A day had passed since Trixie was taken to the dungeons, where she was currently being questioned by both a changeling and unicorn as to where she got the amulet and how. The reason was that they wanted to ensure nopony or ling else got something like it. As for Metamorpha? Well, she was currently in her mother's room, along with a squad of guards, as it was now time for Cadence to emerge from her pod.

Now, before you say anything, the reason why she's out first rather than Celestia would be because she hadn't been an alicorn as long as Celestia, wasn't as powerful as the solar alicorn, and her love magic all had a factor in it. Though what made it a day earlier, specifically, none knew.

Anyway, along with the two royals and guards were two ponies-which it was arguable if they were willingly here or not- and two changelings meant to fit a new dress for Cadence as the goo in conversion pods tended to. . . enhance natural physical features with the gender of the pony or whatever was in them.

"So, how do you think she's going to take this, Metamorpha?" Chrysalis asked her daughter.

"Well, considering she was willing," the changeling princess said, "I think she'll just have to adjust to her link in the hive mind, seeing as how most ponies think it's just from the goo. Well, that, and she'll time to find balance again, as well as the fact her skin has chitin over it." She shrugged. "That's all I can guess at, really."

"I guess that'll have to do," Chrysalis said before she lit her horn, causing the front of Cadence's pod to split open, letting the now temporary changeling fall out to be caught by two changeling guards, who, after hearing of what Metamorpha had done to a guard who groped the Element of Generosity when she ordered them not to, made extra sure their hands weren't near her tits or ass.

As the two held her up, her hooves on the ground and after putting a small rope around her to cover her, Chrysalis walked over to her. "Oh, princess? You awake?" she asked in sing song, reveling in the irony of Cadence now looking like a changeling when just over a week ago, Chrysalis looked like an alicorn.

Slowly, Cadence came to, the pod putting the pony to sleep during the final portions of the transformation, as that was the only way for the whole thing to be painless, and, when she looked at Chrysalis, the changeling queen noticed that, though they retained the pre-transformation color, the former alicorn of love's eyes were now like hers. "Not so loud, please. I feel like I'm having a hangover."

"Noted," Chrysalis said. "So, other than that, how is the princess feeling?"

"Surprisingly well," Cadence replied. "Doesn't mean I want to stay like this, though."

Metamorpha shrugged. "You'll have to for a while, Cadence. We can't revert it. It goes away naturally."

"How long?" Cadence asked as she grabbed the edges of the robe herself.

"A week," the changeling queen and her daughter replied at the same time. "And before you ask, it'll be a day before you're well enough to see Shining," Metamorpha added.

"I should warn you, one ruler to another," Chrysalis said, "that of the few side effects you'll have, one will be the need to mate. . .with just about anything possible. We still don't know what causes it, and can't fix it because of that."

"And that will start when?" Cadence asked, hoping it wouldn't be now. She didn't want to have sex with Chrysalis, or really anyone but Shining right now.

"In about two days, average," Metamorpha replied. "And don't worry, we figured you'd want to be with Shining during that time."

Here, Cadence glared at the mother and daughter pair. "And what happened to Shining?"

"He's being held in the cells with a few other guards who were stupid enough to publicly try to remove us," Chrysalis said. "And I don't mean from the throne. Don't worry, the worst of his injuries are bruises from when we removed the perception filter for him and he fought back."

"Figures you wouldn't try a stun spell," Cadence muttered, though Chrysalis heard it through the hive mind, Cadence still not knowing she was now connected to it.

"Who says we didn't," Chrysalis said. "He put a spell on him to prevent that those from affecting him, and we were forced to knock him out after he injured a few of my guards." She then chuckled as Cadence got out of the guard's grasp and stood with her own legs supporting her. "You should be proud that you have a stallion like him as your betrothed, Cadenza. Almost no changeling male is that good."

"If I wanted your congratulations, Chrysalis, I'd ask," Cadence said, glaring. "Now, do I have my own room, or what?"

"The same room I stayed in while disguised as you," Chrysalis said. "I already have a guard ready to show you there. And it isn't a changeling; there are a few pony guards that come from small villages where ponies and changelings live together."

"Then why'd they help you with this!?" Cadence yelled. "Or did you brainwash them like you did Shining?"

"You forget that cities and towns act like their own nations," Metamorpha yelled. "Only thing they can't do is declare war, but the ponies there know they wouldn't be able to help feed every changeling alive, and decided to help us with this, as long as nopony was harmed if it could be avoided, and no deaths whatsoever."

"And of what he told us," Chrysalis said, "you know him. He's waiting outside, for when you want to leave."

"Good," Cadence said as she made her way to the door. "Because right now-wait, what did you mean by I'll be well enough to see Shining!?"

"Another side effect of the transformation," Metamorpha said as she rubbed the base of her horn as she usually would when she wasted to get back to reading. "Any extreme emotions, like those of two lovers reunited after a time apart, may cause you to go into a coma from not knowing how to control your empathy sense. They'll be a changeling coming to see you later to help with that."

Cadence scoffed. "As long as I get to see Shining," she said as she went to the door, and left the room, where, true to Chrysalis' word, a guard she recognized was waiting. "Lone?"(1)

"Hey, Cadence," Lone, a black unicorn stallion with hair and a tail the same color as his body with red and orange accents at the edge, giving both a sort of flame like appearance, with dark blue eyes, said. "I'm a little surprised you decided to become a changeling," he said, making Cadene chuckle. He always did like getting to the point.

"Yeah, well, it was mostly so I could do my job as princess of love better," she replied. "So, you're taking me to my room?"

"Right this way," the unicorn stallion said as he gestured down the hall. "I imagine you want to get there?"

"Please," Cadence said.

"Then if you would follow me," Lone said as he walked down the hallway, Cadence following behind. "I'm guessing you have questions?"

"Mainly how you knew of the invasion happening and didn't try to stop it," Cadence said.

"Who says I didn't?" Lone replied. "There were a few who tried to warn Celestia. Only one was able to, though, and we both know how that ended."

"Then why-"

"Aren't I part of a resistance?" Lone asked. "Simple: I need the money to send home for my mom, and last I checked, you can't get a job in the dungeons, as well the fact that with Shining having to be locked up, Queen Chrysalis needed somepony to trust with the new hybrid guard force, and you know me: if I'm given a responsibility, I work for it."

"Yeah, I remember," Cadence said. "So, how is your mom doing, anyway?"

'Her migraines don't come as often," Lone said. "Fortunately. Same as her back pains. Still, even disregarding those, there are a few things she needs help paying for, each of which are between her and me."

"Well, I'm glad she's doing well," Cadence said. A few minutes of awkward silence passed before she asked, "So, what exactly is your hometown like? You know, now that changelings are known?"

"The same, really," Lone replied. "Small, almost no reason to visit unless it's friends or family. Only thing I hid was that about twenty percent of everyone there is a changeling. Actually, a few of my friends came here after. . .well, you know, and are helping get everything situated. There have been some rioters over the past week, but none have been able to do any real damage, speaking in terms of property. In terms of individual, they understandably attack changelings. No to say we don't arrest who we can, but still." He sighed. "Sad thing is that a few ponies here in Canterlot were actually changeling who didn't even know there was an invasion, most having a good standing with the nobles and other groups, were attacked when they were found out. Not even a month, and the riots have killed twenty changelings and ponies thought to be changelings. May need to bring martial law in."

"But why would ponies try to kill?" Cadence asked. "Even if it was accidental, they would see themselves as monsters for it!"

"True, and a few we captured are genuinely guilty and sorry for killing, but a few think changelings are nothing more than pony sized bugs who can speak," Lone said. "I swear, it's ponies like that I hate. The ones who think ponies are the best race on the planet, I mean."

"You sure, Lone?" Cadence asked. "After all, Twili-I mean, Metamorpha and the other bearers are friends with a zebra."

"Yeah, and what happened before?" Lone asked. "I was on leave and visiting friends there that week, and saw their reactions towards her. Only reason I didn't do anything is because I had gotten sick the day before-just my luck, I know- and couldn't leave the house." Cadence couldn't think of a response to that, and silence descended on the two again until they came to a room that was in one of the castle towers. "Here's your room, Cadence," Lone said. "I'll be here until that empathy sage or whatever they're called comes by, and two others will be posted here until either you don't want them there or you decide to leave the castle. Though, a small squad will follow you if you leave the grounds. Just being safe and all that."

Cadence sighed. "Guess I'll have to live with that for the next week, I guess," she said. "Thanks, by the way, Lone."

"No problem," he said as Cadence opened the door with her magic-which was a mix of changeling green and her old blue-and entered the room, closing the door behind her, leaving Lone to his post outside. Next Chapter: Changed sun Estimated time remaining: 7 Minutes