Princess and Queen: A New Era

by Prismfire Productions

Along Came a Spider

Ponyville was an unusual city. To the ponies that lived there, nothing was out of the ordinary, and that included the weekly panic that was always lurking at their doors. However, to ponies who were just visiting, it was like they had transported back to a simpler time.

Everypony knew each other on a first name basis, a far cry from not knowing one pony from the next like it was in Canterlot, Manehattan, or Baltimare. The spa was known all across the land, drawing the attention of tourists and foreign dignitaries alike as they stopped in for Aloe and Lotus’ top class service at a price that just couldn't be beaten.

Yet, in the middle of town, the main attraction stood. The Castle of Friendship had become a town landmark, a testament to the six hard-working mares who had been chosen by Harmony herself to keep Equestria safe. The newly expanded and renovated Friendship Academy had garnered international attention as well, with rumors swirling that they were soon going to start accepting Trotsylvanian batponies, including a mysterious teacher named Coltula who was starting up a night school program in “Batting 101: A Guide to the Night.”

Even with all the excitement buzzing in the air, there was one pony in town who was feeling down. Princess Cadance, who had just recently risen from a sleepless slumber, gazed out over the town from her guest room of the castle. The crystal decor did wonders in helping her feel at home, but seeing endless fields of green instead of pure, white snow made her realize that she was not home anymore. The Crystal Empire was far away, a home that she had betrayed with her foolish grudge against Chrysalis.

“I don't know why I am still alive,” Cadance said, speaking into the silence of the room as she watched the Ponyville residents begin their day. She had sent Shining back to the Empire to retrieve some shower supplies, but being alone brought her painful memories back to the surface. Seeing the ponies below so happy and carefree only worsened her mood, for she knew she didn't deserve it. “I should’ve died, alone among the fractured remains of my biggest failure… yet here I am.”

“You really need to quit being so hard on yourself Cady,” Shining said, causing his wife to jump since she had not heard him teleport into the room. “Sorry it took so long and smelling like I do, but I got tangled in a pony ball with our sister and daughters as I was coming out the bathroom. Considering their activities last night, the rest is self-explanatory.”

“Y-yeah,” Cadance blushed, images running wild in her imagination at what possible things those three mares had done the night before. Even standing a few feet away from Shining, she could still smell the scent on him, and being the Princess of Love meant she knew just how potent such a scent could be. In her opinion, Flurry definitely had a keeper. “Been a long time since I had smelled you in the state you are. Come, my love, lets share a bath, I would enjoy the company.”

“Still thinking about what happened huh?” Shining said, giving his wife a knowing look as he levitated the bath products to the edge of the tub and began working on getting the temperature just right. “I know that it will take time Cady, but you will get over this. I am here for you every step of the way.”

“I know that Shiny,” Cadance said, sliding into the tub after Shining got the temperature right. The water felt like dipping into a mineral spring, each tense muscle releasing their grip on her aching bones as she started to relax. “But, at the same time, you know that things will never be like they were. Flurry is a mature and married mare, but her taking over the throne at such a young age has me a bit worried.”

“We already had this discussion love. If what Chrysalis explained to me was any indication of our daughter's abilities, she will do just fine,” Shining said, using his forehooves to begin working at his wife's knotted muscles. “If anything, she is actually a better line of defense that we were due to her magic now being half alicorn and half changeling. Her and Chrysalis deeply love each other Cady, and the more love they have, the stronger they and the Heart are.”

“I suppose you do have a point there,” Cadance said, leaning back into Shining’s administrations. “It just feels so weird, you know? It seems like yesterday that I had given birth to Flurry, and now she is ruling the Empire. Seeing my little foal all grown up has me feeling old dear, it really does.”

“You are still in the prime of your youth,” Shining chuckled, taking the opportunity to make Cadance mew by nipping the base of her wings. “And you still will be for centuries to come. The only one feeling old is me, but you don't see me complaining, now do you? I knew what I was getting into by marrying you, so I already made peace with a topic I feel should not be discussed right now, and you know what it is.”

“The fact I am going to outlive you?” Cadance felt Shining flinch, and it was indeed a sore issue for her, but she thought it was best to continue. “I know what you are trying to do dear, and trust me when I say I appreciate it; however, considering I allowed myself to fall into ruin, I think we should discuss this matter to get it out the way. I love you Shining Armor. You are the shield to my sword, my equal and protector, but I know I can't have you forever as I would like. That being said, I am going to enjoy every moment I have with you.”

“And I as well, Mi Amore,” Shining said, using the Prench context of Cadance's first and middle name. “It brings me joy knowing I will get to grow old with a mare as wonderful as yourself, and I know that when I get into the dusk of my years, you will do whatever it takes to keep me comfortable. When that time comes, I only ask that I get to spend as much time with my family as possible. I only have one request for my funeral. I don't want it to be a time of mourning, I want it to be a time of celebration, reflection on all that I accomplished. I have a princess for a wife, sister, daughter, and two as aunts by being married to you. My feats will never match yours, but I still want them to be remembered.”

“Consider it done Shiny,” Cadance said, flexing a wing back to caress the unicorn's cheek. “Hopefully that isn't for a long time yet, but I will do whatever it takes to ensure your vision is carried out. Although, that does bring up the other side of the coin, that being me.

Unlike the popular misconception Equestrians believe in, I am not immortal, and neither are the other three alicorns. You saw it, the Crystal Ponies felt it. I actually died Shiny, but I want that part of what happened to stay as quiet as possible. After all, the story I wove was I needed some time off to rest and recover, but what would happen if some crazy pony realized the truth? They would realize that Celestia, Luna, and Twilight are not immortal either, and if they got an issue could try and kill them. That makes Flurry and Chrysalis targets as well, because all it would take is isolating one from the other to cut their power flow off. Shining, as the former Captain of the Guard, what protocol is there in the event that situation takes place?”

“There isn’t one,” Shining said, his voice falling to a mere whisper. “Basically, the guard relies on Celestia using the power of the sun if things get really bad. I mean, who is crazy enough to laugh in the face of the pony who can liquefy them into plasma?”

“Discord, for starters,” Cadance said, softly humming as she closed her eyes in thought. “Remember dear, there was an era in which he was in control. Another that comes to mind is our daughter-in-law. I mean, she defeated all of us by using your love of me as a weapon, and brainwashed you into believing she was me. On that note, I am curious, what sort of things did you two do in bed while she was disguised?”

“Buck you Marephy…” Shining grumbled, realizing that was universal karma for the jab he made at Chrysalis while retrieving the bathroom supplies. “Lets just say that the things she did made me more open-minded about being on the bottom.”

“Oh, is that so?” Cadance purred, and Shining felt like he was in an ice bath as his wife turned to face him. “I will admit, me and Auntie Lulu have often discussed in my more personal dreams what it would be like to see you carrying an heir… or heirs.”

“N-now Cady, lets be reasonable,” Shining squeaked, watching Cadance's horn lightly glow and a small heat start to build in his nethers and under his tail. “I have no problem with you two owning me, you know that, but don’t you think that it should be my choice if I decided to do that?”

“I suppose you are right,” Cadance said, and much to Shining's relief she powered down her spell. “I’m sorry, guess with everything finally sorting itself out, empty nest syndrome is rearing its ugly head.”

“I figured it would happen eventually,” Shining said, nuzzling Cadance's cheek as he used his magic to start applying coat conditioner. “Although, I think right now we should be discussing that problem you just addressed. Considering all that has happened to us in the past, that threat is a very real one, even if it hasn't made itself known on the surface yet.”

“Precisely my point Shiny,” Cadance said, dipping her head as Shining started scrubbing behind her ears. “Who knows what could happen? Hay, the Windegos could return with a vengeance or something, or some distant tyrant attack by air. Even if this is just speculation, there must be something we can do in order to try and prevent roadapples from slicing through a fan.”

“Wonder if there is something in the library, ” Shining said, looking at his floofed-up wife. The sight of her like she was made him inwardly chuckle, but the guard voice in his head told him to leave that for later. “Twily keeps all kinds of books, maybe there is a thing or two about military strategy from the Tribal Wars. It will be outdated, but we have to start somewhere.”

“Agreed,” Cadance said, her magic flaring to life as she quickly washed and dried both Shining and herself. “Lets go.”

“I don't get it Cady!” Shining said, hours of fruitless research clearly wearing on his patience. Following their bath, the couple had made their way down to the library, where Twilight's impromptu bookkeeper Shooting Star was busy taking catalog of the books that were overdue. After a brief explanation of what they were looking for, he had led them to the section dedicated to the great Commander Hurricane, which included all her notes for training her loyal troops. However, the age was showing, for nothing had changed over the millennia that had followed. “This is Guard 102, and all cadets know this stuff by the end of the third week. I can't believe that the military has been this incompetent for so long.”

ⁿKeep in mind, there hasn't been any major conflict since the Unification,” Cadance said, closing her book on The Last Battle of Saddleback Ridge. “Griffin Conflict? Couple dozen skirmishes, but Equestria won all but two before Celestia stepped in. Discord? Elements of Harmony. Nightmare Moon? Elements, twice. Chrysalis? Weaponized love blast. All the other time between has been peaceful, so that status quo is a false sense of security.”

“I suppose you are right dear,” Shining said, leaning back in his seat. “i would hate to see what would happen if the princesses were taken out the picture, I imagine society would collapse in a panic free for all. Perhaps we could have Twilight set up a meeting to have some changes made. You can't do it because you aren't a serving princess right now, and with Celestia and Luna out of the country on diplomatic business, she will have to do it.”

“I know,” Cadance said, sighing as she rested her head on the table. “I just wish there was some sort of lead to this problem.”

“That is not your concern, now is it?” Shining said, moving around the table to kiss his wife on the cheek. “But please dear, you need to cheer up.”

“Oh, such a lovely concept!” A female voice said, causing both Cadance and Shining to jump in place. “Yes, yes, cheering up is the best thing to do!”

“Pinkie, this better not be a prank,” Shining said, readying his magic due to seeing nobody else in the room. “Come out, or face the consequences.”

“I am not the Element of Laughter,” The female said again. “But I do know a thing or two about cheering someone up.”

“I’m warn-” Shining didn't finish his remark, for a familiar sensation started to flow through him. Everypony knew when somepony was about to pour their heart into a song, for the ambient environmental magic that was normally inert always flexed, allowing ponies nearby to feel what was to come. That feeling had made itself known, which made Shining power down his horn as the female began to sing.

It was then something caught the two ponies’ attention. Focusing their eyes, Cadance and Shining both saw a grey wolf spider climbing down in front of them, suspended by a single thread of silk.

“Hi there!” The spider said, waving her right two forelegs. “My name is Riley, and I'm sorry for startling you both, but I figured a song would help improve your mood. Did it work?”

“A small bit,” Cadance said, tilting her head in curiosity. “So, Riley, how are you able to talk?”

“I come from a land far away,” Riley said, swinging herself over to land on Cadance's muzzle. “A land of talking bipeds, carried here by the winds of fate. My mother was friends with a prize-winning pig, and she could talk herself. I arrived here and took up residence, eating the bookworms that dare try to harm such wonderful works that are stored here.”

“Does Twily know you are here?” Shining asked, looking down at Riley. “I remember as a filly she had a pet Amarezonian Blue, and it crushed her when she returned from book camp to find out it had got out of its enclosure and escaped.”

“Everyone in the castle knows,” Riley said, moving from Cadance's muzzle to Shining's. “Her, Spike, Shooting, and all her friends. Who would've thought that fearless Starlight the Equalist would be afraid of little ol’ me.”

“Now that is funny,” Cadance said, giggling at imagining Starlight hiding behind one of her friends. “Bet she wanted to smash you with a newspaper.”

“As fun as this has been,” Shining said, clearing his throat. “We still came to a dead end on our search. Riley, do you have any suggestions?”

“Seems you two have forgotten about the incident with the Storm King, where your worst-case scenario actually played out. Nonetheless, I have several ideas that come to mind,” Riley said, swinging back into the air. The magic of Equestria had done wonders to Riley's body, allowing her to far surpass the expected lifespan of her species, while also keeping her fit in the prime of her youth. This meant keeping her flexibility and speed, two assets that proved their worth in her continuous battle against bookworms, but also allowed her to be helpful in quickly receiving books for Spike when Twilight and Shooting were busy. “I have just the book in mind, do you know of a Prench leader by the name of Neighpolimare?”

“She was a brilliant leader, and well-liked by her subjects.” Shining said, watching in amazement as Riley used her webbing like a pulley system, lowering a book with Neighpolimare's portrait on the front. “Why do you ask?”

“She was one of, if not the greatest, non-Equestrian general in history.” Riley said, descending towards the couple once more. “At her peak, her allies respected her, but her enemies feared her. Keep in mind, she was just an Earth Pony, so she didn't have unicorn magic or pegasi flight to aid her. She had prowess and skill, and that's what made her an outstanding military figure. There is something else, if you don't want to read the book, that could be of assistance. Shining, what is a common rule when scouting an enemy?”

“There are three,” Shining said, clearing his throat. “Keep a low profile, hide in plain sight, but the most important is never get caught.”

“The second is the key,” Riley said, casually hanging upside down on a strand of silk. “I listened to the two of you fuss the last few hours over a threat that could potentially end badly. Yet, just like the rule, the answer has been in plain sight all along. Who successfully defeated all of you multiple times?”

The grins that came across the pair burned themselves into Riley's skull, making her wonder what horror she had just unleashed upon ponykind.

Changelings were many things. Once feared as monsters, and nearly sent to the brink of extinction, the unique situation allowed numerous genetic capabilities for survival that otherwise would not exist. They could change their whole body's molecular structure, both inside and out, into anything made of matter. Rocks, trees, griffins, dragons, or even water, it was all possible. This allowed changelings to be the ultimate masters of disguise, but it came at a heavy cost.

Unlike ponies, who's magic came naturally and was in tune with the environment, changeling magic was fueled by their food source. Different emotions caused different abilities to be amplified or dampened, but love had the best results due to tripling a changeling's mana pool, increasing their magic in proportion to how much they had honed their skills. Younger and less experienced drones often had less control than a filly unicorn, but a battle-hardened warrior could easily hold themselves in a fight to the death. However, all paled in comparison to the power of a changeling queen, but even the queen was still bound by the amount stored loved they had available.

Every spell, no matter how small, used a bit of their love stores, like slowly sipping on lemonade on a hot summer day; however, being in disguise was like being in a cider drink-off, the cost being higher the longer the disguise was in place. If a disguise, or spell, was used for too long, Magic Depletion Syndrome often took effect with a variety of consequences, with the worst being temporary loss of access to the hivemind.

The hivemind, perhaps the greatest evolutionary trait to have made itself known, served a variety of purposes. In addition to communication with their queen, it also allowed drones within twenty kilometers to communicate with each other, making it a highly effective tool in salvaging and attacking. When access was lost, it often left a drone in a dangerous situation, leaving them to try and return to the time with no sense of direction, often resulting in them never being seen again.

A queen’s connection to the hivemind, on the other hand, was much stronger. Not only did it allow her to know where every drone was at any given time, but it also gave occasional bioreadings as a precaution to alert if there was a drone that needed medical assistance.

However, the system wasn't flawless, and little did Flurry and Chrysalis know that their greatest threat lurked in the depths of their hivemind, slowly gaining her strength.