Chrysalis looked at the house her son in law had led her to, evaluating it as if the dwelling itself was a representation of those who lived there.

The house itself was a Victorian looking home with crown molding visible through the windows, various bits of sculpting details on the white trim outside, and light blue paint on the outside. There was a garage with a typical car door, though no car was visible nor smelled in the area.

Stalwart knocked at the front door, calling out, "Mom, dad, I'm home!"

"Quite well off." She commented quietly at his side.

"Dad did do pretty well, stayed in the guard most of his life and invested well." He said quietly before the door opened.

"Stalwart!" A yellow earth pony mare with an auburn mane only holding a few grey hairs exclaimed, "It's so good to see you again!"

"It's only been a few weeks mom." He chuckled as his mother reached forward to hug him tightly.

"It's always good to see you, my son." She said with a smile, noticing the mare beside him, "Who's your lady friend?"

"I am someone quite close to young Stalwart here," Chrysalis commented, noting Trickshot’s wording as she leaned against Stalwart while still standing half a head taller than him.

She blinked multiple times in the doorway before looking at her son with concern, "Did you pick up a new girlfriend? Was Dawn not enough for you?"

"Mom, meet Chryssy." He said rolling his eyes at her behavior before letting out a small sigh. "My mother-in-law, who adopted Dawn."

Chryssy chuckled and stood up more, holding out a hoof. "It is a pleasure to meet the mare who raised such a fine stallion as Stalwart here who makes my daughter so happy."

The mare looked at her in surprise and then bowed, clearly putting on an air of courtesy before offering her hoof afterward, "It is a pleasure to meet you as well. I'm Trickshot."

"Pleasure to meet you Trickshot." Chrysalis blinked, not expecting the bow and shook their hoof.

"Please, come in. I've only got some tea at the moment." She said, stepping back and making room for them. "What has you both stopping by?"

"Tea is perfectly alright Trickshot," Chrysalis said, "and I wished to meet the parents of my son in law."

"Yes, I… as you might have guessed, I'm a bit surprised. Dawn hadn't told me about you yet. How is she doing, I haven't seen her in several months." Trickshot asked.

"Well, Chryssy, do you have the picture?" Stalwart asked with a wry smile.

"Picture? Of what? What happened to her?" Trickshot asked, looking between them both.

"I think we should wait for your father," Chrysalis said nodding in agreement.

"Captain Stonewall!" Stalwart called out, "Your presence is requested in the living room!"

"I'm already in the living room you young rip!" A gruff voice called back as a couch seat groaned. A grey earth pony came into view a second later, gray from age only appearing in parts of his coat and a darker grey mane only lightly streaked with white strands. "Came to wrestle your old man and get beaten again so soon, eh?"

"Not this time dad." He said, grinning.

Chrysalis blinked at the name Stonewall. 'Oh, the irony.' She thought, making a mental note to tell Twilight of this.

Stone looked at the mare and said, "Oh, You brought a mare home, was Dawn-"

"We're both here about Dawn, and how she's doing.” Stalwart cut him off with a smile, “Mom, dad, take a seat."

Stonewall eyed him, intrigued before turning back to get into his seat. Trickshot walked over to join him, sitting down next to him.

"What is it dear?" Trickshot asked, sounding worried, "Is she ok?"

"Well, Dawn went to the hospital a week ago and…" Chrysalis said dramatically before pulling out the photo and flipped it around. "Meet your grand foals!"

The parents looked at the photo intently before gasping at what they saw in the photo.

"Ohmygod they're so cute!" Trickshot said, holding her right hoof to her chest with a wide smile on her face.

"Healthy looking things." Stonewall said approvingly, "Still, she gave birth this soon? You only knocked her up, what, 4 months ago now?"

"Alicorn magic from her ascension I'd imagine," Chryssy said.

Stonewall shook his head, "We saw her at the coronation and a month after. She wasn’t showing back then."

"Look, dad, things happen, and you can't always plan for it."

"Like being grandparents?" Trickshot chuckled. "We weren't expecting them to be born until spring, and here you are having them on the first day of Autumn!"

"Alicorn magic can be odd I'd imagine," Chrysalis said, chuckling as she used her magic to hold out the photo so they could look closer.

Trickshot looked closely at it, "So, are they colts or fillies? What are their names?"

"Well, we haven’t come up with any names yet, but the first born here, the orange foal is a filly, and this one is a colt." Stalwart said.

Chrissy nodded, smiling.

"Things went as smoothly as you could expect I suppose. Dawn yelled a lot and this little guy got a little stuck on the way out but is really healthy. Dawn had a little surgery but she’s all right."

"Oh good.” Trickshot smiled, looking closely at the picture with an adoring smile, “They're so cute… reminds me of when you were that little, Stalwart."

"Mooom." He blushed, embarrassed at the callback while Chryssy chuckled.

"Oh, if you're Dawn's mother, I should definitely get out the old photo book." Trickshot grinned.

"Moooom!" Stalwart protested, suspecting what was coming up.

"Dawn's Mother? I thought she said she didn't have one." Stonewall said critically, looking at Chrysalis with an expectation of an answer.

"I adopted her into my family."

"Oh? When was this?" Stone asked.

"A few months ago."

"Oh? She's a full grown adult. What made you decide to adopt her? Because she was an alicorn?" he said, eying her suspiciously.

"Dad…" Stalwart warned, indicating that he was treading into dangerous territory.

"Because she had an inner strength few possessed and deserved to have a family who cared about her and should know what that strength is," Chrysalis said. "I am honored to call someone like her my daughter."

Stonewall eyed her closely, "That's a very different way of looking at things. What did you say your name was again?"

"Chryssy." She smiled.

Stonewall humphed, "not exactly a pony name."

"Neither is Trish dear." Trickshot quietly reminded him, barely audible to him.

Chrysalis’ ears heard it easily, having long since adapted to catch as much input as they can. It paid to have sharp hearing after all, and she sipped her tea, waiting for the right moment to make her grand introduction.

"Fair point." He sighed, then smiled, "Well, hopefully, one of them will join the guard. Fourth generation to serve if they do."

'They may or they may not. That is for them to decide." Chrysalis said.

"Yes, well." Stone said, clearing his throat, "either way."

Chrysalis sipped her tea before idly commenting, 'So, Trish is an interesting name."

"Oh, you heard that hm?" She hummed before nodding once with a small blush. "It is an interesting name. Stone gave me it back when I was a medic."

"I see. So you were in the guard?"

"In a manner of speaking." She said nodding, "It's how I met Stonewall."

Chrissy sipped her tea and decided to play her card, recognizing her speech by cross-referencing it with the link.

"So I hear the Mojave is nice this time of year." She said in a conversational voice as Trish looked over the picture of her grand foals some more.

"Huh? What makes you say that?" Trickshot asked absentmindedly.

"What's a mow-hah-vee?" Stalwart asked, confused and looking back at Chrysalis, suspecting she was up to something.

"It's just the way the light goes across the sands in the autumn light. I hear it's very lovely." Chrysalis commented.

"I see, I'll have to visit there someday." She said with an air of curiosity, attempting to hide that she was saddened by thoughts of her homeland.

"Where's that?" Stonewall asked.

"I'll tell you later dear," Trickshot said quietly.

"Southwestern United States of America, mostly in the Nevada area," Chryssy said idly, sipping her tea, "which is where your accent is from if I'm not mistaken, as it’s not from anywhere on Equus." She finished her tea and held out her cup. "May I have more?"

Trickshot dropped her jaw in surprise, frozen speechless as her husband said, "How would you know about that?"

"Dad? What are you all talking about…" Stalwart asked, looking to them confused.

"I've been around" Chrysalis smiled sweetly as she poured more tea since no one objected.

Trickshot sighed and then looked between her and her son, "Just who are you really Chryssy?"

Chrysalis smiled, pleasantly still as she began to answer.

"I am a simple leader of one of the only ones to have taken Canterlot, defeated Celestia, a powerful shapeshifter." She said, beginning to stand while her disguise slowly faded away. "I am Queen Chry-"

The resulting punch from Stonewall sent her doubling back over the couch, her teacup flying as her legs flailed and she landed on her back with a loud crack before a smaller one was heard where the couch hit her chitin.

"The hay are you doing here!" Stonewall growled.

Stalwart was on his father quicker than ever, trying to drag him back, half yelling, "DONT HURT HER DAD! SHES NOT THE SAME ONE WE FOUGHT!"

Trickshot stood in surprise, looking at the scene with utter confusion as the queen started to stumble to her hooves. The only word that escaped her lips being, "Oh."

"By the mothers, he has a right hook like Fluttershy!” Chrysalis exclaimed as she stood, rubbing the side of her jaw. "Gah. Couldn't you have waited till after the introduction? I didn't even get to use the lightning!"

Chrysalis hissed at the pain in her jaw before spitting out two sharp teeth and wincing as she licked the spot in her gums where they were missing.

"Y'er telling me this bug that killed half my squad is not a bad-" Stonewall growled loudly.

Stalwart punched him on the side with a glare, "Dad! Let them speak!"

"ENOUGH!" Trickshot yelled, making both of the stallions stop in their tracks and look at her with apprehension. She never raised her voice, even when he was younger, and she had their undivided attention.

"Thank you," Chrysalis said, rubbing her jaw before turning to the mare of the house. "May I continue now?"

"How do you know about where I'm from?” Trickshot asked, staying in place and speaking quietly, “I haven't told anyone other than Stonewall, not even my foals."

"Mom?" Stalwart asked, turning to her in confusion.

"Because humans are some of the most lovely and despicable beings I have ever met, both on their world and ours."

Trickshot blushed at what was said in surprise, finding the statement true in her experience as well.

"Wait, you used to be one of those human things like Dawn was telling me about?" Stalwart asked, starting to question if he was half human or something now.

"Trish, you don't have to say noth-" Stonewall started to say.

"I am." She said, cutting him off. "What is it you want, now that you've laid out what I've had hidden for decades? I put that life behind me when I couldn't go back. I'm a pony now, and that's that."

"Well, to finish my planned introduction of theatrics, to re-grow my two lost teeth, to have more tea since my cup got spilled, and to meet the parents of the stallion who makes my daughter happy like I said when I arrived on your doorstep. … Oh, and brag about my grandfoals a little." Chrysalis said, still rubbing her cheek.

Stonewall frowned at the situation, Stalwart still standing in place as he continued questioning himself before Trickshot sighed in resignation.

"Very well… Stone, behave. Son, you'd better have a damn good explanation for why the Queen became your mother-in-law since Dawn isn't here to do it."

Stalwart began to stare openly at his mom, looking much like an overgrown lost colt as he stood in place.

"Then... how did you get here mom?" Stalwart managed to ask

Chrysalis flipped the couch back onto its legs, found her cup and then took a seat once more as she looked for where the teapot had gotten off too.

The teapot laid surprisingly undisturbed on the floor, no signs of spillage either. Stonewall sat back down with Trickshot, cautious but listening while his son looked at his mother expectantly.

"I had some downtime from the military, found a trinket I rather liked, and it put me here in Equestria," Trickshot said with a sigh.

"You'd be surprised how often that happens," Chrysalis said pouring herself more tea. "Or some mage is trying to make some new spell."

"Except we don't have magic." She said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, your earth might, but that doesn't mean others don't."

"Obviously." She said with a small smile. "I still couldn't and can't get back, and I wouldn't leave my Stone or foals behind even if I wanted."

"And I'd lose respect for you if you did." She said.

"Can we not talk about this? I buried my old life as Corporal Trisha Adams decades ago. I’m just Trickshot now." She said, sounding relieved at getting that off her chest, though her squirming in place was making the floor squeak. "So, are those really my grandfoals?"

"Well, Dawn gave birth to them so I'd imagine so," Chrysalis said chuckling

"They are, mom. I watched it happen, you should have seen her, or heard her." Stalwart said, chuckling weakly as he discovered his mother’s old name.

Trickshot and Stonewall relaxed some at hearing that, more as they heard him Stalwart begin to describe the two more beyond the picture, like how their fur looked and how soundly they slept.

"A colt and a filly already… Do you have plenty of diapers and a crib for them both?" Trickshot asked.

"Definitely, had that shortly after the coronation." Stalwart nodded.

"And if need be I can send a couple of caretakers to acquire more." Chrysalis nodded.

"She's a princess now, she shouldn't be lacking for anything," Stonewall smirked, clearly proud of his daughter-in-law, though still watching Chrysalis closely.

"Ehh......" Chrysalis said remembering just how much she does lack.

"Oh?" Trickshot asked, looking their way, "Care to add something to that 'Chryssy?'"

"No, no. I'm fine."

"If she needs something, we should know so we can help her get it," Trickshot said.

"I don't think we're missing anything, what are you thinking we need mom?" Stalwart asked.

"You aren't missing anything for the foals," Chrysalis said, sipping her tea.

Stalwart noted the wording and stayed quiet, intent on talking with her later.

"Then what do they need?" Stonewall asked, causing Stalwart to facehoof.

"Nothing." She said. "The foals are going to be well taken care of."

"Not talking about the foals," Stonewall said.

Chrysalis just sipped her tea.

"Don't bother dad…" Stalwart said, shaking his head, "She gets this way when she doesn’t want to talk about something. So, what else did you want to know?"

"When can we see them?" Trickshot asked.

"Whenever you'd like," Chrysalis said.

"Fair warning," Stalwart said, "They're in the hive right now."

"Well, where else would they be?" Chrysalis asked

"Why aren't they in their home?" Trickshot asked, looking at them with worry.

"Because the hive has become a second home. Chrysalis is protecting her like she is a changeling." Stalwart said.

"She is my daughter. Why wouldn't I keep her safe?" Chrysalis spoke, the answer was obvious even as she sipped her tea.

Stonewall looked at her with reservation, looking between her and his son before saying, "Stalwart, take us there. I want to see my grandfoals."

"As do I." Trickshot agreed.

Chrysalis finished her tea and stood, becoming the unicorn she was before.

"Right this way," Chrysalis announced cheerfully.

Stonewall and Trickshot faltered at the sight of the change, then slowly got down, following their son, who was moving to be at her side.

Chrysalis headed for the door with a spring in her step. "You know, I had a whole thing planned for my introduction, even had lightning for the dramatic finish.”

"Oh really?" Stalwart asked, "Do tell."

"Of course, what proper introduction doesn't have lightning? I was tempted to laugh at the end but thought that would be too over the top.”

Stalwart laughed while Stonewall grew more uneasy.

"Next time you introduce yourself to someone, I'll have some lighting for it. Trust me, you'll see what I mean." She said chuckling

Trickshot shook her head at the idea, Stalwart chuckled, and Stonewall watched alertly, still cautious, but willing to go.

"It seems your parents don't find it amusing."

"Well, for all they know, it could be a trick. I could be a substitute, and leading them into a trap." Stalwart said, shrugging.

"Eh true, but then it wouldn't be the brightest thing to walk blatantly up to them and proclaim who I am."

"True, but it could be a clever ruse.' Stalwart said with a smirk, playing along as he watched his mom look at them differently.

"Hmm… True, but then again I did lose two teeth in it, and my face still hurts."

"All part of an evil master plan." Stalwart chuckled.

"Ok you two, cut it out." Trickshot said, walking closer, "And sorry you lost your teeth, but I hope you understand where we're coming from as well. That last invasion was brutal."

"Oh, we are only joking," Chrysalis chuckled, "and it's fine they will grow back. Your husband has quite the hook."

"You don't become a captain of the guard without being able to give a foebeast a good wholloping," Stonewall said unapologetically.

"Dear!" Trickshot said, elbowing him as they walked.

"Oh, I don't doubt it. It's the same for Queens. If a queen can't take a hit and return the favor tenfold, then she's not going to be a queen for long."

"Interesting… Then I could give you a proper wallop-" he winced as his wife poked him again before saying, "Fine, after visiting the foals."

"Dad…” Stalwart said exasperatedly, “really?"

"Oh relax Stalwart. I'm sure this is just your dad's way of being friendly towards his new family." Chrysalis chuckled.

"With how often he would insist on wrestling me when I came to visit? Not surprising."

Chrysalis chuckled at that amusing detail.

Stalwart and the family walked on under the sun, the parents not talking much.

"So will you be staying over," Chrysalis asked looking back at them as she noted the time, "for dinner I mean?"

"I'm not sure we know how to eat love," Trickshot said, causing Stonewall to chuckle.

"Oh, more for us then." Stalwart said before chuckling, "Or did we have something else on the menu?"

"We do have a town with supplies, and we can eat other food besides emotions." She said chuckling.

"Foals first, then food," Stonewall said, following his son while keeping an eye on Chrysalis.

Chrysalis walked on, making sure the father got an excellent view of her shapely flanks. He eyed her briefly, as if noting the behavior of a possible enemy. His lust never rose and his bond with his wife was too strong. His protective nature seemed to be in effect, getting stronger and more cautious as they reached the hive.

Dawn had awoken by now, though still groggy and feeling heavy. She was starting to get hungry but would wait until everyone had come so she could eat as a group.

Before the hive, they entered a town that was in the middle of being built by ponies in reflective vests and hard hats while other ponies were in dark green jumpsuits and hard hats. Plenty of the remaining townsfolk were wandering around looking either relieved or lost and confused while gold uniformed ponies moved around the town.

Stonewall and Trickshot both blinked at the sight, and even Stalwart slowed to take a look.

"Everything ok? Some of them look lost." Stalwart asked.

"You would be too in this situation," Chrysalis said. "We are finding more citizens rapidly as we sent out fliers with key phrases that would be ignored by anyone who doesn't get the references."

"That's good…. I'd almost say unfortunate, but they are coming to a second home while waiting for rescue, so it's not that bad."

Chrysalis nodded her agreement as they walked on. She nodded the guard patrol and then stopped before a Humvee drove out of a side street, carrying heavy equipment to another job site before she started walking again.

"The hay is that thing?" Stonewall asked.

Trickshot looked at it, half recognition and surprise, half confused, as if it wasn't quite what she expected.

"Not sure…" Stalwart said, looking to Chrysalis.

"Humvee," Chrysalis said as walked and passed by a group of Zebra.

The zebras were dressed in tan and brown uniforms with metal and wood rifles on their backs curved magazines poking out of them, and with how often they looked around the town, they appeared to be on patrol.

"What is that they're holding?" Stonewall asked.

"They’re firearms, right? But Equestria doesn’t have those.” Trickshot frowned, looking at them with concern, “what happened?"

"AJ-47s, standard issue for the Grand Zebra Army," Chrysalis said, "and I doubt you will have seen many outside of our little settlement here."

"Why's that?" Trickshot asked, concerned that they were present and in the hands of only a few.

"What's this about a zebra army?" Stonewall asked, not sure if he heard her correctly. As far as he knew, there was no such thing.

"Because this is where we are gathering to await rescue to return home," Chrysalis said as she walked. "This is the rally point."

Stalwart nodded, while Trickshot and Stonewall looked at her as they pieced it together

"So they're waiting to go home, but they're ponies so wouldn't that mean they would need to sail or something?" Trickshot asked

Chrysalis just chuckled as she walked, beyond amused.

"Sounds like there's more than one pony world,” Stalwart chimed in, “considering this Chrysalis is good for one."

"And we have a winner!" Chrysalis said chuckling. "That is exactly it. We aren't drop here in the slightest."

"Isn't there only one world for humans, one for ponies and whatnot?" Stonewall blinked.

"Multi-verse," Chrysalis said. "For every choice you make, there are estimated thousands of others where you made a different one or even more than that. There are, in essence, unlimited universes."

Stonewall shook his head as he tried to wrap his mind around the concept while Trickshot narrowed her eyes, walk becoming stiffer in denial.

"Nonsense..." She frowned.

"Mom, let’s not argue on this for now… we're here to see the foals."

Chrysalis nodded her agreement as they left the town and began to enter the bit of forest beside it and the hill next to the forest.

"Are we there yet?" Trickshot asked, "We've walked quite a while already."

Chrysalis smiled, instead nodding toward a group of foals playing in the woods with a mare watching them. They all seemed to look up and see the group and waved back to them.

Trickshot waved as she walked while Stonewall simply nodded briefly. Stalwart smiled and waved like his mother to them before going for the entrance to the hive.

They walked around some natural looking fallen over rocks and found a small cave two ponies wide and Chrysalis led the way in.

Stonewall and Trickshot hesitated, fear starting to hit them by instinct. Stalwart paused a few steps in and looked back at them.

"You both coming? It's perfectly safe."

"Perfectly. The Swarm defends this hive well." Chrysalis called back, a little natural light hitting one of her fangs just right and made it show easily in the dark background.

"That doesn't make it better," Stonewall said.

"Considering they're extended family now, it's incredibly safe." Stalwart countered.

"Bet you never thought you'd have a small city as part to the family," Chrysalis called back, stopping to wait.

Stonewall took a deep breath and then let it out, following stiffly, followed by his wife.

The further they got from the entrance, the more the light faded until the only light they could use was from the occasional bioluminescent material on the walls. They glowed faintly, enough that it gave the effect of twilight hours while the cave became slightly more humid.

Stalwart followed Chrysalis, who was in turn followed by his parents closely, to where they formed a small huddled group.

"Dark place… how do you even see anything?" Stonewall asked.

"Changelings adapted to the dark long ago so we can see in low light." She said, barely visible to Stalwart.

As they went deeper, occasional buzzing wings passed over head, invisible in the darkness as drones went about their business.

Trickshot jumped in place, ready to fight briefly as one sounded particularly close, before calming and staying close to Stonewall's side. He was tense as well, slowing down as his battle instincts were in full swing.

Chrysalis kept walking on and on, taking turns seemingly at random while checking if Dawn was awake. She quickly learned that Dawn had awakened.

Dawn’s rest had been fitful, her mind wouldn’t let her sleep long, and she was watching her foals feed greedily.

The Queen made note of this information, wondering if Dawn's brain was a becoming like her own, always active. They turned a corner and a light came into view, coming from a doorway that was surrounded by a dozen drones with thick chitin. The drones were standing on the walls, floor, and ceiling, ensuring no approach would be safe if they chose it to be so.

Stonewall and Trickshot froze at their appearance, fearing the worst. A click of one of Trickshot’s hooves against a protruding rock cause Dawn to raise her head to the sound and confirmed the guests through the guard drones.

"Everyone come in!” Dawn called. “The foals are awake so you don't have to be quiet at least."

Chrysalis walked through as the drones made way for her with a bow. She dropped her disguise and entered with a smile.

"Oh darn, was hoping to surprise you." Chrysalis smiled.

Tere was sitting on the couch, playing solitaire with a deck of cards he found while still in his business casual outfit.

"It’s hard to surprise me when I pay attention,” Dawn chuckled, “though that says nothing of when I don't."

Stalwart walked over to her side as the two parents gave a clear view of the two foals, who had finished their meal and yawned, eyes closed as they tried to rest, weakly pushing against the cloth that they were swaddled in.

"Awwww, they're so precious!" Trickshot said as she soon walked over and gently reached down to rub with her muzzle affectionately.

Stonewall cracked a smile as he stood at a respectful distance at first, "That they are."

"You know they won't eat you," Chrysalis told him.

"Come on dad." Stalwart chuckled.

"Yeah, come on dad." Dawn echoed as a slight tease.

Stonewall chuckled and slowly stepped forward, moving closer to them before nudging his grandcolt.

The pearly colored colt yawned and opened his eyes, looking up at him with a confused expression, a small poof of green flame appearing from the nub of the horn before it disappeared from view and he looked like an earth pony.

Chrysalis smiled as she had all of the cameras ready for their reactions, having waited for a chance at this happening again.

Stalwart and both his parents looked at them with a degree of confusion, Stonewall being more concerned than his son while his wife was more curious than afraid.

Dawn laughed amid the myriad of clicks from the cameras as they caught the family’s reactions.

"They might have a bit of changeling in them too, I picked up a couple traits when mom put me in a cocoon a while back." Dawn smiled at her family.

"Maybe you should show them?" Chrysalis asked, hoping she would.

Dawn nodded, using her changeling magic to shift, showing an envelope of green flame around her. Her form now revealed her holes in her hind legs and the chitin on her back and flanks.

"It's not a huge change, but something."

Stonewall gasped quietly before looking at her critically, deep in thought. Trickshot looked at her in surprise before it turned into confusion as she looked at Dawn. It was clear she trusted Dawn and had a bit of inherent trust for her good nature, and this threw into question her view on changelings as a whole. After what felt like forever, she nodded.

"I see… it's…” She started to say, trying to come up with a positive thing to say, “different."

"One of the proudest days of my life was her hatching," Chrysalis said beaming.

"Her… hatching?" Stone Wall asked.

"Yes, I was asked by mom if I would be willing to be cocooned and be given a hatch day by her hive. I was already defending her interests here in Equestria, just by trying to be fair and generous to everyone. I accepted, knowing that it would mean a great deal to her. Turns out, I, and maybe other alicorns too, adopted some traits from changelings doing it. It might just be because I view them as just another tribe of Pony.”

Chrysalis brought out a photo album

"What's this?" Trickshot asked, her and Stonewall moving to look at the large binder-like album.

"Her hatching day!" Chrysalis said, opening it and showing Dawn looking around confused on the floor of the hatchery. It was the equivalent of baby photos.

"It's funny,” Trickshot chuckled as she saw the similarities, “a fully grown mare struggling to stand up or looking around."

"Yup! Isn't she adorable?" Chrysalis asked as she started to tell them stories of putting her in the cocoon and her visitors and hatching. She even showed pictures of Dawn learning changeling magic and abilities, much to Dawn’s surprise. It was clear Chrysalis had been taking many photos of Dawn after her hatching.

Dawn blushed but tried to laugh as the stories were told. Stalwart, Stonewall, and Trickshot listened intently, making comments about Dawn, how it was just like her to do things in a certain way. It was clear to them that their daughter in law hadn’t really changed at all.

Chrysalis had to agree with how Dawn was still the same, and when they finished with the few pictures she had, she began adding the most recent ones to the album. It wasn't even a fourth of the way filled.

"And I look forward to many more photos and stories," Chrysalis said.

Trickshot nodded, having taken a seat on a cushion with her husband a while back, "As any mother would."

Stonewall was quiet as ever, but no longer condescending or convinced she was performing some kind of elaborate plot to capture them. Not unless it was the most convoluted plan in the history of plans. Not even a Saturday morning cartoon villain would agree to it, saying it was too ‘hammy.’

"Your turn now, I am sure you have many stories about Stalwart." Chrysalis nodded to Trickshot, smirking evilly. A similar glint was in her eye, as if she was about to trade secrets she could use to learn all she could of her daughter’s husband and get a bit of leverage in the process.

Trickshot smiled widely at the idea, a similar glint in her eye starting to show, "You know, now that you mention it, I didn't even get to show Dawn these when Stalwart proposed like I wanted…"

Stalwart opened his eyes wide in horror, "You wouldn't!"

"Oh, but I would! One of the joys of parenthood that's passed down from generation to generation is to embarrass their foals for embarrassing the parents those years ago while growing up" Trickshot teased.

Chrysalis nodded in sage agreement as she remembered her own mother sharing all the memories of when she was a nymph.

Trickshot smiled as she told the story about how Stalwart cried as a foal because he wasn’t a unicorn like his sister.

"Mom! I was three!"

"So precious," Trickshot said, unaffected, "and right after, I remember he said he would rather be a fil-"

"Mom!" Stalwart groaned, burying his face behind the nearest object he could find.

"Oh my really?" Chrysalis said with interest

"Mom, don't." Stalwart said firmly.

"Yes, really, if it meant him being a unicorn too." She chuckled, causing him to groan and walk behind his wife to hide as she continued, "even got him an outfit he'd wear at home, but he never wore it outside."

"Oh my! You simply must show me pictures when I visit again!" Chrysalis exclaimed, grin clear on her face.

"It’s a promise." Trickshot nodded.

Chrysalis nodded as the mothers agreed to further embarrass their children.

Dawn chuckled quietly and commented, "Stalwart, you'd make such a cute mare, I'd have still married you."

Stalwart sighed and bit at her neck lightly to punish her, making Dawn giggle instead from feeling like she was tickled.

"That could be quite interesting. ..." Chrysalis said.

"You did promise you would carry our next foals if we had more." Dawn smiled wider, making Stalwart blush.

"Oh… you remembered. Well, that's 'if' we have more." He said, agreeing with her in his own way. "It's too soon though."

"Wait, did my ears deceive me or did Stalwart actually admit he would be a mare?" Trickshot asked with a mischievous smile.

Stonewall frowned, then shrugged.

"He did indeed." Chrysalis smiled knowingly.

"You have no idea what you're in for,” Trickshot laughed, “but good luck if you do son!"

"Ow, mom… it can’t be that bad…" Stalwart squirmed in place, remembering Dawn’s labor.

"Chryssy, how many inhibitor rings did I damage or destroy to keep from blasting this place?" Dawn asked to make a point.

"Seven," Chrysalis said.

"Inhibitor ring?" Trickshot asked.

"Oh, just some magic limiters, sends pain back when you use magic. I had to wear five because I'm an alicorn and had a lot more power… They have experience in the damage an alicorn can do when in pain."

"No, they were inhibitors. The pain is them causing feedback as your magic can't go anywhere. … We used military grade ones too and she shattered four and melted two!" She said proudly. "The record is a dozen."

"Oh? That only makes six. Still, if the record is a dozen, that must have been quite a lot…" Trickshot said.

"The last one exploded." Chrysalis declared, proud of how strong her daughter was. "It was Twilight who set the record, she is quite powerful."

"Oh, of course, it would be the Princess of Magic." She nodded sagely.

Stonewall's stomach growled, then Stalwart's did after, causing Dawn to chuckle.

"I'll have them prepare us a meal." She said as she notified a drone chef to prepare meals for everyone.

He started at once.

"What kind of meal?" Trickshot asked.

"Fried pony hooves with pickled ear," Dawn said with a growing smile, unable to lie to them effectively, before laughing quietly. "I was in the mood for a good salad actually. They take good care of us."

Stonewall in particular looked ready to fight at Dawn's joke, but relaxed when he heard her laughter. "Almost had me there."

"Why wouldn't we?" Chrysalis asked blinking as if that was the most insane thing she had heard in a while.

"I know you do mom. Saying it out loud so it reinforces the point."

"Why wouldn't she?" Trickshot asked, appearing to contradict Dawn before chuckling, "but really, it's a relief to hear it anyway."

"I am sure you saw the guards outside the room, that was because I left the Hive," Chrysalis said. "Every single drone of this hive is ready to give their lives to ensure my and my family's safety."

Dawn nodded, and Trickshot and Stonewall both looked on in a mix of surprise and awe that they would do so much to help their family.

'I think they got the point now.' Dawn smiled in the link.

'I think so too.' Chrysalis said smirking proudly.

Dawn smiled as the drones delivered their meals, very fresh lettuce, tomatoes, carrot slices, and turnip slices for all.

"Oh my. This looks incredible." Trickshot said.

"Especially when you only eat emotions," Stonewall added.

"I always had an interest in Pony cuisine." The chef explained happily.

"Well, thank you Mr…" Trickshot said, hoping to have their name.

"Ghali." He said catching her desire

"Ghali… That’s an interesting name." Trickshot commented.

"It is?" he blinked.

"I haven’t heard of it before." She explained.

He blinked again.

"It’s a changeling name is why," Chrysalis explained.

"Oh. Well, thank you. I look forward to trying your cooking again." She said as she went to eat her first bite.

Ghali smiled wide, showing his sharp teeth.

"I look forward to cooking for you." He said before leaving.

Stonewall politely focused on eating, as did everyone after they left.

"What will you name the foals?" Trickshot asked.

Chrysalis looked up, curious as well

Dawn looked to Stalwart, before saying, "Well, I was thinking I would name our foals after a color or behavior until they're a little older. It’s hard to give a proper name if we don't know what they're actually like, you know?"

Stalwart nodded his agreement, "I have no issue with that, though keeping up the family name would be nice for our colt."

"What, shield and wall?"

"Well, something defensive at least." He said.

"Tank? Canon? T-87? Tomahawk? Crusader?" Chrysalis suggested. Each name caused Dawn to see her memories of different vehicles from ground-based armored to artillery to an air to ground combat jet. The final example was a three-story tall metal cylinder with lights and computer screens on it as well as many wires.

Dawn blinked and laughed right as Trickshot did, shaking her head as she recognized some of those things.

"Defensive, not offensive Chrysalis," Trickshot said.

"What are those?" Stonewall asked, much to Stalwart's agreement.

"They are used for defense, especially the Crusader Mainframes." She said, then paused when she saw their blank expressions, "Hmm, I will have to show you them."

"Mainframes?" Stonewall asked.

"Stone, Stalwart, I think it's safe to say we won't be using those terms to name our foals. I know what nearly all of these items are and we'll probably be a bit more traditional." Dawn said to console them.

Stalwart let out his breath and nodded, feeling out of his element with that kind of talk.

Chrysalis just shrugged, only trying to help.

"I let my wife choose our foals names. I'm no good at it." Stonewall shrugged, grinning sheepishly.

Dawn smiled, finishing her meal as her foals started theirs again, "Well, I'm glad we got together like this, we've been long overdue."

The other adults nodded in agreement and Trickshot and Stonewall started to stand, their meals eaten.

"That we were.” Trickshot agreed, “Feel free to drop by with the foals."

"How exactly do we get out?" Stonewall asked after nodding his agreement with Trickshot.

Dawn instructed a guard to escort them before adding mischievously, 'and if you like, feel free to take them to that one chamber and tell them they'll make a good meal.'

Just as the parents turned to leave, Trickshot’s vision was filled with a pair of pink draconian eyes.

"Hi! I'm Violet! What's your name?"

Trickshot jumped and floundered back in surprise, giving a yelp as she did, causing Stonewall to look at the foal now present defensively before blinking in surprise.

"Goodness! You scared me good there. What did you say your name was again?" She asked once she got her breath back.

"Violet." She said, smiling wide and putting her pointed teeth and fangs on display as she stood on the arm of the couch.

Trickshot hesitated before saying, "Nice to meet you, Violet. I'm Trickshot."

"Mom, meet my half-sister," Dawn said with a smile.

"Step-sister." Violet corrected cheerfully. "Half-sister implies we share half-blood relation."

"Fair enough." Dawn chuckled.

"Oh," Trickshot replied, unsure of what to say. She wanted to ask what Violet was, but it would be rude to-

"What tribe of pony are you?" Stonewall asked with a raised brow, causing Trickshot to slap her hoof to her face.

"Alicorn and changeling queen," Violet said innocently.

Trickshot and Stonewall blinked before Stone asked, "How can you be both?"

"Well, mother is an alicorn and sire is a Changeling Queen." She said pointing at Chrysalis.

Stonewall looked at her with a puzzled expression, brows furrowed and eyes darting back and forth as he tried to understand, thinking one could only be one or the other.

"Well, it’s nice to meet you, Violet." Trickshot nodded.

"Nice to meet you too." Violet smiled widely, her little wings buzzing with excitement. "So you’re Mr. Stalwart' s parents?"

"We are, yes..." Trickshot nodded, still slightly hesitant, but was being won over by the cute smile and antics of the foal.

Violet sat and held out a hoof. "It’s a pleasure to meet you."

Trickshot smiled and took the hoof, shaking it gently. "We've said that already dear."

"Two times," Stonewall added, smirking at them both and unable to stay on guard against a foal.

Violet tilted her head confused. "Said what?"

"I think he’s saying we said it was nice to meet each other a few times already," Trickshot said. "So, what things does a filly like you enjoy?"

"Yes, well, that was before full proper introductions, so that doesn't count." She said. “I like reading."

"Ah, what kind of books do you read dear?"

Violet pulled a book from her pocket dimension that she was reading, surprising Trickshot at its sudden appearance.

"Oh! What book is that?"

Violet held the hoof thick tome up so they could read the title. RARE ZEBRICAN DISEASES VOLUME 2, BY DR. BLOODBORN.

"Uhm, isn’t that a bit… boring for a filly like you?" She asked, concerned.

"Why would it be boring?" She asked, blinking as she made sure her bookmark halfway through was still in the right place.

Trickshot was lost for words, unsure what to say to that as her expectations were crushed.

Chrysalis couldn't help laughing behind her hoof as her daughter confused yet another set of ponies, she did enjoy that.

Trickshot looked at them for a moment and then shrugged, "Well, best of luck with your future little one. We'd best be off before it becomes our bedtime."

"You could stay the night if you wish." Chrysalis offered, a sly smile crossing her face.

Trickshot started to consider it, but Stonewall shook his head, "I'm rather attached to sleeping my bed, thank you."

Chrysalis shrugged and one of the guards from outside stepped into the room. "They will show you out, and please, do not tell anyone where the entrance to the hive is."

Trickshot nodded, "Of course."

Stonewall nodded slightly, indicating his own agreement

The drone turned and headed for the exit. The parents walked over to Stalwart, giving him a hug, patted Dawn, then followed the drone out.

'They seem pleasant.'

'They are.' She said simply as her foals weaned off of feeding into sleep.

'Though somehow I didn't see them really coming by to visit unless you're here. '

'Oh? What makes you say that?' She smiled, suspecting an answer as Stalwart headed off to patrol as he often did.

'I'm a changeling.' She said. 'This is a Changeling hive. Not meaning they are racists, but … this world has bad blood between ponies and us still.'

'True, they reacted pretty well for having lived through two changeling invasions.'

'Two?'

'Yes, two.' Dawn replied, trying to remember and struggling, 'Was a previous queen who attacked… T'valik I think?'

'Ah. Wasn't aware.' She said.

'Yeah. They were fighting for a hive location, she fell, letting our Chrysalis take over.'

'Interesting.'

'That not happen in your time?' Dawn asked.

'No. Only major conflict I had after Canterlot was Twilight conquering the hive.'

'No, no, this would have been your predecessor if things were the same.' she clarified.

'My predecessor was my mother'

'So I'm either misinformed, they're misinformed, or history here is a bit more different.' Dawn commented, remembering how her mother sacrificed herself to keep Chrysalis alive, rather than fought in the past.

'It's possible that it is a divergence.' Chrysalis agreed, reminding her, 'I didn't defeat my mother. She starved to death so I could live.'

Dawn instinctively hugged her in the link, sending her lots of love. Surprisingly, her foals started to cry when she did. When her attention quickly returned to them out of concern, they soon calmed.

'What was that about?' Dawn thought, looking at them with curiosity.

Chrysalis looked over at them. "I don't know…"

Dawn looked them over, then shrugged, "They might need a change, but I swear it was like they were jealous or something.

"Yeah, strange."

Dawn shrugged and turned to give Chrysalis more of her love consciously as a test, and the foals whimpered again.

Chrysalis tilted her head as she looked them over with interest.

They cried, nuzzling their mother needily. They only calmed down again when Dawn moved to nuzzle their backs with her muzzle and shared her love with them once again.

'That’s so strange… they look less like changelings than me, but they act like they're hungry for love or something…'

'Yeah....'

'Was Violet like this?' She asked, wanting guidance.

'No… but then again, she could talk within weeks of being born, at least in Changeling.'

'But was she like this as a nymph?' She asked, referring to their neediness. 'What should I do?'

'Not really… There was abundant love from Twilight.' She said. 'I'm not sure really.'

'Perhaps they are more mentally changeling than I know, yet I certainly don't feel them in the link. I don't know, but I love them all the same.'

'Maybe,’ Chrysalis pondered, commenting, ‘Well, if they start plotting world domination… or stealing from the cookie jar with elaborate and well-timed plans, then we know.'

Dawn chuckled, 'Hide the cookie jar well to test intellect, got it.'
Dawn sighed happily, nuzzling her foals before realizing they needed a change.

'Need help?' Chrysalis offered, using the link to ensure they didn’t disturb the foals.

'Yeah, I don’t have the first clue how to change them…'

Chrysalis chuckled as she walked over and gently lifted them with her magic over to a small table.

'Watch closely.' She said as she started to expertly go through changing them.

They wriggled uncomfortably, missing their warmth already. Dawn watched, not wanting to miss her instructions.

Chrysalis calmed them by talking to them gently. As she talked, she started to clean the foals up slowly, showing Dawn how to do it before she began to put the diapers onto the foals. Once they were covered again, she smiled and picked them up just to rub her muzzle on their bellies.

They giggled and squirmed their legs toward the queen. Dawn smiled, moving toward her little ones before wincing as a stroke of pain spread from her hip area, as if her body was reminding her she was still healing and still not ready to move.

Chrysalis placed them on her back and walked them over towards the bed. The foals settled in on her back with a large yawn, awake and squirming, but clearly weak and vulnerable.

'Such cute things...' Dawn thought contentedly.

Chrysalis smiled and she moved the foals to their mother. They squirmed in the air and then settled against their mother contentedly.

Twilight sat in her office. The royal guard had subsequently taken over the warehouse that the goons had tried to burn down. Her office was in a good area. Isolated, not a lot of people around. Good guards could see anyone approaching from a mile off, and with the EDF now using it as a staging area as well, they had many well-trained ponies from both worlds. It seemed someone attempting to burn a pony alive got the ball rolling to get the best the Guard had to offer, jurisdiction be damned.

Storm kept by Twilight's side, trying to be helpful by watching her back all the time. She felt a sense of pride at this, even if she still was getting trounced, she was told she was getting better, and that was good enough for her to keep improving. She knew the Commander wouldn’t allow her to watch her back unless she was good enough for it. She heard a knock on the door and went to answer it.

"What is it?"

A Changeling disguised in the royal guard outfit, with a white coat and blue mane said through the door, "I have a status update from Legate."

"Come in." Twilight called, still disguised as a guard.

She set her reports to her side and watched as Storm took up a position beside the door. Twilight had been giving her pointers on protecting VIPs in various ways and locations and was pleased with how well Storm took to training these days. It seems time as Lapdog made her easily accept instructions from Twilight.

"Legate went into labor upon arrival, the watcher sent a letter to home, but his spell is in place around the hill." They said vaguely.

"Good to hear. Wish her my best and I look forward to visiting when I can." She said smiling.

"Considering a ring has cracked already, it will be interesting. I'll keep you posted." The guard said with a small smirk before stepping out of the room.

"So, Dawn's giving birth… Good for her. What was the rest about?" Storm asked as she closed the door behind them.

"Dawn's shadow."

"Oh, that Stem guy? What about him?" She asked.

"His anti-scrying spell is around the hive."

"That's a good thing." Storm nodded, going back to her post.

Twilight smiled at her from the desk

"So, any bets on how long she'll be in labor?"

"Hmm… ten bits on six hours."

"Six hours or less, or six hours or more?" Storm asked, "Personally I think it'll be about ten."

"Less, but whoever has the closest number wins. What's your wager? If you'd like we can change it from bits to anything you'd like." The commander smirked. "And I mean anything"

"I bet twenty bits, for now." Storm said, "Dunno what else I want that I could risk losing."

"Hmm… True. Oh, say a few hours tied up if you lose, but that's more a reward." She smirked.

"Make it five." She replied with a smirk, "I like the idea of having you tied up one of these days."

"Okay, if I win I get to tie you up for 5 hours, and if you win, you get tied up for 5 hours." She smirked.

"No, if I win, you get tied up for five hours, if you win, I get tied up." she said, "but nice try."

"I should have known that wouldn't work three times."

"I still estimate my odds of winning at one in five, just a hunch, but it's not a bad day if I lose." She said, looking away.

"Yes, though tying me up… not really an option."

"Oh?" She asked, eyeing Twilight, "Feeling nervous about losing?"

"No, I… don't do good being restrained. … bad memories."

"Ah..." Storm hummed, "I guess I could let you off the hook for something else."

"Anything that isn't like trapping me is on the table."

"I'll come up with one after we know."

"Deal."

By now, Storm knew Twilight… all of the EDF took wagers very seriously.

Storm waited for a while longer until the drone came back to knock in one hour, "New report on the Legate."

"Speak," Twilight called.

The drone came back in, "One foal born, healthy, filly pegasus, yellow coat of fur."

Twilight nodded her understanding while Storm began to frown.

"That didn't take long..."

Twilight smirked.

"Did your report say anything about why she gave birth so fast?" Storm asked the drone, who was just about to leave.

"She is a changeling." The drone said simply, as if it explained everything."

Twilight chuckled as the drone left.

Storm looked at Twilight after the drone was gone, "You know what the hay they meant by that?"

"Changelings aren't ponies."

"And?" Storm asked, not understanding why that's important, "What's that got to do with it?"

"Remember the cocoon?” Twilight chuckled.

"Yeah… a birth is a birth, and they take a while."

"Changelings adapt. It's instinct to do so" Twilight explained before noticing Storm’s continued puzzlement. "Tell me, how do you respond to pain?"

"Grunt, yell, and push through it..." She answered, not sure what that had to do with it.

"And try to get away from it?"

"I mean, if I don't have to have pain, yeah."

"Exactly. It's natural for any sane being to avoid pain that isn’t wanted. Now imagine your entire species drive was survival. Now realize your body had the ability to change shape. Tell me how do you think you'd react to pain you could avoid?

"Change the body to cut off the pain or prevent it?" she said, unsure of herself.

"Exactly.” Twilight nodded. “Now, due to birth being chaotic, I doubt it was anything other than instinct making small adjustments to make things faster so the pain ended, but still I'm sure there were changes."

"Well,” Storm frowned, “guess I owe ya twenty bits at this rate."

"And six hours tied up and at my mercy," she smirked, "as if you mind that at all."

Storm smirked, "It’s five, but you're right, I don't."

"Judging by how much your tail is flicking, I'd say you can't wait."

Storm let out a click of air, but couldn't help but smile, so she turned away so they couldn't see it.

Twilight chuckled, knowing Storm quite well at this point and went back to her paperwork.

Storm calmed sufficiently enough to resume her post, and waited, fully expecting the drone to come back in any minute later.

"So tell me, what do you think of all of this?" she asked, gesturing out the window overlooking the main floor. Twilight had chosen one of the offices that were meant for one of the supervisors rather than the owner due to Storm having almost been burned alive in the room.

"It’s a bit ironic, but the sooner we catch the bastards, the better." She said.

"Ironic? How so?"

"Cause this was the place I first scouted out, remember?"

"True. It was a good place, but I mean more about all of it."

"All of what? We've made progress, we've got more guard and your EDF here to go after the bastard. What are you asking?" Storm asked, getting frustrated at their lack of clarity.

"What do you think of the EDF?" Twilight asked.

"It works well.” Storm commented, “We don't have anything like it, but it reminds me of the Wolves and what Nightfall was doing in a couple ways."

"Oh?"

"Well trained members, each one a specialist in something or other, does what needs doing without needing approval from the princesses..." Storm answered.

Twilight smiled nodding. "Not a standard army is it? What with it being separate from the state and acting on its own, more or less. "

She nodded, seeing that Twilight had gotten the point.

"Comes from being trained as a rebel soldier, answering only to my superiors and fighting against the current regime." She said, gesturing to one of the chairs before her desk

Storm nodded again, thinking before another knock came to the door.

Twilight looked up. "Come."

The drone came in again and closed the door behind him, "The second foal is born, unicorn colt. There were complications, but the Legate will make it."

"Second… well, what's the time on the labor?" Twilight asked.

"Two hours." the drone said, "7 rings cracked or destroyed. You still hold the record."

"Rings?" Storm asked to confirm.

"Military grade inhibitors," Twilight smirked.

"Wait, so Dawn tried to use magic and broke them?" Storm asked.

"Legate's surgery is complete, now she needs to rest." the drone said, making Storm open her eyes a little in concern.

"Dawn had surgery?" Storm asked, making sure she heard right.

"Complications with birth tend to require such things, yes, at least, in some small form," Twilight said. "Also, birth is quite painful. Unicorns tend to have their emotions running high and a lot of adrenaline being dumped into their systems. It is very common for… discharges of magic … to happen. And alicorns are very powerful in the department in terms of raw power."

Storm frowned, "What kind of complication?"

"The foal's head got caught on the umbilical cord and pushed the horn through her vagina, almost puncturing her colon." The drone said factually.

Storm winced as she heard it, "And this is why I don't want unicorn foals."

"But they are such a joy with their magical flare-ups!" Twilight chuckled.

"Oh really? Like what?" She asked, interested in exactly what might happen to Dawn.

"Well, my main experience was with the Cake Twins. Violet doesn't count, as she had Changeling blood in her, so she was smarter and knew what she was doing. But Pound Cake was able to cast a spell that let her walk through the wall of her playpen, as well as pick up over a dozen random objects that had been locked inside a trunk by ripping the lid off it."

"Damn… that's … wow."

"And she had nothing on Flurry Heart." Twilight nodded with a smirk.

"Oh?"

"She destroyed the Crystal Heart."

"Wait, for real!?" Storm asked, surprised.

"As well as sent a magic blast clean through the entire Crystal Palace not once, but a dozen times at least."

Storm's jaw dropped, "But… crystal is supposed to absorb magic and deflect it when full! That's what makes your castle so strong against attacks!"

"Tell that to the infant who could teleport before she was a year old."

Storm blinked and shook her head, "Yeah, not having any unicorn foals, especially since Nightfall and I are pegasi… I'll take their first molting over that."

"Oh, Flurry was an alicorn."

"Right...." She took a deep breath and let it out slow, thinking, "The exception to the rule."

She nodded and chuckled." My niece was quite a handful growing up. And don't even get me started on her teen years!'

"Oh?"

"You think a rebellious pony is bad? They have nothing on a teenage alicorn who thinks she knows more than you."

"What'd you do, let her learn the hard way?"

"Oh she'll know, but… well… she had an interest in architectures, so she was real good at knowing her way around buildings."

"Ah..." Storm said, wondering what the hay that had to do with anything. She didn't know what to contribute before realizing, "Guess that means Dawn's not going to come help with the investigations anymore. That a good or bad thing?"

"Don't know." She said

"Well, we don't have her power, but we also don't have her in the way, and she's a bit…” Storm paused, biting her lip before sighing, “what an airhead."

"Eh… I'll give you that, though she makes up for it in tenacity."

"Yeah… I guess that's one good thing about her." Storm grumbled.

"Why Storm,” Twilight smiled. “I do believe that's the first nice thing you've said about her when she isn't showing you who is in charge."

Storm rolled her eyes, "Everyone's got something good about ‘em, I just don't give a damn until they earn it."

"And she did earn it, didn't she?" Twilight said, smirking at her in a way that told Storm exactly what she was thinking about.

Storm snorted with a small smile. "Yeah, though she didn't have to put those memories in my head."

"Eh, you refused to believe her. Sometimes drastic measures are required"

"She's said what she's had to in the past, even changing her story after the fact…” Storm countered. “You'll see."

"Oh? How so?"

"I don't want to talk about it." Storm sighed

"You know you can talk to me about anything right?"

"Yeah, I just…” Storm started to say before letting out another frustrated sigh, “Look, it's in the past now. She's convinced she didn't say stuff, I know she did, so I just let it go."

Twilight nodded and then tapped the area next to her for Storm to come over.

Storm looked to the spot, as if piecing together what they wanted, then approached, "What's up?"

Twilight started scratching behind Storm's ears, the mare easily able to feel the metallic fingers hidden by the illusion spell.

Storm sighed contentedly, feeling more a massage than scratch at first.

Twilight smiled as she kept scratching. She enjoyed doing this randomly or other pet things to Storm. It seemed to enforce her position much more effectively when they weren’t expecting it.

Storm leaned in, content at what she was receiving. Waiting on Twilight all the time still had perks.

Twilight smiled more and Storm felt an invisible wing tip run down her spine as the scratching continued.

Storm opened up her wings at the feeling, suppressing a shiver as her eyes closed in contentment.

"My good little filly." Twilight whispered in her ear as the wing tip reached Storm's flanks and traced her Cutie Marks.

Storm shivered again, wings rising without her realizing it as her head drooped down toward the closest object to rest it.

Twilight smiled. She wished she could see into Storm's mind as she kept scratching and tracing while the mare rested her head on Twilight's lap.

Meadow chuckled and reached out to scratch at their head properly like she would a pet dog, while watching Twilight's mood.

'I know the spell that would let you peek into her mind without her any the wiser... wish me to cast it?' She offered, noting how relaxed Storm was.

Twilight paused for a few moments, surprised at this idea as she contemplated.

'She won't hear me?' Twilight asked as she resumed.

'I will proactively filter it for you so your thoughts and our conversations are our own. She will be none the wiser.'

'… … do it.' Twilight ordered with trepidation as she traced both of Storm's marks with her wing tips, continuing to scratch.

Author's Notes:

I couldnt help chuckling through most of this chapter.

I have a PATREON with fair rewards. Every bit is greatly appreciated and helps me out.