The rescue
"I have got to be crazy. This doesn't make sense but…" Chrysalis sighed as she thought of the two, her Queens. "They beat me, fair and square, at my own game." She looked out at the tracks flowing away behind the train.
Careful stepped out onto the back step of the caboose with Chrysalis. "They told me." He reached a leg up and over the former queen's shoulders.
"Was I a bad queen?" Chrysalis knew she hadn't been. She had raised the hive too big and they had to invade Canterlot just to try to feed them.
"You were terrible." Careful felt assured enough in his new position that he could afford the truth. "But you loved us, you cared for us. You even faced down Princess Celestia for us." He gave the other changeling a squeeze.
Chrysalis didn't want any more words. She looked at her rule from a new way, that of the fellow drone at her side. She smiled, the expression feeling so much better than the smirk or scowl she used to wear all the time.
"It's gone!" Shining kept turning around in circles, then swapping directions. "Cady, it's gone!"
"Did you try looking under the pillow?" Cadance's droll tone was enough of a sobering blow to Shining's ego that he at least stopped turning in circles. "Okay, you calm again?" The stallion nodded. "Okay, so your cutie mark is gone, no big deal, changelings don't have them."
He was dumbfounded. "It's not that easy!" Without thinking, he lifted the pillow his wife had gestured to earlier and immediately felt stupid for doing it. "Everypony will know I am a monster." A wing curled around his side and without thinking about it Shining leaned into Cadance.
"Shh, you aren't a monster, and if anything your cutie mark is more important now. You have a lot more ponies to protect." Cadance felt the train start to slow. "So, get your disguise on and let's go and save our hive."
The kiss on Shining's cheek did as much to buoy his spirits as the words did. Calling the fire, he felt his form adjust and looking just like his old self again, he couldn't help but feel a little… odd. This wasn't him.
"My Queens." Chrysalis looked around, there were hundreds of drones. She wasn't even aware there were this many changelings in her hive before but the proof was right before her. "Not all of them will be able to disguise."
Shining had changed again, making himself into a pegasus version of himself. Wings were perfect for giving the hugs the changelings needed. "What do you mean?"
"She is right, most of us can do sort-of pony shapes, though." The voice came from under Shining's wing and he lifted it a little to see a drone snuggled under it. He would have to fight not to smile at the adorable changeling, so he didn't.
"I am your-" Chrysalis cut short, her brain catching up to her tongue. But when the drone stuck their tongue out at her she lost her cool. Rushing forward, fury burning in her veins, she almost made contact with the other changeling before she froze and just looked up. Shining Armor's nose was a mere inch from her own and the former queen of changelings blushed.
"You need a hug too?" Shining's words bit more sharply than the drone's had, Chrysalis felt tears start to come. The words were a final reminder that she was no longer queen of the hive. Warmth wrapped her, it clung to her with soft, feathery down. "It's okay, Chrysalis, nopony expects you to fully turn around in just a few days."
A second pressure touched Chrysalis' other side and she saw it was the taunting drone. Under Shining's wing, Chrysalis bawled harder and harder, letting out years of suppressed pain.
"So how are we going to get you all back?" Shining looked to the little drone but got a shrug back. Of course, he shouldn't be asking that kind of question of them.
"The train of course." Cadance spread her wings and gestured with a hoof to the stationary train in the distance. "Everypony-"
"Ling!" a drone shouted, catching the princess off guard.
"Sorry, everyling." Cadance looked around at the faces and noticed a lot of smiles on them already. "Everyling, please make your way to the train with whatever disguise you can manage. It doesn't have to be perfect, we just have to get you back to the Crystal Empire."
"My Queen, we… we don't have much energy, some won't-" One changeling was cut short as Cadance turned to Shining and leaned in to kiss him.
Over five hundred little voices gave a collective sigh as a wave of love rolled out, swamping them.
Chrysalis had lost her spot under Shining's wing, but right then she didn't care so much, she was gazing at her queens with adoring eyes. "Love is the better choice…"
Celestia strode through the streets of the Crystal Empire, on her way to the castle. Luna was at her side and both looked a little out of sorts. In the open, changelings were going about daily lives, beside the citizens of the city.
"It's not right." Luna glanced at one drone, apparently selling some crystal apples. "This is worse than we thought, my sister."
"Bestill your anger, Luna." Celestia tried to keep her eyes forward. It was hard to keep her full focus in the presence of creatures that had defeated her so soundly. The missive had been clear, however, there was to be no fighting the changelings.
"Announcing Princess Celestia and Princess Luna!" A crystal pony guard had announced the two and the royal sisters strode forward into the impressive throne room. The sight that greeted them had both narrow their eyes. Chatting casually with the changelings and courtiers of the Crystal Empire, was Chrysalis.
"Auntie Celestia, Auntie Luna." Cadance smiled and managed to draw their attention from the former changeling queen to herself. "It is a delight to see you in my much-restored empire." There was enough emphasis on 'my' that Celestia got the hint, clear as day.
"We heard a rumor of a train load of changelings charging through Equestria, stopping for nopony." Celestia looked at Cadance and realized at once she had wrought too well.
"You have to understand, Auntie, some of our changelings were starving, we simply couldn't risk them to-" Cadance was playing her game until Luna dropped a solid hoof on the flagstone.
"What is going on, niece?" Luna's eyes glared at the changelings around until they fell on a scraggly one that strode up and sat in the empty throne beside Cadance. "What… what is the meaning of this?"
A flash of green fire took Shining and restored his form, or at least the one Luna knew better. "Auntie." Shining took the seat he had been reluctant to take. "As you can see, we are a little attached to our new citizens."
Emotions have a way of getting out, particularly when you don't want them to. Lucky Chrysalis has a wing to hide under now. 
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Haha, cue sputtering of confusion from the Royal Pony Sisters! We take it that Twilight didn't mention it to them?
Keep going! ;)
7268969 I am sure it was in a friendship letter to Celestia somewhere, but what ruling princess has time to read ALL of them?
7268982 Hmmm... Magical Mystery Cure seemed to indicate she at least keeps them!
7268985 Right, but it doesn't take a princess to file things away...
Should be either bestill (no space) or Still
7269012 Thank you!
Oop! Done... I read too fast for my own good ;-;
More!
Erhghghg just as it got good...er...gooder!! But...that isn't even a word...but it's hard to come with them from such a story that leaves you...wordless...
I'm sorry
want anymore words - want any more words
words bit sharper - words bit more sharply
Of course he shouldn't - Of course, he shouldn't
and gesture with - and gestured with
much restored - much-restored
*****
Lover conquers all, or changelings at least. Hard to hate your enemy when they make sure you have a fully tummy.
7269212 Bah, bad phrasing, not bad math. Fixed and thanks!
7269228 They are on my web space somewhere. Uh... http://users.on.net/~damageinc/emoji/
7269245 Thanks! All fixed.
7269243 It's okay, you don't need to speak, just love.
7269279 Great! *pulls you into a tight hug* Just love :D
7269300 *FEEDS*
7269311 yaaayy XD wow I'm eighteen this coming Sunday and I'm so childish...plus I look fourteen...
7269316 Heh, I have a friend who was still able to order kids menu stuff without raising an eyebrow, in her mid twenties. She can't anymore, however, pregnant belly kind of gives her away.
7269342 ah yes. Under age pregnancy. Well at least that's what people must see of her now. Did you know a FIVE year old had a baby?
7269371 Heh, she is 28 now (pregnant with her first) so she is hardly under age, but yeah, the world is an odd place...
7269400 It is. But as I always say: Do what you can with what you have.
Disclaimer: just something I say, no idea if it's an already existing saying.
LOVE THIS STORY ITS MOZING
remember to breath Luna it is only Shining armor he is just a little different.
Hah, okay, I like this. Chryssie was clearly not made to be a queen, but she still did get best. Now she doesn't need bear all that responsibility. And she still kept her Queen form, just smaller.
7269271 Those only work in the story though, yes?
Chryssi could use Fluffle Puff now for support, not serious, just a humourous conjecture.
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