//------------------------------//
// The Only Real Way 
// Story: The Best Way 
// by Sir Letters 
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Twilight took a gentle sip from her cocoa, staring for a moment out of the window and towards the busy streets of Canterlot. "There are quite a few changelings out there," she said, setting the mug down on the table. She was pretty sure the fact a princess was drinking from a mug had set at least one or two etiquette books on fire in the archives, but she was with friends. Or close acquaintances, at least.
Thorax threw a look in the same direction. "It would seem so, yes. It's always nice to know we are welcome in Equestria. Most of the younger 'lings don't even know there ever was a time when that wasn't the case."
Twilight didn't give any sort of reply to his words, and instead continued from where she'd left off. "In fact, there are easily more changelings than any other species, ponies included. And not by a short amount, either. And that's just the ones I can spot, nevermind those taking a different form."
A strange smile curled Thorax's lips. "Are you trying to say something, Twi? You know I've always been bad with subtlety." He lit his antlers, and took a sip of his own mug of chocolate.
Twilight looked once more out of the window. "There weren't this many changelings back when I was crowned. This used to be a pony town back then. But with each year, with each generation, more and more of them began to make up the population. It's the same in every other city."
Thorax stared amused at the alicorn. "You say that like it's a bad thing. I thought cultural integration was your idea. Are you having second thoughts, Twi?"
Again, the princess ignored his words. "It's the same in the Empire. It's the same in Griffonstone, it's the same in the Dragonlands, it's the same in Yakyakistan, it's the same in Seaquestria, it's the same everywhere. Changelings don't just outnumber other species, they dwarf those numbers. Somewhere between a third and a fourth of all creatures are changelings now, according to my estimates, and that's with only a rough guess as to how many of them live in their country."
Thorax took another sip of chocolate, still smiling.
"It gets worse with each generation, too. More and more changelings, less and less of other creatures. That means more mixed couples where one of the two is a changeling, those always result in more changelings being born, and so things grow exponentially and the cycle keeps going." Twilight's tone was dry, almost mechanical, her expression flat and showing little emotion. 
The Changeling King chuckled. "You can't exactly blame creatures for following their hearts. So what if it leads to more of them enjoying a changeling as their partner?" He took yet another sip, and his grin broadened. "It's the best choice they could make, after all. And the only one that guarantees offspring, as far as interspecies relationships go."
There was a very small shift in Twilight's features, like she was finally confirming something she had long suspected, a hint of resigned understanding in her expression. "If things keep going like this, every other species will go extinct in a matter of generations." She finally turned towards Thorax, staring right into his eyes. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
The changeling stared back, seeming very entertained by the other. "It took you a while to figure it out, didn't it?" He gave a calm, satisfied sigh. "Long enough. And now there's nothing you can do but watch it happen." He returned her stare with frenzied intensity. "Isn't it wonderful?"
Twilight's face was a mask of ice, cold and distant, exuding a sadness that seemed unperturbed by the other's words. "So that's it then. Changelings win, everyone else loses." She stared at her mug for a moment. Empty. With a sigh she set it back down on the table.
"Exactly how it should be." Thorax's expression was almost frightening, so twisted and different from the one he usually wore. "Really, Twi, you should be thankful that it's like this. It's the natural course of events. We've just decided to speed things up, and make sure it's as painless as possible. In fact, most of them will enjoy it."
Twilight seemed deflated, defeated. Her tone was flat as she spoke. "Changelings are better, huh? I should have realised what was going on when I saw that first written on the side of a building. You did a marvelous job with your propaganda, and I'm sure those brothels helped. No doubt some mind control magic was involved, though it probably wasn't needed as far as the sex went."
She sighed, leaning back in her chair. "And the thing is, I couldn't stop it either way. Creatures will seek out changelings as partners at this point, no one would pass up on a creature that can shift to fit your every desire and is perfectly emotionally attuned to you. And the alternative, well... I could never bring myself to start a war, even less so to destroy a species or keep it imprisoned."
"So you see, we're in agreement. Every other species will eventually go extinct in favour of mine, given enough time, and all just through the willing decisions of its members. So what if we speed things up a little?" Thorax finished his chocolate. "This is just the natural order of things. The next logical step in evolution. And for the few who'll oppose progress, well, a little hypnosis goes a long way." 
"Like the one you used on me?" Twilight shifted in her seat. "I noticed it, for quite a while, but it wasn't until you said I there's nothing I can do that it finally clicked. I suppose it was designed this way." Another sigh left the princess' lips. "Now I don't have a choice anymore. Is this what you did to Ember as well? Is this what you did to Flurry?"
The Changeling King chuckled. "Ember is a touch more far along, and a touch different. Same with Flurry. They're just conditioned to love me. One already had something there for me to work with, the other I worked on since she was young. You were different. You're smart, and ponies would notice abrupt changes. I was more subtle with you," he explained.
"I just pushed a little," he continued. "Small fragments, little bits and pieces of ideas. That changelings are superior, after all. That there's no more desirable partner than a changeling. That it would be a politically wise decision to strengthen our nations by uniting their leaders. That the natural order of things is the righteous path to follow. That changelings will replace every species, and you should not try to fight the inevitable, but rather embrace it and rejoice in it."
He stood up, and walked towards Twilight. "Now it's over, Twi. I've pushed things far enough and deep enough into your mind that it's impossible for you to fight back," he concluded. "And soon enough, you will be begging me to warp your thoughts even further, as you enjoy the rest of your life as the next of my concubines, climaxing to the thought of how every other species will go extinct and the superior changeling race will rule alone over everything. Isn't that just delightful."
Twilight looked up at him. Despite herself, despite everything, she knew he was right. She would fall, and she would enjoy it. And any day now she would cave to the voice whispering in her mind, and finally admit that changelings are better.