//------------------------------// // Lesson Three: Mind your Manners // Story: Intermediate Lessons // by dungeonguy88 //------------------------------// “See? This is what I was worried would happen.” “I fail to see the issue. Things seem to be going better than I imagined they would.” Chrysalis told Twilight, as she gestured to the pile of struggling ponies and changelings. “It is going better than my expedition to the Mild West. Nopony's been carried off by a giant condor, so that's a start.” Blueblood commented wryly. The changeling that had originally been...glomped by Pinkie Pie, was still struggling to escape the overly friendly pony's hooves, with the assistance of it's fellow changeling lookout. And, evidently, Rainbow Dash had decided that they were being entirely too rough with her pink friend, and quickly got involved. Leading to the tangle of shouting ponies and changelings, Twilight found herself watching in exasperation. “Admittedly, that is a low bar to set, and the day is not over yet.” Blueblood added a moment later, before turning back to his fellow royalty. Twilight sighed once more, before looking over to the Changeling Queen “Chrysalis, can we please take this seriously now?” Chrysalis rolled her eyes, before responding “Fine. I suppose you wouldn't want Celestia to find out that your first diplomatic mission, as a princess, involved a pile of bodies.” “That would be nice.” Twilight agreed “So can you...?” “...Can I what?” Chrysalis asked, unsure where Twilight was going with her question. “I...don't know. Haven't you given this any thought at all?” Twilight asked, with increasing concern for their chances of success. “Wasn't that what you were supposed to be doing this whole time?” Chrysalis countered, leaving Twilight resisting the urge to facehoof. Facehoofing was probably on the list of things one should try to limit on a diplomatic mission. “...I really should have made a list.” Twilight lamented. “Perhaps we should start with something simple. Introductions.” Blueblood offered easily. He paused a moment later as a thought occurred “Though...I suppose a pile of bodies would be a great way to kickoff introductions in the Griffon Kingdoms or with the Dragon clans.” Chrysalis considered the idea for a moment, before glancing towards Twilight, evidently waiting on her decision on the matter. “I suppose that's as good a starting point as any.” Twilight agreed, before glancing towards the pile of changelings and ponies “As soon as we can sort-” “Atten-tion!” Chrysalis suddenly barked. Both changelings immediately looked up, at the Changeling Queen's call. A moment later, both changelings' bodies flashed with green fire, and just like that both slipped free of the tangle of limbs they had been involved in just seconds ago. Quickly taking to the air, the two changelings zipped through the air before stopping in front of their queen with identical salutes. “At the ready!” “Yes, your Grace.” Twilight blinked as the two changelings simultaneously responded, before glancing back over to her two friends. Whatever the changelings had done to free themselves didn't seem to cause her friends any harm. She suspected it was some sort of application of their innate shapeshifting abilities, though she would need to ask to be sure. Whatever it was, neither Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie seemed to even notice that it was just the two of them rolling on the ground now. “Uh, girls?” Twilight asked, hesitantly. “Hold on, Twi! I- Where'd they go?!” Rainbow Dash called out, finally taking note of the situation, as she stood up. A moment later, she faceplanted, as Pinkie Pie took advantage of her momentary distraction to sweep the pegasus' hooves out from under her. “Gyah! Pinkie! It's me!” Rainbow Dash shouted. “Say Uncle!” Pinkie Pie shouted back. “What?! I'm not-” Dash quickly refused. “Say Uncle!” Pinkie demanded again. “Would you just-!” Rainbow Dash tried to reason, as she continued to try to break free of her friend. “R'ay Un'le!” The pegasus paused as she struggled to understand Pinkie's latest call for her to surrender. Glancing backwards... “...Are you biting my flank!!” “R'ay it!” Pinkie Pie shouted around the cyan flank in her mouth. “Uncle!” Rainbow Dash finally gave in. A moment later, the pink pony let go of her pegasus friend with a triumphant grin. Rainbow Dash quickly rolled back onto her hooves, before glancing back at the bite marks on her flank. “Pinkie! What was that all about!?” Rainbow Dash demanded. “Well, you said Uncle, so I let you go.” Pinkie Pie answered cheerfully. “Not that! Why did you decide to go and bite my rump?! Did you even know it was me?” Rainbow Dash clarified. “Oh, that! I just wondered what your Cutie Mark tasted like.” Pinkie Pie answered. “...What?” Rainbow Dash asked again, flabbergasted. “Well, you remember that time we all went up to Cloudsdale, and you showed us the Rainbow Factory, and I got to taste the rainbow? It got me thinking, cause I always thought my Cutie Mark kinda tasted like balloons. And since I finally knew what rainbows tasted like, I was wondering if your Cutie Mark tasted like one. So, I decided to go all Nom-nom while I was back there!” Pinkie Pie explained, in her rambling way. “Wha- I-...why didn't you just ask, or something?!” Rainbow Dash still seemed to be having trouble following her friend's train of thoughts. “Sooo...what does your Cutie Mark taste like, Dashie?” Pinkie Pie innocently asked. “What? I don't know!” Dash answered. “Girls!” As Twilight finally got their attention, Rainbow Dash realized that this whole little discussion she was having about Pinkie biting her flank had an audience. The two changelings were watching with undisguised curiosity, with Chrysalis managing to look smug and amused all at once. Prince Blueblood on the other hoof, seemed to be rather indifferent, though he did raise a rather condescending eyebrow at the display. Blushing under the scrutiny of the ponies and and changelings, Rainbow Dash quickly rubbed the back of her head anxiously, as she tried to play it off as not-a-big-deal “So, uh...how about we all pretend that didn't just happen?” Before Twilight could give any assurances to her friend, Chrysalis cut in “Oh, I don't see that happening, anytime soon.” As Rainbow Dash ducked her head in embarrassment, Twilight sent a glare towards the Changeling Queen that she didn't seem to notice, before turning back to everypony “Let's just try to move on.” Chrysalis shrugged, before gesturing with a hoof towards Twilight “By all means...” Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her head a bit, still a bit embarrassed, before cantering over towards the rest of the group. She did make a point of keeping an eye on her bouncing pink friend. The pegasus could do without anymore surprise taste tests. “Ok, then...uhm...” Twilight turned towards the two hovering changelings, as she tried to figure out how to take her first steps into this whole thing. Meanwhile the two changelings glanced towards one another uncertainly, as they waited under the young princess' scrutiny. Hesitating for a few moments, Twilight glanced towards Blueblood, hoping for some sort of cue from the stallion. He simply shrugged, before gesturing his own hoof towards the two bemused changelings; better to just dive right in. Twilight, realizing that she couldn't stall anymore, approached the two with as friendly and non-threatening a smile as she could manage. Raising a hoof to her chest, she took a quick breath before beginning “Greetings. I'm Princess Twilight Sparkle, and I'd just like to say that I'm very excited to be meeting you and I look forward to finding out more about the changelings. I hope that we can all get along and become good friends.” 'There. That wasn't so hard, was it? Clear, concise, and open. Formal, yet friendly. At least, an A- going by most formalized criteria, and...they're just staring at me.' The two changelings were, indeed, just quietly staring at the young princess, as if they didn't understand what was going on. Had she done something wrong? Her smile and posture became a bit more forced as everypony stood or hovered there in relative silence. A moment later, the two changelings glanced towards one another, before they both sent identical questioning looks towards their Queen. Chrysalis sighed, before gesturing towards Twilight “It's fine. She's just being a pony.” The two changelings turned towards Twilight, before glancing back to Chrysalis, asking another silent question of their Queen. At a nod from Chrysalis, they both seemed to give something like a shrug, before setting down in front of Twilight. As one, the two changelings plastered on large smiles, before mirroring Twilight's earlier gestures. Raising their hooves to their chests, they both took a breath, before delivering their own simultaneous introductions. “Greetings. I'm Alate.” Said the one on the right. “Greetings. I'm Cryptic.” The one on the left said at the same time. “And we'd just like to say that we're very excited to be meeting you and we look forward to finding out more about the ponies. We hope that we can all get along and become good friends.” The two finished in perfect sync with one another, as they delivered a slightly reworked version of Twilight's own introduction. “...Well, that wasn't weird.” Rainbow Dash commented in the silence that followed. “Uh...” The whole thing gave Twilight some pause, as she considered the two changelings; they seemed to have imitated everything about Twilight's introduction down to her posture and the cadence of her words. It was kind of weird. “Right, so you're Alate and you're Cryptic, it's...very nice to meet you both.” Twilight continued. Alate and Cryptic both glanced towards one another, before turning back to Twilight “Right, so you're Princess Twilight Spar-” “You two can stop that now.” Chrysalis stopped the two from continuing their mirror-mirror act, which netted two quick salutes from the changelings. Twilight needed a moment to process this, which seemed to be the cue for Blueblood to step up “Very good then. It seems things are proceeding smoothly, now. You may call me Prince Blueblood. This here is the Lady Rainbow Dash-” The stallion gestured towards the hovering pegasus, who waved a hoof and called over “S'up.” “...-and here we have the Lady Pin-” Blueblood tried to round out the last of the introductions, before noting that the pink pony had decided again to take care of her own introduction. “Hello!” Pinkie Pie shouted, suddenly in front of the two changelings once more. The one on the right, Twilight was pretty sure it was Alate, quickly took to the air and began hovering conspicuously out of reach of the pink pony. Cryptic, or the changeling Twilight thought was Cryptic, while startled managed to stay groundside, and now had her eyes on the vibrant Earth pony in front of her. 'Huh...how exactly am I supposed to tell them apart, without asking?' Twilight thought to herself, worrying about how it might come across if it seemed like she thought all changelings looked alike. “Awww, you don't have to be scared! I'm really friendly!” Pinkie Pie continued, while Twilight mulled over this latest problem. “Seriously, you can ask anypony! And they'll tell you 'That Pinkie Pie is the #1 Super-Friendly Pony! Just ask anyone!' and then you could totally ask somepony else, and they'd say the same thing! You could even ask me! Cause that Pinkie Pie is friends with everypony...Oh, and I'm Pinkie Pie. Just in case you didn't know.” “That's quite enough of that.” Chrysalis suddenly interrupted, to the relief of her two subjects. “I think it's about time that you show our guests to the entrance.” The two changelings saluted their queen, before glancing towards one another, then Pinkie Pie. Cryptic nodded towards the pink pony “We...have work to do.” Soon the two were back in the air and at the front of the group, leading the party through the rocky terrain of the Badlands. A moment later, Pinkie Pie leaned over towards Rainbow Dash, before whispering conspiratorially “I think Cryptic is starting to like me.” “Pinkie...how in Equestria can you even tell which one you're even talking to? They look exactly alike!” Rainbow Dash said, a bit too loudly for anypony or changeling not to hear. Twilight sighed with disappointment, and a distinct lack of surprise, at Rainbow Dash's lack of tact. Noticing Twilight, Rainbow Dash simply asked “What?” "It's nothing, Dash." Twilight answered, before cantering up beside Chrysalis, as their party began following the two lookouts “Sorry about that.” Raising a brow at the apology, Chrysalis glanced towards the princess at her side “For what?” “Rainbow Dash didn't really mean anything by what she said.” Twilight tried to explain “Sometimes she doesn't always think about what she's saying, before saying it.” “I have no idea what you are talking about.” Chrysalis responded in a neutral tone. Twilight hesitated for a moment, unsure whether Chrysalis was messing with her or if the Changeling Queen really didn't understand what Twilight was talking about “Uhmm...when Dash said that your Cryptic and Alate looked exactly alike? Wasn't that, I don't know...rude?” “Why would it be? They do look exactly alike.” Chrysalis replied. “I-...Really?” Twilight wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. Couldn't changelings tell one another part, like ponies could tell one another apart? “It is to be expected, considering that they're twins.” Chrysalis continued matter-of-factly. “Twins?...Of course! Twins. That's why they look so alike. Hehe.” Twilight awkwardly agreed, suddenly aware of just how close she had come to embarrassing herself “Right. It's certainly not as if all changelings look alike. It's just that they're...twins.” “...Correct.” Chrysalis agreed after a couple of moments of silent squirming on Twilight's part. “Was there anything else?” “Well, uhm...”Twilight considered the question for a moment, before glancing back towards the other two changelings, where it seemed Pinkie Pie was trying to maintain a conversation in-between her trademark bounces. “Did I do something wrong, when I was introducing myself?” Chrysalis considered the question for a moment “Not particularly.” “Really? Cause they seemed a bit...thrown when I spoke to them.” Twilight argued. “They simply don't have much experience dealing with ponies. That's more the field of our more experienced changelings and our...Agents, I suppose is the most precise term. And they thought you were trying to assert your dominance, when you spoke to them directly.” Chrysalis explained, as if it was all quite obvious. “Why would they think that? And I kinda figured changelings would be used to dealing with ponies?” “A fair number of my changelings will never even leave the vicinity of the hive, barring any sort of major incidents. Is it any surprise that they don't run into many ponies out here?” At this, Chrysalis gestured pointedly to the wasteland surrounding them. “I suppose not...though Alate...or maybe is was Cryptic, seemed pretty freaked out by Pinkie Pie. It's almost like they don't even know what ponies are like.” Twilight commented. Chrysalis seemed to take some time to think about this point, before finally answering “We have spent a long time hiding from the world. When one spends all their time hiding from something, it's not so odd to be fearful when exposed to it.” That gave Twilight some pause; the idea that the changelings could be afraid of ponies was a rather odd one for her. Especially considering that it wasn't ponies that had abducted royalty and perpetrated a failed invasion. Though, there was something to be said for the power of fear of the unknown. There were plenty of occasions in history where ponies themselves had...negative reactions to the strange or new. In that light, her first meeting with Zecora had been rather embarrassing. Shaking her head of these thoughts for the moment, Twilight looked back towards Chrysalis “And what about the part where Alate and Cryptic thought I was trying to be dominant?” Chrysalis sighed, before rolling her eyes, at yet another question being posed to her. Twilight frowned at Chrysalis reaction, adding her own piece “We could have covered all of this earlier, but you wanted to spend all of our time sulking or telling stories. It's not really fair for you to blame me.” Chrysalis in turn frowned at Twilight's observations, before answering “...it's generally considered poor form for a Changeling Queen to directly address another Queen's subjects. It implies that she is in command, rather than their rightful ruler. And as far as most changelings are concerned, a Pony Princess is the equivalent of a Changeling Queen. So, do you now see why they might be confused when you started addressing them?” “I think so...but how am I supposed to talk to them then?” Twilight asked. “Generally, a Queen would speak to the ruling Queen or through her own subjects.” Chrysalis supplied. “I don't really have any subjects though, and it seems like it would get awkward trying to speak through you all the time.” “Then don't. It'll be simpler that way anyway.” Chrysalis replied. “But won't they find it confusing, like you said?” Twilight asked. “It'll be less confusing for them, for me to simply explain to them that you are an ignorant pony, rather than explain that you are an ignorant pony trying to act like Changeling royalty.” Twilight again found herself frowning at the answer offered by Chrysalis; though, it was technically correct in saying that it would be simpler that way. Twilight just didn't particularly like the idea of being cast as 'an ignorant pony'. Though, again, it was technically correct, in this particular instance. She really didn't know much of anything about the ways of Changelings as things stood now. A couple of minutes passed before something occurred to Twilight. Turning to Chrysalis once more, she gave voice to her thoughts “You said it's improper for a Changeling Queen to address another's subjects directly. Does that mean that there are other Changeling Queens out there?” A silence hung over the two for several moments after Twilight posed her question, while Chrysalis' face remained carefully impassive. Twilight again found herself wondering if perhaps she had asked the wrong question. Eventually, Chrysalis gave a quick clipped answer “Yes.” Twilight took that as a sign that she should drop that particular line of questioning. A little while later... Knock, knock...Knock, knock...Knock, knock, knock, knock... “Hm...” “Uh, Twi...what are ya doing?” Rainbow Dash asked from a little ways down the, surprisingly, well-lit tunnel. After the party had passed beyond the rather well-hidden entrance to the hive, they started seeing odd little bulbs hanging from the ceiling; the sources of the gentle glow that filled the tunnels. Twilight barely glanced towards her hovering friend, before holding up a hoof gesturing for the pegasus to be quiet “One sec...” Twilight leaned towards the tunnel wall, before pressing her ear to the wall and again using her hoof to knock against the wall. A few seconds later, Twilight pulled back to look at the wall with open fascination “This is amazing...What are these walls even made of?” Rainbow Dash glanced around skeptically at their surroundings, before looking back towards the purple princess “Just hazarding a guess here, but I'm thinking the walls are made of the same thing as everything else around here...they're made of rock.” “But it's no~ot.” Pinkie sing-songed from directly below the cyan pegasus. Blinking, as she noticed Pinkie smiling up at her, Rainbow Dash pointedly glanced at their surroundings once more, before looking towards her pink friend doubtfully “...Really?” “Yep.” Pinkie Pie answered with a confident grin. “If it's not rock, what exactly is it supposed to be?” Dash asked, as she crossed her forelegs. “Dunno, but it's definitely not made of rock.” Pinkie Pie reconfirmed. “How can you possibly-” “Rock farm.” Pinkie answered, before Rainbow Dash could even finish her question. Dash had to pause at that response, before rubbing the back of her head “...I guess, you would know about that then.” “Yep, and I don't know what this is. So it almost definitely isn't rock.” Pinkie Pie finished with another smile. “Pinkie's right...it's certainly as strong as rock, but I don't see any sign of cuts in the stone, and the consistency seems wrong...Hm, some form of special concrete, perhaps?” Twilight added, as she continued to examine the walls. A moment later, she stepped back from the wall before clearing her throat and taking a deep breath. “Hello!” Twilight called out, not quite shouting. Rainbow Dash watched, in growing confusion, as Twilight tilted her head from side-to-side, with her ears swiveling in all directions. Dash was starting to wonder if she was supposed to say 'hello' back or something. “...did you hear that?” Twilight suddenly asked, before Rainbow Dash could take any action. “Uhm, was I supposed to?” The pegasus asked uncertainly. “Yes! You see? There was barely an echo there. It's like the walls have some sort of...sound dampening quality! I mean, under different circumstances, we could just chalk it up to a fine understanding of acoustics in construction. But there are no sound baffles or noise barriers to break up the sound, at least none that I can see. It's gotta be something about the materials.” Twilight excitedly explained “I bet you could barely even hear us talking if you took just a short canter down the tunnel. Oh! Rainbow Dash, can you and Pinkie-” “If you're so curious, why don't you just ask those two?” Rainbow Dash asked, with just a touch of irritation, as she pointed a hoof towards the two changelings, Cryptic and Alate. “Oh, right. Of course...” Twilight quickly cantered over towards the two hovering changelings, who had thus far been content to watch the purple pony play with the walls. Their Queen had asked the two of them to watch the ponies for a few minutes while she made sure that her subjects remembered that they were having...guests, with Blueblood insisting that he go along. It wouldn't do to have the whole hive go into lock down, all because some changeling didn't get the memo. They both settled to the floor of the tunnel as Twilight approached; the two changelings were both still a bit leery of their guests, but they were both fairly sure that the ponies weren't going to suddenly unhinge their jaws and swallow them whole. It had helped that Twilight had convinced her pink friend to give the changelings a bit of space. “So, uhm...Alate, Cryptic. I was hoping you wouldn't mind answering some questions about your home?” Twilight calmly requested of the two changelings. It had been Chrysalis' suggestion that if she couldn't tell the twins apart, to just address the two of them at the same time; everyone else did, and they were almost always together anyway. The two of them glanced towards one another briefly, as they always seemed to do, before again responding in tandem. “We are ready to assist.” “As long as Queen Chrysalis does not take exception.” “Th-thanks.” That, the way the duo always seemed to speak at the same time, was also taking some getting used to. Chrysalis had assured that other changelings didn't do that, but thus far Twilight hadn't really had the opportunity to verify that for herself; not a lot of changelings around at the moment. Or any, apart from Alate and Cryptic, so far. The tunnels had, thus far, been conspicuously absent of any other changelings. “So, I was wondering if you could tell us about these walls of yours?” Twilight asked of the two changelings. “...We have a lot of them.” “...We have floors and ceilings, too.” “...I kinda was hoping you could tell me something more specific. You see, I was wondering what you used in their construction.” Twilight clarified for the two changelings, who both nodded as they came to understand what their guest was asking of them. “Dirt.” “Saliva.” “Oh...I see.” Twilight took a moment to process that, before glancing down at her hooves and then all around. Glancing back towards Alate and Cryptic “So all of this was made by combining dirt and-” “Saliva? As in spit? Are you seriously tell me you guys spit into the dirt, and just make some sort of crazy changeling spit-sand castle?” Rainbow Dash cut-in at that point, with a vaguely grossed out look towards the walls. “I'm sure there's more to it than that, Rainbow.” Twilight said to her friend. “Not really.” “That's about it.” The two changelings chimed in helpfully, getting Twilight's attention. Hesitating at their blunt agreement with Rainbow Dash's summation “Well- I mean, I'm sure that you put a great deal of work into this construction. You must have all kinds of recipes and secrets put into the building of your home.” “It's just moving dirt around to us.” “It's not really our field.” “Hah! I guess even other changelings aren't as into spit-walls as you, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash called down to Twilight, eliciting a small frown from the purple princess. Though Rainbow Dash did have something of an indirect point. You wouldn't ask a guard pony or an accountant about brick-laying, and expect a thorough answer. Twilight rubbed the back of her head, as she considered that, as she turned back to Alate and Cryptic “Right. So, I suppose you two aren't really experts on the subject?” The two changelings shook their heads in unison. “Do you perhaps know who might know more? I'd really like to know more about what goes into this construction. And, perhaps somepony could tell me why changelings use sound dampening in their tunnel walls?” “Because a couple of thousand changelings going about their business makes a terrible amount of racket, unless measures are taken.” Neither Alate or Cryptic had the opportunity to answer Twilight, as Chrysalis chose this moment to return, with Blueblood at her side. “Whaa?!” Everyone glanced over towards Pinkie Pie, now by one of the tunnel walls, as the pink pony reacted to Chrysalis' words. She began by pulling her tongue back in her mouth “There's a couple of thousand changelings here!?” “...was she just licking the wall?” Chrysalis asked. “Yep! But that's not important! Do you really have that many changelings here?” Pinkie Pie asked, after sidling up to Chrysalis. “...Yes, though quite a few of my changelings are out right now, there's still around that many here.” Chrysalis looked over towards Twilight “Why was the pink one licking the wall?” Twilight simply shook her head and made a gesture, that made it clear that she was just as lost as to what Pinkie Pie's reasons for her actions as the next pony. Twilight ultimately decided to focus on the more important bit of information “You really have over two thousand changelings here?” “That's what she said, Twilight! Weren't you listening? I mean, it took most of the day just to meet Alate and Cryptic! How am I ever going to meet them all?!” Pinkie Pie asked of everypony gathered. Abruptly sitting down, Pinkie unslung her saddlebags and began rooting through them “I don't have nearly enough treats for everypony to get one!” “Pinkie! It's alright. No one expects for you to make friends with every changeling here, in one visit. You'll get more opportunities to make friends, I'm sure.” Twilight tried to calm down her pink friend, as Pinkie Pie continued to go through her supplies “I mean, it must have taken you years to get to know everypony in Ponyville.” Pinkie abruptly paused as Twilight pointed that out, staring ahead blankly, as the party-pony was evidently struck by a thought. Twilight not quite sure what was happening, extended a hoof out to her friend “Uhm, Pinkie?” Pinkie Pie suddenly leaped into the air with a mighty gasp, before bolting as soon as her hooves touched back down onto the tunnel floor. All that was left behind was a, surprisingly pony-shaped, cloud where Pinkie Pie had been standing. Chrysalis stared at the strange sight, before cantering over. A moment later the changeling queen attempted to prod the cloud, causing her hoof to pass through it, and causing the cloud to dissipate. “I say, it's as if she disappeared into a puff of smoke.” Blueblood observed. “What just happened?” Chrysalis asked, as she realized that the pink pony had, indeed, vanished. At their Queen's inquiry, Alate and Cryptic both tilted their heads in consideration, before turning towards their queen. “An allergic reaction to wall-licking?” “She exploded.” Rainbow Dash considered this all for a moment, before smacking her head as she realized what had happened “Uh-duh! Pinkie Pie's just doing what she always does when she needs a way to make a bunch of friends.” “And just what would that be?” Chrysalis asked, with a bit of irritation. “Well, obviously, she's gonna thr-” Rainbow Dash began, before suddenly being yanked down to the ground by Twilight's telekinesis. “Gya! What gives Twi?!” The pegasus asked of the purple alicorn, before suddenly looking down at her hooves “Great...I'm touching the spit-floors now.” “Dash! Do you really think it's a good idea to go telling her, that Pinkie's about to turn her home upside down, for the sake of a party?” Twilight asked her friend in a hushed whisper. “Why not? The big-bug is gonna find out soon anyway.” Rainbow Dash pointed out, in what was decidedly not a whisper. Before Twilight could argue any further, Chrysalis was looming over the two ponies “What. Is the pink one. Up to?” Looking up at the increasingly irate changeling in front of her, Twilight cleared her throat before answering “Uhm, it's really not a big deal. It's actually something Pinkie Pie does for everypony she meets. And, uh...promise you won't get angry?” “I do not.” Chrysalis immediately denied. A little while later... “Okay, Chrysalis, I really think you're overreacting.” Twilight argued, as she struggled to keep up with the Changeling Queen's longer steps. “And, I really think you set very low standards for overreactions.” Chrysalis countered, before suddenly drawing to a stop, allowing the ponies to catch-up with the brisk pace she had set down the tunnels. Chrysalis made a quick gesture, apparently signaling for two changelings to drop down from their concealed positions along the ceiling. Startled by the sudden appearance of the two changelings, as well as their more intimidating physical appearances, Twilight briefly lost her train of thought. Both of these changelings seemed to be taller and more heavily built, with thicker carapaces and spikier protrusions along their bodies. It was most decidedly a departure from what Twilight had come to recognize as the norm for changelings. “You two are to locate the pink pony that was with our group and capture her. Pick a cell for her to spend the rest of her 'visit' in.” Chrysalis quickly ordered to the two new arrivals, breaking Twilight from her examination of the two guard-changelings. Noticing that the two were about to set off to follow these orders, Twilight quickly galloped ahead of them blocking their way “Now just hold it!” A moment passed as the two guards got over their brief surprise, before they both shot glares at the purple princess, their disciplined stances quickly giving away to open hostility. Blinking at the sudden change in the two guards, Twilight quickly added “Not that I'm trying to usurp your Queen's authority, but I really think we need to discuss this a bit further. And I was hoping you could just wait a moment?” That didn't seem to settle the anger of either of the guard-changelings, as they both took a step forward, only to be met with a blue blur zipping in front of them that quickly resolved into the shape of a pegasus mare. Rainbow Dash sent her own glare at the two, before speaking “Yeah, you just try that buddy!” “Enough!” Blueblood shouted, as he stepped between the two guard-changelings and the mares of his party. Suddenly pointing a hoof back towards Chrysalis, he addressed the guards “Your Queen, has formally recognized our party as her invited guests into her home. An action that by all civilized standards guarantees our safety during our stay. Now unless you are ready to break your Queen's word, and besmirch the integrity of your folk, over an accidental slight, I suggest you simmer down.” Facing Chrysalis fully now, the stallion addressed the Changeling Queen “I'm sure Queen Chrysalis would not wish for any of that to happen, considering what is at stake.” Finally turning her own attention back towards Chrysalis, Twilight noticed the changeling queen rubbing her brow in irritation and muttering to herself “...should have thrown her from the train...” Stepping around Blueblood and Rainbow Dash, Twilight approached Chrysalis once more “Look, I'm really sorry that Pinkie Pie is overstepping her bounds here; it's admittedly a bit of a recurring problem with her. But she really doesn't mean any harm, she just gets...carried away.” “Yeah, they wanted her to get carried away right into a dungeon!” Rainbow Dash called over. Sending a look over towards her friend, asking for the pegasus to let her handle this, Twilight turned back towards Chrysalis “I really don't think you need to go as far as imprisoning anypony. Let's just find Pinkie, and I can explain that you're really not in the mood for any sort of parties.” Chrysalis took a deep breath, before lowering her hoof and speaking towards her two guards in a very controlled voice “You two are going to find the pink pony. When you find her, one of you will keep an eye on her and the other will come inform me. Is that understood?” A moment later, both guards saluted Chrysalis before making their way down the tunnels. Letting out a sigh, as the situation was defused, Twilight turned back towards the changeling queen “Thank you, Chrysalis. And I promise we'll keep a much closer eye on Pinkie, from here on.” “I'd recommend a leash.” Chrysalis responded before cantering past Twilight “Come, we're barely even into the main complex.” As Chrysalis and Twilight cantered past, Rainbow Dash looked over towards Blueblood, who was back to adjusting his mane back to perfection with a comb “Huh...didn't think I'd ever say this to you of all ponies, but that was actually kind of cool.” “I have no idea why it should come as a surprise. It's all in the line-of-duty for Pony Royalty. Now come along, we shouldn't dawdle.” Blueblood said, before cantering past Rainbow Dash. “And just like that, he's back to being a snooty doofus.” Rainbow Dash observed, before turning around to follow the group. Only to find herself bumping into another changeling “Gyah!” Startled, Rainbow Dash took back to the air, before she realized just who it was she just bumped into. It was one of the two changelings scouts, either Alate or Cryptic “And just where were you when that was going down?” “Waiting in ambush, in case you started a fight.” The changeling casually replied. “Me start a fight?! Those two guys were the ones getting all up in Twilight's business!” Rainbow Dash argued. “Yeah...those two are kind of jerks. They wouldn't really be good guards otherwise...Even if they are a bit full of themselves.” The changeling agreed. “Tch. Yeah, they're doing a pretty good job then, if their jobs is to jam their heads as far up their own-...wait, do you guys even have butts?” Rainbow Dash trailed off, as her own thoughts took a strange turn. Glancing back at the changeling “So, uh...which one are you?” “Alate. Cryptic is still up there.” Alate answered, before pointing a hoof towards a seemingly random section of ceiling. Rainbow Dash furrowed her brow for a moment, not able to really pick out Cryptic's hiding spot. Just as she was about to just shout for the changeling to come out, a part of the wall moved and revealing the light-blue of a changeling eye. “It's not really nice, giving away my hiding spot, Alate.” Cryptic called down, before a burst of green fire revealed the changeling's position. “Crisis is over. Besides, the two of us could probably take her without any tricks, if she tried anything.” Alate countered confidently. “Please. I bet could take you both with both my wings tied behind my back.” Rainbow Dash called back smugly, taking exception to the changeling's claim. “Especially once Alate resorts to her strategy of screaming 'Get it off!' and flying away.” Cryptic teased, as she hovered above the two. “I wasn't expecting an attack! You would have freaked out too!” Alate pointed out defensively. “We'll never know, though.” Cryptic countered smugly. “Huh, I was starting to think you two couldn't help but say everything at the same time. What's up with that anyway?” The pegasus asked. “Habit.” Alate answered. “We're just used to it.” Cryptic said simultaneously. “...Right. Never gonna get tired of that.” Rainbow Dash observed.