A long time ago, there was a large civil war that broke out in the old land. This stemmed from a simple difference of opinion that resulted in the birth of a fear and the start of a grudge. The leaders of both nations wanted stay together being close friends. Unfortunately their subjects were not so considerate. Tensions got high, blood was spilled, and reputations were tarnished. With them being far too gone to save, the leader and the surviving sane subjects were left to pick up the pieces. The nations drifted apart however and went their separate ways, forgetting each other after many generations.

Recently, the nations encountered each other again under vicious circumstances. The Changeling Kingdom didn't exactly endear themselves to the Equestrian Principality no thanks to our queen's reckless actions. I'm ashamed to say this but I indirectly had a hand in this plan although I didn't know it at the time. I know she has good intentions and did this in the interest of her subjects, and I have deep respect for her, but it did nothing to improve our relations and only made things worse. But I have been talking to her brother the prince. The prime minister. My dearest friend. We have an idea that could benefit both sides. It would supply us with much needed food and resources. It would give them much needed military support, especially with the foes they have been encountering recently. We both have good reasons to seek this alliance. I only hope both sides are willing to listen to reason.

"Teeeeeeen-hut! Front and center!"

The training grounds were busy with soldiers running their drills. After the wedding invasion plan failed miserably the captain decided to retrain every one of his troops. Part of him knew this wasn't their fault but he couldn't take any more risks in the future. Regardless of whose to blame he need to keep the standards of his men. As he ran his rounds and observed his work he got an unexpected, but welcome, visit from the prime minister. "If only my sister put more thought into her plan. I hate to see them work their exoskeletons off like this." the prince said with a disappointed sigh. "It's not their fault our queen is incompetent. No offense sir." Captain Valour said in his normal cynical tone. "Heh. We both know Chrissy means well. Her whole reason for that stunt in the first place was to give us a food and energy source, something we so desperately need right now. I love my sister and respect her but she needs to learn that some things can't be solved by brute force. We are a strong race but that doesn't mean we're stupid."

Under the night sky the two friends were traveling overseas, the glow of the moon lighting their way. Valour looked over to his companion in the chariot. Something seemed to be bothering him.

"I just don't understand it." Vigour said out of the blue catching the captain's attention. "We all used to be so close. Chrissy, you, and I all were inseparable when we were all young. Remember when we would lay under the moon on nights like this and just look up at the stars? Whatever happened to that?"

It was true. The 3 changelings were the best of friends in their youth. Vigour looked up to his older sister who in turn would show him the love he craved. Valour was his first outside friend and Chrysalis looked after them as they played and would even join in on occasion. Everything changed after the death of the King. Being the oldest offspring, Chrysalis had to step up sooner than she wanted to. She had a hard time managing a classroom of foals let along a whole kingdom. That didn't stop her from trying her damnedest though. Not long after, their mother fell ill and she too passed on. While she had help from advisers and personal assistants she was starting to feel empty. Vigour dedicated himself to politics while Valour enlisted. She put on a strong face for the masses but with her only surviving family miles away she was on her own. Amazing what a combination of stress and loneliness does to the mind.

"We grew up." Valour simply said.

1 week eariler

"Sister! I'm sorry for interrupting but I have a message for you. You may want to read this one right now."

Princess Luna hands her sister a scroll with a familiar insignia on it.

"The Changelings?"

"I'm just as surprised as you are sister."

The air was tense as the sun princess remembered the incident right there in Canterlot 3 years ago. The attempted invasion of the Chrysalis regime and the wedding that was the source of it all. Sure the invasion was thwarted but it inflicted emotional damage to her faithful student, not to mention the collateral damage to the city. All was resolved but the constant fear of Changelings hung above the heads of everypony. The thought of someone close to you being kidnapped and replaced with a spy was enough to make all of Equestria shudder. Celestia shook of this thought. In the current moment she had to know the contents of the scroll. Slowly she opened it and read aloud.

Dear Princess Celestia of Equestria

I know this is an unusual request coming from us but I wish to meet with you and the leaders of your kingdom to discuss a possible alliance. I feel it would benefit both of us. We are having a resource crisis, food and energy in particular. I hear you are coming under fire from various threats in the past years. We can provide support for each other and strengthen both of our kingdoms. I also hope to foster a friendship between our citizens though this is purely a secondary goal on our part. I implore you to consider this and will respect whatever decision you choose to make.

Sincerely Prime Minister Vigour

"An alliance?" Luna said incredulously. "I don't know, it sounds somewhat suspicious to me." Celestia was suspicious about it herself but the Prime Minister had a point. Equestria was suffering from a lack of military strength and if they could make peace with the Changelings they could gain a powerful ally.

"I'm going to gather delegates from the other cities. Luna, I need you to inform the Elements of Harmony and Discord. I would like them present just in case things go wrong."

"But sister I still think we should discuss this."

"I know Luna, we will. But I want to inform everypony else so that we can make our decision."

"But-"

"Let's just see where this goes Luna."