Mirror's Image

Chapter 24

It was painfully obvious that the Ponyville hospital was not properly equipped or prepared for a situation like this. Changelings with broken limbs and deep cuts had taken up every bed in the hall and several nurses and doctors were running around, tending to them as best they could.

Needless to say, nopony working there had ever seen creatures like these but fortunately their anatomy was sort of similar enough to a pony's for the staff to be able to help out. After they had conquered their fear of the sharp fangs and overall odd look of these creatures.

"A patient is a patient," Nurse Redheart said to herself as she bandaged up a wounded Praetorian's head. "But bite me and I will not hesitate to bite back, patient or not," she added, looking straight at the changeling. "And no, that wasn't a joke."

Despite that comment, the Praetorian let out a raspy laugh at that. "Queen ordered us not to, so you are safe, pony," he said in an equally raspy, almost painful voice.

"Somehow, that doesn't really fill me with confidence," Redheart admitted, though she returned to bandaging the changeling's head anyway.

"I vouch for them," a somewhat familiar voice said from behind her. Redheart turned around to see Twilight Sparkle standing behind her. Or at least she assumed it was Twilight Sparkle.

"And I'll keep you to that," the earth pony said, not fazed at all by the sight before her. After all, being a nurse she was used to seeing worse things.

"Wait, before you go," Twilight said, levitating Spike off of her back. "He's been injured too, could you give him a checkup, please?"

Spike shot her an annoyed look. "But Twilight, I am fine! More than fine, even," he said, trying to convince her.

Redheart couldn't help but crack a smile as she saw the look on Twilight's face. For some reason, it reminded her of a very concerned mother telling their child what was best for them. "I'll take good care of him," she assured Twilight as she took the baby dragon from him.

Twilight thanked her quickly, before running off again to tend to her subjects as well.

"Such a chaotic scene," Queen Chrysalis said, looking across the emergency ward. Her daughter was taking her time to pay some attention to each and every changeling that was wounded, before heading off into one of the different sections of the hospital. She didn't need to ask or attempt to read her mind to know what that daughter of hers was up to.

Instead, she decided to focus on what was most important to the hive right now. "Status report," the queen yelled, demanding information.

"This Great and Powerful Changeling has taken the liberty of making a list," the Great and Powerful Changeling said, running up to her while holding a clipboard.

The queen stared at her. "And where, pray tell, have you been?" she asked, her voice cold as ice. She could have sworn that she had ordered this particular changeling to stick to her daughter like flies on honey.

The Changeling visibly flinched. "This Changeling has been running around town, looking for her princess while towing an infant around," she said, showing a bag with a baby changeling inside of it. Said little changeling put up his hooves and chirped happily at the sight of his mother. "In all the chaos and screaming, it was hard for this Great and Powerful Changeling to locate her princess," she said with a dramatic flair to her voice, complete with theatric poses.

Queen Chrysalis sighed as she lifted the playful nymph up with her magic and placed him on her back, snug like a bug between her wings. "Very well... status report please."

-

It was a nice and sunny day and at Canterlot castle, nopony seemed to be aware of what had happened in Ponyville. Princess Celestia and Luna had taken it upon themselves to search for clues in Prince Blueblood's bedroom.