My mask nearly snapped in two when Princess Celestia Spoke.

When I had been assaulted by the negative emotions in the throne room, I had been angry, furious, ready to kill someone. But I had hidden my feelings. I was there for the betterment of the hive; if Equestria ever decided to attack us, they could have an army on us in a split-second with absolutely no warning.

When Luna had told me that it was an accident, my rage fizzled into extreme displeasure; the difference being that I could forgive them, even if it did nothing for my overall mood.

It was not rage or hatred that nearly snapped my mask. Honestly, I do not even know what, exactly, nearly set me off; perhaps I was just too hungry to think rationally? But whatever it was that might have set me off, I came inches from beheading her then and there; that would have been an overreaction of epic proportions.

“You want me to what? But why?” I asked, Beta’s voice meticulously controlled.

“I would like you to spend the night in the Diplomat’s Wing of the Castle,” Celestia replied from her spot on her office cushion. “I have already had a room prepared for you.”

“Not that I don’t appreciate your hospitality. but was this really necessary? My own home is literally a thought away,” I replied from my seat across from the Princess. My real, as-of-yet unvoiced concerns were my hunger and the toxic reactions of the ponies around me.

Celestia chuckled lightly. “Oh, I am well aware of that. If you must, you must. But I insist you spend the night. Consider it a working vacation of sorts; you’re free to spend the afternoon as you please. Then, in the morning, we can negotiate with clear heads. That little scene in the garden left us all in a fog, so to speak.”

I gave a false grin. “Of course. I will gladly accept your generous offer. However, there are two points that I must address right now, my food and my form.”

Celestia’s expression darkened slightly, though her emotions betrayed a far more extreme emotional plunge. “What about them?”

I explained quickly, “First, since walking undisguised in public caused a near fatal case of organ failure in Ψ - he is stable now, don’t worry - and caused us to expend a large portion of our reserves to regenerate, I wish to be allowed to don a custom pony skin to use in public.”

“That is reasonable,” Celestia responded. “I will have to see your form before you leave the castle, and you will not be allowed any other form during your stay.”

“Second, I am famished.” Celestia winced ever so slightly at my declaration. “I will supply my own pantry’s stash of meat for my physical consumption - don’t look so surprised, Princess. Changelings need solid food, too; hope and good feelings only get you so far in life. Meat is the food of kings. As for my emotional needs...”

“Absolutely not!” Celestia declared, slipping slightly into her Royal Canterlot Voice. “I will not have you feeding on my subjects.”

“Come now, Princess,” I retorted while directing a miniscule amount of magic to my eyes to make them trance-inducing, “Surely you will allow me a small snack. I promise I won’t bite or cocoon them. Just a little romp in the bed, a little physical and magical exhaustion, and they’ll be right as rain in the morning, no lasting damage.”

“Again, I refuse to allow you to harm my subjects.”

“Like they harmed me? But no, you’re right; I’m just a visitor. I shall refrain from feeding in such a manner. Though, I might just get so hungry that I pounce on your subjects and rip the love out of them; then you would have a corpse, or, in my case, lunch for tomorrow.” Then, with the full force of the hypnotic suggestion, I rhetorically asked, “Wouldn’t it be easier if you just let me sleep with somepony?”

Celestia, with her eyes glowing faintly from my magic, relented, “Ok, fine. However, you must get consent first and you must inform them that you are a changeling.”

I grinned at my victory.

My Beta’s flank swayed sensually side-to-side. Every step I took was carefully measured to match a precise rhythm. The unicorn body that I wore was an agglomeration of most beautiful features from the four mares I had met earlier today - Celestia, Luna, Cadance, and Twilight Sparkle - as if it was their collective grandchild. Stamped on each shapely flank was the image of a candy heart with the letters ‘XXX’ written on each. I found it terribly funny, and the originals were clueless about the meanings behind my mask.

As I strutted up to Celestia’s office, having left shortly to change in my new room, I could feel the guards eyes following me, lusting after me. 'Perfect.' I paused my walk to smile and flutter my eyelashes at them. As they looked into my eyes, I could feel their piercing gaze soften slightly and glaze over; perhaps it was the ever-so-slight amount of hypnotic magic, the fact that my eyes ever-so-slowly changed colors., or the scent of a dozen mares in heat. If this were a cartoon, I could have seen little pink hearts float over their heads.

As it was, their lust was tasty enough, but the small sample only made me hunger for more. I strutted over to the pair guarding the Sun Princess's office. "Hello there, handsome stallions," I said, my voice as rich as chocolate. I put my hoof up and stroked the chin of the guard on the left. He did not react... visibly. I leaned in closer to allow my hot, hormone-laced breath to wash across his muzzle. "Is the princess in? She's been... expecting me." I pursed my lips ever so slightly. "We have so much to... discuss."

That did it. Touch, smell, sight, and sound – taste too if he had licked me – every one of his senses screamed 'HOT!', just as planned. I had cracked through the impassive mask of the royal guard, making him blush and blush hard. "Uhhh..." He said, as eloquently as any man could be expected to be in the situation.

Luckily for the distressed guard, his friend came to the rescue – by lightly whacking his friend in the back of the head with the blunt end of his spear. The helmet of the struck guard rang like a gong. "Oww!" He cried while clutching his ringing ears.

"My apologies," the second guard said. "The Princess is inside. She will see you now."

"Thanks~" I sang.

As I walked in, I heard the guards start to bicker. "What was that for?" Number one asked.

"You broke character."

"You hit me!"

"You shouldn't be suckered by hot... really hot mares."

"Well... Buck you, too!"

After getting Celestia's approval on my face, though it took some convincing on my part, I decided to explore Canterlot for the evening before tomorrow's meeting. With an air of confidence, I sauntered into the market streets, my assigned earth pony guard, Sharp Spear, following close behind. I was excited – and hoping I could get him excited, too, but in a different way.

Though, as I looked around the city, my mood sank. Signs of damage still marred the city two and a half years after the fires my explosives had caused during the Battle of Canterlot. However, I rationalized those feelings away; it was Chrysalis that pulled the trigger, even if I had supplied the weapons.

I set to work even as I walked. Celestia had given me some tight restrictions to feed in. Rip feed? Off with my head. Cocoon? Off with my head. No consent? HELL NO! I’m no rapist and neither are any of my changelings; we do have our standards. I shudder at the thought of getting my dick corroded off by my victim’s fear.

But having to tell my partner that I am actually a changeling? That’s going to be a challenge. Ponies are quite skittish and xenophobic, far more than humans; it’s part of being a prey species. If I was ever going to get in bed with a pony, I needed time. ‘Oh look, a captive audience,’ I thought.

Walking closer to the young Sharp Spear, I whispered gently into his ear, “Thank you for escorting me through Canterlot. That’s very nice of you.” I’m sure he got a whiff of my aphrodisiac body odor.

“I’m just doing as commanded, ma’am,” he replied.

“Mmmm, yes. I’m curious as to what that command entails,” I said. I spun around and trotted backwards for a moment so that I could look him in the eye.

“I was told that you were a foreign diplomat and that I was to guard you from trouble and... to keep you out of trouble.” His eyes never lost their focus on the road ahead. He did not even so much as look at my color-changing eyes.

“Awww, I won’t be any trouble~” I sang as I turned back around, barely in time to dodge a pony that I would have ran into. “Excusez moi!” I called; when in doubt, gratuitous French. The stallion I nearly rear-ended blushed and waved me on.

As we turned onto the market street, I asked Sharp Spear, “So, do you know which country I am representing?”

“No, ma’am,” he replied in monotone.

I pouted, making sure to stick out my bottom lip as adorably as possible. “Well, I’ll give you a hint; It’s really far away, and yet it only takes an instant to get there."

He did not respond. There was not even a twitch of his expression.

"Or, what foreign nation would send a unicorn like moi to be their representative? There aren't any other pony nations out there. Deer, cows, sheep, Saddle-Arabian horses, cat people, donkeys, zebras, minotaurs, diamond dogs, dragons, and... griffins, none of them would ever send a unicorn to represent them when they could send one of their own. So where am I from?"

He still did not respond to me, though Sharp Spear did dodge around a filly that had been running without looking where she was going. "Be careful, little girl," he told her as she passed. A twinge of jealousy spiked through me; that kid had gotten more of a reaction from him than I had.

Losing interest in the stoic guard, I turned to a merchant on the street. Examining the stand, I picked up a gold necklace and asked the merchant, "How much is this?"

"Ah, what an eye for detail you have, my beautiful mare." The sales stallion took the trinket from my grasp. He held it up so that it's gem shimmered in the light "This exquisite piece is hoof-shaped gold and ruby carved with dragon scale blades. For such a pretty mare, I'd be willing to part with it for sixty bits." He grinned.

I fluttered my eyelashes at him, causing him to blush and his eyes to lose focus; meanwhile, I munched on his lust. "Oh, lovely. And how much would you have charged if I weren't so pretty?"

"Wh-what? No, I am an honest merchant. I would never discriminate like that," he defended, though I knew he had lied.

I chose not to pursue it in the interest of time. "Don't worry about it. I'm just trying to get a feel for the market. My people love to trade." I turned to Sharp Spear, whose face was as stoic as always. "Come along~"

Hours of walking later, I had finally returned to the castle. Sharp followed behind me through the corridors. "Where are you from?"

The question was so sudden, I paused mid-step. Blinking dumbly, it took me a moment to remember what he was talking about. "You've been thinking about it this whole time? I'm flattered!" Scooching up next to him, I whispered, "I'm from another world~”

“Right...”

‘Oh? You don’t believe me?’ I thought. ‘Let’s turn it up a notch...’ Grinning widely, I stepped in front of him and looked him in the eye. My own eyes picked up the pace, rapidly changing through every color in the rainbow. I even threw in some black splotches that swirled hypnotically around my pupil. “I assure you, I am from another world. I would have thought Princess Luna would have informed you of her counterpart... or my King.”

I slowly strode up to him, my face inches from his own. He, in turn, took a step back. “My world... It’s nothing like this one. Do you know of the Everfree forest?”

“Of course, ma’am. Everypony knows of that place, and knows to stay away,” the monotone voice of Sharp Spear said.

“Only a suicidal fool would try to tame it, right?” I grinned wider and started to circle him. The clip-clop of my hooves echoed off of the walls of the otherwise empty hallway. “But you see, that’s just like my world. Wild weather, uncontrollable predators, untamed nature, pestilence... and beauty unmatched. Everything is trying to kill you. And that’s the way I like it!”

I advanced on him, and he retreated. I believe he had the sinking suspicion that he was in the presence of a predator, and that he was prey. “And my people are the kings of the jungle. Canterlot? Pah! It’s nothing compared to even a city we’ve built, like Atlanta, which in turn is dwarfed by some of my world’s megacities.”

When his face showed nothing still, I went bigger. “Our people harness the SUN to power our world! You have fireworks that light up the sky. We have fireworks that can erase cities from the other side of the world! My people would wipe the floor with you ponies...” I trailed off. ‘STILL NO REACTION!’ I raged in my head. “But we won’t. You ponies are too cute for that. I could just hold you and squeeze you and kiss you... I think I will!”

Before Sharp Spear could react, I lunged forwards and planted my lips on his. It was just a simple thing - no tongue or teeth action - but it got what I had wanted all day; when I pulled away, there was a slight blush adorning his face and his eyes had filled with mist.

But as quick as it had come, the lovestruck face was gone, though the emotions were still raging in his heart, and, if I was reading him right, his loins. “Ha! Got it! ...Mmmm.... you taste good...” I used some of my newly collected magic to tug on the stallion’s chest plate. “Come along. It’s dinner time~”

I sat down quietly at the seat reserved for me at the diplomat’s table. Silently, I rejoiced at the fact that the griffin ambassador had not been in Canterlot at the time. That would have been disastrous. As it was, my Beta was the only carnivore at the table. The minotaur ambassador sat to my immediate right, while the donkey ambassador sat two seats to my left. The cow ambassador was also in attendance, having just walked in herself. Behind me, Sharp Spear stood as still and quiet as a statue - partly do to training, and partly do to my kiss. As it was, we were only missing the princess who-

“Greetings, our esteemed guests!” Luna bellowed as she entered the dining room, though thankfully not in the Royal Canterlot Voice. I made a mental note to record her with a decibel meter at some point, for science, of course.

“Hellooooo, Princess Luuuuuna,” the Cow ambassador replied. I repressed the urge to laugh at her clichéd accent.

“How are you this fine evening, Ambassador Bessy?” the stewardess of the night asked. The urge to laugh intensified; I almost made a fool of myself then and there. I bit my tongue to reign in my mirth.

“Oh, just maaaarvelous! I doooo wonder, whooo is our mystery guest next to Steel Resolve?”

Seeing an opportunity to introduce myself, I announced, “I am Beta Rex, representing Alvarium ‘Alpha’ Rex, King of the Earth Hive.”

“Earth Hive?” The donkey ambassador asked. “I have never heard of such a nation, and I have memorized the map of the entire known world; I should think I would have heard of your land. Oh, excuse me, I am Ambassador Jackass.”

‘Damnit... Must. Not. Laugh!’ I thought, fighting a losing battle to keep my mirth contained. “It’s a pleasure to meet you! But I highly doubt you would find my nation on any map, as we are a tiny kingdom hidden within massive country on a continent that doesn’t actually exist. At least, not in the sense that you would logically expect.”

The minotaur next to me bellowed, “Steel Resolve is afraid that Steel Resolve doesn’t understand.”

“Frankly, we don’t get it either,” I countered, much to my audience’s bemusement. “Some years ago, beings we call Gatekeepers began to appear in my world - a separate reality from this one. The eldest Gatekeeper is my King, and his adoptive daughter, Princess Selene, is the second and youngest living Gatekeeper. Each Gatekeeper was an ex-human that bound to a creature in this world. Both partners gained the ability to create portals to the other, regardless of their location.”

“Among other things,” Princess Luna added.

I nodded in agreement. “Right, but no need to go into details now. Long story short, Princess Luna is Princess Selene’s partner, making the capital cities of Canterlot and Atlanta effectively overlap one another; we are literally a second’s walk away from my home anywhere Luna is.”

“Ex-human? What do you mean by that?” Steel Resolve bellowed. At this point, the wait staff entered, bearing trays of food for the evening’s meal. Swiftly, they began to serve to all but me.

“The individual my king bound to was Queen Chrysalis. I, like all of our people, are his descendants. A human is a creature similar in size and shape to a minotaur,” I said while gesturing to the example next to me, “but more ape-like.” I was tempted to show them, but I stopped when Steel Resolve spoke.

“Queen Chrysalis? What is she the Queen of?”

“Irrelevant,” I quickly replied before shooting a glare at Luna. My eyes momentarily flashed red while the pupils narrowed to slits. She - thankfully - understood and elected to remained quiet. “She is not involved with our politics and is of no concern to you.”

“Well, this has suuure been informative,” Ambassador Bessy, commented when no one had spoken for a minute. “However, the staff has brought out this scrumptious looking meal and I doooo not wish for it to get cold while talk the night away.” At this, the other dinner guests nodded in agreement and proceed to dine. Light conversation soon started up between the other Ambassadors.

Steel Resolve looked down at my empty placemat and frowned. He leaned back and beckoned to one of the waiters. When the green pegasus came over, the minotaur whispered, “Why has this gorgeous young mare not received her meal?”

“According to what the chef was told, she is not actually a pony and as such, would be providing her own-” He was interrupted by a flash of emerald light coming from my place. “-meal.”

“Your concern is appreciated,” I told Steel Resolve as he turned around to look at me, “but unnecessary. My King has provided for me.” Dropped utensils clattered against plates as they observed my plate. Meanwhile, I propped my hooves in front of my mouth to disguise my shift to more appropriate teeth. For both, the reason was the selection of meats for me to eat. Without the ability to taste seasonings or sides, meat variety was the rule; lamb chops, pork sausage, and a juicy steak were tonight’s selection. Though I could identify the cuts by eye, I hoped that none of the others would get beyond ‘Carnivore!’ in their thought process; it would be awkward to explain stake to some of the other ambassadors.

Bessy looked like she would be sick as I started eating the steak. The cow said, “Princess, you never told us that there was another... meat eater here. Especially one that is a pony, of all things.”

“I was not aware of that, either,” Luna replied, also a shade green. “I was under the impression that they were emotivores or herbivores.”

“Omnivores, actually,” I corrected, “With the exception of gems, we eat almost anything - even the abstract - but only really taste emotions and flesh.” I levitated a sausage from my plate and dunked it in the opaque cup that had come along with my plate. When it emerged, it was covered in a creamy white sauce that glowed faintly with mixed-in emotion. I slowly pushed the sausage into my mouth, intentionally moaning to emphasize the taste, and then bit the end off.

Phallic objects are a seductress’s best friend, I say.

After chewing and swallowing, I added, “And what a carnal pleasure it is.” My sharp-toothed grin sealed the deal.

The minotaur next to me shifted uncomfortably before scooting closer to the table in a vain attempt to hide the bulge in his loin cloth. Though, it is not really his fault; many sex cues for ponies work on minotaurs, too - pheromones included. And, like the minotaur, most of the occupants in the room had spent several minutes inhaling the aphrodisiacs that I had been exhaling; poor Sharp Spear had been subjected to my machinations for hours unending. The stallion was one wrong move away from bursting; never in my almost-three years have I ever had someone hold out that long - and I was not even giving it my all.

Near the end of the meal - while time raced by for me, the meal seemed to not end fast enough for the others - I grabbed my mostly-full cup with my hoof and lifted it to my mouth. Right as it was about to touch my lips, I ‘hiccuped’ and sloshed the white liquid emotion all over my face and horn. “Whoa, pardon me. I’m *Hic* so clumsy.” Maybe it was a bit much, but it got the reaction I was looking for.

“Let me help with that,” Steel offered, holding out his napkin.

I politely denied his request. “I’ve got this,” I said, then proceeded to lick my face clean with my two-foot long tongue; I’ve always wanted to do this. As I cleaned myself, I made eye contact with each occupant of the room; I saved Sharp Spear for last, making extra sure to focus on him as my tongue stroked my horn clean of the white sauce. At the end, I lit my horn up and telekinetically pushed the saliva off my horn, which sprayed off of the end in a glowing mist. The pièce de résistance, a little squeak-moan, followed by drying my face with my napkin.

“Ambassador Beta Rex, would you be so kind as to refrain from such displays in the future?” Princess Luna asked, trying and failing to suppress the furious blush on her face.

“Whatever do you mean, Princess?” I asked, feigning ignorance. “I was only enjoying the end of my meal. That’s how they always seem to end, after all.” Of course, I had to add bedroom eyes to the end of that.

‘Oh, Sal, you have the best bedroom eyes of any changeling,’ I thought, picturing my wonderful girlfriend. In particular, I recalled my favorite date, one that was dinner - a six-way orgy at Livewire Club - and a show - us stripping on the dance poles for a lusty audience.

Luna shook her head with disappointment. “Be as it may, I would still ask you to follow our cultural norms here, rather than your own.”

“I understand.”

This was my last chance to ensnare the impossibly hard-to-crack Sharp Spear. As he lead me back to my room, I struck up a conversation. “So how long have you been in the guard?”

By this point, his mind was just fogged enough to loosen lips - finally! “About three years since I graduated basic training.”

“That would put you at about my age, your twenty’s. Am I correct?”

“Twenty one, ma’am,” he replied.

“Please don’t call me ‘ma’am.’ It makes me feel old,” I requested. Then I noticed something odd about his armor. “But on that same note of age, how is it that your armor is so worn down?”

He smiled. A surge of happiness and nostalgic pride welled up in him. “My dad is a retired Royal Guard. Since I’m almost the exact same size, he gave me his old armor and spear.”

“Fascinating,” I commented. “May I see it? Your spear, I mean.”

“Sure.” Sharp Spear lifted his namesake weapon off of the holding hooks on the side of his armor and passed the tool to me.

“Not too heavy or unwieldy,” I remarked. The shaft of the weapon was engraved with two names: Sharp Spear and Long Spear. “It’s seen a fight, hasn’t it?”

“Once or twice,” he replied modestly.

“Then you must have to practice often to stay in top form.” I stepped closer to him. “Many thrusting exercises, I’d assume. Have you ever speared a pony?”

“No, I haven’t.”

I pursed my lips. ‘Why was this guy so hard to crack?’ I wondered. Sure, he was really aroused right now, but I wanted what would make him lose control, to surrender completely to his baser instincts.

“Do you prefer to sheath your blade, or do you like to cross swords.”

He stammered, “I... Ahh... what?”

I rolled my eyes. Having arrived at my room, I pushed open the door, but did not go in yet. “I think it’s safe to assume that we are well into metaphor land, Mr. Sharp Spear. I asked if you were straight or gay, because I can do both.” To prove my point, I gender-flipped myself right then and there.

“I... Ahh...Whoa... What does that have to do with anything? Because I am not sleeping with you while I am on duty,” he replied.

Again, I rolled my eyes in annoyance. “Listen,” I stated in my now masculine voice, “I’m an Earth changeling; I eat good emotions. Your Princesses made a huge mistake when they invited me here, and I’m still trying to heal the damage from that. Even with all the lust I’ve collected today, I’m still half-starved; I’ll be desperate by morning. Walk away if you want. I won’t stop you. But know that if I attack a pony in the morning and drain them dry, you could have prevented it.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t. I have sworn to uphold the Guard’s code of honor. I can’t let them down by succoming to your temptations,” Sharp explained. “I could never face my father again.”

“But you’d be stopping me from dying or attacking one of your fellow ponies - who you swore to protect - out of desperation. And you’d get sex for the low, low price of feeling hungover in the morning,” I said, exasperated. “Besides, it’s really late. I cannot imagine that you’d stay on duty any longer than you already have. Look, I’m safely at my room. You're done.” I gently tugged at his armor with my magic, not enough to pull him in, but more than enough for him to feel it. “Will you? Please?”

He sighed, debating it in his head. “Fine. But you need to be a mare for this.”

I cheered internally; my toughest nut yet had just been cracked. And it only took seven and a half hours, too.

“Mmm... five more minutes,” the stallion cuddling next to me moaned as the sun hit his eyes. I snuggled tighter, glad for his warmth and the pleasurable taste of his emotions. And his seed. That too. I breathed deeply, taking in his musky scent. I sighed. I smiled.

“You were really good last night, Sharp,” I whispered.

“Mmm... you too, Beta. I-I have two little confessions to make,” Sharp Spear said.

“Oh? Well, I have a tiny one, too, but you can go first.”

“Yeah, that was my first time,” he admitted.

“Oh... you were a virgin. I’m... I’m sorry that you wasted your first time on me,” I replied. “Though, if it makes you feel any better, you were really good. Big, too. And don’t think I’m just saying that. Changelings know sex.” He smirked, puffing up with pride.

“Well, thank you! The other thing is... I... think I... might love... you."

"Oh..." I took a good long moment to thoroughly examine the emotions radiating from the stallion spooning me. Eventually I sighed, though I could not tell of it was from relief of disappointment. "I have good news and bad news... Well, it's the same news, really. You don't – actually – love me. That warm feeling? That's satisfaction and lust; your body is telling you that you are successful in your biological role as a stallion. Those feelings could bloom into love, yes, but you're not there yet."

"Oh, so there's no hope for us?" He asked, dejectedly.

"I didn't say that... I know I only picked you because you were on hand, but I like you, and I might like to get to know you better." Sharp's eyes shone with hope. "But I have to return to my home world this afternoon. Though, I'll find a way to keep in touch."

"That sounds nice, Beta. What did... what did you want to tell me?”

I smiled mischievously. “Oh, nothing major. This mare I’m wearing-”

“A very beautiful mare,” He interrupted.

“-well, I made her up. She doesn’t really exist. In reality, this mare is made from four different mares, each of whom I’ve copied features from. Ha ha, funny story, but I'm actually a stallion." The look of surprise on his face was priceless, but I still had to deliver the punchline. "So, do you want to know who owned the pussy you just rutted?” I asked.

“Oh? Who could own such a wonderful thing?” Sharp asked back.

“Princess Celestia.”

The breakfast before my meeting with Celestia was a much quieter affair. That is, until Captain Shining Armor walked in and straight up to me. Well, walked is not quite the right word.

The changeling convert had a very distinct limp, one that I knew all too well. “I need to have a word with you,” he declared to my face.

“What about?”

“I should be very angry about the things you said to my sister yesterday. They were very hurtful. However, she seemed to be doing better ever since she started practicing that spell you gave her and started playing with that computer of hers. I still don’t know why you gave her that thing...” He trailed off. His eyes momentarily glazed over before he refocused with a shake of his head. “Anyway, the other reason I’m not mad is that book! That absolutely wonderful book you gave Cadance! It’s an amazing read!” Though the double-meaning subtext that came as a part of the changeling speech said something different: ‘It’s the best sex I’ve ever had!’

“Well, I’m glad you two enjoyed it,” I replied. “Also, are you familiar with Sharp Spear? He was my guard yesterday.”

Shining Armor nodded. “Yes, I trained under his father during my time in boot camp.”

“Then I would like to commend him for a job well done. He displayed high integrity and willpower, as well as high physical stamina. He...” I leaned closer and whispered into the convert’s ear, “...took almost eight hours to seduce under almost full assault. He’s stone compared to the putty of your other Guards. And I do mean that in more ways than one.”

"If I am going to sign that treaty, I need to know how strong your military is," Princess Celestia demanded.

"That's the whole reason why we're pushing for a non-aggression pact, Princess; we do not have a military. Arms? Yes." My undisguised Beta held up the two guns I had brought as I spoke with my Alpha's projection. "Defenses? Yes. A militia force? I have some 'lings that I can call upon in an emergency. But I do not have a high enough population or the fiscal resources to feed a standing army," I replied.

"Truly? How small is your nation?" She asked.

"Do you remember the Battle of Canterlot?"

"How could I forget?" Celestia scowled at me.

"Well, when I sold those weapons, my hive was desperate for cash. We had enough money among us to all live as middle class citizens for a few weeks, and then we would be broke. All ten of us."

She raised an eyebrow at me, which was Celestia's equivalent of spluttering in surprise. "Ten changelings? That is it?"

I sighed and slumped down in my seat. "Princess, I don't think you quite understand exactly how young we are as a nation. Three years ago, I was a regular civilian; I didn't even know this world existed. Suddenly, I started dreaming of Chrysalis and the next thing I know, I'm a changeling. Ten rapidly aging kids later, and there we were. I've sired a few more since then, and they in turn sired even more. Celestia, I will celebrate my twenty first birthday within the next few weeks, and I'm already a grandfather. I shouldn't even have a child at this age.

“My first love indirectly died because of this whole Gatekeeper situation. I've already survived one assassination attempt - which killed two of my kids - and been forced to murder and feed on my old specie just to keep my family alive. I’m building a nation from scratch with absolutely no idea what I’m doing.

“If I had even a quarter of the American Armed Forces, we wouldn't need this treaty; we would win for sure. But, as it stands, you have more soldiers in Canterlot than I do civilians, period." I reached Beta's arm down and signed the treaty with my pen. "You're the first nation to recognize our existence as an independent entity; we cannot afford to have you as our enemy."

“I see,” Celestia replied. That was it. I could see her mulling over my story in her head, as well as the terms -as few as there were - on the peace agreement. Her horn lit with a golden glow, lifting the paper up with her power. After one last cursory read-over, she too signed the document. “Consider us a neutral party, then.”

“I am glad that we are no longer enemies of one another. At a later date, I wish to discuss trade with you,” I stated. “However, it would require us to make a detailed examination of your markets to know which goods would be profitable to trade. Though my nation does not have the infrastructure to defend or support ponies that come to our world, would you be willing to allow Hive merchants into Equestria? Not at the present time, though. We are still trying to shore up our own tenuous situation in the world.”

“Equestria is always looking for new trading partners. I would love to trade with you,” The princess replied. “Now, if you don’t mind me asking, could you elaborate on what you meant by the American Armed Forces? Our conversation has left me feeling inadequate about our own military, especially involving the Attack on Canterlot.”

“Yes, the American Military is one of the most technologically advanced militaries in the world. However, the fundamental difference between Equestria and the armies of my world is the presence of guns, elevating combat from two charging armies to long-ranged assaults from small groups working as a cohesive unit, aided by rapid communication and advanced computers. There’s such a fundamental difference in tools and weaponry that a small company of fully armed soldiers could - possibly - capture Canterlot,” I explained.

“Guns, what are they?” Celestia inquired. She poked my two guns on the table. “I saw you take them from your assistant before he left; I assume that they are a weapon of sorts.”

“That is correct.”

She frowned. “I do not see how they work; neither Equestria nor any other nation uses any similar weapon.”

“Do you have bow or crossbow users?”

“Some unicorns and pegasi do use bows, though it is mainly minotaurs and griffins that use bows.” She asked me, “Is that relevant?”

“Guns and bows are analogous in utility, though not in power or mechanism. They are also much faster and easier to use than a bow,” I explained.

“So a ranged killing weapon,” She said, the words giving her emotions a bitter taste. “I loath to ask it, but may I buy those guns from you? You understand that I would do anything to defend my subjects, correct?”

I scowled at Celestia. “Yes, I understand, and no, I will not sell your nation weapons,” I informed her. “I regret selling those explosives to Chrysalis’s allies, and I do not need to force an arms race across this planet.”

“You misunderstand. I wish to buy these specific guns-” she held my weapons aloft in her aura, “-so that I may give them to the Elements of Harmony to defend themselves when in dire straits.”

“Oh... how would they even use them? No fingers to pull the triggers.” I wiggled my own to emphasize the point.

“Rarity and Twilight Sparkle are unicorns.” Though I already knew that, that answer was ‘Self explanatory,’ so I nodded my head in agreement.

“Yes, I understand. If you are truly willing to put a killing tool in their hooves - and I must emphasize that you only pull these triggers with the intent to kill - then I would be willing to part with these two guns with six rounds each for... let’s say, two and a half thousand bits.” Which comes out at about five thousand dollars for me. It was a bit of markup, sure, but they were nice guns. And if she payed and they killed themselves, it is not my problem.

“That is a tad much for such a small weapon, don’t you think?” Celestia replied.

‘You want to haggle, do you?’ I thought. “Oh, but these are top of the line guns and I take good care of them. I assure you, they will hit anything within fifty meters. And, isn’t a few bits worth saving a life?”

“You’re right, of course I will have a servant go fetch the bits from the treasury for you,” she conceded.

‘That’s it?’ I thought. ‘I was expecting another negotiation, more reluctance, or something... do I still have the hypno eyes going? No? Odd.’ The servant arrived a second later with the bits. We traded, stood, and parted ways. As Beta walked away and Alpha’s illusion faded out of existence, I had the sinking suspicion that this would cause me problems later on.

Sharp Spear stumbled into the barracks just barely in time for breakfast, a stupidly cheerful grin plastered on his face despite his skull-splitting headache. Every now and again, he would giggle to himself. Sharp was a mess, that was for sure, and every pony could see it, not that he really cared.

“Dude, what happened? Where did you go last night? We and the Lieutenant was worried sick ‘bout you,” One of Sharp’s friends called as he raced up to meet the staggering earth pony.

“Oh... hehehaha! I was helping the new diplomat with... foreign affairs.” Sharp Spear burst into renewed laughter, much to the confusion of his fellow guards. “Heheheeee! Buddy,” Sharp suddenly wrapped his foreleg around his friend’s neck and gestured dramatically with his other hoof. “I now know what the sunshine feels like! A colt no more, I. AM. A. STALLION!” Sharp bellowed, before descending into a feminine-sounding giggle fit. Cheers of congrats spread through the gathered audience like wildfire.

Unlike the guards of a certain barrak, Twilight was in a bit more somber of a mood. Yes, the changeling king had apologized, but his diplomat had also opened her eyes to reality. Ponies were counting on her and her friends, and the next threat might not be so merciful next time.

The thought had gotten stuck in the back of her mind; even with the exciting new spell the Changeling King had created and the chance to examine this ‘laptop’ he had given them, the distractions could not totally subdue the gnawing worry in the back of her mind. The worry only grew when she looked at the box.

Her hoof rested on said box, sitting next to her on the Ponyville Express bench. Celestia had given her it and its contents with a strict warning never to use them unless there was no other hope. Twilight’s hoof quivered with indecision.

Should she pull it closer? Should she cradle the object that promised to save the lives of her and her friends?

Or should she push it away? Should she reject the object that existed for no other reason than to end the lives of the wielder's enemies?

Would she give Rarity her gun, to protect herself and Sweetie Belle?

Would she lock it away, to protect Rarity and Sweetie from the foul object?

Twilight did not know. But, as she stared at the box, she thought. With only a thin piece of wood separating her from the reaper’s tool, Twilight could not help but wonder - even though there was absolutely no threat - if everything would be alright in the end.

Author's Notes:

*Ding* Have a chapter!

This was fun to write, though I still feel weird about it. I wanted to show a little on what the changelings do on a day-to-day basis regarding getting food. At the same time, I have a no-clop rule about my writing (mostly because I'm a virgin and therefore have no experience to draw upon to write clop. Anything I write would be low-quality trash and I won't do that... well, not without practice (interpret how you will.).). So, what do you think?

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Wow, I broke 7K words on this chapter... YAY! I also need to hit 400 likes soon. I'm 6 away at the time of posting this chapter.

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My wonderful readers, I request your help. I feel that this story needs better cover art.

I was tempted to draw art for myself, but I do not have the software for digital art or the skill for physical art. If anyone knows a good image/is willing to draw art, that would be much appreciated. If you are an artist and do want to draw something for me, I would be willing to write you a custom one-shot of no less than 10K words on any story idea/genre of your choice as a trade. It doesn't even have to be ponies; I can do other fandoms/stand-alone stories, too.

And, one other meta thing to point out... with in the next dozen chapters, I will finally get around to why this story is called Black Queen, RED King. Isn't that exciting?

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I need to go write some more. BRB!

P.S. That looks nothing like me.... thought you aught to know.