//------------------------------// // Chapter One: On the Road to Peace // Story: The Ginger Changeling King // by TTV_KingPhoenixEmbers //------------------------------// Chapter One On the Road to Peace News of the changeling had spread through the royal guard ranks like wildfire, especially since this one had been hiding among their ranks. To think that one of them had survived the Anti-Changeling blast that Prince Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza had cast was both frightening and upsetting. If one had been able to stay behind unharmed, then logic dictated that there must be other changelings that had done the same. Princess Celestia knew quite well that if such news was released to the public, there would be an enormous amount of panic. So, in agreement with her sister, she and her Royal Guards had decided to keep this information classified while they interrogated the changeling. Rather frustratingly, the infiltrator had been discovered shortly after she had received a letter from a changeling king that requested permission to meet for peace talks. Having always been one to prefer peace and harmony over war and chaos, she had agreed immediately. It was rather unfortunate that this changeling had been found among her sister’s Night Guard the night before. The king had sent word that he was to arrive in Canterlot later today. It would not do to have him find out that they were keeping another changeling prisoner; it would not be a very good start to a meeting that was meant to begin an era of peace between them. At the moment, Celestia simply hoped that she could make it through day court without losing her temper to many nobles and their pointless complaints. They were making her day much harder than it needed to be, and it only made her wish that the changeling hadn’t been found, just so she wouldn’t feel so stressed about keeping her guest from finding out. “Auntie?” Cadence called softly to Celestia, interrupting her thoughts and returning her to the real world. “Are you alright?” Celestia shook her head free of her worries, smiling serenely to her niece. “I am fine, merely lost in thought. Send in the next petitioner.” “At once, your highness.” Bowing momentarily, a guard near the front of the room stepped out into the hall, calling for the next pony in line. The stallion that stepped through the portal was tall, abnormally so. If she were to stand next to him, he would easily reach her shoulder in height. There were very few ponies that were lucky enough to be born with the genes to grow so much. He stopped several hooflengths from the base of her throne, bowing politely. His long and flowing red mane overshadowed his navy blue eyes as he did so. “Good afternoon, Princess,” he greeted. Celestia noted that his tone was completely neutral, unlike many other petitioners. “I am Phoenix Embers.” “Good afternoon, Phoenix. You may rise.” Phoenix straightened from his kneeling position. Celestia noticed that he moved with a grace that belied his body size, when many stallions of that height would have been stumbling about awkwardly as they tripped over their own hooves. As he looked her in the eye, she also noticed a level of determination that was rare among the many ponies that made their requests here. “Please state your petition to the court.” “I request the immediate release of the changeling Mirror Vanity from your dungeons.” Celestia felt a shiver travel from her neck to the dock of her tail. “I am afraid there is no such --” “Do not lie to me, Princess. I know for a fact that you are holding Mirror Vanity prisoner.” Celestia felt her brow crease, even as she fought to keep her expression neutral. Glancing around her, she noticed that the many guards of the room had also tensed, as had Shining Armor and Cadence. Celestia looked to the guards near the door, and motioned for them to close it. Once the large marble doors had been shut, she took a moment to cast a soundproofing spell upon the room to prevent any eavesdroppers from listening in. Standing and slowly stepping down from her throne, Celestia remained silent until she was directly in front of the stallion. Several guards, Shining Armor among them, followed her closely, their bodies tense and ready to detain Phoenix Embers if it became necessary. And throughout it all, the only thing that Phoenix Embers had done was sit on his haunches and begin to examine his hoof as he waited patiently for Celestia to speak again. “How do you know that I have a changeling in my dungeons?” She demanded of him. As she spoke, Phoenix finally put down his hoof to look her in the eye again. “That information is classified.” Phoenix’s eyebrow rose. “It is? Well if I had known that, I might have been more tactful... on second thought, no I wouldn’t.” Celestia’s frown deepened, and she took one step closer. “Answer my question.” “Very well.” Phoenix rolled his eyes, standing calmly, completely ignoring the way several guards lowered their spears at him in warning. “I was told that Mirror had been captured, and I came to have her released.” “Told?” Shining interjected, frowning as deeply as Princess Celestia was. “But we’ve been monitoring the mail carefully just to make sure that no news of this got out! So the only way you could’ve been told is if --” “That’s right,” Phoenix interrupted, calmly confirming the suspicions of the ponies in the room. “Mirror herself was the one to tell me, and she told me through the hive mind.” As he spoke, blue flames began to sweep upwards from his hooves, quickly turning his cream fur into black chitin that shined in the candle light. In mere moments, the cream-colored unicorn had turned into a rather tall changeling, one that stood at the same height as Celestia herself -- and wore a small, modest crown atop his head. Two gray insectoid wings buzzed slightly, as he took a moment to run a hoof through his surprisingly long red mane. He hummed to himself as he inspected his mane. “It’s been quite sometime since I’ve used that disguise, but I think I transitioned back pretty well.” He didn’t even glance at the way every single guard in the room was now pointing their spears directly at him, nor did he flinch at how close they were. Once he seemed satisfied that he had changed into his natural form without missing anything, he straightened his stance and stood tall. Celestia realized belatedly that he was a full head taller than she, forcing her to look into those navy blue eyes of his. “I am King Phoenix, and I hail from the hive Soothing Embers.” Phoenix’s voice filled the hall, despite the fact that he spoke no louder than he had been speaking earlier. Celestia felt another shiver travel down her spine. This was the very same king that had requested the peace meeting, and he was here far earlier than she had anticipated. “And I demand the immediate release of Mirror Vanity.”