A cheap brass alarm clock came to life in the darkest moments of pre-dawn. Its shrill, rapid ringing filling the previously quiet, serene atmosphere of the bed chamber of one of the most powerful beings in the world.
A pale golden glow wrapped around the device and several spots around it's edge began to indent, before the entire thing imploded, crushed into a tiny ruined ball by magical force.
“I have got to stop doing that...” Celestia said as she sat up, blinking sleep from her eyes. Having some of the strongest magic of ponykind, she should know better than to use it while half asleep. She yawned before she rolled out of bed, her bare hooves meeting the plush carpet with a soft sound. She walked over to the doors to her balcony and stepped out into the pre-dawn dark.
As Celestia took in a deep breath of the last of the night air she was glad her tower was so high up. Everypony but guard pegasi were restricted from flying up here, so no-pony could see how awful she looked before sprucing herself up. But, this task was all important, and couldn't wait for even her morning ablutions.
She looked over to the west and saw that Luna had lowered her moon. She could barely see the last sliver of it as it dipped down under the horizon. With a smile, Celestia turned to the east and, with far less show and fanfare than she did at the summer sun celebration, channeled vast magical energies through her long stately horn and reached out to a massive sphere of burning gas billions of miles away from their world. Tethering it she gave a mental tug and moved so it's rays shone over Equestria's hemisphere of the planet, bringing life giving light to her precious little ponies, their crops and the land. Luna's night was beautiful, restful to those who needed it, and in this era also played host to a great number of revelers, but her day would always be needed.
Celestia smiled as she watched the dawn commence. Once she gave her sun a proper nudge it would continue on its course for the next twelve hours untended, allowing her to do what else she needed to do during the day.
With that thought she sighed, turned away from the glory of the rising sun, and headed back inside. With a much less intricate or powerful tug of telekinesis she rang the call bell for her hoofmaidens. The princess of the day needed to look the part for her little ponies, and it was too time consuming to do it all alone, even with one's own magic.
The door to her suite of chambers opened.
“Feather touch, Jewel.” she said, looking to the door. “I've another long day ahead and...” she ground to a halt as she saw one of her sister's guards standing there. Confusion writ across the goddess' muzzle.
“Apologies, your majesty. Orders from your sister, you were to be appraised of the situation immediately upon waking.” he said, pulling a scroll out of his saddlebags.
Celestia levitated the scroll over and unrolled it, her eyes narrowed as she read the contents... then shot open wide.
“The changelings have sent an ambassador!? My goodness! Why didn't she wake me sooner?” Celestia said, looking at the bat-winged pony.
“I believe your sisters words were 'she'll need all her wits about her to deal with this, so let her get enough sleep.” the dark armored stallion said with a little lopsided grin.
Celestia couldn't help but giggle. “Oh Lulu...” she said quietly, re-scanning the contents of the scroll. “Thank you sir. Now if you'll allow my attendants to enter, I have an extra pressing need to get ready quickly this morning.”
“Of course, your majesty.” The nightguard said, bowing before he turned and left, allowing a pair of unicorn mares, one a light cream color with a reddish brown mane and tail, and a brilliant sapphire blue coated mare with a emerald green mane to enter.
Celestia clapped her hooves together once. “Right girls, the usual, and let's hurry. It's apparently going to be a very important day.”
* * * * *
The door to the northwest tower -one of the most well appointed guest suites in Canterlot castle- swung open to admit Maxillus, who was closely followed by Shining armor. Outside the door were the six night guards who had followed him as an escort, along with the dozen or so day guard pegasi that had just been coming on shift who Shining had rounded up to accompany them as well hovering in the open air around the tower.
“So these are my quarters?” Maxillus said, trotting in and glancing about.
“What, is it not good enough for you?” Shining asked, rubbing his eyes. His interrupted night's sleep was starting to catch up to him, but he refused to lower his guard till he was sure that security was up to snuff with a changeling inside the palace.
“Actually, I expected to be in a prison cell right about now, so this is far better than I'd hoped.” The changeling said as he opened the door to the bedroom, then smiled and trotted over and rearing up to place his fore hooves... if they could even be called hooves, on the bed and pressing into it before hopping up onto it and rolling around on his back with a pleased coo. “Mmm... goosedown mattress, this is luxury.”
Shining let out a low, seething whinny. “The princess will call for you when she's ready to begin talks. Until then, do not leave these chambers. I have unicorn guards at the doors, and three squads of pegasi circling the tower. If you attempt to exit, via the door or the windows, in any form, you will be taken and escorted to a more secure location. Have I made myself clear?”
“Perfectly, I assure you.” Maxillus said, rolling off the bed and continuing his circuit of the suite.
“If that's everything, I need to take my leave.” Shining said, fighting the urge to yawn... and barely winning for the moment.
“Before you go captain, one question.” Maxillus said.
“Wha-” Shining lost the battle and let out a loud yawn. “What is it?”
“I heard that when she was disguised as your wife, Chrysalis spent a lot of time in a certain room in Canterlot castle. An isolated, private room for guests. That wouldn't happen to be this room, would it?”
Shining blinked, his tiredness being replaced by suspicion. “Y... yes, yes it was.”
Maxillus nodded, then glanced around the room. His eyes settling on the large vanity along one wall. He walked over to it,, and with a heave of effort moved it away from the wall a couple of degrees, and stuck his head behind it. “Ah-ha! Knew it.” he said, one foreleg coming up behind the mirror. “I'd avert your eyes if I were you, captain.”
There was a tearing sound from somewhere on the back of the mirror, and suddenly a series of sparks crackled across the mirror's face. Shining barely had time to shield his eyes with a foreleg before there was a brilliant flash and sizzling pop that was very distinct. An enchantment being broken by brute force.
The unicorn guards that were standing outside came dashing in, horns aglow and ready for anything,
“What's going on sir?” the unicorn at Shining's left asked.
“Nothing to worry about, my good stallions. Just finishing cleaning up some-changeling else's mess.” Maxillus said, before tossing a small, faceted light blue stone with remnants of gooey changeling resin at shining's hooves.
“What the...?” Shining said, stunned and confused.
“A little remnant of Crysalis, Captain. I heard she was able to communicate with your sister in the caverns under Canterlot, so I did a little research.”
“Research into what?” Shining asked. The guards at his side easing their postures slightly, and powering down their horns, but not going completely at ease.
“The nature of the crystals of course. That chip there is taken from the caves directly below the castle. The crystals are magnificent arcane focus stones, so they're very easy to manipulate. Crysalis was never particularly known for her spellcasting abilities, but even a simpleton with a lick of magical ability could communicate with someone in the caverns with a mirror linked to a stone taken from there.”
Shining stared at the light blue crystal fragment. It really was tiny, about half the size of a marble. It must've been stuck into a very inconspicuous spot indeed to avoid the searches done after the changelings had been cast out.
After a long moment, Shining levitated the crystal into his saddlebag and gave a curt nod. “Thank you for the information.” he said, before turning and trotting quickly from the chamber. The guards slowly backed out onto the landing at the top of the steps and closed the door.
* * * * *
Cadence awoke to mid morning sunlight streaming into the master bedroom of Shining Armor's Canterlot home. The place was still most definitely a bachelor pad despite the pink curtains that they'd hung at her insistence. The plain white walls with prominent wooden supports and stone floor were almost military in their drabness. Not to mention all the suits of armored barding on poniquins and weapons mounted on displays on the walls. The homy wampth she wanted to bring to this military style dwelling wasn't quite there yet, but it was coming.
Though the warmth of the stallion she'd come to love had lately cooled, and it worried her.
She reached out with a foreleg to the opposite side of the bed... and found it empty. The sheets were cool as well. Sighing, Cadence thew the blanket off her and rolled out of bed, then proceeded to the bathroom to prepare herself for the day.
Once she was looking her usual best, Cadence went around the house, searching for any sign of her husband. He wasn't sleeping on the couch, nor was he in the study, nor was he in his personal armory, which she'd feared to find him sharpening his sword on a grindstone.
Sighing sadly, Cadence left the house and took to wing, flying to Canterlot castle.
* * * * *
Princess Luna sat at the table eating what was, for her, a late dinner of grilled vegetables and a baked sweet potato as her sister entered the smaller, private dining room reserved for the use of the royal family, and close, personal friends. The attendant stood by waiting as Celestia took a seat at the table opposite her sister.
“Eggs, sunny side up. Waffles with strawberry topping and whipped cream. And Earl Grey tea, please.” Celestia said to the attendant, who bowed even as the quill pen in his magical telekinetic grip wrote down her order on a notepad before he turned and went into the kitchen in the next room.
“So, you had a busy night.” Celestia said to her sister.
“Indeed I did sister.” Luna said, taking a sip of red wine.
“I appreciate you handling the matter while I slept.” Celestia said, smiling at her sister. “But I really do need to know what happened last night, so I'm informed before I go into talks.”
Luna nodded. “To begin with, this Changeling is a... curious individual. He seems to have a fair deal of intelligence, but he has some... odd concepts about how to go about being diplomatic.” Luna started, then chuckled. “He demanded to speak to Shining Armor before anypony else because he wanted to meet the stallion that's got his whole race running scared. I'm still not entirely convinced he isn't utterly mad. But he is fairly well spoken.”
Celestia blinked. “He... spoke to Shining Armor?”
“Indeed sister, can thou believe it? Forget you or I, forget any of our diplomats, he goes for a leader of our armies and confronts him in some kind of test of bravery. As I said, I still think he might be mad.”
“And... what did Shining Armor do?” Celestia asked.
“Little more than raised his voice to the changeling. He's uninjured, or was when he was escorted from southgate to the guest quarters here at the palace. The tower room has been surrounded by guard pegasi all this morn.” Luna pointed out the window with a hoof.
Celestia turned to look out the window that happened to have a distant view of that particular tower... and true to Luna's word there were distant, gleaming gold and white figures flying around the tower in circular patterns thick as a flock of crows.
“Well... I suppose I can't fault Shining for thoroughness...” she said.
After a minute of silence, Luna glanced around. “Curious. Captain Armor I know to be resting in the barracks, but where art our niece and nephew this morn?” Luna asked.
“Cadence, I'm not sure. It is odd for her not to be here for breakfast. But Blueblood can't have large breakfasts like he's been used to anymore.”
Luna raised an eyebrow. “Hmmm, I thought him to be in fine condition. He always looked quite well sculpted, why need he control his appetite so?”
“His trainer's orders. Oh! Thank you.” she said, directing the last of this to an attendant who had just brought out her tea. A full teapot's worth, and an already full cup. Celestia levitated the delicate piece of china to her lips and took a sip. “Mmmm...”
“Trainer? Whatever for?” Luna asked.
Celestia rubbed her chin with the back of her foreleg in thought. “Well, in the morning it's fencing lessons, and in the afternoon he's taking classes at the magic academy. Entry level magic dueling. Quite adventurous for him, considering his mother kept him out of anything violent all his life.”
“Interesting... well, any way that colt can better himself would be a dramatic improvement.” Luna said, sipping her wine.
“Luna!” Celestia gasped, shocked.
“What? From what I hear he's never once tried to be a useful prince in his life. And the things they say about him in all those weekly publications aren't exactly flattering either. 'Tis good of him to better himself beyond all that.” Luna said.
Celestia snorted. “Alright, alright, he's not been the most shining example of nobility, but that doesn't allow you to speak of him like that.”
“Very well sister, I shalt hold my tongue.” Luna sighed.
Celestia gave a small wry smile and shook her head as her breakfast was brought out.
“So, when does thou plan on meeting with our guest, Sister?” Luna asked, finishing her supper just as Celestia began to eat her breakfast.
“Well, first I have to tell Ambassador Swift-talon why I'm having to cancel our meeting today, and that could take a while. You know how griffins get.” Celestia said, giggling and waving a hoof.
Luna smirked. “Quite.”
“After that's done I think I'll spend most of the afternoon speaking with our changeling guest... if all goes well, anyway.”
* * * * *
Noon rolled around, and a cadre of the best guards in Canterlot escorted a black carapaced figure through the corridors of the palace. The path they took was conspicuously devoid of servants, nobility, dignitaries, or anypony other than armed and armored guards for that matter.
Maxillus continually glanced about as they went. The palace was a grand place. Very little was utilitarian. Everything was made artistic in some fashion. Stonework, gilding, flowering plants, tapestries. And it was all arranged artfully so nothing clashed. He had to admire the pony race's natural tendency to beautify things.
Shortly, they arrived at a large double door set with a golden replica of the solar princess' cutie mark emblazoned on the heavy wood. The guard in the lead knocked on the door, then waited for a distant call from the other side of the door to open it a crack and stick his head in. “Ambassador Maxillus to see you, your majesty.”
“Good. Send him in.” came a gentle voice.
The doors opened wide, and the guards entered, still flanking the changeling. As they entered, Maxillus, as ever, quickly scanned the room he was in. The floor was geometric tile in an ivory marble. The walls were covered with shelves full of books, personal treasures -some of them he assumed were probably centuries old- and the occasional small potted plant. The cream colored walls were hung with portraits of ponies of all three races that maxillus couldn't immediately identify, though most of the figures in the paintings were smiling, so they added a certain extra warmth to the décor. Lastly, there was a gilded book stand at a height that was level with the face of the figure who was laying down on her belly on a soft rug in the middle of the room.
Even if the view was from between the armored backs of two guards heads, the visage of the princess of the day was every bit as impressive as her sister's had been. Her mane sparkled as it flowed in an ethereal breeze, and it sparkled, though not with stars as her sister's had. Her fur was the purest white Maxillus had ever seen, and violet eyes gazed at him with a gentle, serene warmth.
“Thank you my loyal guards, but I wish to speak with my guest privately. You may leave us.” Celestia spoke with a voice as gentle as any mother's.
“Your majesty, is that wise...?” the lieutenant that had led the way here asked the princess.
“I am not going to have an ambassador from a nation seeking peace feel like a criminal by having my guards watch him like a hawk. Besides, I can handle myself, captain.” Celestia said, shifting her hooves under her and smiling at the lieutenant indulgently.
The captain looked like he wished to dispute that claim, but held his mouth shut and gave a low bow, before turning and exiting the room, the rest of his command following. The door swinging closed gently as they left.
“Come, Maxillus. Sit.” Celestia indicated a standard sized pony sitting pillow near the rug she lay upon.
“I... thank you, your majesty.” Maxillus said with a brief bow before coming over to the offered seat.
“My sister didn't mention you had a courtly manner.”
“One must when there's a queen to appease living nearby. When necessary, I can be as courtly as you'd like me to be. Your sister just caught me somewhat off guard. ”
Celestia smiled. “She does have a habit of showing up when she's least expected.”
Maxillus smiled politely, resisting the urge to chuckle.
* * * * *
Cadence sighed. She'd gone from their house, to Shining's office up in the Citadel, and even called on all of his friends in the guard trying to find where her husband had gone. No luck. It was like he'd just vanished. Nopony seemed to know what kind of special 'guard business' would have been urgent enough to call him out of bed at that hour of the morning, nor where it might have been.
She had one last resort for answers now, as she cantered through the halls of Canterlot palace towards the private study of her many, many times removed relative.
The hallways were oddly heavy with guards today, standing at attention at every juncture in the east wing. However, the look on Cadence's face was a no-nonsense one that brooked no interference from the simple guard stallions as she approached her destination.
Cadence paused outside the doors. She could hear Celestia's voice emanating from across the heavy wood, along with an unfamiliar voice. She gritted her teeth. Whatever it was her aunt was doing it could wait a few moments while she asked her little question. Gripping the doors with her magic she swung them open and stepped inside.
“Aunt Celestia, I have a prob... lem...” Cadence said, grinding to a halt as she took in the scene before her.
The two occupants of the room had stopped talking and were now staring back at her. Her aunt, laying placidly on a rug, and the shiny black form of a Changeling sitting barely a few feet away from the large white alicorn.
Cadence screamed.
* * * * *
Several minutes prior, the handsome, perfectly sculpted prince Blueblood was returning to the castle still wearing most of his fencing uniform, and his foil and mask carried upon his back. Standing at the door to the palace were a pair of Unicorn stallions in servants garb. One was Black with a white mane and tail, the other the reverse.
“Welcome back sir.” the two greeted him as he returned to the palace.
“Thank you Prim, Proper.” Blueblood said to the stallions. They were brothers, Prim was white with black, Proper was black with white. The two were some of the most dutiful and pleasant servants a pony could find, which was why he'd snapped them up by offering them the highest pay any servants in canterlot had ever heard of to have them on his own retinue. However, while he was away the princesses also made occasional use of them. They were that good.
“Allow me to take your things, my Prince.” Prim said, lighting his horn. A pale grayish-white glow enveloped the mask and foil and lifted them up into the air.
“Thank you Prim.” Blueblood said, rolling his shoulders. “Is luncheon almost ready?”
“Quite, sir.” Proper answered.
“Good, I'm starving. My instructor really worked me to the bone today.”
“Do you wish a bath, your grace?” Proper asked.
“That would be heavenly. I'd hate to arrive to lunch and be all sweaty, especially in front of my aunt.”
As Prim and Proper escorted Blueblood back to his private chambers, Prim broached a subject that had been on his mind. “Your grace, pardon me for asking, but why are you putting yourself through all this? Combat lessons and magic, didn't you go through all this during your college years?”
Blueblood sighed. “A fair question, Prim. But I didn't do particularly well in either one, and my mother didn't push me to. I never thought much about it since. But then... do you remember what happened a few months ago, at my cousin's wedding?”
“Quite, sir. You gave us leave that day to attend.” Proper answered.
Blueblood nodded. “Well, the painful truth is, I was spending the day with my mistress. We were having a lovely time in the park, away from all the ceremony of Cadence's wedding when those nasty changelings broke down Shining's shield. When they attacked us, I'm afraid I proved quite powerless against the fiends.” Blueblood looked quite downcast at that. “My former lady called me a coward and a weakling for hiding in the bushes while they tried to abscond with her, and said she never wished to see me again.”
“Terrible, sir!” Prim said. “Simply terrible!” Added Proper.
Blueblood nodded, then raised his head and grinned at his servants. “Which is why I promised myself I would never be caught defenseless again. My mother kept me from learning the skills I needed to protect not only myself but those I care about, and now I’m making up for that lack with all due haste.”
“Very wise of you sir.” Prim said.
“Most exemplary.” Proper said.
Blueblood smiled at the praise. “Quite. Though I wish I was making as much progress in fencing as I was with magic. My teachers say I’m quite naturally gifted, with my royal pedigree-”
A somewhat distant feminine scream reached all their ears.
“Good heavens, that sounded like Cadence!” Blueblood said, before turning and galloping off towards the source.
* * * * *
“Cadence! Cadence, calm down!” Celestia said as she rose to her hooves.
Cadence's legs were frozen, her pupils narrowed to pinpricks and her eyes wide as saucers. “C-ch-ch-change...!”
“Yes, Cadence, a changeling. But I promise he's not going to hurt or abduct anypony, now please, calm down.” Celestia tried to speak soothingly to the much younger princess.
Cadence seemed to be completely ignoring Celestia as her legs began to twitch, then she started to backpedal.
“Cadence, calm down!” Celestia said forcefully, casting a serenity spell on the smaller, younger, and less powerful alicorn. Officially she forbade the use of mind altering magics without something like a court order, but she herself used them in extreme circumstances. Cadence drooped slightly as her entire body relaxed along with her mind.
“I'm sorry Cadence. I forgot you haven't been told.” Celestia said, her voice drawing Cadence's almost sleepy gaze. Celestia swept a wing out and pointed with it to the changeling, guiding her attention. “Allow me to introduce Ambassador Maxillus, he hails from the hive of queen Diaphene, and he's here trying to show that not all changelings are like Chrysalis.”
Maxillus bowed his head politely.
“Now I'm going to nullify my spell, Cadence, but you have to promise me not to panic. Maxillus isn't here to take you away, or impersonate somepony you love, or anything like that.”
“On my honor, I swear I won't.” Maxillus said, placing one hoof over his chest.
Cadence looked from him, to her aunt, and back. Then finally nodded, very slowly, in a half stupor.
Celestia concentrated, and with a brief gold flash, Cadence found herself properly in control of her own mind again. She shook her head, sending her long, tri-color mane into a bit of a tizzy.
“You're an... ambassador?” Cadence asked, looking at the changeling.
“I suppose I am. My kind never needed one before but, well... times change, no?” Maxillus said with a wry grin.
“And you're here to... make peace with us?” Cadence asked, trying to process everything she'd just heard.
“As per my Queen's orders.” Maxillus said.
“And she's not Crysalis?” Cadence asked, taking a step closer, curiosity, and her aunt's presence giving her courage.
“No, I serve Diaphene, queen of the Underhall, and she-” Maxillus was saying when a set of galloping hooves screeched to a halt at the wide open door.
“Get away from my family you monster!” A white unicorn stallion with a golden blonde mane and tail bellowed before pointing his horn at the changeling, and with a brief, fierce upsurge of light blue magic, fired a great arcane burst which lifted the changeling off the pillow on which he sat and sent him careening into a bookcase, which sent every book in it spilling out onto his stunned form, covering him.
“Blueblood!” Celestia gasped. Cadence was backing away in alarm from the sudden violence.
“Aunt, cousin, are you alright? I came as fast as I could when I heard the scream.” he said, then got a smack in the face with a huge white feathered wing. “OW! What was that for?”
“You just blasted an ambassador across my study!” Celestia fumed.
“Ambassador? Auntie, that was a changeling, he had you under his spell!” Blueblood exclaimed.
“He was an ambassador from the changelings, sent here to make peace, and you just zapped him!” Celestia shoved her snout up against his as she explained to him in a growl that would've made a manticore flinch.
“Oh...” Blueblood said, shrinking away from her.
Cadence, meanwhile, was inching closer to the motionless pile of books. Reaching out with her hoof, she moved one off of a carapaced, gap filled foreleg and hoof, which confused her momentarily as it seemed considerably larger up close than it had a moment ago. It twitched, and a moan came from within the pile.
Suddenly worried, Cadence ignited her horn and lifted the books off the prone form underneath and moving them aside... only to drop them with a gasp a second later, drawing Celestia and Blueblood's attention.
With a groan, the figure of a changeling rose off the floor. But what had formerly been a nearly androgynous male drone of intermediate size was a much different creature.
Unlike Crysalis who was able to look Celestia in the eye, he was only an inch or two taller at the shoulder than the average stallion, and quite the physical equal of any of the burly guard stallions who by now had flocked to the door. A heavy, rectangular head which carried a rather rugged look to it replaced the short snouted, almost bulbous round head of the average drone, and instead of the short black crest frill he had a long mane of orange material, tattered at the end, with a few split 'strands', much in the same manner of chrysalis' had been, with a matching tail which dragged on the ground even as he stood at full height. The short, blade-like horn had been replaced by a longer one that now more resembled a knife with a wicked, reverse hook behind the tip, and the fangs jutting out of the corners of his lips at the end of that mouth were slightly more pronounced.
The changeling put a hoof to his head and rubbed his temples. “Ugh... ok, that hurt.” he said. Maxillus' voice had gone from being vaguely male to very clearly male, and a few notes deeper along with the resonant tone that only Crysalis had seemed to have. He opened his eyes and blinked them several times to clear them... his bright, two-tone orange, reptilian slitted eyes, which replaced the glassy blue ones he'd had moments ago.
All three noble ponies, and all the guards cramming into the doorway gaped at him.
“What?” he asked.
“Y... your mane... and your eyes!” Cadence said, pointing at him.
Maxillus blinked, then reached up with a forehoof and felt for it, and easily found his mane of rich orange. Bringing it in front of his snout he stared at it for a long moment, before looking back up at everypony staring at him, and giving a sheepish grin. “Ah... heh...”
“Oh dear...” Celestia said, facehoofing.