could spend her time in the present with those she cared about. Watching the kirin dance in her captain’s uniform, she realized that they had something in common: they both could finally be who they were openly. Midnight, a captain of a guard and, to a lesser extent now, a kirin, and Honey, a changeling. It felt good to be herself again.