Chrysalis, back at the colony, has been getting some good news. The library is completed. It's the most unique structure in the world, The mines supplied slate and limestone, when mixed with changeling sivila, it becomes a marble and granite like rock. The rocks were pressed into blocks and these blocks were pasted together with the normal sand and sivila mixture. The structure is a dark grey unlike the black buildings around it. It's huge as well, bigger than Chrysalis' pseudopalace, which is really her longing and work place. The library is five floors high plus a basement. The whole building is divided into rooms which are also divided into sections. There are fifty rooms on each floor and every room has nine sections. Each room is as big a standard house in ponyville. All the books collected by the changelings hardly filled six sections. The changelings seem to have taken a liking to coming to the library to read and, Chrysalis hopes, write their own. As for unlocking the secrets of Equestrian technology, a changeling named Figure Out says he has, wait for it, figured out something. (See what he did there? Ah, the creativity of a fanfic writer.) He requests an audience with the queen.

"Let him in!" Chrysalis called. Figure steps in, his saddlebag filled with scrolls. He bows, "Rise." Chrysalis said.

"Your majesty, I have a proposal for the new library, as well as something for the army." he started. "I've been reading through some books and I found something of great interest." He pulled out two books with his magic. One of them is titled, 'The understanding of optics' and the other seems to be a journal. "With the textbook here, I been able to successfully reinvent the spyglass." He put the books down and showed her a scroll with a design of a spyglass on it. "The lenses will work better if made from crystal and I understand that many were found near Sindhoof, so I propose that mining to begin there so production of these new spyglasses for the scouting team so they able to see up to double their normal spotting distance."

"Very good, I will put a work order in immediately, but what does this have to do with your proposal for the library?" Chrysalis asked.

Figure picked up the journal again, "This journal contains some interesting secrets, you see my queen, I not sure where did the changeling who had this got it from, but it seems to talk about the stars. It states that there are more worlds out there and many are unclaimed, ripe for the taking. However, I need to check for myself, so I propose that three new floors to be added to the current structure, the first two are to become private study for me and my soon to be colleagues and apprentices. The top floor will be a number of guilds for the fine arts such as writing and painting. Also I want a observatory on that floor as well." Figure then pulled out and showed Chrysalis a design of a large telescope. "I'll need a fair amount of crystals for the lenses so it'll take awhile, besides we have no practical way to make use of this without further study."

Chrysalis was split, she didn't know if she should be confused with this or be proud that one her changelings was able to plan all this out. "Well yes, Figure I'll put that into consideration, but I won't be able to get around to it for at least five months, but I want you to start to make those spyglasses for the scouting team, I'm expecting them to return within the week."

"Of course my queen. I beg your leave."

"You may."

Figure packed up his things and left.

Chrysalis was already focusing other projects. The one the colony is underway on is a sort of love bank. A building that will house changelings that will carry love and distribute it to where it's needed to prevent a love famine in the changeling population. A road system will also need to be in place to bring maximum efficiency of this project. The changelings who carry love from Sindhoof to the colony have already forged a road between the two, but Chrysalis needs a road to Foalis Foalba as well. The building will be three stories high and will house changelings who will store the love and will despatch when a shortage is reported. Hopefully, one day, it will also house ponies who will provide the love directly. The building is to be referred as 'The Temple of Love.' The Temple is half constructed as of now and is expected to be finished in a month.

After a few days, Chrysalis was going through some documents when...

"Your Majesty, the scouts have returned!" a guard came in calling. "The leader is ready to give his report."

"Let him in."

"At once."

Memory Clash trotted in and gave his bow.

"Rise."

"Your majesty, I have much to report."

Memory went on to report on the team's findings, from Mt. Kaisash to Trot and Wineyburg. He went to go in detail in how they managed with the merchant survivors from Ranedh and how they were able to get them to migrate. Chrysalis was pleased but she knew it was only a matter of time for ponies to get along with changelings, but what really caught her ear was...

"From Griffonstone's ruins, we found these designs for ships." Memory was showing scrolls of the designs for griffon ships. "As I understand it, there's a number crab rich waters off the coast of the colony. I distinctly remember that us changelings don't shy away from meat."

He's right. Chrysalis also enjoyed the idea. The thought of crab legs with a side of melted butter sounds absolutely divine to her. But she was thinking of more long term benefits of sailing. She was already thinking of a massive changeling navy, bringing them go where their wings can't. It also got her thinking of how the other continents were doing and if they were struck by disaster as well. Chrysalis also wonders how hard it would be to establish a new colony there. Memory went on to then give her bad news.

"My queen, we have taken loses. We were ambushed by bandits a week ago. We lost a few good changelings that day."

"Hmm, unfortunate, but nothing to ponder over. What's important is that you survived to bring this information to me."

"That's something I would like to discuss, my queen. You see, I shouldn't be here."

"Oh, and whatever do you mean by that?"

"One of my changelings saved me."

"Well that's to be expected isn't it? If a changeling can save another, then he'll do that."

"Well yes but, he did more than save my life, he sacrificed himself to save me."

This carries more weight than it seems. You see, changelings are expected to give their lives to the hive and queen, but not other individual changelings. Therefore, a changeling taking the hero's sacrifice to save a normal single changeling is a very rare occurrence.

"You can't be serious."

"I swear in your name I am. Because of him, I'm able to be here and give my report."

"I must know, what was his name."

"Lay Low."

Chrysalis was thinking over what should be done. Now the swarm has settled and become a nation in its own right, it needs to be a nation, and what does a nation need? A culture. Some sort of national holiday would be a great start. There's already the founding date and of course Hearts and Hooves day, but they need something more changeling related. Why not mark the date of a changeling's sacrifice to save his comrade. The idea is perfect, and who knows, changelings might start to look upon each other more highly. The holiday can also be a day to honor the army and it's veterans for their own sacrifices for the greater good, a sort of veteran/memorial day. A day to appreciate the sacrifices made by changelings for the others on an individual scale and higher. Chrysalis got the actual date out of Memory and kept it on record for next year. "Lay Day", well it rhymes.

"That concludes my report my queen, I beg your leave."

"Before you do, I must inform you that you must be able to leave in two weeks, I have another assignment for you."

Memory disappointed, he wanted to finally stay home, but if his queen demands it, he will go. "What is the assignment my queen?"

"Well, you're aware of the peninsula southwest from here? I have reason to expect that it's not what it seems to be, so I-"

*SLAM* "Your majesty, your majesty, I bring dire news!"

A changeling with the royal messenger banner on, probably why the guards let him in at all, came running in. He goes to bow but trips over his momentum.

"Can't this wait? I'm in the middle of an audience!"

"But your majesty, I bring news from Foalis Foalba!"

"What is so important that you must interrupt me!"

"The situation there has gone critical!"