Queen Chrysalis looked around in the Main Hall of her Hive, which was packed with Changelings. Not as packed as the last year, however, the flying circle they made to celebrate the coming of the New Year was somewhat smaller then the year before. Many fine changelings had died during the Battle of Canterlot, speared by guards or flung into walls and other hard objects by the recast shield spell. Others had died from their wounds or starved to death when many of their infiltrators were uncovered and the amount of love that could be funnelled to the Hive had been greatly reduced. But they had survived and were once more starting to thrive. In the other Hives of Equestria, be they open or concealed, and wherever there were large numbers of Changelings in one place they same New Year Dance would be happening all around the world. One dance that bound the scattered Hives together, and was the one non-emergency thing broadcast over the rarely used hive mind. Of course anyling could tune it out, but they rarely did. Surely the next year will be better then this one was Chrysalis thought to herself as the countdown began, and the circle prepared to land.
"Ten...nine...eight...seven...six...five...four...three...two...one....Happy New Year!" The circle touched the ground and danced and sang, expanding and contracting as it did so.
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of sweet love yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your love cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ sweet love yet,
for auld lang syne.
We two have gained warm griffin love,
and loved the ponies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne
We two have loved the seaponies
from morning sun till dine
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give me a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.
Afterwards the circle broke up with Changelings hugging and kissing each other before they went outside to watch one of the finest firework displays in the Badlands. Chrysalis, like most Changeling Queens, tended to love a firework display at the start of the new year, to "burn the Old Year out" and to see the New Year in. Ponies and Griffins tended to love fireworks too...she knew Canterlot, Ponyville, Manehatten and Gryffindor would all be having large displays of their own too. On this night of nights, at the start of a brand new year, she could put her fears and her worries to one side for a single night at least. The formal ceremony broke up with special love rations being handed out so that no Changeling would have to do without, even those who were undergoing punishment for some reason. Many Changelings liked to stay up and watch the sun rise, and they were allowed to on this night. The Queen herself partied with the best of them; at this time she treated Changeling nobles and ordinary Changelings in the same way. Only after sunrise did she curl up in her great royal bed, with thoughts of some lover to be in her head.
As she fell asleep she thought I will make this new year great for both myself and my Hive.