An In-depth Study of the Origins of the Changeling Race

by Crystal Static


Chapter 8: Emotional Tensions

Emotional Tensions

The Changeling Escort lets out a cough to interrupt. - "Oh for Hive's sake, would you two just confess your feelings and buck already? This emotional tension is giving me a migrane."

"What?! I-I don't have feelings to confess!"

"Why would you think Trixie has feelings for Twilight?

With Trixie and Twilight red-faced and sputtering, the changeling belts out a laugh. - "You think you can hide your emotions from a changeling? Especially an ex-infiltrator?"

"What do you mean? And what do you mean 'ex-infiltrator'?"

"Let me just introduce myself, my name is Seeker, but everyling calls me 'Crusty'. I am the reason why Griffon-Dragon relations broke down seven years ago. They didn't even know I was General Iron Talon."

"What does that have to do with anything? How do I know you are not just making up stories to fool us?"

"Well, for starters, you - Trixie was it? - have serious confidence issues, probably stemming from some form of abuse and a loss of at least one close family member. You try to mask it by putting on an arrogant facade, and you really just want to be accepted for who you are. It is all written in your emotions." - Trixie chokes out a small sob, and then runs off into the gardens. Twilight promptly gives the changeling the equivalent of a black eye, then runs off after Trixie.

{~~~~~~~~}

Seeker enters the throne room as ordered, Queen Monarch is not happy with his actions.

"Seeker, glad you could take time out of your busy schedule of emotionally abusing and harassing diplomats to see me."

"My queen, she wanted proof I could read emotions, I simply read her. She should have known that she might not have liked what she heard."

"That does not excuse the fact that your actions could put this entire treaty in jeopardy."

"I am sorry my queen, it will not happen again."

"You are quite right that it won't, you have just been scheduled for two months of nectar duty."

"But my queen, more than five weeks of nectar duty can wear a changeling to death."

"You are an ex-infiltrator, trained to withstand interrogation and you were one of the best. I don't think you have anything to worry about."

"As you wish, my queen."

{~~~~~~~~}

After hearing what happened between her companions and their guard, Luna rushes into the hive's royal gardens.

"Trixie, can you please tell me what is wrong? I really don't like to see you upset like this."

"Its just that… I mean… That changeling was absolutely right about me! I am arrogant and have self-esteem issues."

"Is that all? You know I don't think that you should worry about all of that. And you know that I don't care how many issues you have, I will be there for you."

"Thanks Twilight, you have no idea what that means to me. Coming from you, that makes all the difference."

"There is one thing I am curious about, that changeling claimed that you lost somepony close to you once?"

"Trixie doesn't want to talk about it… It was very painful for me."

"You know it helps to talk to someone, and as I told you before, if you ever need somepony to talk to or a shoulder to cry on, I am here."

"Thanks Twi', without you, I would be lost…"

"We hopeth that we are not interrupting something, the queen has invited us to dinner, we believe that her word were 'I will arrange a feast for dinner tonight', so thou should dry thy tears and prepare for a queen's feast."

"Thanks for telling us Luna, we will go get washed up, and meet you back here in an hour?"

"That sounds most reasonable Twilight Sparkle, we shall be off as well, there is much we must do before the banquet."

{~~~~~~~~}

After freshening up and heading to the royal dining chambers of the hive, Queen Monarch and Princess Luna recount what was decided on that day.

"So Princess, I think what you have came up with is a good idea, but I do not see how Hive Monarch will be able to survive without starving while the public adjusts to living with changelings."

Luna starts to reply, but is interrupted by the queen - "I am sorry for cutting you off Luna, but may I answer this question?" - Luna nods - "Hive Monarch's emotive stores can sustain for three months without any outside sources, five months if we ration our stores to the bare minimum for everyling."

"How? You won't have any cocoons to feed from."

"We are not barbarians, do not accuse us of using Chrysalis' brutish methods."

"Sorry, I just don't have much experience with changeling societal norms in each hive. I meant no disrespect."

"Very well. If you must know, every time one of our gatherers brings back emotive energy, most of it is transferred into large emotive crystals that are in various storerooms in the hive. Hive monarch has several collectors in stable relationships gathering emotive energy that they bring back every few months. Before you ask, our collectors create their own ponysonas and form relationships on their own."

"Oh, well, thank you for clearing that up. How many collectors do you think will fall out of their relationships when they have to show their true forms?"

"Well, best case, we only lose twenty percent of our collector relationships, worst case, eighty percent. I am going to try to be optimistic about it, as we have a small number of those relationships expecting foals, and a larger amount have already adopted."

"Wait, Trixie didn't know that changelings and ponies could have foals."

"Yes, it is indeed possible for changelings to have children with ponies. Changelings are genetically similar to other pony races, not much different like comparing a unicorn to a pegasus, the only real difference is that some key genes have latent magic that results in our natural form."

"But don't female changelings lay eggs?"

"Yes, female changelings lay eggs on their own, but females are also capable of live birth, although pregnancy takes longer than egg laying and females are unable to lay eggs during the term. It works just as with ponies, but when we are not pregnant, we can lay eggs whenever we desire, within reason. Although it takes about a month of development before a clutch of eggs is ready to be laid."

"Well that was a bit more information than Trixie was asking for…"

"Luna, I hope you know I expect you to visit the hive with these two and your sister every so often. No excuses."

"Very well, but only if thou alter thy decree slightly. Thou shalt visit us as well if thou wish this treatise to persist."

"I think that can be arranged. But we will have to make sure to plan around the wedding." - Twilight and Trixie suddenly choke on their food.

"What doth thou mean by 'wedding'? Are thou requesting to consort with thy princess of the night?"

"Sorry Luna, but I am taken. I was simply talking about those two lovebirds across the table from us." - Both Trixie and Twilight's faces light up a bright scarlet, with no way for them to hide it.

"For the last time! Trixie and I are not in love!"

"You do realize you are talking to a changeling queen right? I have millennia of experience reading the emotions of others, you two are most definitely smitten."

"But we aren't in love or anything." - Queen Monarch rolls her eyes at this.

"Whatever you say, I believe you with absolutely no doubt."

After about five minutes of Monarch and Luna teasing Twilight and Trixie, the conversation shifts to other less important things. After their dinner, everypony returns to their quarters for the night.

{~~~~~~~~}

"Took you long enough to ask that,'Great and Slow-to-get-the-hint Trixie'. If you made me wait any longer, I would have needed to replace one of my hips before I could tackle you with excitement."

'Wait what?'

Twilight suddenly lunges at Trixie in a full body hug. - "Of course I will be your marefriend!"

"Why didn't you just say so? You didn't have to tackle Trixie."

"If I didn't tackle you, how would you have known how excited I am that you finally asked me out?"

"Oh…"