Everypony just stared and gaped at those at the center of this shocking turn of events. Shocking as in unexpected, not awful, at least according to my sensibilities. After all, I had already met a Shining Armor who had not one but several changeling children. In the meantime, this Shining Armor looked around wildly and motioned for his wife to come over to him. I found it amusing to discover that my Prince Armor was in all likelihood also a sire to a changeling, and damned if he wasn’t cute. Still, it didn’t hurt to get a second opinion.
Moon Dancer, now back in her unicorn disguise, had taken refuge between Penny and me in order to avoid contact with any changelings and further betraying her true nature. I quietly asked her, “What do you think?”
“Shining Armor is definitely the sire. I imagine that Chrysalis planned to use the child against the Prince somehow. Judging by the cheerful demeanor, I’d say that the Queen has kept the foal aside from its peers to give him special schooling and treatment. Prince Armor is lucky that his son hasn’t been indoctrinated against him as yet because he’s a little too young.”
“That’s if Shining accepts the foal,” I pointed out. “The circumstances are enormously different from the alternate world’s had been.”
“What makes you think the decision will be his?” She pointed to Cadance who was now approaching the child.
The pink mare crouched down and asked, “What is your name, youngling?”
“Shiny Button, Miss.”
The princess smiled. “That’s a very nice name. You look a lot like your dad.”
“I can look even more like him,” he replied excitedly. “Wanna see?”
“Of course.”
Shiny Button’s form lit with magic fire and soon we were looking at a colt with a pale blue coat and eyes matching Shining Armor’s. At this point, it was impossible not to see the family resemblance, although realistically, I had to admit that it could be disregarded due to changeling shapeshifting ability. My instincts and experience said otherwise however, and with Moon Dancer backing me up, I was certain that I was looking at the stallion’s love child. There just remained one potential sticking point.
“How do you feel about this, Cadance?” I asked.
She looked up at me and smiled. “I forgave my husband for everything that he did with Chrysalis long ago. He was not culpable for anything that happened, and that includes this colt. While I’ll never forgive Chrysalis for what she did to Shining, what kind of Alicorn of Love would I be if I blamed him or this child for something that she did?” Cadance turned and held out her forehooves to Shiny Button. “I’m going to be your new mother. Can you give me a hug?”
The colt’s smile grew even brighter and he rushed into the alicorn’s embrace, drinking in the love that she was projecting for him.
I saw Shining Armor wipe his brow with relief. I suppose that having been a parent for a while now, at least he wouldn’t be going into this stone cold. Maybe Twilight and I could get in contact with Chryssy about getting tips on raising changeling foals later. Speaking of Twilight though, could we be dealing with another potential bun in the oven?
I noticed that Thorax had gone to his new wife and they were quietly talking to each other. I only managed to catch a word or two, but it wasn’t hard to figure out what they were discussing. Whatever it was, they ended up embracing and kissing. I figured that she was in good hooves and would deal with the situation. And if not, we’d be there to help her.
I turned to Trixie and said, “Looks like we’ll soon be the only royals without foals.”
She gave me a strange look. “As far as you know, Pressmark Harebells.”
Wait. What?! “Trixie – are you saying…”
She just smiled and walked off towards Thorax and Twilight to congratulate them.
“But… but how?” I muttered.
“By sexual intercourse,” Moon Dancer replied sarcastically.
“But I was stuck as a mare during the Season!” I objected.
“And what about immediately before?”
“Trixie insisted on making love while we still had the opportunity.”
“It is a biological fact that semen remains viable for up to five days. While her best bet to conceive would have been during the Season, she still had a very good chance of being impregnated by having sex immediately beforehand. Congratulations – you’re going to be a father.”
I sat down hard on my rump, dazed by the revelation. While I had entertained the idea of siring a foal, I hadn’t planned on doing so for some time as yet; therefore, I was unprepared for the news. Trixie had obviously planned this though. I remembered back to when I was asked when I intended to have foals and I had replied, ‘When Trixie decides’. Apparently, she had. Now it seemed that the only questions that remained were – would Twilight or Trixie give birth first? And who would be the only Triarch left to run the kingdom while they were busy being new moms? I felt a huge headache coming on.
While I was pondering all this, General Crushing Blow came up to me. The massive earth pony was a full head taller than the rest of us, making her instantly recognizable despite the anonymizing effects of the Royal Guard armor. Her size masked a keen strategic intellect that catapulted the mare into her position as the new leader of the Equestrian armed forces. “Sire, what are your orders?”
Glad of the distraction, I brought my attention back to the matter at hoof. “Has the situation been secured, General?”
“Yes, Your Highness. The changelings are fully cooperating with King Thorax’s orders and are even helping with the injured.”
“Any deaths?” I asked with some trepidation.
“No, Sire. All pony casualties are confirmed as non-life threatening. I spoke with one of the medical drones and the preliminary assessment of changelings showed the same. Our preparations for this day were excellent and we were able to execute this operation in an optimal fashion.”
“Well done, General. Pass on our thanks to our allies and prepare to withdraw.”
“What about the hive?”
“As agreed to by treaties signed by King Thorax and the Equestrian Triarchy, the hive and its immediate environs are to be considered a territory independent of but allied with Equestria. While we can offer our help, this is now Thorax’s responsibility. And Twilight’s too, I suppose, now that they’re married. I think that with her help, Thorax will cope.”
“And the security of Equestria?” the general asked, sounding not quite convinced.
I gave her my most assured smile. “Sometimes, you have to take something on faith, General. I believe in Thorax and I suggest that you do too. With his new title of Prince Consort, he is even more committed to the defense of Equestria even if he does not have any political power there. I reckon that you should coordinate with his brother, Pharynx, on security matters. We don’t want any misunderstandings happening such as what got your predecessor forcibly retired.”
I let that threat hang although I didn’t believe that it would come about. We had selected Crushing Blow for the position not only for her military acumen, but also for her unusual store of hard common sense.
The mare snapped to attention and saluted. “Yes, Sire!” She spun around and marched off to do as she had been ordered.
“Nice show of command,” Penny said with a grin.
“We haven’t gone to all this effort to let things slide back to the way they used to be,” I replied. “If I’m fated to be a Prince of Equestria, then I’ll be the best ruler that a former I.T. expert can be.”
Trixie narrowed her eyes. “You still haven’t explained to Trixie what precisely that means… to Trixie’s satisfaction.”
I smirked. “I understand being a stallion of mystery is highly appealing to mares.” I got the eye-roll and smile I had been looking for. “Now, let’s get everypony home, shall we?”
That was easier said than done. The sight of somepony her size had brought Flurry Heart to full alert. She had managed to squirm free from her mother’s grasp and was now playing a fast-paced game of tag with Shiny Button that careened all over the throne room and even some of the airspace above it. Cadance and her husband were frantically trying to corral them once more along with one of the changelings whom I guessed was Button’s nanny. Matters weren’t helped any when Nyx decided that she wanted in on the fun too. And to think – I was going to have one of those little terrors too someday. I shuddered before putting on my best smile for my wife.
“Let’s go, Lulu. We have a lot to talk about.”
There were plenty of citations and awards to go around after the successful raid on the Crystal Hive; however, only five individuals earned the Pink Heart of Courage. After discussing the matter with my fellow royals, we decided a large-scale public celebration would be detrimental to integrating crystal changelings into Equestrian society. Many ponies would be willing to shake hooves with a fallen enemy, but some would not be as magnanimous. Those feelings of intolerance would be strengthened by a celebration of Chrysalis’ and by extension the Crystal Hive’s downfall.
To counteract this, the Royal Court provided the newspapers with as many examples as feasible of infiltrators whose alternate identities provided care for other ponies. A report that ‘a common crystal changeling drone named Timpani’ aided the rescue mission and Twilight’s upcoming public wedding ceremony to Thorax also helped break down the prejudice.
I proposed a private ceremony to the five recipients before Day Court commenced and they all heartily agreed. Three days after the rescue operation, the five soldiers lined up in front of Trixie and myself in the Canterlot throne room. Twilight and Thorax were still at the Crystal Hive, too busy to send more than status reports and the occasional request for needed supplies. Cadance and Shining Armor had returned to the Crystal Empire on the first available train along with their new son and his nanny. Ah, well. The two remaining royals decked out in their finest accouterments would have to do.
I had suggested to my wife that I bestow the medals and speak with each of the recipients. She agreed, informing me that I needed the practice. Absolutely not about foisting another royal duty on me, was it, dear? Sure it wasn’t.
I started with the non-pony in our midst… or at least the only one that wasn’t disguised. Even I did not have a full listing of who was and was not a red changeling in the Equestrian Army. The Triarchs’ agreement with Queen Carpacia meant we would not pursue that information either, and I wasn’t about to upset our alliance that had performed so brilliantly.
Princess Tarsalia had led the red changeling force that was not integrated with the Equestrian military. They had provided critical air cover to allow our forces to approach during the time Torch was running to the hive and breaking through its outer wall. I took the ribbon and pendant levitated to me by Trixie and carefully draped it over her head and onto her neck. While the butterfly-shaped ruby at the center of the pendant shone brightly, it was overwhelmed by the mirror-like polish on the changeling’s chitin. “On behalf of all of Equestria, the Triarchy thanks you and all red changelings who stood with Equestria to defeat Chrysalis.”
The red hive princess shot off a sharp salute. “It was our duty and pleasure, sir.”
I smiled. “At ease, soldier. Please relay to Queen Carpacia our thanks. Also, tell her acceptance of red changelings is at unprecedented levels. I understand undisguised drones can’t patrol the streets right now because they keep getting embraced by dozens of ponies doing what they can to show their appreciation.”
She shifted a bit on her hooves. “Ahh… that’s true, Your Highness. Overfeeding has been a problem as of late.”
I patted her on the shoulder. “I’m sure everything will calm down eventually. Better than the opposite problem of being shunned.”
“Yes, sir. The median where red changelings are accepted and treated like any other pony would be ideal.”
“Your actions and those of your troops have brought that day much closer. Thank you, Princess.”
She saluted again. “Sir!” Couldn’t stay at ease for more than a minute. Ah, well.
Next came General Crushing Blow. She bowed her neck until it was level with her body and I still struggled a bit to get the ribbon down to her withers.
After she straightened up, I gave her a salute which she returned. “Crushing Blow. This operation was a success in large part because of the discipline you drilled into our troops, the training you ensured they received, and outstanding execution of the battle plan you led, all under tight time constraints. Well done, General.”
She lowered her hoof after I dropped mine. “Thank you, Your Highness. Our success was the result of the combined effort of thousands of ponies and members of other races. I am proud to wear this medal for them and will think of their accomplishments whenever I see it in the future.”
Next was a familiar bat-pony who fidgeted slightly under the glare of reflected sunlight. After I had bestowed his medal, we traded salutes. “Major Dusky Wings. You led the Night Guard Special Task Force to vet the key personnel for the operation in under an hour. During the raid, your force provided security for Torch from the swarms of changelings trying to disrupt his efforts. In addition, your team’s cover allowed me to free the captives which helped turn the tide of the battle. I am proud to award you with a well-deserved promotion for your efforts. Congratulations, Lt. Colonel.” I held out a hoof.
He took mine and shook it. “Thank you, Your Highness. And thank you for making this a private ceremony.”
“Don’t want it getting out that you do your best work in the daylight, I take it? I’ll try to set the time for the next Equestria-saving battle to be at midnight,” I joked.
“I would appreciate it, sir.”
Ah well. So much for testing his sense of humor.
Next came Colonel Double Geode of the Crystal Empire Guard. After giving her the award, I said, “Colonel, your quick and decisive actions resulted in the capture of the three changeling imposters and maintained calm and order among the crystal ponies. Congratulations.” Because the crystal pony, like Princess Tarsalia, was not under my direct command, we could not exchange salutes.
The mare bowed her head respectfully. “On behalf of the Crystal Empire, please allow me to reaffirm our commitment to stand with Equestria in her times of need.”
“And I reaffirm Equestria’s pledge to protect the Crystal Empire from all threats.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
The last recipient was a very familiar dark-red stallion who stood impassively at attention.
I smiled. “Crimson Boulder. This entire operation had one linchpin and that was you. It was your responsibility to interrogate the first key personnel to establish they were not replaced by Chrysalis’ drones. Further, you passed the information I sent to only those with a need-to-know. You also coordinated the use of the teleportation portals to retrieve troops and allies. The result was the largest and fastest movement of Equestrian troops in the history of warfare. For all these reasons, the Triarchs of Equestria are promoting you. Our hope is that your new rank is the beginning of the next chapter in your military career where you can fully realize your potential. Congratulations, Lieutenant Crimson Boulder.”
I snapped off my best salute which he returned automatically despite the shocked expression on his face. I lowered my hoof, but the dazed stallion didn’t follow suit, instead just staring ahead with a glazed look in his eyes. Dusky Wings came up to clap him on the back with his wing… rather hard. “Well done, soldier. I rose up through the non-com ranks myself before becoming an officer. I assure you that the rumors about requiring two holes in the front of your skull to attend officer school are largely unfounded.”
That seemed to break Crimson out of his trance. “Oh… Ah… Thank you, Your Highness. I’ll have to get used to the idea of my being a Lieutenant now.” Then more quietly. “Never in my wildest dreams…” The bat-pony grinned as he returned to his previous spot.
I chuckled as I trotted back up to my wife’s side. I did my part.
Now it was her turn. “Changeling, mares, and stallions. The greatest threat to our country has now been neutralized and a new, powerful ally stands with all of us. You five more than any other soldiers are responsible for that success.” Trixie gave them a salute which each and every one returned immediately. Thinking back, I couldn’t recall a single time when Trixie had saluted anypony, either on her own accord or in response to another’s salute.
After lowering her hoof, she nodded. “Dismissed.”
The five started talking among each other as they walked out of the throne room in a group. I suspected a drink was in their immediate future as all had been given the day off from official duties.
I turned around to face the mares on the dais. Besides my wife, there was Starlight Glimmer and Moon Dancer who had elected to stay in Canterlot for more Royal Advisor training with Raven, who was also with us.
I said, “Moon Dancer, you also were critical to the success of the mission. If you would have allowed it, you would also be getting the same medal.”
The unicorn mare shook her head emphatically. “No… no, thank you, Your Highness. I… I might want to return there someday, but for now, I want to keep some distance away from my former life.” Although I’m sure Twilight would have preferred to have Moon Dancer’s help in the ongoing transformation of the Crystal Hive, the Princess had allowed her assistant to stay in Canterlot as her go-between and surrogate.
Trixie said, “Regardless, we shall not allow your contributions to go unrewarded. Trixie and her husband have decreed that your probationary period as Royal Advisor is over. Additionally, you have been promoted two levels to an E-5 pay-grade. Congratulations.”
The mare bowed deeply. “Thank you, Princess. I’ll keep working hard, I swear.”
I said, “We know you will, Moon Dancer.” I then turned to Starlight Glimmer. “Starlight, your bravery and commitment were also exemplary. After discussing the matter with my wife, we have decided that your probationary period is also over, but for you, it relates to your crimes against Equestria. We know that you have a great future ahead of you.”
Starlight also bowed and came up grinning from ear to ear. “Thank you both. And thank you for believing in me when neither of you had to.”
Trixie said, “In addition, we are likewise promoting you to the E-5 pay grade as is fitting for your station.”
The pink mare smiled more openly and looked at Raven. “Well, I don’t know if I can accept. I don’t want Raven getting jealous about the newbies jumping up to the same pay grade as herself.”
Raven lifted one eyebrow and looked down her muzzle at Starlight. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that.”
“And why is that?”
Raven smirked. “You’d have to get another half-dozen double-bumps in your pay grade before you got to mine.”
That made Starlight gape. “You’re an E-17?! But General Crushing Blow is an E-12! The Council of Mages are E-14s!”
“Well, I don’t like to brag, but you did ask.”
My wife spoke up. “Then Trixie will brag for you. After all, it is something Trixie is supremely good at.” She turned to Starlight and smiled. “Fifteen years at the most important civil position in the government: The Right Hoof of Celestia then Great and Powerful Trixie. Essential to the smooth governance of Equestria. Thought of highly by all who come in contact with her. All three rulers have Raven to thank for training them how Equestria can be governed. Is it any wonder why her name always comes up first when it is time for merit promotions?”
Starlight stammered. “I… well… when you put it that way, it makes sense. I guess I just didn’t expect that because Raven is always so low-key. Frankly, I suppose I didn’t have faith that the Equestrian government acknowledged her true value.”
Trixie waved a hoof. “Put those fears to rest. Her worth is recognized and rewarded.”
I frowned as I considered the larger picture for a moment. Raven's salary was just an afterthought compared to the price Equestria agreed to for Torch's help against the Crystal Hive.
In the intervening silence, I decided to bring up another matter. “Well, then. I suppose the last order of business is… who’s next?”
All of the mares cocked their heads to the side slightly and gave me the exact same puzzled look. I fought hard to keep from busting out laughing. My wife asked, “What do you mean, Embark Bluebells?”
“Do I need to spell it out? I think you all know what’s happening right now.” I waved a hoof at my wife. “First we find out Trixie is pregnant, then Twilight announces the same, and since Chrysalis was defeated, the newspapers are reporting that many mares feel secure enough to start a family.”
I then pointed to Starlight, Moon Dancer, and Raven in turn. “My powers of deduction lead me to conclude that there is something in the air. It’s not a matter of if one of you will be with foal soon, it’s a matter of when.” I ignored the narrowed eyes and tight-lipped frowns now directed my way. I raised an eyebrow and stared skeptically at each displeased Royal Advisor in turn. “So… which one of you is it going to be?”
Trixie broke the silence. “Dowser, you are the best kind of idiot.”
I smiled and kissed her. “The only kind of idiot I know how to be.”
Starlight rolled her eyes. “On that note, you still have to make preparations before visiting our Royal Guest downstairs.”
“Ah, thank you for the reminder, E-5 no-longer-probationary Royal Advisor Starlight Glimmer.” I used that as a new excuse to kiss my wife. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
As I trotted out of the throne room, Penumbra pulled up alongside me. “I thought you knew better than to annoy four mares at once.”
I grinned. “Nope. You must be thinking about a different Mark Wells.”
“Apparently so. What exactly were you thinking, anyway?”
I decided to come clean. “Honestly? One of the most important responsibilities I have is to find common ground between Trixie and Twilight. Personalities that are about as different as any two mares can have. Just now, I didn’t mind playing the fool to allow all four of the mares to bond over laughing at my antics.”
Penny leaned closer and her grin made me uncomfortable. “Well, next time, I recommend not implying that you are offering yourself as the stud male to provide each or all of them with a foal.”
I stopped in my tracks. “WHAT?!”
The bat-pony chuckled at my response. “Oh, yes. The implication was quite clear. The Royal Advisors will remember the day when Prince Mark Wells asked each when they would be pregnant. While it is traditional for the mare to do the asking, a stallion is allowed to express his willingness to serve as stud. Pretty straightforward, wouldn’t you agree?”
My mouth opened and closed a couple of times. Finally, I sighed and trotted faster down the hallway. “Come on, Penny. I suddenly find myself looking forward to talking with Queen Chrysalis.”
I sat down at the stone table opposite Prisoner Q1. She glared at me with enough venom to kill any cobra. The two guards flanking her did not take their eyes off of her for a moment. I was sure the same could be said for my personal bodyguard and the two guards standing just behind me on either side. The concrete and brick room was largely featureless: four recessed light panels in the ceiling and a steel-reinforced door behind the prisoner and myself. The table stretched from wall to wall, effectively dividing the room in half. Five immovable concrete chairs were on my side while the prisoner’s side had just the one.
Undeterred by her attitude, I gave her a beaming smile. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Your Majesty.”
Chrysalis snorted, “I’m not going to deign to answer that.”
I continued smiling. “Ah, so you are in a talkative mood today. Looks like I won’t be buying the drinks tonight. You see, Sergeant Penumbra here bet that you wouldn’t say a single word. However, to be completely honest, I kind of rigged the game. Only leaving you the most recent Daring Do book to read. The one with the shape-changing enemies, that is. Doubtless, you refused to read it and are now starved for any social contact. Or am I mistaken? Did you read it out of boredom? Or desire to study your prey? Did you actually ‘deign’ to enjoy it?”
Chrysalis had stared at me the entire time. As I sat patiently, a predatory smile slowly crept onto her face. “You are out of your depth, colt. Do not attempt to manipulate me.”
I kept the same pose as I continued to wait. She drummed the table with a forehoof. “Still, you mix truth, lies, and half-truths admirably. You would have made a fine infiltrator.”
Interesting. Also unexpected. Might as well segue to the topic I came here to discuss. “While we are on that subject, I’d like to bring up a related one— your favorite food.”
The changeling queen perked her ears for a moment before they swiveled back to their original place. “Ah. You are talking about ponies and their emotions.”
“Correct. I would very much appreciate your perspective on some aspects of pony-changeling relations that I find confusing.”
“All caused by your inability to think like a true pony.” She leaned forward. “So why is that exactly? Perhaps you were originally a griffon or the result of some experiment by Princess Sparkle?” Chrysalis’ eyes bore into me and I was certain her emotion-sensing awareness was turned up to its maximum. Because emotion-gathering was innate to all changelings, the two nullstone bands on her horn could not dampen that ability. And we had seen no need to drug the queen to deprive of her of this faculty… yet. And, as there were never less than three watchdogs on alert in the dungeon, if Chrysalis tried to drain a guard, the others would soon make her see the error of her ways.
I had to chuckle at her hypothesis. “A failed experiment, you mean.” Both Trixie and Twilight were going to get a big laugh when I retold that shot in the dark.
Chrysalis leaned back slowly, regarding me all the while. “Perhaps a truth for a truth, then?”
I didn’t think so. “How about I’ll continue to allow you to speculate and you answer my questions as you see fit... assuming you don’t have any other pressing engagements?”
“Why don’t you ask your pet queen Carpacia? I’m sure she would provide you with whatever answers would make her master the happiest.”
“Because I don’t trust her to answer me honestly.”
“Yet you have either already asked these questions of her or plan to do so in the near future.”
I didn’t try to deny it, instead just waiting for her decision. The silence stretched out longer this time, but I didn’t have to move or say anything more. This was a voluntary discussion and she could quit it any time she wished.
Finally, she waved a hoof. “Very well. You may ask.”
I nodded with a hint of gratitude. “So as I understand it, changelings have lived among ponies for at least 1800 years, using what ponies would term both ethical and unethical means to gather love.”
She nodded slightly, which I took as a good sign. She was involved with the conversation.
I continued. “An example of an ‘ethical’ method would be creating a brand new personality and integrating into pony society. Whether as a member of a community or an itinerant pony. I suppose there should be a ‘quasi-ethical’ category for changelings that find a pony dying or dead and take their place, stepping into their lives. The morals there are entirely subjective.”
No comment came from the changeling queen, but I hadn’t expected one since I had not asked a question. I put both forehooves on the table. “Now let’s get to the interesting bit. A changeling captures a lone pony or group of ponies, puts them in cocoons, hangs them upside down in their hive, and they never leave. Are you telling me that no general alarm is raised? That the pony-powers-that-be don’t notice that individuals and groups just disappear?”
Chrysalis shrugged. “This is not done carelessly, as you imply. The practice dates back to before the hives split. Do not believe that no hive besides my own did this. Every hive will do what is necessary to survive in lean times, though others may release the amnesiac ponies when prosperity returns. Permanent encasement is a last resort because of the risk of raising just such an alarm. There is a folk tale of a careless queen who abducted the daughter of a pony warlord before the time of the Two Sisters. The warlord proceeded to slaughter all the food for miles around in an attempt to exact revenge on anything that might have killed her, whether pony or beast.”
“No – changelings have to be cautious. Signs are left to explain their absence, whether a hoof-scrawled note describing a trip or carefully placed marks and scents for manticore, hydra, or other threat. The thirteen ponies you stole... excuse me... freed from my hive were far less than what the hive needed but as many as I was willing to dare.”
I nodded. “Another thing puzzles me—”
She interrupted. “Ah, but first I get my question regarding your lack of coordination and terrible flying ability after you first appeared. You also completely lack a herd mentality. You weren’t born a pony, were you? Perhaps a minotaur?”
I felt a slight pang of anxiety, which I knew Chrysalis detected when her grin widened. Even though I didn’t say I would answer her questions, the changeling queen was more than capable of inferring answers from my emotional responses.
I forced myself to smile. “So, you asked two questions. My turn. There must have been dozens of times a changeling has been revealed in their true from over the centuries. Add to that the inability of changelings to teleport—”
“Who told you…” Chrysalis snapped her mouth closed before completing the question.
Still, my curiosity was piqued. “Would you care to elaborate?”
Chrysalis sighed and her eyes defocused as she looked off to the side. “Mastering unicorn magic to the point that a changeling can teleport is extremely rare. The last one to do so in my hive was over two hundred years ago. Resplendent Scroll worked her way up from pony elementary school through Celestia's unicorn school to become leader of the Council of Mages. Those days were the zenith of the Crystal Hive’s prosperity. She even got a full state funeral with a tearful eulogy from Celestia upon her passing.” The Queen’s wistful smile changed to a frown and she turned to look me in the eyes. “I had hoped Timpani would be the next to do so. Her loss forced me to scrap my plans completely and start over. Your second question.”
I stared at the table as I considered. Did Carpacia lie to me about changelings and teleportation? Or had her hive never produced that kind of prodigy? Regardless, I’d never get her to admit she had lied to me, so I’d have to settle for her original answer.
I looked up again. “It seems incredible to me that changelings haven’t been discovered before now. It’s not possible to learn every quirk of the pony you are trying to replace. To say nothing of the ignorance they have of the life their target shared with others. The same problem happens to a lesser extent for infiltrators trying to establish a new identity. They are ignorant of current events and thousands of trivial details of daily pony life that anypony would be expected to know. Add to that, changeling disguises fail on occasion. I could see the infrequent claim of encountering a nightmare creature being laughed off as the result of a bad batch of moonshine, but this must have happened hundreds or even thousands of times through the centuries. No offense, but you’re likely the most accomplished changeling infiltrator alive but I’m told that your portrayal of Cadance was abysmal.” The changeling queen scowled but said nothing. I narrowed my eyes. “So how, exactly, have changelings remained undiscovered until recently?”
Chrysalis fidgeted a bit and looked down at her forehooves. “Well… umm… aside from minimizing high-risk operations such as replacing a living pony, changelings rely on… certain aspects of pony behavior.”
I waited, leaning back in my chair with forelimbs across my chest.
“You see… ponies will accept pretty much any excuse to avoid facing something that would upset their world view, despite all evidence to the contrary. On more than one occasion, exposed drones have received sympathy for their terrible skin condition, been treated like a lost pet, hailed as the next great magic act, or just ignored until they went away. The go-to phrase that every infiltrator learns is ‘Sorry about my appearance. I’m a bat-pony with mange.’.” She raised her forehooves and gave me an almost apologetic smile. “Works almost every time!”
I stared at the changeling queen. With what I had learned about ponies, I found this disturbingly plausible. “So you’re telling me that the average pony just… isn’t all that bright.”
Chrysalis pursed her lips for a second. “… yeah.”
That squared with how Trixie ended up as ruler of Equestria. We sat in silence for a while until she spoke up again. “My turn. Did you come to Equestria with the express intent of seizing power, seducing the monarch to achieve your goal?”
Chrysalis fit a lot into that single question, doubtless gauging my reactions throughout. “Very little has gone according to anypony’s plan. My question. How did you expect to be able to keep Canterlot with the remaining ponies and the other hives all mobilizing against you?”
She scoffed. “I think you underestimate the amount of power I had at my disposal. By the time I revealed myself, I had been draining Shining Dolt for weeks. At that point, I had sufficient power to take down Celestia.
The changeling queen continued. “Of primary importance was speed. If I could have drained or placed in pods the entire Canterlot population before Carpacia arrived, it would be a matter of overwhelming her and her dozen-or-so princesses with brute force. Perhaps I would have lost a portion of the ponies from excessive draining of their love, but those losses would have been made up with the food in the countryside and smaller towns. The remaining hives combined were not the threat posed by the Red Hive. After that, it would be a matter of hypnotizing ponies to breed more feedstock and my children would have finally gone without hunger for the first time in the history of the hive.” Chrysalis gave me a smug grin like she had explained something obvious to a foal. Grimly, I couldn't fault her logic. Her approach was feasible. I was gladder than ever that Cadance and Shining Armor had defeated the invasion.
Her smile grew to show her fangs. “So you came from one of those alternate worlds you talked about, didn’t you?”
That question I was prepared for. “Actually, I feel I owe you an apology. That family photo I showed you? The one with you, Cadance, and Shining Armor as a happy family with nymphs of your own? Pure fabrication to weaken your resolve.”
I watched her narrow her eyes. I had told her something she wanted to believe, which was doubtless warring with what her senses were telling her.
I looked to the side, tapping my chin. “Although…” A dramatic pause. “Maybe I was telling the truth after all.”
I turned to Penumbra and nodded. She opened the door behind me as I scooted to the chair to my left. Chryssy entered the room and calmly sat down directly across from her counterpart.
I was watching Chrysalis carefully and saw her eyebrows rise when she saw the newcomer. Then she frowned and sneered. “Which changeling did you convince to help support this fabrication of yours, Mark Wells? Is that you, Thorax?”
Chryssy sadly shook her head. “I am not Thorax, nor am I any other changeling from this world. I am exactly what I appear to be – what you could have been if you hadn’t chosen the path of darkness.”
“Oh, this is too much,” sneered Chrysalis. “Other me is going to preach to me!”
“Yes. Yes, I am.” She held up a foreleg encased in unblemished chitin. “What don’t you see, Queen Chrysalis? Don’t worry – I’ll make it easy and give you the answer. Voids. Voids that are a symptom of constant hunger. Holes that are present in every one of your former subjects and even yourself. Despite taking a large share of the love that your drones harvested, you never had enough to sate you except for one occasion, and even then you did not stay that way long enough to heal. Not one changeling in my hive has voids anymore because, for years, they have fed well, and all because I dared to break tradition and seek help from the ponies.”
Chrysalis rolled her eyes. “You’re not convincing me that you’re not a fake. No true changeling queen would ever betray her hive by allying herself with the food.”
“Just as no changeling queen would ever reveal herself and her hive to ponies by attacking them. Ponies are the source of food, not the food itself,” Chryssy replied. “And for all their flaws, their virtues far outweigh them. I didn’t merely get a meal – I gained allies, friends, family, respect, and a joy that has sustained my hive and made it greater than all the others in Equestria. I have the love of a husband and a wife, and I have children who have never known hunger. What have you got, Chrysalis, Queen of the Dungeon? Why, in Mother’s Name did you choose to betray the changeling race and pursue a course of fear and hate?”
“Don’t invoke Mother’s name and speak of betrayal when she was the one who showed us that we could only get what we want through strength!” snarled Chrysalis. “I merely was the one who best took her lessons to heart and tried to take my hive to its true position of greatness with me as the absolute ruler of Equestria.”
“We must have had very different lessons, then. Mother believed in strength of will, not arms.”
“Wrong! She believed in strength in everything! That is why she had to die before I could fulfill my own ambitions.”
Chryssy reeled back in her seat. “You… you killed Mother?”
Chrysalis snorted. “Of course! She made it clear that that was the only way I, or any of my sisters, would ever succeed her. She made us fight each other to make us strong.”
Tears started welling in Chryssy’s eyes. “My mother sacrificed herself to save her daughters and her hive when a quarray eel attacked the nursery. My sisters decided that I was the one best suited to lead the hive out of its slow death.”
“And you did so by making yourself a pony too. No wonder you don’t have the voids of a true changeling; you’re a soft, namby-pamby, spoiled grub!”
Chryssy stiffened and drew herself up, wiping away her tears with a swipe of her fetlock. “I am Princess Chryssy, Triarch of the Crystal Empire and Queen of the Crystal Hive, the largest and strongest in Equus. I have the love and respect of my family and my subjects. Sharing love has made us all strong – stronger than we could ever be without those ponies that you hold in such contempt. You could have had all this too – you still can, if only you open your eyes to where true strength lies.”
“True strength?” Chrysalis laughed contemptuously. “Thorax stole my throne by force, not by hugs and kisses. For all his failings, the traitor knew how to bring me down.”
“Are you blind? Thorax only had the backing of so many because he made friends and built relationships. Haven’t you ever cared for someone or had someone care for you to that degree? That they would literally do anything to ensure your happiness and well-being?”
That question seemed to shake the changeling queen and Chryssy pressed the question.
“You have, haven’t you? Who was it? Why aren’t they here to support or defend you?”
“Because she’s dead!” Chrysalis spat back.
“Who died, and why?” Chryssy asked gently.
“My older sister, Postgena. She… she helped me endure mother’s trials as we grew up, and then when we were set against each other in mortal combat by the Queen, she sacrificed herself. Postgena urged me to be strong and then told me how to kill her without arousing mother’s suspicions.”
A sudden sob interrupted the explanation, slightly shocking me. Chryssy had hit a nerve!
“Why would she do that, Chrysalis, if all that your hive respected was power?” Chryssy asked softly.
Chrysalis continued, her eyes shimmering with unspilled tears. “Because she… she…”
“Because she loved you,” finished the Crystal Princess sympathetically. “Just as my Postgena loves me and recommended me to succeed our mother when she died. It would seem that we have something in common in spite of everything else.”
Chrysalis slowly nodded. “I despised mother for forcing us to fight like that, and I knew that sooner or later, she would do the same with my four sisters and me. That’s why I conspired with them to get rid of her. Two were killed during the coup. Trochanter left with some drones to start her own hive outside of griffon territory but she was slain when she ran afoul of marauders. Flagellum went to live with an earth pony stallion that she professed to care for. They disappeared without a trace shortly thereafter. I think she was afraid of me and what I might do.”
Chryssy closed her eyes and tried to take that in. She sighed and shook her head sadly. “I can understand the source of your anger and hate, but you did not learn its lesson. You had the opportunity to be better than your mother, but instead, you took her poisonous teachings to heart. Your sisters rightly feared what you might do despite helping you take your place as Queen.”
“They abandoned me – they deserved their fate!”
“Don’t deceive yourself – you drove them away with your ambition and lust for power. My sisters were my regents and ran the hive while I studied under Celestia. They continue to do so whenever my duties as Princess of the Crystal Empire call me away from the hive.”
Chrysalis gave her alternate world double a sharp look. “You trust them that much?”
“I completely trust all my sisters. I once suggested that I should surrender the hive to Postgena and concentrate on being a Crystal Princess and wife to my spouses. All of them flatly rejected the idea. None of them is interested in being Queen. Postgena is happy and fulfilled exactly as she is currently. Trochanter, like yours, is planning to start another hive, but she’s doing it in a slow, methodical way that doesn’t disrupt the hive. I will gift her with a substantial number of drones when she’s ready. Flagellum… she’s expecting her third foal. I’m an auntie to two adorable crystal ponylings. And as for—”
“Enough! Your gloating irritates me!”
Chryssy gave her a sad look. “You know I wasn’t gloating; I was trying to show you how much better your life could be if you changed your ways. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Would you like a visit by Postgena?”
Chrysalis reeled back in shock. “N-no… I can’t…”
“Can’t? Why not? Is it because you’re ashamed? Did your Postgena expect so much more of you that you cannot even face another world’s version of her? No one in this world could possibly know her as well as you do, so anyling that claims to be her could not possibly hope to fool you. Then you would know that everything she tells you is the truth and you just can’t face that, can you?”
“No, but I can doubt all the lies you’re spewing!” Chrysalis snarled back.
Chryssy shook her head. “You still refuse to believe that I’m telling the truth. I suppose there’s one thing that you can’t refute though.” She turned to the Guard stationed at the door to the dungeon. “Would you ask my husband to come in, please?”
The Guard nodded and poked his nose out the door and said, “The Princess would like you to come in now.” He then stepped back to allow a white unicorn with a multi-toned blue mane to enter.
Chrysalis gasped as she recognized Shining Armor. He gave her a deeply appraising look and she cringed. I sensed that he found her wanting. He then walked up beside Chryssy and asked, “You wanted to see me, dear?”
“Yes. Could I ask you to express how you feel about me so that my doppelganger can witness?”
Shining Armor smiled, pulled her into his embrace, and then gave her a long kiss as he poured his love out for her. I could see Chrysalis react to that and knew exactly what she was feeling. Her senses were telling her that this unicorn was a real pony, not a changeling, and he was giving Chryssy pure, uncoerced love, so much that what merely spilled over amounted to a meal for Chrysalis.
When the stallion finished, Chryssy said, “Thank you, darling.” She turned back to the prisoner. “Obviously, this is the Shining Armor from my world. This world’s version has an understandable aversion to me, although he’s trying to overcome that. My wife, Cadance, would express the same feelings but she had to mind our Crystal Empire while we made this visit. This is what you could have had, Chrysalis. It’s still something that you could aspire to if you choose.” She looked over to me. “Thank you for this opportunity. I think I now understand her fully. I hope that she takes my words to heart.”
“You’re a better person than me, Chryssy. I would happily let her rot here, as she well realizes.”
“I don’t see her as a hopeless case, Mark.” She faced Chrysalis once more. “I meant what I said about Postgena visiting you. Just let somepony know and I’ll arrange it.”
Chrysalis sullenly turned away from us without replying.
“I think we’re done here for today,” I said. “Now, I believe that my wife has arranged a special dinner for our visitors.”
Shining Armor added with a chuckle, “And a poker game afterwards. Your Shining Armor wants revenge.”
Chryssy giggled as we exited the interview room together. “He’ll never get it. My hubby had to develop the world’s best poker face when playing with changelings all the time.”
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