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// Chapter Two- Wedding Jitters 
// Story: The Royal Wedding 
// by Diamond Sparkle 
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Gilda paced up and down in her luxurious bedroom as if it was a prison cell. Yes, I know that when it comes to Griffin royalty, the father can still choose who his daughter can marry, but my parents and I are on really good terms. I would expect to be given at least some say in who I was to marry.  She walked out onto her balcony. All I need to do is jump off, spread my wings and soar on the summer thermals. If I can make it to Equestria and ask for political asylum, I really don't think that they would hand me over. And there are plenty of jobs in Equestria for griffins, from bouncers in clubs and pubs to Royal Guard positions to construction work. Still, do I want to do that? I have not gone soft, very few griffins have, but I have to admit that I really like being a princess. The way I'm obeyed, the royal allowance that I get every month, the love of my parents-can I really just throw all of that away?   Below her she noticed several changelings, traveling en clair instead of in disguise, the sun reflecting off their black chitin carapaces. And with them was another changeling, a large one the size of Princess Celestia, a crown upon her head. 

Well, I should at least meet her Majesty since she has taken the trouble of a formal diplomatic meeting to see me. Changelings are not much more popular amongst griffins then amongst ponies, so they only show themselves openly on official visits. If she turns out to be highly unpleasant and I hate the idea of becoming her wife, then I'll flee my country as soon as I get the chance rather then let myself be taken to her Hive. But I should at least give her a chance. She temporarily put aside her plans for flying away and hiding somewhere in Equestria and placed her own formal coronet upon her head, a golden one glittering with rubies and light enough to wear with comfort for hours. Except for weddings and funerals, even royal griffins rarely dressed formally. She went down to the Main Hall of the palace where she knew her parents were and got her first clear look at the Changeling Queen . 

Not quite as bad as I feared.  Tall, clearly strong, and that chitin looks like gleaming black armour. But what is her personality like? The most handsome griffin, pony or changeling in the world would be worthless as a mate if he or she were deeply unpleasant. She dipped her head in what was the griffin equivalent of a bow to the Changeling Queen. Griffins kowtowed to nobody, not even their own royalty. The Queen returned the bow. "I am Queen Chrysalis of the Chrysalis Hive, and as you no doubt know already, I am here to ask for your claw in marriage. Please could we talk in private, you and I?" 

"Allright then." The two walked into a nearby empty stateroom and Chrysalis said "I can see by the look in your eyes and sense by the feelings you are giving off that you don't like the idea very much. We changelings cannot read minds but we can sense the feelings that are being given off, otherwise we would be unable to feed ourselves properly. We would not want to get a mouthful of foul haste instead of sweet love after all. Who did you hope would one day walk into your life and earn your love?"

"He would be a griffin, a griffin general with a clever mind, a good personality, somebody strong in paw and claw and wing, who loved me for who I am without trying to change me, and was faithful to me as well."

"Like this?" Chrysalis asked, and in a burst of green flame transformed into a strong, muscular, male griffin with large wings, a gleaming beak, and the epaulettes of a Griffin General on his shoulders. "I can cross-dress for you if it makes me more attractive. And with a Changeling, it's a lot more then cross-dressing, I can change gender at will and change into most species, other then adult dragons. If you tell me what your ideal love interest looks like, within reason, I can take his shape for you. Of course, you can't expect me to hold that shape all the time, my hive needs governing and they like their Queen when ruling to stay in Changeling form for the sake of what you might call national pride. I know you don't love me yet, how can you? You don't know me. But you will get to know me in time, and hopefully get to love me some day. I wish that we did not have to marry first and then hopefully get to love each other, but such is the way of royalty." Her voice in that shape was that of a male griffin.

Gilda smiled and lightly touched Chrysalis's wing with the tip of a claw, half expecting the change to just be an illusion, and was very pleased to feel feathers. "Hey, you're not so bad. You know what I find attractive. I too wish we could have a long period of courting to find out if we were truly right for each other, but...I think there is at least a chance of it working out well for both of us."

"Have you ever fantasised about some famous Griffin warrior of the past? I could take on his shape for you. I can be griffin, pony, alicorn, buffalo, strange creature if that's what floats your boat, and of course, changeling. We are the most romantic race in Equestria, we need to be. Whilst all hives have a welfare system, one can get far more love if one goes out and finds it for oneself, and it makes other Changelings respect you more too."

"Well, yes, what griffin does not? What is it like living in a Changeling Hive? I've heard all kinds of rumours about them, none of them very nice."

"Well, it's dark down there but we light it with glowing web to light our way from place to place. And our eyes are more adapted to the light then yours are. But don't worry, at this moment my drones are busy adding a new suite to the Hive with a link to the open air and sunlight for your use, modelled on the dwelling of a Griffin princess." At this Chrysalis felt-not love emanating from Gilda but good feelings.