//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: The Precipice // Story: Princess Celestia: The Changeling Queen // by vren55 //------------------------------// Chapter 16: Precipice Camp Draco, a five hundred year old military base, was located just within sight from the outskirts of Baltimare.  It was a place that held a great deal of sentimental value for me.  Camp Draco was where I had cemented numerous treaties and celebrated countless diplomatic triumphs between griffins, dragons, horses and Diamond Dogs.  Sitting on a raised plateau, the base’s ten meter thick wall of stone protected the diplomats from any interventions by third parties.  Moreover, the base isolated problematic diplomats from those they may hurt and those that wished to hurt them.  The final reason for why I had chosen Draco, was that it was neatly located between Baltimare and Chrysalis’s hive, which meant it was in neutral ground. I grimaced, despite being perfectly poised at the end of the camp’s parade ground, watching the main gates and backed by a squad of Royal Guards.   Even now I was outraged that somepony had attacked a changeling bearing a flag of truce.  I wasn’t sure if my indignation stemmed from horror at Lamia’s injuries, or because it was this incident had led to my sister attacking Canterlot, which had caused so much distress for myself and my ponies. Exasperated at the actions of the foolish perpetrator of the attack, my mind turned its attention to the impending trial I was about to undertake.  The paralyzing fear I had for my sister had somewhat lessened, but I was highly apprehensive of her motives and I knew I could not let my guard down.  Yet, maybe it was after meeting her that I realized she was still just a changeling queen and not the spectre that haunted my memories.  My hate had not gone away though.  Every time Chrysalis’s name was mentioned, I could not stop recalling my mother’s death.  There was no doubt Chrysalis would sense my suspicion, but there was nothing I could do to change it. Despite being distracted by my thoughts I noticed a pair of worried violet eyes gazing up at me.  So I turned left and smiled. “No need to worry about me, Cadance.  I must ask though, are you sure about facing Chrysalis again?” My niece shivered as if Chrysalis’s name had summoned a chilly breeze.  Her brow twisted by worry.  “I don’t know.  Chrysalis shut me in the caves after all.  But I just feel so sad for what happened to—” I shushed Cadance before she could finish her sentence. “That’s alright, my niece.  Just remember that this knowledge is something nopony must know as of yet,” I warned.  In order to prevent the perpetrator from escaping, I only included Cadance, my chief diplomatic representative, outside of those who already knew about what happened to Lamia.  I did trust Shining Armor, but I did not think this was the time to inform my captain that there was a magic-blasting-happy-pony-who-had-started-this-entire-debacle in our army. Some might ask, and Shining Armor certainly did demand to know, why I chose Cadance to help me with this conference?  I had many reasons.  One of them was that I could trust Cadance with any sensitive information about the changelings without having to hide my own identity.  Moreover, despite a common belief that Cadance was a frivolous filly with a talent in matchmaking, I knew better.  Cadance was an exceptional diplomat whom I trained personally, and had written treaties that older negotiators would applaud. “How is thy husband?” inquired Luna.  The Princess of the Night stood to my right, resplendent in her regalia.  Confidence and anticipation exuded from every fiber of her body.  Luna had made no attempt to hide her enthusiasm for the upcoming peace conference.  It would the first time to sit at a negotiation table since her banishment. Beside her was Blueblood.  Officially, he was the representative of the Equestrian Parliament and House of Lords.  In reality, I needed him to help me anticipate the political response to the solutions we were going to create in this conference.  I also needed him to help me figure out how we were going to implement the conference’s resolutions into Equestrian Law. Cadance sighed.  “He’s thrown himself into fortifying the camp and while we still love each other just as much as our wedding day, he keeps avoiding the subject.”  I nodded, just as I suspected.  My captain’s feelings for Chrysalis were too hostile to inform him of this new development.  Not that I blamed him; I had a far greater grudge against my sister then Shining did. “He’ll come around, and here they are…” I murmured as I noticed guardsponies begin to rush back and forth across the top of the gates.  I took a deep breath, ready to meet my sister once more. Chrysalis braced herself against the ground as the Camp’s iron-clad gates began to slowly swing open.  She had never felt more vulnerable in her life.  Although she was accompanied by her Black Guard, composed of one hundred veteran chevaliers that she would entrust her life to, Chrysalis was terrified of taking another step forward. Oh, Chrysalis could deal with Celestia.  The nerve-wracking puzzle that was the alicorn would be solved in time and Chrysalis was sure that until then, she could hold her own on the negotiating table.  Neither was Chrysalis worried about walking into the Camp itself.  She had accepted that the only chance for her hive’s salvation was to meet with Celestia and Luna. “Mother?” whispered Lamia.  As Chrysalis’s gaze momentarily focused on her daughter, the queen could not help but feel slightly exasperated.  Lamia had refused to lean on a guard or be shielded by chevaliers.  Instead, she had demanded to stand next to her mother and accompany her during the conference.  Her daughter’s persistence to endanger herself had aggravated Chrysalis to no end.  She had enough to be stressed about without needing to worry about her crippled daughter’s well-being. “Mother, I can take care of myself,” said a quiet voice.  Chrysalis blinked and gulped at her daughter’s quiet, accusing stare.  The narrowed eyelids dared the elder changeling to deny her doubt, and yet Chrysalis didn’t.  She had promised long ago to never lie to any of her daughters.  “Lamia…” “Mother, you have a duty to our hive.  Don’t ruin it because of me,” said Lamia.  From the outside, Lamia appeared to stand defiantly on her three legs.  But Chrysalis sensed her daughter’s fear and anxiety bound by iron control.  A fierce, burning pride at her daughter’s courage drew a smile across queen’s features. “Let’s go.”  Chrysalis proudly strode forward into the now open gates, her daughter keeping in step beside her.  Behind them were their Black Guard chevaliers in dark blue armor and bearing an assortment of warhammers, polearms and flails. As Chrysalis stepped onto the camp’s parade ground, she had to fight to suppress her fear and grudging admiration.  The parade ground was lined with guards.  On her left was a platoon of Royal Guard, and on her right, another of Night Guard.  They formed an armored corridor to the awaiting princesses. Ah yes, the princesses.  Chrysalis had to force herself to step forward toward the three alicorns.  She had expected Princess Celestia and her sister.  They were, after all, Equestria’s rulers and had every right to be here.  She did not expect Princess Cadance.  If anything, the changeling expected the pink alicorn to have a massive grudge against her. Then again, Chrysalis’s infiltrators had brought back enough stories to cement Cadance’s reputation as a skilled diplomat.  Chrysalis had heard that the alicorn, against all odds, managed to negotiate a ten year trade treaty with the infamously territorial Griffons.  It would be foolish for Celestia not to call on such a skilled member of her diplomatic staff. As Chrysalis drew closer, her keen eyes took note of another figure she did not anticipate.  To Luna’s right was Prince Blueblood.  Chrysalis didn’t frown, merely wondered why a frivolous prince would be part of Celestia’s own entourage. The changeling had been so immersed in thought that she was surprised to realize she was mere steps away from the princesses.  Gracefully, Chrysalis halted in front of Equestria’s rulers and inclined her head slightly, out of respect and, although she would deny it, out of fear.  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her daughter do the same, albeit with a little more difficulty. The Equestrian diplomats and heads of state reciprocated that slight bow.  Albeit, Cadance did so rather stiffly. “Welcome to Camp Draco, Queen Chrysalis,” spoke Luna regally.  Chrysalis regarded the alicorn warily, for she was no stranger to the reputation of Nightmare Moon.  It was thanks to the great fear that Equestria had been thrust into by the aftermath of the Eternal Night that Chrysalis’s infant hive, already brutalized by the battle against her sister, had almost starved to death.  It was also one of the multitude of reasons Chrysalis had decided to abandon the hive in the Everfree Forest. Yet, Chrysalis felt less suspicious of Luna than of her sister.  The changeling was still tensed, but she realized she wasn’t so scared of the younger alicorn.  It was true that Luna was wary and her emotions spoke of her cautious state of mind.  But they were more open; she was not trying to control or suppress her feelings. “Thank you for accommodating us, Your Majesties,” said Chrysalis formally.  There was a click and Chrysalis’s eyes glanced to her right to see several reporters with cameras taking pictures from behind the wall of guards. “My apologies for the reporters, but you must admit, this is a historic occasion,” said Celestia, a mischievous tone in her voice.  Chrysalis grimaced, but curled her lips into a snicker. “Then it is good that I am looking my best,” chuckled Chrysalis, before she suddenly snarled at the reporters, her fangs bared.  The cowards promptly scattered, and even the guardsponies flinched slightly. Chrysalis thought she caught a hint of a reproving glare from Celestia.  “Agreed.  Now, Prince Blueblood and Captain Shining Armor will show the majority of your chevaliers to their accommodations.  Queen Chrysalis, Lady Lamia, please take a small escort and follow us to the conference chamber,” said Celestia.  The three alicorns proceeded to turn on their hooves and trot down the parade grounds. With a nod to Chevalier Diamondshell, Chrysalis gestured Lamia to follow her as well as several other chevaliers and the group quickly caught up to the alicorns. “How is your darling husband, Princess Cadance?” asked Chrysalis, as neutrally as she could. She was not surprised at the anger that sparked in Cadance.  She also expected the resentment in Celestia to rise, but once again, she was taken aback by how furious the alicorn was.  Still, to the pair’s credit, they said absolutely nothing, but stoically kept trotting forward.   “You don’t give your husband enough credit.  I don’t know how much he remembers from being hypnotized, but he fought my control quite frequently,” admitted Chrysalis.   Cadance stopped quite suddenly and spun around. Chrysalis blinked as Cadance’s haunted glare bore down on her.  If the emotional turmoil within the youngest alicorn wasn’t already apparent, the heaving breath, the fear mixed with anger, and the relief that Chrysalis could sense would have told her. “Did you… did you—” Cadance couldn’t force the words out of her mouth, but Chrysalis guessed what the alicorn wished to ask. “I did not steal your husband before you did.  Most stallions would have been willing to concede to my persuasions.  Yet, it appears Captain Armor made some vow to his parents and to you when he was younger.  A vow he kept despite my best attempts to persuade him.”  Chrysalis chuckled ruefully.  “Must have been some vow.” At Chrysalis’s confession, Cadance’s features eased into a grateful smile.  “I… thank you for telling me this,” said Cadance.  Chrysalis’s raised an eyebrow in amusement as the alicorn gave a short bow and continued to walk as if nothing had gone amiss.  Luna followed, and Celestia, after a momentary almost contemplative pause, did so as well.   Chrysalis did notice the slight spring in Cadance’s step and she was not the only one. Perhaps you should get in the habit of telling the truth more often, mother, thought-spoke Lamia, amusement clear in her message.  Chrysalis snorted inwardly, but couldn’t help but wonder about her daughter’s suggestion. Maybe she should tell the truth more often.  It certainly seemed to make some ponies happy. Lunchtime… Lamia groaned as she limped down the corridor.  Her mind was so full of terms, suggestions, ideas and none of them seemed to fit with each other.   All throughout the morning, her mother and Celestia had ‘discussed’ about when and where would changelings be allowed to use their disguises within Equestria.  And by discussed, Lamia meant exchanged glares, spoke in polite, but barbed tones and insulted each other under their breath.  Admittedly, her mother had done most of the insulting, but Celestia had quite a few cloaked statements that had really dug into Chrysalis’s carapace. Despite her initial misgivings, Lamia did like the conference building. To her and her mother’s surprise, the place where Celestia had matched wits with so many different species, was actually an old keep in the centre of the base.  Inside though, the keep set itself apart from other stuffy old castles with its light, but not drafty air.  It was also artfully decorated with simplistic gold light fixtures and pendants that adorned the wall and various well-embroidered tapestries of ponies and various species meeting one another.  On her way to her bathroom, Lamia spotted great landscape paintings of peaceful meadows and silent forests.  Perhaps it wasn’t the most grand structure, but the decorations were pleasant and did not impose or intimidate.  It was a place that welcomed negotiation. “Lady Lamia.” As steadily as she could with three legs, Lamia began to turn herself around to face the pony who addressed her.  But as the changeling tried to hop her front leg left, she slipped.  Lamia cried out in dismay as she slammed into the floor, face first.  The changeling grit her teeth at her ignominious position and the pain in her snout and vainly tried to raise herself off the floor, but without her left leg to support her, Lamia kept rolling to her left. That is, until she felt a warm body press against her left side, stopping her from rolling over.  When Lamia glanced aside to identify her helper, though, her mouth dropped open and her heart stopped. “I can’t help you up on my own, changeling,” growled Shining Armor.  Lamia nodded mutely and, with the unicorn’s help, managed to struggle to her own hooves.  The moment Lamia was able to stand, Shining Armor stepped back quickly. The silence that immediately settled in between the two was like a great sticky smog that clung to their skin.  It made them want to run, but the air seemed too thick to even breathe.  All Lamia and Shining Armor could hear were their pathetic attempts to try fill the void of sound with awkward swallows and taps.  Neither of the two wanted to speak first, but the silence soon became unbearable. “Thank you, Captain Armor,” said Lamia.  She paused for a moment, wondering how to address the stallion her mother had so horribly manipulated.  “I know this must be hard for you.  I’m afraid I can’t offer anything other than my condolences for what you suffered.” Shining Armor was taken aback by this apology from Chrysalis’s daughter.  Yet, somehow, his emotions that were in complete turmoil began to relax. “Thank you, Lady Lamia, but I was just doing my job.”  Shining Armor took a deep breath as he wondered what to say next.  Alternia had explained the circumstances for Chrysalis’s attack and how she had been forced to do so because her hive was hungry.  Although Shining was furious and very wary of the changeling queen, he could not deny the reasons behind her attack.  Besides, while the changelings hadn’t held back, they hadn’t killed any of his guard either.  “And I do… to an extent, understand your mother’s action.  After all, as captain of the guard, I know the demands of duty.” Lamia was quite surprised at Shining Armor’s statement and at the same time rather heartened.  Not to mention, the captain didn’t even blink at her injuries, a luxury that she didn’t even have in her own hive. “With such honour, it’s no wonder you’re Captain of the Royal Guard, ” said Lamia with a hint of a smirk. Shining Armor chuckled at the compliment, but was unable to stop his shame from seeping onto his face.  “Thank you, but I think we can all agree that my guard’s deployment at Canterlot was substandard.” The changeling shrugged.  “You didn’t expect an invasion and we kept it that way.  Your deployment would have been highly effective for a small intrusion and any terrorist attack.  Not to mention our forces took longer than anticipated to subdue your guards.  If I hadn’t planned the assault personally, I think you would have managed to rally and overwhelm our hive,” said Lamia. Shining Armor narrowed his eyes at Lamia, his muscles tensed.  “You planned the assault on Canterlot?” Lamia winced and if she had a spare leg, she would have put her hoof to her face in exasperation.  “Um… yes.  I was trained by my mother to lead the hive’s army, so I did plan the assault.”  The unicorn frowned at Lamia, obviously annoyed.  But the changeling could feel the unicorn’s admiration and see his grimace. “Well, I can’t deny you did a good job of it.  Tell me though, how did you manage to secure the Royal Guard barracks?” asked Shining Armor. The changeling queen winced.  “It wasn’t easy.  It was one of the major rally points in the castle and I knew it would be well defended.  Thus, I made it a priority target, using the surprise of our invasion to take it as speedily as possible while the guards were occupied with my other forces.  For as Shih Tzu said, ‘Loot the house while it burns’.”   “You’ve read Shih Tzu’s Art of Warfare?” inquired Shining Armor.  Lamia nodded earnestly. “I infiltrated an Equestrian Military Academy and um… borrowed some books,” said Lamia.  She groaned inwardly again as Shining Armor glared at her.  This was not going across well.  Another moment of silence settled in between the two. “Well, let’s see what you’ve learnt.  Come along,” said Shining Armor curtly.  Lamia was confused, but the captain’s tone hadn’t been unfriendly.  So, the changeling followed the unicorn until they reached a lounge.  The pair sat down on two comfortable velvet couches, a coffee table between them.  From below the glass coffee table, the captain  levitated a box illustrated with battling ponies and a single bold title across it. “Is that Stratego?” asked Lamia.  The game was a classic Equestrian game.  Each player had a set of pieces with various ranks, the higher the rank of unit, the more powerful and more powerful units could kill enemy units of lower ranks.  However, neither player could see the ranks of the opposing pieces unless two pieces clashed, which meant that positioning and deception were key to winning the game.  To make matters more deadly, each player had spies and bombs that could kill higher ranked units.   “Yes, I suspect you know how to play this?”  Lamia nodded, she had brought several sets back to the changeling hive on one of her trips to Equestria.  She and her mother had played against each other for long hours on end, her mother usually winning. Shining continued, interrupting Lamia’s thoughts.  “They say that tacticians best understand each other through the battlefield.  I don’t completely believe in that saying, but since we can’t seem to talk without stepping on each other’s tails, perhaps a game would be a better idea?” said Shining Armor. “Then you better bring your best, Captain Armor.  Changelings are masters at deception,” chuckled Lamia. “I intend to,” said Shining with a polite smile.   After deploying their troops, Shining flipped a bit to decide who would go first and Lamia won the first move.  The two began to move their pieces between the board’s the two lakes and confront each other. To Lamia’s pleasure Shining Armor was a very good player.  After Lamia managed to kill some of the captain’s lower ranked pieces, he forced an attack that broke into her side of the board.  Unfortunately, she had set up a trap with her mines or bomb pieces that destroyed several captain’s higher ranked pieces.  Graciously, the unicorn merely grimaced and quickly retreated his remaining forces. Now on the offensive, Lamia poured her units into the side of Shining Armor’s board.  Just as she finished one of her moves though, the captain broke the silence. “How many casualties did your hive suffer when my wife and I cast our spell?” asked Shining Armor, quietly. Lamia bit her lip.  She could still remember the halls littered with wounded changelings and the sight of many drones who would not fight another battle.  An unbearable cloud of sorrow and disappointment had soaked the hive in the days in the aftermath of the battle, and Lamia could not forget about that no matter how hard she tried. “Many will not fight another day.  Luckily we had very few deaths.  Changelings are tough creatures after all and those that died were ones that were already very old and on their last legs,” murmured Lamia. “I’m sorry for your hive’s loss,” said Shining sincerely. The changeling growled a bit, startling the unicorn.  But then she sighed resignedly.  “I can’t begrudge you for trying to defend yourselves.  But I… I remember my hive’s despair and… I can’t help, but hold that against you.  And you ponies...”  Lamia swallowed suddenly.  At the beginning of the discussions, Cadance, Celestia and Luna had informed her and her mother that while they were going to launch an investigation, it would be kept under wraps for now and they hadn’t told anypony, but Blueblood.  Chrysalis had been very annoyed, but Lamia had managed to persuade her mother that secrecy was necessary. Despite her own worries and anger, Lamia always tried to keep a brave front for her mother and to act as the one to calm her down.  However, there were times when the young changeling noticed the empty place where her left leg was supposed to be, moments when she looked in the mirror and wished she was beautiful again, and instants, when she would be consumed with fury at the pony who maimed her. “I’m sorry, Captain Armor.  The fact your leaders are giving us an opportunity to make amends despite my mother’s actions is generous enough.  I should have no reason to be angry at Equestria, but I am,” said Lamia, putting aside her anger.  Hopefully, the unicorn hadn’t been offended.  Her mother and her hive need not suffer simply because she had made a bad impression. “Don’t be sorry.  Your injuries are from unicorn spellfire, aren’t they?” asked Shining Armor calmly. Lamia started, almost falling off the couch and gasped at Shining Armor, who didn’t even flinch.  The unicorn captain simply met Lamia’s bemused stare with a reassuring and understanding eyes. “I’ve seen my share of wounds both from the academy and from my tour of duty.  While I may not be as powerful as my sister, Twilight, I’m still a skilled sorcerer trained by Meringue La Pie and I can identify spellfire wounds on sight.  The degree and control of this damage is only consistent with a unicorn’s magic.”  Shining Armor narrowed his eyes slightly, his jaw set in a grim line.  “Tell me Lady Lamia, who did this to you?” “A patrol from Baltimare attacked my entourage when I tried to parlay with them,” stammered Lamia. Horror engulfed Shining Armor’s features and the unicorn leant forward to examine the injuries more closely.  Lamia trembled slightly at the captain’s intense gaze, but after a long moment, he groaned and fell back onto the couch resignation clear on his face. “I don’t want to believe you, but… you haven’t given me a reason to disbelieve you.  What’s more, your injuries’ severity indicates that the curse is a powerful one.  One that can only be cast by a unicorn with advanced arcane training or Equestrian military training.  It also would explain why your mother attacked without negotiating.  We need to take this to the princesses,” said Shining, standing up. Lamia shook her head and gestured the unicorn to sit down.  “They and your wife know already.  Their agreement to catch the perpetrator was one of the reasons we agreed to negotiate.” Shining Armor frowned, winced and promptly facehoofed. “And I guess they didn’t tell me because I was acting a bit like an ass.” “But you’ve been acting like a perfect gentlecolt,” exclaimed Lamia. “I was on edge for a while after I was told we were negotiating. It was Cadance who told me to at least give you a chance.  Guess I know why now,” said Shining Armor ruefully. “But it was you who decided to listen to me,” pointed out the changeling.   “Yes, so I did…”  The two smiled at each other. "By the way.  My spy kills your marshal.”  Lamia stared at the Stratego board and gawked at the fact Shining Armor had just assassinated her highest ranking piece with his spy.  Not only that, she could see that he had a scout right in position to make a run at her flag. “All right, I surrender.  Have fun with the fact you beat an adolescent at Stratego.  After all, that same adolescent handed you your guards their flank at Canterlot,” sniggered Lamia. Shining Armor snorted.  “Age means nothing when it comes to learning strategy and your mother hypnotized me, so the fight wasn’t fair.” “Perhaps we should call it a tie,” Lamia suggested. Shining Armor nodded and shook her outstretched hoof. “How about I introduce you to a favorite game of mine...” said Shining Armor. It was an hour later that Cadance found Shining Armor explaining to Lamia how to play a game of Warhoof: Fantasy Battles  that the captain had brought along to play with his buddies.  The sight of Chrysalis’s daughter hanging on her husband’s every word promptly dropped Cadance’s jaw to the floor. Dinner… Now, the schedule of the conference planned respectively by Cadance and Blueblood had called for the dignitaries to have lunch in private and dinner together.  This was to promote communication and cooperation between both parties and at the same time allow for both groups to have a degree of privacy. Now the plan was good in theory, and both Cadance and Blueblood had done their best to accommodate the dining habits of the visiting changelings.  Alternia had been vital in this regard.  For one, she had explained that changelings still needed certain proteins and nutrients to supplement their diet of love.  Hence, after further consulting Chrysalis (while making sure not to mention Alternia), Blueblood and Cadance had hired Gustaf le Grand to prepare several meat dishes. Unfortunately, as most leading Equestrian scientists (including one Twilight Sparkle regarding her pink furred friend with cotton candy for hair) had learned through much trial and error, reality doesn’t always cooperate with theory. Alternia groaned inwardly as the servants, changelings and ponies, took away the dishes.  Dinner, had been silent.  Trying to find a snippet of dialogue was trying to find a crumb of cupcake after Pinkie Pie had cleaned the platter.  The only sound had been the click and clack of utensils poking and cutting food.   Cadance and Blueblood seated everybody on a round table and mixed the seatings to promote conversation.  Chrysalis was sitting in between Cadance and Luna.  For good reason, they had decided not to place their aunt next to her actual sister.  Instead Alternia was seated next to Luna and Shining Armor.  Beside Shining Armor was Blueblood, who was flanked by Lamia.  Cadance ended up being sandwiched by Chrysalis and Lamia.  This plan had backfired though.  There was still a massive wall of awkwardness between Cadance and Chrysalis, and the changeling queen seemed hesitant to talk to Luna.  Cadance fared no better and while she tried to make conversation with Lamia, Chrysalis’s dagger-like gaze had severely dissuaded the alicorn from pursuing a meaningful dialogue.  Blueblood had came across to Lamia as far too posh and to Alternia’s exasperation, while her nephew tried his best, he took far too much notice of Lamia’s injuries. The subdued atmosphere persisted, until the desserts were brought in. “Are those honey crystallized fruit bats I see?” said Chrysalis, her eyes wide.   “Indeed, are they to your liking?” asked Alternia politely, without thinking.  Chrysalis glanced at Alternia, who simply smiled.  Briefly, Chrysalis cast several poison detection spells on the bats, her green magic surrounding them.  She had done this to every single one of the dishes, even though each dish had been taste tested by her chevaliers. “Pardon my mother’s paranoia, your Highness, she still has a few trust issues,” said Lamia sheepishly. “No offense taken, Lady Lamia,” said Alternia understandingly, before she ate a slice of her chocolate cake.  If anything, Alternia was glad that the unbearable silence had been broken.  Chrysalis had by now, finished her spells and had taken a delicate bite of one of the bat’s wings. “How do they taste, mother?” asked Lamia curiously. “These are very good,” said Chrysalis, a nostalgic smile on her face.  The sweet, meaty taste of the dessert had taken her back to childhood days, when her sisters had sat down around her mother.  While the sisters shared a platter of the honeyed bats, their mother regaled them of stories of her rule. “Oh, I know,” remarked Alternia, she had sampled them herself after all.  Albeit, secretly. Lamia took one in her magic and had a bite.  She blinked and smiled.  “Wow, I’ve never had these before.  These are delicious, mother.” Alternia’s heart stopped as she began to chew on a second bite of her own dessert.  How had Lamia had not had honey crystallized fruit bats before!  They were the favorite childhood snacks of all changelings of her hive a thousand years ago. “Indeed, Celestia.  How did your chefs ever come by this recipe?  I haven’t had these in a thousand years,” said Chrysalis as she casually devoured her bat.   The slow realization that she had severely blundered with her changeling knowledge turned the sweet chocolate taste of her cake into bitter, unappealing mush.  Buying time, Alternia slowly swallowed and wiped her lips daintily with her napkin. “I remembered the recipe from a private meeting with some changelings about a thousand years ago,” said Alternia, which was quite true.  She had remembered the recipe from her childhood days with her sisters and mother. “Hmm.  Alicorn memory must be extensive if you can remember such details for a thousand years ago.  Do you remember the name of the hive or perhaps the changeling queen you met?” asked Chrysalis.  While Chrysalis did her best to hide her own curiosity, she was aware she did a poor job of doing so.  Above all, Chrysalis wanted to know where did Celestia’s extensive knowledge of old changeling customs came from.  To Chrysalis, finding out about Celestia’s past interactions with changelings would be vital to determining the degree to which the alicorn would be willing to compromise. Alternia carefully considered her next answer.  Her sister would be sure to become suspicious if a lie was told.  What could Alternia say that she could pass off as truth or at least as a series of half-truths?  Abruptly, she came across a brilliant plan worthy of her mother’s approval. “Queen Belladonna of the Stygian Wraiths,” said Alternia.  Again, it was mostly true.  Her younger sister had a bit of a hobby in cooking and experimenting with various herbs and recipes.  Her honeyed bats were Alternia’s favorite and it was Belladonna’s recipe that Alternia had committed to memory. Chrysalis almost dropped the bat she had picked up as Celestia said a name she had not heard for a thousand years.  “Queen Belladonna?  When did you meet her and what did you discuss?” asked Chrysalis.  The changeling cringed as the questions left her mouth.  Especially as her daughter began to turn to her. “Mother?  Who is this Queen Belladonna?” asked Lamia, confused.  Alternia blinked and grimaced momentarily.  It seemed that Chrysalis had decided to make sure her daughter would never know anything of what had happened a thousand years ago by saying nothing of her own family. Meanwhile, Chrysalis forced herself not to flinch at her daughter’s inquisitive look.  The past, her family and her actions a thousand years past… Chrysalis didn’t want to remember any of it.  Every time the changeling had tried to single out the happy events in her childhood, she would inevitably recall the day when she made the biggest mistake in her life.  This heavy guilt that Chrysalis held in her heart meant the queen had never mentioned anything to Lamia or any of the children she had had.  But especially not Lamia.  Chrysalis had had a few children who became queens, but Lamia was special to Chrysalis.  If Lamia were to find out… well that was a thought that the changeling queen could not even bear thinking of. “She is my youngest sister, Lamia.  A very capable fighter and now that I remember, she also really liked cooking,” replied Chrysalis curtly, hoping that would satisfy her daughter. “Youngest sister?  You had more?” asked Lamia. Chrysalis almost moaned in despair.  Yet, the eager and so innocent nature of her daughter’s question and the wonder in her daughter’s wide eyes wore the changeling down.  To make matters worse for Chrysalis, the attention of everybody on the table was now focused on her. Oddly enough, Chrysalis would have normally said nothing and ignored any further questions.  But today, the changeling was tired.  Tired of trying to negotiate with Celestia, who was being so stubborn.  Tired of her burden of leadership.  Tired, of keeping her childhood a secret. For one moment, Chrysalis wanted to reminisce about her family, the good and the bad.  She was tired of being seen as a monster, so she decided to prove it by telling them about her family. “Yes, I suppose you want to know more about my family?” said Chrysalis, a slightly teasing tone in her voice.  Everybody nodded in confirmation, Celestia seemed particularly interested, even though she still held herself back. “I suppose I should start with my father, Facere.  He was a chevalier who had the privilege of consorting with my mother.  He was well into his prime when he began his courtship with my mother and passed on soon after Belladonna was born.  So I never knew him very well.”  Chrysalis paused, her face bearing a thoughtful expression.  “Now, I was the oldest among four sisters.  The youngest of them was Belladonna.  Perhaps you would like an image of her?” asked Chrysalis.  Everypony nodded, especially Lamia who looked as if Hearths Warming Eve had come early. A stocky changeling queen, the same image from Alternia’s flame spell rose in the centre of the dining table.  Except, instead of Alternia’s image of Belladonna in a relaxed combat stance, this version was wielding a gigantic spiked flail, her smile wide with delight.  Alternia blinked as she remembered that smile from when Belladonna used to beat Chrysalis. “Belladonna, was really… hmm… let’s say she preferred to use force instead of deception.  Which made sense because she was quite bad at impersonation, but very good in a fight.  In fact, while I never admitted this to her, she was better than me in battle,” said Chrysalis ruefully. Alternia had to bite the inside of her cheek in order to keep her face straight.  Who could have known? Chrysalis had actually acknowledged Belladonna was stronger than her. Belladonna’s image faded and was replaced by Simulacris’s slender figure and wry grin.  But like the apparition of Belladonna, this one was different from Alternia’s.  Simulacris was reading a scroll of wooden sticks bound together by ropes, the ancient changeling equivalent of scrolls.  Since they lived underground, parchment couldn’t really be made easily as it needed the sun.  So, changelings had carved words onto sticks and bound them together to create scrolls. “My second sister, Simulacris.  I got along with her quite well.  We both really liked to work together on joint infiltration missions.  Begging your pardon your Highnesses, but we even managed to sneak into your castle in the Everfree at one time,” chuckled Chrysalis.  Alternia nodded, making no attempt to hide her amusement.  She remembered that incident. Chrysalis and Simulacris wouldn’t stop bragging to her and Belladonna for a month. It was then that the queen suddenly stopped, her eyes suddenly focused on the table.  The changeling’s shoulders had noticeably sagged down.  Everybody waited with bated breath, mostly the ponies, but Lamia as well.  The anticipation in Alternia’s own heart was overwhelming and she leant forward, prepared to catch every word her sister was about to say. “My younger sister, Alternia,” said Chrysalis quietly.  The flame on the table rose higher and higher, its tendrils carving a familiar shape into the air.  One of a tall, slender changeling queen with a small, mischievous smile.  At first, it would appear that Chrysalis’s image of Alternia was simply standing, a contrast to the earlier depictions.  But as Alternia studied her own reflection closely, the open stance she was in, the understanding light in her eyes… it was as if she was watching herself accept an apology. “I didn’t get along with her quite so well.  I always competed with her for my mother’s favour.  Our relationship as sisters was always defined by our competition against each other.  In fact, I kind of hated her.  She always seemed to do the right thing in mother’s eyes,” said Chrysalis.  Alternia sighed, it was an answer that she had kind of expected from her elder sister.  After all, the changeling in disguise had always seemed to have her mother’s favour and while she hadn’t bragged about it, Alternia had admitted that she did nothing to help Chrysalis with her jealousy. So what Chrysalis said next literally stunned everypony in the room. “But I did love her.” If her jaw weren’t clamped shut and her muscles locked in place, Alternia would have fallen out of her chair.  The sincerity in Chrysalis’s voice and the regret that she could feel rolling off her sister was astounding.  It was not that Chrysalis felt no anger as Alternia could feel loathing and jealousy mixed in with the guilt.  However, the fact that her sister did feel guilty for what she had done was shocking. “Mother, you’ve told me and everybody else enough,” said Lamia softly. Chrysalis shook her head slightly and gave a pained smile to her daughter.  “Well I can hardly end the description of my family without saying anything about my mother.”  Without hesitation, Chrysalis’s horn glowed once again and the imperious form of Chamelia rose onto the table. Unlike the other images, there was no difference between Chrysalis’s and Alternia’s depiction of Chamelia.  She was regal, majestic, with her shining carapace and magnificent translucent wings.  And yet, Chamelia wore a gentle, motherly smile. “Impressive, isn’t she?”  Chrysalis smirked at the ponies before continuing.  “My mother, Chamelia, was unquestionably the best mother a changeling could ever have.  She taught me everything, and her words still teach me today.  You could say she is my role model.”  The magical flames finally vanished and Chrysalis took another honey-covered fruit bat.  “And that is my family.  Any questions?”  Chrysalis glanced at the entranced ponies.  They seemed rather silent.  Still, at least they had been attentive. “Mother, that was awesome!  Thank you!” squealed Lamia as she leant over Cadance to embrace her mother.  The pink alicorn quickly scooted back to allow the pair to do so. Alternia watched mother and daughter hold each other tightly, her mind askew.  For a thousand years, since the night her sister had tried to kill her, she had always been haunted by a wraith of Chrysalis.  A spectre of a resentful, evil, Chrysalis who hated her younger sibling and pursued Alternia in her fitful dreams. That vision had been severely tested in recent events and now promptly shattered by what her eyes were seeing and what her ears had heard.  Her sister, a motherly changeling, devoted to her daughter and guilty about what had happened ages past?  What… just where was that vindictive, greedy Chrysalis Alternia had fought on that fateful evening? A smile graced Alternia’s features, but inside, the changeling was thrown into turmoil that she had not experienced in years. Evening... “We have to do what?” roared Chrysalis and Alternia at the same time. Luna and Cadance glared right back at the two sisters, their expressions barely even ruffled by the incensed rulers.  Shining Armor was unsuccessfully trying to insert himself in between his wife and the angry changeling queens (one still in disguise) glaring at her.  Off the side, Lamia and Blueblood stood awkwardly watching the confrontation. “You heard us the first time, sister. You have to sleep together in the same room,” said Luna, bluntly. “What about my daughter?” demanded Chrysalis.  She hid her worry with anger, but everybody noticed the concern in Chrysalis’s question. “She will sleep in Princess Luna’s chambers.  Please understand your Highnesses, this is a trust exercise,” said Cadance. “A trust exercise?” Alternia swallowed the urge to growl at her niece as she spat the question out. “It’s an old custom, do you not remember, sister?  We made untrusting diplomats sleep in the same room. That way, both parties are forced to trust each other, lest they gain no sleep at all,” explained Luna.  Alternia was about to snarl at Luna’s cheeky grin, but Chrysalis beat her to it.  Instead, Alternia had to be content with an exasperated sigh. “Fine, I will see you tomorrow.  Goodnight sister,” said Alternia, embracing Luna. “You sure this is a good idea?” whispered Alternia, her head beside her adopted sister’s ear. Luna comfortingly squeezed the changeling in disguise.  “Trust me, sister.  If you are going to realize this dream of peace between our kinds, you have to learn how to trust her.”  Alternia nodded and nuzzled Luna before parting and turning to Chrysalis. Chrysalis seemed to be holding on to her daughter like the world was about to end.  She was also whispering rapid instructions into Lamia’s ear.  Amusingly, Alternia overheard the phrases “be careful”, “scream for help” and “I heard alicorns don’t like being tickled”. “Well, Chrysalis, shall we retire?” inquired Alternia.  Reluctantly, the changeling slowly let go of her daughter and gave Alternia a withering glare.  With a sigh, Alternia trotted forward and led Chrysalis to their sleeping chambers. It was going to be a long night.