The team decided to stay the night in the remains of the hive.
“Go back to your homes and see what you can salvage. We will sleep in the throne room tonight, since it seems to be the most structurally sound area of the hive. Be back in two hours. If you feel it is needed, you can take a guard with you.” Sure enough, twenty members from the group left in pairs. Amor sat on the remains of his throne, rubbing his temple. “What am I going to do?”
Escara and Avispa, who had just finished securing the pod to the lowest point in the roof, had returned. “Sir, is something wrong?”
Amor looked up. “Well, it’s good we are increasing in numbers, but I was hoping that we would be stronger in numbers by now. Soon enough, Celestia is sure to kick us out of Canterlot.”
“Would she really do that? She seems to have grown attached to the young queen.”
Amor higher, his eyes dazed in thought. “Maybe.” He then shook his head and came back to reality. “You two are allowed to go to your old residence if you would like.”
“Thank you, sir. We will be back in an hour, maybe two.”
After two hours, the entire team was one again, many of the changelings returning with bags filled with memories and blankets that were lied down, used as bedding. They huddled together in a large group, two guards rotating from their shifts every few hours. Amor used his throne as his bed. Even with routine guards, there were no reports of returning changelings. The night was peaceful, and everyone slept peacefully. The next morning, they were up and ready to go. Amor took one last look around his decrepit throne room. He looked back at his and Chrysalis’s old thrones. They were solid black, other than the cushion and decorating pearls. They were taller than he was, and his was topped with a small dragon’s head with a single pearl under its jaw. Down the rests on the sides were more of these pearls. His horn began to hum. Multiple cracks were heard as the green pearls decorating the thrones began breaking free. Every last one of them was removed, and Amor put them into two separate parts of his satchel. He turned to see one of the royal guards staring at him awkwardly.
“Souvinirs. They bring back memories.”
The group of now twenty-four pegasi and thirteen changelings made their way back to Canterlot in a defensive position. Escara and Avispa, still carrying the single pod, were in the center of the group. Surrounding them were the changelings found at the old hive. Surrounding them, with three in front, behind, to the left and to the right, and six above and below, were the royal guards. Leading the group back was Amor, in front of the large barricade. They returned to Canterlot half a day later.
Chrysalis was amazed to see so many changelings heading into the adjacent cells. When Amor entered behind them, she hobbled over to him.
“How many did you find? It seems like you found a lot!”
“Not enough. We found ten and one pod.”
“A pod! That’s wonderful! Where is it?”
“Being moved into the cell with the changeling who chose to take it. Her name is Cielo.”
“Even if you think otherwise, ten is still more than I ever thought you would find.”
“Maybe, but if we only have ten, there are probably thousands with that false king.”
Chrysalis put a hoof to his mouth, having slightly more trouble balancing on only one good leg. “Amor, stop thinking, it only brings you trouble.” She smiled. Amor saw that she was happy, and therefore, he was happy.
“Do you really think I’ve done that well?”
“Of course. If you didn’t realize, more showed up while you were out, all heard that the two queens and the king were here and were willing to cooperate.” Amor looked down the long row of cells. That was when he saw more than ten changelings, nearly twenty were held up, some had two in a cell.”
“How many are there?”
“Two groups showed up, both had four changelings who found each other during their travels.”
“And none of them had any info about-“
“What did I say about thinking about him?” She smiled once again. “But yes, that’s the best part. He fled Equestria! We will never hear from him again.”
Amor closed his eyes. “My only regret is not saving more, but this is great news.”
“Amor.”
“I know, I know, stop blaming myself.” He hesitated for a moment. “If we grow any more than we already are, we’re going to need to start a new hive.”
“Where?”
“We’ll find out when we need to, but I’ll need to speak to Celestia.” Before he walked away, he turned back to look at Chrysalis one last time before heading to Celestia’s throne.
“Princess, may I speak with you for a moment?”
Celestia looked down at him from her seat. “Of course, go ahead.”
“Thank you. While I am very glad to see we have found some changelings, I fear we are becoming too much of a burden on Canterlot.”
“Nonsense, I enjoy meeting your kind. And, well, I love spending time with Purity.”
“I know, but if we take up any more space, we will need to make a new hive.”
“Are there enough of you?”
“It’s a stretch, but we will make do.”
“I…I see. Well, you can leave when you feel it is right.”
Amor looked up and saw a childish look in Celestia’s face. She didn’t want her company to leave yet, and she did grow attached to Purity. “Well, we could wait for our numbers to grow, and it would be better for the pod if we wait for it to hatch. Moving it this much can’t be good for it.”
Celestia looked up, a smile across her face. “I am glad to hear that. I have many more lessons for our new changeling queen.”
Amor looked at his satchel and an idea came into his head. “Is there a jeweler in town?”
“Yes, there is.” Celestia gave Amor directions to the shop and Amor was off.
He found the shop almost ten minutes later and walked inside. There were display cases everywhere, filled with gold, silver, diamond, and other jewelery.
“May I help y-wait, you’re the changeling king!”
“Yes, and?”
“Well, i-it’s an honor to be in your presence.”
“All I want is to be treated like any other pony.”
“Of course, so how can I help you?”
Amor’s horn hummed and the pearls from Chrysalis’s throne floated out of his bag. “Could these be made into a necklace?”
The jeweler, an older stallion with a white coat, mane, and tail and a cutie mark depicting a diamond, looked at the green pearls. “I’ve never seen anything like these before, but rest assured, it will be done. Return tomorrow.”
“How much will I owe you?” Amor asked, ready to pull out the remaining pearls as payment.
“Oh no, you don’t owe anything. For what you’re doing, you deserve this. It will be done tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. No need to pay me.”
“Alright, thank you then.”
Amor returned to the castle, tired as ever. He entered his new room, Chrysalis waiting for him.
“I’ve been waiting for you to return.”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
Chrysalis walked up to him and wrapped her hooves around his neck. “Don’t apologize. You are a good king, a great king. I love you, no matter what.”
Amor remembered the picture in his bag. He levitated it out and held it before Chrysalis. “I found this in our room.”
Chrysalis took the picture, looking at it with awe. “I was wondering if I’d ever see this again. Remember that day?” Chrysalis’s eyes filled with tears as she recalled the better times of her life. She once again put her hooves around Amor, squeezing even tighter. “I love you. If there has ever been a time when you thought otherwise, know now that I always loved you, and always will.”
“I know. And you know I always have and always will love you. We will be together forever this time.”
“This time?” Chrysalis looked at him, one eyebrow raised.
“I will not leave again.”
She then closed her eyes and smiled. “I know, you told me.”