//------------------------------//
// Prologue: The Alliance Mobilizes 
// Story: The Changeling Civil War 
// by ShadowGear 
//------------------------------//

Sclerite stood on a small island in the middle of the ocean. He could hear the sounds of waves crashing against the shoreline, but that didn't matter to him. He was waiting for the others to arrive. Ever since more and more ponies began to brave the Everfree forest, the Allied Hives had abandoned The Castle of the Two Sisters, the secluded island became their neutral ground to hold secret meetings.

Suddenly he heard a loud crash and looked to see five large, almost rectangular ships emerge from underwater. A hatch opened at the top of the lead ship and a Changeling with purple eyes and a purple chitin climbed out. She wore an officer's helmet.

Sclerite immediately saluted, "Admiral Seta! Welcome! I've already prepared the meeting table for the Queens." He had known about Admiral Seta mostly from gossip. She had led many hit and run wolf pack tactics against Equestrian trading ships. Many have nicknamed her, "The Kraken," because of the amount of terror she had caused in Equestrian costal cities such as Manehattan.

Admiral Seta flew out of the U-ship and landed in front of Sclerite. "Lieutenant Sclerite, I want to say, 'congratulations,' your training is finally over. You are now an official soldier of Queen Chrysalis' Hive. In fact, Queen Chrysalis had personally requested for you to come here with the other Queens," she said.

Sclerite looked surprised. After being given around to many Queens, he thought he had been forgotten. "Do you have any idea when Chrysalis and the other Queens will arrive?" Sclerite asked.

"The Queens Siphon and Formic came with me. I'm not sure when Queen Chrysalis would arrive," Seta answered.

"Well then, I guess we'll just have to wait," Sclerite said.

Queen Siphon and Queen Formic left one of the U-ships and Queen Siphon ordered Admiral Seta to form a blockade until they leave. The U-ships dived back underwater. It wasn't long until the other Queens came. Some had Changeling bodyguards with them. Eventually, Chrysalis arrived and landed in front of Sclerite. He bowed respectfully as she looked down at him.

"Sclerite! My apprentice! It's been a while since I've seen you!" she said.

Sclerite looked up. "My Queen, it is an honor to see you again!" he said.

"That's great, I have need of your services one again, but first! I want you to attend this meeting with the other Queens as an observer!" she said.

Being able to even witness one of these meetings was an honor. Although he was Chrysalis' apprentice, he didn't believe he would ever have the privilege. "Thank you my Queen! You're generosity knows no bounds," he said.

Queen Chrysalis and Sclerite approached the table Sclerite had set up hours ago. On it was a map of Equestria and a bit of Griffon territory on the other side of the ocean.

Queen Chrysalis did a quick headcount before speaking. "You may be wondering why I called you all here. Well a terrible thing has happened to my Hive! They have succumb to the corruption that is Equestrian friendship! They have no idea that it is a trap and the Equestrians are planning to betray them, and slaughter them to the last! I am in desperate need of the Alliance if I'm ever going to save my drones from such a terrible fate!" she said.

The table was filled with whispers until Queen Formic stood up. "Listen! We agreed to join forces to face the Equestrian threat as one! It is time we show the Equestrian princesses that we wont submit to them without a fight!"

Queen Siphon stood up as well, "The Equestrians have gone too far this time! We've let them conquer the Dynasty of Mules, as well as destroying the old Draconequus kingdom. The destruction of an entire Hive is the last straw! I say we declare open warfare against Equestria!"

The other Queens began to chant, "Stop Equestria!"

Suddenly Chrysalis shot a beam of magic into the sky to silence everyone. "If we are going to attack Equestria, the first order of business is to reconquer my old Hive. I volunteer Sclerite to lead this attack," she said.

The Queens began to speak amongst each other once again to decide on what to do. Eventually it was decided and Queen Formic summarized the plan. "My Hive will provide Sclerite a platoon of tanks. He will also be given an entire battalion of Changeling soldiers comprised of multiple Hives. While this is going on, Admiral Seta and General Tarsal will plan out our initial invasion against Equestria. Sclerite will receive his next orders once he has retaken the Hive."

"Alright, Sclerite. You have your orders. I trust you wont disappoint me," Queen Chrysalis said.

"Don't worry my Queen, I'll take back the Hive and save those drones," Sclerite responded. This was sure to be his moment of glory. The day he would prove his worth to Queen Chrysalis.

"One more thing. The Changelings support Equestria now and would actively resist your attempts to retake the Hive. You will have to fight them like they were enemy combatants," Queen Chrysalis said. "I suggest you prepare yourself for the battle ahead."

Sclerite stood up and noticed the U-ships had returned. It was time for him to leave and he couldn't just swim or fly all the way back to the mainland. Sclerite boarded a U-ship and it submerged.