The next day, Orion is sitting in the converted kitchen of Shadowfall manor, looking every bit the powerful noble. He waits patiently for the other ponies to arrive.

Steno trots up to Orion. 'The final preparations are complete. You're sure you will be able to turn the nobles without any assistance? I can always have a contingent standing by, just in case."

He nods. "I should be able to. Words have power, after all. But if they resist, let the contingent capture them. Just keep them hidden from sight. Understood?"

"By your command," Steno says with a slight bow. He turns and exits, as a general clamor can be heard from the main foyer. The nobleponies from Canterlot are escorted in, and each takes a seat at the table, voicing general confusion at the suddenness of the meeting.

Orion rises, and clears his throat. "Good morning, assembled lords and ladies. I suppose you are wondering why I called you here?"

"This better be damn good, Orion," an older noble pipes up. "What with all this changeling hullabaloo going on, this is not the best time for a social call." Calls of "Hear-hear!" and "Harumph!" echo through the room.

Orion frowns, and stamps a hoof. "Silence! First of all, I am to be addressed as Your Lordship. Second of all, this is not a social call. I have asked you here because Equestria needs you. More to the point, your ruler needs you." He emphasizes the singular rather than the plural form of the word.

The older pony, seemingly the spokespony for the gathering, snorts. "Very well, Your Lordship. What is it that Princess Celestia asks of us to rid our fair lands of this changeling plague?"

"You make assumptions, milord. I never said Princess Celestia." His eyes glow softly. "The sun has set. The Queen has taken her place. You are the most powerful nobles in our country, and she requires your service. Do you dare say no?" His voice is low, almost hypnotic.

The nobles are stunned into silence for a moment, before chaos reigned over the hall. The elder pony raised a hoof to settle the mob. He turns deliberately to Orion. "Are you saying, my dear Sir Brownmane, that we are to swear fealty to that…that… insect over our beloved Princesses?" he says at almost a shout. Calming himself slightly, he speaks coolly and flatly. "I never would have expected such treason from you. I've known your family for years, always on the side of the just and righteous. Your Lordship... frankly, you disgust me." He sits down slowly, his gaze such as to burn a hole through Orion's skull.

Orion's horn begins to glow, softly at first but getting brighter as he channels more energy. "You disgust me," he echoes. "How DARE you refuse to follow our Queen, to do what your nation asks! If you will not join willingly, then you will join by force!" Swirls of blue magic, flecked with poisonous green, race through the air, and into the ears of the gathered nobles, where they dissolve into mist that fills their heads for a moment or two before finally fading away.

Each noblepony reacts with an instant of pain, then silence, followed by a serene expression. As each one blinks their eyes, flashes of green can be seen. The elder noble relaxes his gaze, a smile crossing his face. "I do apologize, good Sir Brownmane. I speak for all when I swear our allegiance to Queen Chrysalis!" The hall erupts into a loud cheer.

Orion smiles back. "Very good, everypony! Now off with you! Return to Canterlot and finalize our conquest!"

The nobles file out of the room, taling animatedly amongst themselves. Steno appears after the last of them has left. "Good work, Orion. The queen had her doubts; this should serve to put her at ease. Now, I believe you have unfinished business in Ponyville. Your family will be waiting at the train station for you. Good luck."

Orion nods in thanks, and makes his way to the train station.

At the station, Raven and the children are waiting on the platform. Raven smiles when she sees Orion approach. "I trust things went well with your meeting, my husband?" she asks, a noticeably greenish hue visible in her eyes.

Orion nods, a similar green hue in his eyes, though it wasn't as noticeable. "Oh yes... I cast an assimilation spell on them all."

"Excellent," she replies simply. They board the train, and take seats in an empty car. "Orion, I worry that things in Ponyville won't go as well as they did in Canterlot. Do you really think you can turn the Elements to Chrysalis's side?"

"If I do it properly, yes... A little mind control goes a long way, love." He chuckles softly. "Fluttershy will be very easily brought over, Rainbow will be one of the toughest. Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack... We'll see. But I'll save Twilight for last."

"A wise plan, love," she says softly. She looks out the window at the passing scenery. "Twilight's magic is strong ... I doubt that, even with the other five elements, she can be turned easily. And if she resists ... " She shudders a little bit. "Just be careful, my dear. I would not want to lose you."

Orion nuzzles the mare softly. "I'll be alright, I promise. You and the foals will be in the manor, correct?"

"We will await you there." She kisses his cheek. "Good luck, darling."

"Thank you dear, I'll see you soon." He kisses back and once the train stops, he takes off toward Fluttershy's, trotting casually.

Fluttershy was busy tending to her garden near her cottage. She hummed a quiet tune to herself as she worked, stopping when she heard Orion's hoofsteps approach. "Oh ... hello Orion," she said softly. "How are you today?"

"I'm doing quite well Fluttershy, how are you?" He asks with a smile. "I'm surprised you aren't hiding inside, given all the changelings flying around these days."

At the word 'changeling,' Fluttershy eeps and dives for cover in a nearby bush, only her eyes visible as they dart around. "Y-y-you haven't seen any around, have you? They've left me alone for the most part...b-b-but every now and then they come around."

"I've been in conversation with some of them... I promise you have nothing to be scared of, they really are quite kind," Orion replies, in a soothing voice.

She pokes her head out of the bush. "Really? A-are you sure they won't hurt me?" A snapping twig sends her darting back into the bush again. The bush is visibly quaking.

"Very sure." He extends a hoof. "Come on out of there, dear... It'll be okay. Trust me."

A trembling yellow hoof emerges, followed by an equally trembling yellow pegasus. "O-o-okay, I'll trust you. You've always been nice to me…."

"You're welcome, dear." He smiles and helps her out of the bush. "I have to go, but when you see another drone, ask them to take you to the queen."

"The-the queen? Why would I want to do that?" she asks timidly. She then sees the faint greenish glow in Orion's eyes. Right before full-blown panic sets in, she faints.

Orion sighs and uses his magic to place a gentle assimilation spell on her, before going over to Sugarcube Corner.

Pinkie Pie was her usual bubbly self, bouncing around Sugarcube Corner, arranging trays of baked treats for sake in the display counter. She vigorously waves hello to Orion when he enters the shop. "Hi, Orion! I've missed seeing you for a few days because you always come in and buy a dozen scones and some muffins for your family but you hadn't done that recently and I really missed you and never do that again because it makes me all sad when I don't see my friends-" she takes a deep breath "-so what can I do for ya?"

Orion laughs and says "A dozen scones and muffins please!" He says cheerily. "How has business been these days, in general?"

"Oh, it's been kinda slow since all those changelings came into town," she says, filling his order while she talks, "but we still manage to get ome ponies in now and then to buy something and even the changelings come in now to get a few treats so it's not been all too bad, but what have you been up to with disappearing for so long and then suddenly showing up int own again you busypants baronet you?"

"Doing baronet things," he says. "As it happens I've become acquainted with some changelings myself."

A massive pink face with huge, expressive eyes suddenly fills Orion's field of vision. "YOU KNOW CHANGELINGS? Like, personally on buddy-buddy terms? That sounds soooooooooo COOL! I've always wondered what it would be like to be a changeling but I don't think it will ever happen and none of the ones in town want to even talk to me because they say I freak them out and I don't know why..." She abruptly stops. "What are changelings like?" she asks, pushing the box of treats across the counter.

He takes the box and pays then says "Very militaristic, highly loyal to our- that is, their queen."

Pinkie caught Orion's brief slip, and eyed him carefully. "Saaaaaaaaaaaaay, you're one of those ponies that got caught by the changelings, aren't you?" she asked suspiciously, looking him over top to bottom carefully. I thought something seemed different about you…"

"Very astute of you Pinkie," he says fairly. His eyes glow hypnotically. "We can use your baking skills, you know. Every little bit helps."

Pinkie's eyes glaze over and her jaw goes slack. "okee dokee lokee," she says flatly.

He nods, satisfied. "Have a good day, dear! Say hi to the Cakes for me." He moves off to Sweet Apple Acres, carrying the baked goods.

"Bye Orion!" Pinkie shouts, a greenish hue to her eyes.