Twilight's keep seemed totally alien on the inside. Ponyville's medieval appearance was supplemented by modern materials, designs, and conveniences. The two eras were quite different of course, but skillful artisans had managed to blend the elements together into a unified design. Twilight's 'Palace of Friendship' however lacked any such thought.
The interior felt off. It was perfectly functional of course, and a lot of work had been done to run wires for electric lighting where needed and to install proper ovens and other similar appliances. But the shapes the castle had grown in seemed completely unnatural for a building with the jutting facets of crystal forming each and every surface. The colors of each crystal blended together in places as light passed through the translucent layers, refracted, warped, and gave some seams between gem stones a tie-dye halo.
Nopony could quite stand the interior of the keep for long, not even crystal ponies who had been brought in to see if they could endure the building. After ten years of assuming she would get used to it and yet never adapting, Twilight had decided to do something to make it livable. After all, castles of any kind were expensive, hard to build, and took a long time to finish.
A massive renovation project was underway at the moment. Many rooms were to be painted, some areas were to be covered in plaster to smooth out a surface, and countless paintings and wall coverings were being put in. Very few rooms in the were currently finished but fortunately Twilight's throne room was one of them.
Technically it was the Palace of Friendship's secondary throne room. The primary room being the one in which her friend's throne s and the round table were located. But since that room was unsuitable for governing this one had been constructed especially for that function. It was large, spacious, and open with a raised dais at one end of the room which supported the throne, and rows of benches along the walls for ponies to listen to court proceedings on.
The room was painted in a pale blue with accents in a deeper blue, gold, and the occasional bit of purple as a highlight. Several large columns supported the vaulted ceiling and large brass chandeliers lit the room up brightly. Tapestries woven with images to replicate Canterlot Castle's stained glass windows decorated the walls between the pillars. Behind Twilight's simple carved white marble throne was one large gold colored tapestry depicting the Elements of Harmony as they had been when they were gemstones.
Twilight's attention was fixed on the armored changeling seated before her. Her guards had relaxed their weapons somewhat, but each of them stood stiffly at attention, doing their best to be ready for anything. 'They are making her look far more intimidating then she normally is.' Twilight said to herself as she waited for Zecora to arrive.
It had been some time since she had sent for her. Long enough where an emergency crew from the hospital had arrived and taken Bon-Bon in for treatment. Lyra had asked if Amber could do anything and after learning she couldn't, she had left with the medics for the hospital to wait at Bon-Bon's side.
'Maybe she was brewing a potion when they arrived and can't leave until it's safe to leave alone.' Twilight rationalized.
Finally after what seemed like an eternity the room's doors opened and Zecora trotted in, her escorts stopping at the door. “Apologies for the time which has gone by. It is late and I felt not at all spry. A solution to this problem I had to make, so I brewed a brown potion of wake.”
“She had to make coffee.” one of the guards escorting her translated.
Twilight couldn't help but grin a little at Zecora's choice of words. “It's fine Zecora, I'm sorry for having to send for you and not coming over myself but this is official business.”
“This guard spoke of an attack, and a prisoner with chitin of black. Is this the person I must see? She who sits before me?” she asked as she walked towards Amber and the circle of guards.
“Ye-” Twilight began.
Amber turned around, prompting the guards to level their spears. Amber rolled her eyes, “I'm saying hello.” Amber waved to Zecora, “Olarom burc'ya Zah'kora or. Or gai Tracyn Shi'yayc.”
Zecora stopped dead in her tracks, a shocked expression on her face as she asked, “Never did I think to see you after that day. Aside from this, you have been well I pray? I see you are dressed today, why not your true form display?”
“I'm pretty sure that my left front leg is egg shelled, otherwise I would.” Amber answered with a grim smile.
Twilight nodded, “So you do know Zecora, it's good to know that you tell the truth.”
“Of what crime is she accused? Perhaps everypony is confused.” Zecora paused for a moment and looked to Amber with a small frown, “Nothing in this tongue rhymes with your name, is there another label you can claim?”
“Oh, I just translated it.” Amber informed.
Zecora nodded.
Twilight cleared her throat for attention, “Amber is guilty of the crime of prison breaking, as well as the murder of a guardspony some ten years ago. Additionally, tonight she violated several laws regarding felons and the possession and use of deadly spells... She might be guilty of three counts of murder as well, I don't know if the legal definition covers changelings. Also, she could have been acting in self defense in those cases.” Embarrassed at her lack of knowledge Twilight looked over at one of her guards, “Could you get me the legal documents related to murder? I would like to see what the exact wording is.”
“Technically it was military action by a foreign government against insurgents, not murder. You could bill the Hive for damages.” Amber commented.
Zecora frowned, “Amber your fate I do bemoan, but Twilight and I must speak alone.” Looking at Twilight she asked, “She will remain here if you desire, she cannot break vows nor be a liar.”
Twilight's face scrunched as she considered the request. She knew Zecora well enough to know she must have a good reason, but what couldn't be said for everypony to hear? “Why can't we talk here?”
“Because that is not the best thing to do. In this case I should speak alone to you.” Zecora said adamantly.
Twilight nodded, “Alright. Do you guys think you can hold Amber here safely?”
“Yes mam.” A tall pink stallion answered. The group of them nodding in agreement.
“I will sit here until you two are done.” Amber promised.
Twilight stood up and walked down the carpeted length of the room. Zecora fell into step as the two met and within a few molments they reached the hallway. Zecora pulled the doors shut and nodded. In a low tone she informed, “I am sorry we must talk this way, I do not wish to do harm today.”
“Don't worry it's not a problem to talk here, just unusual.” Twilight said.
“No Twilight, I speak not of you. I speak of she of amber hue.” Zecora informed, “She is not quite right in the head, the result of once being nearly dead. Her madness is not a danger, but it did make her life stranger.”
Twilight took a moment to process the rhyming speech. The two had been friends long enough for her to understand what Zecora meant, but in this case Twilight needed to make absolutely sure she understood. “Do you mean that Amber is crazy, but not dangerous. That she is crazy because of an old injury, and you don't want to mention that arround her?”
Zecora nodded.
“Why not?”
“Making Amber remember... is like letting loose an ember. It could burn away, or create flames which stay.” Zecora answered. She sighed and continued speaking before Twilight could interrupt, “Changelings were a proud people not long ago. In my youth this I came to know. A kingdom much like Equestria I found, only it lay deep beneath the ground. I traveled all over the world as you know. Duskvale was not a place from which I wished to go.”
“So then Amber's story of a changeling kingdom being destroyed by a dragon is true?”
“That is not so, I can tell the tale as it should go.”
“But you said that Amber can't tell a lie!” Twilight exclaimed.
“One can lie and yet know it not. Some things Amber's madness has wrought. Her flesh was healed, but her memories did yield. The truth of things before her injury is distorted, but she doesn't know and believes all is sorted.” Zecora explained.
“So she has amnesia? No, I'm sorry. You mean she remembers events before she was hurt incorrectly, but thinks that is how it really happened. Is that what makes her crazy? How was she hurt?”
“Amber made her fame fighting Diamond Dogs, her hive was at war with them over logs.”
“Over logs?” Twilight asked, entirely lost.
Zecora sighed, “A forest sparked the war's ember, both sides needed timber. Amber studied how the Dogs fight, and for that her they sought to smite. She learned to stand as they do, and a fighting style from that grew. The Dogs saw this as an insult most dire, and sought to kill Amber Fire. But kill Amber they could not, because of the magic her studies had wrought. She led her Nest to many victories, and was seen fondly in her people's memories.” Zecora paused to give Twilight a chance to ask questions.
“I'm following you, keep going.”
“The old hive Queen liked what she saw, so Amber from the field she did withdraw. Amber was made the personal guard of her youngest daughter, for which she was very grateful as she tired of slaughter. Amber adored the royal nymph Polygyne, she thought her life was something fine. But one night saw the doors unfasten, as in came a Dog assassin. He butchered the Royals in their beds, severing the hive mind's threads.”
“So Amber was made the guard of the changeling Queen's youngest child as a sort of retirement?” Twilight asked, her eyes opening wide in a moment of realization, “Could she tell me anything about Chrysalis then?”
“Chrysalis is not the Queen of which I speak, a far older Queen ruled that peak. The old Queen's third eldest daughter the assassin missed. That is the changeling you know as Chrysalis. She and the young Polygyne were saved, because Amber awoke in time. The assassin struck her with a mace in the head, but she shouted the alarm before laying like dead. Her guard's injuries distressed young Polygyne, but fortunately for them I was in time.”
“So you saved her life?”
Zecora nodded. “They were my friends, I could not allow them to meet their ends. Chrysalis is quite wicked and cruel you know, she believed her younger sister had to go. I took them both to a home around a nearby bend, a place owned by another friend. He was a batpony smith if you must know, he hid us from the new Queen below. When Amber at last awoke, I learned her mind had broke. The basics of her life remained, but through fantasy's filter it all had been strained. She believes in a former life, filled with naught but strife. It is in a place which dose not exist, save for in the mind madness kissed.”
“So... if that's the truth, what dose she think happened?”
“She believes her past life died, and that soul in her dose abide. A noble knight of a race fictitious, from a land naught but viscous. In Amber's version of time, the Hive Queen was Polygyne. The reason she is part specter, is to be her loyal protector.” Zecora finished.
“So she believes that she is the reincarnation of a knight and that she exists to protect a changeling filly which she believes is their Queen? Then why is she in Equestria?” Twilight asked in confusion.
Zecora looked down, eyes closing in sadness, “One memory taken by the mace, is that of Polygyne's face. For her Queen Amber went to look, it is like the ending to a sad book. She came back many times, ranting about crimes. Amber believed she had things from her former life, that thieves had stolen them at the point of a knife. My friend and I were filled with sadness, a true friend struck down by madness. I asked her what had been taken, then my smith was awaken. We worked hard together, to make those items as Amber's tether. It worked well to keep her grounded, I was happy my plan was well founded.”
“I think I get the idea. You couldn't fix her memories so you made her comfortable, gave her things she remembered having. So I guess she just left you three one day to try to find her Queen.” Twilight's ears fell, “That's horrible... What actually happened to Polygyne?”
Zecora kicked the floor nervously, “I had to do something extreme, or she would die in Chrysalis's scheme. I do not like what I had to do, do you really wish me to tell you?”
Twilight thought for a moment and nodded.
Zecora delayed a moment longer than answered. “Polygyne was too young to change, and her knowledge a problem could arrange. So I brewed a special potion, made from pegasus emotion. The potion stripped her of changeling form, as a pony she was reborn. Her memories I washed away, I hope they return some day. With her to Equestria I fled, lest she turn up dead. She was placed into foster care, I know not where.”
“You turned her into a pony, got rid of her memories, and then just gave her to the foster system, and you don't even know how she is now?” Twilight asked incredulously.
“There is no way I could know, many ponies the potion did show.” Zecora frowned, not quite liking how her words sounded, “One by one many forms the potion used, to the final one is permanently fused.”
Twilight nodded, understanding, “So she could have changed appearance a lot. Did she at least agree to this?”
Zecora nodded. “She did not wish to die. So she agreed to live a lie. Her personality of course remains, but no royal blood is in her veins.”
“Oh!” Twilight nodded, fully understanding now. “You made her no longer a threat to Chrysalis by removing her claim to the throne. Then you brought her somewhere she could live happily... But why do you live here then? Shouldn't you have tried to keep an eye on her?”
“Chrysalis might recognize me one day, for Polygyne's safety I stay far away. As for the Everfree, it simply feels like home to me.” Zecora finished.
“So... I guess you want me to let Amber go. She said she wanted to retire, she even has a house. I looked up the deed.”
Zecora nodded, “Twenty-three years since she hatched in her nest, half of them spent flowing her mad quest.” Zecora blinked a look of confusion running over her face before it was replaced by a look of recollection, “Yes I see, that did allude me. To say it may seem cold, but Amber might feel old. She is not, they live a lot.”
“Is that alluded you?” Twilight asked.
She shook her head, “Amber's age reminded me, of how old Polygyne will be. Nineteen years as of this may, alas I can't remember her birthday.”
“Hold on, Amber was made a soldier at age three?”, Twilight exclaimed in shock.
Zecora laughed, “Changeling Soldiers are a special breed. They grow up quick as a weed. On their second year they molt, like that they become an adult.”
“Wow... That's a really short time to be a filly.” Twilight mused.
“It is longer for some castes then others. Most changelings spend years with their mothers.” Zecora informed.
“Well, in light of all that I suppose I should see about granting her amnesty. She deserves someplace to be happy.” Twilight concluded.
“I am glad you think so. May I talk to her before I go?” Zecora asked hopefully.
“Of course.” Twilight answered. Turning quickly she pushed the throne room's doors open. “Guards, you can let her go I have decided to grant her amnesty. Amber, Zecora wants to talk to you. Can somepony find Spike for me? I need to write a few letters.”