UPDATES: Trying for bi-weekly.
It's been over a decade since the changeling invasion of Canterlot. Equestria and the Changeling Hive are at peace and tentative political allies. However, while changelings have been allowed to live in pony cities, no pony has ever been allowed to even visit the hive itself. Until now.
When the opportunity to visit the changeling hive in person in return for arranging a trip for a group of changeling drones to the Crystal Empire, Twilight Sparkle uses her connections and jumps on it. After all, who better than a researcher like her to uncover the secrets of changeling daily life.
Cadance and Shining Armor can deal with a couple drones, right? Besides, crystals are notoriously hard to set on fire.