//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Interview with a Changeling // by Obsidian Ink //------------------------------// Deep under froggy bottom bog, the day of the Chrysalis' invasion of Canterlot. The marshland in the southwestern reaches of the Everfree forest hid a subterranean labyrinth of tunnels and caverns, saturated with moisture and fungal growth. Light sources were sparse, and consisted mostly of glowing fungi. Deep within this labyrinth existed a tenuous community of approximately six thousand souls. From infants to those so aged and infirm that death was surely just around the corner, they all lived here in secret, rarely ever heading to the surface unless necessary. All of them were changelings. In the center of the complex was a cavernous, shadowy hall. In the center of this hall was a throne, carved out of a naturally forming stone pillar of a conjoined stalagmite and stalactite, naturally occurring luminescent fungi decorated the sides and back in a slightly random fashion. There, seated in the throne was a changeling queen who was at once alike, yet very unlike queen Chrysalis. Her horn was heavily curved, A short prong turning abruptly forward to come to a point just between her eyes before it swept back and over in a delicate curl. Her eyes were teal with flecks of gold near the slitted iris', and her dorsal plate mirrored this coloration. Her mane was kept short, but long tendril-like fibers hung around her head, and at the ends of those tendrils were oval shaped nodes that glowed with a pale greenish-gold light, and her wings, rare in the changeling world, were shaped like a Butterfly's, edged in black and filled with iridescent blue. Mid afternoon in this changeling court was, surprisingly, quite the same as court in Canterlot or most other royal courts. Petitioners coming to see the ruler to solve problems, the queen of this changeling court, the bizarre beauty who sat upon the throne. Flanking her throne were a pair of warrior drones in armor painstakingly crafted from large boring insects, the chitin a perfect match for the color of the hive, which like it's queen's dorsal color, was gold flecked green. Before her were two unadorned worker drones, both of them looking fresh from a brawl, dents and scuffs on their chitin, one of them with a bruised eye that was swelling shut, and the other had a painful looking bent wing. “Let me get this straight...” The changeling queen said. “You two came to blows over what crops the other grows... in their own property?” “Queen Carapace, his blasted Moon Berries keep casting their light over my mushroom racks! The plots on the east side can't grow for all the glow!” The one with the black eye said, pointing his left foreleg angrily to the changeling beside him. “I caught this jerk in my field ripping up my plants, what the heck was I supposed to do, just stand there and watch?” the other retorted. “I wouldn't have had to do that if you'd just moved the blasted plants!” “You could've asked you know!” “I did ask!” “No, you demanded that I rip up my valuable produce, not move it! Which, by the way, is nearly impossible to accomplish without the plant dying! Do you have any idea how long those things take to fruit?” The two of them continued in that vein for a solid minute, the entire time the queen's lower left eyelid started to twitch worse and worse before finally, she stomped a hoof loudly on the stone rest on the side of her throne. “ENOUGH!” Carapace snapped. The two changelings stopped shouting at each other and snapped their gazes over to their queen. “If light is the problem, the solution is simple, 'children',” the queen said, putting a heavy inflection on the last word that made the two petitioners flinch. “all you have to do is block the light from reaching the mushrooms.” “But... how?” The mushroom farmer asked. “Build a wall, or if that's too much, put up a tarp or something! There's no reason you two can't produce your crops next to each other. All it takes is a little planning.” The queen said. “Ah... of course, your majesty.” The berry farmer said. “Of course, your majesty.” The mushroom farmer said. “If that clears the dispute between you two, I believe this is no longer a matter to take up my time. I do have other things to concern myself with.” Carapace said. “Of course, your majesty, your wisdom in this matter is most appreciated.” The berry farmer said, bowing and turning to leave the audience hall. “Yes, I’ll begin construction immediately.” the mushroom farmer said, before turning and heading out along with his neighbor. “Oh, no-no, I’ll build a wall to keep the light out of your farm. It's my fault this happened.” The berry farmer professed. “True, but I want to make sure my crops are properly protected.” “Are you saying I can't build a decent fence?” The berry farmer said, looking sideways at his neighbor. “Well you certainly can't plan out a farm with your neighbors in mind, why should I trust you to keep the light off my crops?” The mushroom farmer replied. “Why you...” was the last Carapace could hear before the two of them were beyond the doors. She sighed and sank back into the cushion of her throne. “Two generations and several thousand bits to get drones trained as educators within equestria's school system and somehow my subjects STILL can't reason these little problems out for themselves...” She huffed, rubbing her forehead. “Your majesty, the next petitioner is waiting.” Carapace nodded. “Very well, send them-” she started to say, when another drone in armor came running in. “Your majesty! A message for you from Queen Elytria, she waits to speak to you on the communication crystal!” Carapace raised an eyeridge. The other queen was younger than her, ruled over a smaller hive in another swamp in a much less well to do area, and had long been an ally of hers on the council of queens. They conversed somewhat frequently, but only at set times on a regular basis. Contacting her out of the blue like this was strange indeed... “Elytria? Did she say what it was about?” Carapace asked. “No, your majesty, I asked but she refused to speak about it with any changeling but you. However, she seemed... distraught.” the warrior said after a moment's hesitation. Carapace frowned. “I'll be there momentarily.” she turned to the changelings who had just been about to enter for their audience. “Court is postponed for the moment, I'm afraid. Return later and I will hear your pleas to me, my loyal subjects.” Carapace said, before she got up and walked into one of the side tunnels off behind her throne. The sound of disappointment from the drones followed and rang in her ears. * * * * * In Carapace's private chambers stood an elaborate bronze podium topped with a sphere of clear, smooth pale blue crystal. As Carapace entered the opulently appointed chamber, she saw the face of a younger queen of another hive gazing into her room from across the distance of several hundred leagues through the stone. “Carapace, good. We must speak.” Queen Elytria said without preamble. “Has Empress Nepodea finally died? I cannot fathom a more pressing issue that would have you interrupt me at court, Elytria.” “If that were the case, I'd be celebrating with a bottle of wine and a handsome concubine.” Elytria snorted. “Sadly, it's not. No, I'm afraid it's Chrysalis.” Carapace scoffed. “That little upstart. What trouble has she caused now?” “Worse than you could imagine, Cousin.” Elytria said, then took a deep, steadying breath. “She's attacked Canterlot.” Carapace almost let loose an insult to the mentioned queen before what Elytria said actually hit her. “The little Maggot did... what?” “I only received the report scant minutes ago, Cousin. My agent was in his cover identity during the wedding that was supposed to take place there today when apparently Chrysalis' hive attacked. He managed to get word to me through the chaos.” “W-what!?” Carapace repeated, still in shock. “How? And... how did he even know it was her? Did he see her?” “He saw her subjects. And identification was easy.” Elytria fixed Carapace with a stare. “They were in their natural form, cousin. Unmasked, all of them.” Carapace's jaw hung open. Her fangs, which were unique to her bloodline in that they more resembled those of a viper, sheathing and unsheathing from hidden pockets in her gums in the bridle gap in a nervous tic Carapace was known for. “Her subjects... in broad daylight... in Canterlot... undisguised...” She said, her brain not wanting to process this absurdity... this atrocity. “There's more I'm afraid. Chrysalis' attack was... not successful.” Carapace blinked. “What do you mean?” “As my agent was reporting to me... something happened in Canterlot. I'm not sure, I didn't see, but something apparently cast all of Chrysalis's changelings out of the city quite violently... and, perhaps others. Whatever it was, it... hurt my agent, badly, and he was nowhere near at the time.” “An anti-changeling weapon?” Carapace said, her mind racing. Damn and blast, she had her own operatives in Canterlot making ready to supplant several beloved members of the nobility! “No... no, it has to be some sort of Unicorn Sorcery...” Her lips curled into a snarl. “We must find Chrysalis. She has broken our most sacred tenant. The ponies... no, the entire world knows of us now.” She paused and shook her head, before placing her face in her hooves and rubbing at her leathery eyelids in despair and frustration. “Centuries of secrecy... wasted...” “She swore she'd change the future for changelings, and she has.” Elytria said, her wings buzzing agitatedly. “And now I'm going to strangle her for it.” "Yes, now we'll be hunted like monsters, a fine future. Canterlot... ugh... how dare she. I've had my own agents deployed there for nearly a year! She knew of my plans to infiltrate the aristocracy. The love and respect that the members of high society receive would have fed my hive to excess...” She let out a moan of rage. “Tell you what Elytria, you can strangle her after I rip her wings off and shove them down her throat.” “If there's anything left of her once the council gets through with her. The instant word reaches the Empress, she'll call a council session, then there will be a hunt for her.” Elytria said. “Better not to wait, lest she escape. Chrysalis is an idiot, but even she wouldn't abandon her hive entirely. She'll have to return there to gather her subjects, then flee. I'll take my warriors down to the wastelands and-” “Cousin, remind me, how many changelings did Chrysalis have in her hive, last census?” Elytria asked, calmly. “Six thousand, not counting the eggs and juveniles... her hive rivals my own in many ways...” Carapace began, then ground to a halt, and raised an eyeridge at her younger cousin. “Why do you ask?” “Canterlot is a city of nearly twenty thousand ponies, and it had a surplus of guards because of a 'percieved threat'. If Chrysalis used anything less than every able bodied drone she had available, I'd call her insane, and frankly, from what I could gather, she was winning up until whatever-it-was hit. If my guess is right, she may very well flee into hiding this day... if she survived the blast at all.” Carapace paused. Her whole hive thrown at the ponies? Even with all the changelings on the continent, she'd only be able to hold one, maybe two pony cities for a few months! “Then we are wasting time. Contact the Empress, let her assemble the council, I will do what I can, see if I can locate our brash little traitor. If I cannot, I will join you and the rest of the council soon.” “Carapace, wait.” Elytria said. “What is it now?” Carapace's butterfly wings flapped and her tail swished in annoyance. “Carapace, your hive is the closest one to Canterlot. My... agent... I don't know what happened to him. When the whatever-it-was cast out Chrysalis, I heard a burst of power, and my agent screaming. He said a few words to me after, letting me know that Canterlot was free from attack, but then he went silent. Please, he's a good male. He's served me faithfully for years, I don't want to abandon him. Please, if you could, send him aid.” Carapace frowned. “In a time like this I should be closing my hive off, not sending out more of my subjects into potential danger...” Elytria looked downcast. “Cousin, please... He's hurt, and alone. He may even now be...” Carapace sighed. “Very well, let it not be said that I abandoned a changeling in need. I will see who I can spare to send to your agent's aid. Where may he be found?” “He was in a cave in the woods at the base of Canterlot mountain. It's a known safe haven for operatives.” “I'll send a team immediately.” Carapace said. “Thank you cousin.” Elytria said, bowing her head in respect. Carapace mirrored the gesture, and the image in the crystal faded. * * * * * The rest of the dinner passed without Shining saying a single word. Twilight and the two ancient alicorns discussed the particulars of the statement Luna was about to make, while the captain of the guard fumed and ate mechanically, not wanting to seem put-off by not eating. The last thing he wanted to do was give Celestia any more reasons to 'punish' him. Finally, the meal was officially over when Celestia finally couldn't suppress a yawn. The plates of every pony and dragon in the room -long since cleaned- were taken away as the princess of the sun retired. “It's late, but I think I should at least help you two with drafting the statement for this press conference, sister. I know you want to gain experience with these things but I'm not just going to throw you to the wolves.” Celestia said, stepping out into the hall. “There are going to be Lupines there too?” Luna asked. Half the room couldn't contain themselves and giggled. Celestia smiled and shook her head, walking off down the hall. “Captain.” Luna said, glancing over her shoulder as Twilight and Spike walked out the door ahead of her, the little dragon jotting down Twilight's ideas for the statement on a piece of parchment as they went. “Yes, princess?” Shining said. “I will be postponing tonight's midnight court in favor of this 'conference', but I do wish to speak to you before you depart for the night.” she said before turning to follow the others. * * * * * “Well, that was a meal I won't forget anytime soon, as much as I want to.” Blueblood said quietly to Cadence and Shining as they walked towards the palace's main entrance. “I know my aunts have been around a very long time and have seen and done a lot of things, but talking about... that...” he gagged slightly. “At the dinner table?” “I get why they talked about it, at least.” Cadence said. “Why's that?” Blueblood asked. “Well, it's not fair to judge any creature based on what they can or can't eat. It's just their nature.” “Next you'll be arguing that we shouldn't be afraid of the changelings for being love sucking parasites.” Shining grumbled. “I should get going. Probably a ton of paperwork I never got to today I need to do before heading home.” Shining said. Cadence looked like she wanted to say something to that, but bit it back and looked at the floor dejectedly. Shining sighed. He hated seeing her get depressed. “C'mon Cadence, I'll get one of the on duty guards to escort you home.” Shining said. “I could do that.” Blueblood said. Both Cadence and Shining jerked to a halt at that. “Wait, you?" Shining said incredulously. “Yes, I just offered to escort a lady home. Please stop acting like It's such a shock” Blueblood said with a snort. “Are you taking Etiquette lessons Cousin?” Cadence asked, a small smile playing on her face for the first time that night. “Well... yes, actually.” Blueblood admitted. “Etiquette...” Shining grumbled to himself. Cadence giggled. * * * * * Shining grumbled as he walked through the halls of the citadel. The fortified, far less grandiose 'district' of Canterlot. set off just to the east of the palace. The octagonal village sized fortress had runes sculpted into the outer walls designed to accept and enhance shield spells of the type Shining could cast, but had been designed to help less powerful unicorns to set up the spell. The citadel also had several guard barracks, and a number of very old blocks of residential housing. A history lesson he'd had once during a tour as a young colt reminded him that, sometime very long ago, the citadel was in fact all there was of Canterlot. The rest of the city had slowly grown up around it over the centuries, with a particular boom starting approximately one millenium ago. Concidering that back then, this place was the closest pony settlement to the old palace of the sisters down in what was now the everfree, it wasn't such a mystery anymore why that had happened. Where the palace and most of the rest of Canterlot, with the exception of the artisan quarter, was fancifully designed architecture with gleaming gold and ivory and flamboyant accent colors, the Citadel was utilitarian, practical, and was primarily colored gray and brown. The center of Equestrian military strength, just like the rest of the guard during the changeling invasion, had ultimately proved completely useless. No-pony had managed to get the defenses raised in time once his shield had gone down, and the citadel had been overrun just as quickly as the rest of the city. Shining shook his head, dispelling such thoughts as he walked in under the heavy wood and bronze portcullis and past the vestibule that led into the fortress keep where his office was. It was shift change. Stallions were clocking out, and clocking in. Shining got greetings and nods from stallions he knew (mostly day guards) and stallions he didn't know (mostly night guards) alike. He nodded in return to all of them, even if he didn't have a clue who the night guards were. He headed to his office, the desk out front where his secretary worked was empty. She'd probably gone home hours ago. He looked at her desk and levitated up a note that was sitting on it in front of the chair. A list of callers he'd missed being out all day. He was still reading it as he opened the door and walked into his darkened office. There was a resounding crash in front of him which had him rearing up in alarm. “What in- who's there?” he shouted, horn blazing furiously with prepared combat magic. “Gah! Damnit you practically scared me outta my horseshoes... Captain?” A voice said as a regulation gray coated, gold armored Unicorn with a white mane and tail picked himself up off the floor from behind Shining's desk. His eyes going a little wide. Shining recognized the voice instantly. “Strike?” he said, his magic turning on the lanterns in the room and bathing the chamber in yellow light. “Lieutenant, what're you doing in my office?” he asked the unicorn. The unicorn, more appropriately addressed as Lieutenant Swift Strike, Battlemage first class, gulped. “Uh... just... just delivering some forms to you sir! They came in late today and Breezy gets nervous around the night guards so she asked if I could deliver them for her...” the lieutenant said in a rush. Shining's Secretary, Mint breeze, a unicorn mare with a peppermint pink coat and a pale green and white mane and tail, was, admittedly, a little skittish at the best of times, but she was organized and helped him keep the paperwork part of his life from getting out of control. And he had, indeed, noticed her flinching reaction to Luna's newly re-instated branch of the guard. He sighed, then chuckled and shook his head. “At ease, Lieutenant. I'm not gonna punish you for coming in here just to deliver a stack of papers.” Swift Strike Breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you sir.” Shining walked around behind his desk, picking up the dropped papers with hooves and magic. The lieutenant pitching in to help. “Crazy stuff happening lately, huh captain?” “Mmmhmm...” Shining said absently. “Half the kingdom's afraid of it's own shadow, neighbors watching each other just in case one of 'em turns out to be a pony-bug in disguise... what we need to be doing is investing in some kinda new magic to see through their disguises. Just wish the Princess would approve the funding and the resources from the mage council. If we had all that we'd have the filthy roaches ferreted out in no time.” he continued, dropping the papers he'd gathered on Shining's desk in a neat pile. Shining blinked and looked at the other stallion. “You think so?” He said, half looking at the other unicorn while he sat down and started to scribble his signature on the various requisition forms with a pen held in his telekinesis. “I know so. Lousy bugs, like their sorcery could hold up to pony magic if we actually applied ourselves to figuring out how they work.” The lieutenant suddenly seemed to remember he was talking to a superior officer and blanched. “Uh, sir.” Shining kept his face neutral, but inside he was smirking. Quick Strike had spent his career as a private, and then as a sergeant working the 'Everfree border patrol'. Handling the odd and unusual creatures -commonly referred to as monsters- that would occasionally creep out of the forest and start terrorizing the surrounding countryside. He was amazing when it came to handling eldritch threats. Not the best with a sword or spear, perhaps, but if you confronted him with a magical foe, he almost couldn't lose. Even moreso when he understood what he was up against. Though, admittedly, he wasn't nearly as powerful as Shining, or his sister. “Lieutenant, I said 'at ease'.” Shining chuckled. “Sorry sir.” Strike said. Shining shook his head and continued working his way through the mercifully short stack of papers. “Of course, the whole problem is we don't have any changelings to study, so, it's kind of a moot point.” Shining blinked, then remembered that the only ponies he'd let know about the ambassador's presence were the castle guard. Much as he was friends with the lieutenant, the warm gray unicorn was a patrol guard, and worked the city beat rather than spent any time in the palace. Shining chuckled mirthlessly. “What?” Strike asked. “Ask me that again tomorrow.” Shining said, making his signature on one last form, then put it into the 'out' pile on his desk before standing up “Now, you're off duty, go home and get some sleep. Trust me, you're gonna need it. Me, I've still got business to take care of with Princess Luna.” “If you say so sir.” Strike said with a nod. Shining exited his office after the lieutenant, gave him a friendly smile, then trotted down the hall. Strike walked the opposite direction down the hall, towards the armory to turn his armor in before heading home for the night along with the rest of the day guards... or at least, he started to. Once he was around the bend in the hallway he peeked back around and watched Shining's retreating form till the other stallion turned a corner. The Lieutenant retraced his steps to the Captain's office, then lit his horn before opening the door and walking inside the once again darkened office. He walked straight over to the desk and picked the top form off the 'out' pile from Shining's desk and placed it down on the hardwood surface. He then lifted his own barding and slipped out another official looking document and placed it down on the desk next to the one he'd taken from the pile. His horn lit in a pale blue aura as he focused his magic onto the parchment where Shining had just placed his signature. A moment later, a precise copy of that signature appeared on the previously unsigned document Quick Strike had smuggled in on him. The unicorn checked both the original and his copy, then, nodding to himself, he placed the original document on top of the pile where he'd gotten it from, and placed the paper he'd used back under his armor, and quietly let himself out of Shining's office.