The Home of the Alicorn Sisters had settled down a bit since the wildfire of news about Max's discovery. Seven had already traded back with him the moment he'd recovered enough to reclaim any semblance of consciousness. For the queen, it was the desperate need to confirm that which she'd apparently been shown via link; that she had her own clutch of eggs back at the Keep.

Celestia opened the door to her old office several days later, two jars of honey floating to her from the serving mare who'd been following along behind the princess. The alicorn was the only being Seven currently trusted to be in the same room as her eggs, so for now Celestia was willing to allow her office to be moved rather than force the queen to relocate. That meant moving some of the furniture herself, but all she'd really needed to do was move it into the hallway or move the things from Seven's room into her office.

"Seven? Do you have a moment?"

The room was dark, as it had been from the moment the drones had managed to block off the window. It took Celestia's eyes a moment to adjust, but she could just make out the queen sitting in front of the small mixture of towels and resin that was currently holding six small eggs.

Sensing the larger mare approach, Seven's shoulders tensed a bit but otherwise she didn't move. Instead she spoke.

"Do you think they'll hatch?"

"I do not know," the alicorn said softly, sitting down and holding the jars before the queen. "These are the first eggs some of the drones have seen, correct? It is possible there is something that needs to be done that we are unaware of, or that the first um, clutch? That the first clutch was improperly prepared before their release. Most creatures need a male for their eggs to become viable. Chickens come to mind. The females, hens, lay eggs almost all the time. Most of them are infertile eggs and will never develop even if the hen incubates it properly."

"Incubate?"

Celestia rubbed a hoof under her chin.

"The hen sits on the egg, keeping it warm as it develops. I doubt you'd need to do so, but I also don't know if there's something special that needs to be done. Maybe keeping the eggs where they will be exposed to emotions or...maybe the honey?"

Seven stared at the jars in contemplation before slowly uncorking one and pouring a small amount into the nest. Sure enough the eggs began to glow slightly in reaction. Celestia watched carefully, noting the level the honey seemed to decrease before stopping. Seven apparently didn't see this change in level, only the fact that the eggs reacted. The queen poured the rest of the honey into the nest before the alicorn could react and had the cork off of the second not a moment later.

"Calm yourself, Seven!" Celestia said, catching the jar with her own magic.

The queen hissed, baring her fangs but the larger mare stood firm.

"You could drown them."

Seven' mouth immediately snapped shut. She looked back to the eggs in a panic.

"Is this too much? I can siphon some away, it shouldn't be too hard to-"

"Calm down, it's going to be all right," Celestia giggled, using a wing to pull Seven closer. "You are doing all you are able. Max has given you this little gift but these are not the only ones. You may have others on the way, Seven. You need to let the drones in so that they can prepare more space. You may need more nests for other clutches."

A panic washed over Seven at the prospect.

"I, I don't have enough honey to supply even these! I can't-"

"You can help us here, Seven." The alicorn soothed. "You did an excellent job at Copper Road Keep and have more than earned our help. Have you given my suggestion any thought?"

"A name...I have thought of it a little. I have been Sub-queen Seven for so long I just...I don't know if I'd respond to anything else."

Looking about the room while worrying her bottom lip, Celestia walked over to a mirror and took the linen covering the drones had placed on it off.

"Luna and I never really talk about this but I suppose in this case...I ask you keep this between the upper members of your hive if it is possible.

"Luna and I weren't always 'Celestia and Luna, Alicorns of the Sun and Moon' you know. We don't speak of it, but it was Starswirl that suggested our current names. Apparently Sunny Skies and Moonbeam weren't regal enough for his taste."

"The two of you changed your names?"

"Starswirl was a wonderful teacher...most of the time. He was intelligent, explained things in detail if we asked, and always encouraged us to dig deeper into our studies in any spare time we had. However, he had a very specific view of how the world worked. If something, or someone, didn't fit his vision, he would make it change. In our case, our names didn't fit what he thought rulers of ponykind should be so he made us change them. We didn't like it, but after a few weeks of Starswirl calling us by these names, we just sort of...accepted it. It made sense, anyway. Sunny skies just does not command the respect and authority Celestia does."

"That seems unhealthy," Seven said, uncertain of herself. "And worryingly similar to Mother's philosophy."

"It wasn't a healthy mindset, it is true. But his will was so strong that it actually resisted Discord's magic. In a way that same unyielding mindset was what allowed his home to remain whole in spite of a visit from Discord. It left the draconequus flummoxed when he couldn't passively influence some of the parts of Starswirl's home. I believe that was what sparked Discord's interest in our old teacher. He was the first pony with a will so strong it overwrote anything but a focused effort on Discord's part."

With a flash of magic an illusion settled over Celestia. It was nowhere near as perfect as a changeling's disguise but it did the part. The wings were hidden from sight, only a brief shimmer of magic showing on her back when she ruffled them. The horn was smaller, by the stars, everything about her was smaller.

She saw Seven approach through the mirror and marveled at the queen's relative size. If not for the fact that the alicorn's were larger than most grown ponies, Seven would have stood a full head over her.

Turning back to the mirror, Celestia ran a hoof through her now motionless mane. It was so much simpler back then. Everything was simpler.

"Luna, or Moonbeam as she was once called, was completely against the renaming. She said it was wrong, that we were turning our backs on ourselves in favor of this new destiny. That we shouldn't have to give up the only piece of ourselves we had left for some old stallion's ideal world."

"Eventually I convinced her to follow along with it. We needed Starswirl to teach us. We were just two little fillies, after all. Nopony would listen to us if we were as uneducated as we had been. For that I will always be thankful. Starswirl worked tirelessly to make certain we could function as not only adults, but as mares above the common folk. As nobles. As princesses."

"But you eventually gave up your names," Seven said.

"It wasn't an immediate thing," the alicorn explained. "We still called each other by our old names in private. We even introduced ourselves in some towns by those names. Starswirl was correct though. Ponies treated us differently. Celestia just sounded more powerful. Luna found herself also being treated differently depending on which name she gave. Eventually it just...we just stopped using them."

Seven stepped closer to the larger mare, well, the illusion of the pink maned unicorn, and stared at the reflection Celestia was finding so mesmerizing. The unicorn seemed fairly unassuming. The mark on her flank remained the same, her bright sun-mark blazing as it always had. When had she received it? It was, was it before or after her ascension to an alicorn?

Celestia looked at the queen's reflection, then back at her own. What would have happened to them all if Discord hadn't been causing this trouble? The queens would all still be in the Hive, obviously, unless changeling queens only lived for so long. Maximus would be back on his own world, doing...didn't he say something about training to be a guard? Luna and herself, they'd both still be with their families...or not.

'Mother was warped as well, if I recall correctly. She talked about having lost her own family, as had so many others. It is not an effect of having lived different lives if not for Discord, but where history would have taken our ancestors.'

"What is it you are pondering, pony?" Seven asked, drawing Celestia from her thoughts.

"How different things would have been without Discord. At first I assumed I would have merely grown up in a different way, but I believe he is the reason my mother was able to meet my father. It seems things are never as simple as one would hope."

"You though, would still be working under Mother in the Hive. You likely would not have ever laid a single egg, nor would you have ever been able to go where you wished. I wanted to hate him even after seeing him change so radically, but..."

"But you would not exist if not for his existence. Not just in the sense of who you are today, but in general. Sunny Skies would never have been born."

Seven looked from the illusion Celestia was projecting to the mirror, turning slightly to get a better look at her own form.

"And I would not be...here. I would not have been hurt by the breeder, nor would he have fixed me. Fixed my ability to lay eggs."

Celestia found herself giggling, letting the illusion fall from her form and spreading her wings in a stretch.

"Your turn. What's on your mind?"

"I have just been given not only a way to allow my sisters and I to continue our species, but information on several other things Mother did to us. I, I want to fix this, to help my sisters, but not all of these fixes are absolutely necessary. Do I offer the fixes as a full set or let them know about each change?"

"That's understandable," Celestia said, nodding. "You wish to give them the freedom to choose. I believe there is something you are forgetting though. Mother made these changes to you and your sisters in order to better serve her cause. Every one of them is a way to make controlling you easier. From more predictable reactions to forcing you to live alone out of paranoia, they all weaken you in some way. Give them the option, but remind them why these changes were made. They weren't done out of love. These changes were not made to help you survive."

Seven seemed to brighten at the explanation.

"That is acceptable. I do hope they accept all of the repairs, but-"

"Do not forget that Maximus only found these problems by occupying your body and searching it extensively. There could be other problems, from lifespan limits to the inability to birth another queen. This issue is not solved, Seven. You have merely made the first of many great steps in becoming something greater than a queen's attack dog. Enjoy the victory, but be prepared to continue to fight for the continuation of your species."

Standing up and stretching her legs, Celestia gave the eggs one last look before heading for the door.

"I would like for you to join me for lunch, Seven. Without Luna it's been very quiet."

The queen stared at her eggs for a solid minute, shifting from left forehoof to right forehoof before taking a deep breath.

"Alright. I will... I will leave them with the drones. I will join you."

Celestia beamed, opening the door and allowing a single drone into the room.

"Seven is going to be dining with me. I want you to make certain there's room for another clutch and to make sure there's always at least a little bit of honey at the base of the eggs for now. Understand?"

"Of course, your highness," the drone responded, bowing low and trotting into the room.

Seven watched it nervously for a little as it began preparing a second clutch-nest but eventually allowed herself to be led outside. Celestia considered the entire experience a win for both herself and for the mare's slowly increasing ability to trust others. Perhaps once she made her own way in the world, Seven would still consider them allies?

Max was once more following Luna down the halls, in his body again after almost a week as a female queen. The two of them were currently at Silverblood Jeep, making their connections to the rest of the civilized world and staying as very special guests to the Duke. Silverblood had been extremely grateful for their part in both saving his life from the ambush as well as the removal of the bandit threat. A lot of Copper Road keep had been damaged in the fighting, mostly from Luna's absolutely ruthless hunt for the black unicorn stallion she'd witnessed raping a servingmare. Several holes were in the main keep now and it would take time to repair. In the meantime, both the serving staff as well as Lady Copper herself were being treated well at the Duke's home.

Actually, saying that Lady Copper was being treated well would be an understatement. A smile tugged as the edges of his face as he remembered the emotions Silver had been radiating once Copper was safe. It wasn't just relief for her safety. There had been something else there as well, and it had only become more obvious when they arrived at the Duke's home. Copper was given the best beds, the best linens, the best food, everything Silver could do for the mare, he did. Max had encouraged it in his own way, giving the Duke the truth of Lady Coppers reactions to certain things. She was too respectful to tell him she didn't like a certain dish, so Max let him know. She was too controlled to let it be known how much she'd loved a certain soap the Duke kept in stock, so Max had whispered the truth of the situation to him. Eventually Luna had caught on as well and had of course been nothing but encouraging to both sides.

The moment they were in the room the flock was staying in, the door closed behind him and the bolt slid into place with a solid thunk. Max hopped forward a pace and buried his muzzle in Luna's flanks, driving his tongue deep into her sex before she could so much as look at him.

His ears swiveled towards her as she moaned in pleasure, not having any issue with his now-common way to end the day. After first getting his body back, the stallion had dragged Crystal off by the tail, the sub-queen giggling the whole way, and rutted her in the woods until neither were capable of walking. Luna had come across the pair nearly five minutes later, Max swearing repeatedly even as the two of them were nearly passed out from exhaustion. Of course, Luna's presence had helped revive the changelings and Max had immediately dragged Luna into the impromptu mating frenzy. He'd seen Crystal watching as he began on the alicorn, staring at them with a glazed look in her eyes and a grin on her face.

He mentally grinned now as well, as Luna pressed back against him with her wings splaying in arousal. He'd already been shaky after getting stuck laying eggs in Seven's body. Then he came back to find his own body ready to explode after not mating for well over a week. The swift shift between estrogen-flooded body to testosterone flooded body had been stressful in ways he'd never experienced.

He used his magic to float Luna to the bed, never removing his writhing tongue from her sex. The moment she was in position, her barrel lying on the bed while her rear legs were spread to give him easy access, he pulled out from her marehood and jumped on her back. A quick spell to guide the head of his cock into her and he began rutting her at break-neck pace, grunting and growling like a possessed animal. It felt right, this kind of sex. It was the way he was supposed to feel, and there was not a damn egg to be seen.

The two of them climaxed once, twice, three times and still he continued. With Luna supplying a direct stream of love, Max was a machine, filling the mare beyond capacity until finally, after nearly ten minutes he finished one last time and slipped out of her. Sitting back on the now cum-soaked bed and gasping for breath, he stared at the abused, gaping sex of the blue alicorn as glowing pink-colored semen flowed freely from its depths.

His eyes began to drift closed from exhaustion but he perked slightly, a faint sound from Luna catching his attention. She was looking at him with foggy eyes from the bed, weakly trying to raise a hoof, inviting him into a hug.
He was exhausted as well but he complied, moving forward on wobbly legs and wrapping her in a hug while guiding her own forelegs around his barrel. He even settled her head on his neck, earning a contented sigh as Luna relaxed against him.

They sat there for a long while, basking in both the afterglow and the companionship before Luna mustered both the energy and mental coherence to speak.

"Did it scare you?"

"Hm?"

"Did laying the eggs scare you?" Luna asked again, pulling him tightly against her. "You can tell me."

His first instinct was to deny it. To prove his alpha-male manliness, to be the MALE(yes, capital letters) he felt like at the moment. He managed to strangle it, though, tightening his own grip on the mare. He'd asked Luna to be truthful with her own fears, so why would he do otherwise?

"I...don't know. It felt wrong. I was, technically I was giving birth. I knew after Seven switched places with me it was possible but I was only really thinking about what it would be liked to be fucked with my own dick. That and if it was gay."

"It just leaves me with more questions though. Sex, the physical gender of a body, not the act, was always solid back home. Either you were one or you were the other. Some people tried saying there was more to it but at the end of the day, sex was a checkbox. Either you had a dick, or you had a vagina. X or Y."

Shifting a bit and pulling Luna up off of the bed so he could move her wing, he set her on her back and rested on her stomach.

"It's not cut and dry with changelings. When we shapeshift we can choose. When we swap with each other, we can be whichever gender we swap into. It's...fluid. If a queen swaps with a viceroy and they stay that way for a long while they may fully change. That's different, so radically different, so alien I find it terrifying. But that's what I am now.

"I think that's why Crystal hasn't said anything. She knows I needed to separate myself from my time as a queen. She let me rut her in the bushes after I swapped back, never tried pushing back like she usually does. Not even in an attempt to tease me. She let me have the control, she let me rule the hive-link, she even let me move her own body in order to better accommodate myself.

"She knew I was scared, and I think that scared her in turn. I've always been so certain of myself and it-"

"We can't always be certain of ourselves. Everyone feels doubt's from time to time, Maximus. Especially when they encounter something that goes against everything they once thought they knew. It hit Tia and I hard when we found out the truth of the nobles in our home. But you were there, you kept us focused on fixing the problems. Now let me be your focus."

Leaning up, she kissed him softly before letting her head fall back to the pillow.

"Let me begin to return the favor for all you have done for me."

Max stared at the mare for a moment before a soft smile pulled at the corners of his face.

"Alright. You can be my rock during this storm," he whispered, nuzzling her cheek. "Moonbeam."

Crystal giggled as she pulled her ear from the door. She could have listened over the hive-link, but Maximus would have sensed her presence. Instead she let him rest and recover, let him separate himself from his time in Seven's body. It seemed that it was finally paying off. As much as she appreciated the absolute ferocity with which the male had rutted the two of them these last few days, it wasn't him. It wasn't her flock's stallion as she'd come to know him.

Hopefully this would help him recover. Then, when they returned home, the three of them would build up their reserves a bit, save up some honey, and Crystal would finally activate her bodies reproductive capability.

The queen shivered, her wings humming with nervous energy as she walked to the room beside the one Luna had been given. She could have gone inside and stayed with them, but Max needed this. He needed to feel like a male again.

She opened her door and was about to close it when a pony she'd sensed nearby cleared its throat. Without her link to Max she would have assumed it was sick but she understood the sound for what it was now. An attempt to gain her attention.

"Yes?"

"I'm terribly sorry Lady Crystal, but Lady Copper Road would like to speak with you."

Crystal took a moment to stare at the servingmare. It was likely one of Copper's own, but what had caught Crystal flat-footed was the title. Due to her place in Luna's flock, she was a Noble by marriage.

'As would Maximus, actually.'

A slowly growing sense of nervousness drew her from her thoughts.

"Lead the way. I'd be happy to speak to her."

The serving pony lead the changeling sub-queen to another hallway and eighth up to a door with two guards with an orange motif. Copper's own knights and guards that survived had remained with her at all times, zealously protecting their lady in her recovery. The guards watched carefully as she approached but otherwise stepped aside when the changeling neared the door.

Inside Lady Copper was sitting at a table, a small carafe of tea present along with two cups. Seeing the orange earth pony mare gesture to the empty chair, Crystal took a seat and waited.

"Do you prefer anything with your tea?"

"I have never truly drank tea before these last few weeks, Lady Copper. My old position did not allow for any comforts."

"Not even a simple brew?" The mare asked, not truly surprised but digging.

Crystal smiled widely, letting her fangs show.

"I do not believe I was supposed to survive my fourth battle. I was given inadequate troops, no supplies, no infiltrators or information, and was expected to take a fortified position that was prepared for something headed towards them. I managed to pull it off, with a casualty report that was so low Mother thought I was attempting to lie, either about the losses or that I had taken the village. She ripped the memories from my mind...I still have trouble recalling specifics of the battle. A shame, too. It was my greatest triumph. It was when I passed every expectation Mother had of me."

"You were not upset that she hurt you?"

"I do not know who you believe Mother was, Lady Copper, but she delighted in causing pain," Crystal replied emotionlessly.

"To slaves, to drones, to her daughters. It mattered not. I was thankful she released me without leaving me incapable of speech. There were other queens not so lucky."

The pony shifted uncomfortably, obviously not expecting such a brutal story.

"But you found a family. A flock."

Nothing could stop the smile from appearing on the shapeshifter's face.

"It would be better to say that they found me. Luna saved me, she fed me when I was a mad, starving creature barely capable of thought. If they hadn't already found each other, I don't know where I would be."

"So you trust them absolutely."

"I do," Crystal said, still smiling. "They've done nothing worth my suspicion."

"So you would know why they have been encouraging certain behaviors?"

Crystal had to stop to try and place the accusation, as it had been without context. The only encouraging they'd done was-

"If you speak of the Duke, I believe it is because he is...smitten? I believe that's the word. He is smitten with you. And in spite of your words you find him pleasant to be with, perhaps even enjoying your time with him."

"I do not enjoy my time with him in any special way. He is an excellent host, but it not proper to-"

"You have recently lost a lot, Lady Copper," Crystal interrupted, causing the pony to frown. "It was a bad experience and he was deeply involved in your rescue. It is not unnatural to feel something for him."

"How can you be certain he is actually interested in me, and not my position?"

The changeling queen stopped a moment more, processing the question and using her best source of information on pony culture.

"You worry he's after your property and the power that would come with it."

The shape shifter burst into laughter, almost spilling her tea as she fell off of the cushion. The mare thought he might be a gold-digger. A stallion who had just as much, if not more at this moment, power and wealth as she did.

"I, haha, I'm sorry, it's just, hahaha, you think he, he's after your wealth and position."

Comparing herself but still giggling, Crystal sat back down. She still didn't dare try to drink, she'd spill it in a fit of giggles.

"What have you learned of my species?"

"Mostly that you are shape-changers," the mare said nervously. "And that you can apparently pull information from a pony's mind."

"That was a spell I'd never seen before, actually. Seven is an infiltrator sub-queen, or she was. Such spells were her focus. I do not believe I could pull off the same, nor would most drones be capable of such a spell.

"The most important thing to remember when working with changelings is that we are emotivores. We draw energy from the emotions of those around us. More powerful, positive emotions give more energy. As Maximus has discovered, when those emotions are directed at a specific changeling, the energy is multiplied even more. It has allowed the drones and myself to experience the first food surplus I know of, possibly the first one in our history. Luna was responsible for allowing us to stay, and Maximus changed our way of life from parasitic to symbiotic.

"That's why I trust them so implicitly. It is also why I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the Duke's feelings are genuine, as are your own."

Copper Road's eyes widened, causing Crystal to break into a fresh set of giggles.

"We can taste emotions. Even if you don't show it, ponies just glow with emotions. That means I am more than qualified to tell you that the male sees you as a good mate, not a good source of income. It is similar to the flavor of emotion Luna radiates for us, though not as intense. Then again, that could be for a number of reasons. The fact that Luna sees us not as a potential flock but as a fully realized one, the fact that the emotions are not directed at myself but another, or even the fact that you yourself have not truly realized the emotions."

"But why does that male, Maximus, encourage him?"

"Because Duke Silver fears that his advances will be ignored or worse, that you will feel insulted by them. You aggressively denounce all others who attempt to court you, or so the word about the Keep goes. It's completely justifiable."

"Fear is not an emotion I care for. Some queens acquired a taste for it, but it is...bitter. It leaves my chitin feeling tingly. In addition, I find love pleasant even if it is not directed at me. Why would any changelings not attempt to foster such high-energy emotions among those around them?"

Having finally purged herself of her giggles, Crystal took a sip of the tea. It wasn't a bad flavor and she could pick out certain herbs or spices in the mixture.

"It is why Max has been telling him what you respond well to or what you don't like. I think it's an excellent idea. What better way to ensure our own wellbeing than encouraging positive emotions in those around us?"

The mare sighed, idly stirring her own tea while staring at the table.

"Are you certain he is actually interested? That it is not just..."

"He owns this Keep," Crystal chuckled. "You do not need to fear. Well, not as much as with some of these ponies. Fiddle is a nice stallion but what he feels for you is nowhere near as intense as what Silver feels. I do not believe the unicorn is after your wealth, but..."

"It would be wonderful to be able to read others like that," Copper mused. "It would have saved me a good deal of trouble in the past."

Taking another sip of tea, which at her size drained the cup, Crystal cocked her head.

"Go ahead. Curiosity is like an orange, by the way."

"I do not wish to impose. I have already taken up so much of your time."

Crystal rolled her eyes.

"I find a certain enjoyment in teaching others. I do not quite understand it as I have been learning much about my own body these last few weeks, but I can suffer a few questions. Ask."

Pouring Crystal another glass of tea, the mare let loose an almost sinister giggle.

"Very well. Where to begin. Oh! That creature from the jail, the one who tore through the wall?"

"A diamond dog. They were lost underground for many years. Luna and Celestia made contact and directed them to an unoccupied bit of land."

The orange mare nodded.

"So they will not be affiliated with you? I'm sorry, they shall not be affiliated with Princess Luna and Princess Celestia?"

"No, they have their own hierarchy."

"And you said something about energy from the feelings of ponies around you?"

Crystal swallowed the rest of the warm glass of tea before coughing out a small bit of honey.

"It is apparently a tangible form of magic. Unicorns may drink it for a boost of energy if they are low."

The earth pony took the offered cup and stared with curiosity.

"So it is safe to drink?"

"It is not dangerous, though different emotions leave different effects on the pony. This is mostly love and happiness. It would intensify those emotions in you for a little bit. Longer if you drink the entire glass. If the emotion is consumed by the individual that produced it, there is no effect. Luna may drink honey created from her love with no negative effects. Celestia tasted the same honey and was a little...silly for about a minute."

Copper Road stared at the honey for another minute before looking back to the sub-queen.

"Is there any way I may purchase some from you? I would like to keep some, if for no other reason than to have liquid love. I believe that would be something worth bragging about."

"Silver has actually made the same request," Crystal chuckled. "Unfortunately I do not know how to purify it. All honey I make is a blend of the emotions I receive."

"A pity," Copper lamented before setting the cup on the table. "Now, how good is your illusion magic? I saw the male changeling use some spell to alter his appearance."

Crystal looked over the mare before lightning her horn. As the flash of fire cleared, Lady Copper found herself staring at an exact duplicate of herself, clothes included.

"That is...remarkable, actually."

"It is, isn't it?"

Copper's eyes widened as the duplicate perfectly mimicked her tone of voice as well.

"So it is more than just a visual disguise."

"Of course. In fact, I propose a challenge. How well do your knights know you?"

"One knight and one server. Clean would be able to tell."

"Of course. Shall I call for them or will you?"

The guard had panicked at the sight, likely knowing what had happened. When both Copper Roads assured him it was a challenge that was in good fun, he attempted to pick out the correct Pony. He was correct, but after Crystal had expressed disappointment in him it came to light that he had guessed. After the guard wandered off radiating embarrassment, which Crystal found nearly as entertaining as Max did, Clean was sent for.

The stallion didn't seem to mind that he was being called well after dark. Once Crystal and Copper explained the challenge, swapping off the explanation every other sentence, the stallion just stoically stared at the pair. Growing bored with the game, Crystal decided to pour out the tea, refilling both Lady Copper's as well as her own.

"It is an impressive disguise. As impressive as the one used against the bandits that took our home."
Turning to Crystal, the edges of his lips turned up in the slightest smile.

"You even properly made certain to pour your guest their tea before your own. Which of the shape changers are you?"

In a flash of green fire Crystal sat before him, currently sitting in Lady Coppers seat. The two had swapped before Clean had arrived to keep things difficult.

"What gave me away?"

"My lady licks her left inner cheek when bored. She also uses less honey than you."

The two mares shared a quick laugh but Copper Road soon yawned.

"Oh dear, what time is it?"

"Late enough that only the guards should be awake, soon to be early enough that only the bakers are working in the kitchens."

"I'm terribly sorry for keeping you so long, Lady Crystal. If there is any way I can return this favor-"

"No, it's quite alright," Crystal cut her off, giggling as she caught herself slipping into the mare's forms of speech. "I enjoyed myself and the other members of my flock need some time alone. Maximus spent the last week or so trading bodies with Queen Seven so that she could pull off the infiltration and keep the prisoners of the bandits fed and watered. During that time, he worked hard on finding all the damage Mother had worked into the minds of the sub-Queens to make them more pliable but his time as a sub-queen did wear on him. If you consider the strangeness of being a male for a week, I'm certain you would have an idea of his experience.

"Anyway, I'd be happy to field more questions in the future. Good night, Lady Copper, Clean."

Watching the large black creature slip soundlessly into the hallway and disappear into the darkness beyond, Copper stirred her tea.

"You really couldn't see anything?"

"It was an illusion my lady. One of the better ones I've seen,"Clean answered, frowning a moment latter. "Does and his have to do with your dreams?"

"I do not think they were dreams. I think...I think it was another changeling. A changeling that was staring at me in my dreams. They were good dreams but-"

"You believe she is the one responsible?"

"No. I think it might have been her mother. You were not here for the creature's tales, but when she spoke of the one who gave her life she did not speak of a loving mare. She spoke of a tyrant who no longer held power over her life.

"Those creatures were always skeletal. Sometimes they were missing bits. Sometimes there was this green glowing ooze. But not one looked at me with the energy this creature possesses."

"The Blue Alicorn, Princess Luna, is said to be learning dream magic," Clean reminded her. "You could ask her."

Copper nodded, noting belatedly she was stirring her tea even though it was cold.

"Did you ask her about Duke Silver?"

Copper frowned.

"Mind your place, Clean."

"I know my place, My Lady. It is making certain you are well cared for and happy. She said the same thing I have been telling you, didn't she? That Silver's gestures and attempts to woo are legitimate?"

The orange pony huffed and moved to her bed, slipping off her clothes and setting them on a nearby chair before moving into her bed.

"I will see you in the morning, Clean."

"Good night, My Lady. And do let me know if I should send away Duke Silver when he visits your dreams."

"Good Night, Clean!"

Author's Notes:

More princess headcanon. Enjoy!