//------------------------------// // Project is a go // Story: Happy Changeling Land // by Ebonysdagger //------------------------------// Happy Changeling Land Project is a go It was looking to be yet another normal day in the hive for Queen Chrysalis. She was sitting upon her throne plotting some method to recoup from her losses in Canterlot and maybe just a bit of her time was spent on revenge fantasies centered on a purple unicorn. Her guards could tell when she was thinking about those particular fantasies because she would smile just a bit for a few moments before returning to her scowling. Luckily for Chrysalis’s mood, and likely the guard’s safety, an interruption came in the form of one of the worker drones entering the throne room. “My Queen the cultural analysis of Equestria has finished.” Chrysalis decided to indulge this oddity in her day as it had to be better than taunting herself with thoughts of revenge or condemning herself with hindsight. “Very well then let us see what was discovered.” The queen stood from her throne and set out toward one of the lowest levels of the hive. The worker drone and the guards falling into step alongside her. The worker looked caught between surprise, fear, and elation that her queen was willing to check up on their results immediately even as she jogged to keep up with the longer legged queen and larger soldiers. Hopefully the results will turn up something better than their last endeavor in studying Equestrians and their society. Indeed the plan to replace chefs with changelings had failed since changelings really didn’t eat food so had no idea how to cook. Really, in hindsight that was a very bad idea from the start and was likely what had lead to the previous head researcher being replaced. After a few minutes of traveling through various halls and down some stairs the entourage entered into what could be called a lab. Several changelings wearing lab coats could be seen working on all sorts of experiments ranging from new love extraction spells to various forms of industrial contraptions. Unknown to most but the changelings had actually been behind a lot of the scientific advancement in the non-equine world which they turned around into a profit to fund their own endeavors. Near the center of the room standing ready for the queen were two of her best researchers wearing the same lab coats as their subordinates. One of them was a greyer sleeker model of the usual changeling form and he actually was wearing some glasses as he looked over a clipboard held in the magic of his associate which was a mint green unicorn with a lyre cutie mark. “Ah my Queen I was expecting you would want to hear about this. We have compiled our latest study into Equestria and are ready to put the results up for you to see. As you can see here…” “Spare me the lecture, Ein. What schemes have you and your companion came up with thanks to your ‘research’? This had better be more effective than your predecessor’s was or else you’ll join him in his punishment.” Ein cleared his throat and nodded. “Yes, well you see your majesty thanks to our agents’, such as my colleague Lyra here, efforts we have found that Equestrian society is having an odd shift in behaviors. There seems to have been a rise in attendance to, and for that matter an increase in the amount of, theme parks throughout their lands.” Lyra takes over for Ein as he clears his throat again. “From what I’ve gathered talking with others and some digging in the finance department of Canterlot this trend is likely a reaction to the stress caused by the failed invasion and a rather large boost in the economy. Lots of working ponies and their families are setting out on the weekends and going to a theme park so as to ride the rides and just have a merry old time letting their cares flow away.” “Interesting but how does this help us exactly?” Chrysalis knew they had a point here but this duo tended to beat around the bush too much for her liking. Still, they got results where others haven’t already with their plan to set up some harvesters in the red light districts of several other countries so she couldn’t complain much. Ein smiled as he began to elaborate on their plan. “The thing is my Queen that while they are having fun and being with their family they are emitting lots of love out into the open. We have already taken the liberty of sending out a few agents to these parks and can report that our theory holds out. They each returned well fed and with some excess to share with the hive with little effort on their part and no one being the wiser. What we recommend is making our own theme park where they can come and play with their families. If they do then we get fed by the almost metric ton and don’t have to resort to any extreme measures and they pay us for it. Even better we can demonstrate some of our technology and help stir up demand for it amongst the populace so as to make even more money.” “This doesn’t sound much different than the plot to run those restaurants. Wouldn’t a lot of us gathered about in the open just be asking for disaster?” Lyra nods to the queen’s question though her golden eyes twinkle in amusement. “Ah but that is the where this becomes brilliant. We hire on a few actual normal ponies or place agents like myself in key positions throughout the park. Namely any task that requires cooking and whoever will supposedly be the front pony for the operation. That way we aren’t given away by bad food and the most likely to be suspected owner will check out fine. Also we are thinking of possibly making changelings a bit of a part of the park’s attractions.” “How so?” “The mascot for the park will be a changeling. Admittedly a saccharine simplified version of one of us but that too serves a purpose. By playing up our kind in this way we might even be able to help break down the hatred we are currently the target of. We will have those in costume acting out silly routines for the amusement of the kids and perhaps even act as a form of stress relief for their parents to see a depiction of us acting like fools. While they are distracted by these displays we will be feasting on their emotions and biding for a time that they accept us.” Ein smiled at his queen while explaining his brilliant plan. “So you are thinking more of a peaceful shift into coexistence still?” “My Queen,” this shocked Chrysalis due to the statement coming from the pony, “I can assure you it will work. If you do it this way you will not only be fed but might eventually get your people accepted. When it works your children will never again have to risk their lives posing as someone else just to eat. This is the best course for us all, pony and changeling alike.” Chrysalis wanted to gore the unicorn for her presumption but stopped and really gave their plan some thoughts. If nothing else it would be an amusing diversion and she recalled having some luck in the past sending out changelings posing as gypsies and having their caravans wander about entertaining others. Perhaps there was some merit to this idea after all. “Very well however I want you to start out small. Let’s have a trial run on the scale of a festival and see what we get.” The scientific duo answered their queen in stereo, “At once your majesty.”