"You've returned rather quickly." Chrysalis said simply as I trotted sadly through the main door of their underground sanctuary.
"Our...Meeting nary went well."
"I see...You understand what these pods are for, correct?"
"We will not force them to choose a side, Chrysalis. We are not monsters, as is our sister."
"Heh...Some would argue that, but these pods aren't just for converting ponies into Changelings. A pony would have a very hard time telling the difference between the two, but this pod is an egg, while the other is a conversion chamber."
"...An egg?"
"I am a Queen, Lunarias. It is my duty to raise my hive. What, did you think all Changelings used to be ponies?"
"Perhaps, although that really does not matter."
"Sure it does. This means that I can raise an entire army- one hundred thousand strong! -in the short span of one month. Changelings come out fully grown, unless birthed by the Queen directly."
"Thou means thou laid nary a single of these eggs?"
"Ah, no. That's not what I meant. I laid every single Changeling egg after I became Queen, but Queens cannot lay a royal egg. Instead, we give live birth once in our life time, and that Changeling will become the new Queen when the elder passes."
"...Changelings art strange, very strange indeed."
"You have not even begun to see just how right you are, Lunarias. But come, I have something for you. It is a gift, passed down from my mother from her mother, and on and on throughout Changeling history. It is our sacred armor, but I have never been fond of armor. In fact, I almost detest wearing it, so I have taken the liberty to make it your own- in more ways than just giving it to you."
"Armor? We hath armor- armor that hath served us for generations."
"Armor that is back in Canterlot. Besides, this armor is much more suited to your...Current look. I mean no offense by saying it that way, of course. Here, try it on."
"The armor?"
"No, Lunarias, the bookshelf. Yes the armor!"
"We art...We art not sure what to think of this." I said nervously after donning the chest piece, leggings, and flank cover. I held the helmet up to my face and stared into the space where my horn would fit.
After a moment, I turned it around in my magical grasp and slide the cold metal down onto my head.
"You look lovely, you know."
"...We thank thee?"
"You look like a powerful goddess- bent on revenge for the innocent."
"We art nary aware of how to receive that."
"It is a compliment, Lunarias."
"...Thou knowst, a stallion once said to us: 'Thou art what thou chooses to be, in life."
"And?"
"...And, we no longer wish to be known as Princess Luna. Instead...Call us...Nightmare Moon."