//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty Three: Intrusion // Story: Changeling Mine // by Futile Task //------------------------------// “Your afternoon meal is ready queen mother.” Twilight groaned as she looked up from the chest of changeling information she was looking through, looking toward Fuzzball as the giant caterpillar looking changeling brought her another serving off food. ‘But Fuzzball, I just ate lunch a little bit ago, can’t this wait till dinner?” “Tut tut,” said the changeling, placing the food down on the table before placing one of her hands on Twilight’s showing midsection, smiling a bit before speaking. “If my instincts are correct, you got a brood mother growing inside you, and they need a lot of food and love in their early stages of life, or do you want to experience the joys of teat feeding for a second time in your life?” Twilight blanched, which caused the changeling to smile, “I thought not, now I am going to leave a bit to check on the nursery and my two sisters, and when I get back I expect that food to be gone, or I will follow through with my threat. And trust me, I will know if you have eaten it or not.” The changeling then scuttled off, leaving Twilight to sigh heavily before she grabbed the food and took it back to her couch, beginning to eat as she pulled a book she had wanted to read and flipping it to the relevant chapter, grabbing another piece of food as she began to read. Of all the anomalies that exist within the changeling hive, none are more peculiar then changeling hatchery mothers. Unlike most changelings, these are the only changelings that do not require love to survive, instead they eat many different foods, which gets converted into love within their bodies.” “Well, that explains why she smelled so good,” said Twilight out loud, remembering the enticing aroma of love filling the air earlier, something she had started being able to detect more and more lately. It was one of the many changes that Celestia had warned her about, but she had never told her it would be so embarrassing. Several times, when she had been around certain couples, she had begun sniffing the air due to their intoxicating aroma. But the most embarrassing thing that had happened to her was when Cadance had visited, for she had started to drool do how freaking good she smelled. “Stupid biological changes,” said Twilight, before returning to her book with a grin. Now most would ask; why don’t all changelings exist in this state, for in times of crises this would mean that they would never need to worry about food. The reason for this is as simple as it is complex, for unknown to many, these changeling hatchery mothers may actually be some of the most dangerous of their kind. If this love they generate is not fed to others and remains in their bodies, it begins to age, and when it ages, it starts taking on harmful effects which can adversely affect ponies. Its effects mimic to the most minute detail the effects of the dreaded Want It Need It spell, which as all practitioners know is one of the most dangerous spells ever created do to the mass hysteria it creates among large groups of ponies, let alone one singular pony. Due to this, only a few hatchery mothers are ever made within a hive, and they rarely leave the nursery, but a rare few are selected to care for newly born changeling queens, especially if a brood mother is born.” That word again, first Chrysalis a few weeks ago, which had started this whole food craze, then Fuzzball, and now this book. Deciding curiosity needed to be sated; she set down the book and went over to the chest again. However, before she could start digging in deep, a knock came at her door, Twilight looking up to see one of her servants peeking her head in and speaking to her. “Princess, Rarity is here about your lunch with the girls?” “Tell her I’ll be down in a second,” said Twilight, sighing a bit before closing the chest and heading out. Twilight smiled as she sipped her tea, looking toward her friends as they all sat down; till she noticed one was missing. “Hey, where’s Fluttershy?” The rest of the girls giggled, and then Rarity spoke. “She’s on a date with those two changeling guards who Chrysalis assigned to watch you; I think she has taken quite a fancy to them.” “So that’s where they have been disappearing to,” said Twilight with a grumble, “god its like everypony is getting changeling fever.” “What do you mean by that darling?” Twilight looked embarrassed, but it was Rainbow who spoke for her. “Well, a few days ago me and Twilight were walking through the halls of the castle talking about changeling bonds, and…well, we accidently caught Twilight’s grandpa making out with several changelings disguised as the female members of the Wonderbolts.” “Golly,” said Applejack with a smirk, “that must have been embarrassing.” “Wouldn’t have been so embarrassing if Rainbow hadn’t popped a wing boner at the sight of them.” That got the girls in fits of laughter, Rainbow blushing as she shot out a retort, “What, it was hot, and it didn’t help that he said I could join.” “Thank god you ignored him,” said Twilight, “though really it is not his fault, him and his darn pegasus fetish.” “Mama, hungy!” Rolling her eyes, she looked down at her growing belly before speaking, “Honey, I just ate a little while ago, aren’t you full?” “Hungy NOW!” “Fine fine,” said Twilight, concentrating with her horn before summoning up a big batch of solidified love, beginning to eat it before looking up and seeing the confused looks on her friends faces. “What?” “Um, who were you talking to,” asked Pinkie, looking a bit weirded out as the rest of the girls nodded at her question. “Um, my daughter why?” “But sugarcube,” said Applejack, “She’s still in your belly, how can you be talking to her?” “Cause of my link to her hive mind.” The girls looked even more confused, so Twilight decided to explain. “Look girls, both Chrysalis and Celestia explained to me that this might happen, and just go with it, for it helps her learn how to communicate through the hive mind, and will help her prepare when she gets old enough to have little drones of her own.” “I…I see,” said Rarity, looking to the others and receiving nods before turning back to Twilight. “Speaking of Chrysalis, we have been…wanting to talk to you about her.” Twilight gave her a look, so Rarity continued. “Look darling, I know that because of the foal you want to keep her around to help care for her, as well as care for the changelings, but don’t you think you are letting her um…get a bit too comfortable around you?” “What do you mean?” asked Twilight. “Well for one,” said Rainbow, “I saw her cuddling with you in bed a few nights ago, what the hell is that about?” “Come on Dash,” said Twilight, “I would do that with anypony I consider a friend, even you girls.” “OK,” said Pinkie uncertainly, “then what about all those nuzzles she gives you, I mean she gives you a lot.” “So do you girls, and the princesses, I mean come on, were ponies, and nuzzles happen all the time.” “Yeah, but that don’t explain all that time you’ve been spending with her neither, I mean for Faust sake you’ve even paid her a compliment or to.” “And again, I pay compliments to all my friends, especially friends who are showing real improvement and a willingness to make up for the misdeeds they have done. Honestly I don’t know…” “Mama…tummy hurts…” Twilight’s eyes widened at that, causing her to look down, wondering what was wrong, until she took a sniff of the air out of maternal instinct. The emotions of her friends were all over the place, and because of that, her foal was reacting to it in a bad way, a very bad way. “I…I’m sorry girls, I have to go…I’ll explain later.” And then she was gone, leaving the girls all looking worried as they looked out the window toward the castle, hoping Twilight was ok. Twilight breathed in deep as she tried to keep the world from spinning, cursing herself for forgetting that she wasn’t supposed to be teleporting while pregnant. After the world stabilized, she looked back down at her belly, giving a smile before speaking. “Sorry about that honey, feeling better?” “Better,” said the foal inside her mind, “Mama, why were they mad at you?” “Oh they weren’t angry honey,” said Twilight sweetly, “they were just worried, and they don’t like how I have been hanging out with your other mother lately. I’ll tell you what though, when I’m done with this book, we’ll have Cadance come down for a visit, would you like that?” “Aunty Cady yummy!!!” “Yes she is isn’t she,” said Twilight, before moving toward the chest, before stopping as a knock came to the door. “Enter.” A changeling poked there head in, smiling when she saw the princess before speaking. “The Countess of the Shetland Islands has arrived to hold audience with you, to speak with you on a matter concerning…well concerning us.” “Has this been cleared with Advisor Shimmer?” “Yes, and she is waiting in the throne room with your family.” “My family?” “She said it was required,” said the Changeling. “I see,” said Twilight, “tell them I’ll be down soon.” “Presenting her esteemed excellence, the Countess of The Shetland Islands, Starlight Glimmer!” Twilight fidgeted in her throne as the great doors opened, watching as a light violet mare walked into the room before turning to Sunset and speaking. “Are you sure my family needs to be here Sunset.” “Its protocol when meeting delegates from the Shetland Islands,” said Sunset, “they will respect you more if you are surrounded by family for your first meeting with them, for family is power to them, so this will show you have a lot of power.” Twilight grumbled at that, hating the games of politics but sitting up straight regardless, looking toward the Countess before speaking to her. “Welcome Countess Starlight, you honor me with your presence this day, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” “It is I who is honored, oh most noble of alicorns,” said Starlight, bowing low to the ground before rising back to her hooves and speak. “I have been keeping an eye on you ever since I heard about your noble efforts in regards to the changelings, and I must say it is with a gladdened heart that I was allowed to gaze upon one who would save the Shetlands greatest protectors.” “Protectors?” asked Twilight in surprise, “I don’t understand, could you explain?” “Of course, of most humble of rulers,” said Starlight. “Over a thousand years ago, the Shetland Islands were threatened by creatures known as Will of The Wisp, who were stealing our foals and devouring their souls. When all other methods failed, it was the changelings who saved us from the menace, putting the Wisps to the torch and then helping us to rebuild.” “And, in honor of your noble efforts, I would like to off your this gift, to show you that not all ponies are mindless barbarians in regards to such noble creatures.” As if waiting for that word, several cloaked figures appeared behind her, standing fifty strong and causing the guards to shout in alarm and start going for their weapons. “Please,” said Starlight, “be still noble guards, I mean no harm to your princess.” “Then explain the meaning of this incursion,” said Sunset hostile, her mane and tail beginning to glow as she herself stepped forward, ready to unleash hell to protect her cousin. “Well,” said Starlight as she walked up to one of the figures and pulled back their hood, “how else do you expect one to transport fifty changelings without causing a ruckus?” Twilight and the rest of her family looked on in awe, for standing next to the Countess was a changeling, or at least, Twilight assumed it was a changeling. However before she could examine it further there was a feral hiss behind her, and Twilight jumped in surprise as her hatchery mother jumped down in front of her and growled at the changeling’s before them. “ABOMINATIONS!!!” roared Fuzzball, the claws of her front four legs digging into the floor as she barred her teeth at the Countess, “You dare insinuate that our mother would birth such vile things!?” “But sister,” said the unhooded changeling, Twilight staring in shock due to its voice sounding distinctly male, which didn’t fit. “Our mother…” “Don’t!” roared Fuzzball savagely, “don’t you dare call her that, we are not related, and Chrysalis is not your mother.” “But we are sister,” said one of the cloaked figures, removing his hood and stepping forward, though keeping his distance as he spoke. “You must remember sister, mother was not herself, and when she made us, she was deeply mad with hunger, you cannot blame her.” Silence reigned in the room, till finally Twilight spoke up, looking at the countess as she did so. “Where did you find them?” “They were found on the shores of Equestria by one of our naval ships, all of them injured and surrounded by dead ponies and changelings, and from what we can guess they were trying to guard the dead from being pilfered, for we found evidence that the ponies were butchering these changelings for…well for parts.” Twilight wanted to throw up, but she stayed strong, sitting strait before looking to the first unhooded changeling and addressing him. “I am sorry you were unable to protect your sisters, but if you could tell me, what is your name, and what kind of changeling are you?” “I would be honored queen mother,” said the changeling. “My name is Scale, and I and my brothers behind me are what the changelings call infiltrators, though because of our past we are mostly known as abominations.” “Why?” “That is too complex to explain now, but I am sure you could find the information, if mother kept any.” “She did,” said Twilight, before turning back to the countess and speaking to her. “Thank you for bringing them her Countess Starlight, Chrysalis will be thrilled to know that more of her children survived. Now, is there anything else you wished to discuss with me?” “No your highness,” said Starlight, “I shall be taking my leave, but don’t worry, we shall see each other again.” And with that the countess left, leaving the changeling’s in the princess’s care, nopony noticing the glance she cast at Twilight’s mother and father before she left. “I was so scared!” It was hours after the Infiltrators had been left in Twilight’s care, and now Starlight was clutched within the forelegs of her Lady, crying her eyes out as the dark figure brushed her hoof through the young mare’s mane. “It is alright my darling Starlight,” said the dark figure soothingly, continuing to pet her as she tried to sooth the mare’s fears. “Anypony would be afraid in that kind of situation; after all you didn’t know how they would react.” “That’s not why I was afraid.” The dark figure looked down at her, “Oh, then why were you so afraid?” “Because they were there…my parents were there, standing at the princess’s side…” The dark figure’s eyes softened then, and she tightened her hug a bit as she soothed the poor mare. “Oh my dear sweet Starlight, I am so sorry, I had completely forgotten you parents were staying in her castle now, can you ever forgive my negligence?” The mare sniffled, shaking in the dark figures grip as she spoke, “It was not your fault my lady, and though it was under those circumstances, I was happy to see them, they…they look well.” “…And what of my star, did she look well?” Starlight looked up, smiling a bit as she wiped tears from her eyes. “She is doing wonderfully my lady, she looks so much like you, and she even has a stripe through her mane like you do.” “I see, and how does her pregnancy fare?” “Oh she is coming along well my lady,” said Starlight with a smile, “though she looks a bit on the thin side, though hopefully that hatchery mother I saw in the throne room will help fatten her up, she will need it if what I sensed is true.” “And what did you sense?” asked the dark figure. “I sensed she was carrying a brood mother inside her my lady.” The dark figures eyes widened, and then she smiled, brushing the young mare’s mane one more time before speaking. “You did good Starlight, I suggest you go get some rest, we shall talk more in the morning.” “Yes my lady,” said the mare, leaving out the door and leaving the dark figure alone in her room, a brooding look falling over her face as she looked out the window into the darkness beyond. “Soon my star, soon mommy will see you again…but not yet. First, I need just a little more information, then I shall take back what is ours my star, what should have always been ours!”