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// The Coalition's Reunion 
// Story: The Fractured Unity 
// by Time Reaper 
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Being late to a coronation wasn’t something that a queen like Lixis was known for, neither most queens invited to Queen Fortis’s coronation; nonetheless, Hive Castleen was so distant from common means of transportation (something considered by many queens a defensive advantage against invasions, although, it also was a detriment for trade and tourism) that the only way you could reach the hive early was if you either teleported (which wasn’t well seem due to old customs) or you decided to go very early and, as much as Queen Lixis wanted to be early, very few queens or nobles were capable of achieving such feat, since not many were used to make that kind of journey.

Nonetheless, even someone like Lixis didn’t mind getting late to a coronation from time to time, especially when, practically, all the other queens also got late; at least based on what the changeling on the entrance informed her, which gave her the time to go around the castle-like-hive and catch up with the other queens about the most recent news both between the changelings and the equestrians.

Especially the news regarding the yet to be queen being captured by the equestrians, just to be saved by two major queens (and Lixis was already betting on who were those two) and, unilaterally, negotiate with the equestrians a sort of “truce”. To say that the last few days between the changelings have been agitated would be a serious misunderstanding.

Even though Lixis’s hive, Panacitum, is the most isolated hive among all the changeling queens (something that even Cerebelis has admitted, which is outstanding considering that nobody to this day knows where Cerebelis’s hive is hidden) that hasn’t stopped her from trying to get the most recent news, regarding what is happening among those close to her dominion, and her emotions on the most recent events were infuriating to say the least.

When she first heard to the young little princess back in that day in the Collective’s Palace, she felt quite disheartened knowing full well that her hive could have been saved, but that it was preferred to sacrifice her to that blasted Anidis. Then the news changed to how various equestrians were foalnapped and when she heard of the young princess being responsible of that, she felt anger at the lack of responsibility on the way her situation was being handled; then she heard of the arrangement between those two queens, and the equestrian princesses, and Lixis could only feel fury of the kind she hasn’t felt since the days of her youth, when she tried so hard to keep her hive away from all and any kind of war between changelings.

She was well aware that the peace was brought not only through the fires of war, but also through the promise that all, and any kind of, problem that could affect the changelings could be solved through dialogue and negotiation in the parliament. The fact that in this (almost) ten years of peace there has been no war, with some hiccups here and there (like The Middle Queens Purge and the guerrillas) which was normal in a society that was trying to leave the times of war once and for all, it was a testament of how this new system was actually working. Peace was, for the first time in all of Lixis’s life, something achievable; she thought that she would no longer have to keep her hive and subjects hidden from the other queens and that, perhaps, she could finally focus on leaving her hive with a successor.

But then these two queens had to throw a wrench on the system. What was the point of creating a system where all queens could discuss how to drive the whole society when two queens (their power among the other hives notwithstanding) were acting on their own and make deals unilaterally?

“Lixis, are you listening?”

Hearing those words quickly brought Lixis back to reality and saw, once again, Queen Amaryllis and her amber-like carapace. She tried to remember but, sadly, Lixis couldn’t remember what she recently said. She was either too distracted or her age was starting to weight on her.

“My apologies, but no” -. Responded the young-looking queen. – “I mind was somewhere else, what were you saying?”

Amaryllis’s wings fluttered a little bit as she repeated her question.

“I was talking about how this situation with the equestrians was developing. Just after Chrysalis’s attack, the ponies in my territory were very agitated but now, thanks to this agreement, they are extremely cautious and distrustful of each other. My drones, as well as the queens under my protection, have more and more problems to collect love when the ponies can’t even trust in their own wives and husbands. This is extremely frustrating.”

“Oh, my, I completely understand you” -. Asserted Lixis. – “My hive has also felt the distrust and division among ponies, our love flow has reduced to a point that we would be suffering of love scarcity were not for our trade deals with Castleen, Hidroxia and Phisis.”

Amaryllis flinched at that and tried to give a piece of her mind that would aid the queen.

“You have my condolences. I may have not fallen into love shortages but it really worries me how the love flow is starting to lower” -. She then started to look at the ground, worried of what was to come, then looked at Lixis with a hint of fear and asked. – “Do you think the shortages may reach critical levels and see a repeat of what happened almost 17 years ago?”

Lixis’s mind quickly teleported her back to the second to last war between changelings, of how the love shortages were so critical that the war worsen everything to never before seen levels and almost destroys the fabrics of society. For a brief moment, she wondered if there could be a repeat of that event but a quick analysis of what was happening both among the equestrians and changelings quickly dissuade those fears.

“I doubt it Amaryllis” -. Said a calm queen Lixis. – “I doubt the equestrian monarchs are willing to let their subjects fall into such negative emotions when they believe in love and harmony. The same way, our love stores may be getting reduced, but it will only get into a crisis if this last for far too long, which is why I think that ‘deal’ was made.”

In the moment she said that, Amaryllis features quickly grew dark and with anger, evidence proven true by her wings fluttering with strength for a few seconds.

“Oh yeah, that ‘deal’” -. As she said those words, Lixis could notice how Amaryllis put as much despise and hatred as she could, much to her worry. – “I almost forgot about it” -. She then looked at Lixis with a very serious look and asked. – “What do you think is going to be Valeris’s excuse for that?”

Lixis was stumped by the question, not for how direct it was but for what it implied.

“Valeris? My apologies but, while I am aware that certain newspapers have hinted at her as the one behind it, there isn’t any conclusive evidence that actually proves it. So-“

Amaryllis moved her hoof in a manner that asked Lixis to silence, which she followed even though it was rude, and talked in a calm manner that implied how much anger she was holding in that moment.

“Lixis, I know you don’t like to jump at conclusions and I am well aware of how the media tends to be biased against Valeris (as well as many queens that share our position) but both you and I know that, even though both the equestrian and changeling press talks about one changeling queen making that deal with the equestrian princesses, there were two, and only two, queens that were involved in that.

The first one was Fortis, since she admitted in the parliament that the newbie queen involved in all of this was under her protection and the only other queen that could ever dare to, not only, put her influence into this, but also, decide to, unilaterally, make a deal with those princesses without talking first to us, is Valeris.

Now, I may not be as close to her as Fortis, Luxis, you or even Cerebelis, but I still remember how she fulfilled her part of the deal, all those years ago, when we both fought in the duel that ended in me accepting defeat to her. Not only that, but she also showed to have a logic that explains her almost erratic way to behave, which is why she managed to have so many queens working together with her in the Unification War. I know that. 

This is why I ask you, Lixis, both as a fellow queen as well as a friend, what do you think is her excuse to do this? I’ve asked other queens, both under my protection as well as those equal to me and I’ve heard what our subjects say on the media. Unless she can make a good explanation to this, this action cannot be seen as anything else but the works of a queen that thinks of herself as an empress and none of the queens that signed up to this system ever agreed to allow one queen to rule over all.”

Amaryllis then softened her features and looked at Lixis with a view that only showed worry, one that Lixis never thought someone as strong and proud as Amaryllis could ever show.

“So, please, answer to me, for I am worried. If this doesn’t get fixed soon, it may be a return to the age of wars and none of us want a return of that and I am certain that even Cerebelis doesn’t want to go back to that millennial era where many of us died for territory and dwindling resources and multiple hives could be destroyed or created in a blink of an eye. Please…”

Lixis took a moment to think as she looked at the pleading eyes of Amaryllis, a queen she still remember meeting when she was just crowned after her mother died in the middle of The War of The Supremes. She could remember how she grew up to be a strong queen capable of defending her hive and how she was always there to help her whenever she felt worried or in doubt and to see her now, with the same face of doubt and worry she showed her almost 27 years ago when they first met, back in that coronation, made Lixis feel the weight of the storm looming towards the lifestyle she worked so hard to create.

Lixis’s heart broke at that display of emotions. So she gathered all her thoughts and gave her friend the best answer she could give.

“My friend, I understand your worries and I share them. During these nine years of peace, there have been nights where nightmares invade my dreams and reminds me of the age of wars, and all the friends I lost during that era, and there are some queens whose rotting corpses still plague my eyes every time I close them. My heart ache at the fact that I never had neither the strength nor bravery to defend or save any of my friends. That was one of the reasons I joined Valeris in The Unification War and is also why I was there when the first Great Council of the Queens was made. I swore that I would never allow war to ever come back and that I would do everything I could to make sure of it.

That is why I understand and share all of your sentiments. To the point of admitting that one of the reasons I came here was to meet Valeris and ask her about this ever growing problem, so worry not, for I intend to find out what is going on and make sure that none of this bring us back to that destructive era.”

As she said this, Amaryllis’s features went back to normal and showed her appreciation to her kind friend with a smile. She then decided to calm down and, to smooth everything up, deciding to change the conversation into something far more interesting.

“Thank you, now, did you hear? There are rumors that the newbie queen is here, and she decided to bring the Elements of Harmony with her.”

Lixis’s eyes widened and quickly tried to get into the gossip.

“Really? And what did she bring here? Did she brought any gift, or she thought that her presence alone would suffice?”

Amaryllis was going to answer, but Fortis and Luxis quickly came and took Lixis with them, saying that ‘they needed to talk in a more… private place,’ and didn’t allow the, young looking, queen to search for the equestrians and personally talk to both them and the newbie that started all this escalating scandal.

It didn’t take long for the meeting to be made within Fortis’s castle, in an isolated chamber, far from the other guest who could be trying to spy on them and hear what the queens Cerebelis, Lixis, Luxis, Fortis and Valeris were about to discuss.

For the first time in weeks, the Great Coalition, that force that trampled and pulverized so many queens in The Unification War and marked the beginning of a new era in changeling history, was going to discuss about the most recent development, far from the ears of changeling society and away from the common blocks and procedures in the Collective’s Palace that, usually, made it so hard to properly discuss any type of law and, just by looking at most of the queen’s eyes, one could guess what was the sentiment controlling their hearts.

One by one, from Cerebelis, to Luxis, to Lixis and to, by a minor extension, Fortis, were all looking at Valeris (who didn’t look too worried about what was going on right now) and were expecting her to explain what she just did.

For the blue queen though, while she usually got this kind of reception from those who despised her (such as Queen Zirconis, Queen Faustis or Queen Gracchis) she was well aware that she deserved to be received as the bad one, so she took a slip of tea, and opened up the conversation with the best commentary her mind could make up on the spot.

“Thank you for allowing this meeting to be made, Queen Fortis, it was very kind of you” -. She then looked at her equals and addressed them as well. – “Thank you as well for coming here, Queen Luxis, Queen Lixis and Queen Cerebelis. Even though you were invited to the coronation itself, you had no obligation to gather here.”

Maybe it was for patience, maybe it was because they were used to this kind of behavior from Valeris and they knew she wasn’t ill intended with that way to open the reunion or maybe they were focused more on other issues, but they all decided to ignore how almost cynical she made it sound to be and focus on the matter at hand, with Luxis being the first to enter in the exchange.

“Queen Valeris, first off, greetings and salutations. I hope you had a nice time in our days off; secondly, what were you thinking when you told that rookie to take equestrians and turn them into drones?” – She then took a sip from her tea and then continued her questioning. – “I am aware that her mother’s hive was invaded by Anidis and Fortis already explained me the need to replace her before the next Great Council of the Queens, but I seriously expected much more from you. Did you really think that a princess was going to do perfectly what took years of practice to all of us? Especially, when taking into consideration that we only do it, when those equestrians have no other desire in their lives to add numbers to an already populated hive, while she did it to try and create an entirely new hive out of equestrians that already have their lives planned out? It was a disaster waiting to happen.”

As she took this moment to rest and drink more tea, Lixis decided to interject and, with Luxis’s consent, give her own opinion on the matter.

“Now, I usually am not the one who likes to bemoan and chastise, for I know we all aren’t perfect, and we tend to do blunders from time to time; but this is outrageous, Queen Valeris. Acting in such a way is not only irresponsible and almost irrational but you are crossing a fine thread that could destroy the very fabric of peace we all sworn and tried to create so many years ago when we decided to join you on this coalition” -. She then took a deep breath, allowing some of her nerves to calm down, and continued. – “I’ll admit that neither you nor Fortis have given us the full picture and I know you well enough to tell that you wouldn’t commit such heinous act with no real reason, which is why I ask you for an explanation, a satisfactory one, that can allow us to work out a plan that can ensure us a better future for all changeling kind.”

As Lixis finished, the rose Queen Cerebelis decided to interject as her eyes didn’t look like harboring any kind of positive emotion.

“As you may know, I try to keep my hive hidden, so we can tell what is going on both among the equestrians as well as the changelings, and our abilities to remain undercover allow us to know where are the winds moving to; many of them are moving towards separation. The Great Queens are worried and many Minor Queens are seeing this as an opportunity to try and break away from us, with queens such as Visis, Faustis and Vulgaris to reunite and create their own confederate republic with the help of groups such as he HRF and CAHL” -. As she said this, all of the queens growled, wishing they could just do something about it but being well aware that there was nothing they could do at the time being. – “But, thankfully, since this kind of disruption could drive us into a new war, something that all changelings (including Faustis, Visis, Vulgaris and all the other queens involved into this separatist movement) want to avoid at all cost, the only way for something like this to have any kind of success is if no explanation is given soon to the population, and here is where I reprimand you, Queen Valeris” -. As she said this, Valeris remained in her stoic position, well aware that she deserved this even though she still didn’t like it, and allowed Cerebelis to end. – “Now, after hearing and reading most of the public opinion as well as obtaining some private opinions, I can assure you that the only thing stopping a war in the foreseeable future is the fear itself to it. No queen wants a return to the times of war and no drone wants to be involved in it either; that is our biggest advantage but it will only last if we manage to explain what was recently done, because the other sentiment driving the public opinion is the idea of Valeris being the one empress ruling over all of us and no queen, including myself as well as the other queens in here, could ever accept the idea of having a monarch ruling over any of us. That is the biggest taboo in our culture and history.

Now, I know you well enough, Queen Valeris, to say with complete confidence that you have no desire to be an empress, and I will defend you against those kinds of accusations to no end, for I know for a fact, that you faced your best friend, because you could not let into your heart the despotic idea of creating a queen to rule over all queens, idea that the vile Anidis has no trouble with. But there is so much I can defend when you decide to break the very rules you created and, unilaterally, make an agreement with the equestrian princesses. And there is so much the changeling society can accept from you, before they decide that the fires of war is a better alternative to live under a peace of subjugation and slavery to a yet to be supreme queen.

So I ask you, Queen Valeris, for an explanation to this recent development of events; so I can defend you from those who are willing to put their own ambitions and desires above the common good, as well as to defend a work of peace that is so fragile and under threat in all fronts; for I may be able to see and hear beyond what a normal changeling queen can, but I am still a mundane queen made by a greater power and I cannot read minds.”

Seeing Queen Cerebelis, a queen known for taking almost anything with laughs and be completely confident in most of the events of changeling life so serious was almost surreal, to the point that most queens could only feel fear at what was to come if they didn’t do something quickly. 

Fortis then decided to take her turn and speak her piece.

“Now, as you may know, this is my first time being an official member of this coalition. My mother, Queen Castis, used to be the one involved into this kind of reunions and, since she was training my sister, Princess Manticoris, to be her successor, I was never given the proper training to be the kind of queen that could decide what to do” -. All the queens, including Valeris, wondered where she was planning to go with this, so they allowed her to continue. – “That is why I usually don’t try to object the ideas that come from you and I openly supported Princess Diamantis’s idea of taking equestrians to form her hive. When I saw she also foalnapped the Elements of Harmony as well, I decided to go after Valeris for advice, since she was among the few queens that would treat me with enough patience, and respect, to provide me with a proper guide into the life of a royal changeling. Sadly, I never realized that I were being spied on and that allowed the equestrian forces to locate Diamantis as well as the foalnapped equestrian citizens. When I got there with Valeris and realized what was going to happen, I’ll openly admit that my mind was being harbored with emotions to fight the equestrians and defend the princess under my jurisdiction, emotion that the equestrian princesses were, probably, keen on following as well.”

When Fortis uttered those words, Cerebelis, Luxis and Lixis gasped at how that would have ended for all of them. A fight with the equestrian monarchy, after the invasion in Canterlot, would have only resulted in the utter destruction of the love supplies and, no matter how it was looked, it was better to make a disastrous deal that could bring a temporary peace to a measly fight that would only ensure the long term destruction of the species. 

“That is why” -. Fortis continued. – “I have to apologize for my behavior, should I have been more vigilant as well as prepared for the what could've been, this whole mess wouldn’t have happened.”

After hearing that, Lixis, Luxis and Cerebelis finally had a better understanding of the situation, including the knowledge of how close they were to have a complete breakdown of the fragile society they were working for so long, but they still needed to hear word from Valeris herself, who was yet to speak.

“After hearing your concerns” -, Valeris began, - “I have to admit that I should have acted with more care and prudence but, as you may have noticed, when I saw how the soon to be queen was discovered by the equestrian princesses, it was clear that something had to be done to keep the peace among changelings and equestrians, which is why I demanded for a negotiation to be made, but I have to explain something that many on the public opinion don’t seem to get or inform: That deal isn’t complete or ended. I have always stated that it would be an initial draft, that, needed to be discussed with the other queens before making it a definitive agreement with Equestria, part of said discussion included to reform our laws regarding our relationship with the nation of ponies in its entirety.”

In the moment she said this, all the queens (minus Fortis) gasped at the complete insanity of what she was saying.

She wasn’t just trying to change a simple law; she was trying to face one of the four taboos among changelings. The idea of keeping the specie in the shadows was so ingrained in their mind, that it was considered treason the sole idea of trying to change it in any way whatsoever, in fact, it was the main reason why Chrysalis was now considered an outcast.

“Valeris, honey” -. Interjected Luxis with extreme worry on her features. – “Do you understand what you are implying? I am well aware that there has been some debate recently, but there is a reason why the only ones making a case for opening up with the ponies are some changeling queens, and not drones or even royals, no one is willing to break that taboo.”

“I have to agree with Queen Luxis” -. Quickly intervened Lixis. – “This isn’t something we can simply get away with. Sure, we can make a discussion in the parliament regarding that deal but the idea of trying to change the Relationship Law just cannot go, even if we approve it on the High Chamber, it would never be allowed in the Lower Chamber when most of the queens in there aren’t even under our jurisdiction, even more, Queen Chrysalis and Queen Charbonis were under Fortis’s jurisdiction and they are no longer in there and we know Visis (who is also under Fortis’s jurisdiction) wouldn’t agree to it so, from the 13 queens that we could whip to approve it, only 10 would agree to it and the Low Chamber has 28 queens seating there as of now. We would have to make Amaryllis, Dustis and Gardenis to approve it as well as convince their own queens to approve it on the Low Chamber. How do you plan on committing such romantic adventure when we are talking of facing a taboo that has existed even longer than I?”

“Not even that” -, included Cerebelis, - “are you aware of how much would be changed with this? From our communication systems, to our schools, to the press, to even the way we relate to other species. My job, as well as my hive’s and the hives under my jurisdiction, has always been to ensure the secrecy of the changelings since before you even knew we existed, and the main reason for that is because we have seen how the ponies are educated regarding other species. Do you really think it is safe to endanger us to a group of xenophobic equines that sees us as a bunch of parasites? How do you plan to change all of that in a matter of days?”

Valeris took a sip of her tea and looked back at her fellow queens, her eyes speaking for her about the determination made towards this plan, and responded:

“I am quite aware that the equestrians won’t be open towards us so easily, even if their princesses ordered them to be. That is why part of the deal consist on having the equestrian known as Twilight Sparkle studying both our transformation wax and see if there is a way to revert its effects, as well as our society and give her the permission to report back to her princess all she finds about us.”

The queens remained silent for a while as they tried to properly analyze the response and what it entailed. After a while, Luxis decided to make her first question towards this part of the deal.

“Alright, I understand the part of allowing Twilight Sparkle studying our society, that way she can act as the first gateway for the equestrians to know about us and, I suppose, both the other Elements of Harmony, as well as the other equestrians being transformed, can act as a way to show the equestrians what we are capable off… but why allowing her to analyze our transformation wax?

The transformation wax is the mean we have to transform non-changelings into one of us, it is vital for our survival, especially when our numbers are dwindling. Not only that, but let’s say that she finds a way to stop its effects or that she found a way to reverse the process, don’t you think that breakthrough could be harmful to us as the equestrians would try to use it against our society?”

Valeris smiled as she heard this and gave her response.

“Indeed, any breakthrough she may have would a detriment towards our society. That is why I’m not afraid of what she could discover, for she isn’t the first one that has thought about researching the transformation wax.”

The queens looked at each other as Fortis asked:

“Wait, you researched it already?” – Seeing Valeris nodding made all the other queens wonder as Fortis continued her questioning. – “Is this related to the story you told Celestia about the changeling that tried to force a transformation and forced you to murder the equestrian?” – As Valeris flinched for being reminded of it, the other queens (especially the ever thirsty for information Cerebelis) got curious about this story they never heard of, Valeris nodded and Fortis made her last question so far. – “And what did you find?”

Valeris’s smile grew as she simply said with a confidence common from those who have made certain that whatever they are going to say is fact labeled on stone.

“While there is a way to stop the effects of the wax in the middle of the transformation” -, when she said this all the queens gasped, - “There’s absolutely no way to reverse the effect or to make a counter wax capable of transforming a changeling into an equestrian” -. She then smiled with complete confidence, making the other queens wonder what she did on her research to be so sure of this. – “Trust me, I made certain of that, had there been a way to reverse it, I would have discovered it already. 

At best, we will have to wait for a breakthrough on how the changeling genetics work before making new attempts because the wax doesn’t work through magic alone, it works through a mixture of magic and genetic modifications in such a way that just trying to stop it with only magic or only science won’t work. It needs a very specific mixture and principle to be followed, only to stop the transformation process, and said mixture works in a one-way travel. This isn’t considering that all the changeling queens use a different formula on the transforming wax. All the attempts my science team did to reverse it or to create a counter-wax were met with utter failure, and we mixed magic knowledge from all the magic wielding species known on this planet with the best scientific technology we had at the moment, and you are all witnesses of what kind of technology Hidroxia has, and all the attempts were met with utter failure.”

The queens were very surprised by this, with Cerebelis responding with a very interested tone of voice.

“I’m quite interested in that story of yours, it must have been a very especial case for you to have tried to reverse the transformation wax and make sure that this equestrian remained as a pony.”

For a moment, Valeris’s features gave sign of her feeling sad and her eyes (Lixis would swear to herself) looked as if she tried to hold tears, but her face quickly changed and went back to the cold hearted Valeris they all knew.

“Yes” -. She said with complete coldness in her voice. – “It was a very special case. One I hope you keep your eyes out from, for is none of your businesses.”

Cerebelis simply smiled, never caring or being afraid of this kind of threats, and remained silent, never promising to not investigate on that matter. Meanwhile, Lixis would try to bring the topic back on course.

“So, the research Twilight Sparkle is going to investigate is going to end in failure? And you made the deal knowing that she will fail? My apologies Valeris, but I never thought of you as one that would do such kind of treachery.”

Valeris gave Lixis a serious look at which, to the queen’s credit, she didn’t flinch.

“Do not be confused, Lixis, for it isn’t treachery. She still can try to find, on her own, a way to stop the effect of the wax. It’s been almost 20 years since I made those attempts, perhaps the advances of technology will give her an edge that I lacked back then, but the results of that investigation completely depends on her and how capable her mind is, for she will have both equestrian and changeling knowledge at her disposal, but it is her responsibility the way she uses those means on her research. Trust me, if she finds a way to reverse it, I promise, I’ll be among the first to congratulate and celebrate her for what she achieved” -. She then looked at the other queens and said, as a mean to calm them down. – “And, do not worry, if she does find a way to reverse it, I’ll then make an investigation to counter their wax, I promise.

In the meantime, at best, all Twilight will be able to research is the wax Diamantis used on them (if she still has some of it) and I’m fairly certain that it isn’t close to be the same formula used by any of us.”

Hoping that this would bring peace to their minds, Valeris then decided to rest this specific part of her case and continued addressing their concerns.

“But I am well aware that just her wouldn’t be enough, we also have to convince their own subjects on the idea of opening up to the equestrians, which is why I have decided that, when the time comes for debating the deal with equestrian, I plan to allow the media back into the High Chamber.”

Once more, Valeris’s companions were surprised and it was Luxis this time who decided to ask first about this:

“You? Allow journalist back into the High Chamber of the Collective’s Palace?” – Valeris simply nodded as the other queens were dumbfounded, especially Luxis. – “Is this a permanent move or, after this debate, will you restrict them again to what our official news dailies say and the transcripts of what was debated among us?”

Remembering very well why she decided to restrict the press into the High Chamber, Valeris decided to give it a thought and answered with an inflection that made it quite hard to guess where her emotions where.

“We’ll see, hopefully they’ll behave this time and won’t act like a mob. Besides, this time, we’ll have more than just newspaper journalist” -. The other queens quickly understood what she was implying, but they wanted to hear it from her. – “Since the changelings have been improving on the usage of the radio, I thought, what better debate to allow our subjects to hear our debates than the one regarding our relationships with the equestrians? If this works out, we-“

“We?”

Valeris looked at Cerebelis as she dared with a simple look at the blue queen, who quickly understood what she implied.

“If this works out” -, Valeris said with a slight tone of anger while looking at Cerebelis, - “I. May decide to allow the press once again into the chamber.”

Days later, after the communication would be released and told the press that they could cover in person the debate. All the queens and princesses (and many drones in private) would make bets on how would result this new round in the fight between Queen Valeris and The Press, with many betting on Valeris quickly restricting them again once they keep on attacking her figure one way or another.

"And, hopefully” -, Valeris continued, - “the Low Chamber will follow through and, also, allow the press into their own debates.”

Fortis, Cerebelis, Luxis and Lixis would privately debate, bet and laugh at the idea of Faustis allowing any type of journalist that criticizes her on the Low Chamber, also known as her domain.

“And” -, Valeris continued, - “since Ponyville may start to get radio signals from us very soon, the equestrians may also hear what we debate regarding our relationship with them, including their monarchs.”

Valeris’s allies quickly understood it and smiled at the genius of her strategic move.

“Well” -, said Queen Cerebelis as she gave this a thought, - “some would say that, should that newbie queen use one of our transmissions on a public avenue on Ponyville, it would be hard to tell if the inhabitants of Ponyville listened to our debates when, I sadly admit, there are no security forces making sure our privacy is protected.”

As she said this, the other queens smiled, glad to know that Queen Cerebelis would allow this move from Valeris for the long-term gain. Nonetheless, it was impossible to not notice how she was feigning having a problem as her voice was drowning on irony and casualness.

“While it would be sad that a rookie commit the blunder of using a changeling radio signal on the open in the middle of an equestrian town, there is no way for my security forces to stop it on this moment. It would take a while for them to reach Ponyville just to spy on her and I would rather inform myself better before sending my police on a blind inspection and who knows how long that would take.”

She then looked at Valeris and asked on that same casual tone.

“Tell me, did you think of this on the whim or you realized all of this that day you saw the equestrian monarchs capturing that rookie?”

Valeris took one more sip of her tea and, without looking, said on the same casual tone as Cerebelis.

“Please, Queen Cerebelis, you give me too much credit. I may or may not have thought some parts of this on that moment but, I assure you, that the finest details have been made as the events have developed.”

And, with that, all the queens started to laugh at what was about to be done, after all, they were all aware on the possibility of Twilight Sparkle telling Celestia of what she may hear on that future debate, if she doesn’t give her a radio tuned to Changeling stations on the first place, of course.

“Alright then” -, continued Luxis after they all stopped laughing, - “so what do we do with the soon to be queen? And I don’t mean Fortis.”

After hearing that, Valeris brought back her serious face and said as simple as possible.

“Since we need her to replace her mother and, since the next Great Council of the Queens is going to be on the following months, we need her to have 50 drones fast, I was going to ask you to please lend her some of your drones.”

The other queens quickly got serious as they understood the implications of this and Luxis was very keen on getting as many details as she could.

“Valeris, honey, to ask us this is to let that poor queen to be very easy to influence by all of us, are you really sure of this? And this question goes to you as well, Fortis. Since this queen is going to be under your protection, are you really sure about letting us to give her our drones?”

Both Valeris and Fortis looked at each other briefly and Fortis decided to answer on this occasion.

“I am well aware of the implications of this, but we have no other choice. We need as many queens on our side before the next Great Council of the Queens and Diamantis’s mother was among the, very, few that always supported us.

Not only that, but there’s also the fact that, thanks to Chrysalis, our survival is also going to be under equestrian influence, more than ever, and we need to play a very fine thread with them to ensure our lifestyle. This is something that Diamantis can play since she is going to have the Elements of Harmony working for her, as well another 24 equestrians turning into changelings as we speak. We need another 20 drones for her and she is too young to even lay eggs of her own.”

Luxis, Lixis and Cerebelis gasped at this, feeling horrified at the idea of throwing so much pressure to such a young figure, something that Valeris was well aware as her face never shown any type of happiness while Fortis was speaking.

“What you are going to do” -, Added Lixis, - “I’ve only seen it being applied on puppet vassals and on poor queens that lost their mothers too early due to war” -. She then closed her eyes to make sure her eyes didn’t tear at the memories of what happened to those queens that were subjected to this kind of fate. After repressing those emotions, she continued. – “What kind of guarantee can you give me that you will not use her as a personal tool to impose your own personal agenda?”

Valeris then responded with the most truthful tone of voice she could muster.

“I already did that discussion with Fortis that day after we sent her to Ponyville, before this whole mess was thrown at us, and I promised that I would never use her for my own personal gain, for I’ve also studied our history and I am well aware of what happens to those queens that are subjected to be a puppet vassal.”

Fortis then looked at her fellow queens and continued.

“And now I ask you, as she will have to be sent to you to gain the drones needed to officially have a hive, to please swear to me that you also won’t use your drones or your influence to pressure her for your own personal gain. She already has to go through a lot and the last thing that I want is to also suffer from the political fight between higher queens.”

The other queens looked at each other and Lixis decided to answer first.

“Alright, for this won’t only be of good influence for her but it will also be beneficial for us, as this oath will be to ensure that we won’t let our ambitions to divide us.”

Luxis and Cerebelis looked at each other, after hearing Lixis’s words, and quickly decided to join her on the oath of never using those drones to put pressure on Diamantis nor, that, they would use this situation on her to search for a personal gain on equestrian politics, even though one of them would be highly tempted to not do so.

“Alright then” -, said Valeris as all the subjects they needed to discuss were ending for the time being, - “I suppose that we now have everything laid out for now: there will be a discussion about the equestrian deal, we’ll use that discussion as a mean to let the equestrians to hear from us, as the journalist will be allowed into the High Chamber of the Collective’s Palace once more, we’ll see what Twilight Sparkle discover from the transformation wax and we’ll give some of our drones to Diamantis so she can have a hive very soon. Now, while Fortis will be the first to give her drones, I personally think that Luxis should be the next one on the list” -, as Luxis was about to respond, Valeris quickly continued, - “it doesn’t have to be now or next week. For all we know you could start seeing the arrangements of the next meeting after our debate, so the Elements of Harmony are a bit more familiarized with you.”

Seeing that none of her fellow queens had any other problem to say, Valeris decided to put an end to the reunion.

“And now, I think Fortis needs prepare for her coronation. We’ll let you to decide what to do as well as how to deal with the equestrian guest we now have.”

Fortis gave this a thought as she realized that it was very late and it could be rude to return the equestrians in the middle of the night.

And with that, they all finished their tea and left the reunion.

After that, they all left to the coronation which went beyond any queens expectations, for all the Great Queens were there as well as many minor queens (with the remarkable mention of Queen Vulgaris, Queen Visis, Queen Montis) as well as envoys like General Vertix, representing Queen Numbis, queen of only changeling hive in Cloudsdale, or Lord Styx in representation of Queen Zulis III, of the ever bizarre Hive Marabia. There also were multiple journalist in the middle of the crowd as well as in the room with all the royal changelings who covered the events, creating one of the most covered coronations in the changeling’s recent history.

And so, after that, all the queens started to leave, back to their respective hives to rule over their subjects and all the queens had their respective opinions of what transpired that night, such as Queen Lixis.

While she was moving on her cart, all her mind could think off was on the storm coming soon to both Equestria and the Changeling Union.

In all her life, she never saw a situation as fragile as this. Sure, the threat of an ensuing war between changeling hives wasn’t knew but the idea of keeping that peace was never so treasured as now and, even more, with the inclusion of the equestrians into the mix, it was hard to tell what could come out of all this danger looming towards them.

It could be the beginning of a new, peaceful, era but it could also be the peace before a never seen storm. A storm whose result was impossible to predict even for this ancient (although young looking) queen who has seen more than she ever had the right to see.

And, still, as anxious as she was on the possible war this could ensue, she was as excited as ever to see what will happen.

But those were the thoughts of a queen that had no heir and an age that no one was capable to guess. Other queens, much younger, such as Luxis, were a different case as their lives were modeled in a different way that gave them a different viewpoint.

“Luminis, my daughter” -. The princess of Hive Minerum quickly turned and saw her mother with a worried face as she looked at what little views the plains of Castleen could provide in the middle of the night. – “There is an issue that’s been plaguing my mind recently and I would like to hear your input on it.”

Luminis’s face was filled with worry since her mother very rarely asked her for her input, only for the more serious issues and it always was for the personal types.

“Sure, mother, you can ask me.”

Luxis turned back and looked at her daughter for a few seconds as she wondered how to phrase the question until, finally, it was made.

“Do you think I did wrong on joining this?”

Luminis’s mind took a few seconds to digest the question.

“Wait, what do you mean by that mother? Joining what?”

“This coalition, of course. Do you think I did wrong?”

“Mother why are you asking me this all of sudden?”

Luxis took a moment to think back on what has transpired recently and how different everything was just a decade ago and continued.

“Well, I was remembering how everything was before The Unification War, how we didn’t have to worry about what the other queens, or their hives, did, we didn’t have to worry about the issues plaguing Equestria, about how we may not have it easy, sure, but we also didn’t have to fill obligated to work for other issues. Back then, I decided to join this because I was tired of having our hive living in misery, I wanted to bring back our hive to its old glory and to be part of the big players once again and, so far, I feel accomplished but, sometimes, when I remember all we had to go through, all the queens we had to destroy, all the hives that were finished for the war, all the negotiations we now have to go through if we want to make a simple trade deal, and now how close we may be to a new war if we don’t go through this fine thread carefully. Whenever I have to remember all we had to lose and take in order to gain what we needed, I wonder if it was worth it” -. She then asked her daughter once again. – “Do you think I did the right thing?”

Luminis understood the gravity of said question and decided to look at the outside to think. For how long she reflected on her mother’s question? She doesn’t know, but she took her time to remember how living on Minerum was before the peace, before The Unification War, before even meeting Valeris and even what her hive’s records remembered of before even her mother was born and, after thinking in all of that, she answered with the best she could make out. 

“I was born in the middle of The Civil War and it was because of my birth that we didn’t become part of said war. During my early years, I was witness of how our hive, despite having enough numbers to be considered a great hive, it, was so low on love and resources that you could count the number of changelings that didn’t live in poverty with your head. I remember, from my escapades, of how very few younglings were capable of surviving their hunger. The only thing allowing us to survive was a blind stubbornness that refused to allow death to take us out all at once, and I will always wonder how we managed to survive all those centuries despite living in the Frozen North.

Then, Valeris came and offered us to join her in that risky adventure in exchange of love, resources and the means to put all our technology to good use beyond distracting our citizens of how precarious their lives were, at the price of going to war, following her command during said war and putting at risk, more than once, our sovereignty whenever foreign troops had to be moved through our territory and we changed traditions that were considered parts of our identity.

The pay-off resulted in our dead tolls reducing to never before seen levels, the poverty has reduced dramatically, we are the third strongest hive among the great queens, our voice is taken into consideration whenever the Parliament has to create or reform a law, our technology has influenced and revolutionized all changelings across Equestria.”

Luminis saw her mother as seriously as she could and decided to give her conclusion with the wisdom becoming of those who are preparing to inherit the throne.

“Had you not accepted that deal, I would have; and if I had to choose between this way of life and what we had before, I would choose this a thousand times over. Mother, even if you doubt, I am certain that you did the right choice and I will be there for you no matter what transpires in the following days.”

Hearing those supportive words, Luxis decided to relax and sit the rest of the night with her daughter as they shared their stories of the coronation. 

“And what do you think of the soon to be queen, my daughter?”

Luminis remembered her good times with the princess and her equestrian envoys and simply responded:

“Oh, she was delightful. I have to say, if she is the one who is going to receive me whenever I visit Ponyville, then I am so eager to visit them on the following weeks. I want to see how that place is before the equestrians become witnesses to what a changeling can do to them.”

A similar situation was happening with the queen and princess of Hive Logos as the two of them were laughing at the jokes they were making at the guests that night, with Princess Pituiris being the one boasting about how she was teasing a bunch of princesses.

“Oh, mom, you should have seen her face” -, laughed the light-pink princess as her mother was suppressing the giggles, - “Prisis was so angry as I dissed her mother that she would have turned red had she been able to show any kind of emotion.”

“My lovely daughter don’t be fooled by them” -, commented Cerebelis, - “Hidroxia’s royal family may be masters at restraining their emotions but they are very prone to let their emotions drive them and that makes them so easy to tease.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I just teased Valeris with her constant fights with the press and, had I gotten enough time, I would have also teased her about some of her most recent blunders” -. She then giggled with joy as she remembered Valeris’s face when she was reminded of that time she had to duel Amaryllis, the amber queen almost roasted Valeris more than once in that fight because the blue queen went to that fight half prepared. – “Those glares may scare the other queens but I find them hilarious.”

Pituiris took a moment to think back at what happened that day and, after some thinking, decided to ask her mother’s opinion.

“By the way, I’ve been hearing what the other queens think, so far, and I know that you were speaking to Valeris and the other queens in the coalition so… what have you decided to do to stop all of this from melting into chaos?”

Cerebelis looked at her daughter with uncertainty as she remembered what was discussed. She may have looked confident back there, but she still had her personal doubts about its execution and how effective it would be, especially when it came to the Equestrians and their dismissal of races different from theirs.

She then smiled, as she remembered the amount of times the changelings have been close to be dismembered and still managed to pull through and said to her daughter.

“It’s a secret.”

Pituiris harrumphed and played along her mother’s way of talking.

“Oh, come on, that’s not fair. I’m your daughter.”

“It may be so, but there are some secrets and surprises that must be kept from even your closest families.”

Pituiris’s smile vanished as she heard those words and went back to the window, isolating herself from her mother as she mumbled.

“Well, it wouldn’t be the first secret you held from me.”

A similar coldness was found on the cart moving the Hidroxian Royal family, but it wasn’t because there was tension between the mother and the daughter; it was more because the family’s nature was to be cold between each of them.

Both Valeris and Prisis were looking at the cart’s surroundings, each trying to find a topic of conversation but failing at it.

“That coronation was something to behold.”

Started the princess with a cold tone of voice, with the mother quickly responding with the same cold tone of voice.

“Indeed, in all my life as a queen, I’ve never seen something like it.”

Prisis remained silent for a while, effortlessly trying to keep the conversation going, before remembering something about her mother.

“Your coronation wasn’t like this, was it?”

Valeris remembered the day he removed her mother, and the ensuing chaos that came from it, and answered with her usual cold tone of voice.

“No, it was a mess. The minor hives under our protection rebelled at the start, with Queen Zulis III being the first one to openly rebel.”

Prisis scoffed at that.

“Of course she would.”

Valeris smiled at the comment and continued.

“And, after much talking with the minor queens, she was the very first one to recognize me as the successor of Hive Hidroxia.”

This shocked Prisis, forcing her to make an actual facial expression, much to Valeris’s delight of seeing her daughter showing emotion.

“Really!? Her? Of all queens!?”

Valeris smiled as she finally got something to open up a conversation with her daughter and continued.

“Yes, my princess, she was the very first to recognize me but, since I had to be crowned very quickly in order to stabilize the hive, it was a very lonely crowning and without much fanfare compared to Fortis.”

As she mentioned this, Prisis remembered something that she would like to be certain for future references.

“That reminds me, she was there when Castis tried to invade Hidroxia all those years ago, wasn’t she?”

Valeris’ mind went back to that battle, her very first, and how she won so easily but she also remembered her first encounter with the now Queen Fortis and how she wasn’t even aware back then of her status as a royal changeling.

“Indeed, she was.”

“And how much has she changed from back then?”

Valeris gave it a quick thought and, said with much calmness.

“Well, back then I called her a ‘blind princess’ since she wasn’t aware of her royal status.”

“Oh” -. Prisis tried to wonder how it was possible for a princess to be unaware of her position, but she quickly asked. – “And now? Do you still consider her blind?”

Valeris took a moment to think on how Fortis has changed through all this years. How she became more determined and knowledgeable, of how she has managed to keep her hive in place despite it losing a queen and a princess but, also, how she was still committing blunders that have put into danger the changeling society.

“No” -. Valeris responded. – “I think she is now half-blind.”

Prisis took her moment to analyze what her mother said and after some thinking, she decided to keep her comment to herself. 

Valeris, meanwhile, decided to take advantage of her daughter’s silence to ask about something else that happened that night.

“Now, if my memory doesn’t fail me, I remember that you were mingling with the Elements of Harmony, is that right?”

Prisis quickly remembered her little encounter with Twilight Sparkle and the other ponies as well as the future queen Diamantis and answered.

“Yes, I did my queen.”

“And, what do you think of them?”

Prisis took her moment to think about the ponies and, after some quick thinking, answered.

“Well, at first glance, they looked as any other pony I’ve seen but reflecting quite well their respective elements, but I would need seeing them for a longer period of time to give you a better opinion of them.”

“I see.”

As the cart was falling again on its typical and uncomfortable silence, Prisis decided to do one last attempt to make a conversation before going back to her musings.

“I also met Diamantis.”

Valeris’s eyes widened as she remembered that she, too, was invited to the party, not because she wasn’t interested but rather because her mind was having other priorities, after all, Diamantis was Fortis’s responsibility.

But she wouldn’t miss another chance to make a conversation with her only child.

“Oh, really? And what do you think of her? Do you think she is prepared to make a proper queen? Or does she need some practice?”

As Prisis remembered how Diamantis went to the coronation without the proper clothing and invited six equestrians to a changeling gathering but, she also was well versed and showed to be proactive regarding changeling customs but, just as with the ponies, that was only a first impression.

“I think that she may need some help to be a proper queen but I may be wrong.”

Valeris simply smiled.

“I see, well, we can see if something can be arranged for you to meet her in Ponyville on a future day.”

As Prisis heard this, she wondered what her mother could be aiming with this, but she would ponder on that later. It was very late, and she was feeling tired.

It could not be said the same about the heir to the Castleen throne though, if she was already being known for something, was for being very energetic, even for foals of her age. So energetic, in fact, that she had no problem staying late with her mom, saying the farewells to the changeling guest.

“See you soon, Lord Styx” -, said the new Queen Fortis to the last guest leaving her hive, - “please salute Queen Zulis from my stead and, if you ever need something different from your usual food, you can ask me.”

“And if you ever need something interesting to do that isn’t the usual royal bureaucracy, you can join us into some shark hunting” -. Said the royal envoy with his usual harsh but well natured tone of voice as his clothes hid some scars that Fortis wondered if they were done for the shark hunting or something else.

“Thank you, Lord Styx, I’ll consider the offer.”

And, right before the cart closed, the royal changeling shouted.

“And is: Queen Zulis III!”

And, with that, the cart departed as Queen Fortis waved the farewell with her daughter right behind her, also waving the farewell but with much more enthusiasm.

“Do they really do shark hunting mom?”

Fortis looked at her daughter with delight as she answered with a lovely tone of voice.

“Yes, they do. Since Hive Marabia is a fishing hive, they tend to go after sharks whenever they want to get something different on their diet or if they want to sell meat at a higher price.”

“And who eats that?”

“Well” -, responded Fortis as she tried to remember what Valeris told her last time she pondered on Hive Marabia, - “there are some changelings that like the taste and there are some species in Equestria that tend to import it to their respective kingdoms.”

The young princess opened her mouth in surprise as she wondered how it would taste something so demanded.

“It must probably taste really good if so many want it, right?”

“Hum, probably. I’ve never tasted it.”

Veritis, gave it a thought before getting an idea.

“I know, why don’t we go to Marabia and taste it on our own? It will even be fresh.”

Remembering what Valeris told her about Marabia’s Tartarian heat, for a moment, Fortis remained reluctant, but she also remembered where the hive was located and responded to her daughter.

“We’ll see. We first have to make some preparations, after all, we just can’t go to their hive empty handed, right?”

Veritis nodded as the two of them started to move back into the hive.

“And what about the young princess with her equestrians? Are they leaving yet?”

Fortis remembered Diamantis and the reason why she was still in Castleen.

“No, Diamantis has something else to do with me before leaving and, since it will be too late by the time we end, I decided to let them stay the night in Castleen so they can leave in the morning.”

Fortis’s smile beamed as she heard this and asked with joy.

“Really? So I can play with them!?”

Fortis gave it another thought, it would be nice to have someone to actually play with Veritis instead of just following her.

“Sure, in fact, I’ve even heard that one of the ponies likes parties and playing games.”

As Veritis’s smile was started to widen to non-possible levels, Fortis decided to add her simple condition.

“But you’ll have to ask the ponies first, understood?”

Veritis nodded as she started to go with her mom back to the hive, ready to see if she could stay awake for some more time. Meanwhile, the mother would remember the conversation held before her coronation and hoped that her rule would survive the incoming storm that was moving toward them.