Word Count: 1,735

"You did what?"

Azrith flinched at her friend's obvious disapproval at her news. "I thought you wanted me to meet new ponies," she said. "Doctor Whooves and Derpy seem pretty nice. Derpy is going to help me make hay burgers!"

Bon Bon lowered her voice, glowering. "Sure, she will, if she doesn't burn our apartment down first," she muttered.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Azrith asked incredulously. Normally, Bon Bon was really accepting of ponies. The Changeling was beginning to believe that Equestria was perfect. However, the white mare's reaction confused her.

"Let's just say that… Derpy isn't the most reliable," Bon Bon said bitterly. "I've never told anyone this, but a while ago, when we were just fillies, Derpy was a foreign exchange student from Cloudsdale. We were partners in a science experiment that I had nearly finished. Derpy asked if she could help, so I let her use the hot glue gun. She did the job, and my parents took us out for ice cream. When we came back… there was a huge, gaping hole in the middle of the project that I'd slaved over for months. She left the glue gun on. I didn't blame her for it, since she was a bit…" Bon Bon gestured to her head. "You know. But I was sure that I would've won the whole science fair!" She paused, thinking. "Actually, it sounded worse in my mind. When I say it out loud, it really takes a lot out of it."

Azrith grinned widely. "Does that mean they can still come over?" she asked, leaning in and waiting for the answer.

"Of course, they can!" Bon Bon said, rolling her eyes. "Even if I didn't want them over, I can't just kick them out, can I? That would be rude. So what time are they coming?"

They began tidying the apartment, five thirty rapidly approaching. At about four, the doorbell came, the mailpony outside. Azrith went to answer it, since Bon Bon was arranging some flowers on the mantle.

She opened the door to the stallion that always came to deliver their mail. She smiled at him. "So, got anything important for us today, Stamp?" she asked.

Stamp Letter nodded quickly, levitating a scroll with his magic. "It's from the castle!" he said in an excited whisper. "From Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!"

Azrith tore open the royal seal and looked at the letter, which simply read, 'Change of plan. Meet me at the castle immediately. –C.'

"So, what's it say?" Stamp asked, beaming widely and trying to peek over the edge of the paper. "You must be pretty important, if you're getting letters from Princess Cadenza."

Azrith backed up, slamming the door in his face and ignoring his, "You could've just said you didn't want me to read it!"

"Bon Bon!" Azrith called to her roommate. "I've got to go. Tell Derpy and Doctor Whooves that I had a family emergency."

The mare ran into the hallway, wide-eyed. "Lyra, what is it?" she asked, concern lining her face. "What's happened? You're not in contact with your family!"

Tears came to Azrith's eyes. She realized that this might be the last time she would ever see Bon Bon. "Thank you, so much, for everything," she said. "You were the first pony I had that I thought really cared about me. I have to go now, and I might not be back for a long time. But you will see me again, do you understand? I might act a bit different, and have some memory gaps of the past month, but you will see me."

"But why? Why do you have to go?" Bon Bon asked, on the verge of tears herself. "Where are you going?"

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you," she said, to her friend's disbelieving look. "Really, I can't. But just know that you've been the best of friends to me. You taught me how to be a friend, how to have friends. That is something I value more than…" Azrith stopped herself, realizing that she was about to say the Queen. "Anyways, I really do have to go now. Say hello to our new friends for me tonight. Remember, family business."

Azrith ran as fast as she could towards the castle, not once looking back, for if she did she feared she might turn around and run home.

Home.

With a start, Azrith realized that not just the tiny apartment, but the whole realm of Equestria she considered her home so much more than her little niche in the cold, friendless Changeling Kingdom. More tears poured from her eyes, drying off in the wind as she ran. She didn't want to go.

She'd grown too attached. She didn't want to leave.

Azrith forced herself to keep running. In any other case, she would have gone back a while ago. Chrysalis, she wouldn't have to leave her friends in any other case.

Bon Bon won't need me after all this, Azrith thought. She'll have the real Lyra.

With a jolt, Azrith realized that Bon Bon wasn't her friend. Bon Bon was Lyra's friend, and Azrith was pretending to be Lyra. Impersonation and lies. That was all her friendship with anypony here was based on. Lies. That was no way to earn somepony's trust. She really was a true Changeling, wasn't she?

Azrith had no more time to dwell on that fact as she reached the castle. The Queen herself was waiting for her there, along with the two others. Although it wasn't a surprise to see Queen Chrysalis in a weakened state, her eyes widened as she saw the two Changelings pale and sickly looking.

"What… what's wrong with you?" Azrith asked, hurrying up the steps. "All three of you look starved."

"The real question is, why do you not look at all hungry?" Colgate hissed. "We haven't had a drop of aura for over a month now. You stole aura from someone, didn't you? That's why you look so healthy!"

Queen Chrysalis held up a hoof. "Now, now, Lenzin, I'm sure that is not what had happened," she said, though her eyes were narrowed in obvious suspicion. "I'm sure that our young friend will be happy to share. However, now is not the moment. You must make haste to the underground tunnels. A pony that was rather close to the princess was beginning to voice her doubts her friends, so you will no longer be the bridesmaids. Instead, I am making her friends the bridesmaids, simply to ease their suspicions about me." She smiled, but to Azrith, it seemed there was no warmth in it. "The three of you will make sure that the real princess stays in the underground for the wedding. Do you understand?"

The other two Changelings responded with a sharp, "Yes ma'am!" but Azrith stayed silent.

"Azrith?" the Queen said, and the said Changeling shuddered under her gaze. "I sincerely hope, for your sake, that your reason for not responding to me is a sore throat."

Azrith took a deep breath and swallowed hard, forcing herself to look into the Queen's intense stare. "Your Majesty," she began, ready to stand up to the Queen once and for all. However, a glare from Lenzin made her quickly change her mind. "I apologize. These pony throats get stuck all too often. Of course I will go to the tunnels."

The Queen held a satisfied smirk on her face. "Good," she said. "Now, the entrance to the tunnel is in the third shrub to the right of us. You will go in and sleep there, and in the morning, you will guard the entrance directly underneath the wedding. You will hear noises from those dreadful birds directly above. Is that clear?"

"Yes ma'am," all three Changelings responded in unison, though Azrith had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. They raced to the bush and found a small lever hidden there. When the Changeling named Lenzin pulled it, a small trapdoor opened, too small for anything larger than a mouse to fit through.

"Hold on, I've got an idea," Azrith said. She closed her eyes and transformed from the bright green mare that she'd been for the past month to a small rat. The other two nodded and did the same. They crept through the hole and changed back. "Pretty good, huh?"

The army Changeling whose name Azrith hadn't yet learned rolled his eyes. "Oh, just stop pretending already," he muttered.

"What do you mean?" Azrith asked nervously. "Stop pretending what?"

"Don't think we don't know," Lenzin said, smirking devilishly, her eyes flashing green. "You've started to like this place. You've made friends."

"Lenzin, having friends isn't all that bad!" Azrith protested. "You had a friend, remember? You wanted to say goodbye, before we all left!"

"My nichemate was not my friend," Lenzin said coldly. "Friendship is a weakness, Azrith. It's why so many species that have love and friendship have suffered, but the Changelings, oh, we have soldiered on. The needs of the many outweigh the few. If we have to sacrifice one of our own for the benefit of the Kingdom, we don't flinch. Love makes you weak!"

She was in Azrith's face now, spitting and hissing her words with venom. Azrith stepped back, shocked at the Changeling's speech. "B-but…" she trailed off.

"But, nothing," Lenzin snapped. "Sorry. This is for your own good."

Azrith backed up against the wall as Lenzin's eyes glowed green, temporarily blinding her. "What are you doing?" she shouted, ears ringing.

"You never did ask what I did," the Changeling said. "You were probably thinking, oh, look! She's from a Lower Hive! She's good for nothing, just like the rest of them! Oh, but Azrith, my job in my Hive was brainwashing. That's what happens to the 'under the wing' Changelings. We completely brainwash them to prepare them for battle. It normally takes months, but I've recently… advanced in my studies. I'll be able to get it done in the next hour."

"No! Please, stop!"Azrith begged, horror taking over every other emotion. Her only thoughts were of Trezin. Her nichemate. Was that what was happening to him?

"Oh, Azrith," Lenzin sighed. "When will you learn that the Queen goes before everything else? Don't resist. Just calm… down…"

Azrith sank to the ground, the world spinning. The moment she closed her eyes, everything went black.