“So how many foals do you and Mimic have?” Twilight asked.

“A hundred twenty seven.” I said. Twilight’s eyes nearly shot out their sockets at my answer.

“Ar-are you kidding me?” She stuttered. I shook my head. “Wow… I don't… I don't want to believe you.” I glared at her. “I mean, I just find it hard to believe you.”

“Even after Mimic came out and said that she's really a changeling?” She nodded nervously and I shrugged my shoulders. “Eh, believe me, don't believe me. I don't care.”

“But that's it; you do care! Or else you wouldn't be telling me these things!” Twilight shouted.

“Who called who to come to their crystal tree house so they could ask questions?” I asked, which shut Twi up. “Thought so. But still, Twilight, your friends already accepted the fact I married a changeling, even Shining and Cadence were happy for us after the fact, and that I have kids with her. Why can't you?”

“I… I don't know.” She sigh. “But, if I had to guess… It could be that she's a changeling.” I looked at her for a short second. And then get up to leave. “Wait!” I stop, but I don't turn to face her. “I know I've worked with Queen Mirage. And that Queen Mimic is her daughter, and your wife. But-”

“Listen Twi,” I cut her off. “I know a particular queen ruined your brothers wedding and basically brainwashed him. I understand that. But at the same time, it's been seven fucking years. I have told at least three times now that I have gone out if my god damned way to finish off what your brother and sister-in-law started. I even brought you proof for christ sake.” I said while turning to face her.

“I know…” Twilight said. She looked like she wanted say ‘but’.

“Look, if you just can't get over what happened twenty seven years ago, then this is the last time I even walk in this castle.” I turned back around and kept walking. I grab one of my youngest sons and hoist him up to my shoulders.

“C’mon Nick. Let's go.” I told him while picking him up.

“Okay daddie.” He said. “What were you and aunty Twilight talking about?”

“Nothing you should worry about son.” I replied. “And I think you should stop calling Twilight ‘Aunty’. I think it makes her a little uncomfortable.” I said. I bother to look behind as I left since I knew Twilight heard everything I said.

“Okay daddie. But why would she be uncumfertable?” He asked

“I'll explain it to you when you're older. Alright?” I said while looking up at him with a smile. He could only frown down at me.

Damn kid’s smart for an eight-year-old.

“Okay daddie.” He said.

“Hey, cheer up. How about I get you some ice cream?” As soon as those words left my lips he perked up.

“Yeah! Ice cream ice cream!”

“Alright. Let's go get some ice cream. We'll even get a few tubs for everybody.”

“Yaaaaay! Ice cream!” He cheered.

I chuckled a little. When we left the castle, possibly for the last time…

Meh… Better off not being friends with someone who has a grudge against an entire species I basically married into.

And she's the princess of fucking friendship. How can you get more hypocritical than that?

Anyway. Nick decided that, even though I was getting him and his brothers and sisters ice cream, he would pester me about the crap me and Twilight were talking about.

“Daddie,” He said, still frowning. All cute; you know. “What were you and twilight talking talking about?” I sighed.

“Alright, Nick, I'll tell you. You know Twilight has a brother and a sister-in-law right?” I asked, and he nodded. “Well, their wedding was ruined when a changeling kidnapped her sister-in-law and brainwashed her brother.”

“Oh…” He said plainly. “Is that why she doesn't like us?” He asked.

*I swear to god they learn too fast.*

“I wouldn't call it that. I'd say it's more that she's uncomfortable around you guys.” I said. “And sometimes me since I can do this.” I transform to my changeling self. He gasped of out of joy and smiled.

“Daddie looks like grandma!” He said while hugging my neck. “You never do it unless you're telling stories!” I laughed a little.

“Hehe. Maybe I don't change often enough.” I said.

“No!” He yelled, right into my ear. “You don't change enough daddie.”

“I know Nick.” I said while putting a foreleg around him. “I'll try and change more often.”

“Yaaaaaaay!” He cheered. Thankfully before pulling away. “Can I ride you home daddie?”

“After we get some ice cream for everybody. Unless you already forgot about that?”

“No I didn't!” He grabbed my foreleg. “ C’mon! I want ice cream.”

“Alright, alright. Let's go.” Nick kept holding onto my leg as he continued to do his best to drag me across town to Sugarcube corner. Ponies and changelings milling about would wave, and I would wave back.

It kinda felt a little odd; ever since changelings from Mirage’s hive were granted citizenship by Celestia herself. Word somehow got out to other hives that basically there was an alien creature that helped save a hive from slowly starving to death. And because of that I got an absolute fuck-ton of changeling messengers asking for my help. I even had a few queens visit me themselves. Some of them were that desperate.

And luckily for all of them. They had me and the princesses to rely for help on.

And help them we did.

Good god, nearly as soon as all four of the princesses started backing me up. The general public pretty much went ‘ok’ and put their two cents in by coming up to me and offer jobs any changeling could perform. And not surprisingly enough most of them were for brothels and other ‘Gentleman Clubs’. But, it was a win-for everyone; ponies got to act out their weirdest fantasies, and changelings got their now limitless supply of sustenance.

But, I guess in the end, that little odd feeling can go fuck itself. As egotistical as it sounds; I quite literally saved an entire species from extinction. And sort of became the unofficial ambassador of the changeling race. If it weren't for me, they would be dead, pretty much.

Anyway, Nick and me made it to Sugarcube Corner and immediately Pinkie greeted us before the door closed behind.

“Welcome to- Oh! Hi Emby! Hi Nicky!” She said in that hyperactive voice of hers.

“Hi aunty Pinky!” Nick said while rushing up to hug the pink party pony.

“Mmm! It's always good to see you! How's everypony doing at home?” She asked.

“We're doing fine!” He answered. “Can we get some ice cream?” He then asked.

“Ooooh! So that’s what you're here for. What's the occasion this time?” She asked while shooting me a knowing smirk.

“Apparently Twilight doesn't like us!” He said, making Pinkie’s smirk disappear.

“Oh… Uh, why would she not like you? You’re super amazing!”

“I think you know why Pinkie.” I answered.

“Really? I thought she was over that!” I scoffed.

“You'd think since she help me out with giving changelings citizenship.” I said. “But I guess she did it more out of guilt than anything else.”

“Guilt? Why- Ooooooooh… Right. But still! That was a long time ago!”

“I know right? Guess it's just hard for her to let go of the past.”

“Like when Starlight came back and did all that timey wimey stuff?” I felt my eye twitch when she said that.

“Yes Pinkie. Though, I still don't know how the hell she came back. Considering what I really did.”

“Yeah! It's like she came from a different dimension or something! She was so nice after Twilight introduced her!” I stared at her blankly.

“How do you come up with this of stuff?” I asked, but I shook my head. “Never mind… You're you.” She giggled at that.

“I know! I would go off on a long talk and then you would interrupt me and then buy some of Aunty Pinkie’s homemade ice cream and-” I shive my swiss hoof in her mouth. She tried to talk around my hoof. And only succeeded in creating rivers of saliva where the holes were. At that point I just deadpanned at her.

“You're gross sometimes Pinkie.”

“Sthorry!” She said. I pull my hoof away, change it to a hand and back to a hoof in quick succession; the fire pretty much cleans off anything. “Sorry!” She repeated more clearly. “So what would you guys like? The usual?” I nodded. “Okie-dokie-lokie! Be right back!” Pinkie zoomed towards the back of the bakery.

“Daddie, how does Aunty Pinkie get all that ice cream?” Nick suddenly asked.

“Nick.” I said. “You are better not asking any questions about what Pinkie is capable of.”

“Why?”

“She can pull a canon from her hair.”

“Really?” I nodded.

“Yes son. Pinkie is an enigma.”

“What does that mean?”

“That’s enough Nick.” I said as Pinkie came back with a large quantity of tubs of ice cream; how she manages to carry that much weight, even for an earth pony, is beyond me.

“Here you go!” She said as he plopped the tubs over the counter. “That'll beeeee…” She looked up in thought. “Three hundred fifty bits!” She cheered. I nodded and conjured the needed amount of golden coins in neat stacks on the counter. Another anomaly since this wood and glass counter is supporting that much gold. And even more was added to the damn pile when Pinkie raked to mound of golden coins into the register.

Good thing I stopped caring about the laws of physics a few years back.

“Okie dokie! That's it right?” Pinkie asked.

“Yeah, for now anyway. Might come back to get some of your famous cupcakes.” I said.

“Really!? Ok see you later maybe then!” She said as we left the establishment with the tubs hovering close behind.

“Daddie, can you tell me a story since you look like grandma?” Nick asked when we were some distance away.

“I don't know…” I said. “I don't think there's any story I can tell…” I looked up in mock thought. Then faked recollection. “Oh. There's this one where the entire town got tired of Dash’s pranking and pranked her back.” I suggested, to which he nodded to. “Alright, but it's a bit short compared to the others.”

“It started when Dash thought it'd be funny to scare Fluttershy as a prank…” I began.

“So Dash’s been annoying everyone in town?” I asked.

“That is the shortened version, but, yes.” Rarity answered.

“And because of this, you five want me, and everyone else, to play a good prank on her to teach her a lesson?”

“That's right.” Aj answered. “We're sick n’ tired of Rainbow playin’ ‘pranks’ on everypony.” She said with air quotes.

“Yeah! They're not even funny anymore!” Pinkie said. “She even made Fluttershy cry!” My head snapped towards the pink pony when she said that.

“Really?” I asked. And she nodded. “Alright, count me in. What're we gonna do for this prank?”

“Well. Pinkie told us that Rainbow plans to replace the CMC’s cookies with these fake cookies that stain your mouth with rainbow colors. Twilight explained.

“So I'm gonna get the everypony to act like zombies when they eat the cookies!” Pinkie finished. “Especially you!” She pointed at me.

“Why especially me?” I asked.

“We think you would be the perfect candidate to, scare Rainbow straight , darling.” Rarity said. I raised a brow at her wording.

“We want ya ta make Dash cry.” Aj clarified.

“Oh, alright.” I said. “When does it start?”

“Jus’ wait about fifteen minutes after we come by to sell ya them fake cookies. After that go outside and don't talk back if Dash finds ya. If she doesn't find ya then come to the barn.” Aj explained. “Oh! And if she does find ya, only say cookies all creepy like when she tapps yer shoulder or somethin’.” She added.

“Got it see you guys later then.” I said. The girls left and I spent a few minutes decided how I should look.

“Let’s see…” I looked myself in the bathroom. “Feathers out of place,” I twist a few to make them point out at odd angles. “Ragged appearance… I'm better off doing this as a changeling.” I transform into my king changeling form and change to my human form. It was much easier to ‘zombify’ myself that way. So I made random feathers stick out, I made myself look a bit ragged, a little emaciated as well, and as the final touches I made my eyes look a little faded and added a few scratches on my beak. I even added a few little nicks in the edges of my wings. Juuust to make the look all more convincing.

Eventually the CMC, Aj, Rarity and Rainbow came by and sold me some cookies. I curiously popped one in my mouth. It was kind of bland in my opinion. And it was also weird that there was this awful spicy taste to it. Like Rainbow made these with green bell pepper; nothing tastes good with green bell peper, not even pizza.

Disappointments aside, one cookie was enough to stain my mouth, and lips, and pretty much the area around my lips.

I ate the thing like any normal human being.

Anyway, I wait about fifteen minutes before letting Mimic know, reimplementing the zombie look, and began my trek through town at a trudging pace.

I think it was five minutes that I spent walking around until I heard Rainbow call out to me.

“Ember! Thank Celestia I found you! I think there's something really bad going in…” I hear her land behind me. “... Ember?” I stop in my tracks. “...Are you ok?” I heard rainbow walk up to me from behind and tap a hoof on the back of my thigh. I put on this starving look and turn around.

“Cooooookieeeees!” I semi-shouted in a gruff tone. Rainbow shrieked and flew off towards Aj’s farm. I suppressed a smirk and thought about chasing after. But I thought against it. For I had a better plan; I teleported to what assumed was the barn Rainbow and others hid in, which was confirmed by the towns ponies surrounding it. I then cast an invisibility spell and teleported inside the barn. More towards the ceiling to stay out of sight. I saw a zombified Applejack kick a wheel…thing, away. Allowing the rest in. I smiled a bit and dropped to the ground facing Rainbow.

I nearly busted out laughing when I heard Rainbow scream.

I slowly stood straight up and moaned at her. I walked towards her with the ‘afflicted’ ponies behind me and she backed up, pushing the large pile of cookies as close to the adjacent wall. My lips twisted into a hungry smile and groggily reached out towards the cookies. Ignoring Rainbow’s protest and mortified face all the while. I was just waiting to see single tear run down her face.

The moment finally came when I grabbed a box next to her head. Seeing that tear just roll down her cheek filled me with such accomplishment that I fell to the ground laughing my ass off. Finally seeing that bitch get what was coming to her was just too hilarious to not to laugh at.

“And that's how the everybody in town got their revenge for Rainbow annoying them to the point of near insanity.” I finished. Nick just looked at me, kind of impressed.

“You were right. That was a short story.” He said. “But it was kinda funny.”

“Yeah...”

“But.. you made Rainbow cry?” I nodded. “How did you do that? I thought she was unscarable.”

“You can thank Pinkie for that.” I answered. “She got the whole town to make Rainbow think we turned into cookie-crazed zombies. They just wanted to be the guy that made Rainbow cry. I honestly think she wouldn't have if I wasn’t there.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, she’s one tough cookie.” That little crack made Nick laugh a little. I chuckled along and Nick stopped in his tracks. I noticed this when he was a few feet behind me. I looked at him weirdly when I noticed the thousand yard stare he was maintaining.

“Nick? What’s wrong?” He point straight ahead as soon as I asked. I turned towards what he was pointing at, and I beheld a peculiar sight.

There was a changeling queen, one I didn’t recognize, standing in my front yard. Her chitin was dark orange, her hair was a lighter shade, and she had beetle-like wings. She sensed my presence and turned to me, her eyes were orange colored as well.

“Greetings, young King Ember.” She said while bowing slightly. So she has some respect towards me. “I am Queen Cicada of the Amber hive. I come with grave news.” I bow back to her, but for some reason she kept her head down.

“I don’t believe I meet anyone from your hive. Why come to me now? Surely you have heard of the Sapphire hive and our efforts.” Cicada picked her head up.

“I have...” She said. “But I believed your ‘efforts’ to be false.” She sheepishly admitted. “But hearing what your children have told me...”

“Alright, what is this news you have?”

“I… If what I heard is correct… You, eliminated the Tyrant Chrysalis?” She asked, to which I nodded. “And all of her children fell to you?” I nodded again.

“As far as I know, yes. Why do you ask?” Her face went from apprehensive to grim. That nearly sent a shiver down my spine. I already am drawing conclusions at that point.

“I… Chrysalis… has a daughter. She lives as well.”