//------------------------------// // What to do? // Story: Long Live the Queen // by QueenChrysalisForever //------------------------------// Changeling Castle- Throne Room- Apatelodes I gulped as I reentered the throne room, all eyes on me. “So, what did she say?” Morpheus asked. My ears twitched and I bit my lip, wondering what all I should tell them. I wasn’t positive something bad had happened to her, but being it seemed her emerald was damaged, the likelihood was great. “At the pace, our Queen and Shiny Whistle were going, they should have arrived somewhere around Hoofville last night.” “Are you saying they were caught in the flames there?” Chioides asked, biting his lip and putting his hooves to his mouth. “Is she… gone?” “Of course not you fool,” Morpheus growled. “We would know if she was dead. The hive mind might not be what it once was, but we still have enough of a connection to know that much.” “Then what happened? Is she okay?” Chioides asked, lowering his hooves but also twitching his remaining ear. I sighed, no use hiding what little I did know. “All I know is something has happened to her casting emerald. When I tried to connect to it, something went wrong on her side. If that is because it was destroyed in the fire or something else, I have no clue.” “Well then, it is obvious what we must do,” Morpheus said and stood. “We must send a search party after them.” He scowled, hitting an empty dish off the table. “I knew that pony wasn’t enough to protect her. If she’s been captured it is all his fault!” I blinked, not saying a word. As much as I disliked Morpheus, I couldn’t help but agree with him. Why had she insisted on traveling with just him? If I had been there, nothing like this would have happened! We’d possibly already be at Canterlot by now if she hadn’t had to walk with that pesky unicorn. But whom to send? “I’ll-I’ll go,” Chioides said, raising a hoof with a slight tremble. “You?” Morpheus sneered. “Ever since you lost your ear, you have been nothing but a coward. We should only send out our best changelings. Ones that don’t cower at their own shadow.” Chioides lowered his hoof, cheeks flaming green. “Then who would you suggest sending?” I asked, folding my hooves and raising one eyebrow at Morpheus. “Why, me of course,” he grinned, placing a hoof to his chest. “And I’ll pick a few choice changelings to go with me.” The door to the throne room slammed open, and Nemoria and Acronicta ran in. “Oh pick me, pick me!” they yelled, coming to a stop between me and Morpheus. “We’ve never been out of the castle,” Nemoria said, pouting her lips and lowering her ears. “And we’ve been training very hard,” Acronicta added, a beaming smile on her face. “Please can we go? We want to make sure Professor Whistle is okay too.” Nemoria looked between me and Morpheus, eyes widening as she gave us her best puppy dog stare. Morpheus put a hoof to his forehead and groaned, shaking his head. “You two are still too young.” “No, we’re not,” Acronicta grumbled. “All the males our age have been out already.” “Yeah, we’re strong. And I do a great transformation,” Nemoria said. She closed her eyes and braced her hooves, sticking out her tongue in concentration before the green flames engulfed her, leaving behind a pale blue pegasus mare with a fiery orange mane. “See?” “Hey, I can do that too!” Acronicta said and closed her eyes, let the flames engulf her, leaving behind a dark purple earth pony mare, mane the color of golden wheat. “Not bad you two,” I said, walking over to them. “But are you sure you want to go on such a dangerous mission? We don’t know what to expect this time.” “Of course,” Nemoria said and held up a hoof to Acronicta, who tapped it with her own. “We want to prove we are just as good as the stallions.” “Are you seriously thinking of letting them come?” Morpheus groaned, glaring at me. “They are still just nymphs, fillies.” “What, do you not think you could handle them?” I asked, grinning slightly at him. “And of course, we would have others go as well. A small group, maybe one or two more besides you three.” “Of course I could handle them, but I’d rather not be a foal-sitter,” Morpheus said, glaring at the two beaming mares. “Then they shall come with you. They need experience out in the field anyway. Take Danaus with you. He can pretend to be your wife or something.” “And who are you to decide who goes?” Morpheus said, baring his fangs. “Our Queen’s royal guard of course. She put me in charge while she was gone, have you already forgotten?” I grinned slyly, enjoying seeing the angry look on Morpheus’s face. “And stop stalling, the quicker you leave, the quicker we can be sure our queen is safe.” Scrunching up his nose, Morpheus stepped closer to me, staring me in the eyes. “Fine.” He turned towards the door and gestured to Nemoria and Acronicta. “Come along you two, let’s find Danaus and get out of here.” “Yes! We finally get our own mission,” Nemoria squealed, hugging Acronicta to her. “This is going to be− fun,” Acronicta squeaked, pulling herself out of Nemoria’s tight embrace and following after Morpheus. “The best fun!” Nemoria said, then gasped. “We better go get our penny whistles, I’m sure Professor Whistle will want to see how much we have been practicing.” Acronicta nodded and the two raced off, the door slamming behind them. “Are-are you sure it is wise sending them?” Chioides whispered, gazing at the others who just grumbled. “I think they are ready to prove themselves,” I said and trotted back over to the table. “But there must be a reason our Queen hasn’t sent them out yet. Could she be trying to protect the few females we have?” I sighed, putting a hoof to my forehead. He did have a good point. Sure any of us males could just transform into a female for the sake of producing more eggs, but the hatchlings from those couplings were not as strong as those from natural females. If that were to become the norm, in a few generations we would be weaker than the ponies. But I wasn’t going to go back on my decision now. Changing my mind would make me appear weak. Plus I’d seen Nemoria and Acronicta training before and was sure all they needed to become better was an experience out in the field. “I will repeat myself only once, they will be fine.” In the time I had been out of the room, the majority of what fruit had been left had been gobbled down, leaving only a few scraps of pear and mango. The History of the Crystal Empire still sat in front of my place, open to where I had left off. There wasn’t too much left of the book, maybe about a fourth of its contents. I just hoped somewhere in those last pages, was the answer to beating this mysterious unicorn. Peach’s Farm-Shiny Whistle The morning dawned bright and clear, and I awoke as I felt the sun touch my face. I stirred, opening my eyes and sitting up. Everything was still quiet, even the birds were far enough away from me I could only hear their twittering when the breeze brushed against my face. Chryssy stirred beside me, turning over, but she did not awaken. I looked down at Chryssy, her back pressed against me as she slept, hooves curled against her chest as if she were hugging somepony. I enjoyed having her close like this, just like we had the previous few nights, but this felt different. After all, we had shared a kiss now. Sure it might have been just to stop her from killing Lucky, but my heart still fluttered in my chest with her warmth being near. Maybe, just maybe, she would one day feel the same. That would depend on what we found in Canterlot though. Would her old love still be alive? I almost hoped he wouldn’t, as it would make things easier if anything did happen between us. Chryssy stirred again, and opened her eyes, letting out a yawn as she stretched out her legs. “Sleep well?” I asked, to which her body shivered a little before she turned to look at me. “I think so,” she sighed and lowered her ears. “I hope I didn’t feed too much from you? It won’t happen again for some time. We’ll get Leptostales back, somehow, return home and all will be as it was again.” I cringed at her words, but then took a deep breath and shook it off. No use worrying about what I couldn’t change. “No need to worry. I’m here to help you after all, right?” She gave a harsh chuckle at that but nodded her head. “True, I did bring you for that.” Rolling over and standing, she looked down at me, her mane and tail blowing in the breeze. “It’s getting late, we should get ready to head out.” “You’re leaving already?” I jumped at the voice behind us, to see Gold Dust had trotted over. “Heh, sorry Shiny Whistle,” he said, “didn’t mean to scare you. I just came over to let you know breakfast is ready. We weren’t really planning on feeding so many, but we have enough in our supplies to feed this many for a few days. I’ll have to send somepony to Dodge Junction to gather more supplies. I turned to look at Chryssy and felt my stomach rumble. “Do we have time for a quick bite to eat?” “I suppose we can eat,” she said. “Then follow me,” Gold Dust said and started walking toward the barn. “I’ve set up a picnic table behind the barn and oh!” he paused, turning back to us. “I noticed you didn’t have any saddlebags. Did you lose them in the fire?” “Yes, the fire destroyed all our supplies,” Chryssy confirmed. “You plan on traveling to Canterlot, right?” Chryssy nodded. “Well, I have some old saddlebags you may have. They are nothing fancy, but they are sturdy and should last you a while. I can even give you some bits for the train ride and supplies for the trip.” “Oh Gold, you don’t need to do that, we can get by,” I said. He’d already lost so much, I didn’t want him to lose more because of us. “I insist,” he said with a little snort. “You saved my foals, it’s the least I could do to repay you.” “Then we will take them,” Chryssy said, trotting past us and behind the barn. “Thank you, for your help Gold, my… sister and I really appreciate it.” “Oh, it’s not a problem Shiny. Now come on, let’s eat.” He beamed and led the way around the barn. Chryssy and I took one last look at the Peach farm as we started up the road that would lead us to Dodge Junction. Around my barrel were our new saddlebags, with my melted whistle and Chryssy’s broken emerald in one bag, and a little sack of bits in the other. Alongside the bits were some peaches and leftover buttermilk pancakes from breakfast. It wasn’t much, but it wasn’t like it was going to take us long to get to Canterlot once we got on the train. We hadn’t seen Fire or Lucky at breakfast. Somepony had said they left super early, but he didn’t know which way they went. That was okay though, I liked traveling alone with Chryssy. It was a lot less drama for one, and we were able to make much better time along the road. The Peach’s farm fell behind us as we headed northwest, the rising sun at our backs. Chryssy stayed quiet as we walked, that unfocused look in her eyes again, and so I just focused on the road, letting her be lost in her thoughts. So much had happened in the last few days, and we hadn’t really had time to stop and think about it, or about when we arrived in Canterlot. How was I going to convince Celestia to let Chryssy’s changeling go? Her daughter needed him, for even a changeling needed comfort once in a while, and who better than a father? We hadn’t really discussed it since leaving her castle, and I had a feeling she didn’t know what to do either. We had to make a plan though, this wasn’t something we could just wing it at. “Chyssy?” She started, shaking her head and turning to look at me. “Yes Shiny, what is it?” “Do you have a plan for when we reach Canterlot? For what we will tell Princess Celestia? You know I just figure now might be the best time to figure out what we are going to do. Won’t be able to talk about it on the train, and after the train, we will be there so….” I rubbed a hoof through my mane and watched as she lowered her ears and her cheeks were tinged green as she blushed. “Well,” she began, then closed her eyes and sighed, “no,” she admitted. “I know how much Celestia hates my guts, probably more so than I even realize. I was kind of just going to wing it?” “Then we are doomed. You know Celestia’s not going to just hand him over if you ask nicely.” “No, she’s not. We’ll… need to explain things to her. The mysterious unicorn mare, my gathering all my changelings home, the fire.” “That might not be enough,” I said and put a hoof to her shoulder. “Well do you have a better idea!?” She growled, glaring at me. I backed off a step and shook my head. “No, but we need to think of something, otherwise… we might just end up being locked up too.” Chryssy shook her head. “She wouldn’t lock you up. You haven’t done anything to deserve it.” “I’ve associated with you and your subjects, willingly.” Chryssy snorted. “That’s not enough, she would just think I had you under mind control.” I groaned and facehoofed, she was being so stubborn, I was just trying to help! “There you two are, we’ve been waiting for over an hour for you.” I turned to look ahead of us, where atop a low hill Fire and Lucky sat, resting under a tree. “Lucky, Fire? What you two doing here?” I gasped, looking to Chryssy to see a surprised look on her face. “We are coming with you of course!” Lucky yelled, running down the hill. “We wanted to get a head start so you wouldn’t be waiting on me,” Fire said softly, standing up but staying under the tree. “So you plan on coming all the way to Canterlot with us?” Chryssy asked, staring at Lucky. She couldn’t still be mad at him, could she? “Yes, after all, Princess Celestia should hear about what happened from a pony who lives in Hoofville,” he said smirking at her. “And Dodge Junction is just over this hill,” Fire called down. "Why don’t we get trotting in and see when the next train arrives?” “Fire’s right,” I said, stepping between Chryssy and Lucky, “come on you two. Calm down and let’s head into town.” Chryssy glanced at me, took a deep breath, and nodded. “The sooner we get there the sooner we can be rid of him!” she hissed, flicking her tail in Lucky’s face and starting up the hill. “Could you please be nicer Lucky? She already almost killed you once, and I might not be there next time she tries if you keep acting this way.” I whispered, pleading with him. “I’ll try,” he sighed, rolling his eyes, and started up the hill. I followed after him, half expecting Dodge Junction to be burned down as well, but saw to my relief it was just how I had left it all those weeks ago when I passed through on my way to changeling castle. No train was at the station at the moment, nor could I see one on as much of the track that I could see. The cherry trees had come back into full bloom though, their pink leaves waving in a cool breeze, red and yellow cherries scattered over their branches. The stallion stagecoach rested by the local tavern, the four stallions that pulled it leaning against the wall outside, sipping from tall glasses. I could barely make out Cherry Jubilee, who had let me stay the night when I passed through in exchange for a day of work in her cherry orchard, working with other ponies among the trees. Chryssy trotted down the hill, and I followed behind her, Lucky then Fire bringing up the rear. Not too many ponies were out and about. One little brown earth pony mare with a cream-colored mane pushed aside the doors to the bank and walked inside. A tall, buff, jet-black unicorn stallion with a fiery red mane and tail sat next to the post office talking with a dirt brown earth pony with a curly brown mane and tail, dressed in a poststallion’s outfit. But besides that, it seemed everypony must still be asleep or elsewhere. “Well now, welcome to town everypony!” We all turned as a mango orange earth pony stallion with a red-orange mane and tail came trotting toward us. He was wearing a dark brown vest, a dark red scarf tied around his neck and a five-gallon hat matching his vest sat on his head. “The name’s Flintdust. I’m the deputy of this fine town. Anything I can do for ya?” “When does the next train get to town?” Chryssy asked, jumping straight to the point. “Well now, you’re in luck! The train hasn’t come yet today, and it only stops here once a day.” “But when will it arrive?” Chryssy asked again. What was up with her? She sure was acting grumpy today. Nerves maybe? “Right sorry miss, it should arrive around two o’clock, so you got time to rest, get a cool drink, and a warm meal in your bellies. I recommend the Spotted Blossom tavern, named for the spotted red desert rose that grows nearby. Course that is the only tavern in town so not much choice but they got good grub.” “Thank you,” Chryssy said and walked off toward the pub. “Thanks for your help,” I said to Flintdust, then stepped closer to him. “Don’t mind my sister, she’s just… anxious to get home.” “Where you all from?” “Canterlot.” Flintdust chuckled. “Of course, all the best unicorns come from there.” “Plenty of good ones from Hoofville too,” Lucky snorted. “Yes, it is a good town, or well, was. Have had a few pegasi already fly in from there and tell us the news. I’m so sorry.” “Well, not much we can do about it now. But that is why Fire and I are heading to Canterlot. Going to let the princesses know.” “Oh, they know.” “What?” I gasped. No, they couldn’t have found out already, that was part of our… leverage. “Yep, even sent Princess Cadence and Shining Armor down there to check things out. They were already close by anyway, visiting somepony in Appleloosa.” I looked to see if Chryssy had heard what he said, to find her almost to the tavern already, looking back at us. “Can you stallions keep a secret?” Flintdust asked, drawing the three of us in. “Oh of course!” Fire Stick assured, and Lucky and I nodded. “Well, the main reason the princesses sent those two? Other than them being closest, of course, was the one ponies are saying started the fire.” My eyes widened, and breathing heavily I let out a gulp. “Er… it was those shadow things right?” I said, grinning at him. “Well they were part of the problem, but their leader was not like them.” “Who was it then?” Lucky asked, a small, almost gleeful smile rising on his face. Flintdust raised his forehooves above his head, spreading them out as he exclaimed “it was none other than the changeling queen herself, Queen Chrysalis!” “What?” I yelled. Oh nonononono, this was not good. They thought Chryssy had done it! This was all my fault, if I hadn’t gone back to try to save Amethyst, she never would have returned to the town in her changeling form. She wouldn’t have had to fight to save me, making enough commotion to get noticed by those few ponies still around. How were we going to convince Celestia to give us an audience now? I leaned back against Lucky, feeling faint, only to have him push me back up with a smirk on his face. “Are you sure it was her?” Fire whispered, his ears going down as he glanced over to me. “Oh yes! The ones who spotted her heard her yelling in the midst of them, and shooting magic at nearby ponies.” “You sure it wasn’t the shadow creatures she was shooting at?” Shiny asked. He hadn’t seen any other ponies near them. But could there have been a few hidden in the mass of Umbrum? “Oh, they were sure. She even changed into a manticore and coltnapped one of them, dragging it off kicking and screaming away from town.” Well, whoever had been watching them had certainly embellished the tale. He had been on her back, not in her clawed paws, and he most certainly was not kicking. Screaming a little sure, but only out of fear of the Umbrum below him. “So-so where are the Princess and Prince?” I asked, trembling a little. “They flew to Hoofville, Shining in her hooves, to check things out pretty much as soon as they arrived yesterday late afternoon. Not sure when they will be back though, probably depends on if they find the queen.” He turned to look at me and put a hoof to my shoulder. “You okay? You’re not looking very good. Probably shouldn’t have told you all that.” “Oh no, it was some good information to know,” Lucky said, flicking his tail back and forth. Well, he seemed to be enjoying this! “Yes, thank you.” Fire Stick said, then grinned when his stomach rumbled. “Well, I should let you three join your sister and get something to eat. And you,” he said pointing at me, “take it easy okay? They’ll find her, bring her back to Canterlot and make her pay for her crimes! She’s gotten away with too much from what I have heard. She’ll be lucky if she escapes the ax!” With that, he chuckled and walked off. “The- the ax?” I gulped, bringing my forehooves to my head as my mind swirled. But… but she hadn’t killed anypony! I mean sure she had Shining Armor under her mind control and almost took over Equestria but… no, no! They couldn’t kill her! I had to do something, but what? She would continue to Canterlot to save her friend, old lover, I was sure of that. But then… maybe they had let the information that he was there leak on purpose? Were we heading into a trap? And all she had was me with her, an injured Fire who wouldn’t be much help, and Lucky Shot, who I was sure would be just fine with her perishing. What good could I do her, against the whole Canterlot royal guard? “Come on, I’m hungry! Let’s go eat,” Lucky said, prodding me along. “Eat, EAT, how can you think of eating at a time like this?” I yelled. “Easy, my stomach rumbles, I give it a little pat,” he patted his stomach, “then I find it some food to calm the little beast.” “You-you,” I stuttered then threw my hooves into the air, was useless talking to him. “Look, Lucky, Fire just… don’t tell Chryssy about this okay? I’ll find a way to tell her myself.” “Okay Shiny, I hope you can find a way to save her,” Fire said softly. Lucky snorted, “I wasn’t planning on telling her anyway! Would serve her right for trying to kill me.” “Lucky!” Fire glared at him. “What? Just telling the truth. But come ooon you two. Let’s get some of that food!” I sighed but nodded, hearing my own stomach rumble. But was it hunger, or fear for Chryssy? We trotted toward the tavern, where ‘Dew’ rolled her eyes and entered just before us. It was only a few hours until the train was scheduled to arrive, and I had no idea what I was going to do.