I do not own MLP
Chapter Seven: Changelings
A week passed since the disaster at the Gala and everypony was in a state of panic. Ponyville's Castle now had smithies and armories opening up in order to provide weapons and armor for the civilians. Arcane had found out what had happened and agreed to teach the unicorns to rediscover their cores as did Seed and Sky. The one main problem was finding allies. Twilight didn't even know where to begin, she sighed as she sat on her throne over looking the map of Equestria floating in front of her. The throne room had been turned into a war room. 'Honestly if I could I would ask the Changelings for help but I don't think that is possible at the moment. Ponies don't trust them.' Twilight thought before looking up at a pony who was cleaning the throne room and got an idea.
"Do you remember that favor you owe me?" the alicorn princess asked and the pony turned around revealing bright green eyes. "I know how you and your friends can help me out."
Comet sighed as he walked to the center of Ponyville, he was asked to go there by Princess Twilight with no knowledge of why she asked him. He found himself standing next to three other ponies, two of which were earth ponies.
"Okay, so most of you have doubts about Comet being a changeling and so I decided to show that he isn't one. Not anymore." Twilight started walking up to the podium with the three other princesses standing beside her. "Two weeks ago most of you remember an incident with three changelings running through the streets of Ponyville. When they headed into the castle you didn't hear from me in several days. That was because I was working out what I should do with them. I invited the princesses here today in order to prove that I and the rest of us are not changelings. The three ponies behind me are."
The crowd gasped and whispered amongst themselves as Twilight proceed to cast her revealing spell on each of the ponies in line. The three ponies that were standing up there turned into changelings but the spell didn't work on Comet. The other princesses took turns casting the spell as well to show that it was authentic.
"So what are you planning on doing with three changelings?" asked Miss Cherilee as she stood next to Big Mac, a red earth pony with a orange colored mane, green eyes, and a horse collar around his neck.
"These three have agreed to show me to their hive so I will be able to make a peace treaty with the Changelings." announced the Princess of Friendship earning a collective gasp from the ponies. "I know that it seems unwise, that they will betray us. If Sombra wins then they won't have anything to feed off of. I believe as well that they as well as ourselves have never attempted to learn about the others culture. I have found out that Changelings do not feel or in a better term do not know how to feel. For them feelings are their food and so is treated as such. There can be so much that we can learn if we just try and befriend the changelings. Who knows there might be something else that our two races can learn. We all talk about how our three tribes came together in friendship but are we willing to offer a pony or creature that wronged us that same friendship?"
The crowd murmured to amongst themselves as Twilight headed back inside to prepare for her journey. The ponies watched as the changelings headed in after her eager to get away from the crowd. Comet just hurried towards his house slightly embarrassed with what just happened. Midnight Sun was inside the house preparing dinner.
"Did you get the groceries?" the dark grey unicorn asked as he chopped the lettuce before checking on the soup in the fireplace. The stallion never learned how to use the stove and had expressed no interest in learning.
"I was stopped for a demonstration but I managed to get what we need." explained Comet as he took off his saddlebag and setting it on the counter. "Princess Twilight decided to prove that I wasn't one and show that some changelings were on her side. In which she is going to the Changeling Hive in order to forge an alliance with them."
"Do you want to go with her?" Midnight Sun inquired as he stirred the soup as he used his magic to put the lettuce in a bowl.
"No." replied the black colt with a sigh as he shook his head. "Going back there will just make me feel uncomfortable. I've been marked a traitor by my own kind."
"You are putting a lot at risk by trying to make an alliance with our people." one of the changelings told Twilight. "It is not a tactically sound move especially since we had tricked you before."
"I believe that it doesn't hurt to try. Besides it is good to show our hoof in friendship." the alicorn princess explained as she packed up her supplies. "And it will be good to make peace with a species that have wronged us. Which is why I am going with you three and not my friends. I want to be an emissary of peace and to do so show them that I can't bring people who might react negatively when I get insulted."
"I see." the changeling responded. "We should go immediately, Sombra has been trying to get the Changelings on his side. The three months would give him the time to do whatever he can to get them on his side."
"Then we shall leave as soon as possible." said Twilight as she placed the saddlebag on her back. "As in right now."
The princess and the changelings opened up a window and took off.
The group flew South as pertaining to the instructions of the Changelings. The days passed quietly most of the time it was of Twilight looking through some books for anything about cores.
One night Twilight sat by the fire trying to finish reading a book. She didn't know who it was by because there was no name. The alicorn's eyes slipped closed as the changelings stood guard.
"Twilight." an elderly voice rang out and Twilight stirred. "Come now Princess Twilight up you go."
Twilight's eyes snapped open when she heard the ringing of bells. In front of her was an old unicorn with a beard. The elderly stallion's eyes twinkled as he helped her to his feet a familiar hat on his head.
"Is that? Are you? Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" Twilight squealed bouncing around before hearing the unicorn chuckled as he responded. "Yes I am Star Swirl the Bearded, now calm down there are questions you want answered. No?"
The princess stopped and Star Swirl cleared his throat before continuing. "What are your questions?"
"Well, they are mainly questions about cores." Twilight began and the older unicorn nodded his head. "A lot of the older ponies seem to be having trouble even accessing them but we already have three fillies that found them, why is that? How will we be able to train in the specialization that we get when we already have trained with the basic magic? Does Sombra have a core?"
"The reason why the fillies found their cores was because not only are they young but they also have not found their talent." explained Star Swirl with a nod of his head. "They are more open to learn and their bodies have been trained towards that talent. Sweetie Belle is still learning regular magic as well as healing but one is more hard for her to learn, correct?"
"She does seem to be having some trouble, yes." Twilight replied and the bearded unicorn continued with his explanation. "When ponies are young their connection to the cores is stronger than most especially when they haven't found their talents. Now to your second question, when you train the older ones in their specialization you have to keep in mind that the ponies in the past found their cores as fillies and colts. They trained in that certain magic type so they grew weak when using a magic that they weren't used to casting. With the ponies of this day and age their core magic will be stronger than the magic they would normally cast. For the last question, yes Sombra has a core. This core is the Shadow Core, which normally is not evil but can be corrupted a little easier to most."
"Do you think it is a smart idea that I am going to see the Changelings alone?" Twilight asked looking at her hero.
"Yes." replied Star Swirl with a nod of his head the bells chiming. "Even though to others it might seem like a horrible idea. I believe it is the right one, Changelings do not question the orders of the Queen having three drones with you might have provoked her to join Sombra's side. However having them show the way to the Kingdom and explained why they were going to you in the first place with an apology for keeping them away for so long will show that it was a misunderstanding. The Queen may be suspicious about your arrival, at the moment you have her paranoid, if she challenges you to a duel accept it."
"How do you know this?" the violet alicorn questioned extremely curious.
"I had met the changelings during my travels." explained the old unicorn as he remembered. "I studied their culture up close for a few weeks, after casting an invisibility spell, before they found me. I was brought before the queen, Metamorphosis, who questioned me. They were really quite surprised when I shared my knowledge freely. Ah but back to what I was saying before. Accepting the duel will prove that you have honor and is willing to defend it. Now normally it was to the death but by sparring her life when you are the victor will in debt her to you. Use that to get her to fight on your side."
"Alright." Twilight replied with a nod of her head.
"Princess Twilight." a voice said causing her to look around. "Princess Twilight it is time to awaken. It is dawn and we are nearly there."
"You should awaken." Star Swirl told her and Twilight nodded. "Just focus on the voice."
Twilight nodded her head as she closed her eyes and focused on the voice.
The Princess of Friendship awoke to see the Changelings standing over her and rose to her feet. The group took off into the air and continued their journey in silence. Soon they landed in front of a cave and Twilight heard buzzing within.
"This way." the lead changeling said pointing its hoof towards the entrance before they entered. The buzzing seemed to grow louder as they walked through the cave an eery green light coming from tunnels. Suddenly a bright green flame appeared.
"My my my if it isn't the newest Princesses." hissed a familiar voice from the flame. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"I am here to apologize for taking in the changelings that left and explain the reasoning why they did so. May I have an audience with you Queen Chrysalis?" Twilight explained trying to keep herself calm.
"Of course." agreed the changeling queen as green eyes glowed in the darkness. "Please follow the drones to the throne room Princess."
'I really do not like the way she says my title.' thought Twilight as the drones ahead of her lead the way. The alicorn princess and the three changelings behind her followed the drones. They were silent and kept giving her hungry glance making her feel very nervous. Soon they arrived in a large cavern with a winding path carved from stone leading up to a throne with the changeling queen perched on top. The throne itself was seemingly made from black stone with the backrest made from rotting wood.
"Welcome Princess Twilight." sneered Chrysalis looking down upon the violet alicorn with disdain. "I am ready to hear the apology that you came to give. Though you leaving will depend on the explanation that you give."
"I apologize for taking in the changelings without telling you first." Twilight apologized bowing her head. "A few weeks ago they came to me looking for asylum..."
"Princess Twilight?" asked a voice with a slight buzz, Twilight turned around before letting out a gasp. "Please do not scream we have come here looking for asylum."
"But, why would Changelings come to seek asylum from a pony?" the violet alicorn inquired before hearing her friends call out her name causing her to head into the library "In here."
"We were planning on finding out why Comet had his powers taken away." the first changeling began as they followed the princess inside. "However the queen had thought we wanted to leave and threatened to take away our powers. Something, we don't know what, caused us to run and head here to seek asylum. We will do anything to stay! Please!"
"I'll think about it." Twilight replied thinking. "How about we wait a few weeks just to give her time to think about everything that you told her... You did explain what you wanted to do... right?"
"We tried to." another changeling commented looking away. "We are used to conveying our intents through actions and pheromones not words. Things have a tendency to get a bit mixed and unclear when... you are in a rush."
"Another thing, if you do plan on staying here you are going to need a disguise." the princess said looking nervous now. "But don't make this decision without putting a lot of thought into it."
"So you are trying to play the goody-goody." laughed Chrysalis rising from her throne and flying towards Twilight. "What for?"
"I've also come to offer my hoof in friendship." Twilight replied after taking a deep breath and Chrysalis looked surprised. "We are both beings of this world and in order to live in it we have to fight for our right to live. Not just to eat, laugh, or make diabolical plans but to live each day knowing we protected our right to live freely."
Chrysalis didn't look impressed at that statement choosing instead to circle around the princess.
"Words are just words, you can not take them at face value," Chrysalis began her expression unchanging. "Actions speak louder than words and from your actions at the wedding... you had proven yourself quite resourceful when you live in the moment. But what about having to sit and think about a problem, hmm? I believe you might have problem with that, your worry consumes you. Am I wrong?"
"You're not wrong." the alicorn admitted keeping her face calm before tilting her head to the side. "I know that I can get worked up for a problem over time but I need help and you seem like the right... changeling to help."
"Is that flattery I hear?" cooed the changeling queen as her form shifted to that of Twilight. "What makes you so sure that I won't just take your place?"
"Because that is what everypony expects from you." Twilight replied doing her best not to flinch. "And you seem to like to throw off everypony's expectations. Am I wrong?"
"Clever little pony." chuckled Chrysalis as she changed back. "Your offer does seem more enticing than Sombra's I have to admit. Let us put this resolve of yours to the test, shall we?"
"What do you have in mind?" the Princess of Friendship asked and the changeling queen grinned as she laughed darkly. "I am not going to like this am I?"
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