It was a bright, sunny day out in the streets of Canterlot. Ponies walked to and fro, bumping into each other, shouting profanities, and generally having a busy morning. But such parts of Canterlot, as fascinating as they may be, were not the start of this story. Rather, this story began at the heart of the city, and the seat of power for the most expansive nation on the planet: Canterlot Castle. More specifically, the kitchen. Even more specifically, the fridge.
A nervous chittering came from beneath the mysterious white cube of cooling. It was like a magnet; nobody knew how it worked. Topaz Showers, a yellow pegasus mare with an unkempt turquoise mane and tail, perked up at the noise. As an entomologist, it came as no surprise that her cutie mark was a trail of ladybugs. She walked over to the fridge and leaned down to look underneath, letting out a sigh once she did.
“Idol, your son is hiding under the refrigerator again!” she shouted.
Idol Hooves barely looked up from the game of poker he was playing with Shining Armor. “Turn the light off and he will come out,” he responded.
Idol was a fairly typical changeling drone, long since exiled from his job as a tunneler at the changeling hive. That said, he was currently disguised in his preferred form, that of a dark grey, nondescript stallion.
Shining Armor was a stark white unicorn, with a short, well-kept mane, dark blue with a stripe of light blue. His cutie mark was a similarly blue colored shield, with a pink star in the center, and three lighter blue stars above it. He was also winning the poker game due to his far superior poker face.
Topaz grumbled to herself as she walked over to the light switch across the room, “I swear, nopony tells you the important things when it comes to raising a child.” The room went dark; after a few moments, a small nymph crawled out from his makeshift shelter. Topaz flicked the lights back on.
Back at the table, Idol frowned slightly as he placed a card. “How come he’s my son when he’s in trouble?” he asked.
“Because you’re always trouble,” Shining retorted with a smirk.
Idol pouted in response. “I dislike that you are not wrong.”
“And you dislike more that I tell him stories about you.”
“Stop telling my offspring stories of my various shames.”
Topaz walked over with the nymph balanced on her back between outstretched wings. She sat down in an empty chair at the table between the two stallions, placing the nymph on the table in front of her.
“Stop giving me material,” Shining snarked.
Idol crossed his forelegs and looked away. “Literally never,” he said.
Rolling his eyes, Shining continued, “Same answer then. Since disciplining you doesn’t work because you like that, I figure this will do just fine.”
Just as he finished his statement, the door to the kitchen burst open, followed by a tall, dark figure. Queen Chrysalis upended the table as she charged into it. Topaz, used to this sort of behavior from the queen, had picked the nymph up off of the table beforehoof and held him in her arms.
The Queen, a rather imposing changeling queen at that, looked around frantically. “Where is my grandfoal?!” she demanded.
The now open door admitted a second creature: Viridian Virga. The older pony turned angrily to Chrysalis. “Wait your turn! I’ve waited twelve years for this!” she scolded.
Looking at the not quite angry, but very disappointed mother, Chrysalis stomped a hoof on the floor. “I will not be denied! If he is going to ignore my orders and have a family, I will spoil the foal rotten.” She turned her glare back to Idol.
Idol broke the silence, “Viridian does have dibs. She called them more than a decade ago and has renewed said dibs every year without fail.”
Viridian, now immediately to the right of Chrysalis, waved her hooves in the air. “Moooore graaaaannnndfooooaaaaals…”
The impending argument between the two grandmothers was interrupted by Topaz once more peeking under the fridge. The nymph had vanished again. “A little help here, Idol?” she called out.
Idol looked perhaps a bit too confused as he looked over to the mare. “I thought we were not supposed to do those acts in front of others.” He paused and glanced at the ceiling. “Well, besides Ca—”
Suddenly very aware of what parts of her body were most on display, Topaz let out a brilliant blush. She quickly jumped back to a standing position, turning around. “Not what I meant!” she squeaked out.
Chrysalis shook her head. “You let that hussy watch you and I can’t spoil my grandfoal?” She sighed. “Where did I go wrong?”
Idol nodded at her. “You threw me out on my plot, Your Majesty.”
“And I happen to like that plot,” came a familiar voice. As princesses are prone to do, the Princess of Love, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Princess Cadance entered the room like a ghost, practically floating. The walls were likely shivering.
Chrysalis flicked her eyes to the Princess. “I gave you a choice.” She turned and pointed at Cadance. “I wasn’t talking to you. Keep your eyes away from my son.”
Idol interjected, completely nonplussed, “After a while, the harassment became a relationship. Topaz assures me it works that way, and Mothchaser’s behavior has only served to confirm her assessment.”
As if summoned, Motherchaser swooped down from the rafters. She was a grey bat pony mare with a long dark blue mane. She licked her lips as she landed behind Idol and whispered sultrily, “It sure does…”
The changeling queen stared at Mothchaser for a long moment before flicking her green eyes back to Idol. “A herd?” she questioned, “You have a herd?” A holed hoof met her face. “I do not know if I should be proud or worried.”
“I find the answer is yes,” Idol helpfully responded, helpfully. It was helpful.
With a huff, Chrysalis continued, “Fine. If you are going to ignore my orders and lay that down on me, then I want you to not make more grandfoals for me to spoil with their other grandma.”
Cadance angrily pushed past Chrysalis to be in front of Idol. “Ignore that order.”
Idol narrowed his eyes. “Do not tell me what to do.” Both creatures of love paused for several moments to stare at him. “I am going to have all the foals,” he finally said.
A sickly sweet smile graced Chrysalis’ face. She stepped towards Idol. “No, Idol, do not.” Another step. “Stop ignoring my orders.”
Ignoring Chrysalis’ orders, Idol looked up at nothing in particular. “Discord, I am cashing in my favor. The Queen desires foals.”
Discord’s disembodied laughter echoed through the room.
“Grandfoals,” Chrysalis clarified.
Viridian poked the Queen’s side, drawing her attention. “No, no, no. Do it like this.” She waved her hooves in the air again. In a suitably wavering voice, she continued, “Graaaaaandfooooooaaaaals…”
With a slight smile, Chrysalis leaned towards Viridian. “I want them to think I do not want more adorable little grandfoals. Idol is still in his rebellious phase.”