• Triple Threat . 1 Moon after the Episode.
Thorax had tried everything to convince the other queens to join him... almost everything. His new friend Ember had some ideas.
Thorax stared out at the hundreds of Queens in the large chamber. They were all still corrupted by their hunger.
"Thank you for coming," Thorax smiled.
Unfortunately one of the queens called him out, "It's not like we had a choice! You sent your dragons to intimidate us!"
Thorax held his smile in place, although it was more nervous now. He muscled through it and remained strong, like Ember had taught him.
"I just wanted to show you one of the benefits of befriending the other races. You all have been ignoring me for too long. So here is what is going to happen. You are going to cut all ties with Chrysalis, and join me."
The hall shot out with waves of protest.
"That's Enough," Thorax glared before screaming, "Quiet!" tapping into his magic so that his voice all but roared across the hall, like Twilight showed him, stunning the audience into silence. "Fact of the matter is, Chrysalis wants a war so as long as you feed off the unwilling, you are a threat to my hive... and threats I won't tolerate."
All the Queens were shocked. this was the 'meek grub' Chrysalis told them about?
Thorax looked grave, imagining the loss of life ahead. "With the dragons supporting my army, I hope you all realize the fight would not go in her favor.
"I ask, no demand, you join the winning side. I won't force you to share love but you WILL NOT shame those that choose to, as you will be largely reliant on them. You, nor your citizens, will feed on the unwilling or deceive others for love. You will not kill Changelings or any other Sapient creature. You will remember that changelings are a family and give all those of your hives a voice in how it is run.
"In exchange for relenting to this you will be compensated with something more valuable then gold. I will give each of you a voice," Thorax promised, "You join me and obey these simple laws and I will let you determine the rest. I will listen to you and be willing to compromise in most things. I will form a council of Queens where we vote on all matters together. Where WE determine our own fates. I will guide the chamber as Chairman but I will only have one vote on all matters same as any other Queen. Join me and I won't rule through fear but compassion for all hives,"
Many of the Queens actually stood up and cheered, where others looked worried.
One who remained seated whispered to the other beside her, "Can we really go against Chrysalis?"
The other snorted, "Not if you know what's good for you."
"But look at this," The first gulped, "He's got 3 quarters of the room giving him a standing novation. Then there is the little problem he's got freaking Dragons on his side. Let's not forget the sun god and ponies, AND the god of chaos!"
"The sun spirit has grown weak so long from her rightful place in the sky," The other queen reminded, "She's already fallen to Chrysalis before, and true gods are forbidden from interfering in mortal wars. Discord can't actually do anything to help the traitors,"
"What about the dragons?" The first harshly whispered, "He's got all the dragons across the planet helping him!"
"Then we just need allies of our own."
• To Change a Changeling . The Day Afterwards .
Pharynx looked at his reflection in the mirror, at his new antlers instead of antennae. There were only a few other warriors in the hive, most of them had fled with Chrysalis. The few that stayed behind looked a lot like him. He had to admit, they looked a lot more powerful and were easier to tell apart from the drones.
Unreformed changeling warriors were just more colorful then drones. They were stronger, and even had greater magic, but they looked pretty much the same.
Reformed Changelings were another story. Pharynx could get some serious use out of this bigger, leaner, body and antlers. He even liked how his colors were darker as a warrior then a drone... but still, "The hive has grown far too complacent," he repeated something he had been saying for months.
"I know," Thorax sighed, sitting on Pharynx's bed of comfy mattress and blankets. Thorax had done a lot of trading with the ponies to get a bunch of luxuries up here. He had gone as far as to replace everylings sleeping boulder with a proper bed. He was making everything about the changelings soft.
"We need to- wait," Pharynx blinked, snapping his head at his brother in surprise, "Did you just agree with me!?"
Thorax chuckled, "I know. It must be the end of the world... but seriously." Growing more grave, "you're right. We're relying too much on support from the dragons. Their army was too busy to help us with one little Maulwurf and we barely beat it back! It's been nearly 70 moons since the dragons took over for our military duties and we have completely forgotten how to defend ourselves in the process! I agree, we have grown far too complacent. I need you to arrange drills for us and the other hives. Not just for the warriors either. The drones need to learn self defense to,"
Pharynx blinked before eying his brother, "What has you so worried all of a sudden. Not that I'm complaining, as you effectively just made me general of the army, but-"
"It's too quiet Pharynx!" Thorax yelled, "Chrysalis threatens to crush our hive and then disappears off the face of Equus! How is that possible!? She must be plotting something!"
"Chrysalis is probably the last thing I'm worried about," Pharynx admitted.
Thorax gaped at him, "How can YOU, of all lings, say that!?"
Pharynx shrugged, "It's been almost a year now, and besides that one time she broke in, nothing. Nearly all the changelings sided with you. Tartarus, all who joined you even embraced your gross sharing love hippy nonsense. You even got me doing it!
"With Chrysalis' limited forces, and our alliance with the ponies and dragons, the two most powerful races on the planet, she just isn't a threat to us. The most I'm worried about from her is spies sabotaging our progress, but she couldn't hope to win an actual assault. We are fine Thorax, I promise... but I'm still whipping the hives back into shape," Pharynx insisted, "You never know what could happen."
• Meanwhile, at an undisclosed location .
Chrysalis grinned, forcing it to be pleasant instead of her usual devious smile, as she looked around the table. After nearly a year of talks her little group was finally ready to come together. They were finally on the edge, just a little push and they would swear loyalty to her cause. Yaks and most importantly Griffins were all sitting across from her.
Grampa Gruff, Elder and unofficial leader of the Griffin ruins, growled, "My species used to be feared and respected across the globe! We were the pinnacle of power once. Our treasury hoarding trillions in gold, but when we fell on hard times did the ponies come to our aid! NO they closed their boarders and forgot we existed for a thousand years! Now they suddenly come back into our lives, and try to corrupt our youth, because our way isn't good enough!"
"It's just not right," Chrysalis nodded with false sympathy.
Gruff eyed, "You say you can restore the Griffins to our former glory, and put those ponies in their place. If you can make good on your word I'm all for it. The Griffins have a long history of slaying dragons. If we put our army to task, they won't bother you none," he swore.
Prince Rutherford looked less convinced, "Ponies are ignorant and think they better then yaks... but some ponies get Yaks. Ponies Yaks friends,"
"I'm not asking you to go up against the ponies," Chrysalis assured. "You can help my army take on my wayward children."
"But good changelings pony friends," Insisted the prince.
"They aren't 'good' Changelings anymore then I am 'evil'," Chrysalis scoffed. "Ponies betrayed my creatures. They will betray yours. All I am asking for is your help reclaiming my rightful throne. A throne your pony friends helped steal by insighting a coo. Does that sound like something honorable creatures would do?"
The prince frowned, "Yaks help Changeling Queen. Changeling Queen been good to Yaks. Respected Yaks. Appreciate Yak Culture but no try to steal it with fake not yak nonsense. Yaks help reclaim thrown but Yaks no fight ponies for Changelings."
"And I wouldn't ask you to," Chrysalis smiled. If all went according to plan the ponies would turn the Yaks against them themselves.
Chrysalis knew she was being a bit of a hypocrite, allying herself with these creatures, but unlike her dimwitted spawn she wouldn't make the mistake of trusting them. They were tools. She would continue to manipulate them until they outlived their usefulness. Then consume what's left.