Intermediate Lessons

by dungeonguy88


Lesson Five: Trust your Instincts

'This is a terrible idea, Twilight...'

Twilight couldn't really argue with her more cynical side, on that point.

But, she was at a lack for options right now. She was alone deep within the Changeling Hive, her friends were stirring up problems, and circumstances seemed to be shoving, the already temperamental, Chrysalis towards doing something rash. She needed to find at least one of her friends, or Chrysalis, and start getting the situation under control.

Unfortunately, Twilight was also hopelessly lost. The Changeling tunnels were distressingly featureless; between one tunnel and the next, it was impossible for her to even attempt to tell them apart. And while perhaps if she had passed through one of the larger chambers she could have oriented herself somewhat, she had only found tunnel after tunnel, whilst trying to follow the agitated Chrysalis.

Which probably could have revealed some interesting facts about Changeling architecture and design, if Twilight was in a position to actually research the issue. But now wasn't the time for that.

She still needed to find her way. Perhaps, if she had been able to find a changeling that wasn't terrified of her, she could have gotten some directions. But for whatever reason, this section of the hive seemed even more desolate and isolated than any other...

And here we come to the ominous double doors, seemingly beckoning for the young alicorn to approach them.

Sometimes a terrible idea is the only idea, unfortunately.

Approaching cautiously, Twilight found that she could make out some additional detail in the woodwork of the doors, in the dim light cast by the odd glowing orbs hanging from the ceiling. That was a bit surprising. The changelings didn't seem to put much effort into decorating, leaving most of the hive quite...stark and almost ruthlessly functional, at least at first glance. But carved into the dark hardwood of the doors, were countless trailing, curling lines, that called to mind both vines and spider webs.

That probably had some significance in changeling culture.

Once more glancing down the tunnels, in the hope that an alternative might decide to present itself, Twilight quietly cleared her throat, as she resigned herself to this course. Setting one hoof against the partially opened doors, she quietly called out “Hello?”

As before, the walls of the changeling hive seemed to absorb the sound of her voice, which while fascinating before, was now coming across as a bit creepy.

Steeling her resolve once more, Twilight steadily pushed open the doors before leaning her head in.

It was dark.

Very dark.

Even the dim glow of the tunnel seemed almost bright compared to this chamber, as the faint light poured through the open door, ever so slightly providing definition to whatever resided in this chamber.

“Is there anyp- changeling in here?” Twilight quietly called out “I was separated from Queen Chrysalis, and I'm a bit...lost.”

Twilight had to resist the urge to jump, when she heard the something shift in the darkness beyond, her ears both orienting towards the faint sound. Even after a few moments of staring into the darkness, her eyes could only adjust so much, and she could only distinguish a few distinct shapes in the darkness.

'Terrible, terrible idea...' Twilight's thoughts unhelpfully reminded.

She took a step forward into the room. And another.

“I don't mean to disturb you, but-” Twilight nearly jumped out of her skin, at the sound of a door closing behind her. She barely even remembered stepping fully into the room, as she was plunged into darkness. After a few moments of forcing her breathing back under control, Twilight 'calmly' channeled a small amount of magic into her horn, generating a faint glow. Quickly turning around, Twilight quickly approached the doors again, quietly terrified that she might be trapped in this room, without anypony knowing where she was. Or worse, trapped in this room with something...unpleasant.

Her body almost sagged in relief, as the doors easily pushed open once more with a simple prod of her hoof.

“Must have just been the wind...” Twilight quietly whispered to herself.

'We both know that you didn't feel any wind, Twilight. Also...we're underground.'

Twilight took in another deep breath, as she tried not to focus too much on why it probably wasn't the wind that caused the door to close. Turning back around, she was almost startled again at another unexpected sight. It took her a moment to realize that, rather than some horrible creature sneaking up on her, it was just her wings, both extended and fanned out. She was never going to get used to these new additions to her anatomy.

After consciously willing her wings back to her side, Twilight let the glow of her horn intensify, bringing a bit more light into the room. Sparing a glance back to the doors again, as they once again closed behind her of their own accord, she turned her attention to the contents of the strange room.

It was curiously well-furnished.

A number of rugs were thrown along the floors, there were several large pillows set on the floor to one side, faded tapestries hanging from the walls, and a large bookcase was set into one of the walls. Naturally, the bookcase is what grabbed Twilight's attention. The glow of her horn steadily chased the darkness away from the contents of the shelves, as Twilight approached.

The books were old. Very old. The lettering along the spines of the books was faded to the point of being indecipherable, and the bindings were tattered and loose. Leaning in, it took her a moment to realize that of the parts of the lettering that could be deciphered, not all of it was in Equestrian. Raising a hoof, Twilight brought it closer to one of the shelves to rub a bit of dust away...

Who are you?” A dry, feminine voice rasped through the dark, startling Twilight.

Suddenly very worried, the young princess turned towards the direction of the voice, directing the light of her horn at the same time, and illuminating a dark shape in it's glow. It took a moment for the lines of the shape to resolve into the shape of a bed in her mind, though that was a secondary concern at the moment. More importantly, she could just makeout the form of an equine figure shifting on the bed, and a faint, sickly-green glow emanating from the bed's resident.

It took scarcely a second for Twilight to link the mysterious voice to it's most likely owner, as her mentor's earlier warning came to mind. In all likelihood, she had inadvertently wandered into Chrysalis' mother's chambers.

“Are you going to answer your elder with silence?” That same voice called over, in growing irritation. The voice sounded almost like a thin wind passing through the leaves of a dead tree, to Twilight's ears.

'Not the most reassuring of analogies to call to mind...'

Twilight attempted to swallow down her anxiety, as she took a step back. Princess Celestia had not really elaborated on her warning, at the beginning of Twilight's journey, leaving Twilight uncertain as to the level of danger she might be in. As far as she knew, Chrysalis' mother could simply be a particularly cranky individual...or she could be as terrifying a figure, as one might assume that the being that happened to raise Chrysalis would be.

Either way, Twilight didn't think she was welcome here.

Clearing her throat, Twilight continued to edge back towards the doors, as she attempted to respond “I-...am, just, terribly sorry for possibly waking you from your...nap. I'm afraid I got a bit turned around and-”

“Come closer, child.” The mysterious voice called out, the earlier irritation gone now.

Twilight froze for a moment at the request, uncertain as to how she should respond to the request. It really seemed like discretion was the wiser course here, to her. On the other hoof...

“Are you really so rude, as to keep me waiting. Again.” The voice called out once more, a touch of irritation returning “Do you need assurances, child, that you have no need to fear me?”

Twilight paused for a few moments at this, before taking a calming breath. Perhaps she was overreacting a bit, or so she thought. Strictly speaking, there had been nothing any scarier than a bit of darkness. Whoever Twilight was in the room with hadn't leaped over and attacked her yet, when they had clearly had the chance to. And Twilight had been looking for someone that could direct her on her way. And, as luck would have it, she had found someone...

“I-it's alright. I was jut a bit...startled. And, I'm sorry if I was being a bit rude.” Twilight began, with more confidence than she could honestly say she felt.

“Ah. Now that I heard. Though just barely...Must I strain my hearing the whole time that you are speaking to me?” The voice called out, in an almost teasing manner.

“I-...sorry, about that. I didn't realize it was a problem...ma'am.” Twilight hesitantly answered. Briefly looking down at her hooves once more. It took her a moment to will herself to approach the voice, to force her hooves to carry her towards the bed.

'Terrible, terrible idea...'

Nonetheless, she found herself moving her hooves towards the dark shadows of the bed and it's occupant.

...It actually wasn't that bad really.

Once she got close enough for the light of her horn to chase away the shadows of the bed, the whole situation seemed much less intimidating. It even seemed as if she could catch just the barest outline of the bed's occupant now. The proportions of the bed's occupant were noticeably larger than that of a typical changeling, supporting her earlier theory.

It was actually a bit comforting knowing that. Maybe it had simply been all the 'unknowns' that had been intimidating Twilight before?

“That's better, I think. Now who are you?” The voice called out in an almost...kindly manner.

Swallowing the last of her anxiety, Twilight decided to answer fairly easily this time “I'm sorry again, about before. My name is Twilight Sparkle. I was brought here by...Queen Chrysalis, to settle some issues...I'm afraid I got a bit lost.”

“I see, I see...you are a pony then? The one my so-very-willful Chrysalis decided to bring to our home?” The voice asked, while all but confirming her own identity for Twilight.

Twilight again found herself hesitating, but only for a moment, before she nodded “Uhm, yes. I suppose I am.”

All she heard from the shadows of the bed was a humming sound, from it's occupant. After several seconds of waiting, Twilight leaned in, compelled to finally confirm her suspicions “Am I to understand that I'm speaking with...Chrysalis' mother?”

A few moments later, the voice loosed a slow chuckle, before answering “...Yes, my little pony. That is correct. Though, I'm surprised...I didn't think my Chrysalis would have mentioned me to her guests.

“Uhm, well...she hasn't exactly mentioned you yet...” Twilight admitted slowly.

“Hm...Am I to understand, that I am speaking to Princess Twilight Sparkle then?” Chrysalis' mother asked, apparently uninterested on whether or not Chrysalis had mentioned her to Twilight.

“Th-that's right.” Twilight answered.

“I see...come closer. Let us have a look at you...” Chrysalis' mother called back out, as she made what Twilight surmised was a beckoning gesture with her hoof.

Again, some small part of Twilight was hesitant to approach anymore than she had already. Apparently, Chrysalis' mother noticed her hesitation.

“Still afraid are we?” A raspy voice teased once more.

Twilight found herself shaking those thoughts away, as she closed the distance to the very edge of the bed. She was briefly startled, when she noticed the figure on the bed shuffling to that side of the bed. Twilight was even more surprised by what the light of her horn revealed.

It was clear that this changeling did, indeed, share the same proportions as Chrysalis. Or at least she once did. While she was still tall and her legs long, everything about her body seemed aged and withered. Her carapace was faded, and almost looked papery to the touch. Her wings, or what little of them remained, seemed discolored and dead. Her mane, though long, looked brittle and was now a dull gray. Everything about this changelings body seemed to speak of frailty and age.

And then Twilight saw her eyes.

They were completely white.

Twilight almost didn't put it together in time, when she noticed the changeling's shaking hoof approaching her own face.

Chrysalis' mother was blind with old age.

Twilight found herself freezing in place, as the hole-filled hoof brushed against her cheek lightly. Oddly, all that Twilight could note was how the changeling's carapace didn't feel particularly 'papery', despite appearances.

'Get away...'

Twilight had to tamp down her nerves once more, as the changeling's hoof slowly withdrew back to the bed. Indeed, she had to resist the urge to sigh in relief.

“Yes. You most certainly are the Princess I have heard about.” Twilight almost didn't catch what the changeling said, having fallen a bit out of focus at the close encounter.

Bringing her thoughts back in order, Twilight tried to clear her throat, before asking “And...if you're Chrysalis' mother, does that make you her predecessor?”

“Yes, yes. You are now in the presence of the former Queen Manti. Now...merely a far too-old changeling.” Chrysalis' mother replied around a small smile.

Twilight had to admit, it was much less creepy being able to see Chrysalis' mother speak, rather than listening to a disembodied voice. It helped remind her that she wasn't dealing with some sort of boogey-pony, rather than someone that was just, more or less, another pony.

“It's...nice to meet you...Queen Manti.” Twilight slowly replied.

“As I said, child, it's not Queen Manti anymore. That title belongs to my daughter, now.” Manti said, with a slow wave of one of her hooves.

“Oh...is there some other name I should refer to you as then?” Twilight asked, uncertain.

“Just Manti should do for now.” The elderly changeling supplied “But, I think we've spent enough time on names, don't you? You came here for my darling Chrysalis, did you not?”

“Uhm. Well, yes, actually. I really think I should go find her actually. The situation has gotten a bit-” Twilight began.

“What do you think of my Chrysalis?” Queen Manti asked without preamble, leaning in as she did so, unsettling Twilight slightly.

“I'm...sorry?” Twilight asked.

“You've already apologized enough, I think.” The elderly changeling pointed out “Now, what do you think of my Chrysalis?”

“What do I think of her?”

Yes.” Manti answered, a tinge of annoyance entering her tone once more, as a frown etched over her withered features.

“Oh, well...”

The first thing that came to mind, when Twilight thought of the Queen of the Changelings, was that she was a manipulative, sadistic, prideful, petty, and all-around unpleasant individual, that delighted in tormenting and humiliating others. Particularly, Twilight.

Twilight suspected that her friend, Applejack, might have responded with something along those lines.

Realizing that the elderly changeling was again becoming a bit impatient, Twilight tried to think of a more...polite way to describe Chrysalis. She found her hoof idly pawing at the ground as she tumbled the question through her mind.

Twilight found that it helped to not try meeting Manti's blind gaze, while trying to answer “...well. Your daughter, in my experience, can be...a bit...difficult to be around.”

There was a worryingly long pause, that left Twilight wondering just how things were going to play out. Twilight was verging on open worry when she heard a quiet chuckle come from the elderly changeling.

“My, my, what a polite way to describe my daughter. I dare say, it is in everyone's experience to find my Chrysalis a bit difficult.” Manti responded with amusement, to Twilight great relief.

“Tell me, is that how your Princess Celestia describes her now? A bit difficult?” Manti asked of Twilight.

“Uhm, not exactly...though, it wouldn't surprise me, now that I think about it.” Twilight supplied, eliciting another laugh from the elderly changeling.

“Ah, yes. It wouldn't surprise me either. My dear Chrysalis has always been so willful. Though, I suppose I knew that when I chose her.” Manti continued in a fond manner, that helped to chase away the last of Twilight's worries.

And with her anxiety ebbing Twilight found that her curiosity was on the rise “Did you say you chose Chrysalis? Was she not supposed to...inherit your position before?”

“Oh, yes, my dear. She was just another sweet, little drone when I chose to take her under my wing. I suppose you would find that quite hard to believe now.” Manti replied easily.

“I admit, that is a bit surprising for me.” Twilight could never imagine a time when Chrysalis could be described as sweet.

“And she was so stubborn. Never letting anychangeling tell her what-was-what, unless it could make sense to her.” Manti continued easily “To this day, I don't think anyone can convince her to eat your pony-foods, except in the most dire of situations. She always thought it was the most disgusting thing ever, to eat as you do.”

“Really? That's a bit odd. I've seen Chrysalis eating before, and she seemed to be enjoying herself.” Twilight replied, remembering the train ride and Chrysalis' brownies.

“Let me guess...It was chocolate, yes?” At this Manti again chuckled, not waiting on Twilight to answer “That was the one exception, of course. Granted most changelings have a fondness for that little pony creation.”

“Oh. So I guess changelings in general like chocolate a lot then?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, though certainly not to the same degree as my Chrysalis. She could scarcely get enough of it.” Manti answered, before seeming to remember something that made her chuckle “I once asked her, when she was still very young, what she planned to do with all of you ponies, if she ever conquered your precious Equestria. Do you know what she told me?”

Twilight had a hard time responding, a bit put off by the idea that Chrysalis' mother had casually discussed the conquest of Twilight's homeland with her young daughter.

Fortunately, it seemed that Manti had simply assumed that Twilight's silence meant that she was shaking her head 'no' “My Chrysalis told me, that when she had conquered Equestria, she was going to imprison anypony that couldn't make more chocolate for her and the swarm. The way she said it was simply adorable. You would have thought she was making it a royal decree then and there.”

Awkwardly laughing a bit, as Manti finished her story with a cackle, Twilight replied a moment later “That does sound adorable...”

“Yes, yes. Obviously, the idea was ridiculous, but never could I have convinced her of that at the time. After all, what situation isn't improved by the addition of chocolate? It was always so difficult convincing her to do things my way...” Manti continued a bit wistfully “Of course, I suppose she would have let me die long ago, if my Chrysalis was the kind to do as her mother wished.”

“L-let you die?! Why would she let you die, though?” Twilight asked more than a bit shocked by this casually delivered bit of information.

Manti seemed to consider the young princess for a moment, before leaning in “No. I suppose she wouldn't have explained that bit of information to you. No matter, as I can explain it just as well.”

The elderly changeling took a moment to shift about on her bed, apparently uncomfortable “To put it simply, tradition dictates that when one queen rises, the previous must be allowed to fall.”

“I'm...still not understanding. Why does that mean that you need to die?” Twilight knew very little about Manti, and changelings in general, but this seemed incomprehensible to her.

“Oh, there are a number of good reasons that I could go into. But the foremost is that it simply is our natural course.” While blind, it seemed that Manti knew that Twilight was sporting a look of doubt at this “You see, raising a changeling to Queenhood is no easy process. Even for a powerful and skilled Queen. It takes more energy than I think any mere pony could comprehend...no offense. Generally, a Queen will only ever be able to raise a single Queen, her successor naturally, as the strain of doing so is enough to ruin our bodies utterly. It's a very rare thing, for a Queen to regain her health after elevating her chosen heir...”

“It...ruins your bodies?” Twilight asked, wondering if this was connected to Chrysalis' own explanation of how she was able to permanently alter her own changelings.

“Indeed. It becomes almost impossible for us to stay healthy afterwards, becoming an utter burden to the hive. According to tradition, my daughter would normally allow me to fade away a few decades into her rule, allowing my energy to wane until...” Manti casually waved a hoof, implying the obvious to Twilight.

“And you...want her to just let you die?” Twilight asked, bothered by these revelations.

“Oh, yes. And I assure you, I have my reasons. Though, of course, I can never convince my dear, willful, sentimental Chrysalis to do as I tell her. It's her strength and her weakness, I think.” Manti observed. Turning her blind gaze towards Twilight, Manti waved a hoof as she continued “You can take that whole invasion, as an example of what happens when she refuses to heed my word.”

“You don't agree with what Chrysalis did then?” Twilight asked, surprised by this turn of events.

“Not at all, dear. For one thing, my Chrysalis should have killed that wretched, alabaster nag, that you call 'Princess' when she had the opportunity.”