Twilight was the happiest mare in the world. Convincing Chrysalis to do anything was hard work, if anything her marefriend proved that she had unquenching determination. Twilight had to study her behavior closely to find a way to make arguments with her. Now this was important for her and since it paid off, she had to take advantage of the moment.
Twilight had proposed to Chrysalis that they switch species. One of her… less sane ideas for sure, but even a temporary transformation could do wonders for public relations. Empathy, while being a primary characteristic of the changelings, was not limited to them. The ponies would identify more with Chrysalis, they would be less hesitant or scared of her pony form. Humility wouldn’t go unnoticed either.
“Twilight… a little… air... Twilight!” Said Chrysalis, trying to pry herself free from Twilight’s hooves, which that were constricting her like a boa before swallowing his meal. Pulling the mental brakes on her marefriend’s hype train and bringing her back to reality was no easy task. At that moment, Twilight caught wind of her enthusiastic over-reaction and let out Chrysalis, who gasped in an attempt to get some air.
“I’m uhmm…” Chrysalis coughed a bit, and shook her head in an attempt to compose herself.
“I’d like a warning before you do things like that.” She also noticed her body betrayed her with small shakes and shivers. Maybe the prospect of the body change was subconsciously making her appreciate her current one.
Twilight’s cheeks turned red with a tingle of guilt in her stomach. There were small giggles all around the hatcheries. Even for a Princess of Magic, enthusiasm expressed itself in equal intensity.
Fortunately for her, Chrysalis was more than alright. Judging by her shy smile hiding behind her fangs Twilight guessed Chrysalis felt a bit flattered as well. Wanting to shake the fuzzy feeling of shyness, Chrysalis took the word.
“Alright, back to the point. I know you think you can do this with magic but there’s a problem: deep magic within our race forbids anyone to turn into a changeling. Only superficial transformations can bypass this, but this isn’t something we want, trust me. But don’t worry Twilight, there is a way. Come with me.” She smiled as she motioned Twilight to follow her. Once they were out of the hatcheries, she had all the space she wanted to make a long range teleportation spell. Turning around, Chrysalis offered Twilight her hoof, which she took with a knowing smile as both closed their eyes.
When Twilight opened her eyes, she was in the center of a giant gazebo-like structure. There were three paved roads coming from the edges of it, converging on the point Chrysalis and her were standing. Huge columns supported the structure, along with three changeling statues holding the roof with their horns. Each had an inscription on it.
The first statue depicted a bald, blindfolded changeling wearing a white toga. The bold form of the changeling, and his slightly bigger fangs, betrayed his male nature. He had a smaller set of wings below his normal ones like a moth, and held a folded scroll upon his left hoof. His inscription said “A healthy mind… - Nousios the Fair”.
Twilight had studied changeling history while she was with Chrysalis. Nousios was one of the three greatest kings of the changelings. In a time of deception, backstabbing, and civil war that plagued the changelings, Nousios was known for one thing: having his mind in the right place. Merely by watching a changeling he could tell a lot about them. Just like a detective formed a potential profile about his opponent, it also granted him the chance to pierce through lies, illusions, and such. With this ability he was able to shatter the opposition. He decided that as a backup to the monarch system there would be a chain of houses that would form each portion of the kingdom, twelve in total. With safety guaranteed even without succession, Nousios proceeded to make a cultural renaissance. Laws, education, medicine all flourished in an age of peace. It was not guaranteed that the changelings wouldn't squabble, but through this system it was ensured that hope would always shine through.
On his right, however, the changeling depicted seemed to have no holes or fangs to speak of. He had a semi-long, grey mane and beard. He wore gold and silver armor with a triangular red gem on the chestplate. On his back he had a dark blue cloak with golden trim. His hooves were placed upon a greatsword with its tip plunged on the base of the statue. Beneath his helmet his azure eyes were staring ahead. His inscription read “... within a healthy body… - Proteus the Overfather”.
To Twilight he looked exactly like the heroes of legend, from the novels Shining Armor used to read when he was younger, still aspiring to become a royal guard. While studying changeling history, Twilight learned that this was the first of the changelings to transform, but surprisingly he didn’t transform to other creatures. He could shift to stone, metals, water, air, fire, supposedly he could take the form of any material imaginable. He was said to have protected the changelings against the rampage of various forces like windigos, sirens, and others. However, the casualties were too high. The changelings, being a young race, had little defense. To aid them during the peak of his power, he scattered pieces of his body to the entirety of the changelings. His magic transferred to all changelings despite the fact that its overall effect had been lessened. Some of this history was myth to be sure, but the results were unquestionable, the actions of the ancient rulers or the changelings were still the same. Twilight knew all too well the romanticisation of history by biased historians.
One thing was sure by the form of this King: his was the time before the changelings fell, a time before their forms deteriorated to what they were now. As a testament to that the third statue was like a mix of what Proteus and Nousios looked like. The changeling that was depicted had small fangs, and a few holes upon her legs, but none in her mane or wings. She had a sun-golden mane and wore a white chiton with silver lining. There was a hidden smile behind her face and a sparkle in her soft sea green eyes. She bore the crown of the changelings, the same one that Chrysalis wore. Chrysalis had told Twilight that the crown adapted to the color scheme of the wearer, and on this changeling’s head it was silver with the gems on top being blood-red. Beneath her hooves the inscription read: “... and a heart in peace - Queen Metis the wisely cunning”.
Her’s was a tale of tragedy, as Twilight would learn in her studies of changeling history. It was believed that when she wore the crown the Overfather himself came to contact her and measure her abilities. Regardless, Metis became a Queen. At the time, the changeling kingdom was underground. Like every changeling she displayed her skills at an early age, bonding with friends and family like it was natural. This bond allowed the changelings to respond mentally to each others' needs no matter how far. She, however, possessed the skill on another level, bearing in her mind the thoughts of even a whole town! It was not to last... natural disaster struck and the changeling kingdom was besieged by the eruption of a volcano, which struck the foundations of the city. Between the sulfur-filled air, the lava, and all the chaos the changelings panicked and couldn't find a way out. Forcing herself to her limits, Queen Metis attained the ability to communicate with all of her subjects. This bond of a selfless heart guided the changelings to safety. It cost her life, but the gift she gave was not squandered. The crown was etched with her own magic, and this ability became hereditary for any worthy changeling King or Queen that could wear it for enough time. Those unable would be qualified "temporarily unworthy" until they could attain the necessary levels of empathy required to bear it.
This was the monument built in front of the temple of judgement. A place Twilight remembered all too well crossing two years ago, when Chrysalis had decided to seal herself for the good of the changelings. She remembered the wooden gates and the bronze inscription molded beneath the roof reading: “Judgement through Empathy”.
“Enjoying the view, Twilight?” Came the distant voice of Chrysalis in her mind. She shook herself back into attention and nodded at Chrysalis. Twilight noticed Chrysalis had a serious expression, she had folded her wings and was taking small steps in front of the grand statues as if not to disturb the spirits of the ancient rulers.
“I know you must have studied them, curious as you are, so I won’t bother explaining who is who. These Twilight… are the ones who judged me worthy to become a Queen. When demons threatened our race their magic protected us. When our bodies were tainted they kept our sanity. When we needed guidance we could call upon their wisdom. Yes… the legends, the stories about them are all true. These...” she paused for a moment as if to add dramatic effect.
“... are the changeling Gods, and they are the ones who can make this wish a reality.”