//------------------------------//
// A Disturbance at the Hive 
// Story: Equestria is a Silly Place 
// by Bootsy Slickmane 
//------------------------------//

	Queen Chrysalis looked disdainfully at the bit of green goo that had fallen from the ceiling onto her gnarled hoof. She'd asked about the leaks, but she was told that the flooring on the upper level just kept forming new cracks, so there was no permanent solution. Everything in the hive was organic, and non-toxic to changelings, but the goo was still annoying when it fell on her.

She grumbled at the goo, instinctively lifting her hoof and licking it off. Her eyes moved along her foreleg, spotting more of the goo and some wax that had been there so long it had gotten crusty. She nibbled along her leg, removing the offending material. More goo fell from the ceiling, and soon she lost herself in cleaning off the various bits of organic debris that seemed to be flaking off of everything in the hive.

She stopped preening suddenly as she felt eyes on her. Every changeling in the throne room was watching her. She carefully slid her wing from her mouth and glared at them. "Don't look at me like that. You know you all do the same thing."

She snorted, continuing, "You are right, though. There are better ways to clean. A bath should do nicely." She didn't bother excusing herself, and just walked toward the exit. She stopped in the doorway. "Oh, and tell the workers in the spawning room to prod at some of the larvae to make more janitors. I'm sick and tired of finding flakes of wax and discarded shell in my tail. And that's another thing: have some of you forgotten that it's a hive regulation to clean up your shells after you molt?"

She went on like this for some time before finally retiring to her personal chambers to clean herself up. She was halfway there when a messenger stopped her. "My Queen!" Chrysalis turned to face the incoming changeling with an irritated expression. "There's something outside the front gate."

She raised an eyebrow curiously. "What is it?" It was a giant pony made of wood. She stared at it from the balcony she'd been led to. "What the.... Who sent this?"

"We don't know, it just rolled up by itself. What should we do with it?"

Queen Chrysalis considered for a little while, but soon found her gaze wandering away from the statue and to one of the guards outside. It was emerging from its old shell, its new carapace shining in the midday sun. Once it was out, it shook itself and then trotted away.

Chrysalis growled, and shouted down, "Hey! Don't you just walk away from your husk, you slimy maggot! Either eat it or give it to something that will!"

"Uh, my queen?" asked the messenger that brought her out.

"Oh, I don't care! Go put it in storage and have a guard watch it or something." Chrysalis turned and walked away from the balcony, her irritation doubled.

An hour later, Chrysalis was relaxing on her jelly bed with a bowl of happy mice. She'd pluck one up, suck out its love, and then toss it into the trash vent. The vent led back to their farming section, where the mice would be cared for until they were happy and loving again.

She plucked up another one of her snacks, but a knocking sound on her door diverted her attention. A muffled voice from outside said, "Telegram!" Confused, Chrysalis got up and opened the door. Three little fillies exploded into the room, knocking her back in surprise.

"See? I told you girls it would work!" Apple Bloom said proudly as she shut the door behind her.

"I dunno, I'm still worried about how we're gonna get out."

"Don't worry, Sweetie Belle. Once we're done with Chrysalis, it won't be a problem," Scootaloo insisted.

Chrysalis stared in confusion at the three little ponies. "How did you—"

Apple Bloom cut her off. "We hid inside that big wooden pony. It was my idea."

"Pretty cool, huh?" Scootaloo added.

Sweetie nodded. "Yeah, we're here to help you turn over a new leaf."

"What?" Chrysalis said flatly.

"Don't worry, we understand," Scootaloo said.

Sweetie Belle nodded again. "Yeah, you don't have to hide from us. We're just like you."

"I fail to see the connection," Chrysalis said, still bewildered by the sight before her.

Sweetie Belle explained. "At first, we thought you were just really mean and evil, and that's why you were trying to take over Canterlot, but then we noticed that you don't have your cutie mark!"

"Yeah, and we know how awful that can be. Don't worry, though, because we're gonna help you get it!" Scootaloo said proudly.

"Then maybe you won't be so mad all the time! Then you can come with us to Ponyville and apologize and everything'll be great!" Apple Bloom claimed.

Chrysalis glared down at the three. "Changelings don't have cutie marks."

"Oh, yeah, we noticed that. We figured that, once you get yours, you can help all your subjects get theirs, too."

Chrysalis shook her head. "No, changelings never have cutie marks. Only you ponies do."

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. "Really? Huh.... I never knew that. Well, I guess goats don't either, or dogs, or bugs, or trees, or..." She trailed off.

"Let me get this straight," Queen Chrysalis said with a hoof to her chin, "you came all the way out here and got into my hive to help me find my special talent, all without being caught or injured by anything on the way? Remarkable infiltration skills, for little fillies. You will make excellent spies."

"Huh?" But Sweetie never got an answer. The only thing the three got was a blast from the queen's brainwashing ray. Their eyes glazed over as she finished the spell. Then all three smiled and leapt into the air.

"Cutie Mark Crusader Changeling Spies! Yay!"

Queen Chrysalis may have made a mistake.