Two week old Flurry Heart has been foalnaped, will her parents ever see her again?
A changeling agent successfully foalnaps Flurry Heart, making off from the Crystal Empire with his prize to bring before his queen. But fate has other plans, Flurry Heart will never make it to the changeling queen, but where does she wind up?
Featured 1/18/17 Rated Mature for darker themes later on, as well as the occasional dirty humor. Cover art by lili-lightly, go show them some love.
The Crystal Empire was normally a quiet and calm place, ponies here simply enjoyed living. Right now however the entirety of the Empire was anything but calm and quiet. Guards and citizens alike ran to and fro, even little fillies and colts joined in the ruckus. The reason? Only a few minuets ago the unthinkable happened, two week old Princess Flurry Heart was foalnaped. Bells rung, guards yelled orders as the search for the princess and her foalnaper began. Word quickly spread and soon every able body within the empire joined the search.
As the city was combed inch by inch, a shadowy figure hid in an alley clutching his prize. Blue eyes watched the street looking for sings a pony had found him, for the moment he was safe.
“The Queen will be very pleased with you, soon we will have all the love we need and Equestria will be ours.”
Looking out agin the changeling saw his opportunity, dashing out of the alley and into the cool evening air. He made for the opposing building, with his back to the wall he paused, listening for hoof steps to follow him, none came. Just as the last rays of the sun disappeared the changeling took flight, using his black carapaces to blend in with the night sky, he left the Crystal Empire behind with his prize in hoof.
But fate is as cruel as it is kind, as he made it past the barrier and into the snow of the north, a storm began brewing. The changeling agent made his way through the storm as best he could, but the wind raged, lightning crashed all around him, and the snow was completely blinding. Just past where the snow turned to rocky soil and then grass, the storm demonstrated why even pegasus let such storms run their course. Lighting became more fierce, the rain forced its will upon the changeling, driving him down, wind thrashed at him throwing him off course. Finally the storm was done toying with the changeling. A single lightning bolt struck the changeling in its side, he was dead even before he began falling.
With nothing holding her, Flurry Heart fell, the blanket she was in coming undone. Part of the blanket was caught in one of the holes in the changeling’s for hoof, going down with him. Flurry now loose was caught in the wind by her large wings, carrying her up and over the storm for a brief moment. While crying since the storm had begun, she now stopped taking in the wonders of the stars in the night sky, even if she was far too young to fully grasp what they were beyond ‘shinny’. The wind caught her once again, pulling her down back into the storm, she was miles away from where the changeling agent had dropped to the ground dead, but in this wooded area she was close to something else.
Scared once again, she began to cry. The wind was much calmer here, bringing her down to land in the upper part of a tree, where she continued to cry from cold and fright. A figure below her heard her cries, looking up he was astonished to find a foal stuck in a tree. Making hast climbing the tree, he gently pulls her out of the branches with his magic, pulling her close doing his best to calm the filly.
“Shhh you're safe now little one.”
Flurry looked up the the pony holding her, bright compound blue eyes looked back at her. She reached up and grabbed the ‘ponies’ snout in her hooves, not understanding that this was not a pony but another changeling. To Flurry it didn’t matter, here was someone trying to shelter her from the storm around them.
“Come little one, I’ll take you home, there are other little one there as well, would you like that?”
The meaning of his words lost on her, Flurry just held on tighter. Hopping down from the tree, the changeling held Flurry close to his barrel as he ran as fast as he dare back to his home. It was a humble little thing, outside was nothing more than a shallow cave, yet deep inside was a growing hive, though few changeling lived here yet. Bringing his charge into one of the main chambers, he called out to his fellow changelings.
“Look at this!”
The others gathered around, seeing Flurry for the first time.
“Why did you bring a pony here?”
“What is she?”
“I-is that an Alicorn?”
“Did you seriously just steal a nymph?!?”
“Calm down everyling, she was stuck in a tree, the wind must have caught her large wings.” He shows the oversized wings on her back.
“B-but we can't…”
The protesters words are cut short as every changeling feels a pulse of love, they all look down to Flurry who is snuggling into the changeling holding her.
“Um… maybe we could…”
“She is a blessing from the first queen.”
Every eye turn to a single changeling, he is slightly bigger than the others, taller by about an inch, yet his voice is soft.
“She has been delivered to us, and we shall take care of her as one of our own, until the day she decides to leave us.”
The proclamation is unchallenged.
Flurry is introduced to the few nymphs in the hive, they take to her without care, seeing her as one of them. Flurry looks at the little things crawling towards her, and yet she isn’t afraid of them. When at last they fall asleep, she is in the middle of a small lump of changeling, both nymphs and adults.
It isn't until later afternoon the next day that the changeling’s body is found, landing along side of a road, blanket still stuck in his foreleg. Both are brought to Shining Armor and Cadance, Shining trying to keep a brave face but failing, Cadence along with Twilight are both in tears. Cadence can do nothing but weep and clutch the last item she has of her foal, crying out her name as if trying to call her back.
“Gerrrr! You just get your fluffy flank back down here so I can pummel you!”
“Or what? You still have to say it, we all know it.”
Glaring up at the pompous alicorn, Spade looks back to his friends for support. They just sit there with wide grins.
“Come on Spade, we all saw it, now you just got to admit it.”
“Yep, and she didn’t cheat ether.”
“Just say it lovebug.”
Spade looked back at the alicorn hovering just out of reach, blue compound eyes glaring. After a long moment he sighed and gave up.
“Flurry McFluffle Flank is a better digger then I am. THere happy?”
“Oh you couldn’t resist adding that first part could you?” Flurry said as she landed in front of her friend.
“Like you wouldn’t?”
“True enough. I still won though.”
Laughter came all around. Flurry Heart looked at Spade then her other friends, two changeling Shade and Quick and an earth pony Rocky Thunder. The five of them had been close friends for as long as any of them could remember, and were as close as could be with out being joined at the hip.
“Ya, ya. I still don't get why you like digging so much, every pegasus here heats it when they get dirt in their wings.”
“Well every pegasus here doesn't have magic to then their wings, beside I like it, it's changeling.”
“You're weird.” Rocky said with an eye roll.
“Yep, she even let Shade here talk her into taking some infiltrator classes.”
“You're in the same class Quick, and I remember how excited you were.”
“Ohhh I think someling has a crush on our resident alicorn.” Teased Spade, poking Quick in his barrel.
“I-wel-um…”
“Alright you lot,” interrupted a voice. “Classes are about to start, you all need to get to your specialty classes.”
“Yes Book Note.” The five replied in unison.
Each of them split off to head to their needed destinations, Flurry galloped down the halls of the hive, smiling at each and every ling or pony she passed. Quick and Shade were off to their stealth classes, Rocky was went to earth sculpting, Spade was off to tunnelers and hive construction, and Flurry was off to combat lessons.
Early on Flurry knew she wanted to do anything she could to defend her hive, and her massive magic reserve was more than up to the task. Magic came easy to her, and in large amounts, when she had started learning magic she found restraints had been places on her magic, and while easy to unlock, she was grateful to who or what ever had sealed her magic when she was a foal, especially after carving out that trench one day, but hay new hallway! After that magic and the spell for it came easy, she had mastered every combat spell they had quickly, refining them over the years.
She still worked to improve her spells, but now her training was turned to the philosophy of magic. The art of thinking before acting, strategy, paying an opponent into your hooves. As she approached the armory, she got the sense that something wasn't right. Every pony in the hive had inherited some small amount of changeling magic, growing up and living around so much active changeling magic all the time had such effects, most ponies could sense or taste emotions like all changelings, and Flurry could taste the concern in the room.
“Hard Shell, Iron Shod whats wrong?”
The changeling and Earth Pony respectively turned to Flurry.
“Oh just fretting over armor and weapons, you know things us soldier type are prone to doing.”
Flurry narrowed her eyes. “You're lying.” Perhaps it was her massive amount of magic, but Flurry was more sensitive to emotional taste them other ponies.
“You both taste like sour milk and rancid fish, whats going on?”
They both sighed.
“We keep forgetting you're a walking lie detector,” said Iron Shod with a shake of his head. “Two of our adopters are late, and I don’t mean by a few hours or even a day, they were supposed to be back over three days ago.”
Flurry’s eyes went wide, adopters were changeling who found abandoned foals and brought them to the hive. Having them run late by a day was possible, it had happened rarely, but never three. They would have a newborn foal or young colt and/or filly with them, getting the younger ones back to the hive as soon as possible was a priority, they needed care and protection like any other.
“You… you don’t think it's them, do you?”
‘Them’ was referring to the evil Queen and her hive.
“It's possible, we try to keep our heads down, can’t find us if they don’t know we exist. I’m more concerned with other ponies actually.”
Hard Shell looked at his friend. “Coming from you, that's saying something. What are you thinking?”
“I’ve always been concerned about the adopters getting robbed or worse, two ponies with a new foal, trust me, they make for an easy looking target to the more criminally inclined ponies.”
“And you would know this how?” Flurry asked.
“I was six before I was brought to the hive, I spent two years on the streets in Fillydelphia, lot of stuff you don’t want to see in those back alleys.”
Flurry facehoofed. “I keep forgetting you're older then me.”
“You're just the first, not the oldest. And as your big brother it's my job to protect silly little sisters.”
Flurry scrunched her snout and pouted. “I’m not silly.”
“Then why are you covered in dirt again?”
Flurry just blushed, pouting some more.
The two just laughed.
“Go on, you don’t want to be late again, remember what happens when Arrow gets annoyed.”
Flurry hurried off, deeper into the armory. Inside she found Arrow looking over several books, the hard shelled changeling didn’t seem to notice Flurry enter, or so she thought.
“You’ll need more dirt than that if you're going to ty and blend in with the floor.”
Flurry just sighed. “Sorry I’m late… again.”
“I’ve come to accept that you will never arrive on time, it seems my lessons are no longer important to you.”
Flurry’s wings flared in shock. “What? No! Your lessons are very important, I.. um… I just get distracted easily.”
“Or when you're challenged?”
“That too.”
“Your also very easy to pick on, despite haveing a queens level of emotional sense.”
Flurry looked up, seeing the smirk on the changelings face, she realized she had been had.
Any further conversation between the two was cut off, as a shout went through the hive.
“GUARD PONIES! GUARD PONIES ARE COMING!”
Everyone froze, getting found by the evil Queen was bad, but guard ponies? They had the backing of four alicorns, and most in the hive had seen what Flurry could do, if all four came to bear…
“To stations! We must defend the hive!” Came another shout.
“Flurry, get your armor, do your duty”
Flurry didn’t need to be told twice, flaring her magic she called forth a set of armor from one of the nearby shelves. It was molted changeling chitin like all changeling armor, unlike other changeling armor Flurry had added blue vine pattern along the edges. Rushing out of the armory, Flurry entered into a chaotic yet organized mess of bodies. Everyone in the hive moved with purpose, they all knew what they had to do. Foals and nyimpys were taken to the nursery near the eggs and newborn, guards moved to the main entrance as well as secondary positions.
Flurry was still young, only nineteen, but she would be damned to Tartarus before she would sit on the sidelines. She made it to the main gate of the hive in record time, coming to the first line guard Flurry spotted the changeling she was looking for.
“DAD!”
“Flurry?! What are you doing here? You are not going to be-”
“Yes I am dad! You know very well I’m the best shield caster we have, I’ll block the entrance and hold them back. Keep any counter attacks from slipping through my shield, keep me safe so I can keep you safe, so there.”
“*Sigh* Sometimes I wish you didn’t have your mother's stubbornness or logic, fine we’ll hold in wedge formation. I want three guards on you at all times, no arguments, your shield goes down they get in, end of discussion.”
All of them go into position, Flurry raising her shield behind the main gate, it would be their first line. Tense moments passed, the only thing that could be heard was breathing. Suddenly with a loud bang of thunder, the gate flew off its hinges, smashing into Flurries shield.
Your shield must be like the rock, firm and steadfast, you make even the mightiest of waves part around you, like the rock you must also be patient, the brightest candle burns fasted. Do not spend yourself, let your opponent spend themselves, then you will defeat them.
Flurry remembered one of the Neighpone tombs she studied, she breathed out slowly, letting her shield reflect the impact rather than absorbing it, her shield barely felt a thing. Thank you sensei.
“Changeling hive, you have one minute to surrender. If you do not we will take your hive by force.”
“Come and get us! We do not fear you!”
A royal blue figure stepped through the ruined gate, her main and tail of stars flowing in an ethereal wind.
“Are you sure of that?”
“Even if we were, we protect our own and our young, you shall not pass!”
“Chrysalis is no more, why do so many of you continue to fight?”
The hall was silent for a moment.
“The evil Queen is dead?”
Luna paused, this was the first time she had head this reaction.
“She was slain three years ago, you have not heard?”
“We keep our heads down, staying out of sight, we try to keep to ourselves.”
“And yet you do not, we have captured your agents foalnaping ponies, even little foals, and you claim to not follow Chrysalis.”
A unicorn from the second line steps forward, she is red with a cobalt mane and leafy green eyes.
“If by ‘foalnaping’, you mean finding lost and abandoned foals and taking them in, then yes this hive is foalnaping ponies.”
A second figure stepped up beside Luna, this one also an alicorn but much smaller, her lavender coat standing out in the darkened tunnel.
“What is your name?”
“Crimson Bolt.”
“Can you convince us you're not under changeling mind control?”
“You can scan for influence, I’ll let you inspect me.”
The second Alicorn nodded, stepping up to the shield along with Crimson.
“May I have your name alicorn?”
“Twilight Sparkle, you haven’t heard of me? How long have you been living here?”
“About eighteen years, so most of my life, I’ve been here since I was four. And yes we know about the four ruling alicorns, and there names. There aren't a lot of pictures in the textbooks we have, and it's not like we get the paper delivered here.”
“You have Equestrian textbooks?”
“Yes, all purchased legally, trademarks are wonderful.”
Twilight nodded, as a window opened up in the shield. Drawing up her magic Twilight readied a series of spells, the first one went off scanning Crimson. While the scan went off, another spell activated overlapping the magical signatures. The spell places a beacon behind the shield caster, while she couldn’t see them Twilight followed their magic to sense their location. With a blinding flash of magic, Twilight teleported through the opening in the shield arriving behind the shield caster.
“IT'S A TRICK!”
Twilight spun around, ready to strike down the shield caster, allowing Luna and the guard in to take down the changelings and free the ponies. Her eyes violet eyes locked with sky blue ones, Twilight froze. The pink and blue highlight main, light pink coat, Twilight could only stare in recognition.
“F-flurry Heart?!?”
Twilight was grappled to the ground by four changelings, before ether could respond. Flurry glared daggers at Twilight, her anger plain as day.
“THOU SHALL RUE THIS DAY!!”
The royal canterlot voice shook the entire hive, Flurry winced as her shield was struck with the full force of an enraged alicorn. I can't hold this for long. Putting all her concentration into her shield Flurry became the rock, letting the magic assault wash over she shield as best she could, but even the rock can be worn down. Cracks formed in her shield, becoming more and more numerous by the second.
“Get the others out, she's breaking through!” Flurry called out.
Another burst of magic from Twilight saw the changeling holding her thrown off, she charged a stun spell with the full weight of her magic, letting if off in a wave. Every changeling and pony in the immediate area fell over, out cold. Flurry stumbled, trying to stay awake and maintain her shield, with a final blast of magic Luna shattered her shield, charging forward with her guard. Flurry tried to stand, to fight and defend her home. But another stun spell from Twilight saw her go down, just before the darkness took her Flurry heard Twilight.
Flurry Heart felt off, her head was muddled and her body felt stiff and over all ‘bleh’, it was kind of like the one time she and her friends had gotten into the storage room and accidentally drank something called whisky. All five of them had felt horrible the next day, in addition to getting a very long lecture by each of their parents. Flurry took comfort in the warm feeling around her, it felt like she was in the middle of the sleep pile again, not that she minded at all. But something was off, things just didn’t quite seemed right somehow, and she didn’t remember going to sleep. Or really anything for that matter. She groaned softly, feeling a ponies wing and hooves wrapped around her.
“Flurry?”
She heard her name, but her brain wasn’t quite working yet. Pony wing, mare's voice, that narrowed the list down, the voice was kinda pitched? Oh she knew who that was.
“Not now Cloud, go back to sleep.”
“Flurry!” The voice was still at whispering levels, but something was nagging at the back of her mind.
“Ugh, I’ll take you flying Cloud if you give me ten more minutes.”
“Take all the time you need flurry of my heart.”
Wait a second, ‘flurry of my heart’ no one calls me that!
Forcing her eyes open Flurry looked around, or as much as she could with her blurry eyes. It took her vision a moment to clear, taking in the room around her, Flurry was suddenly very aware that a lot was wrong. The room was very large, a huge waste of space in her opinion. The walls were all white with gold inlays almost everywhere, sunlight came in from a window somewhere behind her, and there were a pair of unfamiliar pink hooves around her. Deciding she was in a very bad position, she called up her massive wellspring of magic, attempting to teleport out of the bed, Flury found she couldn’t call forth her magic. Panicking now she used her large wings, pushing off from the pony behind her with a loud ‘thump’. Propelling herself into the center of the room, Flurry spun around, looking for her captor. She saw a pink alicorn with a tri color main, looking at her from the bed with a look of panic on her face.
“Its normally polite to introduce yourself to someone, you know before you spoon with them.” Flurry said glaring at the alicorn.
“I-bu-whut?”
“Or is that sort of thing normal for alicorns? Sorry we couldn’t find any ‘how to be an alicorn’ books.”
“…”
“I mean cuddles are fine and all, but that was way more than just cuddling.”
“O-ok I guess I can see how that might have looked, I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself, it's been so long since I’ve seen you.”
Flurry just gave a blank look at the alicorn. “I’m afraid I don’t know you.”
The other alicorn’s face fell. “I knew you wouldn’t, you weren't even a month old before you were taken from us. I’m your mother, Cadence.”
Flurry just look at Cadence for a moment, they were both alicorns, the purple in her main was the same as hers, they were both pink, even if Flurry’s was very light. She admitted it was possible, she knew she was adopted, but right now alicorns did not have a lot of trust going with her.
“Alright I’ll accept that I do look a lot like you, but I want you to see things from my point of view for a moment. The home I’ve known for my entire life was just attacked by two alicorns, I’ve been taken from my friends and family, and now I wake up with a third alicorn telling me I’m her long lost daughter, you tell me how that doesn't sound just a little bit convenient all things considered?”
Cadence’s face fell again. “I was told you might still have some lingering effects of the changeling mind control.”
“Wait, what?”
“But I promise you I won't give up on you, I lost you once I wont-”
“I’M NOT UNDER ANY CONTROL!”
Cadence could only stare in shock, she had expected a lot of things from Flurry after all these years, but out right anger wasn’t one of them.
“Flurry, please listen to me, I’ve dealt with changelings for two decades now, when they foalnaped me at my wedding, their war with Equestria for the past five years.”
“War?” The adopters didn’t stay in pony towns long, just enough time to find a foal or two, visit an orphanage or such, even still a war would have been noticed.
Cadence nodded. “Not surprising they didn’t tell you, why would they? Chrysalis declared war five years ago, it's been called ‘The Shadow War’ since it's all been fought outside of the public eye.”
“I find that a little hard to believe, we had changelings outside the hive from time to time, they would have heard something.”
“As far as anypony knew, changelings were just being found out and captured, you can’t resist a conqueror if you don’t know you’ve been conquered.”
Flurry had to admit, that did make a degree of sense. Ponies wouldn’t know until it was too late if at all, much easier to control that way.
“Ok, I admit that sounds plausible, but the other alicorn the tall one, what was her name?”
“Luna.”
“Yes her, she said the Evil One, Chrysalis, was defeated three years ago, so what's been going on since then?”
“Her changelings scattered, setting up small ‘splinter hives’ as we call them, such as the one you were being held in.”
“You mean the home I grew up in? The home with my friends and family? We weren't any ‘splinter hive’.”
“Flurry, please. Those things weren't you friends, and most certainly not your family, they are monsters, nothing more.”
“Have you ever spoken to one?” Flurry asked angrily.
“Yes infact,” That caught Flurry by surprise. “We tried negotiating with some of the splinter hives the first few months after Chrysalis was defeated, each time it was a trap of some kind. Finally we stopped and just took the hives out.”
Flury was quiet for a moment, from Cadences perspective, no changelings had ever tried to make peace, but that still wasn't an excuse.
“We were open to talking, we only defended ourselves. And then you trick and attack us!”
“We needed to get you and the other ponies out, we didn’t know you personally were there, but I’m glad we were able to find you.”
Cadence stood up and approached Flurry, Flurry stepped back before Cadence could get close enough to touch her.
“Please, I know things must seem confusing right now.”
“Not as much as you think, I’m just wondering why you won't see-”
A knocking interrupted the two.
“Princess?” A guard asked poking his head inside.
“Yes what is it?” Cadence asked in a tone that said she wanted the guard gone as soon as possible.
“Princess Celestia has summoned you both, as soon as you are able.” With his message delivered the guard slipped back out.
“Celestia is your Aunt, it seems she is eager to meet you.”
Flurry just glared, not moving.
“Please, if nothing else she is the ruler of equestria, and she has summoned us both, it's considered kind of rude to ignore her.”
Flurry just sighed. “Fine, lead on Cadence, since I have no clue where I’d be going.”
“Right this way,” Cadence gestured with a wing. “And you can call me ‘mom’.”
~o0o~
Flurry and Cadence walked side by side, the tension around them was thick, even the guards they walked passed could feel it, not that any of them showed it. While walking Flurry had asked about the ring she discovered on her horn, that seemed to be blocking her magic. Cadence had told her that they didn’t know how much control she had on her magic, and had wanted to avoid an accidental outburst and subsequent damage, Flurry understood all too well. When asked if she could have it taken off Cadent refused, claiming it was helping to ‘purge’ the changeling effects from her mind, Flurry felt that reason was a little too thin in her book.
Coming around a corner into one of the castle's many open areas, Flurry still felt the castle wasted too much space, they ran into a stallion looking for them. He was snow white with a two tone blue mane, his eyes were the same as hers, sparkling sky blue. Flurry knew who he was, there was no doubting it.
“F-flurry?”
Flurry stood still, but didn’t glare the stallion down. “Yes thats me, you must…”
Flurry was suddenly charged, finding herself on the receiving end of a very strong hug.
“My little snow flurry is back. I’m soo sorry, we looked all over for you.”
“Well, if we were easy to find, we wouldn’t be doing our job right now would we.” Shining gave a worried look at her statement.
“She still see herself as one of them Shinny,” Cadence offered. “We still need to break their hold on her.”
Shining nodded. “Celestia, Luna and Twily have been interrogating the prisoners since they woke up yesterday, they must have found something out if they summoned us.”
“They summoned you too?” Cadence asked.
Shining just nodded. “I’m just glad to have our little filly back.”
“I’m not so little any more.” Flurry chuckled. Then something he said hit her. “Wait, yesterday? How long have I been out?”
“A day and a half, Twily always uses too much magic in her spells when she's panicked.”
The three of them resumed walking, with Flurry in the middle, it seemed they weren't going to let anyone get near her.
This ‘Shinny’ seems alright, but something is off with Cadence, I hope it's not actually mind control, trying to convince anyone else that would not easy.
They found themselves at the throne room, inside were all three alicorns, two guards and one changeling. Both Cadence and Shining glared at the changeling, who was acting rather calm despite being in the same room as Equestria’s four alicorns, and as Shining noticed was not bound.
“Guards! Why is the prisoner not in chains?” Shining demanded.
“Because,” Celestia answered for them. “He, nor any of his hive are prisoners.”
“WHAT?!” Both Shining and Cadence exclaimed.
“BBBFF, we have made a terrible mistake.” Twilight said with her head hung in shame.
“What are you talking about?” Shining asked indignantly.
Luna stepped forward to answered for her. “All three of us have used our magic to see into, not only his,” She gestured towards the changeling. “But several of the minds of both changeling and pony from the recently captured hive, and what we have seen greatly saddens us. Not for what we have seen them do, but for what we have done to them in such a short amount of time.”
Cadence, Shining and even Flurry looked at Luna quizzically.
“There is much truth in there words we did not see, they abandoned Chrysalis and her ilk some time before they attack Canterlot, seeing it as a fool's errand. They have been separated form not only her but the rest of Equestria since the founding of their hive, ‘You can not find what you do not know about’ I believe is how they phrased it.”
“Bu-but, No! Nonononono! Their tricking you, just like they have always done in the past.”
Luna nodded. “Even after seen the memories of so many, we still doubt all is as it seems.”
Celestia spoke up at this point. “To prove they can be trusted as we hope, their hive will be relocating and making temporary residence in the crystal mines beneath Canterlot.”
Flurry sighed in relief, things might be rough for a while, but at least they would be together.
“NO!”
Every eye turned to Cadence.
“My daughter was taken from us by these creatures, they deceive us at every turn, they hurt our ponies every chance they get, and you want to let them live beneath Canterlot!?”
“They will be under heavy guard, as well as other precautions. We also believe that the other remaining hives might try to infiltrate them, they will also be a trap.”
“Aunt Celestia, listen to yourself, you're willingly giving these things a hoof hold in the most valuable place in Equestria!”
“I understand your-”
“NO YOU DON”T!”
Celestia was momentarily shocked at Cadence's outburst, never before had she seen her neecie like this.
“None of you know!” Cadence stood at her full height, glaring at the others. “You don’t know what it's like to lose your foal, to have her taken from you, thinking she’s dead. To wake up at night, knowing you heard her crying, only to find her room empty. No we will not be a part of this, you can have these creatures stay with you, let them over run Equestria. The Crystal Empire will not fall to them.”
With all the others in the room shocked into silence, Cadence lit her horn, teleporting all three of them out of the throne room in a flash of light.
Flurry’s head spunn, being abruptly teleported was never pleasant, even more so over long distances. Getting her bearings, Flurry found they were in the Canterlot train yard, or at least she assumed that's where they were, the tracks and cars kinda gave it away. She saw ‘Shiny’ hurrying over to a group of guards standing near one train in particular.
“Guards! Ready the train to leave immediately, we are returning to the Empire, NOW!”
The guards saluted before running off to their duties, Flurry felt a wing wrap around her, immediately she tried moving away, not wanting to be this close to the clingy mare.
“I won't lose you again, we're going back to the Empire and staying there until Celestia comes to her senses, or those monsters have sucked them all dry.”
Flurry gave her a deadpan look. If I could feed like my siblings, I would drain you my self just for that comment.
Flurry was ushered onto the train, though much to her protest. Just as they were about to be onboard, a flash of violet light appeared behind them.
“Cadence, Shining wait!”
Both turned to see Twilight, appearing from her own teleport.
“Please don’t go.”
“Twily, Celestia just put our worst enemy in the best spot they could ask for, the same ones who foalnaped your neice, my daughter, how did you think I was going to respond?”
“I was hoping for anything but this.”
“I’m sorry Twily, but were not taking any chances.”
Twilight nodded. “I understand, I’ll come visit you all once things get settled down here.”
“That might not be a good idea, we will have no way to tell if your really you or not.”
“Actually you can.” Twilight said as a scroll appeared in her magic. “This is an anti changeling disguise spell, we’ve been using it recently as I’ve only just perfected it.”
“How can I know if this works?”
As if to answer his question, a second Twilight landed next to the first.
“Sorry, I don’t have as much magic as she dose, had to fly here.” Said the second Twilight.
“Shinning, use that spell and hit both of us, I’ll remain the same, ‘other’ me with be revealed as a changeling. Also note he admitted he doesn't have the same power, they can duplicate our appearance not our skills.”
Not without a mind probe, but that only works for memory. Flurry mused.
Shining read through the spell quickly, igniting his horn he shot the spell at both Twilights, as told the second ‘Twilight’ was revealed to be a changeling, who quickly backed away from the clearly angry unicorn.
“Alright, I’ll believe the spell works, but were still leaving. I will never trust those, things. No matter what you or anypony else says.”
Twilight let out a sigh of disappointment. “Alright, I guess that's fair after all that's happened. But I’m still coming to visit as soon as I can.”
“Alright LSBFF.”
Shining and Twilight embraced in a quick hug, Cadence never let her eyes leave the changeling who just stared back. Soon enough Shining boarded the train and the three of them were off, Twilight waved as the train left the yard, and then Canterlot. Picking up speed as it went, making for the Crystal Empire with all speed.
“And you're sure the spell will work on all changelings?” Twilight asked, looking back to the changeling still standing where he was.
“Yes, we were afraid of the Evil One infiltrating and attacking us, we had wards all over the hive. I’m rather surprised you haven't developed your own counterspell.”
“We’ve been working on it for the last decade, but we didn’t have any reliable way to test it, even after the Shadow War started, prisoners are very cooperative. I can see in your spell where we were going wrong, a few more months and we would have finished ours anyway.”
“Do you think he’ll be anger when you tell him?”
“I won't be telling him until after all this is over, maybe it will help them accept you.”
The changeling gave Twilight a sceptical look. “You're awfully accepting of us, especially after what our kind has done over the years, not to mention your attack on our hive.”
Twilight chuckled. “I’m the princess of Friendship, we need to start somewhere, so why not with me?”
The two of them stared off into the distance, staring off in the direction of the Crystal Empire.
~o0o~
Flurry was not happy, not one bit. Once they had left Canterlot, she accepted the fact that she was going to be stuck in her current situation for the time being, so she made the best she could. Unfortunately her ‘parents’ weren't making it easy. At first she had wanted to sit by the window, watching areas she had never seen before roll by. Cadence had made her sit with the two of them, away from any windows, as they talked with her, telling her about her ‘real’ home. Shining had asking her if she had ever eaten pony food before, while slightly annoyed at this, Flurry had told them about the different dishes she had made, most of them were ‘pony’ origin as they put it. Speaking of food, Flurry’s stomach decided to make itself known..
“Um, is there any chance we could get something to eat? I’ve just realized that I haven’t eaten in, maybe two days?”
Cadence's eyes went wide. “Yes certainly, I’m sorry, we just got so caught up.”
Cadence called a servant, requesting they be brought a large lunch as quickly as possible. The mare trotted off quickly to bring them their food.
“You guys don’t make anything yourself?” Flurry asked questionably.
“We often don’t have time with running the Empire, it's there job anyway.”
“Caddy is right, between all of our duties it's just something we don't have time for. Celestia and Luna are the same way.”
“So neither of you do anything for your selves?”
Shining looked to reply, but was cut off by Cadence. “We have a responsibility to defend and protect every pony in the Empire, having servants doing the little day to day things come with the job I'm afraid.”
Any further conversation on the matter was forgotten as the train staff brought in three carts, each with a silver domed try on them. Flurry eyed the trays hungrily, she really didn’t care what was under them, she was just hungry. The servants removed the trays before leaving, revealing three large salads. Flurry’s seemed to be just a bit bigger, it was loaded down with every green and vegetable she could imagine. For a moment Flurry wanted to just dive straight in, forgoing simple table manners. She controlled herself, knowing that her mother, her changeling mother that is, would scold her to no end if she did, regardless of not being there she knew she would find out. Flurry took up a fork in her hoof, digging into her salad with as much speed as manners allowed. Not even two bites in she noticed Shining and Cadence weren't eating yet.
“What?” She asked after swallowing her mouth full.
“How did you learn to eat like that?” Asked Cadence warrily.
Flurry tilted her head. “What with my hooves? I can’t use magic right now, how else was I supposed to?”
“Well,” Shining spoke up. “It's just that, you were with changelings until now.”
“And?” Flurry asked wondering where this was going.
“We didn’t expect you to know, well table manners.”
Flurry gave Shining a deadpan look. “Were changelings, not animals. Were you expecting me to eat snout first?”
Their silence was all the answer she needed.
Flurry could only sigh. “Yes I know table manners, as well as many other things, we were educated, not savages.”
“I’m sure they thought they were educated,” Cadence began. “But you're going to receive a proper education in the Empire, you're going to learn how to be a proper pony.”
Further argument from Flurry was cut off, Cadence used her magic to bring another fork full to Flurry. She didn’t argue out of fear of being ‘fed’ more by Cadence, something she found degrading. After eating Flurry tried again to connect with her first parents, talking about spells and magic, seeing as all three of them could use magic. Shining was open to talking about magic with her, until Cadence insisted she forget what she had learned before, telling her she would learn proper magic. After that the remainder of the trip was Cadence, effective telling Flurry of all the things she would no longer need to do, as well as all the things she ‘needed’ to forget.
Eventually the train arrived in the Crystal Empire. Once they were off the train Flurry took in the sights of the Empire for the first time, everything was made of Crystal, and not just built but carved, there were no seams on any of the corners of any of the buildings. It reminded her of how well build the hive was, quietly she wondered if there was some long lost connection. They made their way to the Crystal Spire, Flurry had seen it ever since they had stepped off the train, but you couldn’t really tell how big it was untill you were right up next to it.
“W-wow, it’s huge!” Flurry said astounded.
“If you think that’s big, you should see the stadium out back, we held the Equestrian games here not long before you were boun.” Shining said proudly.
“There's a stadium in the back yard?!?”
“We can talk about that latter, right now we're going to get that changeling magic out of you.”
Flurry could only roll her eyes. The three of them walked beneath the Spire, and Flurry saw the Crystal Heart for the first time.
“Is that…”
“The Crystal Heart, you’ve heard about it?” Cadence asked with a raised eyebrow.
“About as much as anyone outside the Empire, a magic artifact keeping the Crystal Empire safe. Now I see where I get the shape in my cutie mark.”
At Flurry’s mention of her cutie mark, both Shining and Cadence looked down, not having thought to look before. Her mark was a green heart shield, stylized exactly like the Crystal Heart, in the center of it was a blue eight point star. Both Shining and Cadence shared a look, not sure what to say.
“It’s not polite to stare at someone else’s flank like that, not unless you're trying to get something.”
Shining could only look away with a blush.
“Flurry! How could you say something like that? A mare your age-”
“What? I am turning twenty this year, last I knew that was considered an adult.”
Cadence snorted stomping her hoof. “No this is the changeling magic, we will be rid of it.”
Cadence walked over to the Heart, Flurry in tow. Bringing her horn near the Heart, Cadence powered her magic, sending it into the Heart. The Crystal Heart pulsed then glowed, a wisp of magic floated off of the heart, it twisted and turned in the air drifting towards Flurry. Flurry tried to back up, not knowing what this magic was or what it could do, but she was held fast by a pink wing over her back. The magic touched Flurry’s barrel, instantly she felt warm inside as the magic flowed through her. She felt her changeling aura flare, becoming stronger. She could sense the emotional state of everyone around her, she no longer needed to focus on anyone to sense their surface emotions, it was just there. Her range seemed to be about the same, perhaps just a bit larger, but not by much. She felt Cadence next to her, she was hopeful, proud, and happy but there was a twinge of something else, something she couldn't place, but it seemed off. Shining was also hopeful, nervous and happy as well, he lacked the offness of Cadence. The nearby guards were curious, nothing more.
Flurry looked back at the Crystal Heart, she felt love, pure limitless love for everyone and everything around it. There was also a deep magic, something that seemed oddly familiar, like a faded memory that she couldn’t quite remember. The magic faded until it no longer flowed from the Heart to Flurry, the Heart suddenly spun faster letting off a burst of magic, turning everypony under the Spire crystal. Flurry looked down at herself, seeing her body transformed into semi transparent crystal for the first time.
“This is the magic of the Crystal heart, and with it that changeling influence is gone.” Cadence declared turning to Flurry. “You are no longer lost my daughter, welcome home.”
Flurry Heart sat by the window in her room, overlooking the Crystal Empire. It was the highest bedroom in the Spire, the perfect place to hide a princess from the rest of the world. Two weeks had passed and Flurry was getting the feeling that she was becoming a prisoner in this place. She was still denied her full magic, the inhibitor ring allowed her only a small amount for her telekinesis. She was being tutored in various subjects, some such as etiquette, geography and very basic diplomacy, Flurry admitted learning these would be helpful down the road, they were things they didn’t have in her old hive. Other things she was subjected to however were far less useful, Cadence had ordered she receve a formal ‘re-education’ as she called it. Flurry had demonstrated her reading skills by reciting a very old, and very complex, tomb in the crystal library. Reading had then been skipped thankfully, unfortunately other basic subjects weren't.
For the past two weeks Flurry attempted to endure being treated like a foal, being taught the most basics of math, history, literature, writing and levitation. Flurry was not going to be coddled like this, so she did what all good hive mates did, she hatched a plan. Over the past week, she had snuck every scrap of work she could manage from her tutors, completing them all as quickly as she could, it wasn’t just her studies that she worked on ether. Over the last several days Flurry had also been working on the inhibitor ring, unlocking it and dismissing the spell on it. Once she did that she would show her magic ‘teacher’ her full knowledge, perhaps then they would teach her something on her level.
Be like the river, it need not be wide nor fast, only constant. For even the smallest trickle of water, can bring even the mightiest mountain down.
Flurry remembered more of her sensei's teaching, maybe she could find more Neighpony books on magic, they had taught her well so far. A gentle knocking came from the door, followed by a crystal pony maid entering. She bowed, never bringing her eyes up to meet Flurry’s. Yet something else Flurry knew she needed to overcome here.
“Your majesty, I have come to collect you for your lessons.”
Math, ugh not my favorite, but I’m glad I was good at it. “That won't be necessary.” Flurry spoke in a calm voice.
“I’m sorry but the empress is quite-”
Flurry levitated over a stack of papers and scrolls. “I have surpassed my current teachers,” The papers showed completed work for almost the next years worth of work. “Please inform her highness that I will require more advanced studies.”
The maid stared wide eyed. “Y-yes your majesty.”
“And Please send in my hoof maiden as soon as you can.” Flurry tried to make her voice sound as friendly as she could, but the emotions coming off this pony told her of only fear, but fear of what?
The made left quickly, taking the scrolls with her. Flurry returned her attention outside, she always found watching day to day life helped her focus, and right now she needed all she could get. She wasn’t sure how long she sat there, concentrating on breaking the inhibitor spell, but her efforts were about to pay off. There was a magical click, Flurry could feel her full magic returning to her. Flurry couldn’t help but grin, the first piece of her plan was coming together now, speaking of, here came the next piece. The door opened once again, this time admitting a crystal pegasus, her coat was sapphire blue, with a curly black mane and golden eyes, Midnight Star.
“You have need of me my lady?” Night said with a low bow.
“Yes I do, but please stand, you know I told you I didn’t want you doing that.”
“We are required to show you all due respect, my lady.”
Flurry just huffed. “You are my hoof maden, but I would also like to be your friend.”
“Not with me, a lowly maid.”
Flurry was really starting to get tiered of this, she was also really thanking Shade for convincing her to take those infiltrator classes. Time to switch tactics.
“Yes you are a lowly maid,” Flurry said with all the authority she could muster in her voice, she sounded very high and mighty at that moment, Flurry couldn't stand it. “So who are you, to tell me who I can and can not call my friends?”
Midnight was sweating now. “I-uh…”
“Wow, ok enough of that. How do some ponies seriously act like that all the time?”
Midnight was still bowing, not daring to get up, less she anger the alicorn before her. She suddenly found herself lifted in the air by a golden aura of magic, looking to Flurry she saw her horn glowing with full power.
“W-what? How did you?”
“I unlocked the ring, but you're not going to tell anyon-pony here, are you?” Flurry still said ‘everyone’ instead of ‘everypony’ from time to time, in the hive there were both lings and ponies, making it ‘everyone’.
“N-NO, never!” A full power alicorn holding you in their magic tended to make one very agreeable.
Setting Midnight down Flurry stepped over to her, putting one wing over her withers. “I really want to be your friend, but I can’t if you're going to keep me at legs length.”
Midnight’s ears drooped. “I’m sorry my lady, your mother has decided that the Spire’s staff shall remain just that, we are not permitted to be friends.”
Flurry figured something like that had happened, making the need to move forward with her plans even greater.
“Well you are my personal hoof maiden, and you must follow my commands, even above those of Cadence’s, am I correct.”
“Um… well yes technically, but what-”
“Then I declare that Cadence’s order regarding us not being friends rescinded.”
Midnight's eyes went wide. “B-but...”
“Now none of that.”
“The entire staff knows, I can’t just start being your friend!”
“True, so we need to keep up appearances, but I do want you talking to me more,” Flurry paused in thought. “Here I have an idea.”
~o0o~
Shining Armor was conflicted, as former Captain of the Royal Guard, General of the Imperial Guard, and Emperor this was not something that happened easily, and yet it had happened. Cadence had received Flurry’s teacher in court, showing her that Flurry had not only completed, but exceeded the education she was to receive for the next year. Cadence had been unable to leave court, she asked Shining to look into Flurry’s ‘antics’ as she put it, telling him that she needed to complete all of her lessons correctly. And yet Shining had seen the work Flurry had sent with the made, she was clearly more advanced than they had thought, and so here was he was walking to Flurry’s room to figure out what was to be done. As he approached her door, he nodded to the guard who saluted.”
“Anything to report?”
“The hoof maiden Midnight Star is currently in with the princess.”
“How long?”
“A few hours.”
This raised some red flags for Shining, Flurry had yet to have any single pony around her for so long. Opening the door with his magic, inside he found Flurry sitting in front of her vanity mirror, with Night behind her brushing and styling her main.
“I don’t know, I’ve always liked the straight look to my mane.”
“Well you out right refused curls, even though I think you would look good in them. Besides I think you would look good with a braid, you’ve got your blue highlight that really stands out like this. Not to mention if we give a little weve to your tail to match, it will me much easier to swat any colts that get too close.”
“There will be no chance of that happening.” Singing voice was very firm as he approached the two mares.
Midnight spun around realizing who had just heard her. “M-my emperor, forgive me I didn’t mean-”
“We will talk later.”
It was a clear dismissal and Midnight Star left without question, Flurry remained where she was as she glared Shining down.
“Well thanks for scaring off the closest thing I have to a friend here.”
“We can’t let anypony get close to you, not after what happened.”
“Ya no need to fear that,” Flurry gestured to the locked window, high above the city. “Why are you here even?”
“You sent a maid to your tutors with the next years of work, all done.”
“And? I’ve been trying to tell you all that I’m beyond those lesions, actions speak louder than words, to I acted.”
Shining sat on his hunches, pinching his forehead with a hoof. Flurry opened her sense, she had learned to control the ‘aware of everyone at all times’ power she seemed to have, now able to direct it, or ignore it at will. Right now Shining was not happy, and it seemed to go a lot deeper than some school lessons.
“This isn’t about lessons, not really, is it?”
“No, it’s not.”
Flurry moved to stand in front of Shining. “So tell me, not as father to daughter, tell me pony to pony, what is it?”
Shining looked up, staring into eyes just like his. “We had so many plans for you, we wanted so much for you. All that was taken away that day. I think Cady is trying to ‘make up for lost time’, or something like that.”
“I know, and I understand, you're my first parents. But I was taken, and nothing either of us can do can change that, but if you know that, then why are you still trying? And why are you keeping everyo-pony away from me?”
Shining looked determined now. “I’m the one keeping everypony away from you, I’m afraid that hive, or even other changelings will try to take you again, I will not let that happen. As far as your lessons, Cadence is the one in charge of them, I’m not sure whys she's going about things this way.”
Ok time to try something. “Alright I get that, you're being protective, then why aren't you teaching me to defend myself?”
Shining just blinked.
“I mean your the military leader here right? I’m not the helpless filly I was, teach me. If nothing else, just do it to spend time with me.”
Over the last two weeks Flurry had minimal contact with her ‘parents’, partly due to the lessons they had been having her take. But it was the changeling lessons that served her now.
Remember, manipulation doesn't have to be evil. Like magic its how you use it and the end result, if you manipulate others into helping others, or even helping themselves, that's not in itself bad. When you manipulate others for your own gain, for things that do not benefit the hive as a whole, that is when it is evil.
Shining slumped down, his ear drooping sadly. “You're right, I’ve been so worked up at having you back after all these years, fearing that those changelings would come back to take you again, or something worse coming for you… I’m sorry.”
Thank the first mother. “It's alright, how about we try again? Do over?”
Shining chuckled. “You sound like your aunt when she was younger, ‘Shinny do over please’."
“Must run in the family.”
Shining nodded, grinning at his daughter. He got a contemplative look, as something in their conversation hit him.
“Flurry, what did you meant when you said ‘first parents’?”
Oh boy! “Everypony in the hive was adopted,” Flurry saw SHining’s eyes narrow, she decided to keep things simple. “When were old enough to understand, everyone is told that their adopted, and that they have ‘first parents’, as we called them.”
“Does anypony try to leave, to find their parents?”
“Everypony has the option, but you have to understand, every foal we took in was abandoned, they wouldn’t have had any parents to return to.”
“You did.”
Flurry’s ear drooped. “I didn’t know, I was found in the woods. They had no way of knowing where I was from.”
Shining was curious now. “How did they say they found you?”
“There was a storm above the hive, one of the changelings was out foraging.” Flurry decided not to mention that said changeling had become her father. “Apparently I landed in a tree near him, he said I was crying. He rescued me, brought me to the hive, they cared for me from then on.”
Shining was rubbing a hoof on his chin. “That does match up with that day, we couldn't send pegasus out because of the storm. It also explains why you weren't found with the changeling body we found, you did have such large wings as a filly.”
Flurry stretched out one wing. “Still do. What happened to the changeling? I doubt I did anything back then.”
“Lightning. Its entire midsection was hollowed out.”
Flurry winched. “And I wasn’t hit?”
Both Shining and Flurry sat in silence for a moment, neither had considered that before, it was a sobering thought.
“Lets not think about that, we agreed to a do over correct?”
Flurry nodded, smiling for the first time in two weeks. “Yep, and since I’ve got my homework done for... the next year. Can we try some training, or at least get some exercise? I’ve been stuck in here for two weeks, I don’t want to get pudgy.”
Shining just shook his head. “I’ll have to talk to Cady about actually training, she's still your mother, but some PT never hurt anypony.”
Flurry continued grinning as the two walked out of her room, she was finally making headway, connecting with at least one of her first parents.
“I thought Guard training built up your stamina.” Flurry panted, looking at the unicorn on the ground. “Typical stallion never able to-”
“You finish that and I’ll wallop you one. And for your information it does, but we still have limits, your one third earth pony still.”
“How does that work again?”
Shining shrugged. “Alicorns?”
Both of them just laughed. They had just completed a forty mile run around the stadium track, ponies could cover large distances easily, but running at a full war gallop nonstop was trying either way.
“Though you are right, I think I’ve been letting myself slip a little, I need to be doing more PT, can’t have a ruler being seen as getting lazy.”
Flurry chuckled. “Maybe you’ll be able to keep up with me one day.”
“Keep talking, we’ll see how much talk you have after some real Guard training.”
“Bring it on ‘old stallion’.”
“Oh now you’ve done it.” Without warning Shining leapt up, grabbing Flurry around the neck, proceeding to playfully noogie her head.
“GAH! STOP!”
“This is what you get for calling me ‘old’.”
Flurry giggled, flapping her wings playfully trying to get away from Shining.
“WHAT IS GOING ON?!”
Both turned to see Cadence, she stomped towards them with an irritated look on her face.
“Its called spending time with my daughter, besides she needed to get outside anyway.”
Cadence chewed her bottom lip. “Yes I suppose she can’t stay indoors all the time, but what is this I hear about Guard training?”
Shining stood before his wife with a serious expression. “First, Flurry brings up a good point, she's not helpless, and it would be better if she knew how to defend herself. And second I wasn’t planning to enlist her or anything, if that's what you're worried about. Who told you? I wanted to talk with you, before we settled on anything.
“I overheard a couple of the guards, they were saying you were out here running Flurry like a Guard recruit.”
“Well I don't get much exercise inside, so here we are. Besides he wasn’t running me, I think I lapped you there.” Flurry said with a playful nudge, Shining just rolled his eyes.
Cadence pinched her brow with her hoof. “Alright I admit getting her out and exercising like this is a good idea, but I will not have you training her like one of your recruits, she is a princess after all.”
“Cady, Luna is an accomplished warrior, Celestia I think made most of the guards training course, and Twily has been training as a battle mage, I don’t think it's ‘beyond a princess’ to train in combat.”
“Is that really what you want Flurry to be doing? Charging off into battle?”
“Nopony said anything about charging off into battle.” Shining said diplomatically.
“Um, what do we have to charge at? Other than some remnant changelings?” Flurry asked raising her hoof.
“Isn’t that enough?” Cadence bit back, no small amount of venom in her voice.
“Alright you too, it's getting late.” Shining said inserting himself between the two mares. “Let's have some dinner, and leave this discussion.”
Both mares nodded as Shining led them inside.
~o0o~
Flurry was back in her room, the moon was just coming over the horizon as night was setting over the Empire. Flurry looked out her window at the city below, while still very old fashion, even the Crystal ponies had a night life. A dark cloak was draped over her back, as she waited. Down below she spotted Midnight Star, readying her teleport Flurry blink from existence, appearing around the corner from Midnight. As Midnight came around the corner, she saw a soft yellow pegasus with a pink mane. The mare waved at her, though she was sure she didn’t know this pony.
“Hey Midnight!”
“Hello, I’m sorry do I know you?”
“Not as well as I would like,” she said with a smirk. “But I did ‘order’ you to be my friend, remember?”
“F-F-FLU-Mmmm!”
“Not right now, I’m ‘Summer Sun’, and we are going to go have some fun!”
Midnight could only stare wide eyes. “How? But-when? What about your mother?!?”
Flurry rolled her eyes. “I have things taken care of, and as long as you don’t mention my other name, nopony will be the wiser. Now, we need to go have some fun, and spend time as friends!”
Midnight couldn’t say anything as she was led off into town.
The two mares entered the shopping district, while many of the shops were closed, restaurants and taverns were open and lively. Singing could be heard from the well-lit taverns, while the smell of a tasty meal drifted around them.
“Have you been in any of these places before?” Flurry asked, hoping to get an idea of a good place to go.
“Not really, there is one place that I go to once in awhile for a drink, but I’m not much of a ‘party pony’ as some would say.”
“That sounds like a good place to end the evening, but what about stepping into one of these places, you know have a drink, tease a stallion or two, let our manes down for a bit.”
“P-p-princ-Mmmmm!”
“Remember what I said, I’m just an average pegasus mare right now, come on it will be fun.” Flurry turned towards a tavern, when a thought struck her. “Wait, are you even into stallions?”
Midnight blushed looking down at her hooves.
“HA! Perfect, we’ll get a few stallions to buy us a couple of drinks, then you can put the moves on me, the looks on their faces will be priceless!”
Midnight was blushing down to her hooves as they entered the tavern. The tavern itself was a rather nice establishment, dark stained wood was everywhere, the crystals here were also dark in color, regardless the place was well lit giving the inside a warm atmosphere. The cheery conversation and merry singing only added to the atmosphere, Flurry could feel eyes on them as she and Midnight entered, two pretty mares like them attracted attention. Sitting at the bar Flurry, or ‘Summer’, ordered them a pair of ciders, the golden crisp liquid tasted rather nice.
“Haven’t seen you two in here before.” The barkeep remarked.
“Nope, but with such an inviting atmosphere, how could we stay away?” Flurry said smiling at the barkeep.
“We try, if you two need anything just let me know.”
After the barkeep had left, Flurry looked over at Midnight, who had already finished her drink.
“You didn’t tell me you were a heavy weight.”
Midnight just shrugged. “It's not as strong as I’m use too, I said I don't drink often, I didn’t say I couldn’t hold my liquor.”
Flurry nodded. “Point taken.”
Before they could order a second round, a stallion walked up eyeing the two mares. Flurry opened her senses to him, and heaved a big internal sigh. The best way she could describe him was, a lusty burrito wrapped in sleazy grease.
“Now why are a pair of nice mares sitting all by themselves, they should be enjoying the company of me and my friends.”
Flurry almost gagged. “Well I’m afraid we're just not all that into stallions.” leaning over Flurry gave Midnight a quick kiss on the cheek.
“I’m sure you’ll have a change of heart.” the stallion said with a look that made Flurry’s insides turn.
Ok, time to get the flying buck out. Flurry went to wave the barkeep, but found the stallion blocking her hoof. Flurry open all of her changeling sense, and immediately regretted stepping into this place. Lust was heavy in the air, and not the good kind. In the hive lust could be felt here and there, it was unavoidable when two ponies or changelings got together, but the lust shared by two lovers was sweet and tangy, here is was bitter and greasy. Now she could feel not only the stallion next to her, but the four others slowly coming up behind her and Midnight. She hated doing this, but at this point it would be both of their flanks if she did nothing.
Leaning close Flurry whispered to the stallion. “Call off your goons and let us leave, or things will get messy for you.”
“Oh I'm sure they will, things are always ‘messy’ with a couple of fresh mares around.”
And you just crossed the line!
Without warning Flurry’s left hoof connected with the stallion's jaw, sending him flying. He crashed into a table, showing drinks and plates everywhere. One of the stallions at the table lept over the table, looking to take a swing at the pony who had crashed into the table, another pony from the group who had been closing in on Flurry, knocked him sideways, sending him sailing into yet another table, then all tartarus broke loose. Ponies began throwing punches, mugs, plates even other ponies, in the span of a few seconds the tavern had gone from warm and lively, to out right violent.
“We need to go now!” Flurry didn’t wait for Midnight to answer as she drug her towards the entrance. A large stallion stepped in their way, grinning down at them.
“What do we have here?”
“Buck off!” Flurry launched them both into the air, out of the stallions reach.
“Fly to the door, I’ll cover you!”
“I don’t think we can.” Midnight pointed to the door, that was now jammed with ponies either fighting or trying to get out. Looking around, Flurry had an idea.
“Follow me, I’ll get us out.”
Flurry dove for one of the taverns front windows, in the confusion nopony saw the faint golden aura that formed around ‘Summer Sun’, as she crashed through the window. Coming to a stop in the street, Flurry turned around, looking for Midnight. She swooped through the window just as somepony made a grab for her tail, the two galloped down the street before turning down an alley, stopping once they were sure nopony was following them.
“Ok, next time we go where you suggest.”
Midnight nodded. “What even happened? It was all so sudden.”
“You want the play by play, or the short version?”
“Short?”
“Sleazy mc’sleazy back there seemed to think we would be easy marks for him and his friends, I didn’t want to punch him, but he had four of his friends behind us.”
Midnights eyes went wide. “Oh buck, I don’t even want to think what they might have done.”
“If you had heard his remark after I told him things would get messy for him, ya no better to not know.”
They stood in silence for a moment.
“So… my bar?”
“Yes.”
~o0o~
The bar Midnight took them too was little more than a hole in the wall, but it was a nice hole in the wall. The bar itself was hard wood, everything else in the place was carved out of crystal. There was the warm buzz of conversation and laughter, much nicer then the tavern they had left earlier.
“What can I get for you two, oh hello Midnight.”
“Hi Tap, something strong.”
“Give me whatever she’s having, I need to forget a sleaze ball.”
Barrel Tap looked at the two for a moment. “Get hit on by some stallion?”
“Ugh that would have been better,” Flurry said rubbing her forehead. “Five stallions looking to get ‘personal’ with two mares, think about that for a second.”
“First rounds on the house.” Tap said as he turned to get them their drinks.
Flurry turned to Midnight. “Are stallions really like that around here?”
“Only a few,” came a voice from behind them. “There some holdovers from ‘Him’, haven’t gotten quite use to living under the Empress, even after all these years.”
Flurry turned to see a crystal pony stallion, he was light green with a silver mane and ruby eyes.
“How do you mean, if I may ask, Mr...?”
“Snow Field, and no Mr. Let me put it this way, if you're building an empire with slaves, you want all the slaves you can get…”
He left the sentence hanging.
Flurry’s eyes went wide. “I-bu-how-what?!?”
“Ya, some of them want to stay in their ‘glory days’ as they put it, it's disgusting really.”
“No argument there,” Flurry agreed. “Why doesn't the Guard or the Empress do something about them?”
“Because they're smart, they know how to get away without being caught, I've heard whispers about them, I don't know they do it, they just do.”
“Are they like some public secret, everypony knows but they're just afraid to say something?”
Tap came back with two tall mugs, each filled with frothy cider, much stronger than the last drinks they had.
“Hardly, if it was then I’m sure the Guard would be looking into them, no it's the kind of thing you hear when passing a hushed conversation, or a dark ally.”
“You hear about it, but you don’t believe something so terrible.” Midnight added taking a drink from her mug.
“Wait, why didn’t you say anything before we went into that place?”
“Hearing rumors that there are some, ‘abusive Sombra wanna be stallions’ somewhere? I didn’t even know they were really a thing until now, much less the one place we stepped into.”
“Point taken.” Flurry nodded. “Well then I say it's high time somepony did something about these jerks.”
Flurry raising her mug to meet Snow’s and Midnight’s. A few other ponies with in earshot raised their drinks as well. So here is was in a little hole in the wall bar named Tappers, Flurry Heart came up with the beginnings of a brilliant idea.
Two weeks had passed since the run in at the tavern, Flurry had finally advanced her studies to her own level of education, though a few things were still missing. History being the largest gap, but when you have a library from over a thousand years ago, history becomes very extensive. She had also floored her magic teachers, she entered the next day levitating every spell book in the Spire, she then cast a shield and teleport spell all at once, while the inhibitor ring was still on. Needless to say, she was now being taught more magical techniques, as well as finer magical control. She started getting along with Shining Armor more as well, while Cadence had still forbid full on combat lessons, the two still ran the Guard obstacle course, as well as some hoof to hoof sparring, without Cadence’s knowledge of course.
Flurry and Midnight also went out a few more times, they visited a few other late night establishments. Flurry keep her ears open as they went, she too heard the same rumors Midnight told her about. They would still end up at Tappers every time, they were quickly becoming well-known regulars. They had also gotten to know Snow Field more, even inviting him to come with them on their next outing. Flurry also vowed to investigate these rumors further, but all of that would have to wait.
Flurry was currently standing on the train station platform, eagerly waiting for the train to arrive. Two days ago a letter arrived informing Shining and Cadence that Celestia, Twilight, and a single changeling would be arriving, Shining and Cadence were not thrilled, but they could hardly refuse two princesses, especially when one was their sister. As the train came into view Flurry became more and more excited, not even the two guards on either side of her could dampen her enthusiasm. With a hiss of steam, the train came to a stop, Cadence and Shining stepped in front of Flurry before the door opened.
“BBBFF!”
“Twily!”
Brother and sister embraced, all misgivings for gotten for the moment. Celestia was next to step off the train, followed by a single changeling who wisely stayed behind the taller alicorn.
“Twilight why is one of those things here?” Cadence demanded.
“Cadence please, this is Glade. We brought her with because we wanted her to talk with you.”
“I have nothing to say to this creature, I do not want it in my realm ether.”
“Princess Cadenza,” Celestia spoke, her words ferm but not loud. “This changeling is under my protection while she is here, I expect you to treat her with the respect due.”
“I will accept that she is your responsibility, you will be held accountable for any and all action it takes.”
“Very well.”
he air on the platform was thick with tension, until Flurry finally spoke up.
“Hello princess, we didn’t really get a chance to meet before, did we.”
“No we did not, I am very glad to see you again Flurry Heart. Shall we take this inside? I’m sure all of us have a lot to discuss.”
The group made their way back to the Crystal Spire, Shining and Twilight talked the whole way, Cadence kept herself between Flurry and Glade, glaring at her whenever she thought the changeling was getting close. Flurry desperately wanted to run over and embrace the changeling, the one she knew for so long as Mom.
~o0o~
The group of ponies and one changeling sat at a large round table eating a late lunch, Flurry knew Cadence didn’t want her talking to Glade, but there was more than one way to find out what you wanted to know.
“Twilight, we haven’t been getting much news up here the past few weeks, what has been happening with the changelings?” She was only interested in one group, but knowing more was never a bad thing.
“We found another splinter hive last week, or rather what was left of one. They had been capturing gryphons, but they got greedy.”
“The gryphons broke out and cut them to shreds, didn't they?” Flurry asked with a dark tone.
“Yes, we only found a few… what do you call them?” Twilight asked turning to Glade.
“Nymphs, the equivalent of a foal.”
“Yes, we found only a few surviving nymphs. With Celestia’s permission I’ve taken them in at my castel-”
“What?!” Cadence exclaimed utterly shocked.
“I have a chance to observe the life cycle of a race never documented before my pony kind. Not to mention having ponies raise them opens the possibility of ensuring they remain friendly.”
Ya not like we ever tried that, oh wait… Flurry thought with no small amount of sarcasm.
“Did you ever consider that they might be using those, things to replace you.”
“Cadence, they are currently incapable of magic. I've already learned that unlike our own foals, changelings are unable to access their magic until they begin to mature. So replacing me is not a possibility.”
Cadence only glared, not seeming convinced.
“Let us talk about other things,” Celestia said diplomatically. “How have you been getting use to the Empire Flurry?”
“It's not hard to get use to living here, all of the crystal, well everything is always so pretty to look at. Not to mention the ponies here are friendly, or at least I think they are.”
Celestia raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by that?”
“My hoof maiden told me about a disturbance the other week, it sounded rather bad, something about a… tavern? And a fight?” Flurry said questionly, tapping her chin.
“Sounds like some ponies simply had too much cider, it happens from time to time, simply be glad you were not involved.”
“Believe me I am.” I am lying so hard right now it's not even funny, I’m sure I’ve got a huge sign above my head to mom, she could always tell when I was lying.
“And what about your education? I’m sure your parents are insuring you haven't missed anything.” Celestia was asking all the questions Glade couldn't, asking them in a way that didn't tip off Cadence, very sneaky.
“Oh yes, it seems I am at an intermediate college level in most things, though history seems to be a bit spotty. Though when you're living in history,” Flurry said gesturing around her. “It's kinda hard not to have missed a few things.”
“What about your magic?” Twilight pipeed up. “You had to much of it when you were a foal, I can only imagine it's gotten stronger by now.”
“I’ve been working on finer control, no new spells yet.”
“That's very good, you can have all the magic in the world, but if you can't use it properly it's just a disaster waiting to happen.” Twilight said with a sage nod.
“Perhaps we could test our magic against one another? It might be-.”
“Absolutely not.” Cadence cut in. “You are not going to be throwing your magic around just so you can get yourself hurt.”
“Cady, this is Twily were talking about here, I’m sure-”
“No Shining Armor, and that is final, she is my daughter and I will decide what is best for her.”
Any further conversation on the matter died, as the meal lapsed into silence.
~o0o~
Flurry was getting her mane done by Midnight in one of the Spire’s private dressing rooms, for some reason Cadence felt the need for Flurry to be made presentable several times a day. A knock came from the door, opening it Twilight poked her head in.
“Flurry? Is this a bad time?”
Flurry looked over to Twilight.
“No not at all, come in.”
Twilight entered the room, taking a seat next to Flurry. Her eyes darted between Flurry, Midnight and the floor.
“What's bothering you? And don’t worry about talking in front of Midnight, anything you say will stay between us.”
“Are you sure?”
Flurry looked over her shoulder at Midnight. “How did I know about the Tavern brawl last week?”
“Because you might have been there, and you might have also punched some scumbag of a pony for trying to a little too close to us, well him and his friends.”
Twilight's jaw almost hit the floor.
“Midnight has my full confidence, anything you need to say can be said in front of her.”
Twilight nodded. “Have you notice anything wrong with Cadence since youve been back?”
“Well it's not like I have some prior experience knowing her, but yes I know something is off. She doesnt taste right.”
Twilight got a funny look at that.
“Oh right, sorry, that must have sounded out of context. I can sense or ‘taste’ emotion like any changeling, I’m sure mom or someone else in the hive has told you by now.”
Twilight nodded. “We thought it was changeling influence at first, even after we saw the memories from the hive members, until I realized it was coming from their aura rather than being added to it. Glade did mention that you were more sensitive than any other pony.”
“We thought it had to do with my magic, since I have so much it boosted my sense, I can also use glimmers like changelings.”
“Glimmers?”
Flurry powered her horn, a ripple passed over her body like that on a still pond. In a moment Flurry was replaced with the pegasus ‘Summer Sun’, Flurry grinned widely before allowing her glimmer to dispel.
“A few unicorns had mastered it in the hive, I was just better at it, again because of my magic.”
“Unicorns can cast illusion magic over themselves as well, perhaps combining the two could yield better results than just one or the other?”’
“Perhaps, we never really bothered learning illusion magic in the hive, never had a need for it. How are they doing?”
“They're alright, they have finished setting up a temporary hive in the crystal mines beneath Canterlot. They fear them as much as we do, some of the changelings there have even agreed to help us track down the splinter hives, they're the reason we found the last hive we did at all.”
“That sounds like them, the original hive founders abandoned the evil Queen, we still do. We knew we would be hunted down if she ever found us, it only makes sense to help hunt them down.”
“And in the end, it wasn’t her, but us that found you, and hurt you like we did, I’m so sorry Flurry.”
Flurry reached out and hugged Twilight. “It's ok aunt Twi, you didn’t know, you had no way of knowing. But now you do, and you're working to make things right, that's what counts.”
“How are all of you so forgiving? After we attacked you? I went to apologize to your entire hive, they did the same thing, they just forgave me.” Twilight was on the verge of crying now.
“We believe in forgiving and learning from our past, but not forgetting it. That has been one of our hives mottos since the founding.”
“Some ponies could learn a lot from you guys.”
Flurry held Twilight as she quietly let out her sadness, Twilight kept uttering apologies in between soft sobs. Even Midnight came up and hugged Twilight. Several minutes passed before Twilight had stopped, recomposing herself Twilight met Flurry’s eyes.
“So now, what is wrong with Cadence? I didn’t detect any magic on her, changeling or otherwise.”
“No she's not being controlled, we were all taught how to tell if someone in the hive was being influenced, I sense nothing on her.”
“Twilight is right, something's not right,” Midnight added. “Nopony would dare say anything, but she's been acting more and more differently over the past several years.”
“Was she acting more so before or after she defeated Chrysalis?”
“Wait, what? Cadence defeated the Evil One?”
“She didn’t tell you?”
Flurry just shook her head.
“Five years ago after we had found her hive, Cadence led an assault force on the hive. We discovered the area around her hive was devoid of all but changeling magic, she had a throne that absorbed all but changeling magic. The attack was all earth ponies besides Cadence, I’m not sure what all happened in the hive, just that she blew off the top of the hive destroying the throne. She fought Chryslisses with her magic after that, eventually killing her.”
Flurry was quiet for a moment, not knowing what happened in the hive was bugging her, but she couldn’t figure out why.
“I never knew that either, she doesn't talk to servants, at least not anymore.”
“That's not like her, I remember how friendly she was with everypony, how much she smiled, I guess losing your foal will do that.”
“I’ve heard stories from some of the older staff ponies, they say she doesn't smile as much, or really at all anymore, she snot filled with love like she use to be.”
Flurry’s head shot up. “She use to be filled with love?”
“Well Cadence is the Princess of Love.” stated Twilight.
“Well she's not anymore, she has emotions and feelings like any other pony, but ‘filed with love’, nope.”
“That's very worrying, perhaps it's something else entirely?”
“I don’t know Twilight, I promise you I’ll get to the bottom of whatever is wrong with her. However, I have something else that I need to take care of first.”
“What is that?” Twilight asked with a tilt of her head.
“Cadence told me it's a princess's job to protect her ponies, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve found something, or rather someponies that I need to protect them from.”
‘Summer Sun’ walked through the streets of the Crystal Empire, ponies were going about their business, giving her friendly smiles as she walked. It was still early in the evening, and most ponies were just closing shop before heading home. Summer entered into a small bar, Tappers. Walking up to the bar she looked for Tap, he was cleaning some mugs, getting ready for the night's business.
“She here Tap?” Summer asked in a low voice.
“In the back, storage room on the left, might want to make it quick, poor things scared half to death.”
Summer wasted no time, she trotted back to the storage room, finding a crystal pony mare. She was a slate gray color, with charcoal mane and baby blue eyes. Her eyes darted around as she fidgeted in place, she was currently scared out of her wits it would seem.
“Crystal Dust?” Summer asked gently.
Crystal Dust’s eyes snapped to Summer, showing even more fear than before.
“Y-yes that's me, w-why did you want to see me, and why the secrecy?”
“Because I need your help, you know about a certain group of ponies I’m interested in.”
Crystal’s eyes almost jumped out of her head. “Y-you don’t mean them! Oh I know I shouldn’t have come!”
Crystal made to leave, but found her way blocked by a large yellow wing.
“Crystal, you're the only pony I’ve found who even agreed to meet, I’m sorry but I need your help.”
“N-no! You don’t understand, I’ll get in so much trouble! So will you if you don’t stop, whatever you're doing.”
Crystal tried to shove past Summer, only to have the door shut seemingly on its own.
“Why are you so afraid? If nothing else tell me, I need to know as much as I can about these ponies, anything will help.”
Crystal shuttered. “They have the backing of the crown…”
The room was deathly silent for a moment. “I’m sorry, what?”
“The ponies you're after, the ‘Masters of Mares’ they call themselves, they do what they do with the crown's permission.”
“How do you know that?”
“A-after…” Crystal screwed her eyes shut, unable to finish. “T-they g-give each of us a-a letter, it h-has the seal of the c-crown on it, telling us never to speak of what h-happened.”
Crystal fell to her haunches, nearly sobbing. Just telling Summer that much could see her thrown into the dungeons or worst. Wings and hooves wrapped themselves around her, she opened her eyes, not seeing the yellow pegasus, but a light pink alicorn.
“P-PRINCES?!?” Crystal tried to back away, but found herself held even tighter.
“Listen to me, those buckers are not, in any way, supported by the crown. You have nothing to fear from them, or me.”
“B-but the letters of silence, they have the imperial seal on them, their official!”
“I don’t know how they got them, but they're not. And they never will be, I’ll see them rot in the deepest darkness I can find for this.”
Crystal couldn’t hold it in anymore, she wept. Flurry held her close, letting the mare cry on her shoulder for as long as she needed. Flurry stroked her back helping to calm the frightened mare, opening her senses to her, Flurry found something else. A second point of emotions, inside Crystal.
“Crystal, do you know you're pregnant?”
Crystal went completely silent, a single hoof rubbing her belly.
“I-I’m pregnant?” Her voice a mix of worry and surprise.
“I can sense them,” She said pulling back to look Crystal in the eyes. “It must be recent, I can see the life inside you, but nothing more.”
“Oh sweet Heart’s love, what am I going to do? I-I can't stay here, they'll find me, they know where I live.”
“Will you trust me?” Flurry asked, she tone was serious.
“Princess?”
“I said, will you trust me?”
“Y-yes…”
“I will have you out of the Empire within the hour, I can send you someplace safe, somewhere nopony could get to you. You have to trust me on this, no matter what, go where I send you, do you understand?”
Crystal was silent for a moment, she looked into FLurry’s eyes, she could see the resolve she had, not only that, there was a kindness to them as well.
“Yes my princess, I will trust you.”
“I want you to stay here, Tap will keep an eye on you, I’m going to send my hoofmaiden,” Flurry changed onto Midnight Star. “She looks like this, Tap knows her as well. She will give you a train ticket and instructions on what to do when you get to where you're going. Leave with her only, nopony else, no matter what, understand?”
“Yes Princess.”
“Call me Flurry.”
~o0o~
Flurry was back in her room, she had locked the door and told the guards she intended to be studying, and not to be disturbed. Of course she wasn’t, writing out instructions for Crystal Dust, as well as a train ticket to Canterlot she had bought on the way back, Flurry sent for Midnight, saying it was important. Minutes later Midnight entered, once the door was closed Flurry became serious.
“I’ve got a name, ‘Masters of Mares’, that's what this group is called.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
“Not very creative I know, but that can wait.” Flurry hoofed over the instructions and ticket. “Take this to Tappers, there's a mare sitting at the bar, names Crystal Dust, take her to the train station. Make sure she gets on alone, I made her a promise that she would be safe.”
Midnight took the items, turning to leave. “I take it she’s been ‘involved’ with them?”
“She’s pregnant Midnight.”
Midnight froze, her stomach turned to knots. “You're sure?”
“I could sense her foal, she didn’t even know until I told her.”
“I’ll take her too…” Midnight glanced at the ticket. “Canterlot myself if I need to.”
“Just make sure nopony follows her, she’ll be alright once she's off. I’d send you with her but I need you here, there is more going on, and we need to move on this.”
Midnight nodded, leaving the room with haste. She was on a mission for her princess and friend, and no pony was going to stop her.
Flurry returned to her desk, opening the hidden compartment underneath. She pulled out the few pieces of paper she had, it wasn't much, but with the addition of Crystal’s information, it was going to be more than enough to work with.
“Alright you sick mother buckers, let's play.”
~o0o~
Silver Quill was not a happy pony, having a cutie mark in accounting was supposed to be a simple thing. He was more than delighted to be employed by the crown, such a thing was the height of his career. He avoided the spotlight as well as the possible ire of the Empress, and that suited him just fine. What did not suit him was drawing the attention of the crowned princess, she had called for him early that morning, summoning him to her private study. So here he was standing outside the study of one Princess Flurry Heart, waiting to be admitted for what ever the princess needed. A guard stepped out, ushering him in. Silver entered, trying not to show how nervous he was.
“Your majesty, how can I serve you today?” He really hoped he got the greeting right.
“You are the Imperial accountant, correct?” Flurry asked from behind her desk, the study seemed to be set up like an office, with the desk and chair facing the door.
“One of a few, you can’t leave one pony responsible for everything.”
“Very true, and what do you oversee exactly?”
“I oversee the Crystal Spire itself, staff wages, supplies, that sort of thing.”
“Good, then you're just the pony I need to talk to.”
Silver didn’t like the sound of that.
“I know you are only one pony, you can’t see everything, but something has come up that I need you to look into.”
“Oh? What might that be?”
“It has reached my ear, that somepony, or ponies, might be using supplies here for their own benefit.”
“You believe ponies are taking things from our supplies for themselves? I haven't seen any drop in anything important, at least nothing that would indicate somepony is skimming.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t, you see the item in question is very mundane, almost not worth noticing in fact. But they have used it to great effect, even going as far as staining the reputation of the crown.”
Silver gasped. “What? How!” He demanded.
“I must have your full cooperation as well as trust on this, I do not know who is doing this and I do not know who I can trust.”
“Princess, I will do anything you ask of me in this matter. If somepony is stealing under my watch, and insulting the crown as well, that is something I can not stand.”
“Understandable, even so, I hope you can appreciate the need for discretion, as such I must be as vague as possible, even knowing that we might know about them might send these ponies into hiding, we can not have that.”
“Tell me what you can, you have my complete understanding in this matter.”
Flurry nodded. “Somepony is, or at least was, taking blank letters, or even parchment, with the Imperial seal on them. They have used these to forge Imperial orders, not only that said orders have caused, shall we say unrest with certain groups.”
Silver seemed as if he was about to explode with rage. “So you're telling me that under my watch, somepony forged Imperial orders with my supplies!?!”
“In a nutshell.”
“Princess I don’t know where you got your information, and frankly I do not care. This is unacceptable, I will begin an inventory right away. I know you said we can’t have these… low life's finding out. I’ll make sure there is a legitimate reason for doing a full inventory. Also if your source could get one of these papers, I could find out what storage room it was taken from via spell, it would make finding the culprit much easier.”
“I will inquire with my source, I believe it goes without saying that this conversation does not leave this room, you may not even inform the rest of the crown about this.”
“I will be discreet beyond measure.”
With that Silver left the room, forgetting for a moment who he was talking to, not even giving a good bye. The room was quiet for a moment, Midnight stepped out from behind a drape in the room.
“Think he’s being honest?”
“He is, I was known as the ‘walking lie detector’ in my hive. He knew nothing about the missing documents.”
“But you know who the ponies are, wouldn’t it have been easier to just tell him? We could arrest them today.”
“For theft of Imperial property, yes. No we need to gather evidence, I want enough rope to hang them with, not just tie them up, they might like that too much.”
Midnight just facehoofed at Flurry.
~o0o~
“I’ll say it again, this is a horrible idea!”
Flurry gave Midnight a serious look, she was disguised as a nondescript crystal pony, nothing about her stood out at all. They were standing across the street from the tavern where this had all started.
“Yes I know Midnight, and I will answer back, do you have a better idea?”
Midnight was quiet, she didn’t.
“Alright then, just stick to the plan and everything will be fine, and if things go south I’m still me under here.”
“I’m not sure if that's a good thing or not.”
Flurry just rolled her eyes. “Just be ready, I’m going to get this show on the road.”
Midnight gave Flurry a tight hug, she was worried for her friend, she was literally about to walk into the hydra's den.
Flurry sat at the bar, drinking a cider, this place might have been more ‘classy’ as some might put it, but she had to admit Tappers was far better, maybe it was something in the brew, or perhaps it was the atmosphere?
“Well hello there.”
Yep definitely the atmosphere.
Flurry turned to see the same stallion from before, well this should be easy.
“H-hi.” Flurry made her voice as timid as possible.
“Whats a nice mare like you doing alone?”
“J-just having a nice drink.”
“Well me and my friends can help make it a lot nicer.”
“R-really?” And here I thought this might be hard, guess not.
“Oh yes, we would very much like it if you came and joined us.”
Flurry accepted the offer, getting a refill on her cider before joining the others at their table. When she sat down she began eyeing each of them, five stallions same as last time, they had roped in two other mares. They were arranged so that two stallions sat in between each mare, the only exception was the ‘leader’, who sat in between Flurry and one of the other mares. They all chatted for a bit, the stallions not even trying to hide the fact that they were eyeing up the mares, Flurry looked at the other mares at the table. The one on her left seemed scared almost, like she knew what was going to happen, Flurry noticed the slight bruise under her eye, she felt rage building up inside of her. The mare on her right didn’t seem to know what they were in for, but she seemed to be starting to figure it out.
“Well colts, I think it time we began, don’t you?”
The others nodded, the first stallion pulled out a purple-black crystal shard, Flurry’s eyes went wide, it was a dark magic crystal. The crystal was set on the table, Flurry felt a pulse of magic, suddenly there was an after image of herself in the seat, as the stallions began to lead the three mares away, Flurry glanced back, seeing perfect images of all of them still at the table.
Guess we're adding use of dark magic to the list of crimes.
They were led to a passage in the back, it looked like they were going out the back door. They made a sudden turn, going into a side passage that seemed to dead end. They approached the end of the passage, and continued walking right through, on the other side of the barrier was a flight of stairs leading down.
I’m never going to hear the end of it from Midnight after this.
Flurry and Midnight had debated on what would happen after she got ‘picked up’, Flurry was sure they would be smart enough to take them someplace else, Midnight was adamant that the tavern was where they would use them, seems she was right. Coming to the bottom of the stairs they entered what looked like a basement of sorts, it was a large open area, with several cushions and other items, Flurry made a mental note to burn each of those item latter. A door at the entrance was shut and bolted, Flurry and the third mare looked back, seeing one of the stallions locking the door with another dark magic crystal.
Right, go for the door not the lock, also I’m taking these two with me, not part of the plan, then again ‘no plan survives contact’.
“Right then, you two are new so we’ll go over the formalities, Spring Leaf go to your spot.”
The mare in question slowly walked over to one of the cushions, laying down in a rather dejected manner.
“You two have the high honor of serving the Imperial Crown tonight.”
Keep digging your grave buddy, I’ll just be smiling when they bury you.
“As we all know Sombra was beyond evil, but he was smart. He knew that in order to build an empire, you needed ponies. The crown has decided to embrace this idea, and those of us that suffered under his hoof are to be rewarded.”
Why do I get the feeling you lot suffered a lot less than the others?
“We have been chosen to help rebuild our race, to restore our crystal bloodlines.”
Wow if I weren't being held prisoner, I might almost believe him, almost.
“How are you going to do that?” Furry asked, she just needed him to say…
“Why is it not obvious? Mass breeding.”
Yep, there is it.
“You can’t be serious!” The other mare protested. “Even if the crown did want to do something like that, you can’t force us!”
One other the stallions walked over to a cabinet, pulling out two pieces of parchment. He hoofed one to each of them, it was documentation parchment, with the Imperial seal on it. The same kind Silver’s inventory said they were missing. She read it over, it seemed very official, stating that the empire needed to bolster its numbers to prevent the extinction of their race. In a twisted way, it made sense.
“T-this can't…” the mare trailed off.
“It is, it's all legal and approved by the crown, you two don’t want to get in trouble with the crown now do you?”
“No…..”
“Very good, and what about you dear? Anything to add before we get started?”
“Just one thing,” Flurry said, tucking the parchment into her mane. “You're bucked.”
Before any of the stallions could respond, the room filled with intense light and sound, stunning all but Flurry. Summoning up her magic, Flurry created a single pillar of flat crystal underneath each stallion, punching each of them in the crotch for good measure. As the stallions lay stunned and in pain, Flurry grabbed the other two mares, casting a counter spell so they could see and hear once again.
“Come on we got to get out of here!”
“What have you done!” Spring Leaf gasped, taking in the room.
“I’m saving you, now come on!”
“You don’t understand, mares that don’t do as they say disappear! My friend Crystal Dust just vanished a few days ago!”
Flurry looked at Spring, not realizing that Crystal’s disappearance could have this effect. But she didn’t have time to worry about that right now, they were getting out of there.
“I know where Crystal Dust is, she's fine. Look I’ll explain everything once were outside.”
“I don’t think we can, the door’s locked with magic, and the crystals not working for me.”
Flurry looked over to see the last mare trying to work the magic lock with the crystal they had seen it locked with.
“No problem.”
Flurry walked over to the door, and bucked it for all she was worth. The lock remained, still embedded in the wall, the door, however was gone.
“Let's go!”
The three mares bolted from the room, the made it to the top of the stairs in record time, Flurry pushed the others towards the back door, telling them that the whole tavern was most likely in on the whole thing. Tumbling out the back, Flurry led the others down the alley and back around the front. Once in the open street, Flurry gave a sharp whistle, Midnight came running out of the alley heading right for them, joining them all four took off in a run.
“Yes you were right, no I don’t want to hear about it, I’ll pay you once this is all over, and yes you can make sure I never hear the end of it.”
Midnight just grinned as all four of them galloped towards the Crystal Spire.
Shining Armor considered himself a level headed pony, you had to be to become captain of the Royal Guard, as well as ruler of the Crystal Empire. He also thought of himself as a very understanding pony, helping new recruits reach their full potential, listening to parishioners in court, it all took a very solid sort of pony. So when a guard had, as politely as he could, interrupted his down time with his wife, claiming that a group of ponies had to speak with the crown right away, Shining had taken it in stride. Figuring it was nothing to get worked up over, Shining had told Cadence to stay in their room and rest, that he would take care of things. Out in the hall, Shing gave the guard a slightly disapproving look.
“I thought I had standing orders that neither of us are to be interrupted this late at night, I’m sure these ponies can wait until morning.”
“Sir, they claim that three of them were being held hostage, by ponies using false orders of the crown.”
Shining was silent for a moment, this was not something to be taken lightly it seemed.
“Where are they?”
“In the throne room sir.”
“I’ll see them at once.”
~o0o~
When Shining entered the throne room, there was far more than four ponies. There were four mares, one he recognized as Midnight Star, a stallion from the Spires staff, Silver Quill. Two other staff members Shining couldn’t place, as well as a made looking rather scared, and a small contingent of Imperial Guard.”
“Somepony tell me what's going on, right this second.”
One of the mares turned and approached Shining before he could even question who she was, a ripple of golden magic passed over her, revealing Flurry.
“FLURRY?! What is the meaning of this?”
“Emporer Shining Armor,” Flurry’s voice was full of purpose and authority. “I come to you not as your daughter but as a citizen of the Crystal Empire, I have gathered evidence as to the existence of a… well I’ll be blunt, a rapist cult.”
“Explain.” Shining was glaring, but not at Flurry.
“I will give you the short story, as we need to apprehend the cutest before they realize something is wrong. A group has been stealing blank document with the Imperial seal on it,” She produced the parchment she had gotten. “And have been making false Imperial orders to frighten mares into silence. They claim to be going the Crowns bidding in, and I quote ‘restore our crystal bloodlines’. I think you can imagine how they intended to do that.”
Shining looked like he was about ready to strangle somepony. “And you have evidence?”
“Besides this false order, I recorded them stating everything on this gem.” Flurry pointed to a gem held in a harness over her barrel. “I also have several witnesses, three of them are here, one is not currently in the empire, for the safety of her and her unborn foal.”
You could hear a pin drop in the throne room, the guards that had assembled were visibly shaking with anger, as well as Shining.
“Where are they?”
~o0o~
Flurry watched as Shining Armor led a full company of Imperial Guard into town at full war gallop, Flurry had wanted to be there to see the looks on the ponies faces, but Shining had told her to stay behind. He instructed her to organize her evidence and witnesses, they were going to make this a full tribunal. Flurry was in her study along with Silver, Midnight, Spring, the third mare from the tavern Winterfall, and the made from the Spire that had come forward Pattern Gem. Flurry and Silver were going over records of the Spire, matching names and cutie marks of those she had seen involved, as well as getting statements from the others gathered. Of the three mares Winterfall was taking the experience the best, Pattern and Spring were wrecks.
“Even if you arrest the entire tavern, there will still be others not there. They will find us.” Spring gestured to bother her and Gem.
“Even if we stay in the Spire, were not safe here, they got in once before they will do it again.”
Flurry was quiet a moment, they were right they weren't safe in the Empire.
“Crystal Dust was afraid of the same thing, I’ve sent her out of the Empire for her safety.”
“And what's to keep them from just following us? From following her?”
“She’s in the one place I have complete faith in to keep her safe, if you both don’t feel safe here, I can arrange for you both to join her.”
The two mares glanced at each other, not sure if they should take the offer or not.
“I’ll let you think things over until then I’ll have you two stay close to me, I will personally guarantee your safety.”
Both mares were shocked, Flurry was royalty, and yet she was concerned with them, two nopony mares. Flurry could not only see the shock but taste it as well, there was also an underlying bit of hope as well. Flurry turned to Midnight, about to have her get something to eat for the two when the doors to her study burst open.
“Flurry! What in the name of Celestia is going on? The entire staff is in an uproar and Shining is out with a Guard company.”
Flurry sat calmly looking at Cadence. “In short, Shining Armor is out arresting a rape cult operating in the city.”
Cadence looked like she had just been pole-axed. “W-what?”
“Some stallions,” The word stallion dripped with sarcasm and venom. “Have been stealing Imperial documents, forging them into Imperial orders, using them to rape mares in the city and scaring them into silence. These three are just some of their victims.”
Cadence looked over the three mares, two of them looking worse than the other. Any further thought or discussion on the matter was halted, the sound of pounding hooves echoed through the crystal halls. Shining Armor came charging into the room.
“Flurry this is a lot bigger than we thought, the basement room also had files on everypony in the cult, including victims. There are a lot of them, it looks like they were also tracking some younger stallions into going along as well.”
“Using the same forged orders? Making them think they were doing the right thing?”
“In essence yes, I’m currently rallying the entire Guard. We need to move on this.”
“Leave the documents with Silver,” She turned to the stallion in question. “Make copies of ALL of these, I want copies sent to Canterlot as well.”
“Yes, ma'am!” Silver wasted no time, taking the documents and immediately transcribing them.
“Midnight, take these three, get them some food, and hold up in my chambers, you are to allow nopony but me near them.”
“Yes, Princess.” Midnight led the three, now even more shocked and confused mares out of the study.
“Shining Armor, how can I help?”
At the moment Shining wasn’t seeing his daughter, but the heir to the Crystal Throne. “I’ll be taking every ready Guard pony we have, we have a lot of ground to cover, keep watch over the Spire.”
“Now wait for just one bucking second! How is Flurry involved in this, and why are you even having her help like this?”
Flurry glared at Cadence. “I’m involved because I’m the one who discovered this whole thing in the first place, and why am I helping? Well, you said it yourself, didn’t you? I’m a princess, and a princess must protect her ponies.”
Cadence tried to make some sort of rebuke, Flurry just strode past her ignoring any attempt she made.
“Go round these ponies up, I’ll keep watch.”
Without a word, Shining galloped back out of the Spire, determined to bring an end to these vile ponies.
~o0o~
The search had been on for nearly an hour, and already things were looking crazy. The cult members were running and hiding, keeping the Guard busy checking and rechecking places. Despite the full Guard being deployed, paroles were spread thin, ponies were panicking, and overall chaos was ensuing. Flurry wasn’t going to let this happen, she had grabbed a messenger pegasus and ordered him to call up the reserve Guard. Ten minutes latter three full platoons of Guard recruits and reservists were assembled beneath the Spire, their crystal armor sparkled even in the dim night. Exiting one of the Spire’s pillars every Guard saw an armored figure, they couldn’t help but stare as they got closer. Flurry was wearing a full set of Guard armor, the bulk seemingly nothing to her as she strode to stand in front of the assembled Guard. The armor was the standard set, not an officer's armor, or even a custom set, to the Guard it said I am one of you.
“Guards and Recruits of the Imperial Guard! Aten Hut!”
Every Guard stood straight, ready for orders.
“I know some of you are just recruits, others are less than a year out of training. Well, tonight you forget that load of ponyfeathers, right now you are ponies of the Imperial Guard!”
Not a single pony moved, but Flurry could feel the pride rolling off of them.
“The Guard regulars are overwhelmed right now, they are tracking down cultist who have been operating using false Imperial orders, you have been called up to help clear them out. I will not sugar coat this, they are a Sombra rapist cult who have been seen using dark magic.” Flurry could feel rising hate and anger, good they were motivated. “They are fanatical and extremely dangerous, we don’t currently know how many of them have access to dark magic, for safely assume they all do and act accordingly.”
Flurry felt something else in the assembled Guard, guilt. Shining had said the cult was tricking other stallions into going along with them, were some here?
“We will deploy in standard patrol patterns, the cultists are sneaking behind our current patrols, forcing them to double back. This end here, form up into your units and move out!”
As the Guards broke up into their units, Flurry began moving among them. She could feel guilt from somewhere, she was close… there. Flurry’s senses picked out a crystal pony stallion, he seemed just a little less sure than the others.
“You stallion,” She called out. “Come with me.”
“Y-yes Ma’ma!”
As the guard moved with her, Flurry could feel two other ‘points’ of guilt somewhere in the Guards. She sniffed them out quickly, a second crystal pony and a crystal pegasus. With all three in tow Flurry trotted to the Crystal Heart, she just stood looking at it for a moment as the Guard moved out.
“I’ll let you three in on a secret,” She began not even looking at the three. “I can tell when somepony is lying, even if they haven’t said anything.”
Fear. All three of them were rank with it now, she turned to face them.
“All three of you have been involved with the cult, haven't you.”
It wasn’t a question. The three shared glances, a silent agreement between them. The center of the three stepped forward.
“Permission to speak Ma’ma.”
“Granted.”
“Princess, they came to us, saying how the crown wanted to ‘thank us’ for our service. How we were being ‘given a great honor’, we knew it didn’t feel right, even if they did have Imperial orders. They showed us the orders, they said no matter what we were sworn to secrecy under punishment of discharge.”
“I saw the ‘orders’ they were using on the mares, threats of imprisonment if they didn’t go along. They were fooling everypony.”
“That doesn't excuse what we did, all we had to do was not say anything. We didn’t have to… go along.”
All three Guard’s heads fell in shame.
“No, no you didn’t. And I should toss all three of you in the dungeons right now, you're just as guilty as they are.” The three stallions gave no argument. “You knew it was wrong, yet instead of walking away, or reporting this, you went along.”
“Yes we did, and we deserve whatever judgment you lay down.”
Flurry was quiet for a moment. “Tell me what each of you did afterward, and I might show you some mercy.”
“I left and never went back there, I even avoided those ponies.”
“Same, I never felt so dirty, or scared in my life.”
The pegasus was a little hesitant in his reply. “I-I started seeing the mare I was with.”
That caught Flurry off guard. “You started seeing her? As in special someponies?”
“Yes ma’ma, we tried to leave, but they threatened us into staying, I only went back to that place to try and make sure she was safe, but then they started keeping her at that place, even keeping me away.” He said in a sad tone.
Flurry was even angrier now, this filth needed to be cleaned out, NOW. These three were good ponies at heart, even if they were still guilty. She decided to keep an eye on these three, but for now…
“Show me where she is, now….
The Guards took Flurry to one of the higher end homes in the Empire, they told her there was a back room where the mares were being held. Stationing them on the home perimeter, Flurry rushed into the house. She found two stallions arguing about what to do, she knocked them out before they even knew she was on them. In the back room of the home, she found four mares bridled, each tied to a post in a corner. Flurry’s pure rage powered her magic, incinerating the bridles in an instant, leading them out Flurry found a group of Guard regulars outside questioning her Guards. All conversation ended when Flurry dropped two stallions in front of the regulars.
“Take them away, charges of being cultists and illegal imprisonment.”
The regulars saluted before dragging them off.
“Ma’ma, we can escort these mares, but if we come across any others…”
“I have a sad feeling we will be finding others… we need someplace to rally.”
“If I may, it should be someplace you know is secure.”
Flurry looked back at the mares, three were huddling close to each other, while the fourth was standing under the wing of the crystal pegasus. Flurry didn’t need her changeling senses to tell they were afraid of her too, she was the crown to them after all.
“I don’t think taken them to the Spire right now is a good idea, there is one place in the city… he’s not going to be happy.”
Flurry and her guards formed a loose box around the four mares, she led them into one of the city's inner areas. Guards passed them, but none stopped them, too busy tracking down the elusive cultists. Flurry stepped up to the front of Tappers, she knew she would have to reveal her disguise to Tap, and she knew he was not going to be a happy pony. The bar was empty save for Tap himself, ponies had begun rushing home once the cutest hunt had begun, Tap looked like he was about to lock up.
“Now why are four Guards here? Shouldn’t you be out looking for some cultists?”
“Charming as ever Tap.” Flurry said lifting off her helmet.
“P-princess, I apologize I didn’t recognize you in armor.”
“I need to speak with you, it's urgent.” Flurry turned to her guards. “No pony is to enter until I return.”
All three saluted. Flurry walked into the back Tap following close behind, once they were out of sight Flurry turned to face Tap.
“I know this is asking a lot Tap, but I need to commandeer your bar until this is over.”
“Anything you need princess, I’m sure your Guards need-”
Flurry held up a hoof. “Tap it's me, two rounds hard cider, me and Midnight always giving Snow a hard time.”
Barrel Tap’s eyes went wide. “S-summer Sun!”
“Not so loud Tap, look I’ll give you the short of it. I’m afraid that as this search goes on there are going to be a lot of frightened mares by the time this is done, and right now they're scared of the crown, I need someplace to bring them until they calm down and we have that filth locked up. Tap this is the one place in the city I know is safe, I’m asking not as a princess but as a friend, help me?”
Tap got a hard look on his face. “Flurry Heart, you bring every mare in the Empire here if you need to.”
“Thank you Tap, give them what you can, nothing hard, some are probably pregnant, even if they don’t know it.”
Tap looked ready to strangle a pony. “I’ll make sure they're taken care of if you start to bring a lot here…”
“I’m leaving the three Guards I came here with, two out front one in the back. Just worry about anypony I bring in.”
Tap nodded, both returned to the main area, Tap going behind the bar, Flurry motioned for the Guards to follow her outside.
“You three remain here, you are to defend this place at all cost, do not let anypony enter without me, even other Guards. I’m putting a lot of trust in you three right now, consider this your first test, if I hear that you so much as eyed a mare's flank, you’ll beg me to send you to Tartarus just to make the pain stop, understood?”
“Yes Ma'am.” All three replied without hesitation.
Flurry nodded, leaving her guards to protect Tappers and all inside. As Flurry hurried off into the night once again, she spotted a pony moving through the shadows, Flurry hurried off in pursuit, it was going to be a long night.
The Sun peaked over the horizon, Flurry paused for a moment watching the sunrise. She had been running over nearly the entire Empire, if she wasn’t tracking a suspicious pony, she was coordinating her Guard regiments. They had found a total of seven cult hideouts, including the first one Flurry found four of them had mares tied up in some form. The regulars had tried taking the mares they had found back to the Spire, Flurry had nearly attacked one guard when he attempted to refuse Flurry when she insisted on taking them elsewhere. Currently, there were fifteen mares sitting in Tappers, the bartender stallion doing his best to calm each of them. By the time Flurry had returned, the little bar felt lively, she had no idea how he did it be her was thankful to Tap regardless. Flurry and Tap stepped out the front of the bar, taking in the cool morning air.
“You get them all?”
“Yep, we’ve been going over the Empire with a fine tooth comb the last couple of hours. The leaders and members are all in the Spires dungeons, we were able to sort out them from the other stallions they had coerced into going along with them.”
“I heard about that, a few of the ladies in there mentioned something like that. What's going to happen to those colts?”
“Most came forward when the searching started, a few hid thinking we were coming to execute them, they really had ponies scared. As far as what's going to happen, I’m not sure just yet, one problem at a time.”
“I’ve been hearing talk of leaving the Empire, some just can’t be here anymore, first Sombra now this, it's a bit much for them.”
“Crystal Dust was the same, I sent her someplace safe. I can do the same for any that want to.” Flurry lifted her helmet off, her main laying flat with sweat. “Right now I need a drink and a shower.”
“Well, you just happen to be at the best bar in town.” Tap said smugly.
“Naturally Tap, I’ll make sure you're covered for anything tonight.”
“Oh don’t even try, it was my honor. Now let's get you that drink.”
Flurry followed Tap into the bar with a smug grin and a roll of her eyes.
~o0o~
Flurry had turned down the drink, instead, she addressed the gathered ponies, telling them that the cultists were all locked up. There were many sighs of relief, Flurry also offered any mare who wanted it a way out of the Empire. About half of those gathered took the offer, Flurry told them she would be sending them to the safest place for them. There were many tearful thanks, no longer fearing the wrath of the crown Flurry led the group out of Tappers. Flurry’s Guards guarded the group as they made their way through the city, they stopped only long enough to put those who wanted to leave on a train bound for Canterlot with instructions on what to do. Arriving at the Spire Flurry found the reserves and recruits she had called up lining the way to the Spire, they stood at attention as Flurry led her group underneath the Spire, where she was confronted by Shining Armor.
“Flurry Heart, why do I have three full regiments refusing to be dismissed until you do so?”
Flurry was a little surprised herself, she hadn’t thought they would wait for her to dismiss them once the search was over. She couldn’t help but feel rather proud.
“Because they are loyal Guard under my command.” Flurry announced loud enough for every pony to hear. “Guard! Dismissed!”
The Guards gave a salute before breaking formations, only the three standing with her and the other mares stayed. Flurry turned back to shining.
“These mares are witnesses in this whole ordeal, I hereby place them under my personal protection.”
Shining nodded. “There not the only ones, several have come forward with stories, counting these six that brings us up to about twenty.”
“There was fifteen, the others were too afraid to stay in the Empire. I’ve sent them somewhere safe that I trust.”
“And where would that be?” Shining asked with a raised eyebrow.
“For their sake, I’m keeping that secret, they only know where the train was headed, not where I sent them, and it will stay that way for now.” Flurry’s voice broker no argument.
“I guess I can't very well force you. Let's get them settled, we have a long way to go still.”
Flurry, Shining, and Silver were sitting in Flurry’s study going over records, Silver had been keeping very detailed accounts of everything that had happened, and something he found worried him.
“That can’t be right.” Flurry said looking up from her document.
“If everything I’ve been told is accurate, along with their own records it is, and it worries me.”
Shining Armor just hung his head. “Ten years? How have they been doing this for ten years?”
“As I pointed out, they started with very few members, working very quietly. The first five years there were only ten stallions involved, it's only in the last five that they have expanded to where they are.”
“So not all hundred some odd pony were in this from the start?”
“No princess, it only started with these select few. But those with similar ideas were naturally drawn to them, it was only a matter of time.”
“Even still, over ten years of this… abuse, how have we only seen,” Flurry paused looking at another document. “Twelve births? I mean if we were talking about a dozen ponies, sure. But counting those not in the empire, we have about forty mares that were forced into this, and of those that left only six were pregnant, and that was all of them.”
“And thus why I’m worried, I find them appealing in every sense, but they seem to be aware of declining birth rates and dwindling population. By my rough estimate, we could see crystal ponies dying out in about five or so generations, and that's counting each cult pregnancy.”
Flurry sighed. “And that is worrying, you are right. We need to find out what's going on, as well as finding some way of boosting our population. But that comes after, right now we need to deal with these monsters.”
“Right, now I’ve left a copy of all these for the Empress, so as soon as she goes over them we should-”
“What do you mean ‘when’? Where is she?” Shining asked in a frigid tone.
“I-uh-th-that is, she has been in the royal suit since the both of you left last night, or so the guards have said.”
Flurry glared. “You mean to tell me, while me and Shining, as well as every Guard in the Empire, was out running our flanks off, she's been sleeping???”
“I don’t know, I just left the documents for her earlier, her guards said she hasn’t left since she went in.”
Shining and Flurry exchanged looks.
“Something is wrong, it's not like Cadence to just… lock herself away.”
“I don't know, have you noticed she hasn’t really spent a lot of time around me, even though she was so adamant about having me back?”
Shining was lost in thought for a moment. “I thought she was spending time with you when I was overseeing the guard, or doing my part of running the Empire.”
“Nope.”
“We need to talk to Cadence, Now.”
~o0o~
Flurry and Shining stepped into the royal suit, it was like a medium size house built into the Spire. The entryway and common area were empty, Flurry checked the study while Shining checked the bedroom, both were empty. Coming back to the common room both had worried looks.
“The guards said she never left, yet she's not here.”
“This isn’t like Cady, she wouldn’t walk away from an emergency, and she wouldn’t just disappear. The only time she did was when she was foalnapped by Chrysalis.”
“Last I knew she was dead, so that's out. Is there any place she might go? Someplace only the two of you know?”
Shining paused a moment, then he had an idea. “There is one place.”
Leaving the suit proper both ran down the hall, a few doors down was a single room that hadn’t been touched in years, Flurry’s original bedroom from when she was born. Entering the room Shining and Flurry saw only a pitch black room, Shining activated the light gems in the walls, both of them froze when she saw Cadence. She was standing over Flurry’s old bed, tending to something in it. Flurry and Shining glanced at each other before Shining spoke up.
“Cady, what are you doing in the dark?”
“Shhhh, you’ll wake Flurry.”
Shining looked to Flurry, who had a worried look. Stepping up next to Cadence, Shining looked into the bed. In it was Flurry’s old blanket, it had been folded and wrapped to give it the appearance that something was in it.
“Cady, Flurry’s over there.” He said pointing to Flurry.
“No, no shiny dear, she’s right here, right where she belongs, my sweet little baby.”
Flurry stood across the bed from Cadence. “Cadence, who am I?”
Cadence didn’t reply, seemingly not have heard Flurry.
“Cady, who is that there?” Shining pointed to Flurry.
Cadence looked up, then looked around, it was as if she couldn't see Flurry at all.
“Who are you talking about dear?”
“Cadence, Flurry is right there, that’s her old blanket.”
“Shining Armor, are you implying that I don’t know where my own daughter it?”
“Ya because I’m over here, not in there.”
Again no response.
“Cadence, what’s wrong with you?”
“Shining nothing is wrong with me, you're the one questioning our daughter. Now stop making such a racket, you’ll wake her and I just got her to sleep.”
“Shining, ask her how old ‘I’ am.”
“Cady, how old is Flurry now?”
Cadence gave Shining a deadpan look. “She's two weeks old, I know we haven’t gotten a lot of sleep but you should know that.”
“She thinks she’s back before I was foalnapped, but why-”
Flurry was cut off when Cadence gasped in shock, she was looking down at the bed in a panic.
“Flurry? FLURRY! Shining where’s Flurry Heart!?”
“Cady she's right there, what's happening?”
Cadence began searching the room, ignoring Flurry even bumping her out of the way in her search. Before either could react, Cadence shot from the room in a blind panic. Flurry and Shining ran after her, still utterly confused as to what was going on.
“Raise the alarm, Flurry Hearts gone missing!”
“She's reliving your foalnapping, but why?”
“I have an idea, but we need to grab her.”
Cadence was frantically telling the first guard she came across to organize search parties, he was about to carry out his orders before Shining had yelled out to belay those orders.
“Shining!?! Flurry is missing what are you-?”
Cadence was cut off as Shining tackled her to the ground, he held her down using his magic to block hers.
“I can't hold her long, whatever you're going to do Flurry.”
Flurry wasted no time, she met Cadence eye to eye, touching her horn to Cadence’s she let her magic wash over them. Flurry knew a few healing spells, as well as diagnosis spells, she just hoped she wouldn’t find…
“Oh no…”
“What?”
“Changeling mind control magic, we were taught to identify it in the hive, but there is something different, it's like it's coming from her.”
“How is that possible? Spells have to come from the caster, not the target.”
“I’m not sure, and no mind spell I’ve ever seen could last years, a few months maybe, but not years.”
“SHINNING! *HISSSSSSSSSSSSS* FLURRY!”
“D-did she just hiss?” Shining asked, eyes going wide.
“Wait, oh please don’t let it be,” Flurry cast her magic again, going deeper than before. “It's a curse.”
“WHAT!”
“It's a changeling curse, but I’ve never heard of one… this… strong…. No…”
“Flurry?”
“Twilight told me Cadence face the Evil One by herself, right?”
“Yes... you mean then?”
“When else could this have happened?”
Cadence was now thrashing and hissing, trying to find purchase but failing on the crystal flooring.
“Why now?”
“I don’t know, I have almost no training in this kind of magic, I can only identify it, I have nothing to counter it.”
“What do we do? What can we do?” Shining was starting to sound desperate.
“There is one, and only one thing we can do. We need to go to the only experts who would know how to counter something like this. We need to go to my hive.”
The air whipped past Flurry, she was flying as fast as she could. She was hitched up to a sky chariot, holding Shining armor and an unconscious Cadence. Shining had almost lost it when Flurry suggested going to her hive, Flurry merely pointed out that they knew no one else who might know how to counter such a curse. Shining had tried to argue that Celestia, Luna or even Twilight might be able to, Flurry shut that down pointing out none of them had any knowledge of changeling curses, as they were very different from other types. With great reluctance Shining had agreed, Cadence had seemed to be getting worse by the second and Shining was getting desperate.
The ground flew past in a blur, Canterlot was about a day away by train. An unburdened pegasus could make the trip quicker if they were well trained and had the energy to spare. Flurry was neither, she hadn’t slept since before raiding the tavern the night before, she had a lack of endurance flight training and she was carrying two other ponies, but she would be damned to tartarus if she didn’t try. Using all of her alicorn strength and stamina, Flurry pressed on as fast as her load would allow. Five hours into the flight, FLurry could just make out the beginning of the Canter Mountain range, where Canterlot stood, she had cut a half day off the trip. SHe knew she would be paying for it latter, but that was future Flurry’s problem, current Flurry was only concerned with making it to Canterlot and her Hive.
An hour latter the ground came rushing up as Flurry dove towards Canterlot, she wasn’t sure where the entrance to the hive was, only that some of her changelings could be found around the castle. Twilight had told her this on her visit, allowing her to tell the crystal ponies she sent how to find them, even if she didn't know how to get into the hive proper. As she continued her dive, two black dots raced up to meet her. Squinting Flurry could see they were changelings, spreading her wings Flurry cut as much speed as possible.
“Flurry, we got your message, this way!”
Flurry didn't hesitate, she had sent a message ahead of them via messenger orb, she was glad for that now. Following the two changelings, they led her to an out cropping in the cliff side below the city. Darting through the opening Flurry caught a glimpse of two guard lings, they entered a cavern with a tunnel leading further into the mountain. About a dozen ponies and changelings were gathered in the space, all waiting for Flurry to land and hoof over her cargo. The chariot landed with a thud as it came to a stop, the ponies and lings hurrying forward.
“How long has she been out?” Asked the lead changeling.
“The entire trip plus and hour, I had to knock her out.”
Seeing changelings, Shining instinctively tried to keep them away from Cadence.
“Mr. Armor,” The lead changeling spoke. “Your wife is in critical condition, we can help, but you need to let us.”
“Shining,” Flurry called unhitching herself. “This is why we're here, let them do their job.”
With a sigh and no small amount of reluctance Shining let the changelings past, Cadence was placed on a stretcher and hurried off through the tunnel entrance, the various changelings and ponies talking in rapid fire to one another. Flurry and Shining were hot on their hooves, the group entered a large open cave. Changelings and ponies were everywhere, regardless the running group had a clear path as then entered a carved out building. The inside of the building was recognisable immediately, clean tiled floors and white walls, bright lit halls and rooms, the smell of medicine and cleaner, a hospital in every sense. The group carrying Cadence entered a pair of double doors, but Shining and Flurry were barred by a changeling nurse.
“I’m sorry, but you two will need to wait out here, doctors and medical staff only.”
Shining made to retort but was silenced by a voice behind him.
“Shinny!”
Shining Armor spun around in time to receive a tearful hug from Twilight.
“Whats happening? What's wrong with Cadence?”
“She's infected with a changeling curse, other than that we don’t know anything.” Flurry supplied for Shining, who was barely holding himself together.
“How is that even possible?”
A regal voice spoke up from behind them. “The why we can determine latter, right now we need to make sure Cadence survives.”
All three ponies turned to see Celestia, she and Luna were standing in the hallway looking downcast. They all knew Cadence could go either way, they were just praying for her to recover. From behind Celestia came four faces Flurry knew anywhere, Rocky Thunder, Spade, Shade, and Quick. All four approached Flurry quietly, words were not needed right now, anypony could see how Flurry was feeling. They embraced Flurry in a warm hug, for the first time since the attack, Flurry felt safe. The group was silent for a time, the only sound was from other ponies or changelings going about their business. Flurry looked up from her friends, seeing Shining and Twilight looking at them with varying expressions. Flurry pulled herself back together some before speaking.
“Shining, Twilight, these are my friends Spade, Quick, Shade, and Rocky Thunder. They’ve been my closest friends for years, guys this is my first father Shining Armor and his sister Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight approached the group with an outstretched hoof. “Its very nice too meet Flurys friends, though I wish it was under better circumstances.”
Twilight received hoof shakes and a ‘likewise’ or ‘same here’ comment from the four friends. Shining was still not completely trusting these changelings, but he returned the hoof shakes regardless. Before anything else could be said, a loud rumbling made itself known, everyone looked around, before settling on a very embarrassed Flurry Heart.
“I guess I’m a little hungry.”
Hooves met faces of the four friends before Quick flew out promising to return with food. The group finally moved out of the hallway and to the waiting room, taking the time to sit. Only now did Flurry start to feel the fatigue of the past day and a half, she slumped on the floor, her body too tired to stay up.
“Flurry are you alright?” Twilight asked urgently.
“As much as can be, haven't slept since yesterday, problems up in the Empire.”
“Problems?” Celestia questioned.
Shining Armor filled in the general details of the past thirty or so hours, while he brought the princesses up to speed, Quick returned with a large plate of mushroom steaks, Flurry’s favorite. Living underground meant some foods were easier to get than others, mushrooms and other such plants that grew underground were plentiful, and large grilled and sauteed mushroom steak caps had become Flurry’s favorite. She ate the three steaks vigorously, she hadn’t even realized how hungry she was until she was licking up the last of the tasty sauce.
Some time latter a changeling doctor walked in, all eyes were on him as he calmly approached the group.
“We’ve identified the curse, it's a curse specific to fully ascended changeling queens.”
Twilight gasped. “Cadence face Chrysalis in her hive!”
The doctor blinked at this. “That would explain a few things, the curse it actually a fusion of several curses, all queen class, if she was fighting while trying to cast them it would explain why they're all so sloppy.”
“If they are as such,” Luna began. “Will it prove easier to remove them if they were done improperly?”
“I’m afraid not princess, each curse has a specific method to removing them, these were thrown together to poorly that they are literally overlapping, were going to have to figure this out from scratch.”
Everyone in the group was quiet, things were definitely not looking good.
“That is the bad news, the good news is that we’ve been able to stabilize Cadence but at a cost.”
“What cost!” Shining demanded.
The doctor looked nervous. “Let me show you.
~o0o~
The group followed the changeling Doctor down another hall way, explaining that Cadence had been moved to an intensive care room. Flurry was far too tired to stand and was being carried by Shining armor. Quick and Shade flanked both of them, much to Shining Armors protest, but they insisted on being at their friend's side and would not be told otherwise. The doctor stopped in front of a door, making sure to keep the inside out of sight.
“While you can enter, I must insist that none of you use magic, and you must be very careful, she is stable, but only just barely, any unnecessary disturbance inside could harm Cadence immensely, do I make myself clear?”
All of them nodded in reply, Shining and Twilight agreed they would enter the room with Flurry, the others would remain at the door so as not to crowd the room. The minute they saw the interior of the room everyone froze, the room was a simple white room you would find in any hospital, the only thing different was the cocoon. In the center of the room was a green slime cocoon, it pulsed with energy, and had a circle of magic gems around it. Cadence could be seen suspended in the center of the cocoon, her body lay still as she slumbered. Shining nearly lept at the cocoon, intending to slash it open and free Cadence, an outstretched hoof barely holding him back.
“BBBFF, don’t. You might wind up killing her.”
The statement was enough to take the wind out of shining’s sails. Walking more calmly into the room, Shining and Twilight examined the cocoon as well as the gems around it.
“The gems are suppressing the curse for now, as long as they are charged the curse won't be able to spread. The cocoon it keeping her in a coma, several aspects of the various curses are affecting her physically, until they can be removed her body is also at risk, this is the best we can do until a cure can be devised.”
Shining continued to study the cocoon, his expression grim. He was not at all trusting of changelings, and right now they had his wife in one of their cocoons, they only thing staying his hoof from tearing everything down around him was Flurry and Twilight.
“I am not ok with this, how am I supposed to even know if this is helping her?”
“Mr. Armor,” The doctor began. “Everyone here is licensed to practice medicine by both Equestrian and hive law, ‘Primum non nocere’.”
Shining blinked, hearing the Equestrian medical oath was something he didn’t expect.
“BBBFF, I know it's hard, but please trust them, I do.”
Shining just hung his head. “If only it were enough,” Shining looked between Twilight and Cadence. “I don’t trust changelings, but for my wife's sake, I will try.”
The others were quiet as Shining left the room, Quick and Shade began to follow, but thought better of it, deciding to give the stallion some space. Flurry began to drift off on Shining's back, the last thing she saw before passing out was a fleeting glimpse of her hive.
Flurry woke feeling stiff, doing her best to clear her eyes she tried to take in her surroundings. The room was dark, soft moon light came in from open windows behind her, casting the room low light. But the low light was a good thing for Flurry, it reminded her more of home, her hive. Once she was able to see, Flurry found herself in one of the castle's many guest rooms. It seemed smaller than the one she woke in with Cadence all those months ago, lying back Flurry stared at the ceiling. Everything had happened so fast, it felt like years, but it had only been what? Five? Six months? So much happening in so little time, Flurry wondered how she had managed it all.
Getting out of bed Flurry moved to the door, she needed to get the stiffness out of her joints from yesterday's flight, as well as finding more food. Pausing, Flurry looked back at the window and the moon beyond it. It was night, but that was all she knew. How long had she been asleep?
With my luck, it's probably been a few days. Well, I did fly from the empire to Canterlot in less than half a day.
Exiting her room, Flurry found a Thestral, or bat pony, standing guard outside her room.
Oh great…
“Lady Flurry, it's good to see you up.”
Well, that's new. “Thank you, although I’m a bit disoriented, how long have I been out?”
“You’ve been out since late afternoon yesterday, it is currently the waning hours of the night.”
So out for at least half a day, and it's between midnight and sunrise, good to know. “Thank you sir, would you mind pointing me towards the kitchens, I haven't properly eaten since flying from the Empire.”
The bat pony nodded. “Right this way, our lady of the night left orders that you are not to be bothered, so I shall escort you.”
“Thank you kindly,” Flurry said as the bat pony began leading her. “But who are you keeping away from me if I may ask?” Let's see if they play ball.
“Until you woke up, everypony, you had quite a few wishing to, ‘express their undying gratitude’. Our lady wished you to be able to rest undisturbed.”
“And now that I’m awake?” Looks like the crystal ponies are settling in well, or at least I hope.
“That would be any late night nobles and reporters, you’ve come back from the grave, then you are spirited away to the Crystal Empire where you are, how did they put it? ‘Kept locked away from the rest of the world.’ You are big news around the city.”
No lies, either these night guard are really good at hiding, or he's telling the truth. “I've never experienced politics outside of a few lessons over the past few months, I’ll take your word for it.”
The pair walked in silence for a moment before Flurry spoke up again.
“May I ask you a question?”
“Certainly.”
“I've heard about your kind before ever coming to Canterlot, but I’ve never met one of you, is it wrong to call you bat ponies?”
The guard let out a deep chuckle. “Not in the least, we are in many ways related to bats, our wings, hearing, eyesight even our diet is more akin to bats than the average pony. There are a few terms we do take offense to, vampire and the like, it's rather degrading.”
“Like how if someone was to call a changeling a leech, it would only paint our true nature in a negative light.”
The guard paused, seemingly contemplating this. “Yes it is much the same case,” He started walking again as he continued. “I must admit I haven't had a chance to get to know the hive very much, the Solar Guards don’t seem to want to work with them, only the Night Guard work with the Hive Guard. It's been rather busy, to say the least.”
As they rounded the corner the main kitchen came into view.
“I’m sure, setting up a new hive, as well as making sure ponies feel safe, it must add a lot of stress to you and yours.”
“Not only that, we’ve been working counter cell operations, we started calling the others cells rather than changelings, gets less confusing.”
“I’m sure, not that those creatures deserve… to be… called…”
Sitting in the large open kitchen was Shining Armor, he was eating a sandwich, but now was just looking at Flurry as they both stood looked at each other. Sensing the tension between the two, the Night Guard quietly slipped back out and into the shadows.
“Hey Shining, can’t sleep?”
Shining nodded. “My wife is being possessed by a dead changeling queen while being held in a cocoon, sleeping isn’t high on my list of things I’d like to do.”
Flurry was silent, it seemed no matter what Shining wasn’t going to trust her hive, her family. Pulling out a few ingredients Flurry made a few sandwiches, sitting across from Shining they ate in silence for a while before Shining spoke up.
“I know you told me that you knew you were adopted, but there is something that keeps bothering me.”
“What's that?”
“Why did you never try and find out about us?”
Flurry paused for a moment, recalling the only day she had considered leaving the hive.
~o0o~
Flurry stood at the entrance to the hive, the gates wide open, the path to the surface clear, yet she didn’t move. Looking back Flurry could see the faces of her adopted parents, Arrow and Glade.
“So, I can just walk out? Find my first parents?”
“It's up to you my little flurry,” Glade said with a sad look in her eye. “Just know if you want you can always come back.”
Flurry nodded, took a step, then stopped again. “But where do I even begin?”
Arrow stepped up and put a leg around Flurry’s shoulders. “I’m not sure, when I found you it was near the hive in a storm, your wings could have carried you quite a ways back then, I know ponies keep records, maybe they have a list of missing foals?”
“Actually they do,” said another changeling. “Our adopters have brought a few back, we try to remember as many as we can in case we find any of them, but there has never been a missing alicorn, that we know of.”
Flurry looked between Glade and Arrow, then the ground. “Was I thrown away?”
Glade came up and hugged Flurry tightly. “I’m sure that's not true, we just don’t know what happened.”
Arrow nodded in agreement. “Perhaps you're the lost daughter of one of the other alicorns?”
Flurry shook her head, seemingly dismissing the idea. “We might not have a lot of books, but we know all alicorns ascend, may-maybe they got rid of me because I’m not supposed to exist?”
Glade appeared disgusted at the idea. “That is not true, you are meant to exist and no one is going to tell you other wise, even yourself.”
Flurry nuzzled up to Glade. “Thanks, mom.”
Flurry looked back at the open gate, the dark tunnel seemingly far more intimidating than before.
Looking over her shoulder she spotted the changeling who mentioned lost foals before. “Hey Veil, has there been any other alicorns born in the past thirteen years?”
Veil paused looking thoughtful for a moment. “Not that anyone is aware of, I think at least three of them have at least a lover of some extent, at least that is the information we’ve picked up.”
Flurry turned away from the entrance to the hive, closing the main gate with her magic. “I don’t want to leave.”
“Are you sure? You can change your mind later you know, this isn’t a one time offer.” Glade said, trying to sound convincing but still sounding relieved.
“Yes, if three alicorns in thirteen years can’t have a foal, and they aren't looking for a lost daughter, then I can’t be one of there’s, and even we would have heard of a missing alicorn, I’m not missed out there, but I would be here, at home.”
Arrow and Glade hugged Flury tightly, refusing to let go for the moment.
Finally, Glade managed to speak. “My little Flurry.”
~o0o~
Shining Armor sat in silence for several moments after hearing Flurry’s story, part of him was hurt to think she thought that she had just been thrown away, yet another part of him could understand Flurry’s thinking.
“So because there were no other alicorn foals you thought you weren't wanted?”
Flurry shrugged. “No pony was looking for me, our adopters would have heard about it. Between the first mission to adopt foals and the day you attacked, we returned nineteen missing foals. We would have definitely heard of a missing alicorn.”
“But we were looking for you,” Shining said exasperatedly. “We searched for years, the papers had coverage about it for nearly as long.”
Flurry paused a moment, something definitely didn’t seem to be adding up.
“How long did you look for me?”
“Technically we never stopped, though officially we had to ‘call off’ the search after,” Shining paused, thinking back to less pleasant times. “I think it was four or five years after you went missing.”
Flurry groaned, holding a hoof to her head. “Now things are starting to make more sense, our adoption missions didn’t start until I was five.” Flurry blinked, realizing she had yet to ask something important. “Um, how old was I when I went missing? We always treated the day I was found as my ‘birthday’, but we were never officially sure how old I was.”
“Two weeks, so you're only off by that much.”
Flurry nodded. “If the search was ‘officially’ called off after five years, we still wouldn’t have heard about it. We started in some of the larger cities, but only on the edges, places where ponies keep to themselves, and where a colt or filly sleeping in a box at the end of an allie wouldn’t be noticed it wouldn’t be another five or so until we started actually adopting foals from orphanages, even then it was still the over crowded run down ones.”
Shining narrowed his eyes. “Then where did you find ‘missing’ foals?”
Flurry rolled her eyes. “Just because we started going to orphanages doesn't mean we stopped going through the back streets, if every orphanage in Equestria emptied over night don’t you think that would be just as suspicious?”
Shining nodded, seemingly accepting the explanation for the moment, then something else Flurry said sunk in.
“Wait you mean to tell me that you legally adopted foal.”
“No we paid the caretakers to look away while we ran off with a dozen foals,” Flurry said her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Of course we adopted them legally.”
Shining hung his head in shame. “We attacked families.”
“I’ve been trying to tell you both that all along, the hive is family, MY family.”
Shingings ears lay back, seemingly more dejected now than ever. “I’m surprised you didn’t try and return to them.”
“The thought crossed my mind more than once, but then what? You would know where I would be going, you could either track me down on the way or wait at the hive for me to show up. After staying in the empire, and knowing what kind of pony power you have ready, you would use every guard available to bring me back, kicking and screaming if necessary, tell me that isn’t what you would do.”
Shining let out a heavy sigh. “You're right, we wouldn’t even think about losing you again, we would move the entire Imperial Guard to bring you back, we did the first time.”
“So to keep my family safe, and to keep from making either of you angrier, I stayed. I did what I was trained to do, I fit in, I did my best to become a part of your empire.”
Shining tilted his head at her mention of training.
“I took some infiltration classes in the hive, they were very useful, it's where I learned disguise magic.”
Shining nodded. “I had wondered about that.”
There were several minutes where nothing was said, finally, Flurry asked the question neither of them wanted to but had to.
“So, where do we go from here?”
Shining’s face fell. “Is there still a ‘we’? I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to leave the Empire, I-I won't force you to stay.”
Flurry walked over to Shining, placing a hoof on his shoulder.
“I want to get to know you, both of you. So few if any ponies in the hive have first parents, but you need to understand, they are my family, just as much as you and Cadence are.”
“I want to know you too, but after everything I’ve been through with changelings, I just don’t know…”
“I’m not expecting it to happen over night, I would be suspicious if it did, but please give them a chance, that's all I’m really asking.”
Shining gave a dry chuckle. “Seems I don’t have a choice now, they raised my daughter and now they're keeping my wife alive. Is it too late to start over, again?”
Flurry Heart sat at a large round table, seated with her was Shining Armor, Celestia, Luna, Twilight, Glade and Dr. Patch Work from the hive. The entire table was quiet as Dr. Patch delivered his report.
“...and we have begun siphoning away the hex, but the process is slow. And it seems to drain the Princesses magic as well further slowing the process, while we will eventually be able to fully cure her majesty, it is a matter of when that is still the unknown.”
Celestia nodded, taking in the information as best she could. “For argument sake, say you are able to fully remove, or drain this hex in six months, how soon after that would Cadence be able to return to the Empire, not in a leadership position, but simply in order to recover?”
Dr. Pach rubbed his chin. “While timeframes are still the biggest unknown here, assuming she is fully drained magically as a result of the cure, or purge of the hex, then I would say she could return home, under medical supervision naturally, in perhaps a month. But she would not be allowed to resume any duties for a minimum of one year, at best. That is assuming all factors are in our favor, if they are not after she recovers, we could be looking at five years plus before she is capable in any capacity to resume anything beyond walking among her citizens.”
That was not a welcome prognosis. “Thank you, Dr. Patch, we will not keep you from your patients further.”
Bowing Dr. Patch left the room. Once he was gone Celestia looked around the room, this was not going to be easy.
“Captain Armor, what is the moral state of the Empire?”
“Not good Princess, in the week since Cadence was brought here, morale among the citizens has hit a record low, some are afraid this will be another ‘Sombra’, I’m not sure how they come to that idea.”
“It's because the last time a stallion was in power he enslaved them.” Flury pointed out.
Everyone at the table looked at Flury.
Shining pinched his brow with a hoof. “So they are afraid of me?”
“I think they fear a single ruler rather than you personally,” Glade spoke up. “I've been helping the crystal ponies settling in, when I told them we don’t have a single ruler but rather a council, they were rather relieved, they told me they feared a monarch as opposed to a diarchy or even council.”
“So it was the fact that Cadence and I ruled together that made them feel safe as opposed to just me or her?”
Glade nodded.
“I feared as much,” Celestia said drawing the attention of the room. “Shining Armor, did Cadence tell you I pushed up your wedding day?” Shining shook his head. “Cadence wanted to have the wedding about a year later, but I knew the Empire was due to return within a year or two, I knew Cadence was descended from the Imperial family, her cutie mark is the Crystal Hart after all.”
“I had wondered about that.” Flurry Mused.
“So you had Cadence push up our wedding so we would be married before the Empire returned, and the Empire would have co-rulers rather than just a princess.”
Celestia nodded.
Flurry sighed. “And I’m guessing having a changeling pose publicly as Cadence until she recovers is out of the question.”
“Flurry, how do you think an Empire of already panicked ponies would react to finding out they were being deceived.” Twilight asked with a flat stare.
“Mass hysteria, it was a hypothetical anyway, I doubt any of us could hold the disguise perfectly enough to fool anypony, remember how easily you discovered Crysalys the first time you met her?”
Twilight nodded.
“So what's the next best option to help alleviate tension until Cadences eventual recovery?” Flurry asked.
“Somepony needs to take Cadence’s place, either temporarily or permanently depending on how well Cadence recovers.” Luna answered.
Flurry held her head in her hooves while Shining looked completely distraught.
“BBBFF I know this isn’t what you want…”
“But I have to think of the needs of the Empire, I know I know.” Sighing he looked at Princess Celestia. “I’m assuming you have some ideas? I haven’t been able to plan much beyond ‘make sure my wife doesn't die’, and before any of you even think it I won't remarry, Cadence isn’t dead.”
Celestia raised a hoof to forestall any further arguments. “I would never even consider suggesting being unfaithful that dose, however, narrow the list of ponies who could fill the position in a way that is acceptable to everypony involved.”
“If you would Princess,” Flurry began. “The Empire needs its leaders before it falls apart, I for one would like to see the Empire once when it is peaceful.”
Celestia nodded. “There is only one pony who the populace would accept and can fill the position without being wed to the current Emperor, you.”
The room was silent, not even the sound of breathing could be heard as Celestia braced herself for the inevitable.
“WHAT!?” Flurry shouted in what was definitely volume matching the royal Canterlot voice.
“Flurry, you have already gained a favorable standing with the crystal ponies, they would accept you as Cadence’s regent at the very least, not to mention you are crowned empress by birth, you can legally take the position.”
“B-b-but what about…. TWILIGHT! She’s Shining sister, she can fill the role as she is related by blood.”
“I don't have the standing with the crystal ponies you do, not to mention I already have my own fiefdom to run, I can't just up and leave.”
“I-bu-ah” Flurry stammered before planting her face firmly on the table in front of her. “I never wanted any of this.”
“And that Flurry is why you are perfect for the position if you have been eager to accept the position I would not have allowed you to take it.”
Flurry just groaned, why did her life have to become so complicated anymore?
“Flurry,” Glade spoke up. “I know you’ve never wanted power or even authority, but sometimes fate has things planned for us we never wanted, it doesn't mean it's always bad.”
Flurry rubbed her temples, trying to fight off the coming headache.
“Fine, I’ll fill in as regent until Empress Cadence can resume her duties because one day she will return to the throne.”
“Flurry,” Celestia spoke in her warm motherly voice. “You should be prepared to incase Cadence can’t return to ruling. She will eventually recover as Dr. Patch pointed out, but it's still unclear how much damage Chrysalis did.”
“I still can’t believe she is still causing us trouble after being ‘dead’ for three years.” Twilight laminated.
“Sombra was turned to shadow and smoke, banished the empire, and came back after a thousand years, it seems that many of our foes have a hard time of staying defeated.” Luna added.
Twilight could only nod in reply.
“Unfortunately Shining and Flurry must return to the empire, the crystal ponies need to be reassured that their leadership is still strong, especially in light of other recent events.” Celestia spoke, directing it at said ponies.
“Yes princess,” Flurry replied. “We’ll leave within an hour, we have a lot to do to get things calmed down.”
Shining nodded in agreement, both got up to leave as Glade spoke up.
“Captain Armor, may I speak with you a moment before you go, privately?”
In the week since coming back to Canterlot, having his wife wrapped in a cocoon and Flurry wanting him to give the have a chance, Shining had made some headway to accepting changelings, but he still didn’t quite trust them.
“If you have something to say then you may say it to the rest of us.”
“While not a secret, I would like to discuss something discreetly.”
Shining was ready to refuse before he could Flurry spoke up.
“Talk with her, she raised me Shining. If there is one changeling you could trust it would be her.”
“Very well, I will hear you out Miss Glade.”
The two stepped out into the hall, the moved down the corridor until they were in between guards and out of immediate earshot.
“Alright, what do you have to say that couldn’t be said in front of the others.”
“It's something of an offer, we know you don’t trust us, and I can only imagine what it must feel like to trust your mate to such a group. You have to return to the Crystal Empire, leaving Cadence here, that can only make it worse.”
“All correct, are you going somewhere with this?”
“There is a way to have Cadence in the empire, but I doubt you’ll like it.”
~o0o~
Shining Armor woke with the rising of the sun, he was used to doing so from his time in the guard, the only adjustment had been that the sun rose at a different time in the empire then Canterlot. Sitting up, Shining still felt incredibly tired, he hadn’t slept much that night, or really any night in the past week. It was just as bad as when Flurry had been taken almost twenty years ago.
Only now I have my little filly back, and my wife is the one missing.
Shining looked over at the empty side of the bed, the sheets were all wrinkled and bunched up from his restless sleep if Cadence had been lying there the mess of sheets would have been for a very different reason. Shining missed Cadence, and not just from the past week either. Ever since Flurry had been taken Cadence had been slowly changing, back then he had thought it was just her coping with the loss, now he new differently. More than once over the fifteen years or so, Shining had wondered what had happened to the affectionate loving mare he had married. He just wanted his family back, he wanted his as normal as possible life back, but it seemed that was never going to happen.
Pulling himself out of bed he made his way to to the royal dining room, it was a smaller room just off from his and Cadence’s sleeping chamber. Entering he half expected to find Flurry there, surprisingly the room was empty of any pony else. He was just about to sit down when he heard laughter from somewhere, looking around he noticed the door to the kitchen was open a crack. Moving to investigate Shining peered into the kitchen, as he did he could hear the ponies inside talking.
“I never thought to use milk in with them.”
“Yep, it makes them go further when you live underground certain foods are harder to get, so we make them stretch out more than normal.”
“Wait, how did you get milk underground?”
Shining could now see Flurry working with the Spire’s head chef, Ruby Goblet.
“Dandelion milk, when you cook it with the right amount of water you get this nice thick sweet cream, regular milk seems kinda bland after growing up on that.”
“Well, we don’t have a shortage of crystal berries up here…”
Gobblet trailed off as Flurry levitated up a spoon full of the berries and milk she had been mixing, the moment he tasted it his eyes shrunk and a huge grin split his face.
“Well if everything you cook is this good I might be out of a job.”
Flurry laughed a bright and warm laugh that made you just happy hearing it. “I’m going to be way too busy to replace you, but I do like cooking, so don’t be surprised if you find me in here from time to time.”
“It will be a delight.”
Flurry plated something Shining couldn’t see from his vantage point before she spoke again.
“Home come it just you in here? I know I’ve seen servants all over this place.”
“This is just the kitchen for the royal family, the main kitchen is a floor down next to the main hall, so I’m only serving three… sorry, two ponies now.”
“It was just Shining and Cadence before I came back, I never saw them eat much at breakfast, I always had the most, why is that?”
Gobblet shrugged. “I know His Majesty likes to keep much of the same diet as he did in the guard, as for Her Majesty, she never ate a lot after you were taken from us.”
Flurry regarded the older Crystal pony, his body was in very good shape for his age, but his eyes told her that he had seemed much in his long life, much she guessed from the time of Sombra.
“The entire Empire regarded me as ‘their filly’ didn’t they?”
“More than you know, you were the first heir born to us since before Sombra took over, you were, our hope for our future, now I think more than ever.”
Flurry sat down slumping slightly. “I have two families, the one I was born into and the one who raised me, and right now one doesn't want anything to do with the other.”
Shining Armor didn’t hear the rest of their discussion, he left the room seeking out the one pony, or rather changeling he didn’t think he was going to see so early. Marching down the hall he came to a guest room, it looked like any other with the exception of the single guard standing by it. The guard saluted Shining as he approached, he returned the gesture, then dismissed the guard. The guard was confused at first, but Shining made it clear he was not to be argued with.
Shining expected to find the room covered in green slime, maybe a pod or two, or the room at least blacked out, he didn’t expect to find Glade sitting at the window taking in the early morning sun while looking over the empire.
They really aren't what I expect, are they.
At hearing his entrance, Glade turned around and bowed to him, spreading her wings in a similar fashion Shining had seen pegasi do when bowing to Celestia.
“Good morning Emperor Armor, to what do I owe this visit so early?”
I really have been a plot, haven't I? “Please rise Glade, I will not have another member of my family bowing to me.”
Glade looked up a rather confused look on her face. “I feel I should ask if you are feeling well, under some influence, or being forced to say such things. After all just yesterday in Canterlot you had to be convinced to speak with me without the Princesses present.”
Shining nodded. “Perhaps I should be checked, but I need to address something more important first. I overheard Flurry talking with my head chef just now, and while I am still not fully trusting of your kind as of yet, I have come to realize that what I am doing is no better than what Chrysalis did almost twenty years ago. Flurry regards us both as her family, and I am trying to steal her away from half of her family, I won't stand for that anymore.”
Shining let out a sigh, he was about to make a huge decision, he just hoped, in the end, it was the right one.
“Glade, please tell the hive I accept their offer.”
