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Change: Avia

by tom117z

Chapter 8: 8 - Crystal

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Avia gave a small groan as the rays of the early morning sun assaulted her still waking sense, rubbing a forehoof across her closed eyes and shifting slightly in her bed, settling back down again. A large part of her just wanted to stay curled up in the covers, sleeping soundly and comfortably for as long as she could.

But she could still feel that sun as her brain continued to wake up, and she knew her time was almost up.

Slowly and drowsily, the changeling nymph opened her eyes. Just a crack at first, but enough to make out a few vague objects.

A bedside table met her view. On it sat a simple lamp that was turned off, alongside a plate of crumbs that used to be a couple slices of toast and a closed copy of Canterlot Cantabiles. Everything was just where she had left it the night before, when she’d finished her toast and saved her place in the book before willingly slipping away to Luna’s realm of dreams. Speaking of dreams, Avia couldn’t really recall her own for the night. Something about tree sap…?

There was something else too… Something she was forgetting.

As the filly tiredly glanced over the rest of the room, she realised it wasn’t her room. It was far too… wooden. No, she was staying someplace, but…

Oh right.

“SUMMER SUN CELEBRATION!” Avia proclaimed, her bed covers launched away from her by the power of her gossamer wings.

Oh yeah, now she was fully awake.

Active and eager to get started, Avia hopped down from her bed and made for the door. She did then stop, however, and turn back ever so briefly. She lit her horn and willed the covers back into a neat and tidy state, before picking up the empty plate and taking it with her.

She’d be back for the book later. There was still a lot of reading to do!

She exited the bedroom and entered a short hallway beyond, moving off to the right and heading down the stairs into the main library. When she reached the bottom she instantly turned off and headed towards the kitchen door, swinging it open and happily trotting inside.

When she did, she saw that her parents were already wide awake and grabbing a spot of breakfast before the day’s festivities got fully underway. Both gave their child a welcoming smile as she walked through and placed her dirty plate into the sink, before going to make herself some cereal.

“Good morning, Avia,” her mother greeted. “Sleep well?”

“Uh-huh!” Avia confirmed, pouring milk into the bowl as a finishing touch before joining her family at the table. “The book is really, really good! I wanna read even more!”

“I’m glad you like it, but there’s no time for reading at the moment,” Queen Twilight responded. “Your Uncle Shining and Aunt Cadance will be here soon.”

“Awesome! And we’re going to meet them at the station, right?”

Twilight nodded. “We are. So eat your breakfast, we’ll be heading out soon.”

“It’s a good thing you woke up when you did. I was about ready to throw a bucket of water on you,” Façade teased.

“Dad!” Avia blurted in protest. “That’s mean!”

“And funny.”

Avia pouted, getting back to her cereal as grumpily as she could while her parents just tittered at her action.

She couldn’t keep the grumpy veneer, though. Everything was too darned exciting!

From there she ate her cereal at a steady pace, idly listening in on her parents’ chatter. They weren’t really talking about anything in particular, and there were moments where Avia zoned them out and entered her own thoughts. She was excited to see the rest of her family, but equally she found herself quite eager to hang out with the Cutie Mark Crusaders again. Her new friends were… quirky, but despite the bruises she couldn’t deny her enjoyment from hanging out with the three fillies. She was already coming up with some less spine breaking ideas for them to do! Not to get a cutie mark, Avia did know better than them that she wouldn’t ever get one despite their continued insistence otherwise, but that wouldn’t kill the fun of trying to get their own.

Even if she already knew it wasn’t going to work.

But that’s the nature of research! Failure begets eventual success!

Science!

Avia finished the last of her cereal, mopping up the stray puddle of milk in the bottom of the bowl. She then levitated it towards the sink and placed it atop her old plate, waiting to be washed up later on. With that done, she returned to the table and propped herself up nice and tall, giving her mother a beaming smile.

“So are we going to go see Uncle Shining and Aunt Cadance now?” the nymph asked quickly? “Huh? Are we?”

“Soon, Avia,” Twilight responded in amusement. “We have a little time before the Crystal Express is due to arrive. So calm down, I’m sure talking to us for a while won’t be that bad, hm?”

“I guess so…” Avia replied, slumping back down. “So, uh, what’s first? For the celebration, I mean…”

“Well, the nobility and guard are beginning to turn up,” her mother answered. “All the preparations from yesterday are complete, so I’d say it’s just going to be a fun-filled day.”

“And when will princesses get here?”

“Tonight, before the raising of the sun.”

“It’s a shame they couldn’t be here earlier,” Façade noted.

“They do still have their duties to perform,” Twilight pointed out. “Ponies are sadly flawed in the lack of a hive mind. I imagine Celestia would find it immensely useful to run the country from the kitchen while eating breakfast.”

“Flawed? That’s very opinionated of you,” Façade jabbed.

“Hush. I know my bias and wear it proudly,” she shot back in a joking manner. “But yes, they’ll be here when they’re free to do so. It’s still going to be a packed day despite that, everyone is in a party mood in the lead-up.”

“Do you think it has something to do with the confetti cannons around town…?”

Twilight laughed. “What? Did you think Pinkie Pie would miss the chance to one-up her last Summer Sun Celebration set up?”

“Didn’t Princess Luna attack everyone during that?” Avia asked with a tilt of her head.

“Bygones, Avia,” Twilight replied with a shake of her head.

“Ponies and their reformation obsession…” Façade muttered.

“Even we’re reformed villains in the average pony’s book, our hive did attack Canterlot after all. And if it’s genuine, then why not?” Twilight shot back. “Could you imagine Equestria without Luna?”

“I suppose not. Hasn’t worked out for us so far though.”

“Not for lack of trying,” the Queen noted sadly. “And that’s what counts. But getting the other queens out of hiding has to count for something.”

“Huh?” Avia got lost somewhere in that conversation.

Twilight just gave her a small smile. “Don’t worry about it, it’s just about those stories I told you. Tell you what, let’s start heading towards the station. We can have a morning stroll through town in the meantime.”

“Oh, okie dokie!” Avia agreed, rising from the table.

Her parents followed suit, and from there they swiftly left the library and into the day of the Summer Sun Celebration.


The train station was a bustle of activity, but everycreature had enough respect to part ways for the changeling royals as they began their approach.

Some of the nearby armoured drones probably added some motivation, the added protection from the hive being quite intimidating to the average Equestrian. But it wasn’t too much of a bother, and the trio made it up onto the platform without any real issue.

When they arrived, they found that Twilight Velvet and Night Light were already waiting, sat on a nearby bench discussing some newspaper amongst themselves. They brightened when they saw the others, however, and rushed to greet them just as a steam train finished offloading the latest guests to the celebration and departed for the next station.

From there it was just a matter of waiting it out, with one more train due to come in before the Crystal Express. That one arrived but ten minutes later, pulling into the station with a loud whistle and a chug of smoke, coming to a halt and opening its doors to allow the passengers’ departure. And then, much like its predecessor, it too pulled away and quickly rolled along the tracks until it was out of sight.

Avia was getting a little bored waiting. There wasn’t exactly much on the platform to hold her attention for very long, and the adults were conversing among themselves about things that didn’t interest the nymph very much.

But then, through the veil of dullness that had descended onto her mind, she heard another whistle.

“It’s here!” Avia announced with a massive grin, leaning to get a look at the long gleaming vehicle rapidly on approach to the train station.

The Crystal Express was breathtaking to behold. Its design was extremely unique for a train, the outer shell being composed of large blue decorative crystals that sloped down at the front for a very aerodynamic feel. It also lacked a smokestack unlike the other trains she’d seen thus far, and overall had a far more advanced and modern feel to it.

And shiny train chugged its way into the station, steadily coming to a halt with a whoosh of its hydraulic braking system.

Queen Twilight gave her daughter a light tap on the shoulder, leading her towards the back of the train where the royal carriages sat. As they went, the rest of the cars had their doors opened and shimmering crystal ponies began to disembark with excited chatter and gleeful smiles Avia could relate to.

And just as they reached the back, the door of the royal compartment was thrown open and a red carpet rolled out onto the platform by two emerging guards. With a trumpet and small fanfare, they then proceeded to escort out the high-profile passengers that had been ferried within.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza was the first to emerge, and then at her side came the radiant Princess Flurry Heart and the smartly dressed Prince Shining Armor.

“Cadance!” Twilight greeted brightly, moving forth to share a quick nuzzle with her sister-in-law. “Shining! Have a good trip?”

“The royal carriage hardly lacks for comfort, we’re fine,” Cadance replied with a small chuckle.

“Aunt Twilight! Flurry Heart happily greeted, moving forwards and hugging her changeling aunt.

Flurry Heart looked much as her mother did when she was her age. She stood a head taller than most ponies, her silver regalia shining in the day’s sun with her immaculately kept mane done up into a neat bun.

“Flurry! How is the best niece in Equestria?”

“Happy to get out of the palace. I swear, you hear one diplomatic overture you hear them all,” Flurry responded with a dramatic roll of her eyes. “And how about the best cousin in Equestria? Hey, Avia!”

“Hi, Flurry!” Avia happily greeted as she bounced up. “Can we do the thing? Can we?”

“Thing? Oh, you must be more specific!”

“Pleeease?”

Flurry Heart giggled. “Fine, are you ready?”

Avia nodded enthusiastically, all the while both Twilight and Cadance gave one another knowing looks. And then, a moment after, the two began their chant.

“Sunshine sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!”

And so, the generations of the sunshine dance continued…

“She’s having fun then, Twily?” Shining asked lightly as he trotted up to his sister. “No temper tantrums?”

“She does not have temper tantrums!” Twilight shot back, flicking her adoptive brother with her tail. “She takes after me, I’d think you’d find.”

“You’d set on fire when angry.”

“Hey, it’s not like I knew I was a shapeshifter at the time!” she protested back. “And neither did you! You all thought I was just crazy powerful or something.”

“Well, we were right on that account,” he pointed out. “So, ‘your highness’, did your changelings help get everything in order?”

“The celebration is well underway!” Twilight informed them. “Everyone pitched in, all organised to perfection!”

“We’d expect nothing less from the most efficient Changeling Queen,” Cadance lightly teased.

“She does have a knack, does she not?” Twilight Velvet said with a chuckle.

“You say that like it’s new news,” Façade piped up.

“And like it’s a bad thing,” the Queen in question shot back. “Second largest hive in the world, being efficient is a must.”

“She’s got us there,” Night Light stated, before her and his wife finally moved to greet their newly arrived family properly.

And as the family all continued their greetings and brief catch-ups with one another, a large shadow was approaching the train station. Several people looked up at the cause, some remaining unfazed whole others shrunk back a little as if trying not to be seen, clearly intimidated and even a little frightened by the sight.

And just as Princess Cadance finished saying something to her young niece, bopping her on the nose with a laugh, the shadow reached the stationed. Something large crashed down onto the building’s roof, bringing its head to lord over the gathered family of changeling and ponies as they all looked up at the creature.

“Hey, guys!” Spike greeted in a deep voice, the dragon giving them a large fang-filled smile. “Didn’t I turn up at the right time or what?”

“Spike!” Twilight greeted back in gleeful surprise, flying up to the dragon’s head and giving him a small hug. “I wasn’t expecting you for a few hours yet.”

Spike was far from the baby dragon of old, or even the pony-sized lizard who’d acted as Twilight’s royal assistant in the hive. Now the dragon was easily the size of a house, dwarfing any other creature in the local area. And yet, as Changeling Queen and dragon reunited, it was as if nothing had truly changed.

“Don’t underestimate these bad boys!” Spike bragged, raising his large leathery wings in demonstration. “And Ember had us leave a little early. She’s in an impatient mood.”

“I guess the gang is all here,” Shining Armor quipped. “How are you doing, Spike?”

“I’m good, eager to relax for a while,” he replied. “Say, any gem venders around here?”

“For your horde or for your stomach?” Twilight asked with a smirk.

“Yes.”

The Queen giggled behind a hoof. “I’m sure we’ll find your something, Number One Assistant. It’s a long day ahead.”

“Well, are we going to stand talking or are we going to get to the party?” Flurry Heart questioned.

And as if to validate her point, the red carpet was rolled up and the door to the train closed up. A whistle blew out, and the Crystal Express began to move away from the station. Shining Armor dismissed the escorting compliment of guards, who began to move off and join their changeling counterparts in awaiting the arrival of the Solar and Lunar Guard as well.

“I guess we’d better get a move on,” Twilight agreed, before looking back up at Spike. “You going to follow us, Spike?”

“From rooftop to rooftop,” he replied. “Unless you have a street big enough for me?”

“I could shrink you for an hour to two.”

“Pfft, pass.”

Avia thought that was a shame, she was curious what a small Uncle Spike would look like.

But that thought aside, the family were now free to move from the station and back into Ponyville proper. Now they were together, all royal titles could be forgotten for a little while. For the time being, they were just a family having a nice day out.

Just how they liked it.

Next Chapter: 9 - Chaos Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 13 Minutes
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