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// III-Looking for Love 
// Story: Chrysalis's Wedlock 
// by Diamond Sparkle 
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 Refraction and his squad got out of the royal quarters just in time before they were sealed off, and he told his soldiers quietly "If we get trapped in here it's a death sentence. Within hours at the most they'll be looking for us...a Queen at close range can literally sniff out if at close range a Changeling that is not part of her own Hive. And if they find us the very 
least that we can expect in such circumstances is a quick and merciful execution. Not only did we murder the love of Chrysalis's life, but we cut off seventy percent  of this Hive's love supply at the same time. They only have a week or so of love left, and the Badlands are too arid for crops to grow or for many animals to roam." They went to a side gate, acted as if they were about to close it and then bolted out of it.  Refraction and all but one of them made it up, but the last of them was grabbed from behind. Quickly he turned into a giant porcupine to make them let him go and tried to roll away, only to be struck by spear after spear, his dying body finally pinned to the floor of the Hive. When Chrysalis heard that the rest of the killers had managed to escape, she was not  happy.

"Gather every squadron together, and get out there and chase them until you catch them. Anything flying smaller then a dragon or alicorn, capture it if need be and cast a reveal spell on it, then let it go if it's innocent. Make sure they can't go to ground, I want them taken alive." The air was filled with the hum of wings as squadron after squadron of Changelings poured out of the Hive and set off after the killers, who bolted for the border as fast as they could fly. Their wings were aching and they were close to crashing to the ground when their own Hive loomed up in front of them and they shed their disguises.

A junior officer came running up to Queen Chelicerae, an action which the Queen had deemed acceptable in a crisis. "Eleven of our Changelings have been chased back to our Hive by what looks like a whole Swarm!"

"Battle stations!," the Queen replied. "Get everyling capable of fighting out there and formed up rank on rank to protect my children. If need be we will fight to the death to protect them rather then let them be renditioned for torture and execution."

Her Hive erupted into a frenzy as spears and swords were grabbed from the armoury and platoons formed a rough and ready line outside the hive. All seemed ready for a massive aerial battle between the armies of black and red but instead, the two Queens hovered within speaking distance. Queen Chrysalis spoke first. "A team of your Changelings murdered the love of my life, Sweet Heart, a pony I have been with in a coupledom for thirty years. I demand their extradition to be punished as I see fit, or that you have them executed in front of me." 

Queen Chelicerae snorted. "You know as well as I do that every Changeling Queen loves her children and extradition is not going to happen. As for punishing them myself, why would I do such a thing when I ordered them myself to kill your lover? You came here so fast, your Swarm left it's weapons and armour at home, whilst mine are fully armed. Your Swarm is tired, mine is well rested. And if we do start to lose the fight we can barricade ourselves in our Hive. You don't have the love supplies for a long siege, you'll starve before we do."

"But why did you do such a thing?"

"I want your territory and your Hive, and starving your Swarm of love is the way to do it," Chelicerae said coldly.

Chrysalis hesitated, then gave orders to her Swarm to return to her Hive. She's right, if I order an attack my Swarm could easily lose the battle and get slaughtered, and we lack the resources for a siege. We have to get back, find out exactly how many cocooned ponies and griffins we have and how many agents are undercover in the field, and how many days we have before the love runs out. Then we either have to find a way to replace Sweet Heart or select a target to attack for the biggest love raid ever. As she and her Swarm turned and left they heard the mocking laughter of the  Chelicerae  Swarm behind them. I will have my revenge for this, Chelicerae. You have a pony lover deep within that Hive of yours,   and someday he or she will fall to my hooves.

When they got back she snapped out orders. "I want every captive we have to be counted, and every agent we have, no matter how high, located if possible. We need to know exactly how much love remains, so that rationing can be set in place. Until this problem is sorted out, the officers, members of the Royal Court and even I will be on the same low love rations. The only ones that can't have their rations cut are the unpupated grubs, the future of the Swarm, who must be fed at all costs. Then we will have the funeral of Sweet Heart, and plans will be made to restore our normal love supplies within a week. Leave me for now." 

She found Sweet Heart's cold stiffening body and kissed it's forehead, hugged it, sang to it and held it in her magic so it seemed to be standing on it's own hooves. "You were the love of my life, and it will hurt me so badly to put you away in the dark," she told it.

Soon enough one of her servants made his report. "Forty-two ponies  and twelve griffins, half of which are feeding the grubs with their love. And we have as many agents in the field bringing love back twice a year."

"Bring every cocoon that is not feeding the grubs to the main hall and put a heavy guard on them. Rations are to be lowered to the equivalent of half a cup of love soup a day for everyling. Summon the generals; a major love raid on Canterlot will be planned. There is no point in targeting the griffins; there is little love to be found in most griffins compared with ponies. Tomorrow I will personally try and track down a possible replacement for Sweet Heart. If I can do so and persuade her to fall in love with me before our supplies run out, there will be no need for a war. Tonight we will hold Sweet Heart's funeral."