I apologize for this serious long wait. I had (and still does) some trouble writing more chapters, so I went to my other stories to relax my mind from this one.
this chapter isn't based on an episode; though it is heavily inspired by "The Times They Are A Changeling."
This chapter is mostly worldbuilding at how I view the changelings' culture/life cycle.
enjoy ^^
**Unknown location**
Ever since the failed attempt to take over the ponies' capital, the queen has been in a nasty mood, affecting the entire hive. Every sentinel got sent out to search the area, for what he did not know. All he does know is that he can't stay here. It's not the constant hunger, the companion that has followed since their hatching. Nor is it the increased aggression from the queen, no… he… he just can't take the thought of having to attack ponies like that again! Being commanded to slam himself against a shield, then try and enslave ponies, it was horrible. And here he thought it was bad enough to capture and drain a bypass creature for their love, something he only dealt with because it was the only way they could survive.
He can't take the idea of enslaving another race, not even if it means sating his hunger. So… he leaves the safety of the hive, heading into the unknown in search of a better existence. Maybe he can find a small reclusive area and suck a bit of love out from travelers, not enough to harm them, but so that he can survive.
He wanders for a long time, searching for this new home his mind created. Did settle down a few places, but the lack of food and being constantly in danger due to the lack of a hive's safety. He is forced to move on.
Hunger worsens with each day, and strength starts to fail him, but he continues searching for a place where this little rouge changeling can live in relative peace.
**Crystal Empire**
The crystal streets are brimming with crystal ponies, each enjoying this beautiful sunny day. A lot are selling their wares out at the marketplace, and others are browsing for either food or entertainment products.
Then there are those simply walking around the glistering streets with their just as sparkly pets.
Two of these crystal pones are doing a bit of shopping, but one is way more interested in chatting with other ponies that see what the stalls got to offer. The two spend most of the day at the market, the stallion picking up chats with everyone now interested in sharing a conversation with him. The mare does more shopping, though she makes small talk with the stall owner. She, at times, makes quite a line due to her tendency to encourage the seller to talk about their wares. Something the stall owner did appreciate. Nearing evening, the two head to the crystal heart and spend a lot of time admiring it, but none of the crystal ponies found anything suspicious in this behavior. Many other crystal ponies came to do the same towards the very artifact that keeps their empire safe and emits the love their empire is known for.
The crystal ponies slowly trickle back home at the end of the day, and the guards replace each other on their posts. Only with nightfall approaching do the two crystal ponies leave the crystal heart, but unlike the other ponies, these two do not walk inside any house. They continue walking all the way out to the drake statue field, past the empire's perimeters. The grassy terrain gets replaced with snow, yet the two crystal ponies do not turn around or stop their walk. They continue walking all the way to the mountains. Only here do the two changelings drop their disguises. The male is cyan-green; the cover over the wings is blue and got a single curved spike on it. Most noticeable is that he's missing his tail but does not seem bothered by it. The female is light green, and the cover and her wings are the same purple. Her blue eyes turn to the male. "Do you think Deliah will be able to molt before they hatch?" The female changeling asks her companion.
The male hums, "I hope so, but we have to prioritize the clutch's needs for now." The female nods in agreement. They head inside a cave, over to a wall that shifts and changes like their species. Past this measly protection, the pair encounter another of their kind.
This one hasn't gone through the molt and wears a bug-like armor for protection against possible harm. This bigger female changeling speaks when spotting the two. "You better have gathered some. Our queen is getting worried about the clutch." She is quiet for a moment but with a furrow underneath her purple armor. "I admit… I am troubled too. They hadn't gotten anything decent since we left."
"No need to worry anymore, Delilah." The other female changeling assures the only guard of this hive, "The tales are true. The Crystal Empire is brimming with love." The sentinel changeling perks up at this, more so at this female's following words. "Cornicle and I barely had to make an effort gathering love."
Cornicle, the male changeling nods, "Our hive will be thriving here, I am sure."
"Good." The sentinel, Deliah, nods to the inner sanctum of their hive. "Best you tell our queen this news. She… well, still hasn't fully embraced her title."
The two exchange a look, then chuckles, not overly surprised by their queen's behavior. "We will talk to her." The female speaks and, together with the male, flies deeper inside their hive, leaving the other female to keep watch. They reach the inner sanctum, an underground clearing with a waterfall created by the melted ice coming from the mountain. The male briefly touches the stream with his hoof before joining the female on some rocks. All of which is surrounded by moss and a few crystals. In the middle is another rock, jagged and greenish, so unlike the rest. Before this creepy-looking rock lies a clutch with about two hundred changeling eggs. "My queen, we have returned." The female speaks to this hive's queen, one who is currently doing her best to tend the eggs— the future of this new hive.
The changeling queen turns around; her worried green eyes soften with a sense of hope seeing her gathers have returned. "Frenulum, Cornicle." She moves so to face them fully, and although she towers over these two, they are older and much more experienced when it comes to the world they live in. Which is why this young queen is thankful they joined her to build this new hive. "Please tell me you have good news." She really needs some; the departure from her former home hasn't been easy. Not only are ponies super scared of changelings— thanks to that lunatic her former hive elders told stories about, but she does not feel like a good queen as she hadn't been able to lead as it's expected from a queen.
And that is why Frenulum and Cornicle joined, and they know that although a ruler changeling is formed, it does not give that changeling any leadership skills. It's a role they have to grow into, just like any other changeling will with their roles. "We have gathered enough love to feed everyone." Frenulum tells their young queen and smiles at how much it eases this young one's worries. "You picked the perfect spot for us, so don't fret anymore, Coastal."
The male, Cornicle nods in agreement with his partner and tells their queen. "Now you can turn your focus on building the hive— I suggest you speak with Delilah about that."
"Right, Delilah used to be quite vocal about that in the former hive." Coastal agrees and does move to fly over but stops and glances worried at the clutch of eggs. Being a queen, she has gotten a powerful instinct to protect the future of their hive. "What about…."
"We'll take care of them." Frenulum says.
Though a bit reluctantly, Coastal flies over to speak with their current sentinel. "Hey, Delilah." She softly calls for the bigger changeling, a sign she had been fed well by their former hive.
"I see the gathers got you out from the sanctum." Delilah remarks dryly, yet with a certain warmth in her words. "Thought you may have sat root in there." The young queen giggles, head drawn slightly back in her embarrassment. Nice to see that Coastal is still the bashful sweetheart she was before molting into her queen status. "What can I do for you?"
"You helped the king and queen in our former home with the hive's protection," and is glad the king suggested this sentinel join her hive. Coastal is not sure she could've done any of these things on her own. "and now we have enough love to feed the hive; any suggestion to how we can protect our home?"
Ah, good; for a while, Delilah thought she had to get aggressive for her words of their hive needed better protection to get across. She had an issue with the former hive. "Well, when Cornicle and Frenulum have finished sharing the love with the eggs. I could use them to expand on the hive's walls." But these changing walls will only offer that much protection. "A bigger warding rock is never a bad idea, either."
Coastal blinks at that last comment, "But the former hive's warding rock was this size." She gently argues.
"Yes, but I don't think the range it offered was enough." Delilah points out. She sure hopes this young queen will heed her words; otherwise, they will come to blows as she did with the former king. Most likely the reason why he sent her off with Coastal. "I don't trust ponies, less so with those having a horn." She voices. Although Delilah has never been in a direct flight with a horned pony, she has heard stories about these creatures. "I heard that some of these horned ponies can fire beams of magic, destroy rocks with a single blast."
Hmm, maybe the king and queen back in the former hive were too placated with their protections. The king sure didn't like to hear stories about that manic changeling queen who would steal clutches of eggs for her own hive. "That makes sense. We would be able to ward off any threats better if they didn't have their magic."
"Exactly."
Coastal nods, "Then I will do my part and increase the size of the warding rock." She flies back to the sanctum; here, Frenulum and Cornicle share the love they have gathered with the eggs, giving them the needed energy to develop and hopefully give them healthy grubs. She heads over to the ordinary rocks, where she transforms into a diamond dog and begins to dig some fine rubble. When gathered enough, Coastal levitates it up and brings it to the warding rock, where she mixes the rubble with her salvia, adding the mixture to the rock.
**Three days later**
Wanting her to get out a bit, the few members of the hive persuaded Coastal to gather love at the Crystal Empire. She is incredibly nervous, but all she has to do is talk to the ponies, according to Cornicle. She has done that before, so it shouldn't be that hard. She takes the crystal form Frenulum used to take and heads to the Crystal Empire. At first, Coastal was too shy even to dare start a conversation, but luckily, a random crystal pony engaged her, and she happily chatted with her, which allowed her to gather the positive energy.
So far, everything is going fine, but when Coastal passes a very nervous crystal pony, their eyes meet, and she spots the shimmer only a king or queen can see from a disguised worker. She stops, surprised and unsure which of her three workers this is. Maybe the only male of the hive? "Cornicle?" She asks and quickly realizes she is not dealing with one from her hive. The disguised changeling stares confused at her. Coastal dreads this is another hive's scout. "Um, never mind, thought you were someone else." She muses and backs away, wanting to warn the rest of her hive.
Before she can leave though, a crystal pony gets over to them, holding a beautiful vase. "Hey, funny to see you here." The male pony gives her a look she has seen the king often give the former hive's queen. "Are you up on the offer to see my vase collection?"
She senses a strong sense of love coming from this male, and if this had been under different circumstances, she would have said yes and humored this smitten male. But now, "Uh, maybe some—"
"So much… love!" The other changeling cries, and he drops the disguise, proving to still be in his nymph stage and utterly out of control. This changeling attacks the startled male pony and forcefully sucks out the love from him. The other ponies panic, fleeing from the scene. The nymph stops his attack, having a look of horror in his eyes, but he's so starved. Coastal knows this nymph is too hungry to resist the lavish lure of love surrounding this place. He turns to look at her, and from how he is winching and crying, he can sense the love she has gathered. Starvation wins, and he pounces at her. As he had done, Coastal merely reacts. She drops her disguise and snarls down to this staving rouge; her status as a queen makes him back off. Staring at her with a mix of shock and horror, this confuses her, but the sound of aggressive shouts and seeing armored ponies fast approaching. Coastal decides to retreat. She takes a crystal pony form and runs into the panicking crowd, disappearing among them.
… A queen… there are more changeling queens? He… he has to find her again! A shot of raw magic snaps him out from his startled stupor, reminded of the danger his staved attack has caused. Like the unexpected queen, he is forced to flee but cannot take a disguise from how big of a mess his head is. Partly from his close to starvation and his thoughts that he may be able to join another hive; he does not have to be alone anymore.
Before they could capture any of the changelings, they disappeared. Shining Armor is not happy about the news that they got yet another infestation of the changelings. It was bad enough they tried to ruin his wedding; now they are planning on destroying this too. Not on his watch. "From now on, everypony needs to move around in pairs!" He commands his guards and, turning to the perhaps young but rank worth. "Flash, I want you to make a signal that allows the guards to recognize one another." The pegasus nods and flies off to do just that. Shining Armor commands the guards still standing around him to search the area for the changelings. "Be vigilant. I don't want the changelings to catch you off guard." The guards salute and run out to search the city for the changelings.
Returning to the castle, Shining Armor tells his wife the unfortunate discovery, and Cadence, understandable, asks, "Should we delay the surprise party?"
"I think we should, at least until we got this situation under control." Shining Armor replies. He doesn't want the Crystal Empire to suffer from the same danger that almost too Equastria's capital, less so when that bigger changeling looks different from what he saw during their wedding. "I need to speak with the rest of my guards about our changeling problem."
"Then I guess I have to channel the catering order and tell your sister not to come."
Shining Armor stops mid-move; he feels terrible, but the safety of their subjects is more important than a surprise party. "Channel the catering order, but perhaps it would be best if Twilight and her friends were here to help us with this changeling issue." They could definitely use some extra eyes and ponies that know how to fight this returned menace.
Cadence will admit that life in the Crystal Empire has been somewhat dull now that she has settled fully as the empire's ruler. But she never wanted this sort of excitement, less so when the arrival of the changeling means her subjects will be in grave danger. "I will see to it." Her husband nods and heads out to speak further with the guards on how to defend themselves. This makes her wonder, "Are changelings a threat to Nila?" The dragonlord is so big and got fire to boot, but the changelings were able to bring down Princess Celestia, so why not a lonely drake? Best to talk with the dragonlord about this; perhaps Nila knows how to be rid of the changelings.
However, after she has told Nila about the arrival of the changelings, the dragonlord shows no sign of worry. Instead, "Huh, I was starting to wonder where they went." Cadence blinks in confusion at this reaction of the dragonlord. Nila is kind enough to explain what she meant. "Of course, it was back when I was still quite young. Changelings used to visit the empire from time to time; they thrived on the love coming from this place. In exchange, they helped the crystal ponies keep the lands fertile." Nila rests her head on her large claws, a small smile at the memories of those times. "It was good times."
Wait… what? What Nila said caught Cadence off guard. "Hold up, changelings used to live here?" The dragonlord nods, "But most of the crystal ponies are earth ponies." Doesn't that mean they already had the magic needed to keep the land fertile?
"Crystal ponies do not have the same magic as most other ponies. Instead of the earth, they are attuned to crystals." Nila explains this new ruler of the empire. "That's why most crystals used for artifacts arrive from the empire. They are better for such a thing."
Makes sense; it is also one of the things the Crystal Empire does in their trades with the rest of Equestria. "And changelings used to live in harmony with the crystal ponies?"
"As far as I was aware." Nila says, and with a shrug, "They rarely visited the empire in their true forms. – perhaps because their forms tend to scare ponies?" she wonders aloud, shifting position on the rock she's lying on. "I wouldn't worry if I was you."
Thanking the dragonlord, Cadence leaves the underground city, stunned by what she has learned. Did the changelings once live at the Crystal Empire in harmony with the crystal ponies? "I wonder what changed?" She muses to herself and thinks it would be a good idea to check it out. Cadence heads to the library; here, she asks the elderly Liberian. "Do you have any books about changelings?"
The elder ponders about that for a moment, then brings her to a section and pulls out several books. Cadence can see that pretty much all of them are farming books. Skimming through them, it seems that the changelings did indeed once live here, and the crystal ponies had some sort of beneficial relationship with them. It also tells the best way to get on a changeling's good side; genuine positive emotions are the key to befriending this creature. One of the books has a bit like a clip note about it's best to stay clear of the nymph staged changelings; no idea what that means. These books reveal a once positive relationship with the changelings, but Cadence isn't sure if these books will help her with these changelings. These could very well be part of Chrysalis's army, and there's no way she or Shining Armor are letting these invaders enslave their subjects.
Cadence returns the books to the shelf and leaves, figuring she should speak with Shining Armor about what they should do when Twilight and her friends arrive for their vacation time.
**Next day. Crystal Empire**
The waiting for the train's arrival is painful, more so when they cannot know if it's really Twilight and her friends coming. They hadn't gotten time to message them about the troubles they were dealing with. Cadence wishes she could be overjoyed when the guards escort the entire herd over to them, and she can only look at her husband when hopefully, Twilight Sparkle asks them, confused and troubled. "Shining Armor, Cadence, what is going on? Why are everypony on edge?"
Shining Armor wishes he could've welcomed his sister and friends better than this, but they just cannot take any chances. "We can explain, Twilly... if it really is you." He nods to Cadence. She trots nervously over and begins to do their little dance; Twilight quickly joins in, and at the end of the silly greeting dance, Shining Armor feels much more at ease. Though still troubled, "Did any of them leave your sight?" he asks the guards.
"No, sir, we kept them together the moment they left the train." One of his guards' reports. That's a relief; it means none of them are changelings— well, at least on their side.
"I'm sorry for the suspicion, but at least two changelings were spotted inside the city not that long ago." He explains everypony.
"A changeling?" Twilight asks, startled, with Spike adding: "That's not good." She turns to Spy, and he gives her an annoyed frown. She quickly turns away, embarrassed from having expected him to have known about this. "Why didn't you tell us before?"
"You were already on your way." Cadence says and still having bad flashbacks about what happened at their wedding. "If it's Queen Chrysalis trying to invade the Crystal Empire, we needed to be 100% sure it was truly you."
"That's why we didn't give you a heads up. In case Chrysalis had taken your place." Shining Armor explains and nods to the many guards patrolling the streets. "That's why we posted the extra guards and why we're—"
"Checking everypony's identity."
Both nod at Twilight's words. Cadence gestures with her wings for the herd to follow them inside the castle. "I'm sorry you have to start your time at the empire like this. Hopefully, we will find and remove the changelings." Shining Armor nods, adding with a frown: "Though the bigger one may be a problem."
"Bigger one?" Scout asks. "You mean the evil spider lad— eh, I mean Chrysalis?"
"It had the same size as Chrysalis, but this one was… well," Shining Armor waves his hoof to find a suitable word, but all he can come up with is. "It was colorful. Not as creepy looking like the rest."
Twilight eyes wide at what her brother said. She turns to the group's changeling. He rolls his eyes and drops the pegasus disguise. Shining Armor jumps into battle position, and she quickly stops him. "Brother, Spy is on our side. He helped us against Chrysalis."
Shining Armor blinks, confused to hear that this changeling is the same that turned against Chrysalis at his wedding. "Wait, that can't be right. That changeling was black, this one is..."
"Colorful, I know." Spy says deadpan, ignoring the snickers coming from his coworkers. He eyes his son when Scout says to the confused older brother of Twilight: "It's kinda a changeling thing, I think. Not sure bugs do it, but we both kinds of got this new makeover. Spy by some weird glowing pupa, and he came out like this. I didn't do that since I'm only half. Nah, I totally blackout and—" Spy steps in, stopping Scout's river of words, and tells the two dumbfound staring royals. "What's he's trying to say; changelings will at some point change from the black one you know to this." He gestures at himself.
Okay, that might explain the bigger one. "So this bigger changeling has gone through this change color stage?" Their ally changeling nods, well, that is strange, but changelings aren't ponies. "So, any idea what this bigger changeling is?" Cadence asks.
"Probably a queen." Spy says, everyone but the mercs gasps at this. He raises a brow at the inhabitants' united reaction. "What? You really thought Chrysalis was the only one?"
Honestly, yes, but it seems that there's a lot they don't know about this other species. "We better find this new queen before she sends her army." Shining Armor suggests.
"Any ways we can help?" Applejack asks, and Cadence replies with a smile: "Having you here is already a big relief."
"If you could help us search for the changelings, we would highly appreciate it." Shining Armor says, knowing that several of Twilight's friends know what to expect from the changelings. One of the guards walks over to Shining Armor and whispers him a request, it surprises him a bit, yet he can see why this guard asked. He smiles over to the young drake. "The royal guards were wondering if Spike the Brave and Glorious would like to join in the search for the changeling." The surrounding guards' smile, zealous at the thought of having the empire's hero accompanying them.
Spike is surprised to hear such a request, while Twilight is hesitant, well aware that Spike isn't as strong as the crystal ponies think to believe. "Uh, I don't know if that's such a good idea, Spike." She admits, and sure, Spike has faced danger before, but back then, he got friends to have his back. "It sounds dangerous. Maybe you should bring one of us with you."
But Spike does not think he needs one of his friends for this. After all, "Come on, Twilight, this is Spike the Brave and Glorious you're talking to. Have you ever known me to run from danger?" he asks while boasting his chest.
Twilight got several points where Spike ran instead of facing the danger, which is understandable. He is still a hatchling. Before she can speak about those times, her brother assures her. "He'll be safe with our guards."
Both turn when Spike turns that sentence to fit his mental image "Or will your guards be safe with me?"
Too busy posing before the guards, Spike fails to notice that several of the Element bearers are rolling their eyes at that statement.
The new changeling queen is an OC of mine, a very new one in fact. I created Coastal mostly so my readers can "see" how I make molted changeling queens.
The three changelings accompanying her are sort of OC's too, though they all have the designs of show canon changelings, and two of them have the same name.
