Twilight smiles gently as she gestures towards the open door. “Shall we?” She says sweetly. Both stallions look towards each other passing more information in the single glance, than was said in the entirety of their conversation, the biggest thought to cross their minds was. ‘Lets hope this ends well.’ With those last words, they pass through the portal into what they knew to be an untenable situation. With a slight push of Twilight’s magic the door closes silently behind them, sealing all three within the room.

“Alright Glimmer, what do you wish to speak with our queen about? She is a very busy royal.” The pony on the right asks. Meanwhile the one on the left walks over to one of the twin beds and lays down on his stomach, closing his eyes. With green flash and whoosh of emerald flames a greyish black chitin shell is left behind as skin and fur burns away, the changelings reveal themselves, their curved horns, and fly like wings standing undamaged, small holes mark their legs, revealing their well fed nature. Their eyes glow an electric blue as they calmly stare in Twilight’s direction.

“I ask that she tell me why the hive is spreading false rumors about my accomplishments, and why I have not been informed of this during our previous meetings.” Twilight demands gently, trying to make him understand that the situation is not as dire as he and his companion originally thought.

‘Mom, I’m here.’ A voice calls within her head. an image comes unbidden to Twilight’s thoughts of a view from outside the tavern Facing towards one of the dimly lit windows, the point of vantage being relative to the height of the building across the street.

With a simple flicker of thought Twilight unleashes her magic in the form of telekinetic force, and applies a bit of it to the nearby window, pulling the latch and pushing the double windows open, allowing the midnight breeze in. Another flicker of thought and she passes an image on of viewing her from outside the window, with light shimmering off of her fur and mane, as well as revealing the bright yellow of the drapes as they flap to the sides in the cool night winds. Both changelings decide not to comment on Twilight's strange action.Then after a few seconds a small blur of scales, claws, and teeth darts through the open window, and twirls around the lavender mare’s head chittering like mad as it darts about too and fro, like a high strung foal after mixing coffee and chocolate cake.

‘Mooom, can’t you speak with them later, I wanna mess with Gilda some more.’ The drake grumbles, settling onto the small of Twilight’s back.

‘Now, now Fang, there’ll be time for that later.’ She responds, snickering at the young drake’s discomfort. Settling down, Fang gives Twilight a dirty look, his snout drawn tight and his eyes slightly lidded as he attempts to stare into hers; as she watches the standing changeling slump. Feeling that he’ll get no rise out of her, he relaxes onto her back and lays his head down to rest. Twilight’s cloak slowly envelops after hi breathing drops to a steady and slow rhythm.

“Ferrus?” Twilight says simply as she watches the inactive changeling. Tapping the floor twice with a hoof, Twilight looks towards the other drone resting on the bed. The creature raises its forearms and shrugs his shoulders admitting his lack of knowledge to when his queen would respond. Releasing a sigh, Twilight returns her attention to the first changeling, a somewhat concerned look beginning to creep onto her features as the drone continues to remain inactive. “(Will this hurt him?)” She asks glancing at the other occupant. Feeling her attention fall back upon him he fervently shakes his head negatively, even as her asuaged curiosity turns from him once more.

As her vision falls upon the first changeling, She notices a distinct change, he is standing straight, his head facing forward, and gaze upon her, however he biggest difference is the reddish brown glaze covering his otherwise soft electric blue eyes. Before she can open her mouth to voice a query, he begins speaking, an effeminate voice taking the place of his own. “Ah, Glimmer. So good to meet you again, have these two given you any trouble?”

Twilight smiles brightly, “No, they’ve been very helpful, though they could use a bit more training on how to be discreet, had there been any knights from Canterlot below, be sure that we wouldn’t be speaking at the moment.”

The changelings lids widen ever so slightly as she looks to the other changeling on the bed then smiles gently, “Is that so?” She says with a hint of a rebuke in her tone. The drone, suddenly shivers and bows fearing the worst. “I guess you were almost finished with your mission anyway, I’ll just have to ask you and Shel Gleam to return a few days early.” Returning to Twilight she hums quietly for almost half a second before asking, “But the tactlessness of my drones is not what you came to speak with me about is it?” Twilight nods, while the other changeling in the room collapses onto his side in relief at the minor punishment he’s receiving.

“No queen Ferrus, but it is similar, I would like to know about these rumors coming out of Saddle Rest involving my fight against the other changeling hive.” Twilight requests politely, eying the queen controlled Shel Gleam thoughtfully.

Queen Ferrus decides not to make Twilight wait longer than she needs to. “Ah, the new pet projects some of my little changelings have cooked up. I’m surprised you’ve heard it so soon, do you like it?” the query flows smoothly from the queen’s lips, as she gives the young unicorn a matronly smile of pride.

Twilight grimaces as she swiftly contemplates the pro’s and con’s of what the queen stated. With a drawn out sigh she returns her attention to the patiently waiting Queen, the soft light of the nearby light enchanted crystals causing her face to glow softly in the dim atmosphere. “I’m sorry, but it needs to stop, I am asking that you convince your changelings to stop telling the story, I know they mean well, however I would like to avoid getting attention from some of the more stable parts of Equestria, I would rather not have to speak with any more of the… Celestial knights, you called them?” Ferrus hums assent and nods. “I would like to avoid encountering them as much as possible. I don’t exactly remember much about my foalhood, but what I do remember makes me wonder if meeting them would be a good thing.”

The queen gives Twilight a stoic,emotionless look, as the gears work, processing information and helping her formulate a response. “It will take some time, other ponies will become suspicious if the story suddenly stops circulating. But if it is your wish, then in this matter, I shall assist.” Ferrus commands the foreign hoof under her control forward, and lightly taps it against the young mare's nose. “However, you will assist my children, they’ve endangered themselves to establish a line of communication with me. Is this fair?”

Twilight having already planned on giving the pair recompense for their assistance answers without any hesitation. “I will, however there are a few limitations at the moment, I cannot return to my room smelling like the previous times I’ve assisted, I have a new companion, and she would be suspicious if I returned scent of fornication, also as a griffon and natural hunter her sense of smell is also heightened, however I shall endeavor to assist in other meaningful ways this night. In fact...” Twilight pauses as she reaches over and pulls one of the saddlebags on her sides open. after a second or so of rifling through the contents therein, Twilight pulls out the glass bottle, the contents swirling around in colorful flashes, revealing themselves as liquefied emotion as a flash of green bursts from the changelings horns as they sense the overwhelming amount of emotional energy contained within the flask. However before Twilight utters another word, her ears perk. A rustle from outside catches her attention.

Deciding not to bring any attention to herself she flares her horn a bit brighter, several near-invisible tendrils of magic flow from her horn towards the window. Two wrap gently around the windows lock and shutter, while the others gather into corkscrew shapes, building up tension, all of this within the space of few, short seconds. Just as she is about to Ferrus in one of her changelings is about to speak when Twilight lifts a hoof tapping it against her ear, at the request the queen stills her question as Twilight finishes letting her hoof back down.

At an undisclosed mark, Twilight sends the first pulse. The tendrils stream into action, the other unoccupied tendrils surge through the window shutter and grasp onto something floating midair wrapping themselves firmly onto the different parts of the creature. Almost an instant later Twilight sends a pulse from her horn, this time causing the ethereal entities at the window to unlatch the shutter and push it open; allowing the remaining tendrils to pull the now struggling object into the room by wing, neck, hoof, and tail. With a third pulse Twilight commands the original two tendrils to silently close the shutter and relock it before dissipating into magic noise, while the remaining four finish pulling the struggling pony into the light. Both Twilight and the Changelings stare at the pony with both surprise and in Queen Ferrus’ case more than a little suspicion as represented by the scowl morphed onto the puppeted harvester’s face.

“Nnnghu, Let me go or so help… me.” The revealed pegasus gets a better look at the group in the room, a furious changeling with glowing eyes, another changeling on the bed with wide blue eyes tinged yellow with alarm, and a curious lavender unicorn with her horn still glowing as the tendrils of etheric energy hold her gently but firmly against the floor in an uncomfortable sitting position.

Before Twilight can speak her thoughts on the matter, Queen Ferrus speaks out harshly in outrage, “A spy, Here? Who sent you worm.” She scrutinizes the pegasus, observing the young mare’s reactions.

Twilight holds a hoof before the queen halting her advance. “Be calm. Now, Rainbow Dash, what made you think watching into the privacies of somepony else’s room was an intelligent idea?”

“Yea? What are you doing with the same demons that the story said you killed? Huh?” Rainbow retorts belligerently. While poking her unbound wing in the general direction of the changelings.

The Queen, glances towards Twilight, The young magician sighs. “I was actually discussing that with Qu-” The changeling Queen bumps Twilight's leg interrupting her. Twilight glances back and Ferrus’s puppet shakes it’s head negatively. Turning back to Rainbow Dash who was now glaring at the pair even more suspicious, and continues. “My changeling allies, who for more or less were spreading the rumor after I had chased off one of their rival hives from Saddle Rest, not that I make the trip there anymore.” Twilight rolls her eyes in an exaggerated loop before a sudden rustling from her back catches Twilight’s interest, as Fang pokes his head through the top of her cloak. He gets one good look at Rainbow Dash caught in Twilight’s magic before a purring chuckle issues forth from deep within his chest.

‘Oh, look mom, it seems you’ve caught a keeper, can I pet her? I promise to be gentle.’ Twilight sighs once more before telekinetically slapping drake in the back of the head, burying him into the silky cloak. ‘Hay what was that for?’ He protests, glaring into Twilight’s right eye.

‘First she was spying on us, and second she is Gilda’s friend. If I left her to your tender mercies I doubt I would hear the end of it from our griffon companion, and third I’m going to extract an oath of silence from her before the end of this meeting,’ Twilight answers firmly.

Fang just shakes his scaled head in annoyance before tucking himself under the cloak once more. ‘Fine, I’m going back to sleep, wake me up when something fun is about to happen.’

‘I’ll be sure to.’ Twilight answers as Fang returns to his slumber, the conversation having taken place within a couple seconds as the changelings silently stare down the pinned pegasus. Twilight returns her attention to the sky blue pegasus in her magical grasp. “To continue, the story will dwindle into silence before too long. Besides I would rather remain off the tabloids or any form of social media, I’m a potion maker, not a fool,” Having answered, she waits for the pegasus to speak.

Rainbow Dash glares at Twilight with steely determination, “What the heck is a changeling, and what do you mean you’ve told them to stop? You can’t just control a story!”

Queen Ferrus speaks out before Twilight can answer, “No, she cannot, however it is very easy to silence one when you control the ones responsible for spreading it in the first place. My subjects will listen to me and they will stop proliferating it as young Glimmer here here has requested. After a time it will be little more than a memory to those who’ve heard it.” The queen nods to Twilight giving her the opening to speak.

Twilight nods in return before gesturing to the room’s non pony occupants with a sweep of her hoof. “As for the first question, these are changelings. They are masters of disguise and they feed on emotions.”

As an example both changelings burst into green flame for a second before extinguishing themselves and revealing perfectly visual copies of Twilight. “Preferably love,” Says the Twilight on the bed.

The one next to Twilight smiles predatorily as Rainbow’s jaw drops in disbelief, the stories mentions of the demons changing their forms actually being played out before her eyes. “See something you like?” The second Twilight asks.

The first Twilight with her horn still glowing a soft magenta, slaps her hoof to her face. While Rainbow Dash simply gives the second Twilight a weird look, mind reeling. “What?”

“A simple Question, do you see anything you like?” ‘Some lust, however she seems to lack the overwhelming lust of an inactive pony.... A pity.’ Are the Thoughts that flew through Queen Ferrus’ psyche.

Rainbow looks between the three Twilights and simply answers, “What?”

Twilight One calls out to the other two imposters before they can further derail the situation. “Stop, we’re getting nowhere, and I would at least like to get back to explaining my new alchemical medium before the sun begins rising on the horizon. So would you please drop your glamours and let us get on with this?” Both of the other Twilight's give the original Twilight a sad look, their bottom lips trembling and their wide eyes staring straight into her narrowed ones.

After a few seconds the second Twilight finally breaks the stalemate with a dramatic roll of her eyes and drops her disguise with an emerald crackling flash. Revealing the changeling underneath once again. “Hmph, I swear, ponies are getting more uptight by the year.”

Rainbow scowls catching the insult first. “Hey, I do have sex, not that I’d tell a sick pervert like you who with.” Rainbow growls out, simmering angrily.

Queen Ferrus sniffs in Rainbow’s direction as Twilight takes the stage to speak. “Other than my companion’s nymphomania, I doubt she was too serious about trying to bed you-” The changeling on the bed glances longingly at Twilight with it’s ears lowered in disappointment. “But that still doesn’t answer the main question in the room…” Twilight pauses, preparing her next statement as the queen continues parsing the young pegasus’s scent. “What to do with you.” Twilight finishes, pointing a hoof at the magically detained Rainbow Dash.

Queen ferrus places a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder halting her before she could continue, and speaks up in her native tongue. “Bevor du versuchst es zu beantworten, ich habe ein paar interessante Sachen über unseren ‘Gast’ bemerkt. Sie riecht nach Chitin und Baumpollen unter ihrem natürlich Duft von Gebirgstau.”(Before you try and answer that, I’ve managed to detect some interesting things about our ‘guest’ She smells of chitin and tree pollen just underneath of her natural scent of morning dew.)

Twilight’s eyes widen as she begins to understand the implications “Bist du sicher über die Gerüche?”(You’re sure about those scents?) The changeling nods in response. “Dann ist die Sache gerade viel einfacher geworden. Wärst du so freundlich sie festzuhalten, meine Magie ist nicht unbegrenzt und mein Reservoir ist schon erschöpft nur durch ihr festhalten.” Then things just became much easier. Would you mind detaining her, My magic IS finite and I’m already through have my reservoir just holding her in place.

The queen gives Twilight a surprised look before realizing she’d been stalling, she steps forward and begins releasing a green substance from her horn which she swiftly attaches over rainbow’s hooves and connects to the floor. “Nun kannst du sie loslassen, es würde die Kraft von zwei Erdponys brauchen um aus dem härtedem Saft auszubrechen” (There, you can release her now, it would take the strength of two earth ponies to break the Cementing sap,) She tells Twilight calmly as Rainbow repeatedly calls out ‘EW!’

Twilight releases the spells keeping Rainbow’s body in place with a sigh, allowing Rainbow’s wings to fold back into place and Rainbow to finally get into a somewhat more comfortable position. While still moaning in disgust with phrasing like ‘Ughh, magiculation.’ And ‘I think I’m gonna be sick.’ Her face turning green as she starts to convulse with false retching.

Ignoring Rainbow Dash and her melodrama for a couple moments, Twilight turns to converse with Queen Ferrus once more. “Königin Ferrus, ich glaube, dass ich einen Zauber wirken kann, der sie zum Stillschweigen zwingt ohne zu offensichtlich zu sein, ähnlich zu dem der auf mich gewirkt wurde als ich jünger war.” (Queen Ferrus, I believe that I can make a geas that works, and will silence her without it being either obvious or revealing, similar to one placed on me when I was younger.) Rubbing a hoof along the lower part of her jaw Twilight mulls over the explanation of how she would accomplish the task. “Du hast festgestellt, dass sie nach Wechselbalg riecht. Deins? Oder von einem anderen Schwarm?” (You stated that she smelled of changeling. Yours? Or from another hive?)

“Ein anderer Schwarm, um genau zu sein eine im Exil lebende Prinzessin. Sie hat fast alle Pheromone einer richtigen Königen. Ich denke sie kommt von einem kürzlich aufgelösten Schwarm oder wurde verbannt, weil ihrer ältere Schwester den Thron übernahm.” (Another hive, to be more exact, an exiled princess. She has most of the pheromones of a true queen. I imagine she is from one of the more recently dissolved hives, or the banished younger sister of one of the new hive queens.)

“Hmm, dann vermute ich, dass ich mich vorsichtig ausdrücken muss, sodass nur ihre Weggefährten davon hören werden hmm... Zeder und Eiche? Sie wird wahrscheinlich mit diesen Holzwölfe reisen, die ich vor einigen Saisons getroffen habe. Ich werde es ebenfalls zu ihnen ausrichten.” (Hmm, then I guess I’ll need to word it carefully so that only her companion can hear of it hmm… Cedar and Oak? She’s probably traveling with those timberwolves I met several seasons ago too, I’ll gear it towards them as well.) Twilight continues to mull over the wording of the geas, the hoof under her chin rubbing just the slightest bit more vigorously than before.

Queen Ferrus quirks an eyebrow in Twilight’s direction. “Warum sollten ihre Weggefährten von dieser Begegnung erfahren? Wäre es nicht einfacher sie komplett zum Schweigen über diesem Thema dieses Treffen zu zwingen?” (Why would her companions need to hear of her encounter? Wouldn’t it be easier to silence her completely on the topic of this meeting?)

Twilight slump a bit, her shoulders sagging as she releases a small sigh. She returns her gaze directly into the changeling queens unwaveringly, and says... “Nein, dass wäre sogar eher gefährlich, sie braucht eine Möglichkeit die Informationen zu teilen, sonst würde sie wie ich immer mehr Stress aufbauen, bis die Zeichen nicht mehr zu übersehen sind Dann müsste einfach nur ein Einhorn gefunden werden, das den Schweige-Zauber entfernen kann.” (No, in fact that would be dangerous, she needs a release for the information, otherwise she like me would end up building up until the signs of her stress would become too obvious to ignore. Then it would be a simple matter of finding a unicorn who knows how to remove the silencing oath.) Neither party notices that Rainbow Dash stops ranting.

Realizing she’ll understand nothing from the gibberish that the unicorn and changeling in front of her are speaking, she filters out their conversation as she looks down at the goop surrounding her legs and part of her tail. ‘Now’s my chance.’ She begins testing the strength of the gelatin like cement binding her to the floor, attempting to lift one hoof after another, rainbow begins to sweat ‘Buck, what is this stuff?’ She thinks as she feels her hooves sink back into position after slightly stretching the material, she nudges it with her muzzle, the substance jiggles slightly.

Before Rainbow could get any further with her efforts, she felt three pairs of eyes falling on her. ‘Wait did the room suddenly get quiet?’ Deciding to check, Rainbow quickly looks up, then immediately looks away whistling a simple toon, while casually rolling her eyes. “Well… yea, this is awkward… Mind letting me loose?” She says a massive grin splitting her face, however the smile doesn’t seem to fit the rest of her as Twilight and the changelings scowl in her direction, not a word being said in reply. Releasing a sigh and setting her features into a pout, she replies. “Yea, I didn’t think so either.”

Not taking her eyes off the wild pegasus Ferrus queries Twilight with a low voice. “Bist du fertig mit der Vorbereitung deines Zaubers?” (Are you ready with that spell yet?) As Rainbow Dash resumes testing the limits of the Changeling cement.

“Ja!”
(yes)

“Soo… yea, not my best moment. But what ya gonna do? Gilda’s my friend, and she’ll know if you offed me or something.” ‘Actually I don’t think she can do anything because of that damn honor binding… Ffffbuck.’ Rainbow continues smiling awkwardly while laughing somewhat hysterically, a tear coming out one side of her face.

“Yes, well she won’t have to worry since you won’t be harmed, however I would be lying if I said that you would be as able as you were before this. Sometimes silence doesn’t need to be secured by violence.” Twilight says her horn lighting with a magenta brightness. “My action now is simple, I will silence you on any hint of this meeting occurring, your mind will simply forget this meeting ever happened in the presence of other creatures be they living or dead, unless they have secrets similar to the ones wielded by my friends here or have partaken in this meeting that could put their lives in danger .”

The light from Twilight’s horn dies down as she finishes casting the spell, intricate lines of mana permeating the air only visible to those who practice the mystical arts disintegrate into the ether as the mana ceases flowing through their nodes. Queen Ferrus speaks first. “Well, what are you waiting for, cast the spell so we can be done and send her away.”

Twilight’s lips pull back, leaving a small grin on her face. Pointing at the changeling almost forgotten on the bed, she commands. “Take the form you had before we arrived.” The changeling bursts into fire revealing a Deep russet earth stallion with a indigo mane slicked back with earthy brown tips. His body encompassed in a neutral tan colored business suit, covering him from his chest all the way down his front and back legs. Unnoticed by either of the other changelings, Rainbow’s eyes glaze slightly as her mind adjusts to the situation. “Ask her something about changelings.”

Both changelings raise their eyebrows in reply, however the now disguised stallion speaks. “Do changelings have long hair?”

Not even missing a beat the brash pegasus replies, “What the heck is a changeling?”

Turning to the disguised drone, she smiles as she sees the surprised looks on both changelings faces, with Queen Ferrus returns to her senses within seconds. Not giving the queen time to speak Twilight gives her command. “Remove your disguise, now!”

Rainbow squints at the stallion on the bed, “Wait just a moment, who the buck are you?” She demands just as his body goes up in flame leaving behind the changeling that was sitting there before. Her eyes sharpen a little as her mind stops repressing itself. Blinking rapidly, the pegasus focuses in on Twilight. “What the buck, dude that is so not cool!”

“And spying into someone’s room is?” Twilight retorts.

Rainbow’s cheeks glow red with embarrassment however she soldiers on and retorts. “Hey I was making sure that you weren’t going to hurt my friends, and the back door dealing I saw made me suspicious that you were up to something bad involving Gilda.”

“Well as I told you earlier I was checking to see why there was a tale about my run in with one of the less reasonable changeling hives, and whether or not I could put it to rest. However you arrived just as we were finishing our meeting.” Twilight ends releasing a breathy sigh as her shoulders sag, “I honestly hope this doesn’t end the chance of our teams joining into a caravan. I really do.”

Rainbow Dash grimaces, and attempts to lift a leg in Twilight’s direction only to have it yanked back to the floor and pull her face with it, slapping herself against the gelatin-like, changeling resin with a soft splat. Pulling her leg up an inch or so to rub her nose Rainbow returns to her original point before having been stickily interrupted. “As I was going to say, there is no way I’m taking my eye off you, and if that means joining our caravans, then so be it. I don’t want you or your creepy shape changing allies hurting anypony, not on my watch.”

Twilight, and both changelings give the pegasus raised eyebrows. Queen Ferrus giggling slightly as she thought of a griffon many years back who showed the same dutiful outlook, even as he was bound and forced into silence via hypnosis. ‘Never did find out what happened to him.’ Rainbow Dash narrows her eyes at the possessed changeling angrily imagining a cloud pillar smashing on it’s head.

“So Glimmering Wisp, before I leave,... My condolences, I knew that Cherry Spice was a dear friend of yours, and Wild Wind as well. I know it’s late, I was waiting for a chance to speak with you directly.” Turning to face the pegasus Ferrus releases a sigh, her shoulders slumping a little. “As for our earlier matter, I will see to it that my changelings downplay the story and plant something else to entertain the rumor mill.” Twilight lets a soft smile crawl across her face.

“Thank you. Cherry shouldn’t have suffered that kind of death, he should have gotten better.” as memories play, reminding of the time she spent with the verbose merchant, she mulls over how Ferrus would be able to downplay her confrontation in ‘Saddle Rest.’ As if a switch had flicked Twilight’s eyes brighten as she remembers one of the more interesting events that had happened during her solo adventures. “I have one”

“One what?” Ferrus swiftly asked in return.

“A story to replace the old one.” Twilight says her smile now beaming with mischievous radiance, “Several weeks ago I came across a strange group who were dressed in robes with strange symbols burned onto them. Anyway they were casting a summoning ritual, it worked but they were killed in the process when a pair of Princess Celestia’s solar guard arrived and stopped them. I think the creature they summoned was called Tirek, however after taking him down the Guards quickly sent the creature back through the portal he appeared from, and took the remaining ponies away.”

Ferrus raises an eye ridge critically. “And how did you escape the guards if they detained all of the individuals involved?”

Twilight feels her lips curl into a facsimile of a grin. “One I never moved from my spot, Two they were focused on the ponies in the field that the ritual was being cast, and three unlike your average tracker, I have a spotter who can tell me if I’m well hidden or not.” Her grin turns feral as three pairs of eyes fall upon the cloak over her back, hiding the scaled horror just underneath.

“Ughmm” Ferrus makes a small grunt before answering. “I… See. So is anything else you’d like to add, or are you expecting me and my changelings to improvise on the… Ah ‘finer’ details?”

Twilight puts a hoof to her chin her eyes clouding slightly as memories begin playing out before her eyes once more. “Well… there is the spell they used to defeat Tirek.” Twilight summons forth mana from her inner core. Lighting her horn with brilliant russet rays, minute arrays of symbols appear around her horn as lines guide the magic, lighting up mana circuits so Twilight can channel her chosen spell. A moment passes and Twilight’s horn lights the room before an image appears in the midst of Twilight, Ferrus, and Rainbow Dash. The room grows brighter as the projection becomes more defined, revealing a massive golden pillar encompassing a six limbed figure with four legs and a pair of minotaur like arms. However the rest of its features are blurred under the massive column of brilliant golden fire. The still projection becomes even clearer revealing a slew of figures, a near countless number of robed ponies with crosses, sickles, and stars sewn upon their garb laying upon the ground. Two ponies are standing in the midst of the cultists, a pair of guards in non-standard armor; a sun emblazoned on their helms and pauldron. The pair still in a state of action, both holding their hooves out upwards towards the pillar looking skyward, as if calling for something.

Ferrus feels a chill run down the spines of both herself and her proxy as she recognizes just what is going on in the scene, “Celestia’s hammer...” she whispers in disbelief. Rainbow’s eyes widen as she fully takes in the actual size of the destructive spell shown in the projection. While Rainbow both drools and nakedly stares in awe at the pillar of solar flame, Ferrous maintains her facade and turns to face Twilight. “Impressive, so this is the event?... Yes, yes, I think this will do nicely. We could definitely spin a tale from this. However, don’t expect the change to be immediate, these things do take time you know. I do look forward to our next meeting young Wisp. Do take care.” Rainbow Dash remains too distracted by the sheer awesomeness of the scene depicted before her to notice as Twilight waves a hoof as a simple statement of both parting and thanks, a smile on her face as the slight muddy red glow leaves the changeling’s eyes and the queen returns to her own body in the hive. Twilight stops feeding the energy into her horn and the spell slowly dissipates as the power fades. Letting the image explode like a cloud Rainbow kicked too hard.

Rainbow Dash closes her eyes and vigorously shakes her head expelling the fog clouding her thoughts. Returning to her predicament she turns and glares at the unicorn. “Hey, I wasn’t done looking at it yet.” She complains loudly.

Twilight smiles before lighting her horn and focusing on the flask of undiluted emotions she had taken from her saddlebags earlier, lifting it into the air, she brings it to bear for everyone in the room to see. Rainbow’s eyes widen as she recognizes the container, and leans as far away as her restraints allow, whimpering slightly as the feral part of her psyche temporarily overtakes her with terror.

“What the heck Twi? I thought you said that bottle was dangerous.” Rainbow screeches still holding herself as far from the volatile solution as physically possible.

Twilight keeps smiling despite the pegasus’ fearful reaction. “And it is, when held and manipulated by inexperienced hooves. However since I have great amounts of experience dealing with dangerous substances and the like. I’m fairly confident that there will be no danger so long as I’m the one manipulating and administering the contents within this container.” Twilight places the jar between her forelegs as she turns slightly to look at the changeling’s. “However before I speak of the experiment, I must first ask, what are your names?” She queries politely

The changeling sitting on the bed having not dealt with the disorientation of having another working through his neural network for the past hour easily claims first response. “I am Büroklammer, I deal with the paperwork of our meetings, and my companion here is Korrekturflüssigkeit he typically sticks to doing what I’m doing right now, and that is speaking. Don’t know why he gets upset when I talk sometimes, I’m just letting everyone know the current most precise and correct information of the moment, but he’s all Like Büroklammer be quiet, or Büroklammer that’s a secret. I honestly don’t understand. I mean if it’s a secret then why does everyling in the Hive know about it? It’s really strange, Al- phmm mmm mph mmmm mmM phm. Hmph?”

“By the queen's glittering wings, do you ever shut-up?!!” Korrektur screeches as he plugs Büroklammer’s mouth with a hoof.

“Mrrmph...” Büro rolls his eyes as he prepares to mumble his answer

Korrektur’s eyes start glowing red as he yells at his obstinately maddening partner. “Silence! That was a rhetorical question, now you stay quiet and let the grownups speak, before you cause an incident with your incessant rambling” Pulling his hoof from his companions mouth, Korrektur releases a sigh before turning to face the other occupants of the room. “I must apologise for my companion, he has an insatiable appetite for conversation, though he is less than proficient at it.” Büroklammer shrugs his shoulders while sitting on the bed, then raises his hoof above his head and twirls it in a circle, he turns to the side and discovers a fly that had made it through the window, then follows it with a big smile covering his face.

“Uhh...” Rainbow Dash just watches him blankly.

Twilight nods carefully. “Understandable, A love for something doesn’t necessarily mean skill at it.”

Korrektur closes his eyes and releases a strained sigh in response, after a few seconds he looks back up and allows a small smirk to crawl onto his face. “Alright, now that that’s clear, what is the pegasus doing here, did she intrude during my queens negotiations?”

“I caught her spying on us and we captured her, and I ensured that once released she would be unable to speak of the content or nature of this meeting.” Twilight says feigning an excited tone, pointing a hoof at the beaker under her barrel.

Korrektur widens his eyes as if surprised by the potion that lay under the young unicorn.”What is the plan to deal with her then?”

Waving a hoof in a circle airily she releases a half faked yawn, releasing a small tired moan into the act. “I was hoping that since now that she wasn’t a danger that you and Büroklammer would release her so that she can travel with me to Whiterun tomorrow.”

Korrektur nods agreement. “Sure, Büro! Release the pegasus, there is no longer any need for those bindings.”

Like a bullet, the changeling on the bed zips over Twilight’s head and lands next to Rainbow Dash, causing the aforementioned pegasus to lean back in surprise, that is until the changeling begins licking the greenish goop covering her hooves. “What th-... Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew...”

As Rainbow Dash repeats her zealous mantra Twilight steps over and taps Korrektur on the shoulder with a hoof, gathering his attention. “To continue, I also wanted to ask your consent on an experiment I wanted to try. I found a way to collect emotion into a pure liquid form, I was wondering if you and Büroklammer would be willing to test out the concoction and allow me to study the results?” She says holding the potion beside her with a small magical field wrapped around its neck.

The changeling stares at the bottle, a dull glazed look covering his eyes as he watches its motions in Twilight’s magical grasp. Hearing the query he responds lazily. “Uh, sure, I guess so… mmm, looks delicious.” pointing a hoof towards the bottle he asks, “Can I try some?”

Querking an eyebrow at the austere changelings lackluster response, she lowers the bottle carefully before answering. “In a bit, however we first need to ask your companion Büroklammer if he would like to join the experiment as well.” Both look towards Rainbow Dash and the changeling in question. The pegasus still whispering to herself, while shivering slightly. However young Büroklammer is sitting there with green goop covering his muzzle and nodding up and down in consent to the experiment, his eyes on the same solution that had stolen the attention of Korrektur mere moments ago.

“Alright then, we shall begin momentarily, just give me a little time to get everything set up.” Twilight states with a high note in her voice as she issues commands to her horn, that the magic follows through without deviation. Small vials and a metal holster to keep the glass containers upright float from her pack and land carefully on the nearby bedside table. The bottle containing the solution floats over as well landing with ease next to the other alchemical instruments. With a final burst from her horn two rune covered cork tops float over to the table and land next to their corresponding vials. The set-up complete, Twilight smiles brightly eyes closed as she faces the changelings once more. “Now, shall we begin?” before Korrektur can respond Büroklammer is already standing before Twilight, eyes wide and wildly waving a hoof above his head, mouth held tightly shut as he maintains Korrektur’s earlier demand.

With a small sigh, Korrektur steps forward, behind his overeager companion. “Okay, okay, put your hoof down, and no interruption! The substance is highly volatile and requires a significant amount of concentration.” Twilight says, both changelings answer by silently standing behind her as she manipulates the bottle and vials of the substance. She carefully pours two small portions into a pair of vials, ensuring an even control for the experiment. Rainbow Dash left to her own devices, crawls over to a corner of the room and watches the experiment proceed with eyes wide open; still shivering like a leaf in the wind as Twilight carefully extracts the volatile iridescent concoction.

With a simple thought, she guides the streams of liquid emotion into the designated vials. A second flash of her horn seals all three of the containers with their specifically designed stoppers. Twilight then levitates the two vials over to the changelings while packing the bottle of unrefined liquid emotion into her packs. Twilight then gestures for the changelings to grasp the vials. Both nod in synch as they grasp the vials with the emerald green glow of their magic. Runes burn off the corks, as their magic catches the vials.

Suddenly, a blue blur followed by a rainbow contrail flies past Twilight, and out the window shutters fluttering wildly with a single screech. “You’re all Crazy!” Twilight watches as Rainbow Dash disappears off into the distance, before closing the shutters once more. The sound of shattering glass catches Twilight off guard, Turning around she finds Büroklammer sitting upside down against the roof, his wings buzzing slightly as his tail swishes wildly behind himself and he gazes at the distant candles on the other side of the room with a predatory look. Korrektur on the other hoof is laying on the ground his head tilted to the side while he lazily flips his hooves up and down, muttering something about snow and fluffy floors.

Twilight quirks her head looking at the changelings curiously. ‘Now this is interesting. What could have caused this.’ Her eyes fall to the empty vials littering the floor. ‘Hmm… it seems that the unrefined emotion causes an effect similar to that of the milihuwaba weed’ Several images of a fuzzy blue vine with bright yellow, green speckled leaves pass through her thoughts. ‘That manticor definitely did not know the difference between up and down, yet still, it made gathering ingredients much easier.’

As these thoughts pass through her mind, she watches as Büro leaps after the target of his interest with a half hearted screech, missing the candles by feet as he faceplants on the floor. Korrektur unsteadily rolls onto his stomach and pushes himself into a standing position, leaning his torso against the bed for stability as the side effects of the potion wear off and lucidity returns to his thoughts. One holed hoof rubs the side of his head as he stands shakily on the other three. “Scheiße, dass war un-unangenehm. How long was I under?”

Twilight taps a hoof against her chin, “A few minutes at the least.”

“Verdammt, I feel like I was hung out to dry for hours.” Shaking his head again he wipes a holed hoof across his forehead before stepping away from the bed and standing resolutely, fully lucid. To the right a groan could be heard as Büro starts recovering from his condition as well, waving a hoof in the air like a drowning fish.

Pressing a hoof against his head Korrektur rubs softly, trying to ease the headache. “Ughh, what did you say that potion was?”

Twilight rolls her eyes and responds easily. “Raw unrefined and condensed emotions, it seems to have an immediate adverse effect to your system.” Twilight takes a mental note of the effects. ‘It seems that the effect is similar to a pony’s hangover after a short period of drunk hallucinations.’

“I must apologize, I did not expect such a strong reaction to your system... Then again, the estimated effect on a pony would be a loss of emotional control.” A short pause follows her words allowing Korrektur to absorb the information with a small shiver.

“...” The changeling releases a sigh, the tension flowing from his figure as he wrestles his breathing back under control. “I understand, We feed on emotion so you wanted to see what worked and what effect different compositions had… How did you even manage to store emotion like that?”

Twilight smiles in relief as she opens into her explanation. “After the success of infusing regular edible pony food products, and knowing how to extract and concentrate magic into a physical manifestation, I decided to see if I could infuse that form with emotion, the result is what you just consumed. I haven’t yet been able to refine and determine what emotion gets absorbed by the liquid mana, nor have I managed to create a stable method of rendering inert and safe to carry without mana jars to contain it.” Twilight nods to the sealed flask at her side, runes glowing visibly on the surface of both the glass container and the stopper at the top, the substance within swirling at a sedate rate, the colors radiating a shimmering light as the concoction refuses to decide on a single color to emit.

Both changelings give only a cursory glance at the bottle before swiftly turning their eyes away before they could fall for it’s treacherous and enrapturing cascade of colors once more. “Well, it works, and not that we don’t appreciate what you’re doing for us. But even though we may be testing your attempts at making food for us, we are also living and would like to stay that way without pain.” He says, a small twitch continues from one of his holed ears as he flicks away the lingering effects of the potion.

Twilight nods, lifting the concoction in her magical field, and placing it within her pack. “I… I guess you’re right, I was just so excited with my new break through, I forgot to anticipate whether or not the substance would react negatively when consumed by a changeling… I’m just glad that Queen Ferrus disconnected before we did the experiment, I don’t want to know what effect it would have on your Queen.” Her shoulders sag just a little further as she admits her mistake. Closing her eyes she exhales slowly, deliberately extending the breath as she calms her thoughts; focusing on the correct words before she continues. Opening her eyes she gives the changelings a level look, her features wiped of emotion. “Thank you for your help. I will also take your advice, I do not intend harm with my projects, I shall be sure to render all future projects as safe as I can. However, I am treading on new territory, so mistakes will happen… I hope this doesn’t discourage you.”

Both changelings look at each other, their ears twitching at a rapid rate as they telepathically communicate their conversation between each other. Finally after a moment or so, Korrektur turns to face Twilight and speaks. “I doubt that will stop us from joining in your experiments, anyway it is getting late, the night is no longer young, and I doubt you plan to sleep past sunrise.” Gesturing towards the door with a hoof, he nods to the lavender mage. “Gute Nacht.”

Within seconds of her horn glowing Twilight gathers any remaining materials she had left out and gathers them into her bags. With a return nod to the changeling, “Nacht.” She opens the door and steps out of the room, her most precious package resting atop her saddle-bags. Outside the room, Twilight continues forward, her gait constant even as the light filtering into the hallway from the room is cut off by the closing door. Reaching the junction at the end of the hallway, Twilight turns left, while levitating the key to her and Gilda’s room from her packs. Looking down the hall, she notes the door with the same number above it as the one crudely scratched onto her key.

Walking up to it, placing the key against the lock, she hears a faint click as the technomagical mechanisms within identify the proper mana frequency and automatically disengage the lock. Pulling the stone shaped key away, Twilight turns the flat oval shaped knob with her magic, and gently pushes the door open. A minor amount of light spills into the hallway from the room, splashing her with a gentle white light, glowing from the wall mounted mana lamps.

Almost immediately she notices something amiss. Instead of sleeping in her bed Gilda is standing at the vanity mirror, brushing her crest feathers back with one claw while the other is holding a small tuft of feathers. Having heard the mechanisms of the door unlatch, Gilda looks up into the mirror and spots Twilight as she enters the room. At the same moment as she recognizes the unicorn, her eyes widen and she tries to hide the fistful of feathers. She stuffs them under the nearby bed with mixed results, wispy strands floating in all directions from her indelicate handling of the light weight little tufts of dawn. Her other hand jerks sideways ruffling her crest feathers back into her usual style. Grateful that her feathers somewhat hide the blush that would surely give her embarrassment away, Gilda turns around with a slightly crooked smile on her beak and waves with her free claw. “Hey Glimmer, What took you so long?”

Twilight walks over to the other side of the bed and lights her magic to pull out her sleeping mat. “The trade agreement took longer than expected. However I managed to negotiate a lower price for a few replacements for the flasks that your friend Rainbow shattered.” Twilight finishes rolling out the mat, laying it flat on the floor, she extends some of her magic to gather the errant and stray bits of feather that had escaped Gilda’s grasp, gathering them into a small pile next to the mat. “I also managed to get them to open up about selling some steel parts and other materials to work with for some of my more sensitive potions.”

With a thought Twilight lifts the feathers into the air folding them into a ball as she lifts an eyebrow at the embarrassed griffon. “Now I know preening is important, but don’t act like it’s something to be ashamed of, unless of course you were up to something else.”

Gilda’s thoughts float back to the tight, sky blue flanks she had been watching earlier in the day, even as she responds. “Heh yea, preening, let’s go with that, heh.”

Releasing a sigh, Twilight makes a show of lifting her cloak off her back ensuring that Fang is still gently wrapped within. then she unstraps her saddlebags and sets them to the side. After ensuring her resting place is cleared, she settles onto her stomach, then gently sets fang back down on her back. With the young wyrm settled upon her back, she commands the cloak to slightly expand to encompass her as well. Pulling her saddle bags back, she sets them under her head and settles in to rest. “I’m going to get some sleep, I suggest you do the same, Rainbow Dash will most likely need your help when morning comes.”

Noting that the lavender mare is out of her line of view Gilda goes back to viewing her image in the mirror. “Sure, I’ll sleep in a few, got something I need to finish first.” Lifting a claw Gilda begins brushing her crest feathers once more, aligning them forward, and straightening them out. Pulling a small leather pouch from one of her packs she dips the same claw into the pack, the tip coming out with a gelatinous ivory liquid, she holds her talons near her face, and examines her features in the mirror for a few moments. ‘Small micro fracture on the left side, minor chip near the jaw. Oh, pit below the right nare. I must’ve looked a mess when Rainbow saw me, better take care of this before it becomes serious.’

Carefully with the precision of a doctor using a microscope, Gilda begins dabbing small amounts of the viscous substance on the troubled areas. Feeling that she had placed enough of the precious substance, she returns her claw to the pouch. She grabs the neck of the bag tight before pulling her talons out virtually clean of the substance. Ignoring the soft, breathy snores coming from the other side of the bed, she returns her eyes to the mirror and examines her work. ‘Hmm, hopefully the chip heals quickly, having a hairline fracture when trying to eat sucks. I need to smooth out the grease along the microfracture, but otherwise, I don’t think I have to mess with the rest of the patches.’

Lifting her slightly glistening talon to her face one last time, Gilda traces the appendage against the fracture, spreading the substance and carefully rubbing it into the cracks of the minor injury. “There, that should heal up nicely by the time I wake up tomorrow...” ‘Shells!’ Listening carefully, Gilda waits a beat; silently praying she hadn’t awoken her new companion. As Twilight pulls in another soft snore, Gilda releases the massive lung full of air she had been holding, and closing her eyes. ‘It’s the ones you don’t feel that cause the most damage, or so Grigarian said when he was training me and Dash.’ Placing the pouch back in one of the bags on her battle harness Gilda notes the distinctly light weight. ‘Damn, need to make some more of the salve soon.’ With another less strained sigh, Gilda paws her way over to the bed, and tucks herself in. After several moments her thoughts clear enough for her to fall asleep.

Under Twilight’s blanket a piercing amber eye stares through the underside of the bed, having heard the griffons outburst. After she gets on the bed he pulls back under and folds himself into a comfortable position on Twilight’s back before falling asleep himself, in preparation for the dawn.

Author's Notes:

Better late than never Right. well here you go chaps, please don't tear into it untill after you finish reading. also thank you for all your continued support.

Thank you Januchyde for your awesome insight.

Thank you Nessos25 for translating horsewords into German, and all your help in getting both to match.

and thank you The Forgotten Comrad For your awesome editing.

Without these guy's You would be waiting at least another two weeks for this story to come out. so Please give them a round of applause.