The Ever Changing Moon

Chapter 5

Heavy Negotiations

The abandoned mines under Canterlot were certainly not a location Moon Shadow considered as a proper place for negotiations. For the past few centuries it had served the thestrals of Canterlot as a decent hiding location, but with the changelings in the picture, not expecting an ambush would have been no less than foolish.

He would never agree to enter into a potential trap, and so both sides agreed to negotiate at the entrance. No table, no cushions or chairs for leaders to sit at, no comfortable accommodations, only two leaders standing across from each other.

Moon Shadow stood at the entrance of a dark tunnel, seeing shimmers from crystals on the walls.

Behind him stood six purebloods between five to six centuries in age, his veteran fighters, and behind them were a hundred clan members armed to the teeth.

As much as he wished to bring a mightier force, he needed to keep most of his followers near forces made of ponies from the Royal and Crystal Guards, keeping them at bay while his brother with his elite guards secured the castle and the dungeon.

We may be outnumbered greatly, but this is a matter of quantity against quality. If something unexpected happens, we will withdraw to the castle and regroup with our main forces there, Moon Shadow thought as he glanced at his loyal followers, trusting their combat experience. Changelings may be numerous, but they pale in comparison to thestrals. We have many means to counter their deception and trickery which is their greatest asset, and in open combat, they can’t overcome our might.

He narrowed his eyes, his attention now on numerous green eyes staring at him from the tunnel. It seems the Queen has brought an escort as well. No matter. We can always seal the entrance to buy more time, and they can’t attack with full force through this small tunnel. The tactical advantage is on my side.

He looked down, seeing Angel gesturing with his paws ahead. He performed a respectful bow before walking to the side, now observing the negotiations from a dusty mining cart.

“So you are the one who has overthrown the mighty Celestia. I must say; I expected so much more,” said a tall bug-like figure. The shape of an alicorn, dark body with no fur covering it, armored back, green predatory eyes, thin buzzing wings, but most importantly, numerous holes in her limbs and horn.

Moon Shadow looked slightly up as the large bug seemed more than happy to tower over him, the top of his head only reaching her chin. He answered the Queen’s smirk with his own. “I wish I could say the same thing about you, but I don’t remember you and your kind ever standing up to Celestia, much less overthrowing her. Now, what do you want? I am too busy to deal with an infestation at the moment.”

“Sharp tongue, but you will change it after hearing my most gracious offer.” She gestured at herself, her head raised arrogantly. “Let's start with showing each other proper respect. My name is Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Moon Shadow.”

“The only pony that deserves to be called Queen is the two-faced princess, Mistress Luna, or her other counterpart, Mistress Nightmare Moon. Don’t expect me to give you such a privilege.”

“Is that so? And why would you remain so loyal to a pony who has been exiled a thousand years ago? Her time and her authority ended with her banishment,” Chrysalis stated, standing tall with no sign of hesitation on her face, her tone sharp but calm. Her words caused a hint of frustration to form on Moon Shadow’s forehead. “You have led almost all of the purebloods for centuries and united them under your leadership. You led an assault on Canterlot and bested Celestia. Why would you consider her a Queen when you have already proved yourself a king?”

Moon Shadow stomped and grit his teeth. “I bested Celestia only because Nightmare Moon took the sun from her. She was the one who united our kind in the past and will do so this very night.”

Changeling Queen smirked, displaying a smug face. “If that’s the case, then tell me, where is your Queen? Why wasn't she the one leading this invasion, why wasn’t she the one fighting Celestia? Why hasn't she ascend to the throne? Is she even aware of this invasion of yours?”

“Or maybe you took advantage of her powers, invading Canterlot behind her back while she kept the sun at bay?“ Chrysalis asked, leaning towards the pureblood.

“Since you have your eyes and ears everywhere, you should know that I did what I could to protect Nightmare Moon.“ He stomped. “Do not question my loyalty, Queen of Parasitic Bugs“

A few hissing noises came from inside the tunnel, a screech of protest and anger.

Chrysalis raised her hoof, silencing her subjects. “You can not fool a changeling, much less their queen. I can sense doubts and confusion in you. You know that you worked hard to unite purebloods and make them strong. Why offer her a kingdom on a silver plate when you did all the work?“

“Enough!“ Moon Shadow shouted and spread his wings. His eyes flashed red, forcing the queen to avert her eyes from the mental assault. “What do you want? Get to the point!“

Green flames surrounded the queen, revealing a mirror reflection of Moon Shadow. “I offer an alliance that will be beneficial to us both. We can provide you with very useful services… for a proper share in your conquest.“

Moon Shadow sat, then raised forehoof to his mouth and laughed. “Services? Share in my conquest. What a joke? You truly believe we require assistance from parasites?“ He blinked as a ball of green flame struck the ground in front of his hooves. He narrowed his eyes, maintaining his calm, and collected composure. “Did I strike a nerve?“

“I have been tolerating your insults but my patience has its limits. If not for the fact that your kind bested Celestia and took over her capital, I would tear you apart for your lack of respect.“

Moon Shadow approached with firm steps, staring the disguised queen eye to eye. “Alright. No more insults and no more mind games. What can your kind offer me, and be brief? I have matters to attend to.“

Chrysalis shifted back to her regular form and bypassed the pureblood. She looked around while numerous thestrals raised their weapons, observing her every move. “You control the capital and lead a truly elite force, but to control a whole nation you require numbers. Surely thousands of my shapeshifting infiltrators, spies and soldiers can provide eyes, ears and enforce your rule over a large territory.“

“We can extend our numbers,“ said a pureblood in the distance, a full plate armor covered his body while a pony-sized mace was by his side.

“Do not underestimate our intelligence,“ said another pureblood, this one wearing a black cape with a monocle on one eye. “We operated in the shadows for centuries and our clans can blend in.“

“True, but I doubt many will willingly join the conquerors. Recruiting, transforming and forcing loyalty will take a lot of time. Not to mention it will increase your need for blood and reduce the number of those you can feed on.“ Chrysalis looked over her shoulder, displaying a fake smile at Moon Shadow. “Why waste time and put your precious elite at risk when you can gain a large number of expendable forces to secure your territory? Surely you must think that.“

Moon Shadow maintained his passive stare, though he couldn't do much to hide his true emotions from a changeling. She offers praise, questions my loyalty, and even tries to use my ambitions. I must not fall for these tricks.

Chrysalis pointed at the sky, or rather at little dots, but those were not stars but airships and pegasi. “We can also aid you in the fight against the Crystal Empire. Unlike Equestria's incompetent guards, that little nation was preparing itself for conflict against purebloods and thestrals for centuries. They can cause a lot of harm or even stop your conquest, but they aren't prepared for my changelings. Divide and conquer as changelings say.“

Chrysalis chuckled. “Control of the Crystal Empire would be a start. My changelings will also be allowed to openly operate in Equestria and feed on ponies. You get the blood, we get their magic. There's more than enough to keep our hives well-fed.“

Moon Shadow raised an eyebrow. “'Feed on ponies', you say. And how do you intend to steal magic? I doubt anyone will feel any love or compassion to your kind in a conquered nation.“

“Emotions are but bridges we can use to drain magic from ponies. Positive ones are most potent, especially love as it allows a quick transfer of precious tasty magic without wasting a single drop. Deception proved to be the best tool to acquire it, but it became hard to feed a large hive this way. There are just so many ponies you can deceive without blowing your cover.“

“Precisely. Once this conquest is over, ponies will become our livestock, something we can share. Half or even two-third of the transferred magic will be wasted that way, but with so many ponies in our reach, this won't be much of a problem.“

“So you waste plenty of magic if it is acquired through negative emotions, what a joke. No wonder changelings are inferior,“ said the pureblood with a monocle, receiving a hateful glare from the queen. “I assure you, we are nowhere near as wasteful with our donors.“

Chrysalis grit her gritted her teeth, now more visibly showing her attempts to keep her anger in check. “I tried to play nice, but my patience just ran out, so I will ask this only once, do you accept my offer?“ Numerous hissing noises came from inside the mine, a clear message that one more insult or arrogant remark would have grave consequences.

"So you finally revealed your true self. Good. I had no intention of negotiating with that fake mask of yours." Moon Shadow narrowed his eyes. “I admit, your offer would indeed be very beneficial to both sides and ensure my victory in this war, but do you truly believe I will trust the Queen of a species that relies on deception? Give me one reason why I should trust you. What will keep you from backstabbing me when I least expect it?“

Chrysalis smiled mischievously, her tone of voice suddenly relaxed and calm. “I expected you would bring this up. In this alliance, you indeed can not trust me completely, and I am well aware of the cunning mind games you and your bloodsuckers are capable of. To be honest, it is something I respect in you. We and our hives are quite alike.“

“Alike, you say. I suppose there is a bit of truth in your statement,“ Moon Shadow replied, deciding to play along. He could no longer afford to look down on Chrysalis. He needed to keep his pride in check. “This alliance would be on shaky grounds. Both sides may attempt to trick the other at any time.“

“So true, but this is something I would enjoy. A battle of wits. Being both your ally and a rival, conspiring against you behind your back while you do the same. I find this concept to be the most interesting.“ Chrysalis narrowed her eyes, her tone of voice now filled with authority. “But make no mistake. I need to feed my hive and I have ambitions of my own. If you refuse to let my changelings feed on the ponies, I will have to take some drastic measures, ones that will make your conquest ever so much harder.“

This was it, all cards were on the table. With no hesitation on his part, Moon Shadow spoke, “So keep your friends close and enemies closer. Or rather, I either cooperate and get something out of it, or we will have to fight for Equestria’s resources the hard way.“

Chrysalis lowered herself a little, now looking the pureblood eye to eye. “Exactly, but fear not. We can leave the backstabbing and mind games for after Equestria and the Crystal Empire are ours. It would be most foolish to turn on an ally when cooperation can benefit us so much more. I may be greedy, but I know better than to cross you until all the tasty ponies bow to us.“

Moon Shadow raised an eyebrow. “Your offer is indeed tempting, but it is not my place to agree. It is for Nightmare Moon to decide.“

Chrysalis sighed, then groaned as she looked back with pure disappointment. “I can't believe I felt respect towards someone like you. You have the potential to become a king and rule this land, but your blind loyalty to that Nightmare is holding you back. You invaded behind her back, yet lacks the courage to take another step. Only a fool starts something without intention to see it through."

"This negotiation is over,“ Chrysalis shouted with venom in her voice, stomping.

Moon Shadow observed the Queen, not taking his eyes from her even for a moment as she walked into the tunnel, accompanied by her elite escort as numerous green eyes vanished one after another. Soon, there was nothing but dead silence.

“Sir,“ spoke the pureblood in heavy armor who pointed at the castle in the distance with the moon and stars in the background. “With our clans keeping an eye on Equestrian forces, it creates an opening for changelings to strike. We should revise our security.“

“I agree. There is no way the Queen of Changelings would willingly walk away with nothing. She may also try to get back at us for rejecting her offer,“ said the pureblood with a monocle. The others further away nodded in agreement.

Moon Shadow nodded. There was no way Chrysalis was just going to let it slide. Still, joining forces with her would mean betraying Nightmare Moon, and there was no way he would join forces with those parasitic bugs. “Maybe Celestia was right. Maybe this invasion was a mistake after all...“ he whispered, quickly earning disapproval from his followers, their hearing capable of picking up even a whisper.

“No. I achieved victory and I will see it through. We are strong and united, we can overcome it.“ He glanced at the sky, his eyes now fixated on the moon as its shine calmed him down. “I shall overcome even a battle on two fronts. It is too late to back down. Now we can only go all in.“

He concentrated on communicating with his servants as he headed back to his stronghold. One raport after another brought a smile to his face. The moment when Nightmare Moon was going to slaughter the hunters was about to come, and convincing her to join him and lead this conquest would be a breeze afterwards.

The Ever Changing Moon

by CommanderX5

Heavy Negotiations