//------------------------------// // chapter 1 // Story: Rarity The Changeling Princess // by Tailsic //------------------------------// 22 Years Ago It was a cold and stormy night in the small town of Ponyville, everypony was safe and warm in their own house, riding out the storm as the heavy rain poured down soaking the town. Most of the residents have fallen asleep, waiting for the new day and clearer skies. But at the home of newlyweds Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles, things we're lively as usual, Cookie Crumble was in the kitchen baking her famous chocolate chip cookies, while her husband try to watch TV to no avail. "I can't get a signal!" Hondo complains flipping through the channel. "It's because of the rain dear!" she shouted as she place a batch of cookie from the oven. "AHHH, I'm missing the game!" Hondo shouted. "Since you have so much energy Hondo, why don't you take the trash out," Cookie points to the kitchen. "But it's raining outside," Hondo said. "Well then, get your raincoat," Cookie gives her husband a more hard stare, after a moment Hondo sighs in defeat. "Ok, ok, ok, I'll do it," he got up out of his seat. Hondo exited out the backdoor, sporting his bright yellow raincoat and levitating two trash bags, the husky stallion made his way to the side of the house, using his magic he lift the lip off the trashcan, but before he through the bags in, something caught his eye. "What is this?" Hondo place everything down and levitated the object out of the trashcan, it appeared to be a rather large green egg. Hondo look the egg over, examine for cracks or any other sorts of damage. "It looks fine, why would anyone throw away a perfectly fine egg?" he scratch his head, after looking around a bit to see if he could find who left the egg here, he shrugs and continue with his previous task, tossing the two trash bags and the trashcan, and heading back to the house with the egg. Cookie had just pull out a fresh batch of homemade cookies, when Hondo re-enter the house, "Hey Sweetie, look what I've found in our trashcan," he display his find to his wife. Cookie moves closer to get a better look, "Is that an egg?" Hondo place the egg on the table. "Yep, bet it would make a fine breakfast tomorrow," he laughed, Cookie walks next to him and elbow him. "One, It's green, two, you said you found it in the trashcan, and three, what if it a baby in there?" Hondo walks up to the egg and taps on it, "Hello, is there anything in there?" the egg begins to crack, making Hondo jump back to his wife, the two ponies watch in surprise as a small black creature emerge from the egg. "What is that?" Hondo points at it. "It's a baby Hondo," Cookie answers. "I know it's a baby, I just want to know what kind of baby It Is, It's definitely no pony I've ever seen," Hondo getting close to the baby creature, to get a better look. "Ponies aren't usually born from eggs dear," Cookie got close to her husband. "Why are you being very sass with me right now? I'm trying to be serious here." Hondo gave his wife a stare. Cookie walks up to the baby and use her magic to pick it up and place it in her arms. "Sweetie, what are you doing? It could be dangerous." "It's a baby." "Well, I'm sure there are some dangerous babies out there," Cookie rolled her eyes at her husband and when back to rocking the baby, getting a better look at it's features. The body was mostly black with a green under belly and a green shell on it's back along with a small pair of insect wing, it' legs we're full of holes, it's also had a small jagged horn, one thick strain of dark blue hair on it's forehead, blue eyes and boar two sharp fangs in it's mouth, the baby look feminine. "I think it's a girl," Cookie smiled. "Cookie... please tell me your not thinking what i think your thinking?" Hondo got a worry look on his face, Cookie nodded. "Sweetie, you can't be serious, how would we take care of it, would it even eat pony food?" "Will work something out," "Honey," "Oh come, we've always wanted a girl," she hug the baby tighter. "No, you've always wanted a girl, I've always wanted a boy" Hondo said, Cookie stare at her husband harder, making him sigh in defeat again. "Ok, ok, you win, will take care of it," Hondo walk up to his wife and kiss her on the cheek and they both stared at the baby. While the two greeted there new addition to the family, a cloak figure watch the scene play out from the window, "Sorry little one, this was the best i could do for you, I can never return to my hive anymore, i disobey my queen, and only death awaits me now," The figure turns around to leave "May you find your heritage someday" and the figure disappear into the night. Present Day Rarity and her friends we're on a train heading towards Canterlot, her friend Twilight Sparkle had receive a letter telling her, her brother was getting marry and they all been invited to help out. On the train ride there Twilight found herself a little upset about her brother not telling her in person about the wedding and had been keeping to herself, awhile across from her sits Rarity, who's been very quite and staring out the window, while gazing at the wildlife she began to hum. “MmmMmmMmmm,” a few moments later Applejack sat next to her. “What's that your humming sugarcube? Applejack asked, snapping her friend out of her trance. “Oh... Sorry Applejack, I didn't notice you there, hehe” Rarity with a hardy chuckled. “Are you alright Rarity, you seem a little off today.” Applejack said “Oh... It's noting dear, don't worry about it” Rarity try to reassure her friend. “Noting, we're on our way to Canterlot... Canterlot, usually you wouldn't be able to shut up about Canterlot!” “Oh... I see, well I guess I've haven't been acting like myself as of lately” “What's wrong sugarcube?” “To be honest with you Applejack, I'm not quite sure myself” Just then the train passes through a magical shield barrier, all the ponies abroad feeling the magic surge, “What the hay was that?” Applejack look around in confusion. “There must be a magical barrier around the city, I expected this kind of protection for the wedding, after all this is a princess wedding we're talking about.” Rarity acknowledge. Applejack nodded with her friend in agreement as the train finally arrive at their destination. After departing from the train, Twilight immediately made a dash for the castle to confront her brother, leaving her friends to watch her storm off. Shortly after a group of royal guards show up to escort the 5 remaining mares to the castle, once there the girls processed to fulfilled there appointed tasks, Applejack headed for for the kitchen to work on the catering, Fluttershy made her way to the garden to fine the right birds to sing for the wedding, Pinkie when the decorate the hall and prepare the party games, Rainbow found a cloud to take a nap, while Rarity prepare to make the dresses. Rarity had request the princess for a fitting so she could get the her measurement for her dress. The bride turn out to be a pink alicorn princess with a 3 stripe colored mane and tail, her cutie mark was a blue crystal colored heart, her name was Cadance and she also turn out to be Twilight old foalsitter. "Are we done yet, we've been at it for nearly a half of an hour now!" Cadance complained "O-oh, I'm sorry your highness, I've just been feeling a bit off today," "I don't see how that's my problem, just hurry up and finish, I got more important things to take care of," "Of course your highness, I'll hurry things up." Rarity sped up her progress in her measurement, taking her measuring tape and wrapping it around Cadance torso, after getting the numbers she heads towards her workstation to write them down, while writing Rarity begins to hum again. "MmmMmmMmmm," as she hums Cadance turns around and give Rarity a surprise look on her face, Cadance walks over to the unicorn and interrupts her. "Where did you learn that hum?" Rarity stop humming. "Um, you know I'm not quite sure where I heard that melody before, it's just something I've hummed ever since I was a small," "Please, hum it again," Cadance sounded almost pleadly. Rarity thought a bit about the princess odd request, but who was she to denied a princess, so she started humming again. "MmmMmmMmmm," As Rarity hummed, she notice Cadance humming along with her, she didn't know why, but it felt so familiar to her, Rarity's thoughts were halted as Cadance began to sing. " Soon the day I wish for will appear, for the day where you'll be there by my side," Rarity soon find herself singing along, "i'll give all the love you'll need, so you grown up big and strong, I know one day you're going to make me very proud." Cadance slowly back away looking like she seen a ghost. "C-can it really be you?" she stutter. Rarity search through her memory of where she might of her those lyrics from, but no matter how hard to thought, she couldn't place it. "I don't remember ever hearing that song before," "It's a song I use to sing to my daughter every night, while waiting for her to hatch," Cadance walk up to Rarity. "W-wait, what?" Rarity didn't know what to think, a sight panic cross her, "What are you trying to say?" Cadance places her hooves a Rarity shoulders and stares her in the eyes, a small glimmer flash in her eyes, immediately following a flash in Rarity's eyes, Cadance eyes began to water. "Silkconequus, It's really you." she drew Rarity into a huge embrace. Rarity mind race with so many thoughts, what was going on here, the song, the princess behavior, a daughter, Silkconequus, it all made her head hurt in confusion, eventually Rarity push Cadance off of her, "What are you doing, what's going on here?" "Do you know what you are child?" Cadance ask with a more serious look on her face. "I'm a pony of course, and i'm a very special one at that," Rarity answer. Cadance huff at the remark as her body engulf by green flames, as soon as the flames disappear Rarity eye weighted in shock, as she sees a familiar creature stand before her, one that's body was black with a green under belly and a green shell on it's back with a larger pair of insect wings, with a dark blue mane, larger jagged horn, green eyes and a leg full of holes. "Y-you look l-like me." Rarity's disguise soon drops to reveal a similar creature to the one she was facing. "You are a changeling, and I'm Queen Chrysalis, your mother," Rarity felt lite headed as the whole room started to spin, "M-my mother... no that's not... that's not right," Rarity stumble back holding her head, the creature once disguise as Cadance walk toward her with a concern look, "Are you alright?" "No, I'm not, I feel..." Rarity fainted on the bed. "Silkconequus!" the Chrysalis rush to Rarity side, her horn glowed green as the magic aura engulf rarity body, "Oh no, her love reserves are very low!" Chrysalis reach through her hive mind to summon the six changeling drones she had accompanying her to the castle. The drones burst through the door to aid there queen. "Your highness, we came as quickly as we could, what troubles you?" one of the drones spoke up. "We're having a change in plans, we're leaving the castle," "W-what, what about the wedding?" another drone spoke up. "This changeling that lies before you all, is my daughter and your princess," she place her hoof on her daughter forehead. "Her safety is are top priority now, am I understood," the glare at all her drones as the all quickly bow to her. "We understand my queen, what is it you wish of us?" a drone reply. "First we are to secure my daughter in a cocoon and prepare her for departure. Next we get in touch with all our Ponyville scouts and find out everything we can know about this pony Rarity, and finding a changeling to replace her, lastly we'll release Cadance, of course I'll alter her weak mind so she won't remember us" Chrysalis kiss her daughter and change back into Cadance. "Now you all have your orders, now follow them!" Chrysalis exited the room, leaving her drones to there tasks. Several hours later the changeling queen makes her way through the underground cavern of canterlot, being escorted by two of her drones captains.“Are you sure about this my queen?” one of the drones spoke up, “I know your overjoy that your daughter survive, but is that really a good reason to stop the invasion plan?” Chrysalis stop moving and give the drone a very unpleasant look, “Captain Zion, I don't quite like your tone of voice!” she snarl. “M-my apology my queen, I-It's ju-” Chrysalis cuts the drone off. “If I want your a stupid opinion drone, I'll ask for it” Chrysalis continue to walk. “Now shut up, and follow me” The changeling continue their way thought cavern, until they arrive at a door, Chrysalis magic envelops to door and she opens it. Inside lies the real Princess Cadance, tired and weak, she look up to see her captor and let out a weak growl , “Have you come to gloat about your perfect plans again?” Cadance give off a half hearted chuckled, “You're pathetic,” she spit. Chrysalis circles the weak pony "Awww, that not very nice, especially since I've decide to release you" "W-wait, what?" Cadance reply in shock. "You heard me, I'm letting you out of the cave, you can go be with that stallion of yours and have your wedding day" Cadance couldn't believe what she was hearing, no it had to be a trick, this evil creature was just tormenting her again. "D-do you really expect me to believe that?" she snarl again. "No, i don't expect you to believe it, but that is what's is happening, I'm releasing you, so be greatly," Chrysalis horn glowed as all of Cadance chains unlock. A bewildered Cadance stood there feeling her neck. "W-why are you doing this all of a sudden?" "Today, i found something, that's far more important to me then ruling Equestria" "What did you find?" Cadance ask curiously. "Haha, like I'll really tell you!" she laughed, "Oh one more thing before i let you go, you see i can't aloud you to tell everypony about us, so i'm going to have wipe your mind of all of our encounter." Chrysalis grinned. "W-wait w-wh-?" Cadance was immediately cut off as Chrysalis lock her horn with hers. Chrysalis magic overwhelm Cadance, making her mind going into a trance like state, Chrysalis wipe away everything Cadance knew about changeling. After finishing the deed, she unlock her horn from Cadance, making her fall to the ground. "Now clean her up and take her back to her chambers" Chrysalis order her lings while exited the room. Once out she is greeted by a new changeling. "Hello my queen, I am Vixen and I'm the ponyville agent you requested" she bow to her queen. "You're the one that knows the most about the pony Rarity?" Vixen nods her head. "Excellent, now you are to pose as this Rarity until further notice, am I understood?" The changeling before her disguise herself as the pony in question. "Why of course darling, I live to serve," "Good, now make your way to the castle," she commanded as Vixen left. "Sleep easy for now ponies, for one day I will return, and my daughter will be by my side, and we will rule you all, hahaha!"