Rasua sat on her haunches in front of the door, her tail swishing agitatedly. It was a normal, wooden door, not in itself particularly menacing. The numerous crayon drawings taped to it helped in that regard, depicting a variety of animals, buildings and many purple and blue shapes that were probably changelings. Still, she stalled nonetheless.
“You know we could just go in.”
Rasua startled at the spoken words, whipping herself into a defensive position to face her taunter. She had thought she was alone and the fact that someone had managed to sneak up on her set her instincts on edge.
A blue figure responded by backing up and trying to placate her with soothing gestures. “Woah! Easy easy! It’s only me.” Thunderfury said.
The sphinx calmed visibly, her fur settling down and her posture relaxing, at recognizing him. “Do not do that.” She stated as forcefully as she could. She took a few calming breaths to steady herself. “When did you get here?”
Responding to her relaxed state, Thunderfury slowly returned to the door. “I’ve been here sitting beside you for the last five minutes or so. Bell Curve pinged out that you hadn’t shown up to the class yet, and since I was close by I decided to check up on you.”
She playfully flicked his nose with her tail. “Come to spy on me eh?”
“Why would I spy on you?” He said, scrunching his face and refusing to let a sneeze out.
“To make sure I didn’t do anything devious or something. These are your little ones after all.”
“No, I mean why would I spy on you? I’m a close combat expert in the Queens’ Guard, not the Intelligence Department. Though I guess I do have some basic training in the field…”
Rasua quirked an eyebrow at the blue male. He had an almost cute expression on his face as he seemed to think back on his Intelligence training. That or he was requesting information over their hive mind. The sphinx jane tried her best to push thoughts of their psychic powers from her mind and went back to examining the door.
Sitting down beside her, Thunderfury continued. “So… Are you going to go in or what?”
Rasua huffed at the question. Why was she hesitating? She was a Huntress, she had faced some of the greatest dangers of her homeland, and was on the front lines of the New Frontier! She had nothing to be fearful of behind this door! She reached for the handle, pausing only for a moment before gripping it tightly and turning.
The classroom was not what she was expecting. The room of pulsating organic architecture that she had somehow convinced herself had to exist in this hive was not here either, though there were dozens of purple and blue spots where the nymphs apparently had gotten into salve spitting wars. Instead it seemed like many other classrooms she had come across in her life.
Still she was sure she’d find one around here some day. I’’ll bet anything that hatchery of theirs is crawling with bug slime and organic nonsense.
The simple walls were covered in drawings made by the children (or else sadly deficient adults), toys were scattered about and everything was in a generally chaotic state. Then there were the little ones. Twenty eight blue and purple nymphs were running around, drawing, playing and wrestling with one another.
“Heh, I remember when I was a little filly running around in a classroom like this.” Thunderfury chuckled. Then cocked his head curiously and looked back out into the hall. “Actually, I think it might have been this one.”
“I’m sorry, but did you say ‘when you were a filly’?” Rasua asked somewhat incredulously.
“Well yeah… Oh! No one told you yet?. All changelings born to Momma and Auntie Twilight are female. When we reach the age of metamorphosis some of us decide to give being male a shot. Some of us like it, some change their mind and go back to female. It’s an open choice we can make at any time, but it’s a bit time consuming so many don’t even bother to try the other side.”
“... You used to be a little girl.” Rasua said flatly with an arching eyebrow.
“Yep! Why do you mammals find that so weird?” Thunderfury seemed to ask with pure honest confusion.
At that moment the teacher, Bell Curve, trotted up to the two guests. “There you are Miss Talarn! We were beginning to wonder if you got lost. So I hear you’d like to learn more about our hive and changelings in particular?”
Forgetting for the moment the strange tidbit she had already collected, Rasua turned her focus to the purple changeling before her. “Yes, Princess Aegis has told me some things but I don’t believe educating others is her strong point.”
“Actually it was her job to delay and then try to soften up the news about us being psychic.” Thunderfury supplied helpfully.
“Yes, I know. I was trying to save face for her deceiving me. Knowing I just walked into a civilization full of psykers was a bit much to handle..” Rasua replied flatly to the seemingly oblivious guard.
“So what would you like to know?” Bell asked trying to get back into the conversation.
Rasua didn’t have to think too much on what to ask, having prepared a mental list earlier. “How about we start with the history of your hive, your branch of the changeling race and all that.”
“Well if you’ll take a seat I’ll gather the nymphs.” Bell said with a happy smile.
Rasua looked around and picked a spot off to the side across the room. She started making her way when a large green rock walked in front of her. Looking down she found a craggy beaked, wrinkled face looking up at her. The face smiled and blinked slowly.
It took a moment for her brain to catch up that it wasn’t a rock. “What’s with the walking soup mix here?” Instantly five nymphs sprang into place between the sphinx and Tank, all of them growling menacingly, showing off their tiny fangs. One of them settled on top of the tortoise, three made a wedge formation in front of him and then the last one hovered above them placing herself in front of Rasua.
“Don’t you dare eat Tank! Or, or… We’ll eat you! And, and then momma will eat you cause you wanted to eat her favoritest pet!” Flitter Free threatened.
Having clearly struck a nerve and not wanting to cause an incident with the nymphs, Rasua tried to placate them. “Hey I was just asking about the turtle-”
“Tortoise!” The entire class yelled sternly. Rasua turned to see all the changelings were focused on her.
Thunderfury stepped between Rasua and the impromptu Pet Guard, “It’s okay, she was just joking. She didn’t mean anything by it. Besides, if she tried anything I’d stop her okay, Flitter?”
The tiny Flitter seemed to think seriously on it a moment. “Okay, but no more jokes about eating Tank! Momma’s had him longer than all of us, ever since she was a pony!” The little nymph backed down and started doting on the tortoise, offering him reassurances and comfort. Promising that the mean ‘kitty lady’ wouldn’t eat him all up. Given his unconcerned expression, this was probably more for her than him.
Since she was a pony? Must be when she was pretending to be a pony and ‘collecting love’ or something. Rasua spared a moment to contemplate the oddness of her hosts, before deciding it would serve her better to try to make peace with the nymphs.
Straightening her back, Rasua took on a theatrically official tone. “Pardon my ignorance and poor conduct young one. Given your decisive response, I can only assume you five are champions assigned to protect Ver Tank? Then allow me to commend you on your dedication and alertness. Please, allow me the honor of knowing the name of your order.”
The five nymphs stared at Rasua, then cocked their heads in confusion at the same time. “What’s a ‘order’” One of them asked.
Got’em Rasua smirked internally. “Why, surely a group as unified of purpose as your own, dedicated to the sacred task of guarding one of such prominence as Ver Tank is an Order of Knights?”
All five pairs of eyes widened in realization. “You mean, like the Queen’s Guard?” They all turned to look at Thunderfury, decked out in his uniform and gear.
“Indeed” Rasua nodded her head sagely. “If you have no official title, maybe I can make a suggestion?” The little heads nodded in unison, enraptured by the Huntress’ words.
“Very well. Then how about ‘the Order of The Shell’?”
The nymphs all had the look of one who has had an epiphany. In that moment, as one, and without conscious thought, they had decided. They were The Knights of the Order of The Shell.
Their response encapsulated this momentous moment perfectly.
“Whoa.”
And with that they were off, their day suddenly so much busier…
Rasua smirked to herself. That wasn’t too bad.
Then she noticed Thunderfury smiling at her.
“W-what? That wasn’t out of line I hope?” She said, slightly unnerved that she had once again allowed his presence to be a surprise. Also that smile…
Thunderfury shook his head, his wide smile turning into a satisfied grin. “No no, that was actually very nice of you. I’m not sure you realize it though, just how much you’ve… Inspired them.
The sphinx cocked an eyebrow in curiosity. “What do you mean? They’re just children, they’ll play at being knights and protectors until they get bored, or distracted by the next fun game.”
Thunderfury’s grin continued. “If you think so…”
Seeing their guest settle into a spot, Bell sent a quick pulse across their little corner of the hive mind, calling the nymphs into a loose formation from all over the class. “Okay everyone, this is Rasua Talarn, the nice sphinx jane who will be staying here in our city. She will be joining us for the day to learn more about us! Now, how about we start with the beginning of our hive.” Bell turned to look at one nymph in particular. “Exactly, Soft Wind. But please, let’s stick to talking out loud so that Miss Talarn can be a part of the conversation too.” Embarrassed with her unexpected faux pas, Soft Wind hid behind her mane.
Facing the children with her encouraging smile, Bell continued. “Alright, who can tell us about how our hive started?”
“Ummm, Momma Twilight settled in the Everfree forest?” Indigo ventured.
“Yes she did, but that was the start of Phoenix’s Roost, our city. How did our Hive start? Here’s a hint: How does every changeling hive begin?”
Roaring Fire lit up with understanding and started hopping up and down buzzing her wings for added lift. “Ooh! Ohoh! Sis! Pick me pick me!”
Pointing her out, the elder sister made her selection. “Alright, Roaring. How did it all start?”
Springing on her hooves with her joyous expression, it was clear this was one of Roaring Fire’s favorite stories. “Granny Caddy saved Auntie Twilight when she was going to go to Stripped Gear to try to make peace between changelings and ponies!”
Nodding her head in agreement, Bell Curve added her two cents. “That’s right and-”
But Roaring’s story was not so easily stopped. “And then when she was on the convoy... GRAAAGH! A huge monster burst out of the jungle and killed almost everyone! But Granny’s drones managed to get Auntie out of danger, but it was too late! She was poisoned and pony magic couldn’t save her! She was doooooomed!” At this point in the narrative the young blue bug began to run in circles howling Twilight’s fate, only to come to a sudden stop. “But then Granny came up with a plan. She had the technology! She could rebirth her! So she offered it to Auntie Twilight and Princess Celestia and they all agreed to do what it would take to save her. And so Granny Caddy turned Auntie into a changeling princess-”
Wait.. WHAT!? Rasua’s mind went from listening, to a full stop, before screaming into high gear. Turned into a changeling?! She was something else, then was transformed into a bug?! Slow down Rasua, slow down. It’s an excited child’s report, maybe she’s exaggerating, maybe even misinformed somehow... But then why isn’t the teacher correcting her?
Focusing back on the world, Rasua cleared her throat loudly to get attention, also to try and make sure her voice wouldn’t fail her.
“Yes Miss Talarn?” Bell Curve gently somehow quieted the excited storyteller. “Do you have a question?”
The whole class of miniature copies turned as one once more to look at the sphinx. Rasua could feel her blood thunder and mouth go dry. By Lightning that was creepy. Reflexively her eyes darted between the occupants of the room. Somewhat mutely she made note that the five nymphs who now called themselves ‘the Order of The Shell’ somehow managed to acquire some play armor. She tore her focus back and stayed firm, her face a mask of eased detachment once she focused on the teacher. “Could you elaborate on what you mean by ‘turned her into a changeling’?” The sphinx asked steadily.
One of the nearest nymphs, a purple one, looked at her with a bemused expression. “Well duh. Momma was poisoned and the only way to heal her was to rebirth her from a unicorn into a changeling. Granny could only regenerate her if she was a changeling so she turned her into one.”
Rasua could feel an involuntary shiver run down her spine. Her throat clenched and it was difficult for her to continue her questions. “Y-you transformed her from a unicorn into a bu-uh changeling? You can change others into changelings?!”
Thunderfury felt the panic rise in Rasua and moved to try to head it off. “Ms. Rasua, if we were going to turn you into a changeling we’d have done it already, so relax! In fact I don’t think we could even if we wanted to. I’m pretty sure the conversion technique only works on ponies. Probably because we were the same species once… Hmmm actually I really should look into that.”
“...You used to be the same species?” Rasua’s mind attempted to process this, but she kept hitting a fatal logic error.
Bell Curve decided to clear up the guard’s lack of information and detail. “Well Thestrals technically, and actually the conversion technique works on all intelligent creatures, Thunderfury. It was merely more commonly practised with ponies. Anyway, I think we’re getting a little off track here. Miss Talarn, if you have any more questions so far we can answer them now.” Bell said.
Rasua sat there frozen. Her mind fixating on the new horror that she, if not careful, could find herself transformed into the very creatures of her nightmares. “Uh… Just, just keep going I have a feeling I’ll have more soon.”
“Would you like to continue, Roaring?”
The excited nymph nodded emphatically and picked up her story. “Ok, so Auntie was turned into a changeling and then a bunch of stuff happened and then Momma went with Auntie to keep her company and help teach her Queen’s Guard. Then she joined the Wonderbolts and went to the Chaos Lands and when she came back big sis Aegis accidentally gave her that circlet that turned her into a changeling-”
Rasua once more interrupted the excited girl. “Wait! Queen Rainbow Dash wasn’t a Changeling either?” She glanced sidelong at the little nymph, Flitter, who had been in her face earlier. She sat on top of the tortoise rubbing his shell gently. So that wasn’t a mistake…
Roaring, not wanting to be delayed even more, headed off her big sister’s explanation. “If you were listening to my story you’d know that! Uggghhhh! And then they went and fought the battle of Rookhaven and rescued the tree and bat ponies and then they met the rude interrupting gryphon people with the weird faces! The end!” Her story finally finished, Roaring folded her front hooves and sat on her haunches in a huff.
Rasua gathered her courage to ask the question that concerned her most for the moment. “H-how many more changelings were actually uh, converted?”
Once more Bell Curve took up the task of answering. “I can’t speak for the other hives, but as far as ours? None. We don’t practise transpeciation despite the many requests our Queens receive. And no Queen before Cadista had ever attempted to make a royal daughter out of a pony before. And Grandmother was forced to enact her experimental treatment before she was even fully prepared. Ideally she wouldn’t have chosen Auntie Twilight since it would have, and nearly did, cause a huge international incident. Though it worked out well in the end it could have easily ended in tragedy. It’s a popular theory that had it not been for The Element of Magic, it is likely she would have failed, or at least that the metamorphosis wouldn’t have been as successful as it was.”
This day was clearly going to continue being a challenge for Rasua. For every answer she got, more questions and concerns arose. But she wouldn’t quit now. “What’s an Element of Magic? I think I’ve heard that term before.”
Another nymph popped up, instantly beginning to answer the question. “Momma used to wear it as a crown! And she and our Aunties would go fight bad guys by shooting them with rainbows!”
“Correct, Spark.” Bell commended the little one. “The Element of Magic was one of six magical artifacts called the Elements of Harmony. They were known to grant their bearers, those who most exemplified the six virtues, with unusual power, even in their daily lives. Until fairly recently, many of Equestria’s greatest adversaries were dealt with by the Elements of Harmony and their bearers. In fact, you’ve actually met them all. Our Queens are Magic and Loyalty, the others are our pony aunts: Rarity the Generous, Fluttershy the Kind, Applejack the Honest and Pinkie Pie of Laughter. Though honestly I think that last one is a mistranslation or something, personally I think Joy or Joyful would be more accurate.”
“I see… In the Federation we have the paragons: Duty, Loyalty, The Hunter, Thunder Lord, and the Master of the Forge. If your Elements are like my paragons, I assume they represent the moral tenets of your society?” Rasua’s throat clenched unintentionally and she suddenly became aware of how dry her mouth had gotten. “May I please have some water?”
A weak little magical field floated a plastic cup full of water up to the Huntress. Grasping the cup, Rasua looked down at a smiling nymph whose horn powered down. “You can have mine. I didn’t drink any, so no germs.”
It’s drugged! Or full of whatever turns people into them! Or she spat in it!... Or it’s just water and I’m being paranoid. Get it together Rasua. Looking into the cup, she took a heavy breath and huffed it out. Downing a gulp, Rasua decided that, yes, it was just water.
“It’s always a pleasure to learn about our friends, thank you Miss Talarn, and essentially, yes. Now here’s an idea! Would anyone like to tell the story of The Elements?” Silence met Bell’s question, all the nymphs a little intimidated by the sphinx lady who kept interrupting and whose current emotions tasted bad. “Oh! I know. Camille! Would you please tell the story? I know it’s one of your favorites.”
Camille Eon sat shivering on the floor. At having the attention of the room called to her, the purple filly let out a startled *Eeeeep!* and flipped her mane over her eyes. Slowly she peeked out of her long mane with one eye. “D-do I-I h-have to?”
Bell gave her a gentle smile. “You don’t have to but I do know you love to tell stories, you’re very good at it. And I know Momma Twilight would be very proud of you.”
“I-I just like to tell s-stories to, to…” Camille started to say but seemed to gather some resolve. She looked back at Rasua and bit her lower lip with her tiny little fangs. “You, uh, you’re not going to shout anymore are you?”
I wasn’t shouting. “Uh, I’ll try my best?” Rasua said. Seeing a little one seemingly as scared as she herself felt, filled her with some reassurance. And more than a little bit of guilt.
Camille took a deep breath and pushed a hoof from her chest out while she exhaled. She began to tell the tale, her tiny voice speaking clearly. “In the thousandth year of the Celestial Era, Momma Twilight was the personal student of Princess Celestia. The day before the Summer Sun Celebration Momma found an ancient prophecy warning of the return of Nightmare Moon. But when she went to tell the Princess she was sent instead to Ponyville to set things up and make friends.
“And when she was there she met our Aunties: Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Applejack. But Momma wasn’t interested in friends so she just pouted the whole time and worried about Nightmare Moon. And then when it was time for the Celebration, Princess Celestia disappeared and Nightmare Moon was there instead! And she laughed all evil, like ‘Mwahahaha!’.” Rasua was more than a little surprised when the cripplingly shy little changeling actually burst into maniacal laughter. She wasn’t even hiding behind her mane anymore, clearly she was getting into it.
“But Momma knew how to stop her ‘cause she read about The Elements of Harmony and then she and Auntie Rainbow and our other Aunties all came here to the Castle of the Two Sisters cause it wasn’t our hive then and then they found The Elements and blasted Nightmare Moon who then became Princess Luna because she was Nightmare Moon but she was all crazy and possesseded by an evil cloud thing. Oh! And I heard it then tried to possess Auntie Rarity a couple months later!.. But that might have been made up ‘cause Shine Bright told me that one.”
The sound of plastic shattering rang out, the plastic cup that had been put under increasing pressure as Rasua’s anxiety spiked, finally gave under her hands crushing grip.
Camille flinched in fright letting out another *Eeeeep!*. Instead of trying to cover herself with her mane again, she instead reflexively activated her camouflage and disappeared from sight.
Rasua’s twitching eye’s widened at the little one’s disappearance. “And you can become invisible too!?!”
“Hehehe… Aegis was right, it is funny to watch your face go all screwy.” Thunderfury said, his voice not his own. Rasua turned to see his eyes were slitted now.
“Ah, Mother! How wonderful you could join us! Miss Talarn, you’ve met Queen Rainbow Dash.” Bell said, the largest smile Rasua had seen yet on her face.
“Mama!” Instantly every blue nymph in the room rushed to hug Thunderfury’s body, covering every square inch. The purple nymphs were only slightly less excited, jumping up and down, buzzing their wings excitedly, giggling childishly and madly, and running around squealing in delight.
In the time it took for the Queen and teacher to restore order, Rasua worked quietly away inside her own mind, psyching herself up to calm down her aggravated phobia. It’s okay, they are your allies, your hosts. It’s just a class of excited little girls. And their teacher. And their Super Psychic Mother Queen… They are your hosts, allies, patrons, benefactors… Dammit! What other synonyms are there?
Finally Rainbow managed to gently extricate herself from her cocoon of nymphs and approached the recovering Sphinx. “Hey Rasua. Look as funny as it is to watch you squirm with every new bit of info that freaks you out, why don’t we just get through it all in one go, hmm? Okay kiddos, gather round, cause mommy’s gonna take over story time now!”
“Yay!!!”
-A bit later-
Rainbow sat in front of the solitary, stationary, silent Sphinx. “So Huntress Rasua Talarn, any questions?”
The jane’s breath was even, neither shallow or particularly deep. Her eyes blinked steadily and had a look of contemplation. She calmly picked up a glass sitting on the desk next to her and drank the water.
She cleared her throat and began.
“In the past hour I’ve learned that changelings can forcefully transform other species into themselves. That the Queens of this hive were in fact, and please excuse me if this sounds negative, victims of such a transfiguration. That you and your sister are also two of six wielders of a magic artifact whose power seems to rival primordial forces. Which you’ve used to cure one of two Immortal, incredibly powerful sorceresses of her madness brought on by possession, then seal and unseal a living embodiment of chaos and possibly insanity. Oh, and the two sorceresses that govern this nation also personally control heavenly bodies, and the younger one who had been possessed delves nightly into the minds of her subjects as they sleep.”
Rainbow interjected to clarify. “To be fair, Princess Luna uses magic and not psychic powers. As far as we know ponies don’t have psychics, well maybe Pinkie but I don’t think that’s the case. Anyway there are more than a few spells that seem to mimic to an extent the effects of those. Don’t you have some fear inducing spell?” She smiled with a wink.
“How is the thought of anyone with such magical prowess barging into your mind at any time supposed to make me feel the slightest bit better?!” Rasua exclaimed. She coughed, drank some water and composed herself once more. “Have I summed up what you just told me about correctly?”
Rainbow nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on her face as she considered Rasua’s summation. “Yeah, that sounds about right… Welcome to the magical land of Equestria!” She said smiling mischievously wide.
“Welcome to Equestria!” The whole class of nymphs chorused.
“The Order of The Shell welcomes you to our fair land!”
Rasua looked to her left. The Knights she had just a short time ago named had apparently been busy. Decked out in cardboard armor with plastic swords and shields. Flitter sat inside a cardboard box colored to resemble a castle tower sitting atop the tortoise Tank, who himself wore a crown.
Despite how utterly adorable the scene was, Rasua blinked a few times and decided to focus on talking to the queen.
“I apologize for having lost control, but please understand. This does not at all mesh with what I have been taught. The vast Great Cycle tells us that the universe ebbs and flows in, surprisingly enough, cycles. Such as the changing of the seasons, the rise and fall of governments, the birth and extinction of species. My people try to predict these cycles so we know when to ride the Vuulta, or period of growth, and how to defend ourselves during the Brula, or fall of the cycle. What you’ve told me about this land, seems to fly in the face of my people’s doctrine.”
“You know, around here we also control the changing of the seasons.” Rainbow added, almost as an afterthought.
That seemed to do it. Rasua’s calm that she was trying so hard to keep, snapped at this final insult to her understanding of the natural order of things. Fortunately, she somehow managed to keep from another outburst. She just locked up, a continuous low growling noise emitting from somewhere deep inside her.
A nearby nymph gasped in excitement. “She is a kitty lady! She makes the same noise as that kitty who didn’t want to play and then scratched us.” The little girl dropped her voice to a stage whisper, “Momma, do you think she’d hiss if we poked her?”
Bell Curve came up to shoo the inquisitive nymph away, and began announcing to the class. “Okay everyone! It looks like our time with miss Rasua is over.” The class let their disappointment be known with a chorus of ‘Awww’s. “Now, now, we’ve all had fun learning with Miss Rasua, but she has a busy day ahead of her I’m sure, and we still have a few things to do ourselves. Now, everyone say goodbye for today to Miss Talarn.”
“Goodbye Miss Talarn!” The young ones, some chipper others disappointed, declared to the nearly catatonic Sphinx.
Bell approached the still puppeted body of Thunderfury. “Mother, thank you for coming to see us today.”
Rainbow smiled motherly at her daughter and ruffled the teacher’s mane. “No trouble at all, I enjoyed it greatly. I’ll help Rasua out and get Thunderfury somewhere… Else. Take care girls!”
“Bye Momma!”
“Momma don’t go yet!”
“Bye Thunderfury!”
With a *POP* Rainbow teleported Rasua and Thunderfury away. Bell Curve looked at the scorch marks on her classroom floor in exasperation for a moment before turning to her class. “Alright! It’s Sna~ack Time!”
“Yay!”
-In the castle-
Rainbow and Rasua materialized outside the sphinx's’ quarters, The Queen taking her charge in a telekinetic field and opening the door. “Well Aegis tells me this is where you prefer to go when you’re going to freak out, so I’ll just let you recuperate. See you tomorrow, Rasua!”
In the silence and privacy of her room, Rasua slowly returned to herself. It felt as if she was trying to think, but her thoughts just couldn’t gain any traction. She sat for quite a while there trying to process all she had learned that day, not making any headway.
Finally, out of the still and murky depths of her frozen mind, an image came to her. That wrinkly, smiling tortoise done up like a castle wearing a crown… Maybe she should just take a cue from him and just let things happen.
… Or something like that, she was too tired to meditate on it, and collapsed herself into her bed.